We are now down to single digits until the start of Ohio State's 2018 season. 91 days down and only 9 to go.

After yesterday's marathon deliberation, and last night's crap fest of a press conference, I'm wishing the season started tomorrow to get Urban Meyer's suspension over with as quickly as possible. #getitoverwith

Below, you will find a list of the 33 players who have worn No. 9 for Ohio State since 1934. Today's featured players are Don Scott, Ed Thompson, David Boston, Donte Whitner and Brian Hartline.

Players Who Wore No. 9 At Ohio State

PLAYER	WORN	B1G MVP	TEAM MVP	AA	CAPT.	1R NFL	ALL B1G	AC AA	NFL DRAFT	AC B1G	LETTER
Richard Beltz	1934-35										1934-35
William Booth	1936										1936
Don Scott	1938-40			1939, 1940		1941	1939, 1940				1938-40
James Nein*	1967										1967
Bob Murphy	1972-73
Ed Thompson	1974-76				1976		1975		1977		1974-76
Alvin Taylor	1978										1978
Gary Alders	1981-82, 1984										1981-82, 1984
Tim Marsh	1984
Tom Bolyard	1985-86
Mike Morton*	1987
Jason Frank	1988-90
Tito Paul	1991-94								1995		1991-94
Josh Jackson*	1993-94									1993, 1994	1994
Steve Baird*	1995										1995
Heath Knisely*	1996										1996
Garrett Shea	1996
David Boston	1996-98			1998		1999	1997, 1998			1997	1996-98
Ricky Bryant	1999-2001										2000-01
Raheem Shabazz	2000-01
Bryan Weaver	2002									2002
Justin Zwick*	2002
Donte Whitner	2003-05			2005		2006	2005				2003-05
Brent Ullery*	2005
Robert Rose	2006-09										2006-09
Brian Hartline*	2006-08								2009	2006, 2007, 2008	2006-08
Duron Carter	2009										2009
Adam Griffin	2010-12										2012
Verlon Reed	2011-12										2011
JT Moore*	2013
Devin Smith*	2013-14								2015		2013-14
Tim Scott*	2014										2014
Jashon Cornell	2015-18
Binjamen Victor	2016-18										2017-18

*Wore another number at Ohio State
Did not earn a varsity letter while wearing No. 9

Don Scott, HB/QB (1938-1940)
High School: Canton McKinley
Died: 1943 (England)

Ohio State
The Buckeyes were 14-9-1 with Scott on the team.
1939 Big Ten Title.

Honors
1939 All-American.
1939 All-Big Ten.
1940 All-American.
1940 All-Big Ten.
1943 Ohio State's airport is re-named Don Scott Airport.
1988 Inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame.
2000 Named to the Ohio State All-Century Team.
Stark County High School Hall of Fame.
Canton City School's track is named after Scott.

Scott's Ohio State career per ohiostatebuckeyes.com:

A two-time All-American, Don Scott was the first Ohio State quarterback to earn such an honor. On the football field, he was considered one of the most talented and versatile players in OSU's history. Coach Esco Sarkkinen credits him with superbly masterminding the undisputed 1939 Big Ten Championship team. Scott also played on the 1939 basketball team that won the Big Ten and played in the first ever NCAA finals. 

Scott also played baseball and track for Ohio State.

Scott had to decide between the NFL and WWII per Wikipedia:

Scott was ninth overall selection in the 1941 NFL Draft. He was selected by the Chicago Bears. Scott decided to volunteer to fight in the war in Europe.

Scott had participated in the Civilian Pilot Training Program, sponsored by the Civil Aeronautics Administration, while at Ohio State. When he entered the United States Army Air Forces it was as a commissioned pilot.

Scott and WWII per library.osu.edu:

When World War II broke out, many OSU students immediately signed up to join in the fight, suspending their studies for a much greater cause. Probably none of them was more well-known than Don Scott, the archetypical Big Man on Campus.

[...]

After enlisting, by May 1941, Scott, along with other OSU athletes were stationed in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for Air Corps Training Detachment. By October, Scott had completed training and had advanced to get his wings and commission in the Army Air Corps. He was eventually promoted to a Captain.

Unfortunately, on October 1, 1943, at the age of 23, Scott was killed in a bomber crash over England. This marked the 100th alumnus or former student to give his life in World War II. One week after his death, on October 8, his wife gave birth to their child, Don Sands Scott.

