Two years ago, we scoured the country for Ohio State's best players by state. This year, we’re taking a deeper look into our great state and the best players from each county in Ohio. This four-part series breaks up the state into four segments and identifies the best players from Central, Eastern, Southern and Northern Ohio.
We start the series off with the 18 counties in Central Ohio that have produced players on an official Ohio State roster. To be exact, 750 Buckeyes are from Central Ohio. Let's shine a light on the best Ohio State players from these counties and share some other facts about Central Ohio's finest players and schools.
Note: There are 20 counties in Central Ohio, but Holmes and Morrow have not had a Buckeye listed on an official Ohio State roster.
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Founded: 1805 Location: West Central Seat: Urbana |
Champaign (11 Players)
Best Player: DB Greg Rogan
Greg Rogan started 10 games during his freshman season of 1984 and finished his Buckeye career with 40 starts, 238 tackles, 10 interceptions, five fumble recoveries and 12 TFL. Against Iowa in 1986, Rogan had a 31-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the Buckeyes' 31-10 win over the Hawkeyes in Columbus.
Urbana High School is the only Champaign County school officially listed on an Ohio State roster. However, Buckeyes from Christianburg, Mechanicsburg and Woodstock were on Ohio State's official rosters between 1922 and 1931, but their high schools were not listed.
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Founded: 1818 Location: West Central Seat: Springfield |
Clark (29 Players)
Best Player: FB/E/QB Jim McDonald
The Springfield native was on Ohio State's roster during the 1935, 1936 and 1937 seasons. For each season, the All-American was listed as playing at a different position. During his senior year, McDonald was a co-captain of the team and earned All-American honors and halfback and All-Big Ten honors at quarterback.
McDonald was also a three-year starter on the Buckeyes' basketball team and was the team's captain for his senior season. The Philadelphia Eagles selected the multi-talented McDonald with the second overall pick of the 1938 NFL Draft.
Another Clark County noted player was WR Dee Miller (1994-98). Walter "Mule" Elder and R.W. Wallace are the only players from Clark County not from the city of Springfield. Elder's hometown was recorded as Selma and Wallace's New Carlisle.
Springfield High School's Vasean Washington is the only Buckeye from Clark County on this year's official roster.
The other Clark County schools on an official Ohio State roster are Public, Springfield Northeastern, Springfield Shawnee and Springfield South.
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Founded: 1811 Location: East Central Seat: Coshocton |
Coshocton (5 Players)
Best Player: RB Karl Sturtz
Karl Sturtz was on the roster during the 1948-1950 seasons, and he had at least 21 carries for 74 yards and a touchdown during his Buckeye career. His score came against Minnesota in a 48-0 blowout win at Memorial Stadium in 1950.
The latest Ohio State players from Coshocton County were Bryce and Zach Prater of Ridgewood High School. Charles Campbell (1929), Larry Stephens (1959-60) and Sturtz were from Coshocton, but their high schools were not listed.
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Founded: 1826 Location: North Central Seat: Bucyrus |
Crawford (10 Players)
Best Player: E Cecil "Cy" Souders
Cy Souders was an All-American and All-Big Ten end in 1946 and was a member of Ohio State's 1942 national championship team. Souders was selected by the Washington Redskins in the NFL draft.
All-American and All-Big Ten offensive lineman Carl Kaplanoff played for the during the 1936-38 seasons. He was selected by the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1939 NFL Draft.
Joining Souders and Kaplanoff, guard Richard Mack was the third Bucyrus High School player to earn All-Big Ten honors while playing for Ohio State. He helped pave the way for Archie Griffin during the 1973 and 1974 seasons when Mack started 22 games.
Buckeye Central, Bucyrus and Colonel Crawford are the Crawford County high schools to make an official Ohio State roster. Between 1923 and 1942, three players from Galion, Ohio were on the roster, but their high school was not provided.
