With The First Pick
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2020 NFL Draft: Ohio State football producing three potential top-60 cornerbacks

By Cory Kinnan

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 23: Justin Hilliard #47 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates with teammates /bbd4 #4 and Jeff Okudah #1 after intercepting a Penn State Nittany Lions pass in the fourth quarter at Ohio Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Penn State 28-17. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 23: Justin Hilliard #47 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates with teammates /bbd4 #4 and Jeff Okudah #1 after intercepting a Penn State Nittany Lions pass in the fourth quarter at Ohio Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Penn State 28-17. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OH – SEPTEMBER 23: Damon Arnette #3 of the Ohio State Buckeyes intercepts a pass against the UNLV Rebels in the second quarter at Ohio Stadium on September 23, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – SEPTEMBER 23: Damon Arnette #3 of the Ohio State Buckeyes intercepts a pass against the UNLV Rebels in the second quarter at Ohio Stadium on September 23, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

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Damon Arnette CB

Ohio State Buckeyes Football
Ohio State Buckeyes Football /

Scouting Report

At the end of last season, there was chatter that redshirt junior cornerback Damon Arnette would join his 2018 partner in crime Kendall Sheffield, who became another cornerback from the Ohio State football program,and enter the 2019 NFL Draft. He decided to return for his redshirt senior year and bet on himself; it turns out this was a bet that he has won big time.

More from With the First Pick

This offseason new head coach Ryan Day managed to poach Michigan coach Greg Mattison to join Jeff Hafley as the co-defensive coordinator in Columbus. The silver bullets have been night and day difference, and this starts with the cornerback group who has been tasked with more press man coverages and are thriving because of it.

While Arnette’s footwork still needs work, especially at the line of scrimmage, he has a great ability to get his hands on receivers to jam them in press coverage. Arnette has also shown elite ball skills and tracking range, making circus interceptions and ditching his assignment once the ball is in the air and tracking deep.

He needs to get better off of the line of scrimmage with his footwork, but he has great hip flexibility to track with receivers downfield. Arnette has been much improved for the Buckeyes this year under new leadership on the defensive side of the ball and has made a ton of future money because of it.

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