LOOK: Ex Buckeyes Ronnie Hickman, Tanner McCalister Debut NFL Threads

After going undrafted, former Ohio State safeties Ronnie Hickman and Tanner McCalister gave fans a first look at them in Browns jerseys during Cleveland’s rookie camp, as both look to scratch the 53-man roster ahead of next season.

Author:
Matt Guzman
May 13, 2023 1:58 PM EDT

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Ohio State Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeyes are no strangers when it comes to first-round draft picks.

This year, three more prospects, including two in the top 10, joined the list of Buckeyes selected in the first round, marking Ohio State's 90th overall dating back to the start of the modern-draft era — the most of any college in that span.

Even still, nine Buckeyes went undrafted, leaving them to search for a place in the NFL via free agency. Former Ohio State safeties Ronnie Hickman and Tanner McCalister were on that list, and both found their way to Cleveland, joining Luke Wypler and Dawand Jones on the Browns.

Now, they have just had their first outings with the Browns during rookie camp, and both are ready to get to work to prove themselves in the league.

Hickman spent three years at Ohio State, where he tallied a total of 156 tackles and two interceptions on top of a sack and a forced fumble. He led his team in tackles in 2021 en route to a coaches second-team all-Big Ten distinction and did enough to earn the nod again the following year on the third team.

Despite not being drafted, the safety made was not shy about his talents, stating that he felt he was ready to take the next step in his career defensively.

“I tell coaches wherever you need me I’m going to go out there and play,” Hickman said during his combine media availability a couple of months ago. “I was blessed and gifted athletically to do both of those things ... anywhere on the defensive side of the ball, I feel like I’m ready to play."

McCalister spent just one year with Hickman and the Buckeyes, but together, the pair made up big pieces of Ohio State's secondary last season.

The fifth-year safety had 24 tackles and three interceptions for the Buckeyes in his lone season, earning the respect of both his teammates and coaches, but it's Ohio State's program overall that McCalister feels the most gratitude for heading into a potential NFL debut.

"Ohio State treats their program like an NFL program," McCalister told Horseshoe Huddle. "They [do] weigh-ins every day and the coaches treat every day like it's the NFL. I think that helped me become a pro a little bit earlier than some other guys."

Despite neither Hickman nor McCalister being drafted, both safeties have their sights set on making Cleveland's 53-man roster come fall. But even if the Browns don't end up being the right fit, Buckeye fans can enjoy seeing two of their former safeties in NFL threads ahead of next season, as both look to make an instant impact to their team.