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Ohio State Football: RB runner up for Heisman but left out of HOF so far

By Charlie Lockhart

26 Jan 1997: Running back Keith Byars of the New England Patriots celebrates after scoring a touchdown during Super Bowl XXXI against the Green Bay Packers at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Packers won the game, 35-21.
26 Jan 1997: Running back Keith Byars of the New England Patriots celebrates after scoring a touchdown during Super Bowl XXXI against the Green Bay Packers at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Packers won the game, 35-21. /
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One of the best running backs ever to play for Ohio State is a candidate to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

In 1984, Keith Byars had one of the best seasons an Ohio State running back ever had. He finished second in the Heisman voting that year, and not winning that prestigious trophy may be the reason he has yet to be voted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

All five Buckeyes who won the Heisman in the 20th century are in the HOF. Four of them, were running backs. None of those four matched Byars all-purpose yards totals in 1984, or touchdowns scored during their award-winning seasons.

Quarterback Doug Flutie won the Heisman Trophy in 1984 by having a magical season full of highlights for Boston College. But that shouldn’t be held against Byars who would have been the Heisman winner in most seasons.

He rushed 336 times for 1,764 yards, caught 42 passes for 479  and added another 198 in the return game that year. His total of 2,441 all-purpose yard total is still an Ohio State record to this day.

Byars also scored 24 touchdowns that season, the second most ever by a Buckeye. And he also proved he could finish a long touchdown run wearing only one shoe.

Prior to the 1985 season, Byars broke his foot in the preseason and then re-injured it when he came back. Even though Byars played very little his senior year, he still is among the Ohio State career leaders in many categories.

Byars finished his career for the Buckeyes rushing for 3,200 yards and totaling 4,369 all-purpose yards. He is still second in career touchdowns with 50, trailing only Pete Johnson who scored 58 times.

Byars was a lot of fun to watch with the football in his hands while playing for the Buckeyes as he had a rare combination of power, speed and the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. And of course, he knew how to put the ball in the end zone.

With his career stats, along with his terrific season in 1984, I think Keith Byars deserves to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Previously I wrote that Jim Otis should have already been inducted into the HOF. Now let’s look at the third Buckeye up for that honor this year. Like Otis, he also played in the Woody Hayes era. And he was one of the best offensive linemen ever to play for the legendary Ohio State head coach

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