Scarlet Sunrise: James Laurinaitis, Chris Ward nominated for CFB Hall of Fame Class of 2024
Good morning, Ohio State fans, and welcome to the Scarlet Sunrise. Football will always be our focus, but every day we’ll cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Buckeyes football, recruiting, basketball and more in Scarlet Sunrise.
LB James Laurinaitis, OT Chris Ward nominated for CFB Hall of Fame Class of 2024
A pair of Ohio State greats are once again up for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Former Buckeyes linebacker James Laurinaitis (2006-08) and offensive tackle Chris Ward (1974-77) are two of 78 FBS players on the ballot for the 2024 class, according to the National Football Foundation.
Laurinaitis is on the ballot for the fifth time, and Ward is on the ballot for the sixth time.
Not only is Laurinaitis an Ohio State legend from his playing days in Columbus, but he also serves as a defensive graduate assistant on the team’s 2023 staff. While wearing the scarlet and gray, he was a three-time consensus All-American, even earning unanimous first-team All-American honors in 2007. He was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year twice and first-team All-Big Ten three times. Laurinaitis won the Bronco Nagurski Trophy (given to the top defensive player nationally) in 2006, the Butkus Award (given to the top linebacker nationally) in 2007 and the Lott IMPACT Trophy (given to the top IMPACT — Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity — defensive player nationally) in 2008. He played in two national title games for the Buckeyes before launching his eight-year NFL career.
Ward is already part of the Ohio State Hall of Fame. He was a two-time first-team All-American with the Buckeyes, getting a unanimous nod in 1977. In 1975, he blocked for running back Archie Griffin, who that season went on to become the only player all-time to win the Heisman Trophy twice. Ward was part of at least a share of four Big Ten titles, and he was a three-time, first-team all-conference performer. The New York Jets picked Ward with the No. 4 overall selection in the 1978 NFL Draft, and he played in the league until 1984.
The 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be announced early next year, and the group will be inducted during the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 10, 2024.
Last year, former Ohio State safety Mike Doss (1999-2002) became the 27th player in program history to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
How they got here: Mapping out career path of each Buckeyes RB so far
It’s now “Running Backs Week” at Lettermen Row. As our position-by-position preview series continues, leading up to Big Ten Media Days and the start of fall camp, we are taking an in-depth look at the Ohio State running back room, which features five returning scholarship players.
Of those five, four led the team in rushing at least one game last season. We outlined how all of them reached this point of their Buckeyes careers.
Some were higher recruited than others, one wasn’t even playing the position at the start of last season, but the group is formidable and deep.
For how they got here, turn to this overview.
RELATED
Signed by Atlanta Dream, Taylor Mikesell gets another crack at WNBA
Former Ohio State standout guard Taylor Mikesell is getting a second chance in the WNBA. Close to three weeks after she was waived by the Indiana Fever, who took her with the first pick in the second round of this year’s draft, she was signed by the Atlanta Dream.
As the league deals with a roster bind, Mikesell was one of several recent draft selections to be cut after becoming the 17th player in Ohio State history, and the first in five years, to be taken in the WNBA Draft.
Mikesell spent the final two seasons of her well-traveled and illustrious college career at Ohio State. She combined for more than 1,000 points in that span and, each year, was top three among all Division I players in 3-pointers made.
For more on Mikesell signing with the Dream, go here.
Counting down
Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 88 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 172 days
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