The NFL, for the entirety of Jeremy Ruckert’s life, has had a tendency to look at Ohio State tight ends in the middle rounds of the draft.
The Cleveland Browns took Darnell Sanders in the fourth round of the 2002 draft. Ben Hartsock went to the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of 2004's draft. The Denver Broncos made Jeff Heuerman a third-rounder in 2015. Most recently, Nick Vannett went off the board in 2016’s third round to the Seattle Seahawks.
So often, the Buckeyes have produced solid tight ends. So rarely, they have produced no-doubt-about-it studs at the position.