All good things must come to an end. Today is the last article in the Countdown series. A big thank you to those of you who have read all, or the majority, of these articles. As this series ends the Ohio State 2018 season is finally one day away from beginning.
Throughout the years of Ohio State football, 27 players have worn the No. 1 since 1933.
Today's featured players are Tom Skladany, Mike Lanese, Daniel "Boom" Herron and Bradley Roby.
| PLAYER | WORN | B1G MVP | TEAM MVP | AA | CAPT. | 1R NFL | ALL B1G | AC AA | NFL DRAFT | AC B1G | LETTER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanley Pincura | 1933-35 | 1933-35 | |||||||||
| James Hull* | 1936 | ||||||||||
| James Daniell* | 1939-40 | 1939-40 | |||||||||
| Fred Schram | 1970-71 | 1971 | |||||||||
| Dwight Wilkins | 1972 | 1972 | |||||||||
| Tom Skladany | 1973-76 | 1974, 1975, 1976 | 1976 | 1975, 1976 | 1977 | 1973-76 | |||||
| David McKee | 1977 | 1977 | |||||||||
| Bob Atha | 1978-81 | 1982 | 1978-81 | ||||||||
| Mike Lanese | 1982-85 | 1985 | 1984, 1985 | 1984, 1985 | 1982-85 | ||||||
| Lance Price | 1987, 1989-90 | 1987, 1989-90 | |||||||||
| Steve Vujevich | 1990 | ||||||||||
| DeWayne Carter | 1992-95 | 1993-95 | |||||||||
| Gary Berry | 1996-99 | 2000 | 1996-99 | ||||||||
| Bobby Britton | 2000-03 | ||||||||||
| Eric Klaban* | 2000 | ||||||||||
| Mark Minnix | 2001 | ||||||||||
| Dareus Hiley | 2003 | ||||||||||
| Thomas Mathews | 2004 | ||||||||||
| Marcus Freeman* | 2005-08 | 2009 | 2006, 2007, 2008 | 2006-08 | |||||||
| Dan Herron* | 2008-09, 2011 | 2011 | 2012 | 2008-09, 2011 | |||||||
| Devon Torrence* | 2010 | 2010 | |||||||||
| Bradley Roby* | 2012-13 | 2012 | 2014 | 2012, 2013 | 2012-13 | ||||||
| Dontre Wilson | 2013 | 2013 | |||||||||
| Johnny Dixon* | 2014-18 | 2016-17 | |||||||||
| Erick Smith* | 2014-15 | 2014-15 | |||||||||
| Braxton Miller* | 2015 | 2015 | 2015 | ||||||||
| Jeffrey Okudah | 2017-18 | 2017 |
*Wore another number at Ohio State
#Wore No. 2 for the second half of the 2013 season
Did not earn a varsity letter while wearing No. 2
Tom Skladany, P/K (1973-76)
Born: 1955 (Bethel Park, PA)
High School: Bethel Park
Ohio State
The Buckeyes were 40-5-2 with Skladany on the team.
1973 Big Ten Title.
1974 Big Ten Title.
1975 Big Ten Title.
1976 Big Ten Title.
1974 Defeated No. 7 USC 42-21 to win the Rose Bowl.
1976 Defeated No. 12 Colorado 27-10 to win the Orange Bowl.
1975 Defeated No. 7 Penn State 17-9.
1976 Defeated No. 7 Penn State 12-7 in Happy Valley.
1974 Defeated That Team 12-10.
1975 Defeated That Team 21-14
Honors
1976 Captain.
1976 All-American.
1976 All-Big Ten.
1975 All-American.
1975 All-Big Ten.
1974 All-American.
Skladany's senior season per The Ohio State Team Guide:
6-0, 192...from Bethel Park, PA...Has led the nation in punting the past two years...unquestionably the finest punter in Ohio State history...averaged 45.6 yards per kick in 1974 and 46.7 last year...kicks off for Ohio State and usually put the ball so deep in the end zone that a return is impossible.
Set a Big Ten record with a 59-yard field goal against Illinois last year...barely missed a 62-yarder in the closing moments of the 1975 Rose Bowl game...may be called upon to kick extra points as well as field goals and punting and kickoff chores.
