Explanation of the points system: two top ten lists were compiled, one for the community based upon comments and votes, the other based upon the resumes of the players mentioned on the thread. First on a list = ten points, second = nine, and so on.
I'm a day late with this one, I had a track meet yesterday and was not able to complete it.
10. Joey Bosa, 2013-2015 DE, 4 points
Kicking this list off is a recent 6’6” intimidator. The big bear.
The only defensive end on this list is here for good reasons. Bosa’s legendary career off the edge included 148 tackles (101 solo), 51.0 tackles for loss, and 26.0 sacks (third all-time at Ohio State). Not reflected in those stats is the fact that he was often double or even triple teamed so that he didn’t just completely take over the game. During the 2014 national championship run, Bosa accumulated 13.5 sacks, second most in a single season by just half of a quarterback takedown.
The nation recognized Bosa’s dominance. He was named an All-american both in 2014 and 2015 with a nod as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2014.
9. Ken Johnson, 1997-2001 Center, 6 points
Johnson, at 6’11”, was basically the rim’s personal body guard. He would reject 444 -- 116 more than the second-best career total at Ohio State -- attempts at entry into the exclusive club known as “The Basket”.
Shoehorned analogies aside, Johnson was the most ridiculous shot blocker in the history of buckeye basketball. Outside of blocking the most career shots at the highest career rate (3.5 a game) in program history, he holds the two highest single blocked shot seasons with 161 in 1999-2000 being his best year, and the only two double-digit blocked shot games (11 both times).
Ken averaged 8.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game also.
8. Korey Stringer, 1992-1994 OT, 7 points
Stringer is the first of four offensive linemen on this list, he was a load. His 335 pound frame stonewalled defensive end, linebacker, and defensive tackle alike in a storied three-year career in Columbus. The future Baltimore Raven was a key piece to John Cooper’s first win over TTUN in 1994 and a Holiday Bowl win over BYU in 1993. He would be named an All-american before departing early after the 1994 season.
7. Granville Waiters, 1979-1983 Center, 9 points
The second center featured on this list was only a major contributor for two of his four seasons, so I don’t feel it is fair to mention his career averages. His best asset was probably the fact that he improved tremendously each year he played.
Waiters blocked quite a few shots during his career, a total of 136 to rank sixth all-time at this great school. His final season he averaged 2.1 blocks each game he played in as well as 10.4 points and 7.5 rebounds; an improvement from his 1.9 BPG, 7.1 PPG, and 5.0 RPG the previous year.
6. Dan Wilkinson, 1992-1993 DT, 11 points
He can play inside. He can play outside. He can play over guard. He can play over center. He can play over tackle. He can rush the passer or hold the point. He can do it all.
Bill Kuharich, the New Orleans Saints' vice president of football operations.
Big Daddy wasn’t just a magnanimous 6’4” and 340 pounds, he was supremely athletic, clocked at a big-man blazing 4.77 seconds in the forty. He had a great motor and drive also, as you can see from these two plays:
On his career Wilkinson gathered 90 tackles (53 solo), 23.5 TFLs, and 8.5 sacks. He was named first-team All-Big Ten in 1992 before becoming an All-american and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 1993 as a redshirt sophomore, after which he decided to leave early for the NFL.
4(t). Jim Parker, 1954-1956 OG, 12 points
I used to think there wasn't a big tackle I could outmaneuver, but Parker could move with me. He was just too strong and too good and too smart.
Andy Robustelli, New York Giants Hall of Fame defensive end.
Parker was big, fast, and mean for his time. One of Woody’s favorite tools to gain three yards and a cloud of dust consistently, Parker helped block the buckeyes to a 1954 natty and a heisman for Hopalong Cassady in 1956. That same year he would take home Ohio State’s first Outland Trophy and an All-american rating.
4(t). Herb Williams, 1977-1981 Center, 12 points
Pictured above is Ohio State’s only 2,000 point scorer that played center.
The 6’10” Williams scored 2,011 points, to be exact, good for second all-time for the basketbucks (Dennis Hopson is the leader). He’s second in rebounds with 1,111 of them (Jerry Lucas). And, you guessed it, second all-time in career blocked shots with 328 (Ken Johnson). His nine block performance against Iowa in 1980 is one of just five single game 9 or more block performances.
3. John Hicks, 1971-1973 OT, 13 points
We used to just tell the little [expletive], 'Not to fumble the ball'. Then we would come to the line of scrimmage and tell the defense, number 45 is going to get the ball, try and stop him. Archie would stick it in the end zone and then come back to us and say would you guys cut that out!
John Hicks on the 1973 offensive line blocking for one Archie Griffin.
Make no mistake about it, Hicks was as hard-nosed as they come. And being 260 pounds in the early 1970s was plenty of size for a mover of Hicks’s capabilities. Twice named an All-american, Hicks is the only offensive lineman in college football history to finish second place in the heisman vote (he lost by about 500 points to John Cappelletti). He won both the Lombardi Award and the Outland Trophy in his well-decorated career.
The success of the team followed. Hicks took home a 1971 national championship and a 1973 undefeated season/Rose Bowl crown, losing just three combined games in three years.
2. Jerry Lucas, 1959-1962 Center, 16 points
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, Lucas is the best player in the history of Ohio State basketball. Forget the fact that he averaged the second-most career points a game (24.3), truly defining an elite center, Lucas grabbed 300 more rebounds (1,411 total) than any other player ever to wear scarlet and gray, at a rate 4.9 boards a game higher than anyone else (17.2). In each of Lucas’s three seasons the team would reach the national title game, winning it for the 1959-1960 season.
Not only is Jerry possibly the best player statistically in buckeye history, he’s the most decorated too. Three times each he was a first-team All-american, National Player of the Year, and NCAA Tournament MVP.
1. Orlando Pace, 1994-1996 OT, 20 points
Achieving the first ever perfect score on one of these is the nation's only two-time Lombardi Award Winner, Orlando Pace.
Playing three seasons in Columbus, Pace would become one of the most feared tackles in college football. The Big Ten did a nice little piece on this:
After taking the first of his already mentioned two Lombardis in 1995 and an All-american nod, Pace would have the most decorated season in buckeye offensive line history in 1996. He would be named an All-american again, taking home his second Lombardi Award, an Outland Trophy, a naming as the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, a fourth place finish in the Heisman race, and a Team MVP. All this was enough to become a number one draft pick after he left following his junior year, and he is now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Honorable Mentions: Greg Oden (2 points), LeCharles Bentley (1 point), Jared Sullinger (1 point), and Terence Dials (1 point)
Stats and rankings from sports-reference.com, buckeyefansonly.com, The basketball leader's press release, and The football leader's wiki page.
