College Football 2011: Power Ranking the Top 10 Players of the Jim Tressel Era
Jim Tressel’s tenure at Ohio State is over, and upcoming prospects for the program look grim. Yes, the bottom fell out for the Buckeyes during the past 12 months.
The amount of great talent that came through Columbus throughout JT’s tenure as coach should not be forgotten though. Ohio State has been one of top programs in the country over the past 10 years.
Coaching aside, you do not accumulate that many victories without having some elite talent on the field. I will let you know which Buckeyes rank as the top gridiron greats to play under Tressel at Ohio State.
Without further ado, here are the top 10 players to play under Jim Tressel at Ohio State.
10. Santonio Holmes
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When wide receiver Santonio Holmes got into the open field, he had the ability to break plays wide open. Yes, the wide receiver had solid hands, but it was his ability to run after the catch that made him special.
Santonio Holmes’ 25 touchdown catches rank third-best in school history. He also amassed 2,295 receiving yards during his time in Columbus. Holmes was redshirted during Ohio State’s 2002 national championship season, but he still did more than his share for Buckeye football during his time at the school.
I will remember Santonio Holes for his explosiveness and game-breaking ability. Technically, the wide receivers biggest highlight came at the end of Super Bowl XLIII when he caught the game winning touchdown to lift the Steelers over the Cardinals.
Holmes was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 25th pick in the 2006 NFL draft.
9. Ted Ginn Jr.
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Ted Ginn Jr. was ranked as the second overall prospect in the class of 2004 as rated by Rivals. Like other Buckeye stars, Ginn did not hail from halfway across the country. Instead, he went to high school in Cleveland at Glenville High School.
Ginn Jr. never put up outstanding numbers for the Buckeyes as a wide receiver. He had his most productive season as a junior catching 59 passes, for 781 yards and nine touchdowns. Ted was solid as a wide receiver, but it is Ginn’s game-breaking ability as a kick returner that puts him on this list.
I will always remember Ted Ginn Jr. for his touchdown versus Florida on the opening kickoff of the 2007 BCS National Championship. The kick return served as the only bright spot in what would prove to be a very long night for Buckeye fans.
Ted Ginn Jr. was drafted by the Miami Dolphins with the ninth overall selection in the 2007 NFL draft. He currently plays for the San Francisco 49ers.
8. Chris “Beanie” Wells
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Chris Wells was rated as the top ranked rushing back and third overall prospect in the class of 2006 as rated by Rivals.
Needless to say, there were a lot of expectations surrounding the Akron native. Wells wasted no time in showing Buckeye fans why the hype surrounding him was warranted by rushing for 576 yards and seven touchdowns as a freshman.
He would go on to rush for plus-2,500 yards and 23 touchdowns over the course of his sophomore and junior campaigns. Wells chose to forgo his senior season with the school and enter the 2009 NFL draft where he was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the 31st overall selection.
Chris’ brutish strength made him a nightmare for defenders to take down, but the running back also had an ample amount of speed in the reserves for when he got in the open field.
Wells entered his junior season as a Heisman contender, but he suffered a foot injury in the Buckeyes season opener versus Youngstown State which caused him to miss three games and took the air out of his candidacy.
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7. Chris Gamble
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I do not claim to be a hardcore Buckeye fan, but Chris Gamble was without a doubt my favorite player on Ohio State’s 2002 national title team.
Gamble showed excellent versatility at Ohio State playing both cornerback and wide receiver. He also returned punts and kickoffs for the Buckeyes.
Chris was named a third team All-American and was selected as a first team All-Big Ten player as a junior in 2002. Gamble was selected by the Carolina Panthers with the 28th overall selection in the 2004 NFL draft.
Gamble will be remembered for his freakish athleticism and aforementioned versatility. I will best remember Chris Gamble for his pick-six interception of Penn State quarterback Zach Mills during the Buckeyes 2002 matchup versus the Nittany Lions.
6. Michael Jenkins
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Michael Jenkins was not overly flashy, but he simply produced time and time again for Ohio State.
