INDIANAPOLIS – Taylor Decker's NFL journey almost did not go through Columbus (Ohio), but all parties involved are certainly glad that it did. Decker now is one step closer to living the dream that every player who puts on a helmet and pads carries, being part of the NFL.

Decker and 13 of his 2015 Buckeye teammates are taking part in the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium over the next seven days and the stakes could not be any higher for any of these players as teams ponder millions of dollars of decisions with the information they learn over the next week.

Most players will describe the combine as a fun four-day stretch once they get through it but there is a lot on the line while players are in the midst of things. Medical testing, interviews with team after team and of course the on-field drills all come up on the schedule for the members of the 2016 Draft class and nobody wants to make a misstep during this process.

Decker is happy to have so many familiar faces around during the process but he is the line offensive lineman for the Buckeyes to be at this event this year and there is not a lot of time for hanging out with fellow teammates when everyone is going through the draft on their own and team accomplishments factor in very little when teams are trying to decide who they want to draft and how high they want to pick them.