The creation of Don Scott Field:

Soon after Scott’s death, President Bevis presented a resolution to the Board of Trustees that read, in part:

[Scott] was one of the nation’s great athletes; he was a sportsman in the finest sense of that term; he was a thorough gentleman, beloved by all who knew him; his life brought great credit to his alma mater. … As a fitting commemoration … I desire to propose to this Board that the airfield now owned and operated by the University be designated ‘Don Scott Field.’

The board approved the resolution and the newly named Don Scott Field was used by the Navy until the end of the war, when OSU transferred its focus to a civilian aviation curriculum.

Ed Thompson, LB (1974-1976)
High School: Glenwood

Ohio State
The Buckeyes were 30-5-1 with Thompson on the team.
1974 Big Ten Title.
1975 Big Ten Title.
1976 Big Ten Title.
1977 Defeated Colorado 27-10 to win the Orange Bowl.
Went 2-1 against That Team, 1974 (12-10) and 1975 (21-14).

Honors
1976 Captain.
1975 All-Big Ten.

Thompson's senior bio per The Ohio State Team Guide:

6-1, 221...from Waverly, Ohio...Defensive captain this year...led the team in tackles last season with 126...stopped opponent backs for a loss six times and broke up six passes...plays both linebacker positions and is expected to start on the boundary side.

Started all 12 games for Ohio State last year for a total of 301.5 minutes...a first team all-Big Ten linebacker in 1975.

Was an all-Ohio football and basketball standout at Glenwood High in New Boston...won 14 high school letters in four sports...played quarterback and linebacker at Glenwood High.

Thompson ranks 7th all-time with 149 tackles in a season (1976). Thompson finished his Buckeye career with 338 tackles.

Following his career, Thompson moved to Portsmouth and owned a carpet business.

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

Ohio State
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.

Boston's senior bio per The Ohio State Team Guide:

6-3, 215...from Humble TX...Academic all-Big Ten pick is one of the great receivers in college football and a leading candidate for All-American honors and the Beletnikoff Award in 1998.

Position coach Chuck Stobart says "we expect great things from David...he is a  force on the football field"...a big, strong, physical receiver, who runs great routes...has terrific hands a phantom-like first step and breakaway speed after he catches the football.

Set numerous school records last year, including a single-season mark of 73 receptions, breaking the old school standard of 69 set by Cris Carter in 1986...also set a school single game record last year with 14 receptions at Penn State, breaking the old mark of 13 that he had shared with Gary Williams...finished the season with 14 touchdown receptions, three shy of Terry Glenn's school record 17 in 1995.

Was the Greater Houston Player of the Year and won numerous All-America accolades in both football and basketball...lists Joey Galloway and Terry Glenn as his two favorite receivers.

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.

DAVID BOSTON'S OSU CAREER STATS

YEAR	GP	REC	YDS	AVG	TDs
1996	12	33	450	13.6	7
1997	13	73	970	13.3	14
1998	12	85	1,435	16.9	13
TOTAL	37	191	2,855	14.9	34

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 Michigan 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.

Donte Whitner, S (2003-05)
Born: 1985 (Cleveland)
High School: Glenville

Ohio State
The Buckeyes were 29-8 with Whitner on the team.
2005 Big Ten Title.
2004 Defeated No. 8 Kansas State 35-28 to win the Fiesta Bowl.
2004 Defeated Oklahoma State 33-7 to win the Alamo Bowl.
2006 Defeated No. 5 Notre Dame 34-20 to win the Fiesta Bowl.
Went 2-1 against That Team, 2004 (37-21) and 2005 (25-21).

Honors
2005 All-American.
2005 All-Big Ten.

Whitner's senior bio per The Ohio State Team Guide:

5-11, 205...from Cleveland...Hard-hitting playmaker, will be in his first full year as the starter at strong safety...has played in 23 of 25 games the past two years and always comes to play...split time with Tyler Everett in the first two games of 2004, then took over as the starter and started the next five games before suffering a knee injury in the first half of the Indiana game.

Underwent arthroscopic surgery on the Tuesday after the game and missed the next game (Penn State)...returned the following week and played 11 minutes at Michigan State...recorded four tackles, including a key 11-yard sack against Michigan.

In high school, he was considered one of the top defensive backs in the country...rated as the No. 1 overall prospect in the Midwest and the seventh-best in the nation by one recruiting service...played in the U.S. Army Bowl.

Credited with 87 tackles and had three interceptions as a junior...60 tackles as a senior including 10 tackles-for-loss, three picks and four forced fumbles...scored 14 touchdowns as a junior and had nine TD receptions as a senior...13 career interceptions...recruited by all the national powerhouses...also excels in the classroom.

