ESPN names nine former Ohio State players best to wear jersey numbers

ESPN names nine former Ohio State players best to wear jersey numbers

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ESPN names nine former Ohio State players best to wear jersey numbers

The national media loves to make the best all-time lists, especially in the offseason of college football, and we have another one thanks to ESPN. The "worldwide leader" recently went through the daunting exercise of identifying the best college football player of all-time to wear each of the 100 different jersey numbers (0 to 100).

Anytime there's an all-time list of college football, Ohio State is well-represented, and in this case, the Buckeyes lead the way with nine players named by ESPN, by far the most. Coming in second place is another Big Ten school, USC, with six, though all of those players were from the Pac-10 and Pac-12 days. By the way, Michigan had just one player appearing on the list, so a big 'ole Scarlet and Gray neener neener is in order.

So which players made the cut? Some are no-brainers (Archie Griffin with No. 45), while others had a lot of competition but got the nod from ESPN's research team and David Hale. Here are the nine Ohio State players who are the best to wear certain jersey numbers per the Entire Sports Programming Network. We go from low numbers to high.

Jersey No. 9 – Joe Burrow, QB (LSU and Ohio State)

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterbacks Joe Burrow (10) and J.T. Barrett (16) warm up before the Big Ten Championship game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, December 2, 2017.

Yes, Burrow did his best work with LSU, but he got his start and a lot of development while he was at Ohio State for three years. Burrow had pinpoint accuracy and went on to lead the Tigers to the CFP national championship and took home the Heisman at the end of the 2019 season.

Jersey No. 27 – Eddie George, RB

Nov. 11, 1995; Columbus, OH, USA; Eddie George of Ohio State acknowledges crowd at the end of game against Illinois where he rushed for 314 yards and broke the school record. college football; Mandatory credit: Eric Albrecht-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

George had one of the best seasons a running back has ever had during his senior season in 1995, rushing for 1,927 yards and 24 touchdowns. He had 12 consecutive games of rushing over 100 yards and also did enough to take home the Heisman Trophy that year.

Jersey No. 31 – Vic Janowicz, HB

Janowicz often gets forgotten about with all of the great players of today, but he shouldn't. He was a two-way player who did a little bit of everything, even kicking extra points and punting. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1950, is in the College Football Hall of Fame, and was a unanimous All-American.

Jersey No. 36 – Chris Spielman, LB

Ohio State's Chris Spielman (36).Emailed Photo Of Chris Spielman For Sports Saved November 19 2003

Spielman is one of the all-time greats at Ohio State. He wasn't the biggest, strongest, or fastest player on the field, but he had more heart and passion than anyone and was a tackling machine because of his instincts, fundamentals, and toughness. He's a College Football Hall of Famer, three-time All-American, and Lombardi Award winner. His 29-tackle game against Michigan is nothing short of legendary.

Jersey No. 40 – Howard (Hopalong) Cassady, HB

Cassady also won a Heisman Trophy (in 1955). He was a great athlete who played two ways and left Ohio State as the leader in rushing yards, all-purpose yards, and scoring after winning a national championship with Woody Hayes. He, too, is in the College Football Hall of Fame, a Maxwell winner, and a Big Ten MVP.

Jersey No. 45 – Archie Griffin, RB

Jan 1, 1976; Pasadena, CA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Archie Griffin (45) carries the ball against the UCLA Bruins in the 1976 Rose Bowl. UCLA defeated Ohio State 23-10. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Griffin needs no introduction. He is, of course, always announced as "the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner." He won the award in 1974 and 75, won the Maxwell Award, and is in the College Football Hall of Fame (duh). He had a whopping 31-straight games of rushing for 100+ yards. To this day, he is a great ambassador for Ohio State and college football. He might be a better person than a football player, and that's saying a lot.

Jersey No. 53 – Randy Gradishar, LB

Oct 1972; Columbus, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Randy Gradishar (53) in action during the 1972 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Woody Hayes once called Gradishar the best linebacker he ever coached. He anchored some great Ohio State defenses and left the program with 320 tackles, a record at the time. He was a two-time All-American and is a member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fames.

Jersey No. 74 – John Hicks, OT

Nov 24, 1973; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes tackle John Hicks (74) in action against the Michigan Wolverines. The game ended in a 10-10 tie. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Also in the College Football Hall of Fame, Hicks was a three-year starter who was a two-time All-American and winner of the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award. He started in three Rose Bowls and helped Ohio State to three Big Ten titles during his time in the Scarlet and Gray. He's also in the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame for his exploits in Pasadena and finished second in the Heisman voting. As an offensive lineman.

Jersey No. 75 – Orlando Pace, OT

Nov 23, 1996; Columbus, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes tackle Orlando Pace (75) in action against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium. Michigan defeated Ohio State 13-9. Mandatory Credit: Photo By USA TODAY Sports

Pace is one of the best offensive linemen to ever play the game. He loved pancakes — not the kind you eat (though maybe), but making them on the field by leveling opposing defenders. He, too, is in the College Football Hall of Fame, won the Lombardi Award twice, won the Outland, and was a unanimous All-American. He finished fourth in the Hesiman voting in his last season in Columbus.

That's quite an impressive list, and it doesn't even include several other former Ohio State players who were listed as honorable mention. If you'd like to check out the rest of the list, head on over to ESPN and soak it all in yourself.

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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: ESPN names nine former Ohio State players best to wear jersey numbers

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