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. 9 David Boston
WR David Boston
1996-1998
b. Aug. 19, 1978 (Humble, Texas)
- First-Team All-American (1998)
- First-Round NFL Draft Choice (1999)
One of the products of coach John Cooper's national recruiting approach, the Texan wide receiver was one of Ohio State's best players of the 1990's.
Boston quickly made an impression his freshman year. He caught 33 passes for 450 yards and seven touchdowns that season.
In his sophomore campaign, Boston built on those numbers. He caught 73 passes for 970 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Boston's senior season, however, was his best. He caught an incredible 85 passes for an astonishing 1,435 yards and 13 scores. These numbers led Boston to an All-American nod, and ended up becoming the MVP of the 1999 Sugar Bowl.
Following his junior season, Boston decided to leave school and declare a year early for the NFL Draft. He was selected in the first round, #8 overall, by the Arizona Cardinals, for whom he played four seasons. The 2001 campaign was his best, as he had 98 receptions for 1598 yards and eight touchdowns. That led to a Pro Bowl appearance as well as a first-team All Pro nod.
After the 2002 season, Boston signed a seven-year, $47 million contract with the San Diego Chargers. After one season, he was traded to the Miami Dolphins, where he tested positive for steroids and was suspended for four games before tearing ligaments in his knee. In 2005, he tore those same ligaments again, and was held to just four games.
After a DUI arrest in 2006 while Boston was a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his career came to an end. While it was not the most ideal ending to a career, Ohio State fans will remember Boston for his excellent on-field performance while in Columbus.
