Ohio’s Best Buckeyes By County: East and Northeast Ohio’s All-Time Greats

Mapping Ohio State’s Deepest Recruiting Territory

Two years ago, a deep dive into Ohio State’s best players by state showed just how far the Buckeyes’ recruiting reach extends across the country. This year’s follow-up project zooms back in, breaking Ohio down county by county to spotlight the best all-time Buckeyes from every corner of the state. This four-part series covers Central, Eastern, Southern and Northern Ohio one region at a time.

This installment focuses on East and Northeast Ohio, a region spanning 20 counties that have combined to produce a staggering 1,022 players on an official Ohio State roster. From Cleveland’s talent-rich Cuyahoga County to smaller counties that have quietly sent just a handful of players to Columbus over the decades, this stretch of the state has shaped Ohio State football as much as any region in the country. Here’s a full breakdown of the best Buckeye from every county in East and Northeast Ohio.

Top 10 Counties by Total Buckeyes Produced

Before diving into each county individually, here’s how the region’s top producers stack up by total number of Ohio State players:

County	Players	Notable Names
Cuyahoga	326	Les Horvath, Troy Smith, Tom Cousineau, John Hicks
Stark	130	Chris Spielman, Mike Doss, Gareon Conley, Devin Smith
Summit	95	Antoine Winfield, Mike Vrabel, Denzel Ward, Beanie Wells
Mahoning	80	Wes Fesler, Billy Price, Ralph Wolf, Gust Zarnas
Trumbull	62	Randy Gradishar, Paul Warfield, Maurice Clarett, Korey Stringer
Lorain	61	Vic Janowicz, Steve Tovar, Matt Wilhelm, Kurt Schumacher
Belmont	40	Joey Galloway, Tim Spencer, Fred Bruney
Lake	37	Esco Sarkkinen
Columbiana	29	Kirk Lowdermilk, Dan Beatty
Jefferson	29	Don Sutherin, Buster Tillman

Cuyahoga County (326 Players): Home to Two Heisman Winners

No county in this region comes close to matching Cuyahoga County’s output. With 326 players on official Ohio State rosters, the Cleveland-area county has produced two Heisman Trophy winners alone. Les Horvath became Ohio State’s first Heisman winner in 1944, calling his own offensive plays as a de facto “playing coach” while leading the Buckeyes to an undefeated season. Decades later, Glenville High School product Troy Smith won the 2006 Heisman with a program-record share of the vote and went a perfect 3-0 against Michigan during his career as Ohio State’s starting quarterback.

Beyond the Heisman winners, Cuyahoga County has produced stars like Tom Cousineau, John Hicks, Ted Ginn Jr. and Robert Smith, along with current Buckeyes including running back Bo Jackson and tight end Brody Lennon.

Stark County (130 Players): Two Three-Time All-Americans

Stark County boasts a rare distinction: two different three-time All-Americans in Mike Doss and Chris Spielman. Doss famously turned down a guaranteed first-round NFL Draft selection to return for his senior season, a decision that paid off with a national championship in 2002 and a place in the College Football Hall of Fame. Spielman, a Massillon Washington legend who later became one of the earliest high school athletes ever featured on the cover of Wheaties, won the Lombardi Award as a senior before a lengthy NFL and broadcasting career.

Other notable Stark County products include Gareon Conley, Devin Smith and Bob Vogel, with Canton, Massillon and Alliance among the county’s most productive football towns.

Summit County (95 Players): Winfield Headlines a Modern Pipeline

Led by Jim Thorpe Award winner and two-time All-American cornerback Antoine Winfield, Summit County has become one of the region’s steadiest pipelines to Columbus. Winfield was known for shutting down opposing offenses’ top receivers despite a lighter frame, and he went on to a 14-year NFL career after being a first-round pick. Summit County has also produced Mike Vrabel, Denzel Ward, Beanie Wells and Parris Campbell, along with current Buckeyes Sam Greer, Eli Lee and Mason Williams.

Mahoning County (80 Players): Fesler’s Three-Time All-American Legacy

Youngstown’s Wes Fesler stands as Mahoning County’s greatest Buckeye, a three-time All-American who later returned to Columbus as Ohio State’s head coach from 1947-1950, winning a Rose Bowl before stepping away from the pressure of the job. His resignation directly led to the hiring of a young coach from Miami, Ohio, named Woody Hayes. Other standout Mahoning County products include Ralph Wolf, Gust Zarnas and two-time All-American offensive lineman Billy Price.

Trumbull County (62 Players): A Warren G. Harding Dynasty

Few high schools have produced as much Ohio State talent as Warren G. Harding, which alone accounts for several of Trumbull County’s biggest stars. Linebacker Randy Gradishar, a Champion High School product and member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame, headlines the county, while Harding alums Paul Warfield and Korey Stringer both became two-time All-Big Ten honorees. Maurice Clarett, also from Harding, set a freshman rushing record while leading Ohio State to the 2002 national title.

