The Ohio State soccer program is on the shortlist of groups thought-about to be one of the best within the historical past of the game. As such, in the event you have been to enter a lab and recreate one of the best all-time roster utilizing any Buckeye participant in historical past, what would the two-deep depth chart appear like?
That’s precisely what we’re doing right here at Buckeyes Wire. We — and albeit all of our school wire websites — have taken on the unenviable process of making an attempt to select one of the best of one of the best of one of the best from OSU soccer to place collectively an all-time roster. We kicked issues off earlier this week with our all-time offensive roster, and now we’re shifting on to the protection.
As at all times, with a program like Ohio State, there are sure to be some actually, actually good gamers that didn’t fairly make our minimize that you may argue for. However hey, that’s a superb drawback to have when you find yourself a fan of such historic relevance.
So, off we go along with our all-time Ohio State soccer defensive roster. Be happy to get in on the dialog and tell us what you’d change and why.
See the all-time Ohio State offense right here.
Take a look at our different School Wire all-time defenses: Alabama / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC
Beginning Defensive Finish 1: Mike Vrabel
Oct 21, 1995; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive finish Mike Vrabel (94) rushes the passer towards the Purdue Boilermakers at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes beat the Boilermakers 28-0. Credit score: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports activities
Vrabel remains to be on high of the all-time profession sack totals at Ohio State and was a person amongst boys. He was a two-time defensive lineman of the 12 months within the Massive Ten and went on to win three Tremendous Bowls with the New England Patriots. His profession remains to be the one that every one edge rushers are judged by at OSU.
Backup Defensive Finish 1: Joey Bosa
In fact, the elder Bosa must be on right here. He made a distinction instantly as a freshman and remains to be going robust within the NFL immediately. He was a unanimous and consensus All-American whereas at Ohio State and made the first-team All-Massive Ten squad twice, profitable the Massive Ten’s Defensive Lineman of the 12 months (2014, 2015) and Defensive Participant of the 12 months (2015). He’s now wracking up sacks and tackles for loss in sunny SoCal for the L.A. Chargers.
Beginning Defensive Finish 2: Chase Younger
Chase Younger is perhaps essentially the most dynamic defensive finish ever to go well with up for Ohio State. His junior 12 months was the one finest any OSU edge rusher has had. He set this system mark for sacks in a season, took residence a number of nationwide awards, and even went to New York as a Heisman finalist.
Backup Defensive Finish 2: Nick Bosa
Man, would this be a dominant group. Now we have to place the youthful Bosa in there someplace. His profession at Ohio State might have been even higher if not for accidents, nevertheless it was nonetheless implausible because it was. Bosa was a first-team All-American in 2017 and likewise took residence the Massive Ten’s Defensive Lineman of the 12 months. He’s the most effective cross rushers within the NFL immediately.
Beginning Defensive Deal with 1: Jim Stillwagon
Youthful followers received’t bear in mind Jim Stillwagon, however he was considered one of Woody Hayes’ finest all-time gamers and created havoc on the line of defense. In 1970, he took residence the Lombardi Award, Outland Trophy, and was named the UPI Lineman of the 12 months. He’s additionally within the School Soccer Corridor of Fame for what that’s value.
Backup Defensive Finish 1: Cameron Heyward
Heyward got here to Ohio State able to play proper out of the field along with his energy and dimension. He was a consensus All-American throughout his freshman season in 2007 after which went on to be named first-team All-Massive Ten in 2010. You may see him giving opposing offensive traces hassle in Pittsburgh immediately as he continues to place collectively fairly the productive All-Professional NFL profession.
Beginning Defensive Deal with 2: Dan Wilkinson
Within the early 90s, “Massive Daddy” was a cultural phenomenon at Ohio State. His NFL profession didn’t fairly pan out, however school was enjoyable to look at. He was a two-time first-team All-Massive Ten performer and consensus All-American earlier than being chosen No. 1 total by the Cincinnati Bengals within the 1994 NFL draft.
Backup Defensive Deal with 2: Johnathan Hankins
Johnathan Hankins wasn’t flashy, however he made plenty of tackles for loss regardless of being double-teamed usually. He was a first-team All-American and first-team All-Massive Ten performer in 2012.
Beginning Linebacker 1: Chris Spielman
Chris Spielman was a tackling machine and had a nostril for the ball. He was gritty and performed past his athletic talents. If you’re on the lookout for a man that is perhaps the face of the protection traditionally at Ohio State, Spielman is perhaps it. He was a two-time consensus All-American and received the Lombardi Award in 1987 earlier than occurring to develop into a a number of 12 months All-Professional within the NFL.
