Hall of Fame Inductees
Pace, Orlando
Orlando Pace
- Induction:
- 2011
Football 1994-96
Orlando Pace, a two-time first team All-American and two-time All-Big Ten selection, started in every game for the Buckeyes between the 1994-1996 campaigns. During his time at Ohio State, Pace became one of the most dominant offensive linemen ever to play the game. Playing one of the most challenging positions in football, Pace did not allow a sack in either of his last two years. He was known for his famous “Pancake Block” his junior year, finishing the season with 80 of those (knocking his defender to the ground and on his back). He redefined the role of an offensive lineman with his amazing downfield blocking. In 1995, he made college football history by becoming the first sophomore to win the Lombardi Award. As a junior, he again made history by becoming the first two-time winner of the trophy. Pace also was awarded the Outland Trophy and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 1996 – the highest finish by a lineman since a second-place finish by Ohio State’s John Hicks in 1973. Pace was the Football News Offensive Player of the Year in 1996 and received the Chicago Tribune’s Silver Football as the Most Valuable Player in the Big Ten. As a freshman, Pace was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1995 and 1996. The native of Sandusky, Ohio, also was a finalist for the Maxwell Award in 1996. Pace was selected by his teammates as Ohio State’s MVP in 1996 after leading the squad to a co-Big Ten championship and a 20-17 victory over Arizona State in the 1997 Rose Bowl.After his three years at Ohio State, Pace entered the 1997 NFL Draft and was selected first overall by the St. Louis Rams – becoming the third Buckeye in program history to be taken No. 1 overall. The five-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection played in 13 seasons in the NFL, including 12 with the Rams, which was highlighted by a Super Bowl ring in 1999 after the Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV.
Orlando Pace, a two-time first team All-American and two-time All-Big Ten selection, started in every game for the Buckeyes between the 1994-1996 campaigns. During his time at Ohio State, Pace became one of the most dominant offensive linemen ever to play the game. Playing one of the most challenging positions in football, Pace did not allow a sack in either of his last two years. He was known for his famous “Pancake Block” his junior year, finishing the season with 80 of those (knocking his defender to the ground and on his back). He redefined the role of an offensive lineman with his amazing downfield blocking. In 1995, he made college football history by becoming the first sophomore to win the Lombardi Award. As a junior, he again made history by becoming the first two-time winner of the trophy. Pace also was awarded the Outland Trophy and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 1996 – the highest finish by a lineman since a second-place finish by Ohio State’s John Hicks in 1973. Pace was the Football News Offensive Player of the Year in 1996 and received the Chicago Tribune’s Silver Football as the Most Valuable Player in the Big Ten. As a freshman, Pace was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1995 and 1996. The native of Sandusky, Ohio, also was a finalist for the Maxwell Award in 1996. Pace was selected by his teammates as Ohio State’s MVP in 1996 after leading the squad to a co-Big Ten championship and a 20-17 victory over Arizona State in the 1997 Rose Bowl.After his three years at Ohio State, Pace entered the 1997 NFL Draft and was selected first overall by the St. Louis Rams – becoming the third Buckeye in program history to be taken No. 1 overall. The five-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection played in 13 seasons in the NFL, including 12 with the Rams, which was highlighted by a Super Bowl ring in 1999 after the Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV.
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