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2024 NFL Draft: Multiple Ohio State Buckeyes Sign UDFA Contracts

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2024 NFL Draft: Multiple Ohio State Buckeyes Sign UDFA Contracts


The 2024 NFL Draft ended as a productive weekend for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Four Buckeyes players heard their names called during the three-day event. Star receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. kicked things off as the fourth-overall choice and was followed by defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. (Cleveland Browns), tight end Cade Stover (Houston Texans), and linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (Las Vegas Raiders).

In the hours since the draft closed late Saturday evening, three other members of the Scarlet and Gray have signed NFL contracts as “undrafted free agents.” Here are the latest Ohio State players to ink professional deals.

Josh Proctor (SAF) – Jacksonville Jaguars

Josh Proctor’s time at Ohio State was plagued by injuries, which limited his on-field contributions. However, the safety has more than proven his ability in the reps which he has received.

During the NFL Combine, the Owasso, Oklahoma native said his time off of the field has helped him prepare himself for life in the NFL.

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“It helped me mature,” Proctor said. “Helped me learn, helped me grow in different aspects in life. So honestly, it’s just a great opportunity to be a better person, a better player at the end of the day.”

Xavier Johnson (WR) – Buffalo Bills

Xavier Johnson was Ohio State’s primary option out of the slot last season, a position at which he was able to mix his terrific hands with lightning speed. Receiver is not the only spot at which Johnson has experience, as the career of “weapon X” began playing defensive back.

By adding Johnson to their roster, the Bills are one step closer to filling the massive shoes of receiver Stefon Diggs. Diggs was traded to the Texans earlier this month, in exchange for a handful of current and future draft picks.

Matthew Jones (OL) – Miami Dolphins

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The Dolphins offensive line was one of the best in the NFL last season. Miami finished with the most earned yards last season with 6,822, which averages out to over 400 per game.

Matthew Jones will have to work hard to earn a place on such a strong O-line, something of which the senior is not afraid. Following Ohio State’s Pro Day on March 20, Jones said his focus would be on becoming as multifaceted as possible.

“I’m just trying to be as versitalle as possible,” Jones said. “From that center position, just be comfortable and be confident.”



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$500K bond set for Ohio State student accused of sexually assaulting 13-year-old

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0K bond set for Ohio State student accused of sexually assaulting 13-year-old


A $500,000 bond has been set for an Ohio State University student accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

21-year-old Anthony Bokar faces criminal charges of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, tampering with evidence, and corrupting another with drugs.

Court documents say Bokar purchased and delivered marijuana to the 13-year-old in Franklin County, and prosecutors said the pair started texting on Snapchat.

[Bokar] then made a plan to drive to Nelsonville in Athens, Ohio to pick her up and engage in sexual activity, which he did.

“He drove to her home and picked her up. Then, [he] drove her to the campus at Hocking College, in which he engaged in oral sex as well as vaginally penetrative sex with a 13-year-old girl,” prosecutors said. “He also solicited feet pictures from her in exchange for money.”

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Court documents ABC 6 obtained read Bokar instructed the 13-year-old he had been “sexting” to “delete and wipe her phone from all the information they shared.” Prosecutors said in court Thursday that they are still digging through the evidence on his phone.

“We were just informed today that he was soliciting pictures from other juvenile females around the same age: a 13-year-old girl,” prosecutors said.

Bokar’s LinkedIn profile shows he worked as a student teacher at Pickerington Central High School. The district tells ABC 6 they have no record of a personnel file.

His LinkedIn also reads that he worked as a resident assistant in a dorm and as a student engagement leader for OSU’s admissions team. ABC 6 requested a copy of Bokar’s personnel file, and instead, received a statement saying:

“These allegations are extremely concerning. The individual in question has been placed on interim suspension and is not currently allowed on campus or at university engagements, including student teaching assignments. Nothing is more important than the safety of our campus community, and we will assist law enforcement in any way needed. We are unable to comment further given the ongoing investigation.”

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ABC 6 spoke with the father of that victim. He said his daughter had to be placed on suicide watch after suffering a mental breakdown at school.

The father says it was then that she revealed the inappropriate relationship to her family.

“You got a little 13-year-old girl who’s in cheerleading — one of the captains of the middle school Buckeyes — and here’s this Buckeye, saying he loves her and giving her drugs and money,” he said. “When she talks, you definitely know she’s a little girl. The verbiage that she uses, the things she talks about are all childish.”

I didn’t protect her.

ABC 6 asked the father how he felt that Bokar was studying to be a teacher. “He was going to be in his playground. It’s how I see it,” he said.

For now, the father said his focus is on getting his daughter counseling to deal with the trauma Bokar allegedly caused.

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“To say it loud, and to say it to everyone gives us the power,” he said. “It helps with our healing.”

Bokar’s next court date is February 23rd.



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ODNR stocks Ohio’s waterways with 36 million fish in 2025

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ODNR stocks Ohio’s waterways with 36 million fish in 2025


COLUMBUS – More than 36 million fish were stocked by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife in Ohio’s public lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams in 2025. Eleven different species of fish were stocked at 233 locations statewide. Annual fish stockings play an important role in providing excellent fishing for Ohio’s 827,000 licensed anglers. The Division of […]



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Jardy: 3 quick takeaways from Ohio State’s win over USC

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Jardy: 3 quick takeaways from Ohio State’s win over USC


Three quick takes from Ohio State’s 89-82 win against USC.

Ohio State needed this one

USC isn’t ranked, and this won’t be a Quad 1 win for Ohio State’s NET rankings, but this was a critical game for the Buckeyes. After losing to Michigan and dropping to 15-8 overall, Ohio State’s need for wins against quality opponents increased another notch as mid-February approaches.

The Trojans are perched right around where the Buckeyes are in most of the metrics, as well as the Big Ten standings, where they entered the game with identical 7-6 records. Now, Ohio State has the head-to-head tiebreaker when it comes to the conference tournament and, critically, added a quality win to its resume.

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“It feels very crucial,” Ohio State coach Jake Diebler said. “It’s a team with similar metrics.”

It also beats the alternative of taking a two-game losing streak to Nashville for a top-20 game against Virginia on Valentine’s Day.

Bruce Thornton was clutch when the Buckeyes needed him

Ohio State’s senior captain passed Kelvin Ransey for fifth place in the program’s all-time scoring annals, and his most important points came down the stretch. Thornton scored Ohio State’s final nine points, finishing with a team-high 21, helping keep USC at arm’s length in the final 1:34.

Seven of those points came from the free-throw line, where Thornton finished the game perfect on 11 attempts. He also dished out eight of Ohio State’s 14 assists, helping the Buckeyes fend off the Trojans in the final minutes as they made a late charge.

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Buckeyes made Alijah Arenas work

Ohio State hasn’t made a mark with its defense this season, but the Buckeyes were able to force USC freshman Alijah Arenas to work for his points. He finished with a game-high 25 points, his third straight outing with at least 20 points, but it took him 19 shots to get there.

Arenas was 6 for 19 from the floor and only 1 for 7 from 3-point range, doing most of his damage from the line. He was 12 for 16 at the charity stripe, drawing eight fouls to lead his team. With Chad Baker-Mazara out due to injury, USC leaned more heavily on Arenas, and the Buckeyes were able to force him into challenged shots with regularity.

Ohio State men’s basketball beat writer Adam Jardy can be reached at ajardy@dispatch.com, on Bluesky at @cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @AdamJardy.



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