Backup Linebacker 1: A.J. Hawk
A.J. Hawk wasn’t extremely recruited popping out of highschool however turned himself right into a first-round NFL choose due to his capacity to run to the ball and diagnose performs. He was a two-time unanimous All-American, received the Lombardi Award in 2005, and took residence a uncommon double by being named Fiesta Bowl MVP in 2004 and 2006.
Beginning Linebacker 2: James Laurinaitis
There aren’t too many guys which are named a first-team All-American 3 times however that’s what James Laurinaitis pulled off. The record of awards is prolonged. He took residence the Lott Trophy, Butkus, Bronko Nagurski, and Jack Lambert, in addition to being named the Massive Ten Defensive Participant of the 12 months twice whereas sporting the scarlet and grey.
Backup Linebacker 2: Randy Gradishar
Let’s be actual right here. When you need to selected whether or not a two-time All-American will get the beginning nod on an all-time roster, you’ve received a deep bunch. You might simply swap Gradishar for a starter, however we’ve needed to make robust choices right here. He went on to be a pressure within the NFL too, and was a member of the Ohio State All-Century Staff.
Beginning Linebacker 3: Andy Katzenmoyer
The “Massive Kat” was an athletic freak with dimension and velocity that may nonetheless be play nicely in immediately’s sport. He made a direct affect as a freshman and finally received the Butkus Award and have become a consensus All-American in 1997. He was additionally named to the first-team All-Massive Ten squad every of his three years in Columbus.
Backup Linebacker 3: Ryan Shazier
Ryan Shazier was undersized, however quick and bodily and part of the brand new age linebacker that might cowl in area. He was a first-team All-American in 2013 and named two-time first-team All-Massive Ten throughout his time as a Buckeye.
Beginning Cornerback 1: Shawn Springs
Shawn Springs was the very definition of a lock-down nook. He took half of the sector away towards the opposite workforce’s finest receiver. He ended his profession as a consensus All-American and went on to develop into the third total choose within the 1997 NFL draft.
Backup Cornerback 1: Jeff Okudah
Jeff Okudah has but to actually make his mark within the NFL due to damage, nevertheless it could possibly be coming. In school, he had the size, method, and athleticism that stood out on movie and made him a unanimous All-American and first-team All-Massive Ten performer in 2019.
Beginning Cornerback 2: Antoine Winfield
Antoine Winfield was merely a baller. Not solely did he cowl receivers, he was usually seen knifing up into run assist, usually main the workforce in tackles regardless of being undersized. He had the braveness and athleticism that made him a consensus All-American in 1998. That 12 months additionally noticed him take residence the Jim Thorpe Award for the nation’s finest defensive again.
Backup Cornerback 2: Malcolm Jenkins
Malcolm Jenkins ended up as a security within the NFL, however earlier than that, he was a standout nook with the Buckeyes. He possessed vary, size, and toughness that allowed him to carry residence the Jim Thorpe Award as a consensus All-American in 2008.
Beginning Security 1: Jack Tatum
Earlier than Jack Tatum grew to become one of the vital feared safeties within the NFL due to his hard-hitting model, he was honing his craft at Ohio State. He was a two-time consensus All-American and helped carry residence a nationwide championship in 1968 for the Buckeyes.
Backup Security 1: Mike Sensibaugh
Mike Sensibaugh performed alongside Tatum as one of many tremendous sophomores on the 1968 workforce and would in all probability get extra recognition if not for being Robin to Batman. He’s a member of the OSU Corridor of Fame and was chosen for the Buckeyes’ All-Century workforce. He’s nonetheless the all-time profession interceptions chief at Ohio State and went on to have a productive eight-year professional profession with the Chiefs and Cardinals.
Beginning Security 2: Mike Doss
Doss was an All-American who got here again to Ohio State his senior 12 months in 2022 to win a nationwide title. He made good on it. He was a pacesetter on and off the sector and was acknowledged as a three-time first-team All-American throughout his profession at OSU. Oh, and he was named the Fiesta Bowl MVP within the thrilling double-overtime win over Miami that introduced residence the nationwide title.
Backup security 2: Malik Hooker
Malik Hooker was a one-year marvel, however what a 12 months it was. He pulled down seven interceptions in 2016 alone and was named a unanimous All-American who was chosen No. 15 total within the first spherical of the 2017 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts.
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