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. 46 Bob Ferguson
TB Bob Ferguson
1959-1961
b. Aug. 29, 1939 (Troy, OH)
d. Dec. 30, 2004 (Columbus, OH)
- Maxwell Award (1961)
- National Champion (1961)
- Consensus First Team All-American (1960, 1961)
- UPI Player of the Year
- Heisman Runner Up (1961)
- Varsity "O" Hall of Fame (1987)
- Ohio State All-Century Team (2000)
At 6-1 and 220 pounds, Bob Ferguson was the prototypical 1960s Ohio State fullback.
A two-time All-American and three-year starter Ferguson led the Buckeyes in rushing every year he played. He only lost six yards in rushing that entire time.
Ferguson earned the 1961 Maxwell Award, given annually to the best all-around player, and the UPA Player of the Year.
He also finished second in Heisman Trophy voting after the Buckeyes finished the '61 season with a national title and 8-0-1 record. Ferguson shared the backfield with halfbacks Paul Warfield and Matt Snell.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and San Diego Chargers both drafted Ferguson with a first-round pick, and Ferguson accepted the offer from the Steelers. He retired after two seasons with the Steelers and Minnesota Vikings due to a head injury.
Ferguson then went back to The Ohio State University and earned a master's degree in sociology. He served as a youth counselor in Columbus until health problems forced him to retire in 1990. He died in Columbus in 2004 due to complications from diabetes.