Lorain County (61 Players): Janowicz’s Do-Everything Legacy

Elyria’s Vic Janowicz became Ohio State’s second Heisman Trophy winner in 1950, excelling as a rusher, passer, placekicker, punter and defensive back all at once. Woody Hayes considered him the model “triple threat” player of his era. Lorain County has also produced All-Americans Kurt Schumacher, Regis Monahan, Steve Tovar and Matt Wilhelm, with incoming freshman offensive lineman Maxwell Riley representing the county on this year’s roster.

Belmont County (40 Players): Galloway’s Record-Setting Run

Bellaire’s Joey Galloway led Ohio State in every major receiving category during the 1993 and 1994 seasons before being selected eighth overall in the 1995 NFL Draft. St. Clairsville’s Tim Spencer, father of former NFL running back Evan Spencer’s college teammate, and defensive back Fred Bruney round out the county’s most notable Buckeyes.

Lake County (37 Players): Sarkkinen’s Five-Decade Buckeye Legacy

Fairport Harbor’s Esco Sarkkinen made history as an All-American in the late 1930s, then returned to Ohio State as an assistant coach for four decades, helping the program win five national championships and 14 Big Ten titles across three different head coaching regimes. Freshman offensive lineman Landry Brede currently represents Lake County on the roster.

Columbiana County (29 Players): A Pair of Standout Centers

Salem’s Kirk Lowdermilk earned All-Big Ten honors as Ohio State’s starting center in 1984, while East Liverpool’s Dan Beatty started 24 straight games at the same position and earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition. Since 1916, Columbiana County has sent players to Columbus from towns including East Palestine, Lisbon, Salem and Wellsville.

Jefferson County (29 Players): Sutherin’s Rose Bowl Heroics

Toronto High School product Don Sutherin kicked the game-winning field goal in the 1958 Rose Bowl to clinch Ohio State’s third national championship, later becoming a Canadian Football Hall of Famer. Steubenville’s Buster Tillman posted over 1,200 receiving yards during his Buckeye career, and current safety Brenten “Inky” Jones, also from Steubenville, enters his fifth season in 2026.

Guernsey County (8 Players): “White Lightning” Donley

Doug Donley still holds Ohio State’s all-time record for yards per reception, a mark that earned him the nickname “White Lightning” for his blazing speed. He left Columbus as the program’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

Portage County (23 Players): A Center Coaching Tree

Kent Roosevelt’s Tom DeLeone was a team captain and All-American center on Ohio State’s 1970 national championship team before a lengthy NFL career and a second career as a federal investigator. His own high school coach’s son, Tom Campana, played alongside him at Ohio State, and DeLeone was later succeeded at center by fellow Roosevelt product Steve Myers.

Medina County (15 Players): Kudla’s Strength Records

Highland High School’s Mike Kudla set Ohio State’s all-time bench press record at 610 pounds and posted a three-sack performance in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl. Wide receiver Brennen Schramm currently represents Medina County on the Buckeyes’ roster.

Tuscarawas County (27 Players): Grant’s Championship-Clinching Stop

Linebacker Cie Grant delivered one of the most iconic plays in program history, sacking Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey on fourth down in the second overtime of the 2003 BCS National Championship Game to seal Ohio State’s title. Quarterback Brady Geibel and offensive lineman Simon Lorentz currently represent the county.

Wayne County (27 Players): Schafrath’s Perfect Record vs. Michigan

Wooster’s Dick Schafrath never lost to Michigan during his three seasons at Ohio State and went on to a Hall of Fame-caliber career with the Cleveland Browns, including four All-Pro selections. Orrville’s Dan Stultz still holds a share of the Ohio Stadium record for longest field goal at 55 yards.

Ashtabula, Ashland, Carroll, Geauga and Harrison Counties: The Region’s Smaller Pipelines

Rounding out the region are several smaller counties that have still made their mark on Ohio State history. Ashtabula County’s Mark Debevc, a member of the famous “Super Sophs” recruiting class, won two national championships as a starting linebacker. Ashland County’s Dave Crecelius anchored the defensive line in the early 1980s. Carroll County’s Charles Hutchison won a national title in 1968 before a seven-year NFL career, while Geauga County’s Edwin Hess became a two-time All-American guard in the mid-1920s. Even Harrison County, which has sent just two players to Columbus, has its own unique story in David Mazeroski, nephew of baseball legend Bill Mazeroski.

Final Thoughts

Every single county in East and Northeast Ohio has produced at least one Ohio State football player, a testament to just how deeply the Buckeyes’ roots run throughout this part of the state. From Cuyahoga County’s Heisman-winning pipeline to smaller counties that have sent just a handful of players to Columbus over the past century, this region remains one of the most important recruiting territories in Ohio State history. With 1,022 total players and counting, the connection between East and Northeast Ohio and Buckeye football shows no signs of slowing down.