Every Ohio State football player in the College Football Hall of Fame
It’s the pinnacle of any sports career — making it into the Hall of Fame. With Ohio State being one of the best college programs of all time, you can bet that the Buckeyes have had their fair share of players and coaches that have been enshrined in Atlanta.
With the news of the latest College Football Hall of Fame ballot including former OSU players James Laurinaitis and Mike Doss, we thought it’d be fun to take a walk down memory lane and remember all the former Ohio State players that can already be referred to as HOF members.
Get ready, because there is a bunch of them — 24 to be exact. And while that pales in comparison to Notre Dame’s 44, it is still the fourth most of any program in the history of the sport. The other two ahead of the Buckeyes besides the Irish? USC is second with 30, and yes — Michigan — is third with 25 players having been inducted.
Here are all 23 players that wore the scarlet and gray and eventually made their way to the College Football Hall of Fame.
Chic Harley, Halfback
Chic Harley, right, waves from a car as he rode in the parade which greeted him following his arrival in Columbus, Ohio on Nov. 19, 1948, to attend Ohio State-Michigan football game. Harley starred for Ohio State in 1916-17-19. Riding in the car with Harley are left to right: William Harley of Chicago, his brother; Gov. Thomas J. Herbert of Ohio, and Mayor James Rhodes of Columbus. (AP Photo/Harold Valentine)
Ohio State Career
1916-1919
Year Enshrined
1951
Gaylord Stinchcomb, Halfback
Jan 4, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; A view of The College Football Hall of Fame prior to the CFP National Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
1917-1920
Year Enshrined
1973
Wes Fesler, End
Coach Wes Fesler of Ohio State is carried off the field at the end of the Rose Bowl game in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 2, 1950 after his team defeated California in the final two minutes with a field goal, 17 to 14. The underdog Buckeyes gave the big 9 conferences its fourth straight in the series with the Coast Conference. (AP Photo)
Ohio State Career
1928-1930
Year Enshrined
1954
Gomer Jones, Center
J.D. Roberts, University of Oklahoma's senior guard, talks over with OU line coach Gomer Jones about his being named winner of the John B. Outland trophy as the outstanding lineman of the year, in Norman, Okla., Nov. 30, 1955. Roberts, a power on both offense and defense, also has been named a member of the AP all Big Seven Conference team. (AP Photo)
Ohio State Career
1934-1935
Year Enshrined
1978
Gust Zarnas, Guard
Jan 4, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; A view of The College Football Hall of Fame prior to the CFP National Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
1935-1937
Year Enshrined
1975
Jim Daniell, Tackle
Jan 4, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; A view of The College Football Hall of Fame prior to the CFP National Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
1939-1941
Year Enshrined
1977
Les Horvath, Quarterback
Senior Les Horvath has the chore of Sparking the 1944 Ohio State Football team, which plays the University of Missouri at Columbus, Sept. 30. (AP Photo)
Ohio State Career
1940-1942
Year Enshrined
1966
Bill Willis, Tackle
Bill Willis of Columbus, Ohio seen here Sept. 11, 1944 will fill a big gap in the Ohio State line, at the tackle position, this season. (AP Photo)
Ohio State Career
1942-1944
Year Enshrined
1971
Warren Amling, Guard
Jan 4, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; A view of The College Football Hall of Fame prior to the CFP National Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
1944-1946
Year Enshrined
1984
Vic Janowicz, Halfback
Vic Janowicz, Ohio State back, gets a rubdown from an OSU managers as he rests with teammates, including Dick Doyle (14) at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Oct. 28, 1950. (AP Photo/Harold Valentine)
Ohio State Career
1949-1951
Year Enshrined
1976
Howard "Hopalong" Cassady, Halfback
FILE - This is a 1953 file photo showing Ohio State halfback Howard "Hopalong" Cassady. In the history of college football, only 44 schools have been able to make the claim “We’re No. 1” and have The Associated Press poll back up the boast. Ohio State has the most No. 1 rankings. (AP Photo/Harold Valentine, File)
Ohio State Career
1952-1955
Year Enshrined
1979
Jim Parker, Guard
Ohio State guard Jim Parker is pictured, Nov. 23, 1955. (AP Photo/Gene Smith)
Ohio State Career
1954-1956
Year Enshrined
1974
Aurealius Thomas, Guard
Aurelius Thomas, guard for the Ohio State football team, is pictured in Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 4, 1956. (AP Photo/Julian C. Wilson)
Ohio State Career
1955-1957
Year Enshrined
1989
Jim Houston, End
FILE - In this Aug. 10, 1960, file photo, Jim Houston (84) of Ohio State is interviewed by Paul Hornung, sports editor of the Columbus Dispatch, at Soldier Field in Chicago. Houston's widow would keep notes on her husband's deteriorating condition in a three-ring binder so she would be prepared for the day when he needed full-time care. (AP Photo/Edward Kitch, File)
Ohio State Career
1957-1959
Year Enshrined
2005
Bob Ferguson, Fullback
Ohio State's Bob Ferguson (46) stiff arms Duke's Claude Moorman (85) to pick up five yards and an OSU first down in the first quarter, Sept. 26, 1959, in Columbus, Ohio. Duke's Ted Royall (53) and Joe Wuchina (66) chase him in vain. (AP Photo/Julian C. Wilson)
Ohio State Career
1959-1961
Year Enshrined
1996
Jim Stillwagon, Middle Guard
Oct 17, 1970, Columbus, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman Jim Stillwagon (68) in action against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Ohio Stadium during the 1970 season. Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
1968-1970
Year Enshrined
1991
Jack Tatum, Defensive Back
Oct 1970; Columbus, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back #32 JACK TATUM in action during the 1970 season. Credit: Photo By Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports © Copyright Malcolm Emmons
Ohio State Career
1968-1970
Year Enshrined
2004
John Hicks, Tackle
Nov 24, 1973; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes tackle John Hicks (74) in action against the Michigan Wolverines. The game ended in a 10-10 tie. Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
1970, 1972-1973
Year Enshrined
2001
Randy Gradishar, Linebacker
Oct 1972; Columbus, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Randy Gradishar (53) in action during the 1972 season. Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
1971-1973
Year Enshrined
2001
Archie Griffin, Running Back
Aug 1974; Columbus, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Archie Griffin (45) during the 1974 season. Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
1972-1975
Year Enshrined
1986
Tom Cousineau, Linebacker
Sep 30, 1978, Columbus, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Tom Cousineau (36) on the field against the Baylor Bears at Ohio Stadium during the 1978 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
1976-1978
Year Enshrined
2016
Keith Byars, Running Back
Sep 15, 1984; Columbus, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Keith Byars (41) in action against the Washington State Cougars at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes beat the Cougars 44-0. Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
1982-1985
Year Enshrined
2020
Chris Spielman, Linebacker
Ohio State's Chris Spielman (36). Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
1985-1987
Year Enshrined
2009
Eddie George, Running Back
Oct 21, 1995; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Eddie George (27) runs the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes best the Boilermakers 28-0. Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
1992-1995
Year Enshrined
2020 [listicle id=51634] Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.
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