All Earle Era Defense - Backfield & Specialists (DB, P & KR) (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 III: The All Earle "the pearl" 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.

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 Backfield & Specialists (S, DB, P & KR):

This time vote for the following:

Two Cornerbacks
Two Safeties
One Nickel Back (Safety or Corner)
One Punter
Two Kick Returners


That means you should cast a total of eight 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 Bruce are NOT included (so no Jim Laughlin, Mike Guess or Ken Fritz). That same criteria is in place for the other eras as well.

So without further adieu, the nominees:



Safety:

Kelvin Bell: 3 Year Starter (1 at CB ? 2 at S)

Todd Bell: 3 Year Starter (2 at S ? 1 at CB) - 4th Round Draft Pick (95)
All Big10

David Brown: 2 Year Starter

#1 Interception Yards, Game (100)
#6 Interception Yards, Season (117)
#3 Interception Yards, Career (218)
#1 Interception Returns for TD, Career (2)
#1 Longest Interception Return (100)

Sonny Gordon: 3 Year Starter - 6th Round Draft Pick (157)
All Big10
Team Captain

Doug Hill:

Ray Jackson: 7th Round Draft Pick (185)

Bob Murphy: 10th Round Draft Pick (274)

Jim Peel:

Vince Skillings: 3 Year Starter (2 at S ? 1 at CB)
3x All Big10

#5 Interception Yards, Career (212)

Terry White: 2 Year Starter



Cornerback:-

Kelvin Bell: 3 Year Starter (1 at CB ? 2 at S)

Todd Bell: 3 Year Starter (2 at S ? 1 at CB)

Ray Ellis: 3 Year Starter - 12th Round Draft Pick (331)
All Big10
Team Captain

Shaun Gayle: 3 Year Starter - 10th Round Draft Pick (271)

Garcia Lane: 3 Year Starter - 3rd Round Draft Pick (61)
All Big10
Team Captain

Greg Rogan: 3 Year Starter

Vince Skillings: 3 Year Starter (2 at S ? 1 at CB) - 6th Round Draft Pick (163)
3x All Big10

#5 Interception Yards, Career (212)

William White: 4 Year Starter- 4th Round Draft Pick (85)
All Big10
Team Captain

#1 Interceptions, Game (3)
#3 Interceptions, Career (16)
#1 Interception Returns for TD, Career (2)



Punter:

Karl Edwards

#11 Punt Avg, Career (40.1)

Tom Orosz

#7 Punt Avg, Career (41.8)
#6 Punt Yards, Season (2,653)
#5 Punt Yards, Career (6,767)

Tom Tupa: 4 year Starter - 3rd Round Draft Pick (68)
All American
3x All Big10
Team Captain
Ohio State All Century Team

#1 & #2 Punt Avg, Season (47.1 & 47.0)
#2 Punt Avg, Career (44.7)
#2 Punt Yards, Game (492)
#3 Punt Yards, Season (2,963)
#2 Punt Yards, Career (9,564)



Kick Returner:

Jamie Holland

#5 Kick Return Yards, Season (503)
#2 Kick Returns, Season (18)

Tim Spencer

#9 Kick Returns, Season (24)

Vince Workman

#1 Kick Returns, Game (7)
#8 Kick Returns, Career (31)

Keith Byars

#6 Longest Kickoff Return (99)

 

[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)

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

I had to vote for David Brown, if only because of that beautiful 100 yard return at Purdue at night. Whenever I think about that return, I think about baseball.

I agreed to go to a party that night when I was assured that they'd be watching the game. But the guys who lived there were Boston Red Sox fans and kept switching over to watch the freakin' World Series (game 1 I think it was). Seriously... the World Freakin' Series over OSU football!! It was just luck that we got to see David's INT and return.

At the end of the baseball game, one of the BoSox fans turned to the others and jubilantly held up 5 fingers as if to proclaim his IQ and said, "5 Games boys!! This one will be over in 5!!"

With apologies to Sushi and Manfred - I was actually happy when the Mets came back and won that series. One of the few times in my life that I've ever cared about baseball.

 

[DaveyBoy]

are punt returners included?

If so, then Garcia Lane should be included. I saw him return two punts for big yardage and at least 1 was a TD vs Purdue in 1983.

 

[Muck]

If so, then Garcia Lane should be included. I saw him return two punts for big yardage and at least 1 was a TD vs Purdue in 1983.

The Punt Returner's can be found in the All Earle Offensive Line + Specialists thread.