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2018 Countdown thread

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99 WARRIORS: NO. 26, THOUSAND-YARD RUSHER AND FIRST ROUND DRAFT CHOICE ROBERT SMITH

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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. 26 ROBERT SMITH
One of the best "athletes" to put on an Ohio State uniform, the blazing fast Smith was a star in his two seasons for the Buckeyes.

HB ROBERT SMITH
1990, 92
b. March 4, 1972
  • First freshman at OSU to rush for over 1,000 yards
  • First-round NFL Draft Choice
  • Two-time Pro Bowler
Smith was one of four freshman to have 1,000 yards in his freshman season, and the first ever to do so. Maurice Clarett, Mike Weber, and J.K. Dobbins all repeated the feat for themselves.

After taking a year off from football to focus on track and field, in which he ran a 10.24 100-meter dash, he returned to the gridiron in 1992 and rushed for 819 yards.

Smith was selected in the first round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, for whom he played eight seasons.

Smith was a two-time Pro Bowl selection (1998, 2000) and a one-time second team All-Pro member (2000). Ironically, his best season was his last, as he rushed for 1,521 yards and seven touchdowns, in addition to the accolades mentioned.

Due to a desire to keep himself healthy and safe for the future, Smith stepped away from the NFL after just eight seasons. Now, he is an analyst for ESPN and the NFL Network.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...her-and-first-round-draft-choice-robert-smith
 
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99 WARRIORS: NO. 25, FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN AND ASSISTANT COACH, ESCO SARKKINEN

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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. 25 ESCO SARKKINEN
A consensus All-American and a longtime Ohio State assistant coach, Esco Sarkkinen was a unanimous decision for best Buckeye ever to wear No. 25.

E ESCO SARKKINEN
1937-39
b. April 9, 1918 (Conneaut, Ohio)
d. Feb. 28, 1998 (Columbus, Ohio)
  • First-Team All-American (1939)
  • First-Team All-Big Ten (1937, 1939)
  • Assistant Coach (1946-77)
An Ohio product, Sarkkinen played offensive end for Ohio State starting in 1937 as the Buckeyes finished 6-2, including a 21-0 win over Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Despite being a first team All-Big Ten selection in 1937, Sarkkinen was relegated to a backup role in 1938, playing sparingly for an Ohio State team that finished 4-3-1 and lost two of its final three contests.

Sarkkinen flourished in his senior campaign as Ohio State won the Big Ten title for just the fifth time in program history, finishing with a 6-2 record. He was named a consensus first-team All-American for his 1939 season and was selected in the fifth round of the 1940 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. His playing career in the NFL did not last, but Sarkkinen would soon return to Columbus, where he would live the rest of his life.

Sarkkinen joined Ohio State's coaching staff in 1946 as an assistant for Paul Bixler, who lasted just one year as the Buckeye head coach, finishing 4-3-2, with a 58-6 home loss to Michigan to end the season. He was retained by Wes Fesler from 1947-50 before again being retained by Woody Hayes, whom he coached under until 1977. Sarkkinen was on Ohio State's staff for five of the eight national titles the school claims, and won 14 Big Ten titles as a coach and another as a player.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...l-american-and-assistant-coach-esco-sarkkinen
 
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99 WARRIORS: NO. 24, ALL-AMERICAN AND ALL-BIG TEN CORNERBACK SHAWN SPRINGS

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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. 24 SHAWN SPRINGS
The son of former Ohio State and Dallas Cowboys running back Ron Springs, Shawn Springs was seemingly destined to be a Buckeye from birth — despite the fact that he largely grew up in Silver Springs, Maryland, where he was an all-state selection at Springbrook High School as a senior.

CB SHAWN SPRINGS
1994-96
b. March 11, 1975 (Williamsburg, VA)
  • Consensus All-American (1996)
  • Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (1996)
  • First-Team All-Big Ten (1995-96)
Springs was named a consensus All-American, the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year and all-conference selection following his junior year in 1996, despite the fact that he did not record a single interception that season. Opposing teams rarely tested him, so he finished the year with 39 tackles and a team-high 15 pass break ups instead.

Following a win over Arizona State in the Rose Bowl, Springs opted to forgo his final year of eligibility. He was selected with the third overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft by Seattle — which remains to this day the highest a cornerback has ever been picked.

Springs played 13 seasons in the NFL with Seattle, the Washington Redskins and New England Patriots. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection who finished his career with 714 tackles, 84 pass break ups, 33 interceptions, 8.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

Springs — who was also named a member of the Seahawks’ 35th Anniversary Team — retired in 2009 after he sustained a career-ending knee injury. He currently works as a sports reporter for Comcast SportsNet and NBC Sports in Washington D.C. and serves as the CEO of Windpact, a company that develops safety technology for sports, military and recreation helmets.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...ican-and-all-big-ten-cornerback-shawn-springs
 
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99 WARRIORS: NO. 23, ALL-BIG TEN RUNNING BACK, RON SPRINGS

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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. 23 RON SPRINGS
The father of Shawn Springs, who was named our best player in this series at No. 24, Ron Springs made a name for himself as a consistent force in the Ohio State backfield under Woody Hayes.

