COLUMBUS – Famous for “pancaking” opponents – flattening them with his powerful blocks — Orlando Pace will become the eighth former Ohio State player to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame later this year.
The left tackle for the Ohio State Buckeyes in the mid-1990s who went on to a 13-year career in the NFL was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s eight-member Class of 2016 Saturday evening in San Francisco.
After being chosen as the first pick of the 1997 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams, Pace starred on the field as a left tackle, being named All-Pro five times while being voted into seven Pro Bowl games.
He started 154 consecutive games in a career that included 12 years with St. Louis and one season with the Chicago Bears, playing in two Super Bowls along the way.
Pace is joins former Buckeye players Cris Carter (class of 2013), Dick LeBeau (2010), Paul Warfield (1993), Bill Willis (1977), Dante Lavelli (1975), Lou Groza (1974) and Jim Parker (1973).
Coaches Sid Gillman (1983) and Paul Brown (1967) and 1930s-era swimmer Ed Sabol, enshrined in 2011 for his work with NFL Films, are also in the Hall of Fame.