40 best Ohio State football players this century, ranked

Running back Ezekiel Elliott #15 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates after defeating the Oregon Ducks 42 to 20 in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium on January 12, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

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A.J. Hawk #47 of the Ohio State Buckeyes (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images) /

Best Ohio State football players this century 5. A.J. Hawk – Linebacker 2002-05

A.J. Hawk saw what it was like to succeed immediately in his NCAA career. The Ohio State Buckeyes won the National Championship in his first season on campus. As a freshman, he helped in a complementary role get the Buckeyes to the promised land. He played in every game despite being a true freshman on a team that would go undefeated.

Hawk would be a dominant force up the middle for Ohio State the entire time he was in Columbus. He was a two-time All-American, and his senior season was one of the most dominant in team history from the defensive side. He had 121 total tackles, including 16.5 tackles for loss, and he added 9.5 sacks. Running backs could not get past him, and when Jim Tressel decided to blitz him, he got in the backfield.

Hawk had some of the best instincts of any Ohio State linebackers. His dominance up the middle was built out of the old school middle linebackers. He eventually grew his hair out to honor Pat Tillman, who died in the line of duty after leaving the NFL. That hair was part of his image, hair flowing in the wind as he put on a punishing tackle versus anyone in the Big Ten.

In his senior season, Hawk won the Lombardi Award and the Jack Lambert Trophy. That’s funny because Hawk reminded us of a time when football was like that. He was tough as nails while also exhibiting the best parts of the game. He would hit you hard without hitting you dirty. Players knew when they were hit by A.J. Hawk, and that’s the legacy he left behind.

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