COLUMBUS, Ohio — When Vonn Bell sat down with reporters in advance of Ohio State’s trip to Arizona for its Fiesta Bowl matchup with Notre Dame, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the first two questions asked to the Buckeyes junior safety pertained to his potential NFL future.
After all, Bell would project as one of the top players at his position should he enter the 2016 NFL draft, according to several analysts, including Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller.
“I really haven’t thought about it, man,” Bell insisted. “I’ll let everybody know when I know.”
But when pressed on what he’d have left to accomplish by returning to Ohio State for his senior season, Bell conceded: “I feel like I’ve done it all.”
It’s a sentiment that’s shared throughout the Buckeyes roster, with no shortage of underclassmen having boosted their draft stock after contributing to Ohio State’s run to last season’s College Football Playoff championship. Heck, running back Ezekiel Elliott and quarterback Cardale Jones each indicated they’ll be leaving for the draft before the Buckeyes’ regular season had even come to an end, and defensive end Joey Bosa has hinted at leaning toward doing the same.
Between underclassmen declaring for the draft and the expiring eligibility of its senior class, Ohio State could find itself losing as many as 15 starters from its 2015 depth chart. And while a roster full of NFL talent has helped lead the Buckeyes to a 25-2 record over the course of the past…
Continue Reading: Can Ohio State Survive Mass Exodus of NFL Talent After the Fiesta Bowl?
