Ohio State football: ‘Face of the Position’, Offensive Line

It’s the doldrums of almost summer and you are most likely stuck between queueing up last year’s Rose Bowl victory over Utah on the DVR for the umpteenth time, reading rankings and listicles that include Ohio State, and yearning for the start of the college football season.

Sounds like a perfect time to kick off a series we are embarking upon here at Buckeyes Wire. We call it the “face of the position” and it’s really exactly as it sounds. When you think of a position group at Ohio State, who do you think of? From quarterback to linebacker, to placekicker and beyond, OSU has some of the most iconic and historical college football players that have taken their place among the best in the game.

However, one player stands out above all else when you shroud them behind the colors of scarlet and gray, and that’s where we are going to ask for your assistance.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be highlighting players that are in the running for the face of a position at Ohio State and asking for your vote in a Twitter poll to have one player identified as the one you think immediately at that position.

We’ve already looked at the quarterback position, running backs, and wide receivers. We’ll stay on the offensive side of the ball and take a look at the offensive line as a group. It’s a position that is probably a little underrated in OSU history with some all-time great ones that went on to become a force in the NFL as well.

We’ll keep voting up for five days, and at the end of it, we’ll reveal the winner of each. Make sure you scroll to the bottom to cast your vote from the nominees and write in a candidate if you think of another player.

Korey Stringer (1992-1994)

Mandatory Credit: US PRESSWIRE

The Rationale

An anchor at offensive tackle, Stringer opened up huge holes for a number of great Buckeye running backs, including Eddie George, Raymont Harris, and Robert Smith.

A three-year starter at tackle for the Buckeyes, Stringer was a consensus All-American in 1994. The Minnesota Vikings selected him in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft with the 24th overall pick. He started 91 games for the Vikings and earned a spot in the Pro Bowl in 2000.

Unfortunately, he passed away the following year at the age of 27. He was gone far too soon but left an impact as a player and person.

Orlando Pace (1994-1996)

Jan 1, 1997; Pasadena, CA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes tackle Orlando Pace (75) in action against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the 1997 Rose Bowl. Ohio State defeated Arizona State 20-17. Mandatory Credit: Photo By USA TODAY Sports

The Rationale

Pancake.

That one word is the best way to sum up Orlando Pace’s storied career at Ohio State. He didn’t just open up running lanes, he knocked opposing defenders on their backsides. In fact, he was so dominant that he earned unanimous All-American honors in 1995 and 1996. He made a run at the Heisman in ’96 as an offensive lineman.

Pace was every bit as successful in the NFL, starting 165 games with seven Pro Bowl appearances. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013 and enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.

If those credentials don’t scream out “Greatest offensive lineman in school history”, I don’t know what does! But is he the face of the position in OSU history? You can help to decide that.

Jim Parker (1953-1956)

Ohio State guard Jim Parker is pictured on Nov. 23, 1955. (AP Photo/Gene Smith)

The Rationale

For those of you too young to remember, Parker was one of the best collegiate offensive linemen to ever play the game, and he did it for a run-heavy Woody Hayes offense.

Hayes would go on to call him “the greatest offensive lineman I ever coached.”

And it is probably true. Parker was a three-year starter and two-time All-American at Ohio State, equally adept at run and pass blocking at an elite level. He took home the Outland Trophy in 1956 for college football’s best interior lineman, the first in the program’s history to do so.

Parker is not only inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame but also enshrined in the College and Pro Football Hall of Fames after a distinguished career with the Baltimore Colts.

John Hicks (1969-1972)

Nov 24, 1973; Ann Arbor, MI; 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

The Rationale

Perhaps it should not be a surprise that two of “Woody’s boys” would be two of the greatest offensive linemen in program history. Hicks was a fiery warrior that excelled from the time he set foot on campus. Freshmen were ineligible to play during his time, but once he got on the field he dominated.

Hicks helped jump-start the career of two-time Heisman winner Archie Griffin and pulled off a double by winning the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award in 1972. Miraculously, he finished second in the Heisman voting that same season.

He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001 and was a consensus two-time All-American at Ohio State. Many will remember more recent offensive lineman, but he cannot be forgotten.

Twitter Poll - VOTE!

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Story originally appeared on Buckeye Wire