Lineup of legends | Who are all-time best position players for OSU, Michigan?
Compiling a “Best of” list in any category is a tall task, subject to fist bumps from those who agree with the selections and Bronx cheers by those who think the picks could not be more wrong.
Best pizza? Best rock song? Best NFL helmet? Best college fight song?
Knowing you can’t please everyone, we tackle our topic – “Best of the best-ever Ohio State and Michigan football players” – wearing shin guards and carrying a shield.
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The selection criteria differ from past Dispatch rankings that picked the best OSU and UM players no matter their era. In contrast, the all-time teams shown below comprise players whose abilities would hold up today, which is to say they could start for the Buckeyes and Wolverines in 2022 even if their careers ended 50 years ago. What that means is legendary Ohio State running back Chic Harley did not make the team, nor did Michigan halfback Tom Harmon, who won the 1940 Heisman Trophy. Despite dominating in their day, neither would earn a start in The Game on Saturday in Columbus.
Likewise, we took a pass on selecting Jim Parker as an offensive guard. At 259 pounds, the Buckeyes’ first Outland Trophy winner would be 40 pounds lighter than any of this season’s OSU starters. Ditto 200-pound defensive lineman Bill Willis. Both NFL Hall of Famers would be too small to crack the starting lineup today.
Speaking of the NFL, our picks do not take professional success into consideration, which is why you will not find former Michigan quarterback Tom Brady listed.
Let’s break down the teams, with apologies in advance to the literally dozens of deserving players who are not mentioned. Also, a shoutout to Columbus lawyer Matt Stout, a Michigan graduate and part-time UM historian who pitched in on the Wolverines selections.
OHIO STATE
TACKLES
John Hicks
Years at OSU: 1970, ’72-’73
Resume: Won the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award as a senior and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting, the last offensive lineman to finish among the top two.
Orlando Pace
Years at OSU: 1994-96
Resume: Started as a true freshman; first sophomore to win the Lombardi Award (1995) and the next year the first lineman to win it twice. Outland Trophy winner (1996); fourth in Heisman (1996).
GUARDS
Wyatt Davis
Years at OSU: 2018-20
Resume: Faced stiff competition for this spot, but is one of the few elite guards who did not switch to center (See: Kirk Lowdermilk, Jeff Uhlenhake, LeCharles Bentley, Pat Elflein, Billy Price, among others). Two-time first team All-American who blocked for the first 2,000-yard running back (J.K. Dobbins) in school history.
Jim Lachey
Years at OSU: 1980-84
Resume: A great example of how one season can change everything. Lachey entered his senior year with just four starts, but was spectacular in that final go-round. He blocked for Keith Byars, who led the nation with 1,764 yards, and the people mover was named first-team All-America.
CENTER
LeCharles Bentley
Years at OSU: 1998-2000
Resume: Two-time All-American, including a first-teamer as a senior, when he won the Rimington Award as the nation’s top center.
TIGHT END
John Frank
Years at OSU: 1981-83
Resume: No tight end before or since has caught as many passes at Ohio State as Frank, who finished his career with 121 receptions for 1,481 yards and nine touchdowns.
WIDE RECEIVERS
David Boston
Years at OSU: 1996-98
Resume: Boston played before the spread offense came into vogue, yet still holds school records for most 100-yard games in a career (14), is second in career receptions (191), career touchdown catches (34) and yards in a season (1,435).
Cris Carter
Years at OSU: 1984-86
Resume: First Ohio State receiver to be named an All-American (1986), Carter’s career was cut short when he was ruled ineligible his senior season for signing with an agent. Had he played another season, his numbers would have been off the charts;* Set a Rose Bowl record with nine receptions for 172 yards.
*The same could be said for Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who entered 2022 looking to become the most decorated receiver in OSU history, but Smith-Njigba has turned in only one outstanding season due to his current injury; Carter put together two.
RUNNING BACKS
Archie Griffin
Years at OSU: 1972-75
Resume: Two Heisman Trophies. We could stop there and be satisfied that he belongs on this list, but his 5,177 career yards were an NCAA record at the time, plus his 31 consecutive 100-yard games and four Rose Bowl appearances lock it in. Mr. Buckeye.
Ezekiel Elliott
Years at OSU: 2013-15
Resume: Better than Eddie’s. Barely. It came down to Eddie George winning the Heisman Trophy (1995) or Zeke propelling the Buckeyes to the 2014 national championship. We went with the natty. Elliott’s 230 yards against Alabama in the playoff semifinal, including “85 yards through the heart of the South,” followed by 246 against Oregon in the title game show he knew how to rise to the occasion. Elliott finished his three-year career second to Griffin in career yards (3,961) and yards per game (101.6) and left OSU one career touchdown behind George’s 44. He owns the career mark by averaging 6.7 yards per carry.
