Ohio State Football Could Add Another Name to Its Growing List of NFL Starting Quarterbacks with a 2025 Draft Breakout Star

Ohio State Football Could Add Another Name to Its Growing List of NFL Starting Quarterbacks with a 2025 Draft Breakout Star

Ohio State has long been known as a pipeline for NFL talent, with its reputation especially strong when it comes to producing elite-level players at key positions. However, the quarterback position has traditionally been an area where the Buckeyes struggled to turn college excellence into long-term NFL starting success—until recent years. The narrative is shifting. With C.J. Stroud’s meteoric rise in the NFL following his rookie year with the Houston Texans, the perception of Ohio State quarterbacks is changing. Now, as the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, there is increasing buzz that Ohio State could soon have another starting quarterback in the NFL, continuing a transformation that’s only just begun.

In college football, elite programs are often judged not just by national championships or Heisman winners, but by how well they prepare players for the next level. For years, despite sending a wave of elite talent to the NFL, Ohio State quarterbacks were seen as system players—great in college, but questionable pros. Critics often pointed to past examples like Terrelle Pryor, Braxton Miller (who converted to receiver), J.T. Barrett, and even Cardale Jones, none of whom carved out significant careers under center in the NFL. But things began to change with Dwayne Haskins, who showed glimpses of potential before his tragic passing, and more definitively with Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud.

Stroud’s success in particular has forced analysts and NFL executives alike to reevaluate how they view Ohio State quarterbacks. In 2023, Stroud proved to be not only capable but exceptional, displaying poise, intelligence, and precision that silenced the “system quarterback” criticisms. He set rookie records, led the Texans to the playoffs, and looked every bit the franchise cornerstone. With his success, the door has now been opened wider for future Ohio State quarterbacks to be taken seriously—and perhaps taken earlier—in NFL drafts.

Enter Devin Brown, or potentially another rising talent from the Buckeyes’ current quarterback room. The 2024 season will be pivotal in determining which name will capture the attention of scouts, fans, and draft pundits, but the ingredients are already in place. The Buckeyes boast a deep and talented quarterback room that includes Devin Brown, Lincoln Kienholz, and incoming five-star freshman Air Noland. Each of them brings a unique skill set, and under the guidance of head coach Ryan Day—himself a former NFL assistant and quarterback guru—the development of Ohio State signal-callers has improved dramatically.

Brown, in particular, could be the one to emerge. A highly regarded recruit from Utah, he’s shown flashes of brilliance in limited action and is expected to be in the thick of the competition for the starting role in 2024. With Kyle McCord transferring out and after a spring battle that generated a lot of excitement, Brown may finally have his chance to shine. The potential is there: quick release, strong arm, solid mobility, and a cerebral approach to the game. If he puts together a strong season, especially against Big Ten powerhouses and in primetime matchups, his draft stock could soar.

What makes this moment unique is not just the talent on the roster, but the structure and resources surrounding these quarterbacks. Ohio State’s offensive system under Day is increasingly sophisticated, blending pro-style concepts with the explosive playmaking that defines modern college football. Quarterbacks in this system are expected to make full-field reads, operate under pressure, and execute at a high level. The supporting cast is elite, with top-tier offensive linemen and an annually dominant wide receiver corps—Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and others have all contributed to making life easier for Buckeye QBs.

There’s also the recruiting factor. Ohio State no longer just pulls in good quarterbacks—they attract the nation’s best. The presence of former top recruits competing for snaps speaks to the program’s evolution and its appeal to NFL hopefuls. Players know that if they can win the starting job in Columbus, they’ll have the spotlight and the development they need to make it to the next level.

If a Buckeye quarterback—likely Devin Brown, but not necessarily—does emerge as a legitimate first-round NFL prospect in 2025, he would continue the trend that started with Fields and was accelerated by Stroud. And that’s not just a win for the player or the school—it’s a cultural shift. For years, Ohio State quarterbacks faced a stigma that their success was a product of scheme, not skill. That perception is changing fast, and another starter in the NFL would serve as a powerful rebuttal to those outdated critiques.

It also speaks to how the NFL itself is changing. Gone are the days when quarterbacks had to fit into one mold. Today’s NFL is more flexible, open to different styles of play, and more reliant on creativity, mobility, and intelligence than ever before. Ohio State quarterbacks, shaped in a system that prepares them to read defenses and make NFL-type throws, are now better suited than ever to thrive in the pros. The same tools that help them rack up stats in the Big Ten—quick decision-making, ball placement, and situational awareness—are now being properly appreciated at the next level.

Of course, development is never linear. The 2024 season will determine who starts, how they perform, and how they grow. Injuries, depth chart shifts, and unexpected storylines are inevitable. But what’s undeniable is that Ohio State is now seen as a credible incubator for NFL quarterback talent. That wasn’t always the case. The shift in narrative is significant not just for players and fans, but for scouts and general managers who are rethinking long-held biases.

It’s also worth noting the cultural weight of this change. Ohio State is one of the most storied programs in college football history. The school has produced dozens of NFL stars, but the quarterback position remained something of a blind spot in terms of sustained pro success. To now be on the verge of having multiple NFL starters—possibly at the same time—is a seismic development. It’s the kind of transformation that reshapes how a program is perceived nationally and strengthens its grip on elite talent in future recruiting cycles.

Looking ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft, the buzz will grow louder as the college football season unfolds. If Brown or another Ohio State quarterback excels, don’t be surprised to hear first-round chatter by midseason. Given what Stroud accomplished—and how NFL teams now look more closely at the tools rather than the jersey—there’s no longer a ceiling on how high a Buckeye quarterback can rise.

In many ways, Ohio State is still chasing its first long-term, Pro Bowl-level quarterback since the NFL-AFL merger. But the foundation has now been laid, and the old doubts are quickly being erased. With Ryan Day’s offensive expertise, top-tier weapons on the outside, and a nationally televised schedule that offers ample opportunities to impress, the next Buckeye to break through is likely already on the roster—and ready to make his mark.

In conclusion, Ohio State might soon celebrate another quarterback taking over a starting job in the NFL, possibly as early as 2025. If that happens, it will mark not just another professional milestone for a former Buckeye, but the solidification of a new era—one where Ohio State is no longer just producing NFL players, but developing elite-level quarterbacks who are ready to lead franchises. And when that happens, the question will no longer be whether an Ohio State QB can succeed in the NFL—but how many more are coming next.