Buckeye players who have claimed the Heisman Trophy

Les Horvath (1944)

In 1944, Les Horvath made Ohio State history by becoming the school's first Heisman Trophy winner. With Horvath at the controls, the Buckeyes posted a perfect 9-0 record and won the Big Ten championship.

Horvath enjoyed a brilliant senior campaign in 1944. In addition to leading the Big Ten in rushing (669 yards) and total offense (953 yards), the Parma, O., native also accounted for 1,248 all-purpose yards.

Horvath, who played both quarterback and halfback on offense and safety on defense, was the Big Ten's Most Valuable Player in 1944. Shortly after being accorded that honor, he became the first of Ohio State's six Heisman recipients.

Ironically, Horvath almost didn't play in 1944. After helping lead the 1942 Buckeyes to a 9-1 record and the school's first national championship, Horvath entered Dental School at Ohio State and did not play in 1943. But when Coach Carroll Widdoes went to him prior to the 1944 season, the 23-year-old Horvath, who had an extra year because of wartime rules, agreed to return to the gridiron.

"At first I wasn't sure I wanted to play," said Horvath on one of his last visits to Columbus. "Dental school was quite taxing. But Coach Widdoes said I wouldn't have to practice all the time and agreed to fly me to the games, both of which gave me more time to study."

Horvath is the only Heisman winner who didn't play the previous season. The layoff obviously didn't bother him, because he set a Big Ten rushing record in his final year.

Horvath, who still ranks in OSU's top 20 in total offense with 2,055 yards, went on to play professional football with the Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Browns. Following his professional career, he returned to Los Angeles and practiced dentistry.

Horvath, who died in November of 1995, belonged to the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame and the Ohio State Athletic Hall of Fame.