Ranking the 15 greatest Ohio State players of all time, from Archie Griffin to Cris Carter

How does one go about compiling a list of the all-time greats at Ohio State?

It is a large talent pool. The Buckeyes have 93 consensus All-Americans in school history and seven Heisman Trophy winners — including the only two-time winner in Archie Griffin. 

With no shortage of players to choose from, the Buckeyes on this list came from all eras: the 1970s teams under Woody Hayes, the John Cooper teams of the 1990s, the Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer years and even one player who helped launch the Ryan Day era.  

We ultimately landed on 15 Ohio State players who stood out above the rest. Here was the formula Sporting News used to determine the top players for each school: 

• Heisman Trophy winner: 10 points
• Heisman top-five finish: 2nd place (4 points), 3rd place (3 points), 4th place (2 points), 5th place (1 point) 
• Major awards (3 points): Maxwell, Walter Camp, Doak Walker, Davey O'Brien, Unitas, Biletnikoff, Mackey, Outland, Lombardi, Rimington, Bednarik, Nagurski, Butkus, Thorpe, Groza, Guy, Hendricks, Campbell, Lott, Hornung, Wuerffel, Manning
• Consensus All-American: 3 points
• Legacy (15-1 points, AP Poll style with first place receiving 15 points): A subjective ranking of those players' standing in school history. 
• Stats (15-1 points, AP Poll style): A subjective look at a player's statistics by era. Are they a school record-holder? 

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15. Cris Carter, WR (1984-86) 

Ohio State accolades: Consensus All-American (1986) 

Why he made SN's list: Think about the Ohio State receiver pipeline now — which includes two-time All-American Marvin Harrison Jr. and sophomore sensation Jeremiah Smith. Cris Carter put up numbers like that in the 1980s. He ranks fifth all time at Ohio State in career receptions (168), yards (2,725) and TDs (27). 

Place in Buckeyes history: Carter remains a godfather of sorts to Ohio State receivers — but don't under-rate his play on the field. He would be every bit as good as the run of Buckeyes receivers now in the present-day game. 

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14. Chic Harley, RB (1916-19) 

Ohio State accolades: Consensus All-American (1916, 1917, 1919) 

Why he made SN's list: Chic Harley is the original program icon. He was a three-time All-American who was part of a 128-0 victory against Oberlin on Oct. 14, 1916. The Buckeyes were 24-4-1 during Harley's four years as a star player with the program, and that included leading the first victory against Michigan — a 13-3 win — on Oct. 25, 1919. 

Place in Buckeyes history: That victory prompted the construction of Ohio Stadium — and "The Shoe's" other nickname is "The House that Harley" built. He will always have a special place in program lore as a result. 

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13. Vic Janowicz, RB (1949-51) 

Ohio State accolades: Heisman Trophy winner (1950), Consensus All-American (1950) 

Why he made SN's list: Vic Janowicz was the all-around player who played quarterback, halfback, kicker, punter and defensive back in 1950. He had 875 yards of total offense and 16 TDs that season. 

Place in Buckeyes history: Janowicz gets lost in the shuffle at times when it comes to Ohio State's Heisman Trophy winners, but the Elyria, Ohio, native remains one of the most-beloved all-around players in school history. 

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12. Randy Gradishar, LB (1971-73) 

Ohio State accolades: Consensus All-American (1972, 1973) 

Why he made SN's list: Woody Hayes called Randy Gradishar, "the best linebacker he coached at Ohio State." Gradishar was a two-time All-American linebacker who compiled 320 tackles for his career and was part of a 1973 team that allowed 3.9 points per game. Gradishar finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1973. 

Place in Buckeyes history: If Griffin was Ohio State's offensive symbol during the Ten-Year War, then Gradishar is the most-recognizable defensive player. The Champion, Ohio, native helped turn linebacker into a legacy position at Ohio State. 

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11. Chase Young, DE (2017-19) 

Ohio State accolades: Heisman Trophy fourth place (2019), Nagurski Trophy (2019), Bednarik Award (2019), Ted Hendricks Award (2019) 

Why he made SN's list: Chase Young followed Joey Bosa and Nick Bosa as a dominant defensive end, and he compiled 30.5 career sacks. Young, however, set the single-season school record with 16.5 sacks in 2019 — and he would have had more if not for a two-game suspension during the season. Young earned a trip to the Heisman Trophy with teammate Justin Fields, who finished third in the voting. 

Place in Buckeyes history: Young represents the pipeline of defensive ends that have been produced by assistant coach Larry Johnson, a run that continues in the present day. 

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10. JT Barrett, QB (2013-17) 

Ohio State accolades: Heisman Trophy fifth place (2014) 

Why he made SN's list: JT Barrett set the Big Ten career record with 104 TDs passing for the Buckeyes. He has a school record in passing yards (9,434) and ranks fifth in rushing TDs (43). He finished with 12,697 yards of total offense. He might have won the Heisman Trophy in 2014 if not for a season-ending leg injury in the regular-season finale against Michigan. 

Place in Buckeyes history: Barrett — the only three-time captain in school history — was 38-6 as a starter and the most-dominant QB of the Urban Meyer era at Ohio State. First-round QBs such as Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud followed — but Barrett had the better college resume. 

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9. Jim Parker, T (1954-56) 

Ohio State accolades: Outland Trophy (1956), Consensus All-American (1955, 1956) 

Why he made SN's list: Jim Parker is the original dominant Ohio State offensive lineman — a 6-foot-3, 273-pound tackle that was a key piece of the 1954 national championship team. Parker finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1956. 

Place in Buckeyes history: Parker is the second tackle on this list — an original from Toledo, Ohio, who helped establish a high-standard at the position that future Buckeyes' tackles would have to meet. He had a Pro Football Hall of Fame career at the next level with the Baltimore Colts. 

