Buckeyes on College Football Hall of Fame Ballot – Ohio State Buckeyes
6/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
June 2, 2015
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Three Ohio State Buckeye greats – RB Keith Byars, LB Tom Cousineau and FB Jim Otis – and one former player who is being considered for his coaching expertise – Rudy Hubbard – have advanced past the district screening stage and are on the 2016 College Football Hall of Fame ballot for possible induction.
The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today the names on the 2016 ballot. The announcement of the 2016 class, including the players and coaches from both the Football Bowl Division and the divisional ranks, will be made Friday, Jan. 8 in Scottsdale, Ariz., at the media hotel for those covering the 2016 College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship Game.
Byars (1982-85), from Dayton, Ohio, was a unanimous first-team All-American and Heisman Trophy runner-up who led the nation in rushing (1,764), all-purpose yards (2,441) and scoring (144) in 1984. He was the 1984 Big Ten MVP and was a two-time All-Big Ten selection. He ranks fifth all-time at Ohio State with 4,369 career all-purpose yards and fifth with 3,200 career rushing yards.
Cousineau (1975-78), from Fairview Park, Ohio, was a two-time consensus first-team All-American and three-time All-Big Ten performer. He recorded 572 career tackles, ranking second all-time in OSU history, and he held nine school records at career’s end. Cousineau was the first Buckeye to be selected No. 1 in the NFL Draft when Buffalo chose him with its first pick in 1979.
Otis (1967-69), from Celina, Ohio, was named a consensus first-team All-American in 1969 and was a member of Ohio State’s 1968 national championship team. He was also named first-team All-Big Ten Conference in 1969 and led the Buckeyes to two Big Ten titles, in 1968 and 1969. Ohio State’s rushing leader for three consecutive years, Otis finished his career with 2,542 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns.
Hubbard (1965-67) was from Hubbard, Ohio and was a three-year letterman for Hayes. Hubbard spent six seasons as an assistant before moving on to the head coach position at Florida A&M. His 12-year career as FAMU head coach (1974-85) included winning the inaugural NCAA Division I-AA national title plus two black college championships while posting a record of 83-48-3 (.631).
Ohio State has had 24 players inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and 11 former coaches, including Jim Tressel, who will be enshrined this December.
Ohio State Buckeyes in the National Football Foundation & College FB Hall of Fame
| PLAYER | POSITION | AT OSU | INDUCTED |
| Orlando Pace | Left Tackle | 1994-96 | 2014 |
| Eddie George | Running Back | 1992-95 | 2012 |
| Chris Spielman | Linebacker | 1984-87 | 2009 |
| Rex Kern | Quarterback | 1968-70 | 2007 |
| Jim Houston | End | 1957-58 | 2005 |
| Jack Tatum | Defensive Back | 1968-70 | 2004 |
| John Hicks | Tackle | 1970, ’72-73 | 2001 |
| Randy Gradishar | Linebacker | 1971-73 | 1998 |
| Bob Ferguson | Fullback | 1959-61 | 1996 |
| Jim Stillwagon | Middle Guard | 1968-70 | 1991 |
| Aurealius Thomas | Guard | 1955-57 | 1989 |
| Archie Griffin | Tailback | 1972-75 | 1986 |
| Warren Amling | Guard/Tackle | 1944-46 | 1984 |
| Howard Cassady | Halfback | 1952-55 | 1979 |
| Gomer Jones | Center | 1934-35 | 1978 |
| Jim Daniel | Tackle | 1939-41 | 1977 |
| Vic Janowicz | Halfback | 1949-51 | 1976 |
| Gust Zarnas | Guard | 1935-37 | 1975 |
| Jim Parker | Guard | 1954-56 | 1974 |
| G. Stinchcomb | Halfback | 1917-20 | 1973 |
| Bill Willis | Tackle | 1942-44 | 1971 |
| Les Horvath | Quarterback | 1940-42, 44 | 1969 |
| Wes Fesler | End | 1928-30 | 1954 |
| Chic Harley | Halfback | 1916-17, 19 | 1951 |
| COACHES | POSITION | AT OSU | INDUCTED |
| Jim Tressel* | Head Coach | 2001-2010 | 2015 |
| John Cooper | Head Coach | 1988-2000 | 2008 |
| Lou Holtz | Assistant Coach | 1968 | 2008 |
| Earle Bruce | Head Coach | 1979-1987 | 2002 |
| Sid Gillman | Assistant Coach | 1941 | 1989 |
| Doyt Perry | Assistant Coach | 1951-54 | 1988 |
| Woody Hayes | Head Coach | 1951-78 | 1983 |
| Ernie Godfrey | Assistant Coach | 1929-61 | 1972 |
| Francis Schmidt | Head Coach | 1934-40 | 1971 |
| John Wilce | Head Coach | 1913-28 | 1954 |
| Howard Jones | Head Coach | 1910 | 1951 |
*December enshrinement
