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. 2 Mike Doss
Through his junior season at Ohio State, Mike Doss had already been named a first-team All-American twice and was figured to be a high pick in the NFL Draft if he chose to leave school early.
S Mike Doss
1999-2002
b. March 24, 1981 (Canton, OH.)
- All-American (2000, 2001, 2002)
- National Champion (2002)
- Big Ten Defensive MVP (2002)
- Fiesta Bowl MVP (2002)
But Doss had unfinished business – he wanted to win a national championship. And thanks to his leadership and dominance in the secondary, the Buckeyes did just that.
Named a captain captain before the season, Doss started all 14 games his senior season and was named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-American for a third time. He had a career-high 107 tackles in 2002, along with five tackles for loss, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Doss had one of the best games of his career in the 2002 Fiesta Bowl, finishing the national championship game with nine-tackles against the Hurricanes along with adding a half tackle for a loss and a pivotal interception.
Through his four seasons at Ohio State, Doss had 331 tackles, eight interceptions, eight fumble recoveries, and six sacks.
Doss was selected in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts where he played four seasons before signing with Minnesota for a season, and finishing his career with a short stint with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Doss is one of just eight three-time All-Americans in Ohio State history, along with Chic Harley, Wes Fesler, Lew Hinchman, Merle Wendt, Archie Griffin, Tom Skladany, and James Laurinaitis.
