Former Ohio State offensive lineman dead at 50

Former Ohio State offensive lineman Dave Monnot died Monday at the age of 50 after a battle with brain cancer, according to the Canton Repository. During his four seasons with the Buckeyes, he started three seasons and led the team to a Big Ten championship.

In his senior season, Monnot helped paved the way as the starting right guard for Ohio State’s dominant rushing attack. The team finished the 1993 season 10-1-1 and averaged nearly 200 rushing yards per game. In his time, Monnot blocked for Eddie George, Raymont Harris and other Buckeye legends.

His son, Dave Monnot III recently entered the transfer portal after three seasons at Purdue. The 6-foot-6 offensive lineman has not chosen his next destination after serving as the Boilermakers backup right guard. He came to school as a three-star recruit after following in his father’s footsteps as a catholic high school graduate.

More about Dave Monnot

Before and after his time at Ohio State, Dave Monnot became a staple in the Ohio high school football world. He was named the Ohio Division IV Lineman of the Year and a USA Today honorable mention All-American in 1988. He was inducted into the Stark County High School Football Hall of Fame in 2016 for his play on the field.

“Football, obviously there’s a talent required, but it’s a team and it’s a preparation to play one game a week,” Monnot said at his induction ceremony, via the Canton Repository. “You have to analyze what the other team is doing. You have to understand the strengths of the team you’re on and realize you have to prepare and execute to be competitive and win.”

Even after his college career, he would often return from his Chicago area home to visit his high school and speak with the team. Current Catholic head coach Jeff Lindesmith remembered those visits in an interview with the Canton Repository.

 “It was kind of neat,” Lindesmith said. “He talked about the importance of being a great teammate. He thought that was important, regardless of what position you played, he talked about being a high-quality person. Sometimes the breaks may not go your way, but you make the best of what you have. If you have faith in yourself, your coaches and your teammates, things will go well.”