Buckeye Battle Cry series: Best Ohio State football player to wear jersey No. 2

We’re going through a series to identify the best football player to ever wear a specific jersey number at Ohio State. Next up is No. 2.

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The best to ever wear No. 2 in Ohio State football history? So many greats to choose from… but I’m going with Mike Doss.

I realize this may be an unconventional pick with so many greats, but I believe that the list of people who helped bring the Buckeyes back to national prominence go in this order, No. 1 – Jim Tressel and ironically, No. 2 – Mike Doss.

I still remember a tearful Mike Doss holding a press conference to announce he would not be leaving for the NFL just yet, but returning to Ohio State for his senior year to complete his education and help OSU win a National Championship.  Doss was a leader the Silver Bullet defense needed on their march to an undefeated season. And boy, did he deliver to give us one of the most memorable Buckeye seasons ever! Tress promised to make us proud in 2001. Doss delivered in 2002.

Mike Doss earned All-Big Ten honors in 2000-2002. He would also be named an All-American in those same seasons making him, at the time, only the seventh three-time All-American in OSU history.

And who could forget the interception and 35-yard return to stun Miami in the second quarter of the Fiesta Bowl, setting up Ohio State’s first and game- tying score? Doss was selected as the Defensive MVP of the 2003 win over the Hurricanes that gave the Buckeyes their first national championship in 35 years.

We can argue stats all day long, but I don’t believe there has ever been a player to wear No. 2 that has done more for the program than Mike Doss.

Next … Brock’s answer

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