COLUMBUS, Ohio – When the 100th season of NFL football kicks off this evening with a game between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers, former Ohio State center Corey Linsley will be on the field beginning his sixth season as a Packer. He’ll be the first of a large contingent of Buckeyes – 52 in all – who are in the league this season either on active rosters (44), on practice teams (three) or on an injured or physically unable to perform list (five).

“Developed Here” is a motto of the football program and it certainly is worthy with 12 Ohio State rookies in the league, including eight on active rosters: Nick Bosa (San Francisco), Michael Jordan (Cincinnati), Dre’Mont Jones (Denver), Parris Campbell (Indianapolis), Isaiah Prince (Miami), Kendall Sheffield (Atlanta) and Dwayne Haskins and Terry McLaurin (Washington).

That youth movement isn’t just with this year’s class of rookies: Ohio State boasts 24 NFL players with three years or less experience.