We’ve been going through a series of debating which Ohio State football player is the best to wear specific jersey numbers, and we’re now up to the venerable jersey No. 7.
Here’s where we stand with all the jersey numbers we’ve debated to date:
Jersey No. 1 | Jersey No. 2 | Jersey No. 3 | Jersey No. 4 | Jersey No. 5 | Jersey No. 6
We’re doing this because we know you’re bored 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 order curbside take out too many days in a row. As usual, get in on the action and vote below. We’ll have the results of all of these polls further down the road.
Mark is up first as always …
Next … Mark’s thoughts
Contact/Follow Mark Russell
Well, we’ve made it to one of the all-time great numbers in Ohio State history. With so many talented players to wear No. 7, it’s hard to go with just one. But, my vote gets cast for Ted Ginn Jr.
Ginn is another OSU legend that made it on our list of most electrifying Buckeyes of all time. Teddy Ginn had world-class speed and torched opposing DBs seemingly every Saturday. He had that unique ability to make everyone else look like they were in slow motion.
Hauling in deep balls from Heisman Winner Troy Smith was his bread and butter, but what Ginn did as a return specialist was something else. He had four punts returned for touchdowns in his freshman year alone, six total for his career to go along with two kick returns for TDs.
Of course, Ginn’s last kick return was in the BCS National Championship game against Florida in 2007 to open the game, but was then injured as teammates dog piled on him in jubilation. I maintain to this day, that if Ted Ginn Jr. doesn’t get hurt, 42-14 doesn’t happen and the Buckeyes are hoisting a second crystal football in four years.
Next … Brock’s take
Contact/Follow Brock Netter
Truth be told, this is the number I’ve been waiting for. No. 7 is nearly the ultimate football number, at least for those who played a skill position.
Typically your best player is wearing No. 7, although maybe that was just a phase that happened for a short time.
Nonetheless, there’s some all-time great No. 7’s in Ohio State history from Ted Ginn, Joe Germaine, Joey Galloway & others, but my vote by a fingernail goes to Chris Gamble.
Gamble did a little bit of everything except play quarterback and coach. He was a receiver, corner, and special teams returner. He was a two-time All-Big Ten selection in 2002 & 2003, alongside being a third-team All-American as a corner.
His numbers may not be as eye-popping as you’d think. Defensively, he recorded 65 tackles (51 solo), 21 pass deflections and seven career interceptions, including a huge one against Penn State that he took back for a touchdown in 2002. Offensively, he caught 40 passes for 609 yards.
He played in 38 games, started 30 of those (18 defensively, 12 offensively; five starts on both sides of the ball). Needless to say, there wasn’t much on the field he couldn’t do.
Ultimately, he was a first-round pick in 2004 by the Carolina Panthers where he played until his retirement in 2013.
He’s also Carolina’s all-time leader in interceptions with 27.
Next … Phil tries to settle it
Contact/Follow Phil Harrison
Those are both good choices, and with so many great ones to choose from, you’ll probably get a different answer from many who would try and settle this debate. In fact, it’s hard to believe Joey Galloway isn’t the choice of anyone here. That’s how deep this jersey number is.
I’m going a different direction though. Say all you want about the others, but only one guy wore seven in Columbus and made it to the Heisman ceremony in New York as a finalist. His name is Dwayne Haskins.
Yeah, yeah, he only had one year as a starter, but what a year it was. He was named the Big Ten’s quarterback and offensive player of the year, shattered and rewrote both conference and Ohio State single-season passing records, won the Chicago Tribune’s Silver Football Award as the best player in the conference, and went on to be a first-round draft pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Oh, he was also the 2019 Rose Bowl Offensive Player of the Game.
That’s getting it done. Call him a one-hit-wonder, or just simply call him a wonder. I’m going with Haskins on this one.
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