
Headed Towards Canton!

Buckeyes in Canton
Dick Lebeau was a Pro Bowl NFL star and is also regarded as one of the greatest defensive
masterminds as a coach.
The Big 10 power is a leader in Pro Football Hall of Fame Members
Few colleges can match the presence that the Buckeyes have in Canton and more appear to be headed to the Hall soon.
Ohio State Buckeyes in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
With eight former players enshrined in Canton, the University ranks in the top echelon of college programs that have produced the NFL all-time best.

Most Decorated
Of all Ohio State players who have impacted the NFL, Jim Parker's accomplishments
continue to stand tall.

 "All he does is catch touchdowns."  That's a phrase that will forever be linked to this former Buckeye who was drafted by Philadelphia in the 1987 supplemental draft.  Carter was an 8-time Pro Bowl selection and a two-time First-team All-Pro in his career that spanned 16 seasons for the Eagles, Vikings and Dolphins.  With his 2013 inclusion into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Carter became the 8th Buckeye to gain the honor.

Orlando Pace became the first
Buckeye to be selected first in
the NFL Draft when the Rams
picked him in 1997.
The 1995 Heisman winner was selected in the first round of the '96 draft by the Houston Oilers. Â In nine seasons, George surpassed the 1,000-yard mark seven times and surpassed the 10,000 career rushing mark. Â
Sid Gillman:
Inducted in 1983. Although he played only on pro season, (1936 Cleveland Rams), Gilliam is known as an innovator who helped develop the deep passing game that still thrives today. Â Gilliam also won the 1963 AFL Championship as a head coach and mentored

A "Super" Star
Santonio Holmes won Super Bowl XLIII MVP honors with a
tremendous receiving performance that included a 6-yard TD reception with 35 seconds left in the game.
The clutch catch enabled
Pittsburgh to defeat Arizona.
Further boosting Holmes' MVP
credentials were his overall 9
receptions for 131 yards and a
score. Four of those catches came
in the Steelers last-minute winning drive.
Randy Gradishar:
After earning All-American honors for OSU in 1972 and '73, Gradishar was drafted by the Denver Broncos with the overall 14th selection of the 1974 NFL Draft. Â The LB was a 5-time First Team All-Pro selection and was the 1978 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Lou Groza Award
Since 1992, college football's top placekicker has received this award named after the former Buckeye.
Inducted in 1974. Following his one season as a Buckeye, Groza served a stint in the Army before joining the Cleveland Browns in 1946. Â Known as the "Toe", Groza played and incredible 21 years. Â Although he briefly retired for one season (1960), Groza played through 1967. Â Groza earned a place on the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team primarily as a kicker, but he also played offensive tackle (6-time All-Pro) for the Browns. Â Overall he was a 9-time All-Pro. The award that goes to the top collegiate placekicker is named in his honor.
Dante Lavelli:
Inducted in 1975. Â Not only was Lavelli regarded as a hero on the gridiron, but the former Buckeye and Cleveland Brown was a World War II veteran who landed at Omaha Beach and was in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Follwing his military service, Lavelli joined Cleveland for the 1946 season and played with the franchise for 11 seasons. Â Known as "Gluefingers", the wide receiver was named to the NFL 1940s All-Decade Team.


"The Toe"
Lou Groza led the NFL in field
goals made six separate
seasons.
Inducted in 2010. Â After being selected by Cleveland with in the 5th round of the 1959 NFL Draft (58th overall), Lebeau emerged as one of the top interception leaders of all-time with 62 picks through his 14-season career with the Detroit Lions. Â LeBeau is also regarded as one of the greatest defensive minds of all time as a NFL defensive coach for more than 3 decades.
Nick Mangold:
Since being drafted in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the NY Jets, Mangold has not only been a fixture at center, but one of the league's top linemen. Â Through the 2011 season, Mangold had earned All-Pro honors in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

The Assissan
Know as one of the hardest hitters
in NFL history, Jack Tatum was
drafted by the Raiders in the 1st
round of the 1971 draft (19th
overall) by the Raiders. Tatum
earned 3 Pro Bowls while totaling
37 Int's from 1971-1980

After being the first selection of the 1997 NFL Draft, Orlando Pace was a 5-time All-Pro and a member of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team. Â Pace played all but one season for St. Louis before retiring in 2009 after one season with the Bears.
Jim Parker:
Inducted in 1973. Â After a Buckeye career that saw Parker earn All-American honors and the 1956 Outland Trophy, Parker was drafted by the Baltimore Colts with the 8th overall selection of the 1958 NFL Draft. Â Parker was a 10-time All-Pro selection in his 11-year career and was named to the NFL 1050s All-Decade Team and the NFL's 75th All-time Team.

NFL TD Leader
Paul Warfield led the NFL in
receiving TD's in 1968 with
Cleveland (12) and 1971 as a
Dolphin (11).
Inducted in 2011. Â Co-founder of NFL films
Paul Warfield:
Inducted in 1983. Â After being a two-time All-Big halfback, Warfield excelled as a wide receiver during 14 pro seasons that saw him

Bill Willis:
Inducted in 1977. Â Following his collegiate career that saw Willis end All-America honors as a lineman, he joined the Cleveland Browns in 1946. Â Willis was an All-Pro selection for all 8 of his pro seasons and is a member of the NFL 1940s All-Decade Team.
