Before the season, I ran a column running down some bold predictions for the 2026 NFL Draft. Among the most futile was the idea that the Clemson Tigers would send four players to the top 10 in April. Banking on the talent of defensive tackle Peter Woods, the consensus' preference for T.J. Parker, my preseason optimism for Avieon Terrell, and the positional value of quarterback Cade Klubnik, I rambled about the opportunity for Clemson to do what no school has ever done.
Spoiler alert: that's not happening.
One school having four top-10 prospects remains an unlikely, unprecedented scenario. So while it's not smart money to suggest that another team will do so in 2026, it's worth acknowledging the possibility that the Ohio State Buckeyes make history.
What has to happen for Ohio State to have four top-10 picks?
The Buckeyes regularly have a handful of first-round talents. In 2025, four Ohio State prospects heard their name called in Round 1; six players did so in 2016, and at least one Buckeye had been drafted in the first round every year since then.
Despite a lack of summer scouting hype, linebacker Arvell Reese is the slam-dunk option for the top 10. He might be the best player in this class. Micah Parsons has paved the path for him to transition to a full-time edge rusher at the next level, but Reese's athleticism and functional strength set him apart, wherever he plays.
Reese could be the first non-quarterback off the board and has improved his stock as much as any Power 4 starter. Buckeyes fans can feel confident in at least one lottery pick in 2026.
This year, the preseason favorite to join that list was safety Caleb Downs. All he's done since is look like the best safety in college football, logging three more tackles for loss, two interceptions, and a pass defended in nine games. He's looked even stronger against the run and has been utilized across the field as an X-factor in the back seven. Downs is versatile, athletic, and a proven contributor across multiple high-level defenses.
The only thing holding Downs out of the top 10 is positional value. Jamal Adams was the last safety drafted in that range (in 2017), and blue-chip prospects like Minkah Fitzpatrick and Kyle Hamilton didn't make the cut. Downs has earned the right to be mentioned in this conversation, and there's a non-zero chance he becomes the best player of the bunch.
NFL evaluators might not value that enough to draft him that early.
Another battle with positional value can be found with Sonny Styles. Among the Buckeyes with preseason hype, he was the preemptive Ohio State linebacker in this class and took the field in Week 1 with a first-round grade on my board. Reese has undoubtedly cleared him with a Heisman-hopeful season (not happening, sorry), but Styles has made meaningful improvements, too.
The former safety is making an even bigger impact against the run than he did last season, and while he hasn't been as productive, he looks far more physical. That's an important box to check for an off-ball linebacker vying for significant draft capital. With the speed, fluidity, and instincts to win in coverage, a team toward the back of the top 10 could make the call.
MORE: Why Jeremiah Smith deserves to be the Heisman Trophy frontrunner
It's worth noting that a team taking Styles could opt to pick Reese or Downs instead, limiting potential suitors as teams improve the spine of their defense.
Lastly, receiver Carnell Tate has followed a similar trend to his defensive counterparts. His season began with first-round ambitions but work to be done: his routes needed some work and his 6'2" frame demanded more physical play. His 2025 season has been nothing short of dominant, displaying the technical growth evaluators were asking for and a relentless ability to win in contested-catch situations.
The latter is a mark to proceed with skepticism, given the noise in small samples and the idea that he could be running hot. If it's just a preternatural skill, though, Tate's ability to win above the rim could win a team over. Tate has 711 yards and seven scores through eight games. His 18.2 yards per catch lead the conference.
Few receivers have leveled up like Tate, even as the second option in this offense. As pass-catchers continue to infiltrate the top half of Round 1, the door is open for Ohio State to have another entry.
Each of these prospects earning top-10 capital is still a right-tailed outcome and an unlikely one at that, but no school has made a better argument this season. This is the most feared team in football, and as these Buckeyes continue to develop, it's clear Ohio State will leave an even bigger imprint on upcoming Sundays.
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