Two more underclassmen from the Ohio State Buckeyes declared for the NFL Draft, as wide receiver Michael Thomas and safety Vonn Bell announced their decision Wednesday.
According to ESPN, Ohio State is now losing nine underclassmen to the NFL Draft, in addition to at least five seniors. Thomas and Bell join fellow underclassmen quarterback Cardale Jones, running back Ezekiel Elliott, defensive end Joey Bosa, linebacker Darron Lee, safety Tyvis Powell, cornerback Eli Apple, and wide receiver Jalin Marshall.
In addition to these nine players, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer will lose at least five seniors: wide receiver Braxton Miller, offensive tackle Taylor Decker, tight end Nick Vannett, defensive end Adolphus Washington, and linebacker Joshua Perry.
"We have accomplished so much here, and now I want to accomplish more at the next level," Thomas told ESPN. "I plan to bring hunger to succeed, route running, hands and ability to attack the ball to the next level. I am 100 percent happy with my college choice, and now me and many of my teammates are leaving, and I hope to see them all in the NFL."
Not only is Ohio State sending at least 14 players to the draft, but several of them were starters last year and some of them are expected to be selected early on. For example, Bosa will likely be drafted as high as first overall.
In his first Big Board of draft eligible prospects, ESPN's Mel Kiper ranked four Buckeyes in the Top 25. In Kiper's positional rankings, Ohio State was represented in all but four positions.
Making up for this mass exodus, Meyer will benefit from starting quarterback J.T. Barrett's return as well as an 18-member recruiting class ESPN ranked fourth overall in the nation.
