Ohio State Greats Keith Byars, Jim Otis and Chris Ward On 2019 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot

Former Ohio State running backs Keith Byars and Jim Otis and offensive tackle Chris Ward are among 76 Football Bowl Subdivision player nominees for the College Football Hall of Fame's class of 2019, the National Football Foundation announced Monday.

All three Buckeyes were also on last year's Hall of Fame ballot. Otis has been on the ballot for more than a decade, while Byars is in his fifth year on the ballot. Ward was on the ballot for the first time last year. Balloting procedures only allow for a maximum of three nominees per school.

Byars is one of Ohio State's all-time great running backs, ranking seventh in school history with 3,200 rushing yards and second with 46 rushing touchdowns. He was the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1984 when he led the nation with 1,764 rushing yards and 24 total touchdowns (22 rushing).

Otis is also among Ohio State's canon of great backs, leading the Buckeyes in rushing for three straight years (1967-69), including their 1968 national championship season. He earned first-team All-American honors in 1969.

Ward was a two-time first-team All-American offensive tackle for the Buckeyes, earning consensus honors in 1976 and unanimous honors in 1977. Also a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 1975, Ward is regarded as one of the top offensive linemen in Ohio State history.