Had a 68 yard punt against Illinois and a 66 yarder against Michigan...a two-time All-American selection as a punter...captain of the specialty unit.
Plays an accordian although he never had a lesson.
Skladany's Ohio State career per The Ohio State Team Guide:
OSU’s most recent three-time All-American (now Mike Doss), Tom Skladany was a punter and kicker between 1973-76 and the first kicking specialist ever to receive a football scholarship at Ohio State. He proved his worth immediately, landing the job as the Buckeyes’ No. 1 punter as a freshman. He also kicked off as a freshman and sophomore.
As a junior and senior, he added PATs and field goals to his list of responsibilities. Skladany averaged 45.6 yards per punt as a sophomore and was named to the Football Writers All-America Team. He was a consensus All-America choice the next two years, again leading the country in 1975 with a 46.7 average.
As a senior, he averaged 42.3 yards per kick and finished his career with a 42.7 average on 160 punts. That’s good for second on the all-time list, as is his yardage figure of 6,838. Skladany was co-captain of the 1976 squad, the first specialist ever chosen as a Buckeye captain.
The six-year NFL veteran was a 1991 inductee to the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame.
Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to see Skladany play for the Buckeyes. He finished his Ohio State career the year I was born.
I think he might have been fairly good considering he was named an All-American three times and All-Big Ten twice. Skladany was also the first specialist to be given a scholarship to Ohio State.
Skladany and the NFL Draft per Blair Conway:
Skladany was drafted by the Browns in the second round (pick 46) of the 1977 draft. They would not pay him second round money so he sat out 1977. He was traded to Detroit in 1978 and paid correctly.
The Buckeye Grove had this article on him:
In this edition of Time and Change we have the chance to visit with the greatest combination punter/kicker in Ohio State history, Tom Skladany. Skladany was an All-American for the Buckeyes from 1974-1976 and played six years in the NFL for the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles.
During Skladany's career with the Buckeyes the team went a very impressive 40-5-2.
Skladany is also mentioned throughout the Ohio State record books in the top five of most kicking and punting categories but in my opinion the most impressive record that still stands is the longest field goal of 59 yards versus the University of Illinois in 1975.
Skladany then talked about his game-changing play in The Game in 1974:
It was late in the fourth quarter and the score was close like most of the Ohio State Michigan games were back then. We were leading 14-12 and we had fourth down on our own seven-yard line.
90,000 people in the stadium were at fever pitch and I had to punt from eight yards deep in the end zone. If I have a bad punt, they would get a chance at a field goal to win the game. "I go into the game and I couldn't feel or hear a thing. I caught the snap, I made the punt and thought it might have been blocked because I didn't even feel it come off my foot. I didn't come to until I felt my team mates slapping me on my helmet and shoulder pads on the sideline.
"I had hit a 63 yarder and we went on to win the game. One of the writers wrote after the game that, 'Ohio State won 14-12, by two feet? Tom Klaban's (four field goals) and Tom Skladany's.
Mike Lanese, WR (1982-1985)
Born: 1964
High School: Mayfield
Ohio State
The Buckeyes were 36-12 with Lanese on the team.
1984 Big Ten Title.
1982 Defeated BYU 47-17 to win the Holiday Bowl.
1983 Defeated No. 15 Pitt 28-23 to win the Fiesta Bowl.
1985 Defeated No. 9 BYU 10-7 to win the Citrus Bowl.
1983 Defeated No. 2 Oklahoma 24-14 in Norman.
1985 Defeated No. 1 Iowa 22-13 in Columbus.
1982 Defeated That Team 24-14.
1984 Defeated That Team 21-6.
Honors
1985 Captain.
1984 Academic All-American.
1985 Academic All-American.
1985 National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Scholarship Winner.
1984 Academic All-Big Ten.
Lanese's senior bio per the Ohio State Team Guide:
6-0, 186...from Mayfield, Ohio...Came into his own in 1984 as a pass receiver with 41 catches for 618 yards...started all 12 games and played 301.5 minutes...the top punt returnee on the team...his sure hands and the ability to get open make him a difficult man to cover.
