There are 79 days that separate us from Ohio State's march to Blacksburg. To help pass the time until the Buckeyes put the Sandman to sleep I will countdown Ohio State's top 100 players according to the rubric* listed at the bottom of this article.

David Boston was a key member of the 1998 team. The '98 team is arguably Ohio State's best team not to win a title.

David Boston, WR (1996-1998)
Born: 1978 (Humble, TX)
High School: Humble

OHIO STATE CAREER

• The Buckeyes were 32-5 with Boston on the team.
• 1996 Big Ten Title.
• 1998 Big Ten Title.
• 1997 Defeated No. 4 Arizona State 20-17 to win the Rose Bowl.
• 1999 Defeated No. 8 Texas A&M 24-14 to win the Sugar Bowl.
• 1996 Defeated No. 5 Notre Dame (29-16) in South Bend and No. 4 Penn State (38-7) in Columbus in consecutive weeks.
• Defeated That Team 31-16 in 1998.

HONORS

• 1998 All-American.
• 1998 All-Big Ten.
• 1997 All-Big Ten.
• 1997 Academic All-Big Ten.
• 1999 Sugar Bowl MVP.

NFL DRAFT
Round 1 to the Arizona Cardinals with the 8th pick of the 1999 draft.

BOSTON'S OHIO STATE CAREER PER The Ohio State Team Guide:

In three seasons, David Boston set or tied 12 Ohio State receiving records, including most receptions (191), yards (2,855) and touchdowns (34) in a career and most receptions (85) and yards (1,435) in a season (1998). His records also included most 100-yard receiving games in a career (13) and season (8 in 1998).

In 1998, he earned first team All-America honors. But what separated him from other receivers in OSU history is the way he stood out in big games. With 19 seconds left to play in the 1997 Rose Bowl, he caught the game-winning touchdown.

In the 1998 Michigan game, he torched the Wolverines with 10 receptions for 231 yards and two touchdowns. He capped off his career by being named MVP of the 1999 Sugar Bowl.

The Humble, Texas, native played eight seasons in the NFL.

I remember David Boston as a go-to receiver for Joe Germaine and Stanley Jackson.

Unfortunately, I also remember him talking smack before The Game and paying the price for it. The picture of Boston getting flipped is what comes to mind when I think about the Cooper years and The Game.

Fortunately Boston was also part of one of my favorite Ohio State moments the season before:

In the 1998 edition of The Game Boston made up for his performance in 1997.
He torched the Wolverines with 10 receptions for 231 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Boston went on to play eight seasons in the NFL.

For more information on Boston and other players who wore No. 9:

Sources- The Ohio State Team Guide and Wikipedia

ALL PLAYERS COVERED TO DATE