To date, we have covered quarterbacks, linebackers and centers/guards in the Four Kings series. This week, we’re focusing on the men who set the edge and wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks, Ohio State’s four best defensive ends. The onus is on you to vote for who you think are the Buckeyes’ four best defensive ends ever. (Note: The defensive ends edition of Four Kings will be published on Eleven Warriors next Tuesday.)

To help you out, we've listed 15 of Ohio State’s most accomplished defensive ends with a description of their storied careers. 

Note: The stats shown are based on the end-of-season stats for each player. Some fumble recovery stats were gathered by accumulating individual game stats.

Jack Dugger (1942-44)

The consensus All-American in 1944 was a member of the 1942 national championship team and also lettered in basketball and track. Dugger was captain and MVP of the 1942 basketball team and 1943 football team.

Jim Marshall (1956-58)

An All-American and All-Big Ten honoree as a junior, Marshall left Columbus before the start of his senior season to play in the Canadian Football League. Following a year of playing for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, he was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the 1960 NFL Draft. Marshall set NFL records for a defensive player by playing in 289 consecutive games, starting 277 straight games and recovering 30 fumbles.

Van DeCree (1972-74)

The Ohio State Football Hall of Fame and Ohio State All-Century team member is also a two-time All-American and All-Big Ten honoree. DeCree opted to play for the Chicago Winds in the World Football League's second and final season.

Bob Brudzinski (1973-76)

A consensus All-American and two-time All-Big Ten selection, Brudzinski was the captain and team MVP of the 1976 squad. He was also named to the Ohio State All-Century Team. The Rams selected Brudzinski with the 23rd pick of the 1977 NFL Draft.

Jason Simmons (1990-93)

All-Big Ten as a sophomore and team captain as a senior in 1993. Simmons ended his time in Columbus as the program's all-time leader in sacks, tackles-for-loss and TFL yards. He is currently second in sacks and TFL yards and third in TFL.

Matt Finkes (1993-96)

The two-time All-Big Ten honoree is second on Ohio State's career list for tackles for loss with (59.0) and third on the tackles for loss yards list (265). Finkes was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the 1997 NFL Draft. 

Mike Vrabel (1993-96)

A two-time All-American and three-time All-Big Ten honoree, Vrabel was also the Big Ten's Defensive Lineman of the Year in 1995 and 1996. Led the team in tackles for loss in three consecutive seasons and sacks twice. He also holds school records with 26 tackles for loss in a season and 66 for his career. He is a member of the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame and the Ohio State Football All-Century Team.

Will Smith (2000-03)

Led the team in sacks (10.5), tackles-for-loss (20.0) and was an All-American his senior season. Was also a key player on the defensive line of the 2002 national championship team. The Saints selected Smith with the 18th overall pick of the 2004 NFL Draft.

Mike Kudla (2002-05)

Led the team in sacks as a junior and senior and was an All-Big Ten honoree in 2005. Known for his brute strength, Kudla set the school record with a 610-pound bench press and held the NFL Combine record for most bench press reps (45).

Vernon Gholston (2005-07)

Recorded four tackles for loss in two separate games and led the team in sacks in 2006. His 14 sacks and 111 sack yards in 2007 both rank second in Ohio State history. Gholston was selected by the Jets in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

John Simon (2009-12)

Simon set Ohio State records for tackles for loss (five), sacks (four) and sack yards (36) in a game against Wisconsin in 2012. The only player in program history to record at least four tackles for loss in three separate games. Urban Meyer stated that Simon's locker room speech in 2012 saved the program and set the wheels in motion for the 2014 national championship.

Tyquan Lewis (2013-17)

The two-time captain and All-Big Ten honoree led the team in sacks in consecutive seasons including the 2014 national championship season. He was also named the Big Ten's Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2016. Lewis is sixth in Ohio State history in career sacks (23.5) and sack yards (176). The Colts selected him in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Joey Bosa (2013-15)

Bosa ranks fourth in program history for TFL in a season (21) and career (50.5), third in sacks for a season (13.5) and fourth for sacks in a career (26.0). Bosa was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2014 and was the Defensive Lineman of the Year twice. He was also a two-time consensus All-American and two-time All-Big Ten honoree. The Chargers selected Bosa with the third overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Nick Bosa (2016-18)

Led the team in sacks and was the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, an All-American and All-Big Ten honoree during his sophomore season in 2017. Bosa was a captain in his injury-shortened junior season and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the second overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Chase Young (2017-19)

Holds Ohio State records for tackles for loss in a game (five against Wisconsin in 2019) and sacks (16.5) and sack yards (117) in a season. Unanimous All-American, Big Ten Defensive Player and Lineman of the Year, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner and a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2019. Young was selected with the second overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.