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Mel Kiper Labels Ohio State Star 'Underrated' in 2025 NFL Draft

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nate Lunak | Last updated Jan 30, 2025 1:24 PM ET

With the Ohio State Buckeyes' season over, many players are preparing for the 2025 NFL Draft.

That includes some major stars, such as offensive tackle Josh Simmons, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, EDGE Jack Sawyer and defensive lineman Tyleik Williams, who all rank within the top 32 of Pro Football Focus' big board.

Of course, it's not just about first-round talent, as many teams will be looking to find that hidden gem others might not see the potential in.

Recently, in a video posted by the "NFL on ESPN" YouTube channel, draft analyst Mel Kiper included Ohio State linebacker Cody Simon in a list of the most underrated players available.

“This kid was a leader, he was consistent, and he was as much of an MVP for that defense as anybody because, I’ll tell you what, he can break down in space and make tackles,” he said. “And that’s what he can do, in space, make a tackle, and he didn’t miss many of those.”

The numbers Simon put up in 2024 certainly back up Kiper's claims, as he accumulated 112 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, seven sacks, seven pass deflections and one forced fumble.

Simon currently ranks as Kiper's No. 6 off-ball linebacker available in the draft, so it's hard to guess exactly when he'd be taken. However, PFF has him down as the No. 141 player available overall, placing him near the fifth round.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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