Ohio State football has a rich and illustrious tradition that stretches back decades beyond last season’s CFP title team. No less than six Buckeye standouts have been Heisman Trophy winners, including that award’s only ever two-time winner. The Ohio State record book looks at times like an NFL who’s who. So here’s the challenge. This is the top 10 Buckeyes of all time, when a list of 100 great Buckeyes would still leave worthy players missing.
Top 10 Ohio State football players of all time
10. Ezekiel Elliott, RB (2013-2015)
After serving as a backup as a freshman, Elliott put together a pair of outstanding starting seasons at OSU. He rushed for 1,878 yards and 18 scores as a sophomore and 1,821 yards and 23 more touchdowns as a junior. Those are the third and fourth most rushing yards in a season in OSU history and leave Elliott overall third on the OSU rushing list (3,961 yards), even without a senior season. He had a fine college career and a tough pro run to date.
9. JT Barrett, QB (2014-2017)
Barrett absolutely bludgeoned the OSU record book, throwing for 9,434 yards and 104 touchdowns, both of which remain OSU all-time marks. He rushed for another 3,263 yards on the ground, still good for ninth on the OSU rushing list. Had he been healthy and led OSU to the 2014 title, he could have ranked even higher. He was still a Buckeye legend.
8. Mike Vrabel, DE (1993-1996)
Years before he was a coach, Vrabel was a fearsome pass rusher. How fearsome? Well, his 36 sacks remain an OSU record. He was a two-time Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year and racked up a ton of sacks without any insane seasons, with his career best of 13 coming in his junior year in 1995. He had a solid pro career and an impressive coaching record so far.
7. JK Dobbins, RB (2017-2019)
Dobbins’s 4,459 yards are second all-time in OSU history. His 2019 season, with 2,003 rushing yards, remains the only 2,000-yard season in OSU history. His 38 rushing TDs are seventh on the OSU career list. Had he stayed for another year, Dobbins would have owned the OSU record book– and likely the Heisman Trophy.
6. Les Horvath, QB (1940-1942, 1944)
Horvath is OSU’s first-ever Heisman winner. Despite having completed dental school, he returned for a final season in 1944, where he called all the offensive plays and led OSU to a 9-0 season. Horvath had 1,200 all-purpose yards and scored the game-winning touchdown against Michigan. He had a brief pro football career, but spent much of his life as a dentist, albeit a dentist with a Heisman Trophy.
5. Vic Janowicz, RB (1949-1951)
Janowicz also won a Heisman, and typical of the top players of his day, he was a multi-talented threat. He was a top rusher but also a capable passer, an excellent punter and kicker, and a solid member of the secondary on defense. Janowicz played for Woody Hayes as a senior, but won his Heisman as a junior in 1950. He went on to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates in Major League Baseball.
4. Howard Cassady, RB (1952-1955)
Cassady also won a Heisman for the Buckeyes. He was a two-time All-American. He scored 37 touchdowns in 36 games and was also a top defensive back for the Buckeyes, who won a national title in 1954, then saw Cassady claim the Heisman in 1955. His 2,466 rushing yards were an OSU record for a decade and a half.
3. Eddie George, RB (1992-1995)
An eternally classy player, George had two brilliant seasons to cap a decorated college career. After rushing for 1,442 yards and 12 scores in 1994, he topped that with 1,927 yards and 24 touchdowns in 1995 to claim the Heisman Trophy. George finished his OSU career second in rushing (3,768 yards) and third in rushing touchdowns (44). He was an NFL star and is now the head coach at Bowling Green.
2. Troy Smith, QB (2002-2006)
The most recent Heisman winner for OSU is Smith. He worked his way into starting midway through his redshirt sophomore season and then had two brilliant final years in college. Smith passed for 2,542 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2006. When he claimed the Heisman, he won it by the second broadest margin in the award’s history. While his pro career never took off, Smith is still beloved in Columbus.
1. Archie Griffin, RB (1972-1975)
Griffin did something no one else has ever done– win a pair of Heisman Trophies. He actually gained more yards as a sophomore (1,577) than he did as a senior (1,450), but he claimed the Heisman in his final two seasons. Griffin finished his OSU career with 5,589 yards and a whopping 6.0 yards per carry. He had 31 consecutive 100+ yard rushing games at one point and set a standard no one may ever break.
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