Eric Boggs
For a handful of members of the 2025 Ohio State football team, the journey in a Buckeye helmet is not quite finished. Over the next 10 days, several former Buckeyes will take the field in pre-draft all-star games, representing Ohio State one final time while aiming to improve their standing with NFL scouts ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
Ohio State fans will see familiar names spread across three showcase events. Former offensive lineman Ethan Onianwa and long snapper John Ferlmann are set to play in the inaugural American Bowl on Thursday night in Lakeland, Florida. Running back CJ Donaldson will suit up for the East-West Shrine Bowl in Frisco, Texas, while cornerback Davison Igbinosun will headline the group at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Each game presents a different opportunity, but all share the same purpose: a final audition on a national stage.
Among the Buckeyes participating, Igbinosun enters the process as the most established NFL prospect. When he announced his return to Ohio State for his senior season, his goal was clear—to become a first-round pick. While projections currently place him in the middle rounds, his decision to stay another year in Columbus undeniably strengthened his résumé. After earning a reputation early in his career for playing on the edge, Igbinosun showed significant growth in 2025, cutting down penalties and locking down opposing receivers as Ohio State’s top corner. He allowed just 16 receptions on 39 targets, added two interceptions, and continued to play with the physicality that defines his game. At 6-foot-2 and nearly 200 pounds, he has the size and toughness NFL teams covet, and Senior Bowl practices will give him the chance to prove that his discipline has caught up to his talent. Ryan Day’s praise of Igbinosun as a culture-changer in the secondary only reinforces the respect he’s earned within the program.
Donaldson’s path is a bit different, but no less important. The powerful running back transferred to Ohio State with hopes of boosting his draft stock, and while his production was limited, he still found the end zone 10 times thanks to his role in short-yardage situations. At 6-foot-2 and 232 pounds, Donaldson has the frame and strength NFL teams look for in situational backs and pass protectors, but the Shrine Bowl represents a crucial chance to show more burst and big-play ability. A strong week in Frisco could help scouts see beyond the numbers and focus on his physical upside.
For Onianwa, the American Bowl is an opportunity for redemption. A three-year starter at Rice, he arrived at Ohio State with expectations of competing for a starting role but ultimately saw limited action. Still, the Buckeyes believed in his potential enough to bring him to Columbus, and now he has a chance to remind evaluators why. His time at Ohio State, even as a backup, exposed him to an NFL-style standard of preparation and competition, and a strong showing in pass protection could revive his draft hopes.
Ferlmann’s path is more specialized, but Ohio State fans know how important consistency is at his position. As the Buckeyes’ long snapper for three seasons, he delivered steady, reliable snaps and followed a tradition that has already produced multiple NFL long snappers. While the position rarely draws draft-day headlines, his performance in the American Bowl could be enough to earn a training camp opportunity and extend Ohio State’s quiet legacy at the position.
Altogether, 15 members of the 2025 Ohio State roster are considered NFL draft prospects, a testament to the program’s continued ability to develop players for the next level. Whether they are projected early picks or fighting for a chance to be noticed, each of these Buckeyes carries the same responsibility when they take the field in these all-star games: to represent Ohio State with pride and prove that the standard in Columbus still translates to Sundays.
