Ohio State Football - Central Ohio News

1. Eddie George, RB, Ohio State 1,460

2. Tommy Frazier, QB, Nebraska 1,196

3. Danny Wuerffel, QB, Florida 987

4. Darnell Autry, RB, Northwestern 535

5. Troy Davis, RB, Iowa State 402

COLUMBUS -- Running backs who win the Heisman Trophy are often blessed with blazing speed, jaw-dropping agility, or dazzling open-field moves.

Eddie George possessed none of those traits. Yet the Ohio State running back made up for his deficiencies with excellent size (6-foot-3, 230 pounds) and an incredible attitude.

"I've been in this business for 33 years and Eddie George has the best work ethic of any football player I've ever been around," coach John Cooper said during George's run to the 1995 Heisman Trophy. "Any awards that come Eddie's way I promise you are richly deserved."

George needed his intensity to overcome an awful start to collegiate career.

A Philadelphia native, George's mother sent him to Fork Union prep school to instill discipline in the youngster. The move made a lasting impression.

George's physical and athletic prowess drew the attention of major college recruiters, yet he wasn't considered the can't-miss prospect like many in the Heisman fraternity. Penn State liked him as a linebacker, but Cooper landed George by dangling Ohio State's high-profile tailback position.

Once on campus, the coaching staff immediately became enamored with George's work habits, and he earned immediate playing time. That was no small chore in 1992, with Robert Smith, Raymont Harris (both future NFL running backs) and speedy Butler By'not'e on the roster. George was considered a goal-line hammer on that team, racking up five touchdowns on the season.

But just when it seemed George would emerge, he suffered a setback in a crucial game. Playing against Illinois at home, George lost two fumbles on the goal line. The Illini recovered each time, returning one for a score, to earn an 18-16 win in Ohio Stadium. Although he peeled off a 60-yard run the following week against Northwestern, George slowly melted into the background.

His sophomore year wasn't much better, with Harris earning the bulk of the carries, George managed only 223 yards and three scores.

In 1994, George won the starter's job by attrition, with Smith, Harris and By'not'e all gone. George enjoyed a solid campaign, gaining 1,442 yards and scoring 12 touchdowns. He also fashioned a pair of 200-yard performances, 219 yards at Michigan State and 206 yards at Northwestern.

Yet he was criticized for not breaking enough long runs or authoring the highlight-reel big plays. The critics, who still remembered the two bobbles against Illinois in 1992, would be answered by the end of his senior year.

"That Illinois game was the fuel to my fire," George said in retrospect.

In 1995, George unleashed the best season for an OSU running back to date.

With quarterback Bob Hoying, receiver Terry Glenn and tight end Rickey Dudley flourishing under the new offensive system installed by first-year assistant coach Walt Harris, George became the most consistent performer in one of the school's best-ever attacks.

He opened the season with 99 yards rushing against Boston College in an easy victory. It would be the only time all year he failed to crack 100 yards.

In a 30-20 win over Washington, George posted 212 yards and two touchdowns. Two weeks later, in a game for the ages, he punished Notre Dame with 207 yards and two more scores in a 45-26 blowout. It was Ohio State's first victory over the Irish and the first time the schools had met in 59 years.

Those two pre-conference performances (dotted by long runs) thrust George, a relative unknown in the preseason, into the national spotlight. In addition, he became a receiving option out of the backfield. For the year he hauled in 44 catches for 399 yards and a touchdown.

Week after week the Buckeyes pounded Big Ten foes, and George swung the sledgehammer for that offensive machine. His signature moment came, fittingly, against Illinois. Playing on national TV in Ohio Stadium, site of the disastrous game in 1992, George ripped the Big Ten's top defense with 314 yards rushing and three touchdowns. He also caught a TD pass from Hoying in an effort that prompted ABC's Brent Musberger to bellow "Hello Mr. Heisman!"

"Eddie George was just spectacular," Illini coach Lou Tepper said. "Eddie George was just a nightmare."

The beat continued until the final week of the season, where it ended abruptly in Ann Arbor. Although George gained 105 yards and scored a TD, the second-ranked Buckeyes had a defensive meltdown in a crushing 31-23 upset.

That decision shattered the national championship dream and robbed Ohio State of a Rose Bowl berth. In fact, OSU's 11-1 record was good enough only for a second-place showing in the Big Ten behind a shocking Northwestern team that won its first conference title in more than four decades.

Still, George impressed the nation with a multitude of big plays on the national stage. He won the Heisman handily, outdistancing Nebraska quarterback Tommie Frazier and Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel.

Meanwhile, the Buckeyes were relegated to a Citrus Bowl date opposite Tennessee. Although George again gained more than 100 yards and had a TD, Ohio State was beaten 20-14 in the rain. It was a disappointing finish, but couldn't dim a spectacular season.

George gained 1,927 yards and averaged 6.5 yards per carry with 24 TDs. His 3,668 career yards made him the second leading rusher in OSU history behind only Archie Griffin. George wound up with a hardware haul that included the Doak Walker Award, the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award. He was crowned Big Ten MVP.

A first-round NFL draft pick of the Houston Oilers, George was the 1996 NFL Rookie of the Year, made the Pro Bowl in three of his first five seasons and started in a Super Bowl loss.

In June, 2001, George came back to school to accept his bachelor's degree in landscape architecture. He remains one of the most popular athletes in recent OSU lore.

His coach spoke for many when he offered the following appraisal during George's senior year.

"If Eddie George isn't the finest football player in the nation and deserving of the Heisman Trophy, I don't know who is," Cooper said.

Contact Phillips by e-mail at lbphillips@nncogannett.com or call (419) 521-7238.