Ohio State Football: Buckeyes All-Time NFL Defensive Unit

Ohio State has long been one of college football's most dominant programs, and stout defense has always been a key to the Buckeyes' success.

Countless OSU defenders have gone on to enjoy successful NFL careers, but some have stood out more than others.

Here's a look at Ohio State's best all time NFL defenders at each position.

Defensive End: Will Smith

Since being selected in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints' Will Smith has been a force at defensive end.

A one-time Pro Bowler and a 2009 Super Bowl champion, Smith has recorded 59.5 sacks and forced 19 fumbles in his eight NFL seasons.

In 2009, his best season to date, Smith recorded 13 sacks, establishing himself as one of the most feared pass-rushers in the game.

He was a monster in his days as a Buckeye, and he's still a top-tier defensive end today.

Defensive End: Jim Marshall

Jim Marshall will forever be known for his notorious "Wrong Way Run" (a play in which he scooped up a fumble and returned it 66 yards into his own end zone), but he was actually a great defensive end in his time.

Marshall was a member of Minnesota's famed "Purple People Eaters" unit, a dominant defensive line that terrorized opposing quarterbacks.

He was also one of the most durable players ever, appearing in 282 consecutive games from 1960-1979.

Other Defensive Ends Considered: Keith Ferguson, Alonzo Spellman

Defensive Tackle: Ryan Pickett

Ohio State has not produced many notable NFL defensive tackles over the years, but Green Bay's Ryan Pickett is in his 11th NFL season and has had a relatively solid professional career.

Since being selected by St. Louis in the first round of the 2001 draft, Pickett has recorded nearly 500 tackles, including 9.5 sacks.

More notably, he won his first career Super Bowl with the Packers just last season.

Defensive Tackle: Dan Wilkinson

The first overall pick in the 1994 NFL Draft, Dan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson came out of Ohio State as one of the most highly-touted defensive line prospects of all time.

While some view him as one of the biggest busts in draft history, Wilkinson was a 13-year veteran and had several respectable seasons in his years with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Wilkinson played in 195 NFL games, racking up 301 total tackles and 54.5 career sacks.

Linebacker: Chris Spielman

Before Chris Spielman was a college football analyst, he was an Ohio State legend and an 11-year NFL veteran.

In eight seasons with the Detroit Lions, two more with Buffalo, and a short-lived campaign in Cleveland, Spielman recorded 1,181 total tackles and was a four-time Pro Bowler.

In the prime of his career, Spielman led Detroit in tackles for eight consecutive years, and only twice did he record less than 100 tackles in a season.

Not too shabby.

Linebacker: A.J. Hawk

AJ Hawk's tenacious play and flowing golden locks made him a fan favorite in his time at Ohio State, and he has become a heck of a player at the next level as well.

At just 27 years of age, Hawk has already recorded 545 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and eight interceptions through six seasons.

If that isn't impressive enough, he's also been a Pro Bowl selection and is a Super Bowl champion.

Linebacker: Randy Gradishar

Woody Hayes once called Randy Gradishar "the best linebacker that [he] had ever coached"—and that was just college ball.

Gradishar played for the Denver Broncos from 1974-1983 and is highly regarded as one of Denver's all-time greats.

As a member of the "Orange Crush" defense, he racked up 2,049 tackles, 20 interceptions, and 20 sacks over his career.

He was also a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and earned the 1978 Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Other Linebackers Considered: Jim Houston, Mike Vrabel 

Cornerback: Nate Clements

Nate Clements, who left Ohio State a year early to declare for the 2001 NFL Draft, has been a top-tier NFL corner for the majority of his 11-year career.

One of the highest-paid defensive players of all time, Clements has recorded 602 career tackles and 33 career interceptions.

While he is no longer the shutdown corner of his younger years, Clements is still finding success today as the No. 2 cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals .

Cornerback: Dick Lebeau

Dick Lebeau will always be known for his brilliance as an NFL coach, but he was an awfully good NFL player as well.

As a member of the Detroit Lions from 1959-1972, Lebeau intercepted 62 passes and was one of the league's most talented defensive backs. He was also a three-time Pro Bowler.

Other Cornerbacks Considered: Shawn Springs, Antoine Winfield

Strong Safety: Todd Bell

Todd Bell played in the NFL from 1981-1989 and was selected to the '84 Pro Bowl.

Known mostly for his days as as a Chicago Bear, Bell's legacy is marred only by the fact that he sat out during the Bears' 1985 Super Bowl season because of a contract dispute.

Other Strong Safeties Considered: Mike Doss, Donte Whitner

Free Safety: Jack Tatum

Simply put, Jack Tatum was one of the scariest men to ever play the game of football.

Known as "The Assassin" from his knack for delivering vicious hits, Tatum was named to three consecutive Pro Bowls from 1973-1975.

Sadly, he passed away in July of 2010.

Other Free Safeties Considered: Doug Plank, Tim Fox