OSU ON SUNDAY

Each week, Gameday+ examines Ohio State's impact on professional football with a position-by-position analysis of the Buckeyes who have made a mark in the NFL: It's just as well that these judgments of former Buckeyes based on their NFL contributions are a mythical enterprise. In actual competition, OSU might find itself in trouble against Alabama and Washington and most schools in between because of a lack of pro production at the most important position on the field. College to pro ball -- it's a big step. \ THE BEST Mike Tomczak College life The former Illinois high-school player of the year, from Calumet City, became a three-year starter at Ohio State (1982-84) and quarterbacked the Buckeyes to the Rose Bowl after the 1984 season. His total of 5,569 career passing yards ranks seventh in school history. Path to the pros Undrafted out of OSU, Tomczak enjoyed one of the most serendipitous free-agent deals in NFL history when he signed with his hometown Chicago Bears, which in 1985 was the baddest team in the league. NFL career Not at all bad for a player who wasn't among the 336 selected in the 1985 draft, in which 11 QBs were taken, including Steve Calabria and Buddy Funck. In 15 seasons with the Bears and Steelers, mostly, as well as brief stops with the Packers and Browns, Tomczak passed for 16,079 yards, 88 touchdowns and 106 interceptions. Tomczak made 72 career regular-season starts, going 42-31, and was 3-2 in five playoff starts. Little-known facts Tomczak played in six games as a rookie with the '85 Bears, completing 2 of 6 passes. He also got into the Super Bowl late in the game and received a ring. More prominently, he earned a spot in the famous Super Bowl Shuffle video: that's baby-faced Mikey strumming a guitar, sort of, in the band behind the shuffling crew. Tomczak later was part of a Steelers team that lost to Dallas in Super Bowl XXX. \ BEST OF THE REST Kent Graham As a Buckeye Two-year letter-winner (1990-91) after transferring from Notre Dame. He quarterbacked the Buckeyes to an 8-4 record in 1991. As a pro Drafted by the New York Giants in the eighth round in 1992, Graham passed for 7,801 yards while playing nine seasons with -- catch a breath here -- the Giants, Lions, Cardinals, Giants again, Steelers, Redskins, Texans and Jaguars. The skinny Graham never played a down for three of the teams that employed him: Detroit in 1995 and Houston and Jacksonville at the end of his career. He made the bulk of his 38 career starts in a four-year stretch from 1996 to '99 with Arizona and the Giants. He was 17-21 as an NFL starter. \ Bobby Hoying As a Buckeye Three-year starter (1993-95) who still holds OSU's career record for completions (498), touchdown passes (57) and 200-yard passing games (16). He made all-Big Ten directing OSU's high-powered 1995 offense. As a pro His five-season total of 2,544 yards ranks third among OSU alums in the NFL. Hoying finished his career with 11 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions for Philadelphia and Oakland. The skinny After a decent '97 season with the Eagles (1,573 yards, 11 TDs, six interceptions), Hoying bombed in '98, going 1-6 as a starter with no TDs and nine picks as Philly finished 3-13 and Ray Rhodes was fired. Hoying went to the Raiders before real estate beckoned. \ NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN Art Schlichter (at OSU 1978-81) Buckeye legend was the No. 4 overall pick in 1982, by the Colts, but things didn't work. You know the story. NFL career: 0-6 as a starter, three TDs, 11 interceptions. \ Troy Smith (at OSU 2003-06) The '06 Heisman Trophy winner is a backup to Joe Flacco for the Baltimore Ravens. Smith has thrown 82 passes in two-plus seasons and has seen some action in the stylish-for-now Wildcat offense.\ rstein@dispatch.com Box Story: \