Ohio State's Top 10 Athletes

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jul 12, 2007

Ohio State's Top 10 Athletes

Troy Smith

Smith won all but two games he started during his time at Ohio State, including leading the Buckeyes to the 2006 Fiesta Bowl title. During his senior year in 2006, Smith threw 30 touchdown passes and won the Heisman Trophy before succumbing to Florida in the BCS Championship.

Jack Nicklaus

Born in Columbus, the 18-time professional major champion was bred to be a Buckeye. The Golden Bear won the U.S. Amateur twice (1959 and 1961) while in college in addition to taking home the crown from the 1961 NCAA Championship and finishing within two strokes of the 1960 U.S. Open title.

Greg Oden

In his first and only college season, Oden became the face of the hoops revival in the football town of Columbus. Despite playing with an injured first, the future No. 1 pick became a first-team All-American, leading the Buckeyes to the Big Ten title and to the national championship game in the NCAA Tournament.

Eddie George

George rushed for a school-record 1,927 yards and 24 touchdowns--including 314 yards and three scores in one game-- on his way to winning the Heisman during his senior year in Columbus. The bruising tailback left Ohio State second in career rushing yards and third in touchdowns.

Katie Smith

In 2002, the Ohio State Touchdown Club named Smith the school's best female athlete of the 20th Century. During her time in Columbus, Smith was an All-American, led the Buckeyes to the 1993 national championship game, and set the Big Ten's all time basketball scoring record--for men or women (she currently ranks second).

Jerry Lucas

Lucas led his team to a 78-6 record and the 1960 NCAA championship on teams that included John Havlicek and Bobby Knight. The clear leader of those teams, Lucas was a three-time All-American and was recognized for his greatness when he was named SI's Sportsman of the Year in 1961.

Blaine Wilson

Wilson was recognized as the best male athlete in the Big Ten in 1997 after win his second straight all-around NCAA gymnastic championship. In total, Wilson won six NCAA individual titles, seven Big Ten titles and five U.S. championships.

Howard Cassady

The two-way star was a consensus All-American in 1954 and 1955 and the winner of the 1955 Heisman Trophy. Cassady scored 37 touchdowns in just 36 games played as a Buckeye and never allowed a pass to be completed against him in four years in the defensive backfield.

Jesse Owens

Despite having to endure extreme racial prejudice during his college years, the "Buckeye Bullet" set an NCAA record by winning eight individual championships over the course of two years in 1935-36. One of the greatest track athletes of all time, Owens set three world records during the 1935 Big Ten meet and also won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics while still a college student.

Archie Griffin

During his four years in Columbus, Griffin won four Big Ten conference titles, started in four Rose Bowls and rushed for 100 yards in an NCAA-record 31 straight games. He is the only player in history to win the Heisman Trophy twice.