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.
Korey Stringer was widely regarded as one of the nation’s top prep offensive linemen after he led Warren G. Harding to a perfect record and state championship during his junior season in 1991. He was deemed a “must-get” prospect for Ohio State and then-head coach John Cooper, especially with Michigan and Syracuse pushing hard for his pledge.
OT Korey Stringer
1992-94
b. May 8, 1974 (Warren, OH)
d. Aug. 1, 2001 (Mankato, MN)
- Two-time All-American (1993-94)
- Two-time All-Big Ten (1993-94)
- Big Ten Offensive Linemen of the Year (1993-94)
- Big Ten Freshman of the Year (1992)
- Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame (2003)
The 6-foot-4, 335-pound Stringer saw action in 11 games as a true freshman in Columbus, six of which he started in place of the injured Alan Kline and Jason Winrow. He earned second-team all-Big Ten honors and was named the conference newcomer of the year as a result.
As a sophomore, Stringer helped pave the way for running back Raymont Harris to rush for 1,344 yards and 12 touchdowns on the season. He was named first-team All-American by Eastman Kodak, Walter Camp and Scripps-Howard, as the Buckeyes finished the year with a 10-1-1 record and won the Big Ten title.
Ohio State’s offense was one of the nation’s best in 1994 thanks to Stringer and highly touted freshman tackle Orlando Pace. Behind them, quarterback Bobby Hoying threw for 2,235 yards — which was the second-highest single-season mark in school history at the time — while running back Eddie George rushed for 1,442 yards and 12 touchdowns to lead the Buckeyes to a 9-4 record and their first win at home over archrival Michigan in a decade. He was named a consensus All-American and was a finalist for the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy.
Stringer skipped his senior season and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the with No. 24 overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft. He started 91 games in his career and earned Pro Bowl honors what would ultimately be his final season in the National Football League.
Stringer was hospitalized after he suffered from heat stroke and collapsed during Minnesota’s 2001 preseason training camp. His organs failed and he never regained consciousness. He was just 27 years old.
The Vikings retired Stringer’s jersey number and inducted him into the team’s ring of honor that fall, but his death more importantly brought about widespread changes regarding heat stroke prevention throughout college and professional football, including training in light-colored uniforms and the use of full-time team doctors in practice. His widow, Kelci, also helped found the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut, which aims to “minimize preventable deaths in sports through awareness, education and research in the ways to accurately prevent, recognize and treat symptoms quickly by being a resource to the entire sports community.”
Photo: Ohio State Dept. of Athletics
