Simon to wear block "O" jersey this season
COVER PHOTO: OSU linebacker Cody Simon celebrates a tackle on Penn State running back Kaytron Allen during their game on Oct. 21, 2023. Simon finished with five tackles and one for a three-yard loss, which was on Allen. Picture by Sam Fahmi/Columbus Wired.
For the past four years, Ohio State football has had a tradition adorning one member of the team with the special honor of wearing the number zero throughout the year, which is known as the Block "O" jersey and is bestowed upon a Buckeye who has proven themself a leader both on and off the field. Someone who's shown grit and persistence, never giving up regardless of the circumstances thrown their way.
This year, they decided that guy is Cody Simon.
After the Buckeyes’ 14th practice of fall camp on Saturday, the fifth-year linebacker was awarded the distinction and will trade in the number he's worn since day one in Columbus (No. 30) to become the fifth player to wear No. 0.
“I love this program so much,” said the Jersey City, N.J. native. “I had goals when I got here and even though everything always hasn’t gone the way I’ve envisioned, I couldn’t have asked for better teammates.”
Simon is the second non-Ohioan to wear the Block 0. The first was St. Louis, Mo. native, wide receiver Kam Babb in 2022.
Linebackers coach James Laurinaitis said that Simon was "the unquestioned leader of the group. He’s the leader of the defense.”
An on-and-off starter for the past three seasons, he's totaled 147 tackles and was fourth on the team last year with 57 in all 13 games played. He helped the Buckeyes finish No. 3 in overall defense last season that was also No. 1 in passing yards allowed and No. 2 in scoring defense.
Since arriving in Columbus in 2020, Simon has been a guy that's always put his best foot forward and has done whatever has been asked of him. As a sophomore in 2021, he started 10 games. Over the last two seasons, though, his playing time slumped in favor of converted running back to linebacker Steele Chambers as well as All-American and last year's Big Ten Linebacker of the Year, Tommy Eichenberg.
But he never got discouraged and continued to put that best foot forward when his number was called.
As the middle (Mike) linebacker, Simon will literally be in the middle of the action and will need to be that on-field leader that he, the coaches and his teammates are expecting.
“I have to be at my best every day,” Simon said during an interview session on Aug. 7. “The guys in the room have to look to someone to see an example. And I need to be able to lead them vocally, physically and emotionally. So that’s what I try to be every day.”
Block O Honors Bill Willis
Ohio State’s tradition of awarding the Block “O” jersey number was inspired by one of the all-time great defensive players to ever wear the Scarlet and Gray: Bill Willis. A defensive end whose career spanned from 1942-44, Willis was an All-American and national champion during his time with the Buckeyes. He later went on to break the color barrier in the National Football League as a member of the Cleveland Browns and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as well as the College Football Hall of Fame.
Willis’ No. 99 is retired at Ohio State and what he stood for – toughness, accountability and the highest of character – are values that the current-day Buckeyes strive for every day. And nobody better exemplifies those traits than Simon, which is why Day and his staff chose him to represent the No. 0 jersey this year.
The inaugural recipient of the Block O was DE Jonathon Cooper in 2020, followed in 2021 by OL Thayer Munford, 2022 by WR Kamryn Babb and last season by WR Xavier Johnson.