The Buckeye state, not Buckeyes, didn’t do so well in the 2025 NFL draft
For good or bad reasons, the Cleveland Browns 2025 NFL draft will be one we talk about for years to come. The decision to trade out of the chance to draft WR/CB Travis Hunter and the choice of QB Shedeur Sanders will get a lot of attention, scrutiny and, likely, have a big impact on the field.
Off the field, specifically with Sanders, will be a big story given his star power, but something else was also clear in the State of Ohio in this year’s draft class: We are falling behind.
Of the 257 players selected in the 2025 NFL draft, 246 went to high schools in the United States. Of that number, just seven went to school in the State of Ohio, including Jack Sawyer and Ty Hamilton, who attended Pickerington together.
Once a hotbed of high school football, 11 states produced more draft picks than Ohio this year, including Michigan/That State Up North:
- Texas – 37
- Florida – 26
- Georgia – 22
- California – 16
- Louisiana – 10
- Virginia – 10
- Alabama – 9
- Michigan – 9
- South Carolina – 9
- Mayland – 8
- North Carolina – 8
While The Ohio State Buckeyes were busy dominating college football (except that rival team), the high schools did not produce high-level talent three, four and five years ago. Even per capita, Ohio didn’t rank in the top five.
Here is where the Browns seven picks went to school:
- Mason Graham, Carson Schwesinger – California
- Quinshon Judkins – Alabama
- Harold Fannin Jr. – Ohio
- Dillon Gabriel – Hawaii
- Dylan Sampson – Louisana
- Shedeur Sanders – Texas
Do you think Ohio has a chance to be closer to the top of this list in the future or will the warmer states always have too much of a benefit?