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8. James Laurinaitis, LB (2005-08)

Ohio State accolades: Butkus Award (2007), Naguski Trophy (2006), Lott Trophy (2008), Consensus All-American (2006, 2007, 2008) 

Why he made SN's list: James Laurinaitis is Ohio State's most-decorated linebacker. Laurinaitis totaled 375 tackles, 13 sacks and eight interceptions as a three-time All-American linebacker. Ohio State ranked in the top six or better in scoring defense in those four seasons. 

Place in Buckeyes history: Laurinaitis played eight seasons in the NFL, but he returned to Columbus first as a radio personality and now as the linebackers coach for the Buckeyes after stepping into the role in February 2024. That legacy with Ohio State continues. 

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7. A.J. Hawk, LB (2002-05) 

Ohio State accolades: Lombardi Award (2005), Consensus All-American (2004, 2005) 

Why he made SN's list: A.J. Hawk helped usher in the Jim Tressel era. He was a freshman on the national championship team in 2002, and he emerged as a dominant all-around linebacker. He had 121 tackles and 9.5 sacks as a senior in 2005 — which helped him earn the Lombardi Award. 

Place in Buckeyes history: Hawk — now a member of "The Pat McAfee Show" — was a monster on the field for the Buckeyes as part of a linebacker room that included Bobby Carpenter, Anthony Schlegel and Marcus Freeman. Hawk helped set the standard during the Tressel era at the position and was a top-five pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. 

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6. Chris Spielman, LB (1984-87) 

Ohio State accolades: Lombardi Award (1987), Consensus All-American (1986, 1987) 

Why he made SN's list: Chris Spielman — a Massilon, Ohio native — was a tackling machine for the Buckeyes in the 1980s. He had 506 career tackles in his four-year career with the Buckeyes, and he played with a fiery passion that carried over to his career with the Detroit Lions in the NFL. 

Place in Buckeyes history: Spielman had a school-record 29 tackles in the 26-24 loss to Michigan on Nov. 22, 1986 — one of the most-remarkable single-game performances in school history. 

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5. Howard Cassady, RB (1952-55) 

Ohio State accolades: Heisman Trophy winner (1955), Heisman Trophy third place (1954), Maxwell Award (1955), Consensus All-American 1954-1955) 

Why he made SN's list: Howard Cassady led the Buckeyes to a national championship in 1954 — the first national title under Woody Hayes. Cassady totaled 1,659 yards and 5.9 yards per carry with 20 TDs from 1954-55. 

Place in Buckeyes history: "Hopalong" was the nickname given to the Columbus, Ohio native, and he still resonates with the program as the player who helped establish the Hayes era with a 20-7 victory against USC in the 1955 Rose Bowl. 

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4. Orlando Pace, T (1994-96)

Ohio State accolades: Heisman Trophy fourth place (1996), Lombardi Award (1995, 1996), Outland Trophy (1996), Consensus All-American (1995, 1996) 

Why he made SN's list: Orlando Pace — a 6-foot-7, 325-pound tackle — is arguably the most-dominant tackle in college football history. He was one of the lead blockers during Eddie George's run to the Heisman Trophy in 1995. Pace is Ohio State's most-decorated lineman. 

Place in Buckeyes history: Pace started in 38 straight games, and the Ohio State athletic department added "pancake blocks" as a statistic to get Pace more attention. Pace was that good. 

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3. Troy Smith, QB, (2002-06) 

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Ohio State accolades: Heisman Trophy winner (2006), Walter Camp Award (2006), Davey O'Brien Award (2006), Consensus All-American (2006) 

Why he made SN's list: Troy Smith took over the starting job late in the 2004 season and emerged as a dynamic playmaker for the Buckeyes. From 2005-06, Ohio State was 22-3 with Smith at quarterback – and that led to a BCS championship appearance in 2006. 

Place in Buckeyes history: Smith was the ultimate Michigan killer. He was 3-0 against the Wolverines as a starter, and that included 316 yards and four TDs in a 42-39 victory in the No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown between the schools on Nov. 18, 2006. 

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2. Eddie George, RB (1992-95) 

Ohio State accolades: Heisman Trophy winner (1995), Maxwell Award (1995), Walter Camp Award (1995), Doak Walker Award (1995), Consensus All-American (1995) 

Why he made SN's list: Eddie George — a 6-foot-3, 235-pound running back — set the Ohio State single-game rushing record with 36 carries for 314 yards against Illinois on Nov. 11, 1995. That helped seal the Heisman Trophy voting in a season where he rushed for 1,826 yards and 23 TDs. 

Place in Buckeyes history: Maybe George clinched the Heisman earlier than that. The famous 61-yard run against Notre Dame on Sept. 30, 1995 remains one of the most-iconic portraits in program history. George — now the coach at Bowling Green — remains a fan favorite. 

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1. Archie Griffin, RB (1972-75) 

Ohio State accolades: Heisman Trophy winner (1974, 1975), Maxwell Award (1975), Walter Camp Award (1974-75),  Consensus All-American (1974, 1975) 

Why he made SN's list: Archie Griffin was the star running back in Woody Hayes' run-heavy offense in the 1970s during the height of the Ten-Year War. Griffin still holds the Ohio State career rushing record with 5,589 yards — and he remains the only player to win the Heisman Trophy twice. 

Place in Buckeyes history: Griffin — a Columbus, Ohio native — is the ultimate Ohio State ambassador, a former CEO of the school's alumni association. The Buckeyes made three Rose Bowl appearances in Griffin's four years on campus — and that included a 3-0-1 record against Michigan. 

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