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Founded: 1808 Location: Central Seat: Delaware |
Delaware (29 Players)
Best Player: DE Zach Harrison
Zach Harrison was graded as a five-star recruit coming out of Olentangy Orange High School. As a Buckeye, Harrison was an All-Big Ten player in 2022 and was named second-team All-Big Ten in 2020 and 2021. He finished his Ohio State career with 13 sacks and 26 TFL and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Linebackers Rick Middleton (Delaware Hayes) and Joshua Perry (Olentangy) were All-Big Ten linebackers for the Buckeyes. During his time in Columbus, Middleton racked up 199 tackles, intercepted five passes and was a first-round selection of the New Orleans Saints during the 1974 NFL Draft. Perry had 296 tackles, 19 TFL and 7.5 sacks as a Buckeye and was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 2016.
Six schools in Delaware County produced Buckeyes: Big Walnut, Delaware, Delaware Hayes, Olentangy, Olentangy Liberty and Olentangy Orange.
Current Ohio State players from Delaware County are RB Favour Akih, S Kaden Gebhardt and LBs CJ Sanna and Garrett Stover.
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Founded: 1800 Location: Central Seat: Lancaster |
Fairfield (34 Players)
Best Player: QB Rex Kern
Rex Kern, a Lancaster native, led his home state Buckeyes to the national championship in 1968 and was two games away from making it three straight titles for Ohio State. Known for his stellar option play, Kern led the Buckeyes to a 25-2 record during his three seasons as the starting quarterback. He was the team's captain in 1970 and was an All-American in 1969. In 2007, Kern was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Center Pat Elflein and the Boren Brothers of Pickerington, linebacker Ike Kelley of Bremen, Lancaster's Jim Cordle are some of Fairfield County's finest. Six members of Ohio State’s 2024 national championship team were from Pickerington: Ty Hamilton, Max Lomonico, Sam Williams-Dixon, Lorenzo Styles Jr., Sonny Styles and scoop-and-score Jack Sawyer.
Cornerback Amar'e Miller of Pickerington North High School is the only Buckeye from Fairfield County on this year's roster.
Since 1970, Amanda Clearcreek, Bloom Carroll, Lancaster Pickerington, Pickerington Central and Pickerington North have represented Fairfield County on Ohio State's official roster.
Archie Griffin rushes against Michigan in 1975 (Malcolm Emmons – Imagn Images).
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Founded: 1803 Location: Central Seat: Columbus |
Franklin (491 Players)
Best Player: RB Archie Griffin
With 491 players listed in the official Ohio State Media Guide rosters, Franklin County has produced the most Buckeyes of any other county in Ohio. With Ohio State's campus being located in Franklin County, this is the obvious reason why. 15 players were up for the county's best, but one stood out from the pack.
Four players from Franklin County have their numbers retired in Ohio Stadium. However, only one of those three players is a three-time All-American and Big Ten selection and a two-time Big Ten MVP, Ohio State MVP and team captain; a diminutive running back from Eastmoor High School is Franklin County's best Buckeye. Yes, Archie Griffin was also a two-time Heisman Trophy winner with Ohio State.
Griffin was selected in the first round of the 1976 NFL Draft and left Columbus as the NCAA's leader in career rushing yards (5,177), the first player to eclipse 6,000 career all-purpose yards. He still holds the NCAA record for most consecutive 100-yard rushing games with 31. And he was Ohio State's third three-time All-American. In August, Griffin is being honored as the Agonis Club's Person of the Year.
The other Franklin County players to have their numbers retired in Ohio Stadium? Howard Cassady, Chic Harley and Bill Willis.
Ohio State’s 2026 roster includes 10 representatives from Franklin County: David Adolph, Landon Beal, Jake Cook, Ian Gecse, Jaystin Gwinn, Stanley Jackson Jr., Frankie McAllister, Ryan Rudzinski, Will Smith Jr. and Amari Valerio-Hudson.
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Founded: 1833 Location: West Central Seat: Kenton |
Hardin (6 Players)
Best Player: LB Tom Lease
Tom Lease, a Kenton High School graduate, racked up 125 career tackles between the 1989 and 1992 seasons. At the conclusion of the 1990 season, Lease was seventh on the team with 53 total tackles.
