The Ohio State University has produced many NFL players and in recent years the university has dominated the NFL Draft. In 2017, Gareon Conley became the tenth Buckeye ever drafted by the Raiders and the fourth to be taken by the silver and black in the first round.
Starting with Gareon Conley, here is just a quick look at all four Buckeyes that were selected by the Raiders in the first round and their subsequent Raider careers that followed.
Gareon Conley, cornerback, 2017 NFL Draft.
- Drafted 24th overall.
- Appeared in 35 career games with the Buckeyes, started every game for the Buckeyes in 2015 and 2016 at cornerback.
- Named Second Team All-Big Ten by the Coaches and Third Team by the media in 2016.
- Gave up only 14 receptions to opposing receivers during the 2016 season.
- Recorded 66 solo tackles, a half a sack, 15 pass deflections and 6 interceptions during his three year career at The Ohio State University.
- Honorable mention All-Big Ten pick in 2015 (two interceptions, five pass breakups.
Rickey Dudley, tight end, 1996 NFL Draft
- Drafted 9th overall.
- 78 starts in 80 regular season games in Oakland. 2 starts in 2 postseason contests at tight end.
- Caught 186 career passes for 2,627 yards and 29 touchdowns. Averaged 14.1 yards per catch. Recorded one reception for seven yards in postseason play.
- Recorded a career long 76 yard reception in 1997.
- Scored a career best 9 touchdowns in 1997.
Neal Colzie, defensive back, 1975 NFL Draft
- Drafted 24th overall.
- 6 starts in 56 regular season games in Oakland, 2 starts in 7 postseason games at cornerback.
- Tied for third all-time in franchise history for most interceptions by a rookie (4 interceptions) behind Charles Woodson and Charlie Phillips.
- Was the Raiders starting punt returner for four seasons (1975-1979) and he led the team in punt return yardage every season.
- Intercepted 10 passes as a Raider, scored one touchdown on a fumble return against Cincinnati in 1978
- Led the league in punt return yardage as a rookie with 655 yards in only 13 games played. The 655 punt return yards currently rank third best in Raider history and as a franchise best by a Raider rookie.
- Ended his Raider career in 1979 as the franchise leader in punt return yardage (1,747 yards), a record later broken by Tim Brown.
- Colize currently ranks second behind Brown in punt return yardage.
- Passed away in 2001 at the age of 47 (heart attack).
Jack Tatum, Safety, 1971 Draft
- Drafted 19th overall, played in three Pro Bowls (1973-1975).
- 120 starts in 120 regular season games in Oakland, 12 postseason starts in 12 postseason games
- Super Bowl XI Champion, Jack played in five straight AFC title games and is the only starting safety in NFL history to accomplish that feat.
- 30 career interceptions with Raiders (tied for fifth all-time), his 636 return yards off interceptions is a franchise best. Jack also holds the Raider record for most yards gain off fumble recoveries with 171 yards. Tatum had two more interceptions in playoff play.
- Jack possessed the all-time NFL record for longest fumble return (104 yards); set by Oakland’s Jack Tatum in 1972 and matched by Arizona’s Aeneas Williams in 2000. The return is the longest fumble return in Raider history and it currently is tied for the longest play in Raider history (Ira Matthews returned a kickoff 104 yards in 1979).
- Ranked as the sixth hardest hitter in NFL history by NFL Films
- Passed away in 2010 (heart attack).