Former Ohio State left tackle Orlando Pace, arguably the greatest Buckeye of all time, will be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton on Saturday evening. He will do so after a standout 13-year career that included seven Pro Bowls.
Pace is one of eight members of the Hall of Fame's 2016 class and is the eighth former player to ever be elected. The last was Cris Carter in 2013.
Orlando Pace: A Closer Look
- Two-time Lombardi Award winner
- Two-time consensus All-American
- Two-time All-Big Ten selection
- Finished fourth in 1996 Heisman Trophy voting
- No. 1 pick in 1997 NFL Draft
- Seven-time Pro Bowl selection
- 1999 Super Bowl champion
After being selected No. 1 overall in the 1997 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams, Pace spent 12 of his 13 seasons as the Rams' left tackle before finishing his career with the Chicago Bears. In addition to his seven Pro Bowls, he was a five-time All-Pro at the position. He won a Super Bowl in 1999 as the key cog on an offensive line protecting the St. Louis offense, which earned the name, "The Greatest Show on Turf."
Before all of that NFL glory, however, Pace starred at Ohio State and did so from Day 1. He started on the Buckeyes' offensive line as a true freshman in 1994 and then dominated for three seasons.
Pace was a two-time Lombardi Award winner, a two-time All-Big Ten selection and a two-time consensus All-American. In 1996, as a junior, Pace — an offensive lineman let us not forget — finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting. He made an awesome campaign video for it, too.
He literally invented the term, "pancake block."
Pace was truly one of the most dominant players of his generation, both in college and the NFL. He redefined how the offensive tackle position was measured.
Salute to you, Orlando Pace, for your storied career both at Ohio State and in the NFL.
Be sure to have some pancakes this morning in Pace's honor.