RB RON SPRINGS
1976-78
b. Nov. 4, 1956 (Williamsburg, VA)
d. May 12, 2011 (Dallas, TX)
  • First Team All-Big Ten (1977)
  • Team Captain (1978)
  • Big Ten co-champion (1976-77)
Springs, along with the likes of Jeff Logan, helped replace the shoes left by two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin. In 1976, Springs earned 72 carries for 389 yards and a pair of scores, good for fourth on the team behind Logan, who lead the Buckeyes with 1,248 yards, Pete Johnson and Rod Gerald.

After Logan was injured early on in the 1977 season, Springs became Ohio State's featured running back and led the team in rushing yards, carrying 200 times for 1,166 yards and seven touchdowns. He also led the team in receptions that season, despite catching just 16 passes for 90 yards.

Springs was named a co-captain in 1978, but due to a knee injury suffered early in the season, saw his carries decrease significantly in his senior year. He earned 124 carries for 585 yards and a pair of touchdowns in 1978, which was also the final year of Woody Hayes' tenure at Ohio State. His 2,140 career rushing yards ranks 21st in school history.

Springs was drafted in the fifth round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, where he excelled for the majority of his professional career. In six years with the Cowboys, Springs accumulated 604 carries for 2,180 yards and 28 touchdowns before ending his career with two seasons in Tampa Bay with the Buccaneers.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...rs-no-23-all-big-ten-running-back-ron-springs
 
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99 WARRIORS: NO. 22, OHIO STATE'S FIRST HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER AND NATIONAL CHAMPION LES HORVATH

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NO. 22 LES HORVATH
Ohio State has a long line of Heisman Trophy winners, tied for the most of any school with seven, but it all started with Les Horvath.

HB/QB LES HORVATH
1940-42, 44
b. Oct. 2, 1921 (South Bend, IN)
d. Nov 14, 1995 (Glendale, CA)
  • National Champion (1942)
  • Unanimous All-American (1944)
  • Sporting News Player of the Year (1944)
  • Big Ten MVP (1944)
  • Heisman Trophy (1944)
  • Number Retired
Horvath was not a large guy, standing at just 5-10 and weighing about 170 lbs., but that didn't stop him from becoming one of the most dynamic and dominating players in college football history.

After playing sparingly during the 1941 season, Paul Brown's first at Ohio State, serving a reserve role behind senior fullback Jack Graf and senior halfback Tom Kinkade.

In 1942, Horvath played a much more regular role in the offense and helped the Buckeyes to a 9-1 record and their first-ever national championship.

The 1942 season was supposed to be Horvath's last, as he'd exhausted his eligibility and enrolled in dental school at Ohio State in 1943. However, due to player shortages as a result of World War II, the NCAA passed a rule allowing freshmen, as well as players who had previously been ineligible as freshmen, to play, thus giving Horvath an extra year of eligibility – and he made the most of it.

Horvath did everything for the Buckeyes during the 1944 season – running, passing, kicking, blocking and tackling – and even called his own plays, earning him the nickname "Playing Coach." That season, he led the Big Ten in rushing and total offense and led the Buckeyes to a perfect 9-0 record and a No. 2 final ranking in the polls.

After the tremendous season, Horvath was named a unanimous All-American, the Big Ten MVP, the Sporting News Player of the Year, and of course, the 1944 Heisman Trophy, remaining the only player in history to win the award without playing the previous year.

Following his career at Ohio State, Horvath joined the Navy before playing professionally for the Los Angeles Rams and the Cleveland Browns. He retired after the AAFC disbanded and moved to California to practice dentistry. He died 1995 of heart failure.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...ophy-winner-and-national-champion-les-horvath
 
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99 WARRIORS: NO. 21, STARTING SAFETY AND SPECIAL TEAMS STALWART TIM PATILLO

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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. 21 TIM PATILLO
While perhaps not the most well-known player in Ohio State history, Tim Patillo was one of Ohio State's stalwarts on special teams and defense from 1991-94.

S TIM PATILLO
1991-94
b. May 24, 1977 (Aliquippa, PA)
  • Three-year letterwinner
  • Assistant Director of Football Operations (1998-2001)
His best seasons came in 1993 and 1994, when he intercepted three passes in each of those years.

In the 1993 Holiday Bowl against BYU, Patillo made the play of the game by blocking a BYU punt four minutes into the game, and returned it for a touchdown. Ohio State went on to win.

