Written by Mike Furlan

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Coming in at #5 in Furls' countdown of the ten greatest Buckeye football players of all-time is Howard "Hopalong" Cassady. Hop was a standout running back and defensive back for the Buckeyes, leaving OSU as their all-time leading rusher, and waltzing to a landslide victory in the Heisman trophy balloting. Cassady went to to have a successful career in the NFL after that, playing on both sides of the ball at the next level. #10 - Rex Kern

#9 - Jim Stillwagon

#8 - Randy Gradishar

#7 - Vic Janowicz

#6 - Troy Smith

Coming in at number five, one of the Buckeye’s best players and also one of football’s most recognizable nicknames. If someone mentions Howard Cassady most folks would get a slightly perplexed look and then maybe ask if he was in a 1970s boy band, but if you mention Hop Cassady, now everyone immediately thinks Ohio State football.

On the offensive side of the ball, Cassady scored 36 touchdowns in 37 games, accumulating nearly 2,500 yards in the process. He accomplished this while sharing time in the backfield with one of the most lethal running back groups assembled in college football. In 1954 the Buckeyes three leading rushers (Cassady, Bobo, and Watkins) finished first, second, and third in the Big Ten in rushing.

Cassady gained much of his acclaim as a running back and his offensive numbers are impressive, but Hopalong Cassady’s performance as a defensive back may have been more impressive. As a defensive back Cassady NEVER had a pass completed over him. That is absolutely astonishing, talk about a shut down corner.

Cassady, a two time All American, was the first Heisman Trophy recipient to eclipse the 2,000-point mark winning the award in a landside over TCU’s Jim Swink. Following his 1955 campaign, the Associated Press selected Cassady as the “Athlete of the Year.” By the time Cassady had finished his college career, he was Ohio State’s all time leading rusher (2,466 broken by Jim Otis 1969), scorer (222 points broken by Pete Johnson 1975), and held the mark for all purpose yards (4,403 yards broken by Archie Griffin 1975).

Hop went on to play 10 years in the NFL as a defensive back and running back and was enshrined the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979. Cassady currently assists the Yankee’s AAA affiliate, the Columbus Clippers, during the summer, for Cassady also lettered four times in baseball at Ohio State (leading the team in home runs and stolen bases!).