The Top 10 Ohio State Buckeye Quarterbacks of All Time
Ranked by career passing yards at Ohio State.
The Ohio State University has a long history as one of the best college football teams in the country.
Which of their quarterbacks made the top 10 for the most passing yards in Ohio State history?
#10 — Dwayne Haskins (5,396 career passing yards)
Dwayne Haskins played at Ohio State from 2017 through 2018. He was the starter during the 2018 season when he threw 50 touchdowns and 4,831 passing yards. Dwayne Haskins led the Buckeyes to a 13–1 record and a victory in the Rose Bowl. Haskins was drafted 15th overall by Washington in the 2019 NFL draft. His NFL career was cut short by his tragic death.
Update: Our sympathy goes out to Dwayne Haskins's friends and family.
#9 — Steve Bellisari (5,558 career passing yards)
Steve Bellisari played at Ohio State from 1998 through 2001. He was the starter for three seasons. Bellisari was drafted in the 6th round by the St. Louis Rams in the 2002 NFL draft. Steve Bellisari played at Ohio State during the head coaching change to Jim Tressel.
#8 — Mike Tomczak (5,569 career passing yards)
Mike Tomczak played at Ohio State from 1981 through 1984. He was a three-year starter for the Buckeyes. Tomczak had a long NFL career. He played from 1985 through 1999 for the Chicago Bears (1985–1990), Green Bay Packers (1991), Cleveland Browns (1992), and Pittsburgh Steelers (1993–1999).
#7 — Troy Smith (5,720 career passing yards)
Troy Smith played at Ohio State from 2003 through 2006. Smith won the Heisman Trophy after his senior season in 2006. He was drafted in the 5th round by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2007 NFL draft. Smith played for four seasons in the NFL for the Baltimore Ravens (2007–2009) and the San Francisco 49ers (2010).
#6 — Terrelle Pryor (6,177 career passing yards)
Terrelle Pryor played at Ohio State from 2008 through 2010. During his freshman season, he saw significant playing time and was the starting quarterback during his sophomore and junior seasons. The Buckeyes finished inside the top 10 in each of his three seasons.
Pryor was drafted in the 3rd round by the Oakland Raiders in the 2011 NFL Supplemental draft. He was eventually moved to wide receiver and had a 1,000 yard receiving season in 2016 with the Cleveland Browns.
#5 — Greg Frey (6,316 career passing yards)
Greg Frey played at Ohio State from 1987 through 1990. He was a three-year starter for the Buckeyes (1988–1990). Frey led Ohio State to two straight bowl appearances after failing to make a bowl game his first two seasons. Greg Frey currently runs QB Ohio, where he helps young quarterbacks develop.
#4 — Joe Germaine 6,370 career passing yards)
Joe Germaine played at Ohio State from 1996 through 1998. The Buckeyes won 10 or more games in each of his three seasons. Germaine was drafted in the 4th round by the St. Louis Rams in the 1999 NFL draft. He appeared in three games for the Rams in 1999.
#3 — Bobby Hoying (7,232 career passing yards)
Bobby Hoying played at Ohio State from 1992 through 1995. He was the primary starter during his final two seasons at Ohio State. Hoying finished 10th in the Heisman voting after his senior season. He was drafted in the 3rd round by the Philedelphia Eagles in the 1996 NFL draft. Hoying’s NFL career lasted from 1996 through 2000.
#2 — Art Schlichter (7,547 career passing yards)
Art Schlichter played at Ohio State from 1978 through 1981. He was the primary starting quarterback all four seasons with the Buckeyes. Schlichter finished inside the top 10 in the Heisman voting three times (1979–1981). He was drafted 4th overall by the Baltimore Colts in the 1982 NFL draft.
Sadly, Schlichter has been in and out of prison for several decades because of fraud and theft. He missed an entire season in his short NFL career because of a gambling suspension.
#1 — J.T. Barrett (9,434 career passing yards)
J.T. Barrett played at Ohio State from 2014 through 2017. When healthy, he was the primary starter in his four seasons with the Buckeyes. Ohio State won the National Championship during Barrett’s freshman season in 2014. Barrett went undrafted after college and bounced around NFL practice squads for a few years until 2020.
So, how many of these quarterbacks did you remember?
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