We're counting down the days to kickoff with “99 Warriors,” the greatest Ohio State Buckeyes by jersey number, as voted by the staff of Eleven Warriors.
No. 81 Billy Ray Anders
He'd never played football until he tried out for the team in 1965 as a sophomore walk on, but Billy Ray Anders not only made the team, he earned a starting spot for the next years, was named a captain his senior season and finished his career as Ohio State's all-time leading receiver.
WR/TE Billy Ray Anders
1965-1967
b. 1945 (Sabina, Ohio)
- Three-year starter (1966-67)
- First-Team All-Big Ten (1967)
- Team Captain (1967)
The Buckeyes didn't throw the ball much in Woody Hayes' offense, but Anders was undoubtably the most productive receiver Hayes ever had. He was the only receiver in Hayes' 28 seasons to catch more than 40 passes in a season, hauling in 55 in 1966, and finished his Ohio State career with 108 catches for 1,318 yards, making him the most productive pass-catcher in Buckeye history at the time.
Anders started every game for three years, and during his senior season he was named a team captain and given first-team All-Big Ten honors.
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Photo: Ohio State University Archives