In the 1993 contest against Illinois, Patillo had a game-sealing interception for the Buckeyes that preserved a 20-12 victory.

Out of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, Patillo also worked with the Buckeyes from 1998-2001, including the1998 Sugar Bowl Championship team, as an "Assistant Director of Football Operations." Patillo was responsible for helping coordinate team travel, as well as basic day-to-day responsibilities. Since 2001, he has worked for various car dealerships, according to his LinkedIn page.

A fun fact: Patillo was the first Buckeye of the 90's to sign with Ohio State. After signing with the Buckeyes, Patillo said: "I came from a winning tradition [at Aliquippa], and now I'm a part of another."

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...safety-and-special-teams-stalwart-tim-patillo
 
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99 WARRIORS: NO. 20, ALL-AMERICAN CORNERBACK AND SCHOOL RECORD-SETTING PUNT RETURNER NEAL COLZIE

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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. 20 NEAL COLZIE
More than 40 years removed from playing his final game as a Buckeye, Neal Colzie still ranks as one of Ohio State's most productive defensive backs and punt returners ever.

CB NEAL COLZIE
1972-74
b. Feb. 28, 1953 (Fitzgerald, Ga.)
d. Aug. 20, 2001 (Miami, Fla.)
  • First-Team All-American (1974)
  • First-Team All-Big Ten (1973, 1974)
  • Team Captain (1974)
  • Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame (2009)
A three-year starter at cornerback from 1972-74, Colzie recorded 15 interceptions over those three years, the fifth-most in Ohio State history. Colzie earned first-team All-American honors in 1974, when he had eight interceptions, still tied for the third-most in a single season by an Ohio State player.

Colzie still holds Ohio State's school record for the most punt return yards in a season, gaining 679 yards on 40 punt returns in 1973, when he was also a first-team All-Big Ten cornerback. He set what still stands as Ohio State's school record for punt return yards in a game in that same season, gaining 170 yards on eight punt returns against Michigan State, and also still holds the Ohio State career record for punt return yards per attempt (minimum one punt return per game played) with 14.3.

Also a team captain in 1974, Colzie was selected by the Oakland Raiders with the No. 24 overall pick in the first round of the 1975 NFL draft, and went on to play nine total NFL seasons with the Raiders, Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, recording 25 career interceptions and gaining 1,759 career punt return yards.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...cornerback-and-star-punt-returner-neal-colzie
 
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99 WARRIORS: NO. 19, ALL-AMERICAN AND ALL-BIG TEN PUNTER AND STARTING QUARTERBACK TOM TUPA

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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. 19 TOM TUPA
A football, baseball and basketball star at Brecksville-Broadview Heights, Tom Tupa led the Bees to a state title in 1983. He immediately made an impact at Ohio State, where he set the NCAA record for highest average yards per punt as a freshman (47.1). The Buckeyes won the Big Ten and clinched a berth in the Rose Bowl that season.

QB/P TOM TUPA
1984-87
b. Feb. 6, 1966 (Cleveland, OH)
  • All-American (1987)
  • All-Big Ten (1984-87)
  • Team Captain (1987)
  • Big Ten Champion (1984, 1986)
Tupa was also a backup quarterback, sitting three seasons behind Mike Tomczak and Jim Karsatos. He took over the starting job during his senior year in 1987 — Earle Bruce’s last as Ohio State’s head coach — and threw for 2,252 yards, 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions to lead the Buckeyes to a 6-4-1 record, including win over Michigan.

Tupa was named an All-American punter that same season, as well as All-Big Ten for the fourth-consecutive season, as he punted the ball 63 times for an average of 47 yards per attempt.

Tupa was selected in the third round (68th overall pick) of the 1988 NFL Draft by the Phoenix Cardinals. He punted for seven teams over the next 16 years, including the Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins; was named to the Pro Bowl in 1999; and won a Super Bowl ring in 2002.

Tupa — who averaged 43.4 yards per punt in his NFL career, which is tied for 44th all time — is currently the recreation director for the City of Brecksville. He is also the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, where he coached his sons, Tommy and Tyler.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...-ten-punter-and-starting-quarterback-tom-tupa
 
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99 WARRIORS: NO. 18, THREE-TIME ALL-AMERICAN AND ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTION MERLE WENDT
Andrew Lind on August 14, 2018 at 8:05 am @andrewmlind
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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. 18 MERLE WENDT
Long before programs recruited prospects from all corners of the country, Middletown native Merle Wendt was courted by schools as far away as Southern California. He opted to stay home and play for Ohio State under head coach Francis Schmidt, however.

