There are 63 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.

Andy Katzenmoyer wasn't Archie Griffin, but he wore the No. 45 well.

NO. 63 ANDY KATZENMOYER, LB (1996-98)
Born: 1977 (Kettering, Ohio)
High School: Westerville South
 

OHIO STATE CAREER:

• The Buckeyes went 32-5 with Katzenmoyer on the team.
• 1996 Big Ten Title.
• 1998 Big Ten Title.
• 1997 Defeated Arizona State 20-17 to win the Rose Bowl.
• 1999 Defeated Texas A&M 24-14 to win the Sugar Bowl.
• 1996 Set a linebacker record with 12 sacks in a season.
• 1996 Set a linebacker record with 23 tackles for loss.
•  

Katzenmoyer had an intimidating presence. 

HONORS:

• 1998 All-Big Ten.
• 1998 Randy Gradishar Award.
• 1997 All-American.
• 1997 All-Big Ten.
• 1997 Butkus Award.
• 1997 Randy Gradishar Award.
• 1997 Jack Lambert Trophy.
• 1996 Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
• 1996 All-Big Ten.
• 1995 High School All-American.
• 2009 Inducted into the Varsity O Hall of Fame.

NFL Draft
Round 1 to the New England Patriots with the 28th pick of the 1999 draft.

The Big Kat and the Buckeyes took down the snake in the Rose Bowl.

Andy Katzenmoyer's Ohio State career per ohiostatebuckeyes.com:

Andy Katzenmoyer started the first game of his freshman year in 1996 and was a regular for 37-consecutive games. He opted for an NFL career at the end of his junior season. He won a plethora of awards, including the Butkus Award and consensus All-America honors as a sophomore in 1997, the 1996 Football News and Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He was a three-time All-Big Ten selection and a two-time finalist for the Lombardi Award.

Katzenmoyer amassed three-year statistical totals of 197 solo tackles, 256 total tackles, 50 tackles-for-loss, 192 yards in losses, 18 quarterback sacks and six interceptions. He was twice named the team’s Randy Gradishar Award winner as best linebacker (1997-98). He scored twice on interceptions, vs. Minnesota as a freshman and vs. Arizona as a sophomore, tying a school-record for interception return TDs. He also tied the school record with five tackles-for-loss in a game (vs. Arizona State in the 1997 Rose Bowl).

As a junior in 1998, Katzenmoyer was a finalist for the Maxwell Football Club’s Defensive Player of the Year Award (in addition to the Lombardi Award) and he anchored the nation’s top-ranked defense against the run and second-ranked unit in total defense.

He was a consensus All-American as a sophomore in 1997 and became only the second sophomore to win the Butkus Award as the nation’s outstanding linebacker. He was a Lombardi Award finalist, ranking second on the team with 97 tackles, including 13 tackles-for-loss. He clinched the Arizona win with a 20-yard interception return touchdown. He had 11 tackles against both Arizona and Iowa.

In 1996 he became the first freshman to start every game at linebacker for the Buckeyes and finished second on the team with 85 tackles and paced the team with 23 tackles-for-loss and sacks (12), both school records for a linebacker.

Buckeyes do not look right in blue. Especially New England blue.

Katzenmoyer's NFL career per katzenmoyerperformance.com:

In 1999, the New England Patriots drafted Andy 28th overall in the NFL draft. Andy played in every game as a rookie, starting the first 11 at middle linebacker. Andy finished his rookie campaign ranked third on the team with 107 tackles, including 76 solo stops. His 3.5 sacks ranked third on the team. Andy returned his only interception of the season 57 yards for a touchdown – his first career touchdown. To cap off this exceptional year, Andy earned Miller Lite Player of the Game honors for his performance against the Dolphins and was named to the NFL All Rookie Team. Unfortunately, Andy suffered a career-ending injury with the Patriots, and retired from playing football.

Katzenmoyer opened his personal training facility in 2012.

Andy Katzenmoyer's career after football per katzenmoyerperformance.com:

After Andy’s playing career ended his passion for training still continued. Studying and learning from some the greatest strength and conditioning coaches in the world Charles Poliquin, Dave Kennedy, Mike Woicik, Michael Boyle, Louie Simmons, Tom Shaw and Nelson Ayotte to name a few.

Andy Opened KPCF in the fall of 2012, adding it to his existing personal training business Katzenmoyer Performance. He received his CrossFit Level One certificate, in the summer of 2012 and is one of KPCF head coaches.

Katzenmoyer was arrested in 2013 for violating a domestic violence civil protection order.

For more information on other players who wore No. 45 go here.

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

ALL PLAYERS COVERED TO DATE

Andy Katzenmoyer finished his Ohio State career with 197 solo tackles. Going into 2014 that was 7th best all-time at Ohio State.