Orlando Pace, Ohio State great, not elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame

After 13 dominant years in the National Football League, all but one with the St Louis Rams, former Heisman Trophy finalist and all-time Ohio State Buckeyes great Orlando Pace should've been named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Instead, Pace is on the outside looking in with the 2015 Hall of Fame class including Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Charles Haley, Junior Seau, Will Shields, Bill Polian, Ron Wolf, and Mick Tinglehoff but not the best tackle of his generation.

Pace began his pro football career with lofty expectations based on his play at OSU, which included bringing the pancake into the national lexicon. The big man delivered and then some, after being selected first overall by the Rams in the 1997 NFL Draft.

Helping block the Rams to one of the more exciting Super Bowl wins ever and aiding the team in reaching another, Pace was a perennial Pro Bowler and almost always had his trademark smile on his face.

Though it's only a matter of time, it's patently absurd the Sandusky native's tremendous career isn't being instantly rewarded with a well deserved spot alongside the sport's best ever. Here's to next year.