COLUMBUS, Ohio – A trio of former Buckeye greats are among 162 players 31 coaches on the 2015 College Football Hall of Fame ballot.
Keith Byars, Tom Cousineau, Jim Otis and former coach Jim Tressel are each eligible for possible induction next year.
There are 75 players and six coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 87 players and 25 coaches from the divisional ranks on the 2015 National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame ballot.
The announcement of the 2015 class will be made Jan. 9 in Arlington, Texas, site of the Jan. 12 College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
Byars, from Dayton, led the nation in rushing (1,764), all-purpose yards (2,441) and scoring (144) in 1984 and was the 1984 Big Ten MVP. He ranks fifth all-time at Ohio State with 4,369 career all-purpose yards and 3,200 career rushing yards.
Cousineau, from Fairview Park, was a two-time consensus first-team All-American and three-time All-Big Ten performer. He recorded 572 career tackles, ranking second all-time in OSU history, and was the first Buckeye to be selected No. 1 in the NFL draft.
Otis was named a consensus first-team All-American in 1969 and was a member of Ohio State’s 1968 national championship team. The Celina native was Ohio State’s rushing leader for three consecutive years and led the Buckeyes to two Big Ten titles.
Tressel is being considered for his accomplishments in the Football Championship Subdivision. He was head coach at Youngstown State from 1986-2000 before coaching the Buckeyes from 2001-10. He led his YSU and Ohio State teams to nine national title game appearances, winning four FCS championships with Youngstown State and one BCS championship with Ohio State.
Ohio State has had 24 players inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and 10 former coaches.