All Cooper Era Defense - Front Seven (DT, DE & LB) (Poll)

[Muck]

Now that the All Tressel Era Polls are up and running, it's time to start working our way back....

So on to Round II: The All Coop Team Poll

I've listed all of the starters from the beginning of the season during his tenure. I've also added any awards they received during their playing time and where they were drafted by the NFL. (Due to space restraints a couple of players didn't make the list...so if you're a fan of Bernard Edwards, Brett Powers or Jack Thrush you'll just have to hold it against me).

There are too many players to list the entire defense in a single poll so I've split it into two groups...the Front Seven & The Backfield (+ Specialists).

This poll is for the Front Seven (DE, DT & LB)) players:


So vote for the following:

Two Defensive Ends
Two Defensive Tackles
Two Outside Linebackers
One Middle Linebacker

That means you should cast a total of 7 votes.

Some players are listed at multiple positions due to being starters at different spots during their careers.

Players are listed alphabetically by last name.

Players who only spent one year under Coach Cooper are NOT included (so no Jeff Uhlenhake, Vince Workman, Derek MacCready or Everett Ross). That same criteria will be in placed for the previous eras as well (So no Jim Laughlin, Mike Guess or Ken Fritz for Earle ).

So without further adieu, the nominees:




[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Defensive End:[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]
Rodney Bailey: [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]4 Year Starter - 6[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]th[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] Round Draft Pick (181)[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Team Captain[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#21 Tackles for Loss, Season (13)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#14 QB Sacks, Season (8)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#9 QB Sacks, Career (16.5)[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Randall Brown:[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]James Cotton: 7th Round Draft Pick (223)[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Matt Finkes: 3 Year Starter - 6th Round Draft Pick (189)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]2x All Big10[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#4 Tackles for Loss, Game (4)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#3, #7 & #11 Tackles for Loss, Season (20, 19 & 16)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#2 Tackles for Loss, Career (59)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#4 QB Sacks, Season (11)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#3 QB Sacks, Career (25)[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Derrick Foster:[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Jayson Gwinn:[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#1 Tackles for Loss, Game (5)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#18 QB Sacks, Season (7)[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Brent Johnson: 3 Year Starter[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#13 Tackles for Loss, Season (15)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#9 QB Sacks, Season (9)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#18 QB Sacks, Season (7)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#6 QB Sacks, Career (18)[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Matt LaVrar:[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Jason Simmons: 3 Year Starter[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]All Big10[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Team Captain[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#4 (x2) Tackles for Loss, Game (4 & 4)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#3 Tackles for Loss, Career (56.5)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#5 QB Sacks, Season (10.5)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#2 QB Sacks, Career (27.5)[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Alonzo Spellman: 3 Year Starter - 1st Round Draft Pick (22)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]All Big10[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Mike Vrabel: 3 Year Starter - 3rd Round Draft Pick (91)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]2x All american[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]2x Big10 Defensive Lineman Of The Year[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]3x All Big10[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Ohio State All Century Team[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#1, #3 & #9 Tackles for Loss, Season (26, 20 & 18)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#1 Tackles for Loss, Career (66)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#1, #2 & #9 QB Sacks, Season (13, 12 & 9)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#1 QB Sacks, Career (36)[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Srecko Zizakovic: Two Year Starter[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#4 Tackles for Loss, Game (4)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#18 QB Sacks, Season (7)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#16 QB Sacks, Career (11)[/FONT]



[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Defensive Tackle: [/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Jimmy Bell:[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Matt Bonhaus: 2 Year StarterTeam Captain[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Joe Brown:[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Mike Collins: 3 Year Starter[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Team Captain[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#4 Tackles for Loss, Game (4)[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Luke Fickell: 4 Year Starter[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Rich Frimal: 2 Year Starter[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Winfield Garnet: 2 Year Starter[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Team Captain[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Ryan Pickett: 3 Year Starter - 1st Round Draft Pick (29)[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Greg Smith: 3 Year Starter[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]All Big10[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#17 Tackles for Loss, Season (14.5)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#12 Tackles for Loss, Career (32)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#18 QB Sacks, Season (7)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#13 QB Sacks, Career (14)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]
Pat Thomas:[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Dan Wilkinson: 2 Year Starter - 1st Round Draft Pick - 1st Pick Overall[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]All American[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]2x All Big10[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Ohio State All Century Team[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#21 Tackles for Loss, Season (13)[/FONT]



