Comparison is a dangerous game, and Ohio State’s latest NFL Draft haul is already making that obvious. Three Buckeyes defensive stars came off the board within the first 11 picks, and the early chatter around them has split fast.
Sonny Styles is the name drawing the most scrutiny. We had already talked in an earlier House about the preseason growing pains he’s working through, and now some Washington Commanders fans are looking back at the decision to pass on him and take Caleb Downs instead.
Downs went four picks later to Dallas, which has only sharpened the second-guessing. Arvell Reese, meanwhile, has already left a strong first impression on New York Giants fans.
An Ohio State source told us none of that is surprising.
"We actually talked about this around the [NFL Draft]," our source said. "Sonny was going to take longer to get settled than the other guys, even Carnell [Tate].
Those guys [Tate, Reese and Downs] have been playing at their spots forever. Just doing what they do.
Sonny was more of a jack of all trades, here, you know?"
That’s the difference in the picture right now. Styles came in with more moving parts, while the others have been defined by one role for a long time. The source said that adjustment was always going to take a little longer.
"[Styles] will be fine," our source said. "Just has to tune out the noise for a while. Everyone has even had to do that [at Ohio State] at some point."
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Former Buckeye Air Noland Is Another Quarterback Warning For Ohio State
Air Nolands winding path since leaving Ohio State is another reminder of how quickly the quarterback picture can change once a player exits Columbus. After transferring to South Carolina, Noland moved again to Memphis, where he reportedly lost the starting quarterback competition to Marcus Stokes, a fresh example of how even a highly regarded name can still end up fighting for a foothold elsewhere.
For Ohio State, the bigger takeaway is less about Noland himself and more about how the Buckeyes have managed the position under Ryan Day. Julian Sayin looks to have the inside track, and there are other options waiting in Tavien St. Clair and Luke Fahey, while Days past use of the transfer portal has helped keep the room stocked. Still, Nolands journey is the sort of cautionary tale that lingers for a program where the quarterback hierarchy can feel stable until it suddenly is not. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's New Kicker Just Took An Important Step Forward
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Hawkins arrives with a track record that should give Ohio State some confidence, having made 18 of 23 field-goal tries in his career and all 37 of his extra-point attempts last season. Elsewhere around the program, three freshmen also picked up early recognition, with Chris Henry Jr., Cincere Johnson and Jay Timmons landing on the 37-player watch list for the Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, another reminder that the Buckeyes are still sorting out how much young talent they can count on this fall. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Underwood Just Landed In Another Elite Quarterback Spotlight
College footballs top quarterback names keep finding their way onto the same national stage, and Dante Moore is the latest to join the mix. The Oregon quarterback has signed a Name, Image, and Likeness deal with Celsius, adding another brand partnership to a profile that already includes work with T-Mobile, DoorDash and Nike, while also landing him among the cover stars for EA College Football 27.
Celsius rolled out the announcement ahead of the 2026 season, putting Moore in a group with other notable player deals across the sport, including Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood and Ohio State receiver Chris Henry Jr. For Buckeyes fans, it is another reminder of how much the quarterback spotlight and the broader NIL marketplace now overlap, with the biggest names in college football increasingly becoming familiar faces well beyond Saturdays. [Read more 🡒]