There are 78 days that separate us from Ohio State's march to Blacksburg. To help pass the time until the Buckeyes put the Sandman to sleep I will countdown Ohio State's top 100 players according to the rubric* listed at the bottom of this article.

Chris Gamble played a large role in Ohio State's 2002 championship season.

CHRIS GAMBLE, CB/WR (2000-2003)
Born: 1983 (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
High School: Nova (Davie, FL)

OHIO STATE CAREER

• The Buckeyes were 37-11 with Gamble on the team.
• 2002 National Champion.
• 2002 Big Ten Title.
• 2003 Defeated No. 1 Miami 31-24 in 2OT to win the Fiesta Bowl National Championship Game.
• 2004 Defeated No. 8 Kansas State 35-28 to win the Fiesta Bowl.
• 2001 Defeated That Team 26-20.
• 2002 Defeated That Team 14-9.

HONORS

• 2002 Team MVP.
• 2002 All-Big Ten.
• 2003 All-Big Ten.
   

NFL DRAFT
Round 1 to the Carolina Panthers with the 28th pick of the 2004 draft.

To say that Chris Gamble was a special player is an understatement. He started his Ohio State career as a wide receiver and return man. He finished his career as both a starter at receiver and corner back.

Gamble's ability to play both sides of the ball at an exceptional level was a key to Ohio State's national championship in 2002. I find it hard to believe that Gamble did not earn All-American honors.

Gamble always had a knack for the big play. 

Chris Gamble's senior season per ohiostatebuckeyes.com:

Gamble enjoyed an equally spectacular year. After starting the first eight games at flanker, he also started the last five at cornerback, becoming the first two-way regular for the Buckeyes in nearly 40 years. In three of the Buckeyes final four games, the 6-2, 180-pound Gamble took part in more than 100 plays, including 128 in the overtime victory at Illinois.

In addition to being on the receiving end of 29 passes in his role as a flanker, Gamble, a product of Sunrise, Fla., also picked off a team-high 4 interceptions, broke up 6 passes and was in on 19 tackles.

All four of Gamble's interceptions were game savers, including his 40-yard touchdown return against Penn State that accounted for Ohio State's only TD in a 13-7 victory. Two of his picks came in the end zone.

The versatile Gamble, who was named to a first-team All-Big Ten berth, also led the team in punt returns and was second in kickoff returns.

Gamble's highlights from the Penn State game in 2002 per Wikipedia:

The game featured Chris Gamble starting on both offense and defense (which had last occurred for Ohio State in 1963) and playing  89 of the game's 138 plays  (51 on defense, 31 on offense, and 7 on punt returns). (Lindy's p. 50)  After Krenzel's fumble, Gamble caught the Penn State defender from behind at the OSU 41, preventing a touchdown return, and two plays later A.J. Hawk ended the threat with his second interception of the year.

The key play of the game, however, came on the first series of the 3rd quarter with Penn State in possession and having the lead, 7–3. Gamble  "jumped the route"  of the Penn State receiver, intercepted the ball at the Nittany Lion 40, and  returned it down the sideline for a touchdown,the only one scored by Ohio State in the game.

The Pick-Six (0:47)

Ohio State defeated Penn State 13-7.

Gamble's Ohio State career per Wikipedia:

While Gamble only played three years at Ohio State,  he was an integral part of the 2002 National Championship team, which went 14-0. Gamble played all 3 ways at Ohio State, earning 1st Team All-Big Ten honors, and 3rd Team All-America honors for cornerback.

Gamble had 4 interceptions for the 2002 season, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Gamble was known for his game-breaking ability in all facets of the game, including defense, offense, and kick returning.

In 38 games, he started 18 times on defense and 12 times on offense  (started on both offense and defense in five contests in 2002).  Recorded 65 tackles (51 solos) with three stops behind the line of scrimmage,  seven interceptions and 21 pass deflections.

He also caught 40 passes for 609 yards (15.2 avg.), rushed six times for 68 yards (11.3 avg.) with a touchdown, returned 60 punts for 467 yards (7.8 avg.) and had 18 kickoff returns for 384 yards (21.3 avg.).

For more information on Gamble and other players who wore No. 7:

Sources- The Ohio State Team Guide, ohiostatebuckeyes.com and Wikipedia

ALL PLAYERS COVERED TO DATE