[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Outside Linebacker: [/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Greg Bellisari: 3 Year Starter[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Team Captain[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Courtland Bullard: 3 Year Starter - 5th Round Draft Pick (167)[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#4 Tackles for Loss, Game (4)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#16 QB Sacks, Career (11)[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Joe Cooper:[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]All Big10[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Team Captain[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Na'il Diggs: 2 Year Starter - 4th Round Draft Pick (98)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]All American[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]All Big10[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#4 Tackles for Loss, Game (4)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#11 & #13 Tackles for Loss, Season (16 & 15)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#9 Tackles for Loss, Career (39)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#6 QB Sacks, Career (18)[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Andy Gurd:[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Preston Harrison: - 3rd Round Draft Pick (98)[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Judah Herman: 2 Year Starter[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#1 Tackles for Loss, Game (5)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#20 Tackles for Loss, Season (13.5)[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Derek Isaman: Two Year Starter[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Team MVP[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Team Captain[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]
Kevin Johnson:[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]John Kacherski:[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Team Captain[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#9 QB Sacks, Season (9)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#13 QB Sacks, Career (14)[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Andy Katzenmoyer: 3 Year Starter - 1st Round Draft Pick (28)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]All American[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Butkus Award[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Big10 Freshman Of The Year[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]3x All Big10[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Ohio State All Century Team[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#6 Solo Tackles, Career (197)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#1 Tackles for Loss, Game (5)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#2, #18 & #21 Tackles for Loss, Season (23, 14 & 13)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#4 Tackles for Loss, Career (50)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#2 QB Sacks, Season (12)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#6 QB Sacks, Career (18)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#1 Interceptions Returned for TD, Career (2)[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Jay Koch:[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Tom Lease: 2 Year Starter[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Ryan Miller: 2 Year Starter[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]
Craig Powell: 3 Year Starter - 1st Round Draft Pick (30)[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Jerry Rudzinksi: 2 Year Starter[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Team Captain[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Mark Williams: 2 Year Starter
[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Middle Linebacker:[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Andy Katzenmoyer: 3 Year Starter - 1st Round Draft Pick (28)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]All American[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Butkus Award[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Big10 Freshman Of The Year[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]3x All Big10[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Ohio State All Century Team
[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#6 Solo Tackles, Career (197)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#1 Tackles for Loss, Game (5)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#2, #18 & #21 Tackles for Loss, Season (23, 14 & 13)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#4 Tackles for Loss, Career (50)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#6 QB Sacks, Career (18)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#1 Interceptions Returned for TD, Career (2)[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Tom Lease: 2 Year Starter[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Jason Ott: [/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Lorenzo Styles: 2 Year Starter - 3rd Round Draft Pick (77)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]2x All Big10[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#15 Total Tackles, Career (282)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#4 Solo Tackles, Season (84)[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Steve Tovar: 3 Year Starter - 3rd Round Draft Pick (59)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]2x All American[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]3x All Big10[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Big10 Defensive Player of the Year[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Ohio State All Century Team[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Varsity O Hall Of Fame[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Team Captain[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#4 Total Tackles, Career (408)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]#4 Solo Tackles, Career (239)[/FONT]

 

[Buckeye Buh Nim]

I can think of two players on that D that are in the all what if team.

Preston Harrison was just a physical freak. Cooper called him the greatest athlete he ever recruited. The guy came in as a QB at 6'5", 230# fast, athletic, etc....

There is the story about how at the weight room someone challenged him to do a flip. He thought about it for a second. (had never tried it before) Barely bent his knees and just did it. Closer to a standing layout than a flip. You don't see any 6'5" gymnasts out there for a reason.

Jayson Gwinn- as noted as the single game TFL record. He was really starting to make his mark. The sky was the limit for the guy, then tragedy hits.

 

[Muck]

James Cotton was another physical freak of nature.

It was amazing watching him run down the field, he was far too fast for his size.

 

[Muck]

FYI To keep the clutter down I've created a Master Thread for discussion of all the various coach's "consensus" polls.


Don't forget to vote in all the other polls!


(You can find links to them in the master thread linked above)