FOX Analyst Joel Klatt makes a major statement about the status of Big Ten Football and specifically, the Ohio State Buckeyes.
"The factory of the National Football League lives in Columbus, Ohio."
Joel Klatt is onto the scent. Just as everyone in Ohio knows about the Buckeyes, it is finally being recognized on a National scale.
The 2026 NFL Draft added another feather into the Buckeyes' cap after they nailed four first-round selections and led the country as the school with the most draft picks with 11.
This year cemented Ohio State as the modern-day NFL factory, and it isn't particularly close.
Over the last two years, Ohio State has had a staggering eight first-round draft picks. That is good for 12.5 percent of the total number of draft picks for the two years. They have 14 picks in the first two rounds and 25 picks overall over the course of the last two years.
People have been selected at every position from offensive line to quarterback to defensive back to linebacker. It has been a collection of incredible talent and one of the main reasons that the Buckeyes have a National Title to their name from 2024.
For this year's draft class, it was an impressive collection of talent. Somehow, someway, Carnell Tate was the first Buckeye off the board. I did over 100 mock draft simulations and never once did I get Tate being the first Buckeye off the board.
Then, it was four straight defenders, each of whom are elite.
The Buckeyes sprinkled in a player in each of the final rounds, with it ending with another surprise, Ethan Onianwa being the final Buckeye selected in the seventh round.
It was yet another impressive day for the Buckeyes as they begin their journey.
For NFL scouts, there is a lot more where that came from. Next year, the Buckeyes will have at least three offensive linemen, two wide receivers, maybe a cornerback, three defensive linemen, maybe one linebacker, and likely two defensive backs.
For as good as the 2026 draft was for Ohio State, they could match their number in next year's draft.
Good NFL teams come from Columbus, Ohio. It's been that way for the last 10 years, and it will continue to be that way going forward.
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