His diving, twisting reception of a third and 12 pass while double covered against Michigan, was one of the memorable receptions in Ohio Stadium history...averaged 9.8 yards per try in six carries, scoring twice.
An honor student though-out college, majoring in pre-law.
Came to Ohio State as a tailback, where he ran for 1,417 yards and scored 12 touchdowns for Mayfield High.
Mike Lanese's name only appears twice in the Ohio State record book for receiving. He ranks 13th all-time averaging 16.1 yards per reception and 23rd with 1,175 yards receiving.
So, why is he in this article besides the fact he was a captain of the 1985 team that defeated Pittsburgh 10-7? Because he made one of the best catches (referenced above) in The Game. Not as amazing and clutch as Anthony Gonzalez', but close.
Lanese's thoughts about his catch in The Game per The Ohio State Alumni Association Magazine:
YOUR 17-YARD CATCH ON THIRD AND 14 AGAINST MICHIGAN IN 1984 IS STILL A PLAY MANY BUCKEYE FANS REMEMBER. WHAT DO YOU RECALL ABOUT THAT PLAY, AND DO YOU STILL HEAR ABOUT IT FROM FANS?
It's always a surprise to me, but I still get comments about it. At about this time every year-especially now that I live in the Columbus area-a few people stop me on the street or send an e-mail and congratulate me for the catch.I've always found it interesting that no one ever seems to remember that, before the catch, there was a fumble. With a few minutes left in the first half, I tried to return a punt and ended up fumbling the ball inside of our own 20 yard line.
But as a result of the 17-yard catch in the second half, I was selected as the MVP of the game. Without the catch, I could have easily become the LVP. It's funny how a few rotations of the ball can end up determining how you're perceived by the public for years to come.
I wrote about the game and catch in some detail a few years ago for a chapter in a book called Game of My Life - Ohio State . I posted the chapter in a blog I write for Buckeye Legends.
Lanese's career per The Ohio State Team Guide:
Mike Lanese always will occupy a special place in
the hearts and minds of Ohio State fans everywhere.
His clutch grab against Michigan in 1984 has
become known as “The Catch” and is one of the
most memorable receptions in Ohio State history.But Lanese’s legacy also includes some memorable
accomplishments in the classroom, where after twice
being named to the Academic All-America team, he
was named a Rhodes Scholar in 1985. The former
OSU flanker is the last Big Ten football player to be
so honored. After completing his studies at Oxford,
Lanese served in the U.S. Navy.
Daniel "Boom" Herron, RB (2007-11)
Born: 1989 (Warren, Ohio)
High School: Warren Harding
Ohio State
The Buckeyes were 44-8 with Herron on the team.
2007 Big Ten Title.
2008 Big Ten Title.
2009 Big Ten Title.
2010 Defeated No. 7 Oregon 26-17 to win the Rose Bowl.
2011 Defeated No. 8 Arkansas to win the Sugar Bowl.
Went 4-0 against That Team, outscoring them 114-27.
Honors
2011 Team MVP.
2010 Captain.
2008 Academic All-Big Ten.
Herron's senior bio per The Ohio State Team Guide:
5-10, 205...from Warren, Ohio...Talented tailback who will again be one of the Buckeyes' assets at that position this season...possesses great versatility and strength...a tough between-the-tackles runner...17 career starts...2,194 career rushing yards...30 career scores...will miss the first five games of the season with an NCAA suspension.
Dan Herron was a fast and deceptively strong running back. He started his career behind Beanie Wells and Brandon Saine, but was the featured back his junior and senior season.
Herron, however, may be remembered as much for being apart of "Tat-Gate" as he will be remembered for his on-field performances.
Herron's Ohio State career per Wikipedia:
Herron spent five years at The Ohio State University. He was a four-time letterman.
In 2008 he struggled to get playing time over future NFL back Beanie Wells and again in 2009 splitting time with Brandon Saine in an offense heavily centered around the running talents of quarterback Terrelle Pryor.
In 2010, Herron delivered as the starter, totaling 1155 yards and 16 touchdowns. Later that year, just a week before the team's appearance in their bowl game, it became eminent that Herron, amongst other top Buckeye players were facing substantial NCAA sanctions.