The five other Buckeyes from Hardin County were Burke Wentz, William Young, James Karcher, James Oates and Bo Hurley. Hurley was on the roster in 1992 and the four other players were on the team between 1924 and 1965.
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Founded: 1808 Location: Central Seat: Mount Vernon |
Knox (11 Players)
Best Player: DT Jim Stillwagon
The first player ever to win the Lombardi Award was born in Mount Vernon. Stillwagon was a two-time national champion with Ohio State and won the Outland Trophy and was named UPI's Lineman of the Year in 1970. He was a two-time All-American – unanimous in 1970 – and two-time All-Big Ten honoree. For his stellar collegiate career, Stillwagon was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Following his time in Columbus, the Green Bay Packers selected the defensive tackle in the fifth round of the 1971 NFL Draft. However, Stillwagon opted to play in the Canadian Football League where he was an All-Star in 1971, 1972 and 1974. He was also named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player in 1972.
Fredericktown's Ollie Cline was an All-Big Ten fullback for the Buckeyes. His time at Ohio State was interrupted by a one-year stint in the Army near the end of World War II. Before he departed for the war, Cline earned the Chicago Tribune Silver Football for his play during the 1945 season. 229 of his 936 yards that season came against Pittsburgh. The 229 rushing yards stood as Ohio State's single-game record until Archie Griffin surpassed it 27 years later.
Kolton Stover of Highland High School in Centerburg is the only Knox County player on the 2026 roster.
Gambier joins Centerburg, Fredericktown and Mount Vernon as the only places from Knox County to produce Ohio State players.
| COUNTY | PLAYERS | TOP PLAYERS |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin | 491 | Howard Cassady, Archie Griffin, Chic Harley, Bill Willis, lots of others |
| Fairfield | 34 | Jacoby, Justin and Zach Boren, Jim Cordle, Pat Elflein, Ike Kelley, Rex Kern, Jack Sawyer, Sonny Styles |
| Clark | 29 | Jim McDonald, Dee Miller |
| Delaware | 29 | Zach Harrison, Rick Middleton, Joshua Perry |
| Richland | 27 | Inwood Smith, Cade Stover |
| Marion | 15 | Charles Fazio |
| Ross | 15 | Drew Basil, Ben Hartsock |
| Madison | 14 | Dick LeBeau, Donnie Nickey |
| Licking | 13 | Jeff Uhlenhake |
| Muskingum | 13 | Chucky Bryant, Iolas Huffman |
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Founded: 1808 Location: Central Seat: Newark |
Licking (13 Players)
Best Player: C Jeff Uhlenhake
Located directly to the east of Franklin County, it is surprising that Licking County has provided Ohio State with only 12 players. Arguably the best Buckeye from Licking County is Jeff Uhlenhake, a state title winner at Newark Catholic High School.
At Ohio State, Uhlenhake was the team MVP, an All-Big Ten center and captain of the team as a senior in 1988. He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 1989 NFL draft and following ten seasons in the NFL, Uhlenhake went into coaching, including a stint as a strength and conditioning coach at Ohio State. He is also remembered for his master class acting role in the critically acclaimed film, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.
Donald Swartz of Newark became the first player from Licking County to make an Ohio State official roster in 1952. Wide receiver Jaeden Ricketts of Pataskala represents Licking County on this year's roster.
Ohio State has had players from Granville, Heath, Licking Valley, Newark, Newark Catholic and Watkins Memorial with other notable players from Licking County being S Rob Kelly, QB Scott McMullen and OL Jim Tyrer.
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Founded: 1818 Location: West Central Seat: Bellefontaine |
Logan (11 Players)
Best Player: QB Tavien St. Clair
A player from Logan County who has yet to complete a pass for the Buckeyes is in position to be the best Ohio State player from this county northwest of Columbus. Bellefontaine's Tavien St. Clair is a five-star QB prospect who begins his second year with the team and will likely be second on the depth chart in 2026.
