Ohio State Football: Top 15 Most Exciting Buckeyes of the Past Decade
Despite the reputation for being a conservative football team, Ohio State produced their share of exciting playmakers the past 10 years.
I created this list thinking of players that, when watching the game, you kept an eye on because of their ability to do something great at any moment. To me, what makes a player exciting to watch is their ability to make primetime plays in big games.
I also choose players on offense and defense, as defensive players at the Ohio State University are some of the most exciting players to watch in the country.
No. 15: Michael Jenkins
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Michael Jenkins is the all time leading receiver at the Ohio State University with 2,898 yards and was the definition of a clutch receiver.
Jenkins had the "Holy Buckeye" catch against Purdue, where he was on the receiving end of a fourth and one play which went for a touchdown to keep Ohio State's national championship hopes alive in 2002.
Jenkins also had a huge catch in the 2002 National Championship game where he again was on the receiving end of a fourth down play, this time a fourth and 14 in overtime to help the Buckeyes upset the Miami Hurricanes.
Jenkins was every bit as exciting as a player can be, even with his quiet demeanor.
No. 14: Kurt Coleman
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Kurt Coleman is one of the hardest hitting Buckeyes we have seen in the past decade, and he was fun to watch.
Coleman played with passion on every play and was a vocal leader of the Buckeyes defense, notching 221 tackles, five forced fumbles and nine interceptions in his four year career.
In 2009, Kurt led the team in forced turnovers with eight, five interceptions and three forced fumbles. Coleman would never give up on a play, and forcing fumbles became his trademark.
No. 13: Will Smith
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Will Smith was part of the 2002 National Championship team, and he was the guy that opposing defenses did not want to see get going.
In his championship campaign, Smith recorded 5.5 sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss and also intercepted a pass. Smith had 10.5 sacks the following year and was an exciting force to watch wreaking havoc in the opposing teams backfields.
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No. 13: Dan Sanzenbacher
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Though appearing a bit undersized, Dane Sanzenbacher is as tough as they come. Dane was never afraid of making a catch in the middle of the defense, and took some bone crushing hits because of it, but always held onto the ball.
Dane had 55 catches for 948 yards with 11 touchdowns his senior year and always seemed to make plays when the Buckeyes needed someone to. One of his more memorable moments was in this past year's Sugar Bowl when Terrelle Pryor had a nice run but fumbled at the goal line. Dane picked it up and took it in for six.
Sanzenbacher was a fan favorite during his four year career at Ohio State and finished with 115 receptions during his tenure.
No. 12: Vernon Gholston
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Forget being exciting to watch play, Vernon Gholston was exciting to watch walking around in his sleeveless warm up shirt.
Vernon was a nightmare for opposing defenses to try and game plan against, and most teams failed to contain him. Gholston has the all time record at Ohio State with 14.5 sacks in a single season. Vernon also tied the Ohio State all time record for most sacks in a game when he sacked Wisconsin quarterback Tyler Donovan four times in one game.
Buckeye fans will remember Vernon best for his three sack game against Michigan in 2007, even throwing down Chad Henne with one hand during the game.
No. 11: Santonio Holmes
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Santonio Holmes was just one of those players that you loved having on your team. Holmes had great hands and ran some of the best routes in the country.
Holmes accounted for over 3,000 all purpose yards during his three years as a Buckeye. His 25 touchdown catches ranks him third all time in Ohio State history, while his 240 catches ranks him fifth all time.
It was as exciting as could be watching Troy Smith hookup with Santonio Holmes, often times 10 yards slants would end up 50 yard touchdown catches as Holmes was deadly in the open field. Holmes' speed was on full display as he had five catches for 124 yards and a touchdown in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl, where the Buckeyes beat Notre Dame 34-20.
No. 10: Craig Krenzel
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Though the offense was hard to watch at times, Craig Krenzel would do whatever humanly possible to make plays, and that's why he is on this list.
What made Krenzel different than most quarterbacks was that he was not a big fan of sliding; instead, he would take a big hit in hopes of picking up an extra yard or two.
Krenzel never would light up the score boards with great stats but as Buckeyes nation knows he was a winner, with a 27-3 overall record as a starter.
Buckeye fans know all about his Fiesta Bowl performance as he led the Buckeyes over the Miami Hurricanes despite being heavy underdogs. Krenzel ran for 81 yards in this game, including two touchdowns while throwing for 122 yards.
No. 9: Mike Doss
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Doss, another member of the 2002 National Championship team, was as good a safety to step on campus at the Ohio State University.
Doss was the definition of a menace on the field, accumulating 331 career tackles, eight interceptions, eight fumble recoveries and six sacks. Doss was just a pure playmaker.
Many thought Doss would turn pro after his junior season, but he elected to stay for his senior year, and it paid off, as Mike was vital in the Ohio State winning the championship. Doss' biggest moment came in the title game when he picked off a Ken Dorsey pass and returned it 37 yards, where the Buckeyes then ended up taking the lead.
