Former Ohio State lineman Mewhort drafted by Colts

5/9/2014

Former Ohio State All-American left tackle and St. John’s Jesuit graduate Jack Mewhort was selected with the 59th overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round of the NFL draft tonight.

Mewhort is the highest Toledoan drafted since Rogers graduate and former Southern California tight end Fred Davis was selected 48th by the Washington Redskins. Former Scott guard Jim Parker, who went eighth overall to the Baltimore Colts in 1957 after an All-American career at Ohio State, remains the Glass City’s draft benchmark.

A three-year starter, Mewhort’s path to the draft resembled a never-ending escalator, with Mewhort rising from a 200-pound backup guard on the St. John’s freshman team to a three-year varsity starter — he added four inches and 70 pounds before his sophomore season — to a ballast on the Buckeyes’ most prolific offense in school history.

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer called him one of his "favorite all-time players." Mewhort became the Buckeyes’ most respected leader and the anchor of a line that cleared the earth for the nation’s fifth-ranked rushing offense.

With most NFL teams carrying only seven offensive linemen on their 53-man rosters, league personnel were particularly taken by his flexibility. Mewhort proved he can play any line position, starting at center in high school and at guard and left tackle at Ohio State.

Two picks earlier, the San Francisco 49ers took Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde with the No. 57 overall selection.