Scarlet Sunrise: Randy Gradishar, Jim Marshall named semifinalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame

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Randy Gradishar, Jim Marshall semifinalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame

A pair of former Ohio State greats were named semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Wednesday: linebacker Randy Gradishar and defensive end Jim Marshall.

Both are among 31 senior semifinalists for the Hall’s 2024 class, as determined by a 12-person seniors committee. Additionally, 29 coach/contributor semifinalists were nominated by a separate 12-person committee. Normally, there can be only 25 semifinalists from each category, but the committees are allowed to stretch that number if there is a tie for the 25th position. That happened for both the senior and coach/contributor candidates.

Gradishar was part of the Denver Broncos “Orange Crush Defense” through the ’70s and early ’80s. Meanwhile, Marshall was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1960 but, after his rookie year, was traded to the Minnesota Vikings, where he spent the rest of his 20-year career and served as a critical part of the Vikings’ “Purple People Eaters” defensive line.

Gradishar was a seven-time Pro Bowler and a two-time first-team All-Pro. Plus, he won NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1978. He’s been a Hall of Fame finalist three times: twice as a modern-era finalist (2003 and 2008) and once as a seniors candidate in 2020. He’s the Broncos’ all-time leading tackler (2,049 tackles). Gradishar also posted 19.5 sacks, 20 interceptions, 13 fumble recoveries and four defensive touchdowns in his NFL career.

Marshall was the Cal Ripken Jr. of pro football, at least on the defensive side of the ball, starting 282 consecutive games. No other defensive player in NFL history has touched or rivaled that mark. Alongside fellow Vikings all-time standouts on the defensive front — Carl Eller, Gary Larsen and Alan Page — Marshall wreaked havoc in opposing backfields. He finished his career with 130.5 sacks.

Each committee will now vote to select 12 seniors and 12 coach/contributors advancing to the next round. Those selections will be announced on July 27.

Then, on Aug. 22, seniors committee voters will choose as many as three candidates for “final consideration.”

Buckeyes sending three veteran leaders to Big Ten Media Days

There will be 42 players attending Big Ten Media Days this year in Indianapolis, including a trio of Ohio State veterans: wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., tight end Cade Stover and defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau.

The event takes place between July 26-27 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Harrison is projected for next year’s NFL Draft to be the highest-selected wideout since Calvin Johnson Jr. in 2007. Stover was a team captain last year and was the first Ohio State tight end to record at least 30 receptions in a season since Ben Hartsock in 2003. And Tuimoloau is expected to break out off the edge in 2023 after teasing superstar potential last season.

For more on those three and Big Ten Media Days, go here.

Ohio State defensive line target Jayden Jackson ready for decision day

Three-star Bradenton (Fla) IMG Academy defensive lineman Jayden Jackson will make his college decision Thursday.

Ohio State will be represented by one of five hats at the table, along with Texas, Miami, Florida and Oklahoma.

Lettermen Row is examining the contenders and measuring the Buckeyes’ chances ahead of a big day for Jackson, the No. 47 D-Lineman in the 2024 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking.

Check it out here.

Tavien St. Clair, Bellefontaine head coach Jason Brown join The Tim May Show

Lettermen Row’s Tim May made the trip to Bellefontaine to interview 2025 four-star Bellefontaine (Ohio) quarterback commit Tavien St. Clair and his high school coach, Jason Brown.

There was less than a month between when St. Clair was offered and when he pledged to the Buckeyes. The in-state prospect is taking that commitment seriously, too.

“When I say I’m fully committed I mean that,” St. Clair said. “There will be no other.”

You can get the story here and watch the full interview below:

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 51 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 135 days

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