No. 8: James Lauranitis
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James Laurinaitis will go down as on of the best linebackers in school history, and he has the stats, awards and film to prove it.
Laurinaitis was a bruising Linebacker, and once he hit a runner or reciever, they went down. James was a player you didn't have to focues your eye on, because he would end up around the ball before the play was over.
James had over 360 tackles during his four year career (three as a starter), 15 sacks and nine total interceptions.
No. 7: Chris "Beanie" Wells
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This one goes without much saying. Beanie was the best back since Eddie George, and it was obvious he was going to be great the first time he touched the ball.
Wells made an impact his freshman year despite splitting carries with then starter Antonio Pittman. Beanie's best moment as a freshman came in the Michigan game when he broke off a 52-yard touchdown run that put the Buckeyes up for the rest of the game.
Between his lethal stiff arm and his 230 lb frame, it was clear that defenses wanted nothing to do with Beanie, especially players in the secondary. If you didn't get low, Beanie would run through you; if you went too low, Beanie would jump over you.
Wells rushed for over 1,600 yards as a sophomore but only 1,197 as a senior due to missing time with a foot injury.
As great as Beanie was, as a fan, I still get this feeling like we didn't get to see enough of him between the injuries and him leaving early for the pros.
No. 6: Malcolm Jenkins
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Emotion, character, pride and ability are all words that describe Malcolm Jenkins.
Jenkins was as emotional as they come and also as fun as a defensive player can be to watch. I think all Buckeye fans remember his on the field scuffle with Michigan's Greg Matthews that ended with Matthews being spun around on the ground.
Jenkins had the play to back up his talk and was named a two time All-American and also won the Jim Thorpe award in 2008. Jenkins will go down as one of the top corners ever at Ohio State and one of the best defensive leaders as well.
No. 5: Terrelle Pryor
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Many fans will have their own opinion of Terrelle Pryor, but no one can deny his play making ability. Any time Pryor has the ball, he's capable of doing something that not many quarterbacks in Ohio State history, if any, can do.
Pryor is 2-1 in bowl games, most recently knocking of Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl, where Pryor had one of his best games ever at Ohio State, throwing for 221 yards and rushed for 115 while accounting for two touchdowns.
Terrelle's fourth and 10 scramble against Iowa last year was as good a play you'll witness in college football, and that's what makes him such an exciting player.
Pryor has accounted for over 6,000 yards of total offense and 55 touchdowns during his three year career.
No. 4: Aj Hawk
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AJ was an absolute monster during his four years at Ohio State, and he was just a fun player to watch.
Hawk's motor never seemed to stop, and he could lay a hit once he caught you, which he almost always did. AJ had over 390 tackles, 41 of them for losses to go a long with 15.5 sacks. Hawk was always around the ball, as he picked off seven passes and forced three fumbles while picking up two and taking two back for touchdowns.
Hawk was the 2005 Lombardi Trophy winner and was also named the most valuable player in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl, where he sacked his future brother in law, Brady Quinn, twice.
No. 3: Chris Gamble
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Most players get fatigued during a game playing one position; Gamble played all three: offense, defense and special teams. If that doesn't spell playmaker, I don't know what does.
Gamble had four interceptions during Ohio State's championship year in 2002 while starting on both offense and defense in five games.
As a do it all type of player, Gamble was as popular as any Buckeye and will always be remembered for what he was able to do on both sides of the ball.
No. 2: Troy Smith
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"Trust in Troy". That was the slogan for Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith, and it was for good reason.
Despite returning kicks his freshman year, Troy Smith managed to become a Heisman Trophy winner in 2006. Smith took 86.7 percent of the Heisman votes, which was, and currently is, the record. During Smith's Heisman campaign, he threw for over 2,500 yards with 30 touchdowns to only six interceptions. Smith led the Buckeyes to a perfect 12-0 regular season before falling to Florida in the championship game.
It was a sight to sit back and watch Troy pick apart opposing teams defenses and orchestrate touchdown drives, one that is missed by many fans.
No. 1: Ted Ginn Jr.
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This should not come to a surprise to anyone, as Ted Ginn Jr. was the most explosive/exciting player to ever put on an Ohio State uniform.
Whether it was catching passes, returning kicks or running reverses, Ginn put excitement in the air whenever he touched the ball.
Ginn returned four punts back for touchdowns in just his freshman year while also attaining the highest punt return average of any player in the nation at 25.7 yards per return.
It became almost like a show to watch high school teammates Troy Smith and Tedd Ginn terrorize opposing teams.
Ginn also took back the opening kickoff in the 2006 National Championship game against the Florida Gators, and much to the dismay of Buckeye fans, Roy Hall broke Ginn's ankle while celebrating.
Ginn went on to account for over 4,000 all purpose yards at Ohio State while scoring 26 touchdowns. Ginn has the all time Big Ten career punt return touchdown record with six.
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