31-07-2025
Who is Ohio State's greatest player ever? Vote in the next round of our bracket now
Ranking the 64 best, not most popular, players in Ohio State football history is akin to picking out your favorite food. Pizza, right? Oh, wait, what about a perfectly-grilled burger? Or steak? A plate of pasta, made just right, is hard to beat. Or are you in the mood for lobster?
See where this is headed? Some players are no-brainer top-10s. Mr. Only Two-Time Heisman Winner comes to mind, as does the Pancake Man, Orlando Pace. Troy Smith beat Michigan three times as a starter. Chic Harley was so good he got Ohio Stadium built.
But what to do with current phenom Jeremiah Smith? Maurice Clarett likewise played less than one full season, yet his impact on the 2002 national championship team is unmistakable. Does Will Howard deserve to be included among the best 64? (Answer: Close but no cigar).
And before sending a gentle, or angry, comment that we forgot someone, know that we didn't forget. We just didn't include them in a list that could have gone 100 players deep or more.
The good news is we don't have to decide the best of the best. You do. We've created a 64-player bracket – some madness in July, anyone? – that gives readers the power to put their vote where their argumentative voice is.
Each round runs through 6 a.m. the following Tuesday. We'll crown our champion in August.
Let the debating begin.
All-time Ohio State Buckeyes bracket (listed with seeding)
(1) Orlando Pace, OT, 1994-96
Only two-time winner of the Lombardi Award; 2006 Outland Trophy.
(2) Archie Griffin, RB, 1972-75
Only two-time Heisman Trophy winner; first in career rushing attempts (924 ) and yardage (5,589).
(3) Charles 'Chic' Harley, RB, 1916-17, '19
The Babe Ruth of OSU football; Ohio Stadium built in part because of his popularity.
(4) Troy Smith, QB, 2003-2006
Won 2006 Heisman and Davey O'Brien Award; 3-0 as starter vs. Michigan.
(5) Eddie George, RB, 1992-95
Won 1995 Heisman; No. 2 in single game (314) and season (1,927) rushing yardage.
(6) Chris Spielman, LB, 1984-87
School-record 283 career solo tackles; won 1987 Lombardi Award.
(7) C.J. Stroud, QB, 2020-22
Third in 2022 Heisman voting.
(8) John Hicks, OT, 1970-73
Second in 1973 Heisman voting; won '73 Lombardi Award and '73 Outland Trophy.
(9) James Laurinaitus, LB, 2005-08
Won Butkus Award (2007); consensus first-team All-American three consecutive years (2006-08); only player to twice win Big Ten Defensive Player of Year.
(10) Jack Tatum, DB, 1968-70
Hard-hitting safety, unanimous All-American in 1970.
(11) Joey Bosa, DE, 2013-15
26 career sacks rank fourth all-time; 2014 Big Ten defensive player of year.
(12) Jim Parker, G, 1954-56
First Buckeye to win Outland Trophy.
(13) David Boston, WR, 1996-98
Third in single-game (14), season (85) and career (191) receptions; third in career receiving yards (2,855).
(14) Jim Stillwagon, DL, 1968-70
First player to win Outland and Lombardi in same season.
(15) Bob Ferguson, RB, 1959-61
Two-time unanimous All-American.
(16) Mike Vrabel, DL, 1993-96
Career leader in sacks (36) and tackles for loss (349).
(17) Art Schlichter, QB, 1978-81
Third all-time in passing yards (7,547).
(18) John Frank, TE, 1980-83
Most career catches (121) by OSU TE.
(19) Bill Willis, DL, 1942-44
First Black player named All-American.
(20) Tom Cousineau, LB, 1975-78
Record 211 total tackles in single season.
(21) Warren Amling, G, 1944-46
Seventh in 1945 Heisman voting.
(22) Cris Carter, WR, 1984-86
First OSU receiver to be named All-American.
(23) Ezekiel Elliott, RB, 2013-15
Third all-time in career (3,961) and single-season (1,878) rushing yardage.
(24) Randy Gradishar, LB, 1971-73
Career 320 tackles, OSU record at the time.
(25) Howard 'Hopalong' Cassady, RB, 1952-55
Won 1955 Heisman.
