To date, we have covered quarterbacks, linebackers, centers/guards, defensive ends, wide receivers, offensive tackles and cornerbacks. This week, we put the spotlight on Ohio State’s greatest tight ends.

To help you out, we've listed 27 of Ohio State’s most accomplished tight ends with a description of their storied careers.

Wes Fesler (1928-30)

Fesler was the second three-time All-American, a three-time All-Big Ten honoree, a captain and the Big Ten and team MVP of the 1930 season.

Fesler was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954, Ohio State's Varsity "O" Hall of Fame in 1977 and was voted onto the Ohio State All-Century Team. He served as Ohio State’s head coach from 1947-50.

Fesler's Career Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
NA	NA	NA	NA

Sid Gillman (1931-33)

Gillman was an All-American and All-Big Ten honoree as a junior and was a team captain his senior season. He was inducted into Ohio State's Varsity "O" Hall of Fame in 1981.

After Ohio State, Gillman went on to become a legendary coach in both college football and the NFL. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989.

Gillman's Career Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
NA	NA	NA	NA

Merle Wendt (1934-36)

A captain during his senior season, Wendt was a three-time All-American and three-time All-Big Ten honoree. The Green Bay Packers selected Wendt in the sixth round of the 1937 NFL Draft. In 1981, he was inducted into Ohio State's Varsity "O" Hall of Fame and was later voted onto the Ohio State All-Century Team.

Wendt's Career Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
NA	NA	NA	NA

Esco Sarkkinen (1937-39)

Sarkkinen was an All-American and All-Big Ten honoree in 1939. In 1940, he was selected by the Packers in the fifth round of the 1940 NFL Draft. Sarkkinen was inducted into Ohio State's Varsity "O" Hall of Fame in 1980 and voted onto the Ohio State All-Century Team.

Sarkkinen's Career Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
NA	NA	NA	NA

Bob Shaw (1941-42)

Shaw was an All-American and All-Big Ten honoree in 1942 and was selected by the Rams in the 1944 NFL Draft. Shaw was inducted into Ohio State's Varsity "O" Hall of Fame in 1996 and voted onto the Ohio State All-Century Team.

Shaw's Stats (1942)

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
17	474	27.9	3

Cy Souders (1942-46)

Souders was an All-American and All-Big Ten end in 1946. The Redskins selected Souders in the 25th round of the 1945 NFL Draft. He was inducted into Ohio State's Varsity "O" Hall of Fame in 2002.

Souders' Career Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
14	211	15.1	1

Bob Grimes (1950-52)

Grimes holds the program record for receiving yards by a tight end in a game with 187 against Washington State in 1952. He is also tied for the most receptions in a game by a tight end with 12 against Pittsburgh in the same year. His 39 receptions in 1952 are the fifth-most in school history by a tight end in a single season.

Grimes' Career Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
50	755	15.1	8

Dean Dugger (1952-54)

An All-American and All-Big Ten honoree as a senior, Dugger was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 1955 NFL Draft. He was inducted into Ohio State's Varsity "O" Hall of Fame in 1979.

Dugger's Career Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
33	440	13.3	2

Chuck Bryant (1959-61)

With nine career receiving touchdowns, Bryant is tied for fourth all-time among Ohio State tight ends. He also ranks eighth among tight ends with 759 career receiving yards. Bryant was selected by the Cardinals in the third round of the 1962 NFL Draft.

Bryant's Stats (1960-61)

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
32	606	18.9	9

Billy Anders (1965-67)

A captain of the 1967 Buckeyes, Anders' 12 receptions against Washington in 1966 is tied for the program record for catches by a tight end in a single game. He also holds the record for most receptions by a tight end in a season with 55 in 1966 and is second on the career receiving yards list by a tight end with 1,218.

