40 best Ohio State football players this century, ranked

Best Ohio State football players this century 2. Troy Smith – Quarterback 2003-06

Troy Smith was just on another level in terms of quarterback play. Maybe the kids from the most recent era were more talented, but Smith seemed like a finished product that was built to dominate the college game. He didn’t have the silly numbers of Dwayne Haskins or as many highlight-reel plays as Justin Fields or the longevity of J.T. Barrett, but his overall resumé is better than anyone.

Smith was reportedly close to picking West Virginia University in the recruiting process, but something seemed to push him towards Columbus. It was the best decision for everyone involved. As a redshirt, he watched from the sidelines as Ohio State won the national championship. That left an impact on Smith, who knew what he had to do to make a name for himself there. Smith originally fought for the starting job with Justin Zwick, but he eventually took the job for good.

Smith was really good in 2005, only losing one of his starts and putting up 16 touchdowns to just four interceptions. On top of that, he ran for 611 yards with 11 touchdowns on the ground. He led Ohio State to a Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame.

In 2006, he was the best player in college football. Smith made it clear in Week 2 that this season would be special. They were facing the Texas Longhorns, the second-ranked team in the country. Smith put up 269 yards passing with two touchdowns in a 24-7 win against the reigning national champions. He took Ohio State to the national championship game where they lost to Florida.

Smith won the only Heisman Trophy for Ohio State this century. Nobody else on this list can say they brought home the trophy as the best player in college football. Not only did he win, but he took home more than 90% of the final vote.