Every Ohio State football player in the College Football Hall of Fame

Phil Harrison

June 19, 2021 at 6:00 AM·7 min read

It’s the pinnacle of any sports career — making it into the Hall of Fame. With Ohio State being one of the best college programs of all time, you can bet that the Buckeyes have had their fair share of players and coaches that have been enshrined in Atlanta.

With the news of the latest College Football Hall of Fame ballot including former OSU players James Laurinaitis and Mike Doss, we thought it’d be fun to take a walk down memory lane and remember all the former Ohio State players that can already be referred to as HOF members.

Get ready, because there is a bunch of them — 24 to be exact. And while that pales in comparison to Notre Dame’s 44, it is still the fourth most of any program in the history of the sport. The other two ahead of the Buckeyes besides the Irish? USC is second with 30, and yes — Michigan — is third with 25 players having been inducted.

Here are all 23 players that wore the scarlet and gray and eventually made their way to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Chic Harley, Halfback

Chic Harley, right, waves from a car as he rode in the parade which greeted him following his arrival in Columbus, Ohio on Nov. 19, 1948, to attend Ohio State-Michigan football game. Harley starred for Ohio State in 1916-17-19. Riding in the car with Harley are left to right: William Harley of Chicago, his brother; Gov. Thomas J. Herbert of Ohio, and Mayor James Rhodes of Columbus. (AP Photo/Harold Valentine)

Ohio State Career

1916-1919

Year Enshrined

1951

Gaylord Stinchcomb, Halfback

Jan 4, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; A view of The College Football Hall of Fame prior to the CFP National Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State Career

1917-1920

Year Enshrined

1973

Wes Fesler, End

Coach Wes Fesler of Ohio State is carried off the field at the end of the Rose Bowl game in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 2, 1950 after his team defeated California in the final two minutes with a field goal, 17 to 14. The underdog Buckeyes gave the big 9 conferences its fourth straight in the series with the Coast Conference. (AP Photo)

Ohio State Career

1928-1930

Year Enshrined

1954

Gomer Jones, Center

J.D. Roberts, University of Oklahoma's senior guard, talks over with OU line coach Gomer Jones about his being named winner of the John B. Outland trophy as the outstanding lineman of the year, in Norman, Okla., Nov. 30, 1955. Roberts, a power on both offense and defense, also has been named a member of the AP all Big Seven Conference team. (AP Photo)

Ohio State Career

1934-1935

Year Enshrined

1978

Gust Zarnas, Guard

Jan 4, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; A view of The College Football Hall of Fame prior to the CFP National Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State Career

1935-1937

Year Enshrined

1975

Jim Daniell, Tackle

Jan 4, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; A view of The College Football Hall of Fame prior to the CFP National Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State Career

1939-1941

Year Enshrined

1977

Les Horvath, Quarterback

Senior Les Horvath has the chore of Sparking the 1944 Ohio State Football team, which plays the University of Missouri at Columbus, Sept. 30. (AP Photo)

Ohio State Career

1940-1942

Year Enshrined

1966

Bill Willis, Tackle

Bill Willis of Columbus, Ohio seen here Sept. 11, 1944 will fill a big gap in the Ohio State line, at the tackle position, this season. (AP Photo)

Ohio State Career

1942-1944

Year Enshrined

1971

Warren Amling, Guard

Jan 4, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; A view of The College Football Hall of Fame prior to the CFP National Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State Career

1944-1946

Year Enshrined

1984

Vic Janowicz, Halfback

Vic Janowicz, Ohio State back, gets a rubdown from an OSU managers as he rests with teammates, including Dick Doyle (14) at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Oct. 28, 1950. (AP Photo/Harold Valentine)

Ohio State Career

1949-1951

Year Enshrined

1976

Howard "Hopalong" Cassady, Halfback

FILE - This is a 1953 file photo showing Ohio State halfback Howard "Hopalong" Cassady. In the history of college football, only 44 schools have been able to make the claim “We’re No. 1” and have The Associated Press poll back up the boast. Ohio State has the most No. 1 rankings. (AP Photo/Harold Valentine, File)

Ohio State Career

1952-1955

Year Enshrined

1979

Jim Parker, Guard

Ohio State guard Jim Parker is pictured, Nov. 23, 1955. (AP Photo/Gene Smith)

Ohio State Career

1954-1956

Year Enshrined

1974

Aurealius Thomas, Guard

Aurelius Thomas, guard for the Ohio State football team, is pictured in Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 4, 1956. (AP Photo/Julian C. Wilson)

Ohio State Career

1955-1957

Year Enshrined

1989

Jim Houston, End

FILE - In this Aug. 10, 1960, file photo, Jim Houston (84) of Ohio State is interviewed by Paul Hornung, sports editor of the Columbus Dispatch, at Soldier Field in Chicago. Houston's widow would keep notes on her husband's deteriorating condition in a three-ring binder so she would be prepared for the day when he needed full-time care. (AP Photo/Edward Kitch, File)

Ohio State Career

1957-1959

Year Enshrined

2005

Bob Ferguson, Fullback

Ohio State's Bob Ferguson (46) stiff arms Duke's Claude Moorman (85) to pick up five yards and an OSU first down in the first quarter, Sept. 26, 1959, in Columbus, Ohio. Duke's Ted Royall (53) and Joe Wuchina (66) chase him in vain. (AP Photo/Julian C. Wilson)

Ohio State Career

1959-1961

Year Enshrined

1996

Jim Stillwagon, Middle Guard

Oct 17, 1970, Columbus, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman Jim Stillwagon (68) in action against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Ohio Stadium during the 1970 season. Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State Career

1968-1970

Year Enshrined

1991

Jack Tatum, Defensive Back

Oct 1970; Columbus, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back #32 JACK TATUM in action during the 1970 season. Credit: Photo By Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports © Copyright Malcolm Emmons

Ohio State Career

1968-1970

Year Enshrined

2004

John Hicks, Tackle

Nov 24, 1973; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes tackle John Hicks (74) in action against the Michigan Wolverines. The game ended in a 10-10 tie. Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State Career

1970, 1972-1973

Year Enshrined

2001

Randy Gradishar, Linebacker

Oct 1972; Columbus, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Randy Gradishar (53) in action during the 1972 season. Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State Career

1971-1973

Year Enshrined

2001

Archie Griffin, Running Back

Badgers Wire: Big Ten football's all-time leaders in rushing yards

Aug 1974; Columbus, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Archie Griffin (45) during the 1974 season. Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State Career

1972-1975

Year Enshrined

1986

Tom Cousineau, Linebacker

Sep 30, 1978, Columbus, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Tom Cousineau (36) on the field against the Baylor Bears at Ohio Stadium during the 1978 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State Career

1976-1978

Year Enshrined

2016

Keith Byars, Running Back

Big Ten football: Top ten rushing touchdown leaders of all time

Sep 15, 1984; Columbus, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Keith Byars (41) in action against the Washington State Cougars at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes beat the Cougars 44-0. Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State Career

1982-1985

Year Enshrined

2020

Chris Spielman, Linebacker

Ohio State's Chris Spielman (36). Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State Career

1985-1987

Year Enshrined

2009

Eddie George, Running Back

Ohio State football well-represented on ESPN top 150 players all-time

Oct 21, 1995; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Eddie George (27) runs the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes best the Boilermakers 28-0. Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State Career

1992-1995

Year Enshrined

2020 [listicle id=51634] Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.

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