Good luck finding a school with a more impressive list of top 10 players in history than this one for Ohio State.
The Buckeyes rostered maybe the best linebacker, running back and two offensive lineman to ever play college football. How in the world are we supposed to put those four in some kind of order? Nevermind all the countless All-Americans and national championship winners.
We tried, anyway. But considering the iconic status of the program, we imagine your list would look a bit different than ours. Except maybe at the very top.
Honorable Mentions
- OL/DL Bill Willis (1942-1944)
- LB Randy Gradishar (1971-1973)
- WR Cris Carter (1984-1986)
- DB Antoine Winfield (1995-1998)
- LB A.J. Hawk (2002-2005)
- LB James Laurinaitis (2005-2008)
- DB Malcolm Jenkins (2005-2008)
- RB Ezekiel Elliott (2013-2015)
- WR Chris Olave (2018-2021)
10. S Mike Doss (1999-2002)
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Doss doesn’t get as much love as he should, so we’re using this space to fix that. The Ohio State safety from 1999 to 2002, starting 40 games over his four seasons.
He earned three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, two-time first-team All-American, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Jack Tatum Trophy winner, and national champion.
9. RB Howard Cassady (1952-1955)
“Hopalong” Cassady finished third in Heisman Trophy voting in 1954 as he led Ohio State to a national title. The next year, he won the award by picking up almost 1,000 yards rushing and scoring 14 touchdowns. He played defensive back all the while, too, and baseball for good measure.
8. QB Justin Fields (2019-2020)
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Fields won Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in both of his seasons in Columbus, leading the Big Ten in yards passing and touchdowns both times.
Even though it was just two years, his 63 touchdowns rank third in school history. The Buckeyes made the College Football Playoff in 2019 behind his stellar season and then the national championship game in 2020.
7. OL Jim Parker (1954-1956)
Two Ohio State offensive linemen were selected by the Associated Press’ All-Time All-American team. Parker was one of them. He paved the way for Cassady for a bulk of both their careers.
He won the Outland Trophy in 1956 and ultimately earned spots in both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
6. DB Jack Tatum (1968-1970)
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One of the hardest hitters to ever play the game, Tatum earned three first-team All-Big Ten honors, two unanimous All-American places, and National Defensive Player of the Year in 1970. During his stint in Columbus, the Buckeyes lost only two games, winning the national championship in 1968 and 1970.
5. RB Eddie George (1992-1995)
George won the Heisman Trophy in 1995 after running for 1,927 yards and 23 touchdowns, totals that are still second for a single season in Ohio State history. He was a punishing runner who earned College Football Hall of Fame honors in 2020, though he, inexplicably, hasn’t gotten the call from the Pro Football Hall yet.
4. QB Troy Smith (2002-2006)
No quarterback had ever beaten Michigan three times in a row until Smith accomplished the feat in the mid-2000s. His 2006 season was close to perfect as he earned unanimous All-American honors, the Davey O’Brien Award and the Heisman Trophy all as the Buckeyes won the national title.
3. OL Orlando Pace (1994-1996)
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If you’re looking for your other AP all-time offensive lineman, look no further. Pace may be the best left tackle to ever play college football. He won the Lombardi Award twice, the Outland Trophy once and even earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors. As an offensive lineman! And like Parker, he’s in both the pro and college Halls of Fame.
2. LB Chris Spielman (1984-1987)
The third Ohio State player to make that AP all-time list, Spielman was an animal in Columbus. A three-time All-American, he won the Lombardi Award his senior season and remains the third leading tackler in school history.
1. RB Archie Griffin (1972-1975)
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He may be the greatest college football player of all time, period, so there was no way Griffin was going to be anything but No. 1 on Ohio State’s list.
He’s the only player to have ever won the Heisman Trophy twice, and he’s remained the Buckeyes’ leading rusher for more than 50 years now. If we ever do a list of the top 10 CFB players ever, don’t be surprised if he doesn’t move from this spot.
More Ohio State Football Rankings
- 5 Greatest Ohio State Quarterbacks of All Time
- 5 Greatest Ohio State Running Backs of All Time
- 5 Greatest Ohio State Defensive Players of All Time
