RADIO
No. 10: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR
Marvin Harrison Jr. is Ohio State’s highest-drafted wide receiver of all time. After playing behind NFL stars as a freshman, Harrison broke out as a sophomore with 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns. He followed that season up with 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior, going on to be selected fourth in the 2024 NFL Draft.
No. 9: Joey Bosa, DE
Joey Bosa broke onto the scene as a true freshman in 2013, racking up 7.5 sacks. His breakout season came as a sophomore, when he racked up 13.5 sacks during Ohio State’s run to the National Championship. Bosa never won the Defensive Player of the Year award, but racked up most of the Big Ten honors as a sophomore and junior.
No. 8: Jim Parker, OL
Jim Parker was a two-way player in the mid-1950’s for Ohio State, and was the key to Howard “Hopalong” Cassady’s success on the ground in his 1955 Heisman season. In his senior season in 1956, Parker was named as the team’s MVP, was a unanimous All-American, the Outland Trophy winner, and even finished eighth in Heisman voting. He helped lead the 1954 team to a national title, and was selected eighth overall in the 1957 NFL Draft.
No. 7: Jack Tatum, S
Jack Tatum played at Ohio State from 1968-1970, winning two national titles along with the National Defensive Player of the Year award in 1970. Tatum was considered a safety, but primarily guarded the opposing team’s best receiver and lined up as a corner and linebacker as well as a safety. He garnered Heisman votes in 1970 and went 27-2 during his time as a starter.
No. 6: Troy Smith, QB
Troy Smith redshirted in 2002 when Ohio State defeated Miami for a National Championship. He started in 2006 but the Buckeyes fell 41-14 to Florida. Despite never winning a national title, Smith is the greatest Ohio State quarterback of all time. He won the Heisman in 2006 after throwing for 2,542 yards, 30 touchdowns, and six interceptions along with 228 rushing yards and a score. Smith never lost to Michigan, going 3-0 in the rivalry game.
No. 5: Mike Vrabel, DE
Before he was the head coach of the New England Patriots, Mike Vrabel was a complete game-wrecker at Ohio State. He recorded 12 sacks as a sophomore, 13 as a junior, and nine as a senior. Vrabel is one of two players to have won the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year award twice.
No. 4: Chris Spielman, LB
Chris Spielman played at Ohio State from 1984-1987 and was a three-time All-American. He won the Lombardi Award, the team MVP, and recorded eight career sacks, 11 career interceptions, and 546 career tackles.
No. 3: Eddie George, RB
Eddie George did not break out until his junior year, where he rushed for 1,442 yards and 12 touchdowns. As a senior, he stepped up even moreso when he accounted for 2,342 scrimmage yards and 25 touchdowns. George won the Heisman Trophy that season and will forever be regarded as an all-time Buckeye great.
No. 2: Orlando Pace, OT
Orlando Pace started at Ohio State from day one as a true freshman. Pace won the Outland Trophy in 1996 and the Lombardi Award in 1995 and 1996. To this day, he is the most recent offensive lineman to win the Lombardi. Pace finished fourth in the 1996 Heisman Trophy voting prior to being selected first overall in the 1997 NFL Draft. At the time, he was the first offensive lineman since 1968 to be selected with the first overall pick.
No. 1: Archie Griffin, RB
College football’s only two-time Heisman winner comes in as the greatest Buckeye of all time. Archie Griffin won the Heisman Trophy in 1974 and 1975, becoming the only repeat winner to this day. Playing for legendary coach Woody Hayes, Griffin assembled 5,589 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns over the course of his career. He was unquestionably the most dominant player to ever put on the scarlet and gray and has the legacy to prove it.