END MERLE WENDT
1934-36
b. April 7, 1915 (Middletown, OH)
d. Feb. 12, 2000 (Ashland, OH)

  • All-American (1934-36)
  • All-Western Conference (1934-36)
  • Team Captain (1936)
  • Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame (1981)
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Wendt started out his career as a center, but quickly moved to end — which was effectively a wide receiver or tight end at that time on offense and pretty self-explanatory on defense — because of his speed. Local newspapers described him as " a great pass-catcher, hard tackler and tops in defense.” He was named All-Western Conference and an All-American his sophomore, junior and senior seasons, becoming just the fourth player in program history to be named a three-time All-American.

Wendt — who is one of just eight players to hold such distinction — went undefeated against Michigan, outscoring the Wolverines 93-0 in those contests. His brothers, Chester and Emerson, also played basketball and football for the Buckeyes.

Wendt was selected in the sixth round (59th overall pick) of the 1937 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers, but elected pursue a career in chemical engineering instead. He spent his entire professional career with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, where he was the director of chemical engineering and product development.

Wendt — who was married to his college sweetheart, June, for 63 years — earned the Goodyear Spirit Award prior to his retirement in 1975. He passed away in 2000.

Photo: Ohio State Dept. of Athletics

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...s/2018/08/95222/99-warriors-no-18-werle-wendt
 
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99 WARRIORS: NO. 17, TWO-SPORT STAR AND THREE-YEAR STARTER CHRIS SANDERS
Kevin Harrish on August 15, 2018 at 8:10 am @kevinish
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NO. 17 CHRIS SANDERS
Not only was Chris Sanders a three-year starter on the football team who would go on to have a lengthy NFL career, he was a track and field standout as well.

WR CHRIS SANDERS
1990-94
b. May 8, 1972 (Denver, Colorado)

  • Three-Year Starter (1992-94)
  • Big Ten Champion (1993)
  • Ohio State Athlete of the Year (1994)
Sanders was a member of the Buckeye football team for five seasons, redshirting his second season in 1991. Following his redshirt season, Sanders started at receiver every year for the remainder of his Ohio State career.

Through three seasons, Sanders had 71 receptions for 1,120 yards and eight touchdowns. The majority of his production came his senior season in 1994 when he caught 35 passes for 533 yards and all eight of his career touchdowns.

As good as he was on the gridiron, Sanders was even better on the track. He left Ohio State as an 11-time track and field All-American. During his track career, he famously broke Jesse Owens' long jump school record of 26'9.5," setting a new record of 26'9.75" which still stands. He was also a member of two relay teams – 4x100 and 4x200 – that set Ohio State records.

In 1994, Sanders was named the Ohio State Athlete of the Year across all sports due to his success in both football as well as track and field .

Following his time at Ohio State, Sanders was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the third round of the 1995 NFL Draft and played receiver with the Oilers/Titans from 1995-2002.

After his playing career, Sanders retired to coaching high school football in Nashville, Tennessee.


https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...ort-star-and-three-year-starter-chris-sanders
 
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99 WARRIORS: NO. 16, NUMEROUS RECORD-HOLDER, AWARD WINNER, AND CAPTAIN J.T. BARRETT
David Wertheim on August 16, 2018 at 8:05 am @dwertheim2
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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. 16 J.T. BARRETT
What is there to say, really. This is probably the easiest choice of our entire countdown.

QB J.T. BARRETT
2013-17
b. Jan. 23, 1995 (Wichita Falls, TX)

  • Three-time captain
  • First-Team All Big Ten (2014, 16, 17)
  • Big Ten Champion (2017)
Barrett came in as a four-star quarterback, and quickly lived up to the hype. In his redshirt freshman season, Barrett threw for 2,834 yards and rushed for 938 more, leading the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record, before getting injured in the second half of the win over Michigan. Of course, we all know how that season ended.

After splitting time with Cardale Jones during the 2015 campaign, Barrett regained the job full-time beginning the 2016 season. Barrett threw for 2,555 yards en route to his first and only College Football Playoff Appearance.

Last season, Ohio State was led by Barrett in his swan song, as a redshirt senior. Barrett once again put up gaudy numbers, as he threw for a career-high 3,053 yards and rushed for 798 more. The Buckeyes just missed on a College Football Playoff appearance, but trounced USC in the Cotton Bowl. Naturally, in his last ever appearance as a Buckeye, Barrett rushed for two touchdowns.

Barrett is the owner of over 25 Ohio State records, including the most total yards in a single season (3,851), most touchdowns in a season (47) and most career passing yards (9,434). He is also the Big Ten all-time leader in career offensive yards with 12,697. Most importantly, perhaps, is Barrett's mark against the rivals. With Barrett at the helm, Ohio State went 4-0 against Michigan.

Off the field, however, Barrett's presence in the program was just as valuable. He is the first player in Ohio State history to be a three-time captain.

After going undrafted, Barrett signed a three-year non-guaranteed rookie contract with the New Orleans Saints.


https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...-award-winner-and-captain-jt-barrett#comments
 
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