The Ohio State Buckeyes football program is still riding high after their victorious run through the first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship and likely expecting big things again in 2015. The team lost few major starters on either side of the ball - and in some odd instances, seems to have added players, if Braxton Miller's reported move to wide receiver is accurate - and could potentially be even better if players like Cardale Jones and Ezekiel Elliott, who burst onto the scene for the first time last year, are able to improve on those promising performances.
Unfortunately, 2015 may be the final ride for much of the Buckeyes major talent, as a recent report suggests that Jones, Elliott and Ohio State stud defensive end Joey Bosa have already begun exploring their NFL futures and possible Ohio State exits.
"According to two sources I've talked to the Ohio State trio of underclassmen, Joey Bosa the defensive end, quarterback Cardale Jones and running back Ezekiel Elliott have already begun to research their pro prospects and talked to people about being represented in the NFL," Jason Cole of Bleacher Report revealed on Friday.
While it's certainly no surprise to hear that Bosa is likely headed out the door - he's entering his junior season and is widely viewed as a likely top-5, potential first-overall, pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He finished 2014 with 55 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 21 tackles-for-loss, four forced fumbles and a pass defended. Since his freshman year he's been an impact player for the Buckeyes and his early exit from Columbus is all-but-certain.
Jones and Elliott, on the other hand, come as something of a surprise.
While Cole characterizes Bosa's decision as "almost complete," the matter is "more difficult" for the pair of offensive stars.
"Jones is still competing for the starting job," said Cole. "If he gets the starting job at Ohio State and is able to display all the talents, with his size and strong arm, there's an expectation that he could be a first-round draft pick based on what pro scouts believe his upside is."
This jibes with a recent report, passed along by HNGN, that Jones is already being viewed as a likely first-round pick after his unexpected helming of the Buckeyes to the National Championship. Scouts were said to be so excited over his professional prospects that they were looking at him as having a better NFL future than former Jaguars first-round pick and current potential franchise quarterback Blake Bortles, and comparing him to the likes of the Panthers' Cam Newton.
"With Elliott, he had a fabulous run during the playoffs, had more than 200-yards in three consecutive games, put on a spectacle for pro scouts, which makes them believe he can be one of the top running backs available in the 2016 draft if he decides to come out, but there's still a question, will he want to do that?"
Elliott absolutely broke out last year, along with Jones, during the Buckeyes march to the National Championship. He recorded games of 220-yards, 230-yards and finished unbelievably strong with 246-yards rushing against Oregon in the title game.
There's no denying his talents or doubting his bright future, the only question seems to be when he'll choose to make the leap to the NFL. It seems it could be as early as after next season.
