Two of Ohio State’s 2023 NFL draft hopefuls will be playing in a pre-draft all-star game this weekend.
Outgoing safety Tanner McCalister and defensive tackle Jerron Cage, who each used their final year of collegiate eligibility this past season, have both accepted invitations to play in this week’s Hula Bowl.
Tanner McCalister from Ohio State is headed to the 2023 HULA BOWL!!!! We are fired up for the BUCKEYE to be in Orlando. @McCalister_Dos2 @OhioStateFB @DraftDiamonds are found at the #HulaBowl pic.twitter.com/qZT5Ht4l1v
— Hula Bowl (@Hula_Bowl) January 9, 2023
Ohio State defensive tackle Jerron Cage is a massive run stuffer that is coming to the 2023 Hula Bowl. We are fired up to have him in Orlando. pic.twitter.com/svIaRXyWhI
— Hula Bowl (@Hula_Bowl) January 9, 2023
The Hula Bowl is scheduled to kick off at noon Saturday in Orlando and will be televised by CBS Sports Network.
A total of six NFL draft prospects from Ohio State are currently set to participate in pre-draft all-star games. Offensive tackle Dawand Jones and defensive end Zach Harrison have both accepted invitations to the Senior Bowl while cornerback Cameron Brown and defensive tackle Taron Vincent have accepted invitations to the East-West Shrine Bowl. Defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste also accepted an invitation to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl but has since entered the transfer portal, indicating he plans to play another year of college football at another school rather than enter the 2023 NFL draft.
While the Hula Bowl has been played since 1946, most of its participants in recent years have been late-round draft picks or undrafted free agents, as the Senior Bowl and Shrine Bowl have emerged as the two premier pre-draft all-star games. Eight Hula Bowl participants were selected in the 2022 NFL draft, with three going in the sixth round and five going in the seventh round.
That’s an indicator of where McCalister and Cage currently stand as draft prospects, as neither is projected to be drafted before the late rounds. Still, either of them could bolster their draft stock with a strong showing during Hula Bowl practices this week and in Saturday’s game.
McCalister and Cage are two of five Ohio State scholarship players who exhausted their collegiate eligibility this past season along with tight end Mitch Rossi, kicker Noah Ruggles and long snapper Bradley Robinson. Aside from them and the other Buckeyes who have accepted invitations to pre-draft all-star games, the only other Buckeye who has confirmed he will enter the 2023 NFL draft is safety Ronnie Hickman.
Thank you Buckeye Nation
— Tanner McCalister (@McCalister_Dos2) January 9, 2023
Buckeye Forever! #NFLDraft2023 pic.twitter.com/yHTQgsWWt3
Quarterback C.J. Stroud, offensive linemen Paris Johnson Jr. and Luke Wypler, linebacker Tommy Eichenberg and safety Lathan Ransom are among the draft-eligible Buckeyes who have not yet announced decisions with one week to go until the Jan. 16 deadline to declare for the draft. Running back Miyan Williams, tight end Cade Stover and linebacker Steele Chambers have all confirmed they will return to Ohio State for another season despite being draft-eligible.
