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NFL draft: Former Greater Columbus high school football players picked since 1994

dave purpura, columbus dispatch
·8 min read

Thirty years ago, the NFL draft took on its current look when it was trimmed from eight rounds to seven.

Of course, it is a much larger spectacle now, thanks not only to wire-to-wire television coverage on multiple networks but weeks and months of hype and seemingly endless speculation.

Two more central Ohio players were drafted this past weekend, bringing the total to 50 taken since 1994.

Here is a list of Columbus-area players drafted over the past three decades, with extra information on some recent draftees and those who had the best professional careers:

2024

  • DeWayne Carter, Pickerington Central/Duke (Bills, third round, No. 95 pick): A defensive tackle who helped Central to the 2017 Division I state championship, Carter made 41 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss a season ago. The Blue Devils won the Birmingham Bowl.

  • Josiah Ezirim, Hilliard Davidson/Eastern Kentucky (Saints, seventh round, No. 239): A defensive lineman who converted to offensive tackle for his final two college seasons, Ezirim was a third-team Associated Press FCS All-American last fall. Eastern Kentucky averaged 36.2 points in 2022 and 29.5 in 2023.

Ohio State's Zach Harrison pursues Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy during their game in 2022. Harrison, an Olentangy Orange graduate, now plays for the Atlanta Falcons and McCarthy was a first-round pick this year by Minnesota.
Ohio State's Zach Harrison pursues Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy during their game in 2022. Harrison, an Olentangy Orange graduate, now plays for the Atlanta Falcons and McCarthy was a first-round pick this year by Minnesota.

2023

  • Zach Harrison, Olentangy Orange/Ohio State (Falcons, third round, No. 75): The defensive end made 33 tackles as a rookie, including three sacks and four tackles for loss, and is expected to make a considerably larger impact this fall.

  • Brad Robbins, Westerville South/Michigan (Bengals, sixth round, No. 217): Averaged 44.3 yards per punt in 76 attempts, with a long of 62 yards.

DeSales graduate Brian Asamoah was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings.
DeSales graduate Brian Asamoah was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings.

2022

  • A.J. Arcuri, Olentangy Liberty/Michigan State (Rams, seventh round, No. 261)

  • Brian Asamoah, DeSales/Oklahoma (Vikings, third round, No. 66)

Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper, who played for Gahanna and Ohio State, closes in on Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper, who played for Gahanna and Ohio State, closes in on Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.

2021

  • Camaron Cheeseman, Gahanna Lincoln/Michigan (Commanders, sixth round, No. 225)

  • Jonathon Cooper, Gahanna/Ohio State (Broncos, seventh round, No. 239): The outside linebacker has played in 30 games the past three seasons and started 14, totaling 135 tackles, 13 sacks and an interception.

  • Darrick Forrest, Walnut Ridge/Cincinnati (Commanders, fifth round, No. 163): A safety, Forrest spent most of 2023 on the injured reserve list, coming off a season in which he started 11 games and had 88 tackles and four interceptions.

Pickerington Central's DaVon Hamilton holds up the ball after recovering a fumble during a regional semifinal against Cincinnati Moeller in 2014. Hamilton went on to have a standout career at Ohio State before being selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL draft.
Pickerington Central's DaVon Hamilton holds up the ball after recovering a fumble during a regional semifinal against Cincinnati Moeller in 2014. Hamilton went on to have a standout career at Ohio State before being selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL draft.

2020

  • Markus Bailey, Hilliard Davidson/Purdue (Bengals, seventh round, No. 215)

  • DaVon Hamilton, Pickerington Central/Ohio State (Jaguars, third round, No. 73): The defensive lineman has 144 tackles, 4.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and a forced fumble through his first four seasons. Hamilton signed a three-year, $34.5 million extension last April.

  • Malik Harrison, Walnut Ridge/Ohio State (Ravens, third round, No. 98): A linebacker who also has been key on special teams for the defending AFC North champions, Harrison has 120 career tackles and started eight games last fall. Harrison signed a one-year extension in March.

2019

  • Benny Snell, Westerville Central/Kentucky (Steelers, fourth round, No. 122): After three 1,000-yard seasons in college, Snell rushed for 982 yards and seven touchdowns in four seasons in Pittsburgh. He was cut by the Detroit Lions after last year’s training camp.

2017

  • Jake Butt, Pickerington North/Michigan (Broncos, fifth round, No. 145)

  • Taco Charlton, Pickerington Central/Michigan (Cowboys, first round, No. 28): The defensive end spent his first three seasons in Dallas and played for eight NFL organizations in all, amassing 95 tackles, 11.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. Charlton currently is with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League.

  • Pat Elflein, Pickerington North/Ohio State (Vikings, third round, No. 70): The center has started 64 of 65 games and has one fumble recovery. He spent his first four seasons in Minnesota, then played for the Jets (2020) and Panthers (2021-22) before signing with Arizona last July. Elflein spent the entire season on injured reserve.

  • Adam Shaheen, Big Walnut/Ashland (Bears, second round, No. 45)

  • Dawuane Smoot, Groveport/Illinois (Jaguars, third round, No. 68): Currently a free agent after seven seasons with Jacksonville, Smoot has 133 tackles, 23.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 99 games.

2016

  • Darron Lee, New Albany/Ohio State (Jets, first round, No. 20): A linebacker, Lee spent his first three years in New York before stints in Kansas City (2019), Buffalo (2020) and Las Vegas (2021). He finished his career with 273 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles and was on the Chiefs’ 2019 Super Bowl championship team, although he was inactive for the game.

