The Men Behind the Numbers: A 2 for 1 for Number 21, BJ Sander and Parris Campbell
The answer to an Ohio State trivia question and a kid from Akron, just not that one.
21 days until kickoff! That means it’s time for another edition of The Men Behind the Numbers. We are 3 weeks away! After today, all the players we will discuss are either skill positions or quarterbacks, with one exception. Today we discuss the last special teams player, punter BJ Sander. I couldn’t do the number 21 though and not give you guys a 2 for 1, so we are going to highlight Parris Campbell too.
Who was the first Ohio State punter to win the Ray Guy award? BJ Sander in 2003. What makes that achievement seem even crazier is that 2003 was the only year he would punt for the Buckeyes. Having sat behind Andy Groom for 3 seasons, he learned from one of the best. What a different era that was.
Sander would take over for Groom in 2003. He would average 43.3 yards per punt in route to being first team All Big Ten. The season would conclude with him winning the Ray Guy, which goes to the most outstanding punter in the nation. It’s only fitting that the first time a Buckeye punter would win the award would be under Jim Tressel.
Sander would go on to be drafted in the 3rd round of the 2024 draft by the Green Bay Packers. His NFL career would last just one season, as he struggled mightily once the weather turned cold at Lambeau. But, NFL struggles aside, Sander will always be the answer to an OSU trivia question.
Just a Kid from Akron, just not THAT kid from Akron
Parris Campbell came to OSU from Akron St. Vincent St. Mary. An elite athlete with top level speed, he was a fantastic weapon for coach Urban Meyer.
Campbell would spend 5 years in the program, but his best season was by far his last one. In his senior campaign he would eclipse the 1,000 yard mark and score 12 td’s to go along with it. That production would help him become a 2nd round pick of the Indianapolis Colts. The thought of him in a dome excited a lot of people. Unfortunately, the injury bug would find him and do so frequently.
In 7 NFL seasons, he would log time in 50 games with multiple teams. He would spend time with the Colts, Giants, Eagles, and Cowboys. In those 50 games he would have 123 grabs and 6 touchdowns. Campbell is one of those guys that we will never forget what he did while in Columbus though. He was a home run threat every time he touched the rock.
He has recently been spotted at OSU training camp exploring a future in coaching. I would love to see him take on a GA role next year and help develop what’s going to be a talented room.
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