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Ohio State Football: A look at Buckeyes among Top 150 greatest players

By Charlie Lockhart

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 07: Ohio State Buckeyes football helmet before the BIG Ten Football Championship Game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 07, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 07: Ohio State Buckeyes football helmet before the BIG Ten Football Championship Game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 07, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 16: The Ohio State Buckeyes sing their school song to their fans after the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Piscataway, New Jersey.The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 56-21. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 16: The Ohio State Buckeyes sing their school song to their fans after the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Piscataway, New Jersey.The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 56-21. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Six Ohio State football players have been listed in the ESPN Top 150 so far with the final 25 to be announced on Monday.

ESPN ranked the 150 greatest college football players of all time and released the names of those between 26-150. Six former Ohio State football players were on the list. Three played for legendary head coach Woody Hayes and three others afterward.

Let’s first look at Woody’s players beginning with a Heisman Trophy winner.

No. 47 Howard “Hopalong” Cassady:  He was a do everything player and one of the best in his era. He was an outstanding defensive player who put up big numbers on offense.

Cassidy rushed for 2,274 yards (5.7 yards per carry) and scored 30 touchdowns during his Ohio State career. He also caught 42 passes for 608 yards (14.5 yards per catch) and 4 scores.

By rushing for 958 yards and 14 touchdowns in 1955 Howard Cassidy won the Heisman Trophy. Now a look at a guy who opened holes for him.

No. 141 Jim Parker:  He is a player I was aware of at a young age even though I never saw him play in college. That’s because I was just beginning to follow football at the time he was retiring from the NFL, and because of the team he played for.

I was a huge Johnny Unitas fan and it seemed like when I read anything about the great QB or the Baltimore Colts Jim Parker’s name was mentioned.

It was only later I found out he played his college ball at Ohio State. And what a career it was.

He was a key member of Woody’s first national championship team, an All-American who won the Outland Trophy in 1955. Parker was also named to the All-Century team by the Sporting News and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Now for the last player on the list who played for coach Hayes.

No. 44 Jack Tatum:  The first full season I followed Ohio State football was in1968 and Tatum was a sophomore. He was an outstanding defensive back on that national championship team and was even better the next two seasons.

Tatum was a two-time All-American and one of the best defensive backs to ever play the game. He could cover a fast wide receiver, and ball carriers were at risk if they ran in his direction with the way Tatum could hit.

Now for great players in the post-Woody era.

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