In 18 days Ohio State will play Oregon State to start the 2018 season. Below, you will find a list of the 40 players who have worn No. 18 for the Buckeyes since 1931.

Today's featured players are Merle Wendt, Don Clark and Andy Groom. 

Wendt is one of eight Buckeyes to earn All-American honors three times:
Chic Harley (1916, 1917, 1919)
Wes Fesler (1928, 1929, 1930)
Lew Hinchman (1930, 1931, 1932)
Merle Wendt (1934, 1935, 1936)
Archie Griffin (1973, 1974, 1975)
Tom Skladany (1974, 1975, 1976)
Mike Doss (2000, 2001, 2002)
James Laurinaitis (2006, 2007, 2008)

*Wore another number at Ohio State
Did not earn a varsity letter while wearing No. 18

Merle Wendt, E (1934-1936)
Born: 1915
Death: 2000
High School: Middletown

Ohio State
The Buckeyes were 19-5 with Wendt on the team.
1935 Big Ten Title.
Went 3-0 against That Team outscoring them 93-0.

Honors
1936 Captain.
1936 All-American.
1936 All-Big Ten.
1935 All-American.
1935 All-Big Ten.
1934 All-American.
1934 All-Big Ten.
1981 Inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame.

Merle Wendt's Ohio State career per Wikipedia:

Wendt was a starter for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team from 1934 to 1936 and was captain of the 1936 team.

Wendt was five feet eleven inches tall, and weighed 190 pounds. He was described as "A great pass catcher, hard tackler and tops in defense."

Upon his selection as captain, one Ohio newspaper wrote: "A superb defensive man, the 188 pound flanker teamed with Gomer Jones, Cleveland, whom he succeeds at the Ohio helm, in leading the charge of the forward wall of Francis Schmidt's eleven."

Wendt was selected as an All-Western Conference end as a sophomore in 1934. He was also selected as a first-team All-American in 1934 by the International News Service—the Hearst newspapers wire service.

In 1935, Wendt was selected as a first-team All-American by Liberty Magazine and the Newspaper Editors Association.

[...]

Wendt played on Ohio State teams that defeated the Michigan Wolverines three straight years by a combined score of 93-0.

In 1936, Wendt was asked about his greatest thrill: "After no undue amount of deliberation Merle decided that his greatest thrill was the time he caught the winning touchdown pass against Michigan in 1934."

Wendt's life after playing football at Ohio State:

Wendt had offers to play professional football from seven NFL teams, but opted instead to pursue a career in chemical engineering.

He married his wife, June Stone, six days after receiving his degree in chemical engineering. For many years, Wendt was the director of chemical engineering for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. in Akron, Ohio.

Donald Clark, RB (1956-1958)
Born: 1936 (Akron)

Ohio State
The Buckeyes were 21-5-2 with Clark on the team.
1957 National Champion.
1957 Big Ten Title.
1958 Defeated Oregon 10-7 to win the Rose Bowl.

Honors
1957 All-Big Ten.
1958 All-Big Ten.

Donald Clark's Ohio State career per Wikipedia:

Clark played his college football with the powerhouse Ohio State Buckeyes. Playing from 1956 to 1958, he was integral part of their 1958 Rose Bowl victory and national championship.

An All-American, he was drafted in the first round by the Chicago Bears, even though he was injured.

Clark spurns the NFL for the CFL:

Canada was Clark's preferred destination, and he signed with the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1959.

After rushing for 343 yards, he couldn't agree on contract terms with Ottawa, and was traded to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who promptly dealt him to the Montreal Alouettes.

Clark retired in 1964, only 27 years old, due to knee, rib and kidney injuries.

Video of 1958 Rose Bowl. Spoiler Alert, Ohio State defeats Oregon in yet another Rose Bowl:

Andy Groom, P (1999-2002)
Born: 1979 (Columbus)
High School: Hartley (Columbus)

Ohio State
The Buckeyes were 35-15 with Groom on the team.
2002 National Champion.
2002 Big Ten Title.

Honors
2002 All-American.
2002 All-Big Ten.

Groom's senior season per The Ohio State Team Guide:

Enjoyed a brilliant senior season and was named to a first-team berth on the Football Writers and the Associated Press All-American teams...also a first-team All-Big Ten pick...led the Big Ten and was fourth nationally in punting with an average of 45.0 on 60 attempts.

Turned in the the third best single-game performance in school history at Wisconsin, averaging 50.2 yards on six punts, including a career best effort of 74 yards.

Six punts for a 47.7 average and a long of 63 against Miami in the Fiesta Bowl...also the holder on placements...former walk-on who was converted to a scholarship at the start of 2001.

In high school, earned all-state honors in Division IV... played cornerback, quarterback and did all the kicking. His uncle, Jeff Groom, played for the Buckeyes.

Highlights of Andy Groom's Ohio State career:

• Groom finished his Buckeye career with the highest punting average (45.0 yards per punt) in school history.
• He totaled 2,697 punting yards which ranks him sixth on the all-time list.
• Groom punted for Ohio State during the 2001 and 2002 seasons.

*Wore No. 55 when drafted.
#Wore No. 20 when drafted.

101 days until The Game.