Every former Ohio State Football player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Ohio State football Hall of Famer No. 4: DL Bill Willis

If you look into the northwest section of Ohio Stadium, you will see all of the honorees in Ohio State football history. One of the names you’ll see is Bill Willis. Willis wore #99 and is one of just eight players in program history to have his name in the Ring of Honor. He was a dominant defensive lineman.

Willis was a beast back in his Buckeye playing days. He was a three-year starter for the Buckeyes in the 1940s and played under Paul Brown. He was a part of that 1942 national title team along with Groza and Lavelli. Willis was a two-time All-American too and was Ohio State’s first black All-American,

Willis broke the color barrier in the NFL and played for the Browns (I sense a theme here with these early Buckeyes) and his old coach. During his NFL career, he made three Pro Bowls and was named First-Team All-Pro four times. He was also named to the NFL’s 1940s All-Decade Team.

Unlike the other three players on this list, Willis had to deal with more than football. He was a black man playing in the NFL before the end of segregation. He was the target of racial taunts from opposing players and fans alike. Willis rose above it all to be an All-Pro in every season of professional football he played.

Willis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972. The next player on our list is another great wide receiver that suited up for the Buckeyes.