We're up to No. 10, and we're fairly aware where this one is heading, but we're still playing. Before we get started, here's an update on where we are on all of the jersey numbers we've discussed thus far: No. 0 Paul Posluszny is out for the year after breaking his leg in last week's win over Indiana.
Now, without further ado, our list of the best Ohio State players of all time:
10 John Henderson - The middle linebacker was a four-year starter for the Buckeyes before being drafted by the Chicago Bears in the ninth round of the 1987 NFL Draft. He played only two seasons with the team before moving on to San Francisco where he finished his career as a reserve linebacker. After retiring from football, he became an assistant coach under Steve Spurrier at South Carolina and Washington.
9 Anthony Schlegelmilch - The offensive guard was a three-year starter for the Buckeyes who was selected in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. He spent nine seasons in the league before finishing his career back in Columbus with the St. Louis Rams as a backup quarterback.
8 James Laurinaitis - The outside linebacker was a four-year starter for the Buckeyes before being picked in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers.
But here's a twist on those rankings: the top Alabama football player by jersey number throughout Nick Saban's tenure. Some were simple since one participant embodied the number. Tua at No. 13 is an example of this. Some were difficult since so many great players picked the same number.
Many football heroes and icons have worn the number 10 shirt, including Diego Maradona, Pele, and Lionel Messi. They wore No. 10 while performing on the grandest platforms in their own nations, and they were instrumental in giving the number importance and mystery.
Many Chelsea luminaries, like Ian Hutchinson, Charlie Cooke, and Terry Venables, have donned the renowned jersey in the past. Chelsea's No. 10 jersey has been worn by nine different players since 1993.
He oversaw a record 47 fourth-quarter comebacks for Denver. The runner-up was Ben Roethlisberger. Morten Andersen (New Orleans), Dutch Clark, George Halas (Chicago), Mel Hein, Bert Jones, Dan Pastorini, Joe Theismann, Michael Vick, and Bob Waterfield are all candidates.
In 1979, the NFL permitted defensive linemen to wear numbers 90–99 and centers to wear numbers 60–79. Since more teams were using the 3-4 system and therefore quickly exhausted numbers for linebackers, who were previously only permitted to wear numbers in the 50-59 range, the NFL authorized linebackers to wear jersey numbers in the 90-99 area in 1984.
Ohio State's quarterback competition is a three-way contest. C.J. Stroud, a redshirt freshman who filled in for Justin Fields last season, is the only one with game experience. Jack Miller, a redshirt freshman, and Kyle McCord, a five-star prospect, are also in the mix.
Stroud started six games at right tackle before suffering an ankle injury that required surgery. He returned for the College Football Playoff National Championship Game where he threw for 218 yards and two touchdowns while being sacked four times. Fields, a junior, was expected to be the starter this fall after winning the job over Stroud during spring practice. However, he was suspended by coach Ryan Day after it was discovered that Fields had lied about his history of concussions on his college application paperwork. The suspension is through the first week of school.
As a result, Stroud will get another chance to prove he can play quarterback at the highest level. If he cannot win the job back then Miller or McCord will have a chance to see action this fall.
After another ten Buckeyes were picked in this year's draft, there are now 69 former Ohio State players on NFL rosters, which means there are more than enough players to field a full 53-man squad capable of competing with any club in the league.
The most recent addition to an already strong group is defensive end Marcus Rush, who was selected by the San Diego Chargers in this year's draft. The 6'4", 245-pounder from Mt. Vernon High School in Cincinnati had 11 sacks and 19 tackles for loss over the last two seasons. He joins an impressive list of current and former OSU players on the roster including Ryan Shazier, Michael Bennett, John Simon, Bradley Roby, Mike Adams, Anthony Madison, Jeromy Miles, Chris Carter, KeiVarae Russell, and Tyvis Powell.
There have been so many great players coming out of Ohio State over the years that it's not even close to being close. There are still plenty of them left at OSU and beyond, including four-year starter Justin Fields at quarterback and outside linebacker Keandre Jones.
The latest edition of the OSU football team was announced earlier this month when head coach Ryan Day named his initial 26-player roster. Sixteen of those spots are filled by returners while the other ten come from the NFL draft.
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