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Charles Follis was the first black professional football player with the Shelby Blues in 1904. He was a Wooster product who played at the College of Wooster. Read more about him in Ohio’s Autumn Legends, Volume I, available at Amazon.com.
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Pete Henry was a star two-way lineman and kicker at Mansfield Senior High School and Ohio’s only charter member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame. He was an immortal player at Washington & Jefferson College and the dominant lineman, kicker and punter for the NFL champion Canton Bulldogs in the early 1920s. Had the award existed, he would’ve almost certainly won NFL MVP honors in 1922. Read more about him in Ohio’s Autumn Legends, Volume I, available at Amazon.com.
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Marion Motley averaged better than 17 yards per carry during his high school career at Canton McKinley, starred at the University of Nevada, and shattered the color barrier on his way to a Hall of Fame career with the Cleveland Browns. He is featured prominently in Ohio’s Autumn Legends, Volume I, available at Amazon.com.
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Frank Sinkwich became the first Heisman Trophy winner from the SEC. The Youngstown product won the trophy at the University of Georgia in 1942. His story is featured prominently in Ohio’s Autumn Legends Volume II, available at Amazon.com.
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Dick Kazmaier, of Maumee, was the last Ivy League Heisman Trophy winner, claiming the award at Princeton in 1951. Kaz is featured prominently in Ohio’s Autumn Legends, Volume II, available at Amazon.com.
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Steubenville’s Calvin Jones was a two-time All-American at Iowa and a College Football Hall of Famer. He was an all-star his rookie year in the Canadian Football League. He was tragically killed in a plane crash flying back from that all-star game. Read more about his wild recruiting story in Ohio’s Autumn Legends, Volume II, available at Amazon.com.
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Len Dawson, Alliance High School, was a star at Purdue and went on to a Hall of Fame Pro Football career after leading the Kansas City Chiefs to the Super Bowl IV championship. Dawson was MVP of that game. Read more about his story in Ohio’s Autumn Legends, Volume II, available at Amazon.com.
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Roger Staubach was Cincinnati’s Player of the Year at Purcell High School, went on to win the Heisman Trophy for Navy, and became a Super Bowl MVP with the Dallas Cowboys. He’s also a College and Pro Football Hall of Famer. He is featured in Ohio’s Autumn Legends, Volume I, available at Amazon.com.
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Bernie Kosar was a standout at Boardman High School, a national champion at the University of Miami, Fla., and one of the most beloved figures in the history of the Cleveland Browns organization. He is prominently featured in Ohio’s Autumn Legends, Volume II, available at Amazon.com.
GALLERY: Ohioans that got away from the Buckeyes