On December 23, 2010 Herron and four other Ohio State players were suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season, but were still allowed to play in that year's Sugar Bowl, which they won 31-26 vs. Arkansas. Herron was said to have sold a jersey, pants, and shoes that he had previously worn in a game.
On October 3, 2011, in an unrelated story, Herron was suspended for one more week due to being overpaid during a summer job in the Cleveland area. Despite the six week suspension Dan Herron was elected a team captain by his teammates and went on to rush for 675 yards and three touchdowns the remainder of the season.
Bradley Roby, CB (2010-13)
Born: 1992 (Fort Worth, TX)
High School: Peachtree Ridge (Suwanee, GA)
Ohio State
The Buckeyes were 42-10 with Roby on the team.
2012 B1G Leaders Title.
2013 B1G Leaders Title.
2011 Defeated No. 8 Arkansas 31-26 to win the Sugar Bowl.
2010 Defeated That Team 37-7.
2012 Defeated That Team 26-21.
2013 Defeated That Team 42-41.
Honors
2012 All-American.
2012 All-Big Ten.
Roby's junior bio per The Ohio State Team Guide:
5-11, 192...from Suwanee, GA...2012 first-team All-American Bradley Roby is a talented, athletic and fast (consistent 4.3 40s) cornerback who has started all 25 games the past two seasons.
Expect this fourth-year junior, who has five career interceptions in addition to 23 pass break-ups, to be one of the best, if not the best, cornerbacks in the nation in 2013...Roby was a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award in 2012 when he led the nation in passes defended with 19 (17 pass break-ups, which tied the OSU single season record, and two interceptions) and 1.73 per game.
A first-team all-Big Ten Conference performer by both the coach and media polls, Roby was the only defensive player in the nation last year to score touchdowns three different ways (recovered a fumbled punt in the end zone vs. Miami; he recovered a blocked punt in the end zone vs. Indiana; and he intercepted a pass vs. Nebraska and returned it for a touchdown).
He blocked a punt in the one-point win at Michigan State and he was third on the team in tackles with 63...his impact games included four pass break-ups in the win at Penn State and a two-interception game vs. Nebraska, including a a momentum-shifting 41-yard "pick six" in the 63-38 victory.
Earned all-Georgia honors at Peachtree Ridge HS...had 42 tackles and six interceptions along with 29 receptions for 526 yards as a senior...scored 11 touchdowns: five on receptions, two on punt returns and one each via a rush and kick, interception and fumble returns...Gwinnett TD Club defensive player of the year as well as all-region and all-Gwinnett County...Atlanta TD Club Iron Man Award...also a track and basketball standout and four-time school scholar-athlete.
| NAME | YEAR | ROUND | PICK | POSITION | TEAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JIM DANIELL* | 1942 | 12 | 110 | T | BEARS |
| TOM SKLADANY | 1977 | 2 | 46 | P | BROWNS |
| BOB ATHA | 1982 | 12 | 317 | K | CARDINALS |
| GARY BERRY | 2000 | 4 | 126 | S | PACKERS |
| MARCUS FREEMAN | 2009 | 5 | 154 | LB | BEARS |
| DAN HERRON | 2012 | 6 | 191 | RB | BENGALS |
| BRADLEY ROBY | 2012 | 1 | 31 | CB | BRONCOS |
*Wore No. 99 when selected in the NFL Draft.
| 99 | 98 | 97 | 96 | 95 | 94 | 93 | 92 | 91 | 90 |
| 89 | 88 | 87 | 86 | 85 | 84 | 83 | 82 | 81 | 80 |
| 79 | 78 | 77 | 76 | 75 | 74 | 73 | 72 | 71 | 70 |
| 69 | 68 | 67 | 66 | 65 | 64 | 63 | 62 | 61 | 60 |
| 59 | 58 | 57 | 56 | 55 | 54 | 53 | 52 | 51 | 50 |
| 49 | 48 | 47 | 46 | 45 | 44 | 43 | 42 | 41 | 40 |
| 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 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
84 days until The Game.
