We’ve been going through a series of debating what Ohio State football player is the best to wear specific jersey numbers. We started with jersey No. 1, moved on to jersey No. 2, continued with jersey No. 3, touched on jersey No. 4, and now we are on jersey No. 5,
We’re doing this because we know you’re bored of looking at every square inch of your home. We’re all getting a little stir crazy from being cooped up due to the measures put in place to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, and there are only so many classic games I can dial-up and watch.
In the long, illustrious history of Ohio State football, there is sure to be some disagreement, but that only makes it more fun. We might just sling some mud at each other, but it’s all being done virtually like everything else.
We will continue to go as high as makes sense, or until we win an all-expenses-paid trip to the grocery store to get toilet paper.
Mark, you know the drill …
Next … Mark’s thoughts
Contact/Follow Mark Russell
Best No. 5 ever to wear the Scarlet and Gray? One of my favorites… Braxton Miller.
Miller did things on the football field that left fans in absolute amazement. Thrust into the spotlight as a freshman, Braxton would be one of the few bright spots on 6-7 campaign, highlighted by a Hail Mary to knock of No. 10 Wisconsin.
Unfortunately, Miller was plagued with some untimely injuries, but it didn’t keep him from putting up some gaudy numbers, throwing for over 5,000 career yards with 52 touchdowns to just 17 interceptions.
However, it was running the ball that Miller made heads explode. Over 3,000 yards rushing with 33 TDs and mind-blowing moves. There just simply hasn’t been anyone better to wear No. 5 in OSU history. We believe it so much so that Braxton Miller was named our most electrifying player in Ohio State history.
Next … Brock’s take
Contact/Follow Brock Netter
This probably isn’t much a debate. I’m pretty sure this is going to be a unanimous vote as to who the best Buckeye to wear No. 5 is, so I’ll make it two for two.
It’s Braxton Miller. And by a country mile.
26-8 as the starting quarterback for Ohio State (22-2 under Urban Meyer), Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and a two-time Big Ten Player of the Year.
That alone ends the argument when you look at the other No. 5’s in Ohio State history, but let’s keep going.
He’s also a national champion, and I don’t care if he didn’t play a single snap, he had a hand in helping J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones develop in 2014 to the players they both became.
Miller finished with 5,295 passing yards and 52 touchdowns in his three years under center. And, as Mark mentions, he ran for the ball 3,314 yards and 33 touchdowns in his Buckeye career.
The only knock on Miller is that he was the starting quarterback in the last loss to TTUN. But considering he was a freshman, and it was Luke Fickell just trying to keep the program afloat before Urban Myer arrived, we’ll let that one slide.
Next … Phil tries to settle it
Contact/Follow Phil Harrison
Well, there’s nothing to really settle here, especially when we are all in agreement. There were other players to wear the No. 5 that were very good football players like linebacker Raekwon McMillan, Chimdi Chekwa, and running back Michael Wiley, but none compares to the human highlight reel that was Braxton Miller.
Aside from all the stats and accolades both Mark and Brock pointed out, Miller had moves that would make the best defenders look foolish. He could make a one-yard gain look sensational.
Urban Meyer has said on multiple occasions that if the 2012 team had not had Miller, it would have been an average team. With him, that squad went 12-0. There’s simply nobody that compares with the electrifying Miller when you discuss the jersey No. 5.
You really wonder what we would have seen from him his senior year under center had he been able to be at 100 percent. As it is, his career was one of the most fun to watch of any player I can remember.
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