Six first-rounders possible

A year ago, only three Buckeyes were drafted, none in the first round.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Two years ago, 14 Ohio State players were taken in the seven-round NFL draft, shattering the record held by Miami.
This year the Buckeyes have their sights on another draft-day mark held by the Hurricanes.
Six Miami players were taken in the first round of the 2004 draft, eclipsing by one the mark shared by Southern Cal (1968) and Miami (2002).
Some draft experts foresee six Buckeyes going in today's opening round.
"You hope for the best," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "Guys come and set goals and they want to become very, very good, the best at what they do. When you're picked in the first round that's a pretty good indication."
Best available
Linebacker A.J. Hawk and wide receiver Santonio Holmes are considered the top players available at their positions. Center Nick Mangold, linebacker Bobby Carpenter, safety Donte Whitner and cornerback Ashton Youboty are mentioned as possible first-rounders.
Holmes, Whitner and Youboty gave up their final year with the Buckeyes to make themselves eligible for the draft.
A year ago, only three Buckeyes were drafted, none in the first round.
After playing together for up to five years, most Ohio State players balance their prospects with hoping for good things for their teammates.
"As a player, I just want to see all my friends go high -- and I'd like to go as high as possible as well," Carpenter said. "It's exciting that we might actually tie a draft record."
Miami had six players taken in the first 21 picks of the 2004 draft: safety Sean Taylor (5th pick, Washington); tight end Kellen Winslow (6th, Cleveland); linebacker Jonathan Vilma (12th, New York Jets); linebacker D.J. Williams (17th, Denver); offensive tackle Vernon Carey (19th, Miami); and defensive tackle Vince Wilfork (21st, New England).
In that same draft Ohio State had 14 players drafted, a record for a seven-round draft, including first-rounders Chris Gamble (cornerback, Carolina), Michael Jenkins (wide receiver, Atlanta) and Will Smith (defensive end, New Orleans).
Texas tops them all
Texas, with 17 in 1984, holds the record for players drafted from one school regardless of the number of rounds in the draft.
The Ohio State record for first-round picks is four. Cornerback Tim Anderson, running backs John Brockington and Leo Hayden and defensive back Jack Tatum went in the 1971 opening round.
The school has had three first-round picks in 1960, 1974, 1975, 1995, 1996, 1999 and 2004.
Tressel usually misses the draft because it has coincided with Ohio State's spring game. With spring workouts ending last week, he's looking forward to watching the selections.
"I'll be on the edge of my seat the first day because of the guys who haven't been drafted yet," he said. "I'm just hoping by the end of the weekend they all have opportunities and they all can be excited about the next stage of life. I know they'll go out and represent us well. It'll be fun to watch for the first time."