Top Ten Greatest Buckeye Defensive Backs

Dave Thurman (11:29 am)

In our ongoing series we have already looked at the following positions: wide receiver; linebacker; and, offensive line.  All were stocked with great players, but it could be argued that Ohio State has been even stronger at defensive back, producing many All-Americans and future NFL stars.  Let's tick off TSB's top ten:

10. Ray Griffin - Considering that his older brother, Archie, was the only two-time Heisman winner in history, it would be easy to forget what an excellent career Ray had at corner.  His best moment came in '75 when Griffin picked off Rick Leach which set up the winning touchdown against Michigan.

9.  Tim Fox - This hard hitting safety was a team captain, and an All-American at OSU before going on to a fine NFL career.

8.  Neal Colzie -  Some fans remember Colzie best for his dynamic punt returns, but he was a wonderful corner who picked off 15 passes during his college career.

7.  Chris Gamble - One of the best two-way players in recent history, Gamble was a good receiver, but a great shut down corner.  He may not have won as much hardware as some Buckeye defensive backs, but few have come up with as many key plays as Chris did during the 2002 National Championship season.

6.  Shawn Springs - Possessing incredible speed, Springs made playing corner look easy, starting 37 straight games.  He was the Big Ten defensive player of the year in '96 before being the third player taken in the NFL draft the following spring.

5.  Malcolm Jenkins - His arrival at OSU was without great fanfare, but Jenkins found the field as a true freshman, and went on to have a tremendous career playing corner and safety equally well.

4.  Mike Sensibaugh - Part of the super sophomore class that won a National Championship in '68, this safety from Cincinnati had a nose for the ball, intercepting 22 passes in his college career.  He later went on to become an All-Pro with Kansas City.

3.  Antoine Winfield - At 5'9", 175, Winfield was fearless, playing the pass and run with equal dexterity.  After winning the Thorpe Award, Antoine was a first round draft pick and developed into an All-Pro NFL corner.

2.  Mike Doss - The only three-time All-American to play DB at Ohio State, Doss was a wicked hitting safety who packed over 200 pounds on his 5'10" frame.  After toying with going pro early, he returned for his senior season in 2002, and his leadership was one of the keys to bringing the crysal trophy home to Columbus.

1.  Jack Tatum - Immortalized in Buckeye lore, no defensive back in football history could strike fear in opponents quite like Jack Tatum.  "The
Assassin" came to OSU as a running back, but was quickly converted to safety, where he hit like a linebacker.  After helping leading the Bucks to a National Championship, Tatum went on to become a five time Pro-Bowl player with the Oakland Raiders. 

Many other defensive backs who donned the Scarlet and Gray were also considered including Ahmed Plummer, Donte Whitner, Damon Moore, Garcia Lane, Tim Anderson, Will Allen, Todd Bell, and Kurt Coleman.  Who did we miss?

Next Up: Tight End/Fullback (Top Five at each spot)