Top 25 Buckeyes of the Decade: #21 LeCharles Bentley

The Buckeye Battle Cry will be counting down the Top 25 players of the past decade all spring/summer.  Every Monday through May and June, Jim will be announcing a new player.  Starting in July, we will be announcing new additions on Monday and Thursday.  Our #1 player will be presented on Monday, August 30th.  Three days later, the 2010 season officially begins.  For a look at the rest of the Top 25, click here.

LeCharles Bentley (2000-2001)

LeCharles Bentley is another stand out center that was a two year starter for the Buckeyes. In 2001, Bentley was named a First-Team All-American as well as a First-Team All-Big Ten player.

For his efforts on the field in 2001, Bentley was also awarded the Rimington trophy, which has been presented to the “most outstanding” center in college football since 2000.

Bentley was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2002 NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints. He went on to have an outstanding rookie season at guard in which he was named the offensive rookie of the year by Sports Illustrated. He was also named to the all rookie team by Pro Football Weekly.

He followed up his outstanding rookie campaign by being named to the Pro Bowl in 2003, 2004 (alternate), and 2005. Bentley signed with his hometown Cleveland Browns in 2006, unfortunately for him and the city, injuries and complications prevented him from ever suiting up in a game for the Browns.

Despite his career being cut short, Bentley was clearly one of the best lineman in college football and in the NFL when he was healthy.

Slightly off topic, but between Mangold and Bentley, Ohio State has produced two of the finest centers college football has seen in the last ten years. Unfortunately, beyond the pair Ohio State’s offensive line has been below average, at least for Ohio State’s lofty standards. Hopefully that trend will be reversed this year from what looks like the best offensive line in the Tressel era.

Back on topic.

For his All-American and All-Big Ten season in 2001, as well as his short but Pro Bowl caliber NFL career, LeCharles Bentley is 21 on our countdown of the top 25 Buckeyes of the decade.