OSU loses another underclassman, WR Michael Thomas, to NFL draft

— -- COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The list of Ohio State players leaving eligibility on the table to head to the NFL continues to grow, and wide receiver Michael Thomas is the latest to add his name.

The redshirt junior, who led the Buckeyes in receptions and touchdown catches last season, is now the eighth underclassmen to forgo another year with the program after confirming to ESPN.com's Joe Schad that he would bypass his senior campaign to capitalize on projections that have him being selected in the first round.

"We have accomplished so much here, and now I want to accomplish more at the next level," Thomas told ESPN. "I plan to bring hunger to succeed, route-running, hands and ability to attack the ball to the next level.

"I am 100 percent happy with my college choice and now me and many of my teammates are leaving and I hope to see them all in the NFL."

Thomas, the nephew of former NFL and USC receiver Keyshawn Johnson, is the No. 2 wide receiver on Mel Kiper's Big Board.

There will be plenty of familiar faces along with Thomas at the combine and a pro day on Ohio State's campus that will be loaded with elite prospects.

The Buckeyes had three players make their intentions to enter the draft public before last week's BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl, with defensive end and potential No. 1 overall pick Joey Bosa, running back Ezekiel Elliott and backup quarterback Cardale Jones kicking off the exodus of talent.

But since then, linebacker Darron Lee, safety Tyvis Powell, cornerback Eli Apple, wide receiver Jalin Marshall and Thomas have all followed seemingly one after the other in announcing their decisions to head to the NFL. Safety Vonn Bell is still weighing his options, but he could push the final total to nine Buckeyes leaving early.

"It is a very good junior class," Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said last week. "I take my hat off to them.

"This the the way it is [with a lot of talented draft-eligible players]. I'd rather be in this situation than have a bunch of not-very-good players."