Ohio State football: 5 Buckeyes taken in NFL Draft's top 20

CHICAGO -- It was a scarlet-letter day for Ohio State Buckeyes football at the 2016 NFL draft.

Three Ohio State prospects were selected in the top 10, halfway to the record for first-round picks by one program set in 2004 by the University of Miami (six). All three -- defensive end Joey Bosa, running back Ezekiel Elliott and cornerback Eli Apple -- are just 20 years old.

"Crazy," Bosa said. "We wanted to win championships and play in the NFL. Me and Zeke and (linebacker) Darron Lee would always laugh about first-rounders, 'Hey, we're going to be first-rounders one day.' Here we are."

If Chicago is Draft Town, Columbus earned honorable mention on Thursday with head coach Urban Meyer and several assistant coaches in attendance. Meyer also recruited Eastern Kentucky pass rusher Noah Spence, who left OSU after being suspended for repeat drug-related violations.

Five Buckeyes crossed the Auditorium Theater stage to embrace NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in the top 20, with Lee drafted 20th by the New York Jets. He'll have a friendly face across the river.

Bosa was a surprise pick by the San Diego Chargers. A pure 4-3 end, Bosa could play the five-technique spot for the Chargers, who were thought to be honing in on offensive tackles Ronnie Stanley (Notre Dame) or Laremy Tunsil (Ole Miss). Stanley was the sixth pick to Baltimore. Tunsil was No. 13 (Dolphins).

The Dallas Cowboys, with running backs coach Gary Brown front and center in the draft war room, added to their offense with Elliott. The running back joins a stable that includes Darren McFadden and Alfred Morris, the former Washington Redskins Pro Bowl starter who signed in free agency. Elliott is the seventh running back selected in the top five in the past 15 years. Only one, LaDainian Tomlinson, appeared in a Pro Bowl.

"We got five guys here. That just speaks for itself," Elliott said. "That's what is expected from Ohio State. That's why we all went to the Ohio State University."

Elliott has already made tracks on the turf in Arlington, where the Buckeyes won the 2015 national championship game.

Apple went to the Big Apple. He was the No. 10 pick and further upgrades the cornerback position for the New York Giants, who signed ex-Rams corner Janoris Jenkins on the opening day of free agency.

"Eli Apple is a big-time player from a big-time program with tremendous upside," Giants GM Jerry Reese said.

The banner-waving wasn't done for the Buckeyes.

The fourth OSU product beckoned by Goodell was offensive tackle Taylor Decker, a first-team All-Big Ten pick in 2015. Decker picked 16th by the Detroit Lions.

"We've get a big-time program, it's the best in the country," Decker said. "We go against the best every day."