Former Ohio State NFL Draft bust extends career by signing with Jim Harbaugh's Chargers
Eli Apple, the former Ohio State football standout, has signed with the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers are his sixth NFL team since entering the league in 2016 as a first-round pick. Having played a crucial role in the 2015 national championship team and being an All-Big Ten selection, there were high expectations for the […]
Eli Apple, the former Ohio State football standout, has signed with the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers are his sixth NFL team since entering the league in 2016 as a first-round pick.
Having played a crucial role in the 2015 national championship team and being an All-Big Ten selection, there were high expectations for the New Jersey native in the professional arena.
Although Apple hasn't fully met the lofty expectations of a first-round draft choice, he has carved out a respectable career in the NFL after being selected by the New York Giants.
His journey has included stints with the New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, and Miami Dolphins.
The Chargers, led by former Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh, present an intriguing setting for this reunion of rivals. Apple will initially start on the practice squad for Los Angeles, but he will likely move to the active roster in the near future.
He joins JK Dobbins, Shaun Wade, and Joey Bosa as former Buckeyes who are playing under Harbaugh.
Apple had a standout career as a cornerback at Ohio State from 2013 to 2015. A highly-touted recruit, Apple redshirted his freshman year in 2013 but made an immediate impact once he saw the field. In 2014, his redshirt freshman season, Apple started 14 of 15 games and quickly established himself as one of the Buckeyes' top defensive players.
He recorded 53 tackles, three interceptions, and ten pass breakups that year, playing a crucial role in Ohio State's national championship run. His strong play helped the Buckeyes defeat Oregon in the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Apple’s physicality and ability to match up with receivers one-on-one made him a key asset for the defense. In 2015, his redshirt sophomore season, Apple continued to shine, starting all 13 games for the Buckeyes. He tallied 33 tackles, one interception, and eight pass breakups. His performance earned him first-team All-Big Ten honors.
Apple declared for the 2016 NFL Draft after his redshirt sophomore season, and the New York Giants selected him 10th overall. His time at Ohio State solidified his reputation as a physical, smart cornerback with NFL potential, contributing to one of the most successful periods in the program’s history.