QUARTERBACK
Troy Smith
Years at OSU: Years at OSU: 2003-06
Resume: Left OSU 25-3 as a starter, including three wins against Michigan. Won the Heisman Trophy in 2006, when he threw for 2,542 yards and 30 touchdowns.
KICKER
Mike Nugent
Years at OSU: 2001-04
Resume: Nooge made 72 of 88 field-goal attempts (81.8%) and 140 of 143 extra-point tries to finish his career with 356 points, an OSU record. He was a two-time All-American and in 2004 captured the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s top kicker.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Joey Bosa
Years at OSU: 2013-15
Resume: Racked up 50½ tackles for loss and 26 sacks in 41 games. Two-time All-America pick and Big Ten defensive player of the year in 2014.
Mike Vrabel
Years at OSU: 1993-96
Resume: Even with Ohio State’s recent run of dominant defensive linemen, Vrabel still holds six school records, including career marks for sacks (36) and tackles for loss (66). He set the single-season mark in each category as a sophomore in 1994, then topped them both in ’95. Two-time All-American and twice named Big Ten defensive lineman of the year.
Jim Stillwagon
Years at OSU: 1968-70
Resume: Helped the Buckeyes win the 1968 national championship, then named a consensus All-American in 1969 and 1970. His senior year became the first player to win the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award in the same season.
Chase Young
Years at OSU: 20017-2019
Resume: Finished fourth in 2019 Heisman Trophy voting, only the ninth defensive player in 37 years to make the trip to New York City. Second in career sacks (30.5) and first in single-season sacks with 16.5
LINEBACKERS
Ryan Shazier
Years at OSU: 2011-13
Resume: Shares single-game solo tackle record (16) with Tom Cousineau, and his 22½ tackles for loss in a season ranks third. As a sophomore in 2012, Shazier saved the perfect season with a game-saving tackle on the goal line against Wisconsin. He finished that year leading the Big Ten with 17 tackles for loss and was second with 115 total tackles.
Chris Spielman
Years at OSU: Years at OSU: 1984-87
Resume: Still holds the OSU record for career solo tackles with 283. Consensus All-American in 1986, when he had 205 total tackles (105 solo) and six interceptions. Was a unanimous pick in 1987 with 156 stops; he also won the Lombardi Award that season.
Tom Cousineau
Years at OSU: 1975-78
Resume: Averaged 12.1 total and 5.5 solo tackles over his career. His 211 stops in 1978 remains the single-season record. Two-time All-American and in 1979 became the first Ohio State player selected No. 1 in the NFL draft (Buffalo).
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Mike Doss
Years at OSU: 1999-2002
Resume: The three-year starter is the best true safety in school history. Named an All-American each of his three seasons, he made eight interceptions in 40 career starts but was best known as a run stopper. His 331 career tackles stand 11th in program history.
Malcolm Jenkins
Years at OSU: 2005-08
Resume: Started all 13 games at cornerback as a sophomore, finishing with 55 tackles and four interceptions; also had four interceptions as a junior and three as a senior, when he won the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s best defensive back.
Jack Tatum
Years at OSU: 1968-70
Resume: Feared by wide receivers and running backs, Tatum’s reputation as a hard hitter is well-documented. He would line up on the wide side of the field and make jarring tackles that helped the Buckeyes go 27-2 over his three seasons; unanimous All-American in 1970.
Antoine Winfield
Years at OSU: 1995-98
Resume: Ohio State’s first Thorpe Award winner, Winfield was relatively small (5 feet 8, 175 pounds) but mighty. His 29 pass break-ups tie for fourth all-time, but mostly he made his mark as one of the surest tacklers among defensive backs in program history.
PUNTER
Cameron Johnston
Years at OSU: 2013-16
Resume: The Aussie helped redefine punting at OSU with his run-out approach that was as effective as it was entertaining. His 44.9-yard career average ranks second to Andy Groom’s 45.0, and his 109 punts inside the 20-yard line are 26 more than second-place Drue Chrisman.
RETURN SPECIALIST
Ted Ginn Jr.
Years at OSU: 2004-2006
Resume: Ginn’s speed was something to behold on kickoff and punt returns. He ranks in the top 10 in most OSU return categories, and his six punt returns for touchdowns are three more than the next player. He also shares the career mark for kickoff return TDs with two.
MICHIGAN
TACKLES
Jumbo Elliott
Years at UM: 1984-87
Resume: Four-year starter and two-time All-American, including consensus pick in 1987.
