The Ohio State Buckeyes had a recruiting class for the ages in 2014. Several future NFL stars would enroll at Ohio State that year, and, coincidentally enough, four are currently members of the Washington Commanders. Terry McLaurin, Marshon Lattimore, Noah Brown and Jalyn Holmes are all ex-Buckeyes now playing for Washington.
It’s rare for so many players from the same recruiting class to still be in the NFL 11 years later, much less four on the same team. McLaurin is entering his seventh NFL season — all with Washington — while Lattimore, Brown and Holmes all joined the Commanders sometime in 2024, but were a part of the magical playoff run.
McLaurin and Lattimore are the most distinguished of the bunch. Lattimore, a former four-time Pro Bowler, spent his entire career with the New Orleans Saints before Washington acquired him at last season’s trade deadline. McLaurin is coming off his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season and finished with a career-high 13 touchdown receptions. He added three more in the playoffs.
Where does the combination of McLaurin and Lattimore stack up compared to other former college-turned-NFL teammates? CBS recently put together a top 10 list, and McLaurin/Lattimore came in at No. 9.
McLaurin is currently at odds with Washington brass over prolonged contract negotiations, but if history is any indication, he’ll be locked up before long. He and Lattimore were first reunited midway through 2024, when the former New Orleans Saints cornerback arrived via trade. Prior to that, the two practiced against each other from 2014-2016 at Ohio State. McLaurin stayed in school two years after Lattimore left, but both wasted no time becoming top-end NFL playmakers.
It’s no surprise who came in at No. 1 on the list. Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase helped lead LSU to a national championship in 2019 and are now one of the NFL’s most potent quarterback/receiver duos.
The Eagles’ six Georgia alums came in at No. 8, led by star defensive tackle Jalen Carter, while Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith — teammates at Alabama — finished No. 2.
The Commanders certainly hope they have a healthy Lattimore in 2025. After coming over via trade, Lattimore was dealing with a nagging hamstring injury from his time in New Orleans, which limited him in Washington. He appeared in only two regular-season games, but did play in all three playoff games. Lattimore was clearly never fully healthy in 2024.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Terry McLaurin, Marshon Lattimore make unique list