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. 14 Eric Kumerow
Eric Kumerow was all-state in both football and basketball his senior year at Oak Park-River Forest High School just outside Chicago.
DE/LB Eric Kumerow
1984-87
b. April 17, 1965 (Chicago, IL)
- Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year (1986)
- All-Big Ten (1986-87)
- Big Ten Champion (1984, 86)
- Team Captain (1987)
Ohio State recruited him as a quarterback, but he quickly found himself buried on the depth chart and switched to the defensive side of the ball during his redshirt season. It paid off, too, as he was named the Big Ten's Defensive Lineman of the Year after helped the Buckeyes to a Big Ten title and a win in the Cotton Bowl in 1986.
A team captain in 1987, Kumerow also garnered his second-consecutive first-team All-Big Ten honor that fall. He finished his career with 23 sacks, which ranks fifth all time in school history.
Kumerow was selected by Miami with the 16th overall pick in the 1988 NFL Draft, despite the fact that most draft analysts pegged him as a mid-round pick. He retired after just three seasons without ever starting a game for the Dolphins, recording just five sacks and one interception in 42 games.
Kumerow’s sister, Cheryl, is the wife of former Miami teammate John Bosa, who is — of course — the father of Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa and current Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa. He is the grandson of Chicago Outfit mob boss Tony Accardo and father of Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jake Kumerow.
Kumerow currently resides in the Chicago suburb of Bartlett, Illinois.
Photo: Ohio State Dept. of Athletics
