Last week we pieced together the perfect Buckeye wide receiver and running back. The two stories were an excuse to dig into footage of Buckeye greats and even drew the attention of an OSU legend (though not in the way I intended…apologies Mr. Galloway).
To round out the series on the offensive side of the ball, it’s time to Frankenstein the perfect Buckeye quarterback from pieces of stars past.
Vision: Troy Smith
Say what you will about Troy Smith’s last game in the Scarlet and Gray, but the kid was phenomenal for the better part of three years
Smith burst onto the scene in 2004, showcasing an impressive set of wheels and an uncanny ability to crush Wolverines under his thumb to the tune of 386 yards and 3 touchdowns.
2005 was more of the same as Smith threw for 2,282 yards and 16 TDs with another 611 yards and 11 TDs on the ground.
But, it was 2006 that made Troy a legend. Neglecting his legs in favor of incredible field vision, Smith consistently danced and spun out of tackles all while keeping his eyes downfield. He utilized his wheels to buy time, and his arm to make back-breaking throws, culminating in 2,542 yards and 30 TDs through the air and another 204 yards and 1 TD on the ground…oh and a Heisman.
Here’s a perfect example of Smith’s phenomenal field vision at work:
Arm: Joe Germaine / Bobby Hoying / Art Schlichter
If I'm looking at arms it’s hard to leave out any of the players above. Joe Germaine, Bobby Hoying and Art Schlichter all made names for themselves via their cannons.
Germaine sits atop the Buckeye record books for passing yards in a season with 3,330 (1998). The two players behind him are (you guessed it) Hoying (3,269 yards in 1995) and Schlichter (2,551 yards in 1981).
The three also claim the top three spots on the total passing yards in a career list with Schlichter tossing for 7,547, Hoying throwing for 7,232 and Germaine tallying 6,370.
That’s all you can ask for in terms of production from your signal caller, especially when all three had stellar running backs behind them (Germaine had Wiley, Hoying had Eddie and Schlichter had Tim Spencer).
Here are all three showing off the goods.
Ability to get it done: Craig Krenzel
Craig Krenzel will never be listed as one of the strongest, fastest or most athletic Buckeye quarterbacks of all-time, but that’s not going to stop me from putting him on my list. In a season where it was the world against Ohio State, Craig Krenzel simply GOT. IT. DONE.
Need a game-winning throw, a game-saving 4th and 14 or a national championship? Krenzel is your guy. Again and again Craig pulled the team up by their boot-straps to get a win. In no game was it more prevalent than the 2002 national championship. On a roster replete with stars like Maurice Clarett, Michael Jenkins and Chris Gamble it was Krenzel who came away with the championship MVP. Way to get it done Craig.
Size: Terrelle Pryor
Even as a freshman it was clear Terrelle Pryor was going to be one of the biggest Buckeye quarterbacks in recent memory. At 6’6’’ 235 lbs Pryor looked more tight end than signal caller. He put that size to good use immediately, creating a bruising back-field with running back Beanie Wells.
Again and again, Pryor used his frame to his advantage, often breaking opponents tackles or simply trucking them altogether. The Jeanette, PA native’s name litters the OSU record books but stats on a page don’t tell the size story. This does.
Scrambling: Cornelius Greene / Braxton Miller
There've been plenty of OSU quarterbacks that can get it done through the air, but only a few that could strike fear in the hearts of opponents on the ground. Legend of the past, Cornelius Greene and current Buckeye QB, Braxton Miller, are two such players.
From 1972-1975 Greene amassed 2,080 rushing yards, a number that puts him at 20 on Ohio State’s total rushing yards in a career list; impressive considering he had to compete with a guy named Archie Griffin for carries. Greene also sits at No. 2 on the list of 100-yard rushing games by a quarterback with 4.
Greene solidified himself in the record book, but current quarterback, Braxton Miller, is in the process of re-writing it. Since 2011 Miller has churned out 3,054 total rushing yards slotting him at No. 7 on the total rushing yards in a career list. The mark puts him just 714 yards behind Eddie George as the No. 2 rusher in Buckeye history.
In addition, Braxton has tallied 14 games with 100 or more rushing yards, pegging him as the only quarterback in OSU history to achieve that feat. At times Buckeye Nation has lost patience with Miller, but viewing his accomplishments through the lens of history proves the haters need to take a step back. Miller has cemented himself as the best Buckeye rushing quarterback in school history, and he still has a season to play.
Here’s Greene and Miller doing what they do best: making defenders look ridiculous.
These are the parts I’d use to make the ultimate Buckeye QB. I’m confident if I could Frankenstein these attributes together I’d have a Scarlet and Gray terror machine. Scientists, you’re officially on notice. Let’s make this happen.