Anders' Career Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
108	1,318	12.2	6

Bruce Jankowski (1968-70)

Jankowski is third on Ohio State's career receiving yards list for a tight end (967) and fifth on the career receptions list for a tight end (66). He was selected in the 10th round of the 1971 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Jankowski's Career Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
66	967	14.7	9

Jan White (1968-70)

An All-American and team captain as a senior, White was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 1971 NFL Draft. He was inducted into Ohio State's Varsity "O" Hall of Fame in 1988 and voted onto the Ohio State All-Century Team.

White's Career Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
61	762	12.5	8

Doug France (1972-74)

France was an All-Big Ten honoree at tight end his senior year. Although he played tight end for the Buckeyes, France was selected in the first round of the 1975 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams as an offensive tackle.

France's Career Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
8	140	17.5	1

Jimmy Moore (1975-78)

Earned All-Big Ten honors as a junior and was selected in the sixth round of the 1979 NFL Draft as an offensive tackle by the Baltimore Colts.

Moore's Career Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
11	152	13.8	2

John Frank (1980-83)

A two-time All-Big Ten honoree and a captain for the 1983 season, Frank holds Ohio State's career records for tight ends with 121 receptions and 1,481 career receiving yards.

Frank was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 1984 NFL Draft. He was inducted into Ohio State's Varsity "O" Hall of Fame in 1998 and voted onto the Ohio State All-Century Team.

Frank's Career Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
121	1,481	12.2	9

Ed Taggart (1983-86)

An All-Big Ten honoree as a senior, Taggart ranks fifth on Ohio State's all-time tight ends list with 57 career receptions.

Taggart's Career Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
57	575	10.1	3

Jeff Ellis (1987-91)

Ellis ranks third among Ohio State tight ends with 70 career receptions and fourth with 863 career receiving yards. 

Ellis' Career Receiving Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
70	863	12.3	5

Cedric Saunders (1990-93)

Saunders was a captain as a senior and ranks fourth for career receptions (68) and fifth for career receiving yards by a tight end (853).

Saunders' Career Receiving Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
68	853	12.5	1

Rickey Dudley (1994-95)

An All-Big Ten honoree during his final season in Columbus, Dudley was selected by the Raiders with the ninth overall pick of the 1996 NFL Draft. He is the only Buckeye tight end to ever be selected in the first round.

Dudley's Career Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
46	681	14.8	9

John Lumpkin (1996-98)

Lumpkin ranks third in Ohio State history for career touchdowns by a tight end (10) and ninth for career receiving yards (757).

Lumpkins' Career Receiving Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
46	757	16.5	10

Darnell Sanders (1997-01)

Sanders is third on Ohio State's all-time record list for career touchdowns by a tight end (9). The Cleveland Browns selected him in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL Draft.

Sanders' Career Receiving Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
41	460	11.3	9

Ben Hartsock (2000-03)

A member of the 2002 national championship team, Hartsock was an All-Big Ten honoree as a senior. He is seventh on the all-time receptions list for a tight end (58) and was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft.

Hartsock's Career Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
57	515	9.0	5

Jake Stoneburner (2009-12)

Stoneburner holds Ohio State’s program record for career touchdown catches by a tight end with 13.

Stoneburner's Career Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
53	714	13.5	13

Jeff Heuerman (2011-14)

Heuerman was an All-Big Ten honoree and a captain of the team as a senior. He finished his career ranked sixth in program history in career receiving yards by a tight end (792). The Denver Broncos selected Heuerman in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

Heuerman's Career Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
52	792	15.2	7

Nick Vannett (2012-15)

Vannett is tied for ninth in career receptions by a tight end (55) and was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Vannett's Career Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
55	585	10.6	6

Marcus Baugh (2014-17)

Baugh is tied for ninth in career receptions by a tight end (55) and is tied for eighth in career touchdowns (8).

Baugh's Career Receiving Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
55	607	11.0	8

Jeremy Ruckert (2018-21)

Ruckert finished his Ohio State career with 12 receiving touchdowns, good for second in school history. The New York Jets selected Ruckert in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Ruckert's Career Stats

Receptions	Yards	Avg.	TDs
54	615	11.8	12