Four spots. Decades of greatness. And enough Ohio State wide receivers to make the Mount Rushmore selection process feel nearly impossible.
Doug Donley. Gary Williams. Cris Carter. Joey Galloway …
Terry Glenn. David Boston. Curtis Samuel. Terry McLaurin …
Michael Jenkins. Santonio Holmes. Ted Ginn Jr. Devin Smith …
Michael Thomas. Parris Campbell. K.J. Hill. Chris Olave …
Garrett Wilson. Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Marvin Harrison Jr. …
Emeka Egbuka. Carnell Tate. Jeremiah Smith …
See what we mean?
Most would agree that Carter and Harrison Jr. have as strong a case as anyone to be on the mountain, so let’s carve their spots in stone.
Now it gets hard. Incredibly hard.
Two more spots. Seemingly endless debate on who joins them.
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Narrowing the list to four means leaving out some of the best wide receivers to ever wear the scarlet and gray.
Each left his own mark on the program, whether it was through eye-popping numbers, unforgettable performances or individual accolades.
But that’s what makes a Mount Rushmore. There can only be four spots.
Different eras. Different styles. One remarkable Buckeyes tradition.
Ohio State’s greatest receivers
Cris Carter
The first Buckeyes receiver to earn All-America honors, doing so as a junior in 1986 (69 catches, 1,127 yards, 11 touchdowns) during his final year in Columbus. His three-year career totals: 168 receptions, 2,725 yards, 27 TDs. He was selected in the fourth round of the 1987 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles and went on to become a Pro Football Hall of Famer.
Marvin Harrison Jr.
The son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison lived up to his famous name by becoming a two-time unanimous All-American and the first Ohio State receiver to record multiple 1,000-yard seasons. His three-year career totals: 155 receptions, 2,613 yards, 31 touchdowns. He was selected No. 4 overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Chris Olave
A smooth route runner with a knack for big plays, Olave earned All-American honors after catching 65 passes for 936 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior in 2021. His four-year career totals: 176 receptions, 2,711 yards and a school-record 35 touchdowns. He was selected No. 11 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 2022 NFL Draft.
David Boston
A physical, big-play receiver who saved some of his best performances for the biggest stages, including 231 yards and two touchdowns against Michigan in 1998 en route to All-America honors. His three-year career totals: 191 receptions, 2,855 yards and 34 TDs, all school records at the time. He was selected No. 8 overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the 1999 NFL Draft.
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Mike Garbett is a content specialist working with McClatchy’s Content Innovation Lab.