  • Joshua Perry, Olentangy/Ohio State (San Diego Chargers, fourth round, No. 102)

  • Nick Vannett, Westerville Central/Ohio State (Seahawks, third round, No. 94): The tight end has 91 catches for 877 yards and six touchdowns in his career. Vannett spent his first three seasons in Seattle and currently is with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell, a Groveport graduate who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, carries the ball against Ohio State in 2011.
Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell, a Groveport graduate who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, carries the ball against Ohio State in 2011.

2013

  • Le’Veon Bell, Groveport/Michigan State (Steelers, second round, No. 48): A running back and six-time All-Pro, Bell amassed 6,554 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns as well as 399 receptions for 3,289 yards and nine more scores. Bell played six seasons in Pittsburgh and has been in four other organizations since.

2012

2010

  • Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, Whetstone/Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Cowboys, fourth round, No. 126)

  • Taylor Price, Darby/Ohio University (Patriots, third round, No. 90)

Dublin Coffman graduate Brady Quinn played quarterback at Notre Dame before being drafted by the Cleveland Browns.
Dublin Coffman graduate Brady Quinn played quarterback at Notre Dame before being drafted by the Cleveland Browns.

2007

  • John Bowie, Northland/Cincinnati (Oakland Raiders, fourth round, No. 110)

  • Chinedum “Nedu” Ndukwe, Coffman/Notre Dame (Bengals, seventh round, No. 253): The safety made an impact despite the late pick, with 260 tackles, 7.5 sacks, seven interceptions and two touchdowns in a five-season career with Cincinnati (2007-10) and Oakland (2011).

  • Brady Quinn, Coffman/Notre Dame (Browns, first round, No. 22): A quarterback who set 36 program records in college, Quinn threw for 3,043 yards with 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions during a seven-year pro career. Quinn was in Cleveland from 2007-09.

  • Jay Richardson, Dublin Scioto/Ohio State (Raiders, fifth round, No. 138)

2006

  • Bobby Carpenter, Lancaster/Ohio State (Cowboys, first round, No. 18): The linebacker made 167 tackles with 3.5 sacks, a fumble recovery, an interception and a defensive touchdown in seven pro seasons. Carpenter was in Dallas from 2006-09.

  • Domenik Hixon, Whitehall/Akron (Broncos, fourth round, No. 130): A wide receiver and kick returner, Hixon had 1,460 career receiving yards, 2,563 return yards and nine total touchdowns. He won two Super Bowls in six seasons with the Giants.

  • Eric Smith, Groveport/Michigan State (Jets, third round, No. 97): The safety racked up 308 tackles, six interceptions and 3.5 sacks in seven pro seasons, all in New York. He was an assistant coach for two years after retirement, one each with the Jets (2014) and Bills (2015).

2004

  • Keiwan Ratliff, Whitehall/Florida (Bengals, second round, No. 49): A safety, Ratliff had three stints in Cincinnati and played for five teams in all. He made 161 tackles in seven seasons with five interceptions and a touchdown.

2003

  • Donnie Nickey, Jonathan Alder/Ohio State (Titans, fifth round, No. 154)

2001

  • Derek Combs, Grove City/Ohio State (Raiders, seventh round, No. 228)

  • Curtis Keaton, Beechcroft/James Madison (Bengals, fourth round, No. 97)

  • Matt Stewart, DeSales/Vanderbilt (Falcons, fourth round, No. 102): A linebacker and long snapper, Stewart had 291 tackles, eight sacks and a forced fumble in 10 seasons. He spent three seasons with the Browns (2005-07).

2000

Andy Katzenmoyer was a standout linebacker for Westerville South and Ohio State before being drafted by the New England Patriots.
Andy Katzenmoyer was a standout linebacker for Westerville South and Ohio State before being drafted by the New England Patriots.

1999

  • Andy Katzenmoyer, Westerville South/Ohio State (Patriots, first round, No. 28): A linebacker, Katzenmoyer made 101 tackles with 3.5 sacks and an interception in two seasons before injuries ended his career. He remained with New England in 2001 and won a Super Bowl ring.

1997

  • Charles Henley, Brookhaven/Kansas (Chiefs, fifth round, No. 163)

  • Ty Howard, Briggs/Ohio State (Cardinals, third round, No. 84)

  • Rob Kelly, Newark Catholic/Ohio State (Saints, second round, No. 33)

Ohio State's Terry Glenn is accompanied by Rickey Dudley on his way to a touchdown against Iowa in 1995.
Ohio State's Terry Glenn is accompanied by Rickey Dudley on his way to a touchdown against Iowa in 1995.

1996

  • Terry Glenn, Brookhaven/Ohio State (Patriots, first round, No. 7): A wide receiver, Glenn made 593 catches for 8,823 yards and 44 touchdowns in a 12-year career with New England (1996-2001), Green Bay (2002) and Dallas (2003-07). Glenn died in a car crash in 2017.

Westerville South graduate Ki-Jana Carter was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals after playing at Penn State.
Westerville South graduate Ki-Jana Carter was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals after playing at Penn State.

1995

  • Ki-Jana Carter, Westerville South/Penn State (Bengals, first round, No. 1): The running back’s promising career was hampered from the start, when he tore a knee ligament in his first preseason game. Carter rushed for 1,144 yards and 20 touchdowns and caught 66 passes for 469 yards and a score in nine seasons.

  • Marlon Kerner, Brookhaven/Ohio State (Bills, third round, No. 76)

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: NFL draft: Central Ohio high school players picked since 1994