Running backs Howard Lambert (1959-61) and George Bodenbender (1962-64), also of Bellefontaine, are the only Buckeyes from Logan County to be on an Ohio State official roster three times. Other places in the county that produced Buckeyes are Bell Center, De Graff, Lewistown, Orchard Island and West Liberty.
Dick LeBeau's NFL Hall of Fame enshrinement in 2010 (Andrew Weber-Imagn Images).
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Founded: 1810 Location: Central Seat: London |
Madison (14 Players)
Best Player: HB/DB Dick LeBeau
London High School's Dick LeBeau's was a two-way player for Ohio State and a contributing member of the 1957 national championship team. Between 1956 and 1958, he rushed for at least 526 yards and eight touchdowns. LeBeau also had at least seven interceptions with 88 return yards as a defensive back. The Cleveland Browns selected him in the 1959 NFL draft as a cornerback, but he signed with the Detroit Lions.
In the NFL, LeBeau shined. He was a three-time Pro Bowl player during a playing career that spanned 14 seasons and included 62 interceptions and four touchdowns. He was named to the Detroit Lions All-Time Team, is honored in the Pride of the Lions and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Following his playing days, LeBeau became an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1973. He won two Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers as the franchise's defensive coordinator. LeBeau's only head coaching job was with the Cincinnati Bengals (2000-02). He was named Sporting News' Coordinator of the Year in 2008 and retired from coaching in 2017.
Another notable Ohio State player from Madison County was Donnie Nickey. He was a graduate of Jonathan Alder and was a captain on the 2002 national championship.
The 14 Buckeyes from Madison County came from London, Plain City, Range, South Solon and West Jefferson.
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Founded: 1820 Location: North Central Seat: Marion |
Marion (15 Players)
Best Player: OL Charles Fazio
A Buckeye from Marion County has never earned All-American or All-Big Ten honors and many of the players saw limited playing time. Due to this, offensive lineman Charles Fazio gets the nod as Marion County's best Buckeye as he is the only player from the county to earn four varsity letters when he played in Columbus between 1945 and 1948.
Earl Johnson was an offensive lineman from Prospect, Ohio and the first player from Marion County to make an official Ohio State roster. The 6-3, 243-pound lineman was on the team for the 1931-33 seasons and he's the only player from Marion County not from the city of Marion.
The other 14 Buckeyes from Marion County were all from the city of Marion and played high school football for Marion Catholic, Marion Harding or Marion Pleasant. WR Devlin McDaniel (2013-16) was the last player from the City of Kings to suit up in the scarlet and gray.
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Founded: 1804 Location: East Central Seat: Zanesville |
Muskingum (13 Players)
Best Player: OL Iolas Huffman
Iolas Huffman of Chandlersville, Ohio did not play football in high school. His first appearance on the gridiron was with Ohio State. He was a lineman for the Buckeyes between 1918 and 1921 and was a two-time All-American (1920, 1921) and All-Big Ten honoree in 1920. Huffman was captain of the first Ohio State team and his blocked punt that was recovered for a touchdown against Michigan was a key play that earned the 1920 Buckeyes their first chance to play in a Rose Bowl.
| COUNTY | PLAYERS |
|---|---|
| Franklin | 10 |
| Cuyahoga | 6 |
| Delaware | 4 |
| Hamilton | 4 |
| Hancock | 3 |
| Summit | 3 |
| Tuscawaras | 2 |
Huffman also played three seasons of baseball for the Buckeyes as the team's catcher and led the team in stolen bases for the 1921 season. Following his playing days in Columbus, Huffman played in the early days of professional football with the Cleveland Indians and Buffalo Bison.
Charles "Chucky" Bryant of Zanesville High School was another standout Buckeye from Muskingum County. Bryant was an end for Ohio State for the 1959-61 seasons and led the team in receiving in 1960 and 1961. His acrobatic 23-yard touchdown catch against Duke in 1959 was the game-winning score in the 14-13 victory. When his Ohio State playing days ended, Bryant was the program leader in career touchdown receptions with nine. He was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the third round of the 1962 NFL Draft and played two seasons.
