5 Greatest Ohio State Running Backs in History

If you think Byars doesn’t deserve this spot, you’re forgetting some important things about the man who, had bad luck not reared its head, might be No. 2 on the list.

Byars really just has two seasons of consideration despite playing four years at Ohio State. That’s because, as a freshman in 1982, he ran the ball just four times and as a senior, a broken foot limited him to just three games. 

He entered that 1985 season as the front-runner for the Heisman Trophy after finishing second the year before when he picked up 2,441 all-purpose yards, including 1,764 with 22 touchdowns on the ground. All of those totals led the nation.

And that doesn’t count his sophomore season when Byars led the Big Ten with 1,126 yards and 19 scores. He ranks 10th in school history in yards rushing and second in touchdowns (46).

4. Howard Cassady (1952-1955)

You probably know Cassady more for his nickname “Hopalong” after the fictional cowboy character from the early 20th century. It fit considering Cassady’s waterbug running style.

It was a style that earned him unanimous All-American honors in 1954 and 1955. He finished third in Heisman voting in ‘54 leading the Buckeyes to the national championship. In ‘55, Cassady won the Heisman after running for 958 yards and 14 touchdowns.

For good measure, Cassady played defensive back on the other side of the ball and led Ohio State in home runs in 1955.

3. Ezekiel Elliott (2013-2015)

Elliott ranks third in Ohio State history in yards rushing after putting together the third and fourth most single-season yards on the ground ever. His 43 touchdowns tie him for fourth, too.

But that’s not why he’s here. In 2014, Ohio State, basically, needed to win three games in a row to make the College Football Playoff then perhaps win a national title. In the Big Ten Championship game against Wisconsin, Elliott picked up 220 yards and two touchdowns.

Against No. 1 Alabama in the first College Football Playoff, Elliott went off again, running for 230 yards and two scores. Then, in the national-title game against Oregon: 246 yards, four touchdowns.

Elliott finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting the next year, leading the Big Ten with 1,821 yards and 23 touchdowns. He left for the NFL after the season and won Rookie of the Year and went to three Pro Bowls.

2. Eddie George (1992-1995)

A bruising runner who didn’t mind barreling over defenders or simply out-running them, George waited his turn patiently in Columbus before showing his dominance.

George spent his first two seasons at Ohio State behind Raymont Harris, a good runner in his own right. But when George took the mantle in 1994 as a junior, he quickly established himself as something different, running for more than 1,300 yards with 12 touchdowns.

As a senior, he put together perhaps the best season for a tailback in school history, picking up 1,927 yards with 23 touchdowns. Both marks still stand as No. 2 in OSU history. And they earned George the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Award, and the Heisman Trophy.

1. Archie Griffin (1972-1975)

At lots of schools, there’s some debate to be had about the No. 1 player ever at a particular position. Sometimes the arguments are close. Sometimes they’re not. In Ohio State’s case, when it comes to running back, there’s no argument at all. Close, not close, medium. Nothing.

Griffin ran for 5,589 yards over four seasons in Columbus. That’s almost 2,000 more than George, who, frankly, was an easy No. 2. The only blemish is Griffin’s lack of touchdown prowess.

Not that 25 for a career is bad, but he had them vultured often, especially in 1975, his final year at Ohio State, by Pete Johnson, who led the nation with 24 scores that year.

But so what. Even without the scores, Griffin won the Heisman Trophy back-to-back years, an accomplishment that’s never been duplicated.

More Ohio State Football Rankings

• 10 Greatest Ohio State Football Players Ever
• 5 Greatest Ohio State Quarterbacks of All Time
• 5 Greatest Ohio State Defensive Players of All Time