The 2023 NFL Draft is officially in the books and the Big Ten conference had a great weekend sending their fair share of young athletes to the next level. Obviously, our focus and love go to the Ohio State Buckeyes, but when you watch years of Big Ten football, you tend to get acquainted with the rivals as well and there is no shame in keeping track.
The Southeastern Conference had the most prospects drafted with 62 and that makes sense considering their dominance of the college football landscape, but the Big Ten is not far behind and had 55 players selected. The Michigan Wolverines were at the top of the mountain as far as prospects drafted with 9 drafted, but Ohio State was close behind tied for second with the Penn State Nittany Lions at six.
This list is going to highlight only the players drafted in the first round and finished their career at a Big Ten school — sorry, transfer portal fans.
No. 2 - Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
The call that made C.J. Stroud a Texan 🤘 pic.twitter.com/Ax072VRFaC
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) April 28, 2023
No. 6 - Arizona Cardinals: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
Another example of how Paris Johnson Jr. just seems to be the coolest. pic.twitter.com/cfOMLPoadY
— Timmy Hall (@TimHall971) April 29, 2023
No. 11 - Tennessee Titans: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
The moment Peter Skoronski became a Tennessee Titan!!!
Just a great pick for Carthon to start off his tenure. Ten year starter.
— TicTacTitans (@TicTacTitans) April 28, 2023
No. 13 - Green Bay Packers: Lukas Van Ness, LB, Iowa
The guy getting dragged off Lukas Van Ness cracked me up pic.twitter.com/ScncHApvFe
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) April 28, 2023
No. 18 - Detroit Lions: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
Brad Holmes shared his belief in his first round picks:
On Jahmyr Gibbs: "We didn't acquire a running back in the first round. We acquired an elite weapon to keep our offense explosive."
On Jack Campbell: "We acquired a legit anchor to elevate our defense." pic.twitter.com/mOV4WpvTMA
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) April 30, 2023
No. 20 - Seattle Seahawks: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the 1st WR taken in this years draft. That’s THREE 1st RD WRs in two years. Sheeshpic.twitter.com/lALPS1Iuce
— The Buckeye Nut (@TheBuckeyeNut) April 28, 2023
No. 24 - New York Giants: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
The moment Deonte Banks got the call 📞 pic.twitter.com/dSuI0lWbpy
— New York Giants (@Giants) April 28, 2023
No. 26 - Dallas Cowboys: Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan
The Mazi Smith weight room stories are Larry Allen legendary. They literally had to call the manufacturer of this machine to add more weight to it so Mazi could do 800 lbs. This is impossible strength.
— Jonah Tuls (@JonahTulsNFL) April 28, 2023
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