Every former Ohio State Football player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
By Ryan Stano
Ohio State football Hall of Famer No. 3: WR Dante Lavelli
Not many people remember who Dante Lavelli was. They should. He was the first great receiver in the history of the Ohio State football program. The problem is that he never really got to show it at Ohio State because of injuries and a stint overseas during WWII, although he was a part of Ohio State’s 1942 national championship team.
It wasn’t until playing for the Browns as Groza’s teammate that he really showed how dynamic he could be on the outside. He ended up catching 62 touchdowns in his NFL career and made six Pro Bowls and made the NFL 1940s All-Decade Team. He is enshrined in the Browns’ Ring of Honor as well.
Lavelli never got to showcase his skills in the modern game where passing is obviously much more prevalent. Still, he showed what a wide receiver can be if given the right opportunities in the offense. He was the archetype for what wide receivers would become in the NFL.
Lavelli was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1975. His teammates talked about how good he was, even in an NFL game that didn’t utilize the pass that much. If he had played today, his numbers would have been much more impressive.
The next guy on the list is someone that every Ohio State football fan should know because his name is up at the Shoe.