Greatest Buckeye Defensive Lineman

[npilolli]

I went with Will Smith because out of the guys that I saw play I always loved him!!

 

[ScriptOhio]

Just sayin': Bosa, Bosa, and Young need to be in this conversation. Chase Young may be the "greatest defensive linemen" though. Good article on the best defensive linemen as a unit:



1. 1994
Even as one of the younger defensive lines on this list, the 1994 quartet of Matt Finkes, Mike Vrabel, Luke Fickell, Randall Brown ranks as the greatest group in program history. The group is not first in any one category, but places second in three (sack percentage, tackles for loss per game, sacks per game) and top-eight in two more (tackle for loss percentage, sack percentage).

Finks and Vrabel earned All-Big Ten honors following their sophomore seasons.

2. 1995
With one of the most talented rosters in Ohio State history. The group of Mike Vrabel, Luke Fickell, Matt Finkes, Jeff Wilson rank in the top three in four different categories, including first in tackles for loss per game (4.46 tackles for loss per game) and second in chaos factor.

Vrabel earned his All-Big Ten honors and won his first Big Ten Defensive Linemen of the Year award following his junior season.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Although Ohio State’s history of All-American defensive ends dates back to the 1940s, our readers decided that each of Ohio State’s three most recent All-American defensive ends – Chase Young, Nick Bosa and Joey Bosa – rank among the Buckeyes’ four best edge rushers ever. In fact, all four of Ohio State’s Four Kings at defensive end are active in the NFL, as the only one who isn’t still playing in the league – Mike Vrabel – is the head coach of the Tennessee Titans.

 

[Bestbuck36]

I can't disagree with their choices. We had some pretty dry periods at the position and then some spectcacular ones. They pretty much got it right with honorable mention to guys like Matt Finkes, Will Smith, Eric Kumerow, John Simon and I'm sure to be missing some.

 

[Jaxbuck]

I think Will Smith was better than Vrabel but you can't really argue the other three.

 

[Bestbuck36]

I picked Big Daddy in the poll. He's the first I could remember that took double teams up the middle and still kicked their asses. Then he goes #1 overall in the 1994 draft becoming only the second Buckeye ever to do that behind Tom Cousineau. I didnt get to see Stillwagon play he was a bit before my time, so I had to go with what I saw.

 

[heisman]

I think Will Smith was better than Vrabel but you can't really argue the other three.

Productivity is the only metric that should matter on this type of list, and quite frankly, Nick Bosa doesn’t belong in the same breath as Will Smith, let alone Vrabel.