Michael Jenkins was a member of Ohio State’s 2002 national title team. He served as quarterback Craig Krenzel’s No. 1 target at wide receiver. Jenkins also served as a kick returner for the Buckeyes.
He was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention as a senior. Jenkins also ranks eighth on the Big Ten’s all-time receiving yards list with 2,898 yards. Michael was a three-year starter at the school.
Michael Jenkins most endearing moment at the school was his “Holy Buckeye” catch in the fourth quarter of Ohio State’s victory versus Purdue.
Jenkins was selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the 29th pick in the 2004 NFL draft.
5. Malcolm Jenkins
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Cornerback Malcolm Jenkins gave Ohio State good production from his initial campaign as a freshman all the way up to his senior season in 2008.
Jenkins was a shutdown corner during his time with the Buckeyes. He had sure hands as well as good instincts and registered 11 career interceptions during his time with the school.
Malcolm Jenkins was named a first team All-American in 2008. He was also a first team All-Big Ten selection in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Jenkins was selected by the New Orleans Saints with the 14th overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft.
Malcolm Jenkins recently spoke out in favor of head coach Jim Tressel after wide receiver Ray Small spoke of widespread misconduct in an interview with Ohio State’s student newspaper the Lantern.
4. Troy Smith
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Troy Smith had an excellent career with the Buckeyes. Smith capped of his Buckeye career by winning the Heisman Trophy in 2006.
The dual-threat quarterback had the ability to make plays with both his arms and his legs. He threw for 2,542 yards, 30 touchdowns and only six interceptions in the aforementioned 2006 season.
Troy Smith led the Buckeyes to the 2007 BCS National Championship versus Florida, but Smith struggled against the Gators pass rush in the contest and had minimal success.
Troy Smith went under center for a talented Ohio State offense that featured Ted Ginn Jr. at wide receiver and a young Beanie Wells in the backfield.
Smith was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL draft.
3. Craig Krenzel
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Craig Krenzel never put up amazing statistics or received serious Heisman consideration, but no player was a more integral part of Ohio State’s 2002 national championship season than Krenzel.
He showed poise when the team appeared to be all but defeated and always seemed to come up with a big play in the clutch. His game-winning, fourth-down touchdown pass to Michael Jenkins against Purdue is simply incredible. That play has come to be known as the “Holy Buckeye” play in reference to Brent Musburger’s famous call.
As I said, Craig Krenzel did not have overwhelming physical talent, but you would be hard pressed to find a quarterback with better intangibles. Krenzel was a leader that simply refused to lose games.
Krenzel was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL draft.
2. A.J. Hawk
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A.J. Hawk is different than some of the other players on this list in that he did not come to Columbus as a highly touted prospect.
Hawk was constantly around the football though. Whether it was making tackles, forcing fumbles or picking off a pass, the linebacker was always in the middle of a play. A.J. Hawk was a big hitter, and his football instincts were top notch to say the least.
He had his best two seasons as an upperclassman in 2004 and 2005. Hawk finished sixth in the Heisman voting in 2005.
I do not have one specific moment that I remember A.J. Hawk by. He was one of the most productive linebackers that I have seen play on the college level, and he was a true leader for Ohio State’s defense at linebacker.
A.J. Hawk was drafted by the Green Bay Packers with the fifth overall selection in the 2006 NFL draft.
1. Mike Doss
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Mike Doss stayed all four years at Ohio State. He was a starter during his final three seasons at the school.
Mike Doss’ statistics and achievements are astounding. Doss accumulated 331 career tackles, eight interceptions, eight fumble recoveries and six sacks during his four-year collegiate career with the Buckeyes. He received All-Big Ten and All-American honors during his time at Ohio State.
Doss capped off his storied Buckeye career by helping lead Ohio State to the 2002 national championship as a senior. Doss was a safety on the squad.
Mike Doss was not just a Tressel great, but is remembered as one of the all-time great players in Ohio State history.
Doss was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round of the 2003 NFL draft.
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