2013 NFL Draft Prospects: Ohio State

These are the school’s prospects for the 2013 NFL Draft by status * – denotes 2014 prospect ** – denotes 2015 prospect.

This page was last updated April 24, 2013. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

Johnathan Hankins*, DT, Ohio State
Height: 6-3. Weight: 320. Arm: 33.08
40 Time: 5.31.
Projected Round (2013): 1-2.
4/24/13: Hankins was solid, but unspectacular, at the Combine. He started out the year extremely strongly for Ohio State. He was a monster in the middle of the line as a run-stuffer with some pressure as a pass-rusher.

Hankins was a dominant force against California, among others. He totaled 10 tackles and a sack while making plays all over the field. Hankins made tackles outside of his gap. One was on a wide receiver screen on the perimeter. He was beating double-team blocks from a guard and center to stuff runs at the line of scrimmage.

Hankins’ play cooled off some after a dominant September, but he still caused problems at the line of scrimmage and finished his collegiate career strong with a good performance against Michigan. Hankins totaled 55 tackles, four tackles for a loss and a sack in 2012.

8/25/12: Hankins is a massive tackle who takes up a lot of space and blockers at the point of attack. The sophomore had a strong 2011 season. He was a fabulous run-defender at that point of attack and totaled 67 tackles. Hankins also had 11 tackles for a loss and three sacks. He notched 16 tackles and a sack as a freshman.

Even though Hankins only had three sacks last year, he was a better pass-rusher than the numbers indicate. Hankins got good penetration into the pocket to hurry quarterbacks and take away space for them to step up in the pocket. He has serious quickness that he uses to fire into his gap and disrupt plays.

NFL coaches are going to love Hankins’ versatility. He has played all over the defensive line. Hankins has lined up as a three-technique, on the outside shoulder of the guard; a two-gap defensive tackle technique; a defensive end; and the zero-technique – as a nose tackle above the center. Thus, he could fit as in a 4-3 as a defensive tackle, or in a 3-4 defense as a nose tackle or defensive end.

If Hankins becomes a more consistent pass-rusher and is able to produce a quality sack total, he could contend to be the top tackle selected. With Ohio State’s new attacking defense, it wouldn’t be surprising if the junior increases his sack production in 2012.

Reid Fragel, OT, Ohio State
Height: 6-8. Weight: 308. Arm: 33.08
40 Time: 5.14.
Projected Round (2013): 4-6.
4/24/13: Fragel was a backup tight end prior to his senior season. He switched to right tackle and showed some nice potential to be an edge-blocker. Fragel is raw, but could develop into a right tackle competitor.

John Simon, DE, Ohio State
Height: 6-1. Weight: 257. Arm: 32 3/4. Hand: 9 3/8.
Projected 40 Time: 4.80.
Projected Round (2013): 4-6.
4/24/13: Simon looked good in 2012 and had a lot more pressure on the quarterback than his numbers indicate. He finished 2012 with 44 tackles, 14.5 tackles for a loss, nine sacks, one forced fumble and four passes broken up. The senior has one of the best motors of any defender in college football.

Simon had a dominant game with four sacks against Wisconsin, but hurt his knee late in the contest. That caused him to miss the season finale versus Michigan. He didn’t stand out at the Senior Bowl in a move to outside linebacker. Simon was unable to work out at the Combine. He is very undersized and could slide on draft day.

8/27/12: Simon was quiet in the early going of last season, but the junior came alive down the stretch. He recorded six sacks in his final seven games with a massive game against Illinois featuring two sacks, four tackles for a loss and eight tackles. Simon had 53 tackles with 16 tackles for a loss, seven sacks and three passes broken up in 2011.

Simon had 41 tackles with 8.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks as a sophomore. He is a strong player who has a great motor. While Simon is not a speed-rusher off the end, he is a good run defender. Simon is short on athletic ability and speed, but he a fighter who is very physical with offensive linemen. A double digit-sack season would be huge for his draft stock.

Jake Stoneburner, TE, Ohio State
Height: 6-3. Weight: 252. Arm: 32.28. Hand: 9.38.
40 Time: 4.65.
Projected Round (2013): 6-7.
4/24/13: Considering Urban Meyer is the head coach, it isn’t surprising that Stoneburner wasn’t suspended for the first game after his arrest last offseason. Stoneburner played well as a senior, but didn’t get many opportunities. He totaled 16 receptions for 269 yards and four touchdowns. Stoneburner had a solid Combine performance.

8/21/12: Stoneburner had 14 receptions for 193 yards and seven touchdowns in 2011. Three of those touchdowns came in the first game against Akron. He could have been even more productive if the Buckeyes had had some consistency at quarterback. Stoneburner has some blocking potential as well. He caught 21 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns in 2010.

Stoneburner is a good inline blocker and also can contribute as a receiver. Ohio State just moved him to wide receiver in training camp, but he’ll have to be a tight end in the NFL. Head coach Urban Meyer plans to use Stoneburner in the same manner as his Florida team used Aaron Hernandez. Stoneburner was arrested during the offseason after getting caught urinating in public and running from police.

Zach Boren, FB, Ohio State
Height: 5-11. Weight: 238. Hand: 10.08.
40 Time: 5.00.
Projected Round (2013): 7-FA.
4/24/13: Boren had 11 carries for 40 yards and two touchdowns in the early portion of the season before switching to linebacker. He also had five receptions for 42 yards. Boren played well at linebacker and could try to make an NFL roster at either position. He participated at the Combine as a fullback.

8/17/12: Zach Boren was a good blocker for Dan Herron and others at Ohio State. Boren is not much of a receiver with only 20 receptions for 151 yards and one touchdown in his career. He is not much of a runner either, having only one carry for two yards.

Still, Boren is a powerful lead blocker who can run over defenders. The problem for him is that the role is being constantly downgraded in the NFL.

Travis Howard, CB, Ohio State
Height: 6-1. Weight: 196.
Projected 40 Time: 4.59.
Projected Round (2013): 7-FA.
4/24/13: Howard had a great start to the season with three interceptions and two passes broken up through the first two games. He cooled down, but still was solid overall in 2012. Howard totaled 39 tackles, five passes defensed and four interceptions. He didn’t impress at the East-West Shrine.

9/1/12: Howard had 41 tackles with two interceptions, five passes broken up and two forced fumbles last season. He has good size and some physicality.

Howard could move to safety in the NFL if he doesn’t perform well at corner as a senior. Howard had a shoulder injury that limited him as a sophomore in 2010.

Ohrian Johnson, S, Ohio State
Height: 6-3. Weight: 210.
Projected 40 Time: 4.62.
Projected Round (2013): FA.
4/24/13: Johnson collected 39 tackles, two interceptions, seven passes broken up and one blocked kick in 2012.

9/2/12: Johnson had 32 tackles with three interceptions last season. He had 50 tackles with an interception and two forced fumbles in 2010. Johnson has to force his way onto the field and produce in order to get drafted.

Nathan Williams, DE/OLB, Ohio State
Height: 6-3. Weight: 241. Arm: 30.58.
40 Time: 4.88.
Projected Round (2013): FA.
4/24/13: Williams picked up 40 tackles, one forced fumble and two sacks on the season, but played better than those numbers indicate.

8/27/12: Williams had two tackles against Toledo in the 2011 season opener, but blew out his knee. He has missed the rest of the season after undergoing surgery. Williams had 4.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for a loss in 2010 after recording 3.5 sacks and eight tackles for a loss as a sophomore. While he led Ohio State in sacks in 2010, he needs to do more than that this year to solidify his draft status.