Tag: Bill Willis

Watch: Ohio State football explains why Xavier Johnson was selected to wear ‘Block 0’ jersey

A heartfelt moment for Johnson and his former teammate #GoBucks

There is a new tradition that [autotag]Ohio State football[/autotag] has embraced since 2020, the “Block 0” jersey, honoring former Buckeye great [autotag]Bill Willis[/autotag].

Willis broke the color barrier for professional football with the Cleveland Browns, and wore No. 99 in Columbus, but when the NCAA allowed players to wear the number 0 in 2020, Ohio State found a way to honor Willis.

Only four former players have worn the “Block 0,” defensive lineman [autotag]Jonathan Cooper[/autotag], offensive tackle [autotag]Thayer Mumford[/autotag] and last year, wide receiver Kamryn Babb. Another receiver, [autotag]Xavier Johnson[/autotag] was selected to wear the jersey this fall, but Ohio State’s social media account went a bit further to provide more background on the decision.

They released a short video about this history of the “Block 0” jersey, why Johnson was selected, and a special message from Babb. Watch the video below as the former walk-on will forever be entrenched in Buckeye history.

Ohio State has a bushel of really cool traditions, and this one fits right along with others that are revered.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Contact/Follow @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Michael Chen on X.

Ohio State football ‘Face of the ‘Position’: Defensive Tackle

What player is the first one you think of historically when talking about the defensive tackle position at Ohio State? Vote and help deterime. #FaceOfThePosition #GoBucks.

It’s the doldrums of almost summer and you are most likely stuck between queueing up last year’s Rose Bowl victory over Utah on the DVR for the umpteenth time, reading rankings and listicles that include Ohio State, and yearning for the start of the college football season.

Sounds like a perfect time to kick off a series we are embarking upon here at Buckeyes Wire. We call it the “Face of the Position” and it’s really exactly as it sounds. When you think of a position group at Ohio State, who do you think of? From quarterback to linebacker, to placekicker and beyond, OSU has some of the most iconic and historical college football players that have taken their place among the best in the game.

However, one player stands out above all else when you shroud them behind the colors of scarlet and gray, and that’s where we are going to ask for your assistance.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be highlighting players that are in the running for the face of a position at Ohio State and asking for your vote in a Twitter poll to have one player identified as the one you think immediately at that position.

We’ve already looked at the quarterback position, running backs, wide receivers, offensive linemen, and tight ends. It’s now time to move to the defensive side of the ball and start with an underrated defensive tackle position.

We’ll keep voting up for five days, and at the end of it, we’ll reveal the winner of each. Make sure you scroll to the bottom to cast your vote from the nominees in a Twitter poll and feel free to write in a candidate if you think of another player.

Jonathon Cooper first Ohio State player to wear ‘Block 0’ jersey

Ohio State is starting a new tradition with its “Block 0” jersey honoring Bill Willis. Jonathon Cooper becomes the first to wear it.

If you haven’t heard, the Ohio State football program is starting a new tradition this year. Players are now able to were the No. 0 and the Buckeyes have decided to call that the “Block 0” jersey, and doing it in honor of OSU great Bill Willis.

And the first recipient to be honored to wear that jersey is none other than Columbus area native and senior captain Jonathon Cooper.

“This honor stands out from the rest,” said Cooper in a statement from the university. “Being a captain, all the great things that have happened here at Ohio State, this one stands out a lot more to me personally. It doesn’t just represent me, it represents a great man, a great player who played here. I know when I put that jersey on I’m representing him and I have to go out there and be my very best, and I have to do that every single day. This one really means a lot to me.”

Head coach Ryan Day brought his team together and was happy to bestow the honor on the fifth-year senior.

“Jonathon Cooper represents everything that an Ohio State football player should be,” Day said. “He’s tough. He’s accountable. He loves this university and this state. He’s someone who continually embodies our culture of ‘fight.’ And that’s in everything that he does, on and off the field. I’m proud of Coop; he’s the perfect Buckeye to wear the Block “0” for the first time.”

A little more about Willis. He played for Ohio State from 1942-1944 and was an All-American and national champion for the Buckeyes. He wore No. 99 and went on to play in the NFL, breaking the color barrier with the Cleveland Browns. He is enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame after an eight-year playing career.

Congrats to Cooper. He’s a great representation of what wearing the “Block 0” in the future will mean, and sets a perfect example for years to come.

 

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.