Offensive lineman Julian Goines-Jackson of Zanesville High School is a current player from Muskingum County on Ohio State's roster. Former walk-on linebacker Logan Hittle of Tri-Valley is the associate athletic director of name, image and likeness for the Buckeyes. Other high schools from Muskingum County to produce Buckeyes are Rosecrans and West Muskingum.
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Founded: 1810 Location: South Central Seat: Circleville |
Pickaway (5 Players)
Best Player: FB Harold “Champ” Henson
Champ Henson played for the Buckeyes for the 1972-74 seasons. As a sophomore in 1972, Henson led the NCAA with 20 rushing touchdowns scored. He was sidelined for the 1973 season after a knee injury and split time with Pete Johnson during his final season in Columbus in 1974.
Henson finished his Ohio State career with 308 carries for 1,335 yards and 36 touchdowns. The Minnesota Vikings selected the Teays Valley graduate in the 1975 NFL Draft.
A.W. Marion (1923-24) of Circleville was the first player from Pickaway County on an Ohio State roster. John Dunlap of Williamsport was on the 1926 roster. The latest players from the county were Tony Cooper (1983-84) of Circleville High School and Josh McDanel (2001) of Teays Valley.
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Founded: 1813 Location: North Central Seat: Mansfield |
Richland (27 Players)
Best Player: G Inwood Smith
Inwood Smith went 3-0 against Michigan and his teams outscored the Wolverines 99-0. The Buckeyes also won the Big Ten title in 1935 and had an overall record of 19-5 between 1934 and 1936 with Smith on the line. The Cleveland Rams reached out to the All-American and All-Big Ten honoree about playing in professional football, but the man from Mansfield declined and began his post-football career with Westinghouse Electric.
Lexington High School's Cade Stover was with the Buckeyes for the 2019-2023 seasons. As a senior, he was named to the All-Big Ten team and was also the Big Ten Tight End of the Year. The Houston Texans selected Stover in the 2024 NFL Draft, and he is now entering his third year in the league.
Since 1970, the high schools from Richland County represented on Ohio State official rosters are Clear Fork, Lexington, Mansfield Senior, Ontario and Shelby. (Note: Chris Rietschlin is from Crestline, Ohio and is counted as one of the 27 Buckeyes from Richland County, even though he attended Buckeye Central High School, which is located in Crawford County.)
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Founded: 1798 Location: South Central Seat: Chillicothe |
Ross (15 Players)
Best Player: TE Ben Hartsock
Unioto High School's Ben Hartsock won a national championship with Ohio State in 2002 and finished his Buckeye career with 57 receptions for 515 yards and five touchdowns. He was an All-Big Ten honoree in 2003 and selected by the Indianapolis Colts in 2004. Hartsock played for the Colts, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, New York Jets and Carolina Panthers between 2004 and 2013.
Drew Basil was on Ohio State's roster for the 2010-13 seasons and was the team's kicker between 2011 and 2013. The Chillicothe High School alum made 90 percent of his field goals during the 2013 season, which ranks second all-time at Ohio State. His 12 consecutive made field goals in Ohio Stadium is good for third all-time and Basil is fourth on Ohio State's all-time career extra points made list.
Chillicothe, Kenston and Unioto are the high schools from Ross County to produce Buckeyes, with those players coming from the towns of Bainbridge and Chillicothe.
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Founded: 1820 Location: Central Seat: Marysville |
Union (11 Players)
Best Player: OL Eugene Kile
Eugene Kile was a guard for the 1929-31 Buckeyes. According to the 2024 Ohio State Media Guide, Kile earned two varsity letters with the football team. After his playing days, Kile was a project engineer for Republic Steel and was on the board of directors for the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers.
The only other players from Union County to earn varsity football letters at Ohio State were recent linebacker Gabe Powers and center Terrrence Cochran (1965). Marysville, Milford Center and Richwood are the places from Union County that have produced Buckeyes.
