Former Ohio State Buckeyes playing in the National Football League this season will number 37 when your peruse the 53-man opening day rosters. The 2011 NFL season gets under way tonight when the Green Bay Packers hosts New Orleans in a game that will feature four former Buckeyes: A.J. Hawk and Ryan Pickett will suit up for the defending Super Bowl champions and Malcolm Jenkins and Will Smith are members of the Saints.
The list of Buckeyes in the NFL includes seven players off the 2010 team: Chimdi Chekwa (Oakland), Cameron Heyward (Pittsburgh), Jermale Hines (St. Louis Rams), Jake McQuaide (St. Louis), Terrelle Pryor (Oakland), Brian Rolle (Philadelphia) and Dane Sanzenbacher (Chicago Bears).
The list also includes three Buckeyes who have been in the league at least 11 years: Antoine Winfield, who is in his 13th NFL season and is with the Minnesota Vikings; Na’il Diggs, a 12-year vet now with San Diego; and Pickett, in his 11th season and playing with Green Bay.
Three Buckeyes have been signed to NFL team’s practice squads as well, giving the Buckeyes an even 40 alumni currently with an NFL team. Justin Boren is with the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad; Brandon Saine is with Green Bay; and Doug Worthington is with Washington.
The complete list of Buckeyes in the NFL is below:
Arizona Cardinals
§ RB Beanie Wells –3rd year
Baltimore Ravens
§ OG Justin Boren – Practice Squad
Carolina Panthers
§ CB Chris Gamble – 8th year
§ TE Ben Hartsock – 8th year
Chicago Bears
§ WR Dane Sanzenbacher – Rookie
Cincinnati Bengals
§ DB Nate Clements – 11th year
§ K Mike Nugent – 7th year
Cleveland Browns
§ WR Brian Robiskie – 3rd year
Detroit Lions
§ LB Bobby Carpenter – 6th year
§ OG Rob Sims – 6th year
Green Bay Packers
§ LB A.J. Hawk – 6th year
§ DT Ryan Pickett – 11th year
§ RB Brandon Saine – Practice Squad
Indianapolis Colts
§ WR Anthony Gonzalez – 5th year
Kansas City Chiefs
§ DB Donald Washington – 3rd year
Miami Dolphins
§ WR Brian Hartline – 3rd year
§ LB Austin Spitler – 2nd year
Minnesota Vikings
§ WR Michael Jenkins – 8th year
§ DB Antoine Winfield – 13th year
New Orleans Saints
§ DB Malcolm Jenkins – 3rd year
§ DE Will Smith – 8th year
New York Giants
§ TE Jake Ballard – 2nd year
New York Jets
§ WR Santonio Holmes – 6th year
§ OC Nick Mangold – 6th year
Oakland Raiders
§ DB Chimdi Chekwa – Rookie
§ QB Terrelle Pryor – Rookie
Philadelphia Eagles
§ DB Kurt Coleman – 2nd year
§ LB Brian Rolle – Rookie
Pittsburgh Steelers
§ DB Will Allen – 8th year
§ DE Cam Heyward – Rookie
San Diego Chargers
§ LB Na’il Diggs – 12th year
San Francisco 49ers
§ OT Alex Boone – 2nd year
§ WR Ted Ginn – 5th year
§ LB Larry Grant – 4th year
§ S Donte Whitner – 6th year
St. Louis Rams
§ DB Jermale Hines – Rookie
§ LB James Laurinaitis – 3rd year
§ LS Jake McQuaide – Rookie
Washington Redskins
§ DE Darrion Scott – 5th year
§ DT Doug Worthington – Practice Squad