NFL draft: 3 Ohio State defensive backs taken in first round

Ohio State had three players taken in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft -- all defensive backs. Here is an overview of the trio:

Marshon Lattimore, cornerback, 11th pick of first round by the New Orleans Saints 

▪ 29th cornerback and 56th defensive back selected from Ohio State in the common draft era (since 1967)

▪ Last CB: Eli Apple, first round, 2016 by the Giants

▪ First CB: Ted Provost, seventh round, 1970 by the Rams

▪ 11th Ohio State cornerback taken in the first round and the third in four seasons. Bradley Roby went to the Broncos with the 31st pick in 2014.

Lattimore is the 15th Ohio State player drafted by the Saints

▪ Last: Vonn Bell, safety, second round 2016

▪ First: Halfback Jim Otis in ninth round, 1970

Credit: Julio Cortez

Credit: Julio Cortez

Malik Hooker, safety, 15th pick of first round by the Indianapolis Colts 

▪ 28th safety and 57th defensive back selected from Ohio State in the common draft era

▪ Last S: Vonn Bell, second round, 2016 by the Saints

▪ First DB: Ted Provost, seventh round, 1970 by the Rams

Hooker is the 20th Buckeye picked by the Colts

▪ Last: Offensive tackle Jack Mewhort in the 2014 second round

▪ First: Tackle Bob Meyer, 22nd round, 1954

Gareon Conley, cornerback, 24th pick of first round by the Oakland Raiders 

▪ 30th cornerback and 58th defensive back selected from Ohio State in the common draft era (since 1967)

▪ Last CB: Lattimore

▪ First CB: Ted Provost, seventh round, 1970 by the Rams

▪ 12th Ohio State cornerback taken in the first round and the fourth in four seasons after Bradley Roby went to the Broncos with the 31st pick in 2014 and Eli Apple went 10th to the Giants last year.

Conley is the 10th Ohio State player drafted by the Raiders

▪ Last: Terrelle Pryor, quarterback, third round (supplemental) 2011

▪ First: Jack Tatum, safety, first round (No. 19) 1971

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The Oakland Raiders gave Ohio State three defensive back draftees in the first round when they picked Gareon Conley at No. 24.

Conley had been projected as a first-rounder prior to the draft, but his status was in question after news broke earlier this week that he is the subject of a rape investigation by Cleveland police.

Conley denied the accusation Wednesday, and no charges had been filed as of the start of the draft.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on the draft broadcast the Raiders “feel very comfortable with his situation” while draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said he had heard from a team that was intending to take him in the second round if he were available.

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The Indianapolis Colts made Malik Hooker the second Ohio State player drafted Thursday night when they took him with the 15th pick in the first round.

Hooker only started one year for the Buckeyes but made the most of it, intercepting six passes and returning three for touchdowns.

He was named a first-team All-American and was a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award.

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Marshon Lattimore became the first Ohio State Buckeye taken in the 2017 NFL draft when the New Orleans Saints chose him with the 11th pick in the first round.

Lattimore  narrowly missed being the second OSU cornerback taken in the top 10 in as many years.

Last year, Eli Apple went to the New York Giants with the 10th overall selection.

RELATED: 5 things to know about Ohio State’s potential draftees

Lattimore was a first-team All-Big Ten pick in his first season as a starter in 2016.

The Cleveland Glenville product started all 13 games last season after struggling with injuries earlier in his time in Columbus.

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