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Football
25 Years of Buckeye Icons
Installment Two, 40 through 31
By Tony Gerdeman

[Editor's Note: This is part two of a five-part series in which Tony Gerdeman will count down the top-50 Buckeye football Icons of the last 25 years.]

Installment One - 50 through 41

(40) Steve Tovar, MLB (All-American 1991, 1992)

Following Chris Spielman's graduation, the inside linebacker spot at Ohio State was fairly quiet for a few years—until Tovar emerged as a sophomore. After that, the middle linebacker spot at Ohio State once again became a position of note for over a decade. Tovar led the team in tackles for three straight seasons—something that Spielman, Pepper Johnson, Tom Cousineau and Randy Gradishar were never able to do.

(39) Will Allen, S (All-American 2003)

Will Allen stops T. A. McClendon just short of the goal-line in overtime.
Photo by Jim Davidson

Allen continued a four-year stretch of Buckeye All-Americans at safety and stepped in remarkably well for the departed Mike Doss. He will always be remembered for his game-clinching interception against Michigan in 2002 and his goal-line stop of T.A. McClendon in 2003. The epitome of a player having his best-ever season as a senior, he earned All-American honors in his only season as a starter. Just a remarkably solid defender.

(38) Anthony Gonzalez, WR (All-Big Ten 2006)

“Smith dances away from trouble...on the ruuuuunnnn...caught by Gonzalez!!!” That play was responsible for my highest vertical since the final play in the Miami game. Gonzo was an unwinnable matchup in the slot against most defenses—especially Michigan's. His 30-yard touchdown catch against Iowa that saw him catch the ball at the 25-yard line, then run to the 13-yard line before retreating to the 19-yard line, then beat the Hawkeyes down the sideline for the touchdown is one for the ages. Oh, and his touchdown to open the game against Michigan in 2004 was the first of many wounds inflicted by Troy Smith against the Wolverines. You might say that Gonzo “loosened the lid”.

Anthony Gonzalez races to the endzone in the 2004 Michigan game to "loosen the lid".
Photo by Jim Davidson

(37) Raymont Harris, RB

Owner of two of the best Buckeye nicknames of all-time: “The Ultra Back” and “The Quiet Storm”, and he lived up to both of them. Watching him run the ball wearing number 34...that's how a running back was supposed to look. Was part of an amazing stable of backs in 1992 with Robert Smith, Eddie George and Butler By'not'e. Still one of my favorite Buckeyes of all-time.

(36) Robert Smith, RB

Smith never made first-team All-Conference or All-American, but he was the first Buckeye freshman to ever rush for 1,000 yards in a season when he debuted with 1,126 yards in 1990. He was a star from the get-go. He had his issues while a Buckeye, but there were few better-looking strides turning a corner in Scarlet and Gray than Smith's lengthy gait. He gets fairly criticized for his issues, but it was hard to criticize what he was able to do on the field.

(35) Joe Germaine, QB (All-Big Ten 1998)

Joe Cool. After splitting snaps for two seasons, 1998 was the year all Buckeye fans were looking forward to—all Germaine, all the time. He didn't disappoint. The second-best Buckeye quarterback I've ever seen. And the quarterback of the most talented Buckeye team I've ever seen.

(34) Antonio Pittman, RB (All-Big Ten 2006)

Antonio Pittman leaves the Michigan defense in the dust on his way to the endzone in 2006.
Photo by Jim Davidson

As underrated as a Buckeye running back could be. Even after rushing for 1,331 yards as a sophomore in 2005, the best he could do was land on the Honorable Mention All-Big Ten list. He rushed for 100 yards 15 times in his career—only two fewer than Keith Byars. He'll always be remembered for his long runs against Michigan and Notre Dame, and I still say had the Buckeyes relied on Pittman much, much more against Florida, things would have fared much, much better for them.

(33) LeCharles Bentley, C (All-American 2001, Rimington Trophy 2001)

The first Buckeye center in 15 years to be named first team All-Big Ten. He became the standard-bearer for those who would follow, and essentially started a legacy of high-quality centers at Ohio State (Alex Stepanovich, Nick Mangold, Doug Datish and Michael Brewster).

(32) Joe Montgomery, RB

I think he could have been the best running back to ever play at Ohio State had he not had to deal with injuries, grades and position changes. Ran tough, strong, fast and angry. A shorter, more severely injury-prone Beanie Wells.

(31) Nick Mangold, C (All-American 2005)

Nick Mangold
Photo by Jim Davidson

A quick learner and a calming influence for most of his career. Some former Buckeyes will tell you that the 2005 Ohio State offense was hands-down better than the 2006 offense—and it's mainly because of Mangold. Failed to make first-team All-Big Ten in his career, however, thanks to Minnesota's Greg Eslinger.

Tomorrow - 30 through 21

Installment One - 50 through 41

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