40 best Ohio State football players this century, ranked

Best Ohio State football players this century 21. Malik Hooker – Safety 2015-16

Malik Hooker had one of the best seasons we’ve ever seen from a defensive player in this era. Not only did he record seven interceptions in 2016 on top of 74 tackles, but he took three of those interceptions for touchdowns. It was a sight to see. Hooker was just on a heater the entire season, and his ability to win every single matchup was a huge reason for Ohio State’s success that year. It always seems like one player or another step up huge on this defense. In 2016, a year they went to the College Football Playoff, Hooker was that player to step up.

His career at Ohio State was short but sweet. He was a redshirt freshman who didn’t play in 2014. In 2015, he played some special teams as the Buckeyes were trying to find the right role for him. His sophomore season, it was light someone turned on a switch for him. He immediately took over the starting role, and he showed how he was one of the most talented defensive players in the country.

Nobody else in the country had as many interceptions for touchdowns or had as many yards after interception (181). He was the best safety in the country, and the voters proved that by making him a consensus All-American as a sophomore. Players rarely get to All-American so early in their tenure, but Hooker’s season was so great it deserved it.

Hooker decided to head to the NFL after that one special season, and he was taken in the top-15 of the NFL Draft. He needed surgery to fix an issue with his hip and a sports hernia, so it makes sense for him to get paid when he did. If he had another special season as he did, he might be in the top ten. However, the greatness that was 2016 deserved a place on this list.