The Ohio State family is mourning the passing of a Buckeye legend.
According to a release from the university athletic department, former First-Team All American and College Football Hall of Fame OSU player Aurealius Thomas has passed away. He died at the age of 86 on February 5.
Thomas played for Woody Hayes and lettered in 1955, 1956, and 1957, taking part on two national championship teams at Ohio State. He was an undersized guard, at just over 200 pounds, but became a Hall of Famer by using what God-given ability he was given.
“He lacked size but had tremendous technique as a blocker and mobility as a tackler,” said Thomas’ Hall of Fame bio. “He was always able to outmaneuver opponents who were bigger.”
After his college career, Thomas was drafted into the NFL in the 22nd round by the Pittsburgh Steelers but never saw the field. He became an assistant coach at Ohio State in 1958 and had a long career as a teacher in the Columbus Public Schools where he coached football coach for six years. After his teaching career, he landed in the insurance field.
Aurealius Thomas, an All-American guard at Ohio State in 1957 and member of the College Football Hall of Fame, died last week at 86: https://t.co/Zfy0wRPrvQ
— Joey Kaufman (@joeyrkaufman) February 14, 2021
Thomas was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989, and subsequently was enshrined in the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992.
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.
Download the USA TODAY SportsWire app to follow Buckeyes Wire and your other favorite teams in the Apple Store for iPhones and Google Play for Android devices.