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. 65 Pat Elflein
Pat Elflein arrived at Ohio State as the lowest-rated member of the Buckeyes' 2012 recruiting class.
He left Ohio State as the nation's best center and one of the Buckeyes' most accomplished offensive linemen ever.
OL Pat Elflein
2013-16
b. July 6, 1994 (Pickerington, Ohio)
- National Champion (2014)
- All-Big Ten (2014, 2015, 2016)
- All-American (2016)
- Rimington Trophy (2016)
- Team Captain (2016)
- Team MVP (2016)
- Academic All-Big Ten (2013, 2014, 2015)
A native of Pickerington, Ohio, Elflein redshirted his first year on campus but went on to play in 55 straight games from 2013 to 2016, setting a school record (a record that has since been tied by Billy Price and Tyquan Lewis). After making his first career start in the 2013 Big Ten Championship Game, Elflein was the Buckeyes' starting right guard in 2014 and 2015, earning All-Big Ten honors for both seasons.
Elflein moved to center for his final season as a Buckeye, and proved to be even better as the man in the middle of Ohio State's offensive line, winning the 2016 Rimington Trophy as college football's best center and not only earning All-Big Ten honors but unanimous All-American honors, all the while serving as a team captain and being named as one of two team MVPs (along with Malik Hooker).
Also a top performer in the classroom during his time at Ohio State, Elflein earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and graduated with a degree in communications in 2016.
Elflein was selected in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft, and is now entering his second season as the starting center of the Minnesota Vikings.