(26) Chase Young, DE, 2017-19
Single-season sack leader (16.5); second all-time with 30.5 sacks; fourth in 2019 Heisman voting.
(27) Michael Jenkins, WR, 2000-2003
OSU record 2,898 career receiving yards.
(28) Mike Doss, DB, 1999-2002
Three-time All-American, led OSU in tackles sophomore and junior seasons.
(29) Braxton Miller, QB, 2011-15
Ranks eighth in career rushing (3,314), highest among all quarterbacks.
(30) Maurice Clarett, RB, 2002
Made one of most memorable plays in school history, snatching ball from Miami safety Sean Taylor following interception in 2002 Fiesta Bowl.
(31) J.T. Barrett, QB, 2014-17
School record holder in career offense (12,697 yards) by nearly 4,000 yards over second-place Braxton Miller.
(32) Mike Nugent, K, 2001-2004
Career points record (356).
(33) Malcom Jenkins, DB, 2005-2008
Won Thorpe Award in 2008.
(34) Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, 2021-23
Fourth in 2023 Heisman voting; third in career receiving touchdowns (31).
(35) Marcus Marek, LB, 1979-82
School-record 572 career tackles.
(36) Antoine Winfield, DB, 1995-98
OSU's first Thorpe Award winner (1998).
(37) Justin Fields, QB, 2019-20
Third in season (41) and career (63) passing touchdowns.
(38) Rex Kern, QB, 1968-70
Directed run-heavy offense for arguably the best team in school history.
(39) Emeka Egbuka, WR, 2021-24
School leader in catches (205); second in reception yards (2,868).
(40) LeCharles Bentley, C, 1998-2001
Won 2001 Rimington Award.
(41) Jim Lachey, OL, 1981-84
Consensus All-American.
(42) J.K. Dobbins, RB, 2017-19
School-record 2,003 yards in 2019; second in career yards (4,459).
(43) Vic Janowicz, RB, 1949-51
Won 1950 Heisman as a junior.
(44) A.J. Hawk, LB, 2002-2005
Fifth in career tackles (394); won 2005 Lombardi Award.
(45) Aurealius Thomas, G, 1955-57
Starting guard on 1957 national title team.
(46) Shawn Springs, DB, 1994-96
Consensus All-American 1996.
(47) Ryan Shazier, LB, 2011-13
Led Big Ten with 17 tackles for loss in 2012; tied for single-game solo tackle record (16).
(48) Keith Byars, RB, 1982-85
Heisman runner-up (1984).
(49) Dave Foley, OL, 1966-68
Unanimous first-team All-American (1968).
(50) Dwayne Haskins, QB, 2016-18
Single-season leader in passing yards (4,831); finished third in Heisman voting.
(51) Jim Houston Sr., DE, 1957-59
Two-time All-American (1958-59).
(52) Nick Bosa, DE, 2016-18
All-American in 2017.
(53) Les Horvath, QB, 1940-42, 1944
Won 1944 Heisman.
(54) Chris Gamble, WR/DB, 2001-03
Two-way starter on 2002 national championship team.
(55) Gary Williams, WR, 1979-82
Third all-time career receiving yards (2,792).
(56) Wes Fesler, E, 1928-30
Three-time All-American.
(57) Pete Johnson, FB, 1973-76
No. 1 in game (5), season (25) and career (56) rushing touchdowns.
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(58) Chris Olave, WR, 2018-21
Career leader with 35 receiving TDs.
(59) Terry Glenn, WR, 1993-95
Consensus All-American 1995; won Biletnikoff Award; single-season record for receiving TDs (16).
(60) Jeremiah Smith, WR, 2024
NCAA record-holder for receiving yards (1,315) and receiving touchdowns (15) by a true freshman.
(61) Andy Katzenmoyer, LB, 1996-98
First OSU player to win the Butkus award.
(62) Caleb Downs, S, 2024
Unanimous first-team All-American.
(63) Tom Skladany, P, 1973-76
Three-time All-American; first specialist to receive full-ride scholarship.
(64) Steve Tovar, LB, 1989-92
Led team in tackles three straight years; ranks fourth in solo and total tackles.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Best 64 Ohio State football players put to reader bracket vote
