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Big Ten Football: Ranking the 30 best players of all time

By Quinn Douglas

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 02: The Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after their 27-21 win over the Wisconsin Badgers during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 02: The Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after their 27-21 win over the Wisconsin Badgers during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Howard “Hopalong” Cassady Career Statistics, 1952-1955

  • Games Played: 36
  • Carries: 414
  • Rushing Yards: 2,374
  • Yards Per Game: 65.9
  • Rushing Touchdowns: 30
  • Yards Per Carry: 5.7
  • Receptions: 42
  • Receiving Yards: 608
  • Receiving Touchdowns: 4
  • Notables: 1955 Heisman Trophy, 1955 Maxwell Award, 1955 AP Male Athlete of the Year, 2x Sporting News National Player of the Year, 1955 UPI Player of the Year, 1955 Chicago Tribune Silver Football winner, 1955 Unanimous First Team All-American.

It’s no secret Woody Hayes relied heavily on a “three yards and a cloud of dust” approach throughout his tenure in Columbus. The first star running back he developed excelled in the offense and that back was Howard “Hopalong” Cassady. Cassady finished his Buckeye career with 2,374 yards rushing and 30 rushing touchdowns.

Cassady was raised and Columbus, which made the decision to go to Ohio State fairly easy. He began his career as a split end and solid receiving yards as a freshman and sophomore along with splitting time in the backfield. By his junior year in 1954, he became a full-time running back, helping lead Ohio State to their first national championship in the Woody Hayes era.

In 1955, Cassady set college football world ablaze, rushing for 958 yards and 14 touchdowns and amassed 518 return yards. Cassady was also a talented defensive back, intercepting ten passes in his Buckeye career. For his efforts, he was awarded the 1955 Heisman Trophy and reaped in many other awards as well. Cassady was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the 1956 NFL Draft.

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