We're counting down the days to kickoff with “99 Warriors,” the greatest Ohio State Buckeyes by jersey number, as voted by the staff of Eleven Warriors.
No. 53 Randy Gradishar
As part of one of the final classes to be forced to sit out varsity football as a freshman, Randy Gradishar made the most of his final three years as a Buckeye.
- First Team All-American (1972, 1973)
- First Team All-Big Ten (1971, 1972, 1973)
- Academic All-American (1973)
- College Football Hall of Fame Inductee (1998)
- Big Ten Co-Champion (1972, 1973)
The Warren, Ohio native started every year he was eligible to play varsity football and made a name for himself immediately, being named a first team All-Big Ten selection as a sophomore in 1971, collecting 84 tackles in his first year as a starter as the Buckeyes limped to a 6-4 record in which they lost their final three games.