Ohio State
The Ohio State Buckeyes are absolutely loaded with talent and that’s good news for the Vikings. They have drafted 12 total Buckeyes and five since 2004.
Jalyn Holmes is the most recent Buckeye selected by Minnesota, taken in the fourth round in 2018.
The 2019 Buckeyes are, once again, expected to be one of the best teams in the nation. They will compete for a national championship come next January if they stay healthy. The abundance of college talent adds up to NFL potential as well.
When I tell you they have talent, I mean it. On offense, Ohio State has Binjimin Victor, K.J. Hill, and Austin Mack to make up a deadly wide receiver trio. J.K. Dobbins is one of the best running backs in the country and the offensive line constantly spits out NFL talent.
Defensively, it’s not much is different. Chase Young is arguably the top pass rusher in college football. Robert Landers is a feisty interior defensive lineman that lacks size but not ability.
The linebackers are deep. Tuf Borland not only has the name, but the on-field impact as well. He gets to the spot and finishes tackles with ease. He plays hard and knows how to lead a defense as the MIKE linebacker.
Malik Harrison lacks the elite athleticism at the position, but he is disciplined in shooting gaps and reading the offense. While production hasn’t been there for Harrison, his presence is felt between the sidelines. Pete Werner and Baron Browning are both deserving of playing time in the middle of the field.
The fun doesn’t stop there. Ohio State is quite possibly DBU and their 2019 team hopes to keep that true.
Cornerbacks Shaun Wade, Damon Arnette, and Jeffrey Okudah are all draft-eligible and will play meaningful minutes in 2019. Jordan Fuller is one of the best safety prospects in the NCAA this year. Given that Minnesota loves defensive backs, Ohio State is a good place for them to look.
Ohio State may officially become a farm system for the Vikings before we know it.