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Is Malik Hooker declaring for NFL Draft the right move?

ByBrad Washington|
Oct 8, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Malik Hooker (24) returns the interception during the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes won 38-17. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Malik Hooker (24) returns the interception during the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes won 38-17. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State’s redshirt sophomore safety Malik Hooker will enter the 2017 NFL Draft

Urban Meyer has slowly but surely turned his Ohio State team into a defense-first program. Although you can attribute that to the offensive inconsistency the past two seasons, (I don’t need to bring up the Orange Bowl, do I?) the Buckeyes have sent a plethora of defensive players to the draft under Meyer. Well, safety Malik Hooker can add his name to that list, as he’s declared for the 2017 NFL Draft.

The red shirt sophomore made the announcement via Twitter today.

Hooker’s stats this season have been impressive;  he finished with 84 total tackles, 5.5. tackles for loss, 7 interceptions-three of them were returned for touchdowns. Former Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns scout D.J. Jeremiah have even compared Hooker to former Ravens All-Pro Ed Reed.

The draft stock on Hooker varies, from Bleacher Report’s Ryan McCrystal projecting him as a mid-first rounder, to SB Nation projecting him to be a top ten pick. But after this past season and his projections so far, it’s easy to see why he would elect to try his chances professionally.

A down side of Hooker leaving is that he only has one year of experience starting for the Buckeyes. An NFL scout could argue that Hooker, although a very impressive player this season, could use more time. But as we’ve seen with Marcus Lattimore at South Carolina in 2012, you never know what could happen in your collegiate career.  Lattimore was projected to be a top draft pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. Instead, a severe knee injury not only derailed his draft stock, but ended his career professionally. Hooker’s name is perhaps the hottest right now, so it’s best to cash in.

Besides, Hooker has been the beneficiary of current New Orleans Saints safety Vonn Bell declaring early last year. The saying at the likes of Ohio State and Alabama is that they don’t rebuild, they reload. With the incoming talent coming in and the talent that’s already there, Hooker must knew Ohio State will be in good hands without him next season.

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