We’ve been going through a series here at Buckeyes Wire. It’s a debate on which Ohio State football player is the best to wear specific jersey numbers, and we’re cruising along, now up to jersey No. 21 as we count down towards the hopeful start of college football in 2020.
Before we get into all the fun, here’s an update on where we stand with 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 | Jersey No. 7 | Jersey No. 8 | Jersey No. 9 | Jersey No. 10 | Jersey No. 11 | Jersey No. 12 | Jersey No. 13 | Jersey No. 14 | Jersey No. 15 | Jersey No. 16 | Jersey No. 17 | Jersey No. 18 | Jersey No. 19 | Jersey No. 20
We’re all a little stir crazy from being locked down because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but as things begin to open, it’s still fun to debate Buckeye football history. In the long, illustrious history of Ohio State football, there is sure to be some disagreement, but that only makes it more fun.
We will continue to keep going along his journey through the summer and will have the results of all of the Twitter surveys where you can vote further down the road.
Next … Mark’s kicks things off
Contact/Follow Mark Russell
There are a lot of good names to pick from for No. 21 in Ohio State history. I wanted to go with Zack Dumas solely based on the hit he put on Stacy Danley of Auburn in the 1990 Hall of Fame Bowl (do yourself a favor and find the clip on YouTube).
However, I’m going with a more recent Buckeye, Parris Campbell. Parris had speed to burn and when he turned upfield, he left everyone in the dust.
Campbell had an outstanding career in Scarlet and Gray, highlighted by a senior year to remember, hauling in 90 receptions for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Of course, it was against Michigan and the revenge tour that he gave us the biggest thrill going, 78 yards and a wake of Wolverine defenders. What a thing of beauty…
Next … Brock’s turn
Contact/Follow Brock Netter
Not a lot of great options here for No. 21, but I’m going with Nate Salley.
A three-year starter at safety from 2003-05, including being a captain his senior year.
With Salley on the field, the Buckeyes won three Fiesta Bowl and the Alamo Bowl in Ohio State’s worst winning season in the last 20 years. He was also part of the 2002 National Championship as a freshman.
He earned First-team All Big Ten in his senior year before becoming a fourth-round draft pick by the Carolina Panthers.
Next … Phil wraps it up
Contact/Follow Phil Harrison
It has to be Parris Campbell right? I don’t know that Ohio State fans will ever appreciate just how good the speedster from Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary was. He was a game-breaker that could — and often would — take short passes to the house by literally outrunning everyone (right Michigan?). He got better with age and even eclipsed the 1,000-yards as Mark mentions his senior year in 2018.
The accolades didn’t stop there. Campbell was also named to the Big Ten Second Team in 2017, and First Team in 2018. He was a member of the national title-winning 2014 team and torched Michigan countless times. That alone goes a long way.
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