If you’ve been following us over the last couple of weeks, you know we’ve been going through our Greatest Of All Time series to identify the best four Ohio State players of all time at each position group.
We’ve made it through most of the position groups, but we’ve still got a few to go. Next up are the guys in the trenches responsible for moving the defense out of the way and clearing holes for the offense. Like most every other position group, the Buckeye program is littered with a deep and talented pool of offensive lineman.
Here’s our four best but we’re open to debate if you have any issues with who we identified.
And if you missed any of the series, you can check it all out by going to our main article of the G.O.A.Ts. From quarterbacks to defensive backs, they’re all there.
Next … Gone too soon
Korey Stringer (1992-94)
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.
Next … Underrated from a time long ago
Iolas Huffman (1920-21)
Huffman deserves a spot on this list because of his versatility.
So, what do I mean by “versatility”? Huffman was the star tackle of the Buckeye football team, earning All-American honors in 1920 and 1921. He also excelled on special teams, blocking a punt in the 1920 edition of The Game, which propelled OSU to a 14-7 victory.
In addition to his skills on the gridiron, Huffman was also the starting catcher for the Buckeye baseball squad from 1920-22. He eventually gave up baseball and played 13 games in the NFL for Cleveland and Buffalo.
Next … Archie’s bulldozer
Chris Ward (1974-1977)
As even the most casual football fan knows, Archie Griffin is the only player to win the Heisman Trophy twice. Even though he was just a freshman and sophomore at the time, Ward was instrumental in making that happen.
He was even better in his junior and senior years, earning All-American honors in 1976 and 1977.
Thanks to his unique blend of strength and speed, Ward was a first-round selection in the 1978 NFL draft, landing with the New York Jets. He would play in the 100 games in seven NFL seasons, retiring in 1984.
Next … One of the best ever
Orlando Pace (1994-96)
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.
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!
