After starting the Four Kings series with the quarterbacks this past weekend, we’re flipping to the other side of the ball to identify Ohio State’s four best linebackers of all-time this week. Once again, we’re turning to you to vote for who you think are the Buckeyes’ four best linebackers ever.

To help you out, we've listed 17 of Ohio State’s most accomplished linebackers with their career stats and awards. The list only includes Buckeyes who played a majority of their snaps at linebacker; for that reason, players who might have played linebacker in the NFL but not at Ohio State (such as Mike Vrabel) will not be on this list.

(Note: The tackles and defensive stats listed below are based on Ohio State's media guide and online stat books. The numbers may vary from other sites due to defensive stats possibly being edited after the conclusion of games.)

Ike Kelley (1963-65)

Kelley was a two-time All-American and All-Big Ten honoree and a captain of the 1965 Buckeyes. He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1966 NFL draft.

Randy Gradishar (1971-73)

The two-time All-American and three-time All-Big Ten honoree was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998. The Denver Broncos selected Gradishar with the 14th overall pick of the 1974 NFL draft.

Ed Thompson (1974-76)

Thompson was a captain, an All-Big Ten honoree and is ninth on Ohio State's career total tackles list. Thompson was selected by the New York Jets in the 1977 NFL draft.

Tom Cousineau (1975-78)

Was a team MVP, captain, two-time All-American and three-time All-Big Ten honoree. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016. The Buffalo Bills selected him with the first overall pick of the 1979 NFL draft. Cousineau is second on Ohio State’s all-time tackles list, holds the record for most solo tackles in a season (142) and a game (16) and the most assisted tackles in a season (102) and game (20).

Marcus Marek (1979-82)

Was an All-American, captain and three-time All-Big Ten honoree. He holds Ohio State’s all-time records for total tackles and assisted tackles in a career. Marek was selected in the inaugural USFL draft.

Pepper Johnson (1982-85)

Was an All-American, two-time captain and two-time All-Big Ten honoree. Johnson was selected by the New York Giants in the 1984 NFL draft. 

Eric Kumerow (1984-87)

Kumerow was an Ohio State captain, two-time All-Big Ten honoree and is fifth on Ohio State’s all-time sack list. He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the first round of the 1988 NFL draft.

Chris Spielman (1984-87)

The team MVP, captain, two-time All-American and three-time All-Big Ten honoree was also the Lombardi Award winner in 1987. Spielman holds the school record with 283 solo tackles and is third on Ohio State’s all-time tackles list. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009. The Detroit Lions selected Spielman in the second round of the 1988 NFL draft.

Steve Tovar (1989-92)

He was captain his senior year and was a two-time All-American and three-time All-Big Ten honoree. Tovar was the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year in 1992, led the team in tackles three times and is fourth on Ohio State’s all-time tackles list. The Cincinnati Bengals selected him in the 1993 NFL draft.

Lorenzo Styles (1992-94) 

The two-time All-Big Ten player led the Buckeyes in tackles twice and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1995 NFL draft.

Andy Katzenmoyer (1996-98)

Was an All-American, Butkus Award winner and three-time All-Big Ten honoree. Katzenmoyer leads all Ohio State linebackers with 50 tackles for loss for a career and 23 tackles for loss in a season (1996). He was honored as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year Award in 1996 and the Butkus Award in 1997 and was selected by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 1999 NFL draft.

Na’il Diggs (1996-99)

Diggs was an All-American and All-Big Ten honoree. The Green Bay Packers selected him in the 2000 NFL draft.

Matt Wilhelm (1999-02)

Earned All-American and All-Big Ten honors during the Buckeyes’ national title run in 2002. The San Diego Chargers selected Wilhelm in the 2003 NFL draft.

A.J. Hawk (2002-05)

Was the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year, Lombardi Award winner, the team MVP and captain in 2005. Hawk was also a two-time All-American and three-time All-Big Ten honoree. He is fifth on Ohio State’s all-time tackle list and was selected by the Packers with the fifth overall pick of the 2006 NFL draft. 

James Laurinaitis (2005-08)

The two-time captain was a three-time All-American and All-Big Ten honoree. Laurinaitis was named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year twice and also won the Bronko Nagurski Award (2006), Butkus Award (2007) and Lott Impact Trophy (2008). He was selected by the Rams in the 2009 NFL draft.

Ryan Shazier (2011-13)

Was named an All-American once and an All-Big Ten honoree twice. Shazier led the team in tackles twice and his 143 tackles in 2013 were the most by a Buckeye since Spielman had 156 in 1987. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 15th overall pick of the 2014 NFL draft.

Raekwon McMillan (2014-16)

The captain and two-time All-Big Ten honoree was selected by the Dolphins in the 2017 NFL draft.