All of Ohio State football’s historical, unanimous First Team All-Americans
It’s a select group. Every once in a while a player comes along in the Ohio State football program that makes it as a unanimous First-Team All-American. To do it, a player must be named First-Team by the Associated Press, AFCA, FWAA, The Sporting News, and Walter Camp. That’s right, all of them.
The Buckeyes are near the top when it comes to a historical number of players making it as a unanimous First-Team All-American, third behind just Alabama and Notre Dame. All told, OSU has had a unanimous All-American a whopping 33 times, just one behind Notre Dame, and six behind the Crimson Tide. Arch rival Michigan has 25 unanimous selections total.
So who are they? Here is a complete historical list of all the unanimous First-Team All-Americans at Ohio State by era.
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
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
1930
Les Horvath, Quarterback/HB
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
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
1944
Warren Amling, Guard
Jan. 4, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes logo prior to the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at the Louisiana Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
1944-1946
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
1945
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
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
1950
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
Unanimous First-Team All-American Years
1954, 1955
Jim Parker, Guard
Ohio State guard Jim Parker is pictured, Nov. 23, 1955. (AP Photo/Gene Smith)
Ohio State Career
1954-1956
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
1956
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
Unanimous First-Team All-American Years
1960, 1961
Dave Foley, Offensive Tackle
Aug, 1966; Columbus, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes tackle Dave Foley (70) poses during photo day at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
1966-1968
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
1968
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
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
1970
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
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
1970
John Hicks, Offensive 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
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
1973
Randy Gradishar, Linebacker
Oct 1972; Columbus, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Randy Gradishar (53) in action during the 1972 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
1971-1973
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
1973
Archie Griffin, Running Back
Aug 1974; Columbus, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Archie Griffin (45) during the 1974 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
1972-1975
Unanimous First-Team All-American Years
1974, 1975
Chris Ward, Offensive Tackle
Jan. 4, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes logo prior to the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at the Louisiana Superdome. Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
1974-1977
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
1977
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
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
1984
Tom Tupa, Quarterback/Punter
Jan. 4, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes logo prior to the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at the Louisiana Superdome. Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
1984-1987
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
1987
Chris Spielman, Linebacker
Ohio State's Chris Spielman (36).
Emailed Photo Of Chris Spielman For Sports Saved November 19 2003. Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
1985-1987
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
1987
Orlando Pace, Offensive Tackle
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. Credit: Photo By USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
1994-1996
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
1995
Eddie George, Running Back
Sep 30, 1995; Columbus, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State running back Eddie George (27) scores a touchdown against the Notre Dame Irish at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State defeated the Notre Dame 45-26. Credit: Photo By USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
1992-1995
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
1995
Mike Doss, Safety
MADISON, WI - OCTOBER 19: Safety Mike Doss #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes stands next to linebacker Matt Wilhelm #35 during the Big Ten Conference football game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on October 19, 2002 in Madison, Wisconsin. The Buckeyes won 19-14. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Ohio State Career
1999-2002
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
2002
A.J. Hawk, Linebacker
A.J. Hawk, LB
Selected No. 5 overall by Green Bay Packers in 2006 NFL Draft
Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
2002-2005
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
2005
Troy Smith, Quarterback
Nov 18, 2006; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Troy Smith (10) throws a pass in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. The Buckeyes defeated the Wolverines 42-39. Credit: Joe Robbins-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © 2006 Joe Robbins
Ohio State Career
2003-2006
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
2006
James Laurinaitis, Linebacker
Oct 11, 2008; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker James Laurinaitis (33) in action against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
2005-2008
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
2007
Joey Bosa, Defensive End
Joey Bosa, DE
Selected No. overall by San Diego Chargers in 2016 NFL Draft
Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
2013-2015
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
2014
Pat Elflein, Center
Nov 19, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Pat Elflein (65) celebrates a win over Michigan State Spartans after a game at Spartan Stadium. Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
2013-2016
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
2016
Malik Hooker, Safety
Malik Hooker, DB
Selected No. 15 overall by Indianapolis Colts in 2017 NFL Draft
Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
2014-2016
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
2016
Billy Price, Center
Billy Price, C
Selected No. 21 overall by Cincinnati Bengals in 2018 NFL Draft
Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
2014-2017
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
2017
Jeff Okudah, Cornerback
Dec 28, 2019; Glendale, AZ, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Jeff Okudah (1) during the 2019 Fiesta Bowl college football playoff semifinal game against the Clemson Tigers at State Farm Stadium. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
2017-2019
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
2019
Chase Young, Defensive End
Dec 28, 2019; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Chase Young (2) prior to the game against the Clemson Tigers in the 2019 Fiesta Bowl college football playoff semifinal game. Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State Career
2017-2019
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
2019
Wyatt Davis, Offensive Guard
In this Dec. 28, 2019, photo, Ohio State offensive lineman Wyatt Davis (52) plays during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game against Clemson, in Glendale, Ariz. Davis was selected to The Associated Press preseason All-America first-team, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Ohio State Career
2018-2020
Unanimous First-Team All-American Year
2020 [listicle id=52417] 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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