John Hicks was a 2-time All-American offensive tackle at tOSU.
In 1973 he won the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Rotary Award, and finished second in the Heisman Trophy.
He was the first player to start in 3 Rose Bowls, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
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John Hicks
Position: Tackle
School: Ohio State
High School: Cleveland, OH (John Hay HS)
Years: 1970, 1972-1973
Inducted: 2001
Place of Birth: Cleveland, OH
Date of Birth: 3/21/1951
Jersey Number: 74
Height: 6-2
Weight: 258
Member Biography
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1973 Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy Winner
John Hicks came within an eyelash of pulling off one of the biggest triple plays in college football history in 1973. That year Hicks, a 6-3, 258-pound offensive tackle, won the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award as the nation’s best interior lineman and also finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting.
How close did Hicks come to becoming the first interior lineman ever to win the Heisman? Well, while he finished second that year, teammates Archie Griffin and Randy Gradishar were fifth and sixth, respectively, in the balloting. By combining Ohio State’s total votes, Hicks would have had enough votes to move ahead of winner John Cappelletti.
Hicks enrolled at Ohio State in the fall of 1969. Freshmen were not eligible that year, but it didn’t take the Ohio State coaching staff long to figure out the Cleveland native was destined for greatness.
Hicks became a starter at right tackle as a sophomore in 1970, helping the Buckeyes to the Big Ten title and a berth in the Rose Bowl. A loss to Stanford in Pasadena cost the No.-1 ranked and previously unbeaten Buckeyes the national championship.
Hicks missed the entire 1971 season because of a preseason knee injury. Not coincidentally, the Buckeyes struggled to a 6-4 record that year.
But he returned in 1972 and was a starter the next two years, winning consensus All-America honors both of those seasons and helping the Buckeyes to two more Big Ten titles and back-to-back appearances in the Rose Bowl. During his three years as a starter, Ohio State posted a combined record of 28-3-1. Hicks is the first player ever to start in three Rose Bowl games.
A fiery, emotional leader and a fan favorite, Hicks was a first-round draft choice of the New York Giants following the 1973 campaign. His promising career was cut short by injury, however, and he returned to Columbus to enter private business.
Hicks was selected in April 2001 to the College Football Hall of Fame.
In 1973 he won the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Rotary Award, and finished second in the Heisman Trophy.
He was the first player to start in 3 Rose Bowls, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
cf.hof
John Hicks
School: Ohio State
High School: Cleveland, OH (John Hay HS)
Years: 1970, 1972-1973
Inducted: 2001
Place of Birth: Cleveland, OH
Date of Birth: 3/21/1951
Jersey Number: 74
Height: 6-2
Weight: 258
John Hicks was a 3-year starter, a 2-time All America at tackle for Ohio State. In his time Ohio State had a 28-3-1 record and won the Big 10 Championship three times. He played in 1970, missed 1971 with an injury, came back to make All-America in 1972. In 1973, he won the Outland Award as the nation's best interior lineman, won the Lombardi Award as the nation's best lineman, was unanimous All-America, and finished second in the Heisman Trophy vote. He played pro football with the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers.
official.site
1973 Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy Winner
John Hicks came within an eyelash of pulling off one of the biggest triple plays in college football history in 1973. That year Hicks, a 6-3, 258-pound offensive tackle, won the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award as the nation’s best interior lineman and also finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting.
How close did Hicks come to becoming the first interior lineman ever to win the Heisman? Well, while he finished second that year, teammates Archie Griffin and Randy Gradishar were fifth and sixth, respectively, in the balloting. By combining Ohio State’s total votes, Hicks would have had enough votes to move ahead of winner John Cappelletti.
Hicks enrolled at Ohio State in the fall of 1969. Freshmen were not eligible that year, but it didn’t take the Ohio State coaching staff long to figure out the Cleveland native was destined for greatness.
Hicks became a starter at right tackle as a sophomore in 1970, helping the Buckeyes to the Big Ten title and a berth in the Rose Bowl. A loss to Stanford in Pasadena cost the No.-1 ranked and previously unbeaten Buckeyes the national championship.
Hicks missed the entire 1971 season because of a preseason knee injury. Not coincidentally, the Buckeyes struggled to a 6-4 record that year.
But he returned in 1972 and was a starter the next two years, winning consensus All-America honors both of those seasons and helping the Buckeyes to two more Big Ten titles and back-to-back appearances in the Rose Bowl. During his three years as a starter, Ohio State posted a combined record of 28-3-1. Hicks is the first player ever to start in three Rose Bowl games.
A fiery, emotional leader and a fan favorite, Hicks was a first-round draft choice of the New York Giants following the 1973 campaign. His promising career was cut short by injury, however, and he returned to Columbus to enter private business.
Hicks was selected in April 2001 to the College Football Hall of Fame.