Jake Long
Years at UM: 2003-07
Resume: Two-time consensus All-American; two-time Big Ten offensive lineman of the year; No. 1 overall pick (Miami) in the 2008 NFL draft.
GUARDS
Steve Hutchinson
Years at UM: 1997-2000
Resume: Big Ten offensive lineman of the year (2000); Unanimous first-team All-American (2000).
Mark Donahue
Years at UM: 1974-77
Resume: Two-time consensus All-American (1976-77).
CENTER
David Molk
Years at UM: 2008-11
Resume: Rimington Trophy winner in 2011, when Michigan had two 1,000-yard rushers for first time since 1975; consensus All-American and 2011 Big Ten offensive lineman of the year.
TIGHT END
Ron Kramer
Years at UM: 1954-56
Resume: Two-time consensus All-American. College Football Hall of Fame.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Anthony Carter
Years at UM: 1979-1982
Resume: Three-time All-American; 1982 Big Ten Player of the Year; set marks for career receptions (161; now fifth, receiving yards (3,076; now second) and touchdowns (37; now second).
Braylon Edwards
Years at UM: 2001-04
Resume: 2004 Biletnikoff winner, Big Ten offensive player of the year and consensus first team All-American; career leader in receptions (252), yards (3,541) and touchdowns (39); most games (17) with 100 or more receiving yards.
RUNNING BACKS
Mike Hart
Years at UM: 2004-07
Resume: Career rushing leader (5,040 yards); only fourth player in Big Ten history to surpass 5,000 yards rushing; school-record for 100-yard games (28); fifth in 2006 Heisman Trophy voting.
Tyrone Wheatley
Years at UM: 1991-94
Resume: UM single-season record for yards per carry (7.34); finished career No. 2 in career rushing (4,187 yards); 1993 Rose Bowl MVP.
QUARTERBACK
Rick Leach
Years at UM: 1975-78
Resume: departed UM with NCAA record for most touchdowns accounted for (82), as well as setting Big Ten record for total offense (6,460 yards) and touchdown passes (48). Owns Rose Bowl record for longest touchdown pass (76 yards).
KICKER
Remy Hamilton
Years at UM: 1992-95
Resume: All-American (1994). School record-holder with 30 single-season field goals; Put the Wolverines ahead of Ohio State 10-9 in the 2006 rivalry game and added a clinching kick with 1:19 remaining.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Mark Messner
Years at UM: 1985-88
Resume: Two-time All-American; first in career sacks (36) and tackles for loss (70); Five fumble recoveries; First Big Ten position player to be named first-team all-conference four consecutive years.
Mike Hammerstein
Years at UM: 1981-85
Resume: 1985 consensus All-American; Ranks top-20 in career sacks, single-season sacks, career tackles for loss and single-season tackles for loss.
Aidan Hutchinson
Years at UM: 2018-21
Resume: Runner-up in 2021 Heisman Trophy voting; Lombardi Award winner; Big Ten defensive player of the year; holds school record for single-season sacks (14).
LaMarr Woodley
Years at UM: 2003-06
Resume: 2006 Lombardi Award; Unanimous first-team All-American; Big Ten defensive player of the year; School record-holder in fumbles forced.
LINEBACKERS
Ron Simpkins
Years at UM: 1976-79
Resume: Consensus All-American (1979); career leader in career tackles (516)
Jarrett Irons
Years at UM: 1993-96
Resume: 1996 Consensus All-American; second in career tackles.
Mike Taylor
Years at UM: 1969-71
Resume: Consensus All-American (1971); career leader in tackles at graduation (14th now).
Defensive backs
Charles Woodson
Years at UM: 1995-97
Resume: 1997 Heisman Trophy winner; only defensive player to win the Heisman. Enough said.
Dave Brown
Years at UM: 1972-74
Resume: College Football hall of fame. Two-time consensus All-American; nine career interceptions.
Tripp Welborne
Years at UM: 1987-90
Resume: Two-time unanimous first-team All-American; five interceptions as a sophomore in 1988.
Marlin Jackson
Years at UM: 2001-2004
Resume: Consensus first-team All-American (2004); finished career second all-time among Michigan players in pass breakups (25).
PUNTER
Monte Robbins
Years at UM: 1984-87
Resume: Career record-holder in yards per punt (42.8) and single-season average (45.0 in 1987).
RETURN SPECIALIST
Desmond Howard
Years at UM: 1989-91
Resume: The Pose. 1991 Heisman Trophy winner. Ohio State heart-breaker.
Michigan at Ohio State
When: Noon Saturday
TV: Ch. 28
Radio: 97.1 FM/1460 AM
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football vs Michigan Wolverines: Best position players
