As one of the most prominent college football programs in the sport’s history, Ohio State has sent many players off to the NFL.
Since the NFL Draft was created in 1936, Ohio State has seen 91 Buckeyes selected in the first round — the most among all college football programs. Of those 91, three were chosen with the No. 1 overall pick — linebacker Tom Cousineau, defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson and offensive tackle Orlando Pace. Pace’s selection in 1997 marked the last time a Buckeye was the first prospect to stroll across the NFL Draft stage.
As one of the greatest offensive linemen to ever suit up in the scarlet and gray, Pace’s rise to the No. 1 overall pick wasn’t all that surprising.
Upon arriving on Ohio State’s campus in 1994, Pace turned heads before setting foot on the field. Standing at an imposing 6-foot-7 and weighing over 300 pounds, Pace had all the traits that were desired from a tackle, in addition to an unnatural athleticism for someone that size.
While physical gifts can only carry one so far, Pace backed it up on the field. Starting every game for the Buckeyes from 1994-96, Pace earned a pair of All-American honors, two Lombardi Awards, and even garnered Heisman Trophy consideration — a virtually unheard of feat for an offensive lineman. En route to all of these accolades, Pace redefined the left tackle position as a downfield blocker — popularizing the Pancake Block by flatting defenders on their back 80 times in his junior season.
With quite the resume entering the 1997 NFL Draft season, Pace was a highly sought-after prospect and widely regarded as one of the best talents in the selection pool. The intrigue around Pace was solidified when the St. Louis Rams traded four draft picks — including their first-round pick — to the New York Jets in exchange for the top choice in the 1997 draft.
Although Pace didn’t undergo a formal interview with the Rams at the annual NFL Scouting Combine, the relationship between the Pancake Man and the organization quickly grew. Ultimately, St. Louis made Pace the fourth offensive lineman taken No. 1 overall in NFL history at the time, bringing Pace under the tutelage of NFL Hall of Fame head coach Dick Vermeil.
From there, Pace built up an NFL Hall of Fame resume as an instrumental piece of the legendary Rams offense — known as “The Greatest Show on Turf.” Pace was named a three-time All-Pro, participated in seven Pro Bowls and helped the Rams achieve their first Super Bowl win in 1999.
Pace wasn’t the only Buckeye selected in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft; in fact, he wasn’t the only one picked in the top three. All-American cornerback Shawn Springs was taken with the No. 3 overall selection to the Seattle Seahawks — marking the beginning of a solid 13-year NFL career. Another notable Buckeye taken in 1997 was Ohio State’s all-time sack leader, Mike Vrabel, who was selected in the third round by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