Whitner's 2005 season, his last with Ohio State, per ohiostatebuckeyes.com:

Whitner earned all-conference honors his junior season in 2005, helping lead the Buckeyes to a 10-2 overall mark, a share of the Big Ten title and a Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame. He recorded 73 tackles and had two interceptions for the 2005 Buckeye defense that ranked No. 5 overall in the country. 

Whitner's childhood accident per Wikipedia:

When Whitner was 6 years old he was hit by an oncoming car after chasing a loose football down the street. He had up to 30 fractures in his legs from the impact and was told that he might not be able to walk again. The oncoming car suffered significant body damage. He spent 3 months in a full body cast but managed to recover from the ordeal.

Even at a young age, When Whitner hit an object, that object lost.

Brian Hartline, WR (2005-08)
Born: 1986 (Canton)
High School: GlenOak

Ohio State
The Buckeyes were 43-8 with Hartline on the team.
2005 Big Ten Title.
2006 Big Ten Title.
2007 Big Ten Title.
2008 Big Ten Title.
2006 Defeated No. 5 Notre Dame 34-20 to win the Fiesta Bowl.
2006 Defeated No. 2 Texas 24-7 in Austin.
Went 4-0 against That Team.

Honors
2006 Academic All-Big Ten.
2007 Academic All-Big Ten.
2008 Academic All-Big Ten.

Hartline's senior bio per The Ohio State Team Guide:

6-3, 186...from North Canton, Ohio...Returning starter at wide receiver...tough and talented with a tremendous upside...played in all 13 games last two years after being redshirted in 2005 as a true freshman...has good hands, excellent speed and is a student of the game...coaches like his work ethic and competitive attitude...lanky athlete who will go up and get the ball.

Was a do-it-all player at Glen Oak...began his junior year as a quarterback, but switched to receiver after four games and caught 41 passes for 411 yards (his brother, Michael, replaced him at quarterback)...also returned punt and kickoffs as a junior...injured his knee in the season opener his senior year and missed the remainder of the season...did play in the Big 33 game...also ran track for three years and won state titles in both the 110-meter and the 300-meter hurdles as a senior.

Hartline's senior year of football and track per brianhartline.com:

I would later attend The Ohio State football camp for an entire week where I would eventually earn a scholarship to play football as a wide receiver. So, going into my senior year there were a lot of expectations, as there should have been, unfortunately, a higher power had a different plan.

Right before half time of our first game I fielded a punt and needless to say it was going to be my last for the remainder of my high school career. I ended up breaking my left leg in two places. I was devastated. Shortly after the incident sank in, I understood there was only one thing to do, get back for track season.

Now, I was a hurdler in high school and I loved it. But after the injury and after speaking to my doctor, he said that hurdling next track season would prolly be out of the question.

[...]

Ignoring the doctors orders and just trusting what my body was telling me, I was able to return to run a race in indoor track. Needless to say I was significantly ahead of schedule in my healing process. Later that spring, I was able to go on and win two division one state titles, along with All-American honors. So by the time it was all said and done, I ended up standing out more as a track athlete then as a football player.

Hartline's Ohio State career:

When I got to college I knew track would have to take a back seat if I wanted to take my football game to the next level. Football was my life for the next four years and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

I loved playing football at OSU. We have the best collegiate fans in America and anyone who gets the chance to play for such a great university, is truly blessed. I was fortunate to be apart of a great run while I was at OSU (wait a sec, what athlete isn’t? We always win at THE Ohio State University) which consisted of three Fiesta Bowl appearances, one Sugar Bowl appearance and two National Championship berths.

I also can not forget the four Big Ten Championships and four pairs of gold pants I received from beating the University of Michigan all FOUR times. 

Unfortunately, in order to get to the next page in your story, you have to turn your current page. So I turned my page in the spring of 2009.

Hartline is now coaching wide receivers at Ohio State. 

No. 9 In The NFL Draft

NAME	YEAR	ROUND	PICK	POSITION	TEAM
DON SCOTT	1941	1	9	QB	BEARS
ED THOMPSON	1977	8	210	LB	JETS
TITO PAUL	1995	5	167	CB	CARDINALS
DAVID BOSTON	1999	1	8	WR	CARDINALS
DONTE WHITNER	2006	1	8	S	BILLS
BRIAN HARTLINE	2009	4	108	WR	DOLPHINS
DEVIN SMITH	2015	2	37	WR	JETS

 

Previous Numbers

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79	78	77	76	75	74	73	72	71	70
69	68	67	66	65	64	63	62	61	60
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39	38	37	36	35	34	33	32	31	30
29	28	27	26	25	24	23	22	21	20
19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10
9

92 days until The Game.