Ohio State Football: The best DB unit in school history

In recent years the Ohio State football team has become known as DBU. Here is a look at the group of defensive backs who got things rolling.

We all know how the Ohio State football program churns out NFL defensive players.  Especially defensive backs and lately we have really been pushing them out.

With the likes of Eli Apple, Denzel Ward, Malik Hooker and so on, Ohio State has become “DB U.”  The question now is, which unit is the best in school history?  I say it’s that 2002 unit that helped the team go 14-0 and win the National Championship against the Miami Hurricanes.

That ’02 group included a special mix of upperclassmen and talented newcomers to the program ready to make their mark on history.  All-American Mike Doss made the decision to come back for another year, not only to get his degree but to finish something he helped start.

And that was the beginning of possibly the greatest season in Buckeye history.  Donnie Nickey, Will Allen, Dustin Fox, and Chris Gamble joined him on the back-end of the defense.  This is the DB unit that was to pave the way for all future defensive backs at Ohio State.

That season was set up for success with Jim Tressel entering his second season as Ohio State head coach and Mark Dantonio returning as the defensive coordinator.  Mel Tucker was the DB coach at the time as well.

Now that we’ve said the who and set things up, let’s get to the why.  As if 14-0 and a national title isn’t enough, how about the fact there were seven games in 2002 decided by single digits. That means there was plenty of pressure on the secondary as opposing teams were often trying to mount a comeback.

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There were also six games in 2002 the opponent was held under 10 points.  That feat was a combination of the defensive front and linebackers putting plenty of pressure on the other team’s quarterback, but it also shows the talent and discipline to stay in their areas and not give up that big play by the DB’s.

Then there was the 2002 BCS National Championship game against the high-powered, proclaimed unbeatable Hurricanes. It was a 2 OT thriller that went down as one of the greatest college games ever played.

The ‘Canes’ were undefeated and on a 34 game winning streak.  Even through it was essentially five quarters of football, the Buckeye defense held Miami to 24 points.  That performance included two very timely interceptions by a couple of Canton, Ohio natives in Dustin Fox and Mike Doss, who was named a Co-MVP of the game with QB Craig Krenzel.

With all of the DB talent coming out of Columbus, it is only right we honor the unit that got this run started.  As far as I’m concerned, the 2002 defensive backfield is the best in school history, and started the run of great secondary talent that has performed so well for  THE Ohio State University.