Post-OSU Update: Ben Hartsock was the 68th overall pick (3rd-round) of the 2004 NFL Draft, selected by the Indianapolis Colts. Hartsock played 10 years in the NFL, playing a total of 131 games with five different teams. Mostly a blocker, Hartsock compiled 31 receptions for 312 yards and one career touchdown. (updated: Sep. 2022)

Major: Biology (2001-03), Undeclared (1999-00)

Weight: 264 (2002-03), 260 (2001), 250 (1999-00)

2003 Media Guide: Ben Hartsock will be in his second year as a starter and is one of the top tight ends in the Big Ten … solid, dependable and smart … is the consummate team player and is an outstanding leader both on and off the field … has played in 38 games the past three years and has 18 starts to his credit … solid blocker and receiver … sports a career average of 9.1 yards per catch on 25 receptions … actively involved in community affairs and is a popular speaker on the grade school and elementary school levels … an honor student who plans to go into medicine after his football career is over, he was named to a second-team berth on the 2002 Academic All-America team and is a three-time member of the Big Ten’s all-academic team … three-year letter winner.

2002 Season: Ohio State’s third-leading receiver with 17 catches for 137 yards and a pair of touchdowns … at least one catch in 10 games … top showing was three catches for 29 yards against Penn State … touchdown receptions came against Cincinnati and Wisconsin … his 20-yard TD grab in the first quarter at Cincinnati was his longest reception of the year … his 3-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter at Wisconsin provided the margin of victory for the Buckeyes … named OSU’s offensive lineman of the week following the Indiana and San Jose State games.

2002 Media Guide: Ben Hartsock inherits the tight end position on a fulltime basis this year with the departure of Darnell Sanders … started four games last year when the Buckeyes used a two-tight end set … has been used primarily as a blocker thus far in his career, but also is a fine receiver with deceiving speed and sure hands … an extremely intelligent player who rarely makes a mistake … suffered a right rib cartilage injury during spring ball and missed the last week of drills, but will be full-go in the fall … an underrated player … is a veteran of 24 games and five starts … also excels in the classroom and will be a candidate for academic All-America honors this year … already a two-time selection on the Big Ten’s All-Academic team.

2001 Season: Played in all 12 games and had seven catches on the year, good for 81 yards and his first collegiate touchdown – a 15-yard grab against Purdue … also had an 18-yard reception against the Boilers, the longest catch of his still young career … received the John W. Galbreath Award for Academic Excellence at the team appreciation banquet … won Academic All-Big
Ten honors and was nominated for the Academic All-America team (he has a 3.65 GPA in biology).

2001 Media Guide: Ben Hartsock is the Buckeyes’ No. 2 tight end and a solid all-around player … fine blocker and dangerous receiver with deceiving speed … used primarily in two-tight end sets and as the “H” back last year … caught only one pass a year ago, but figures to be more of a weapon in 2001 … hard-working, intelligent player who understands his role … should have an excellent year and has a very bright future … also an honor student (just two grades below an A since enrolling at Ohio State) … named to the Big Ten’s All-Academic team last year and will be a candidate for Academic All-America honors this year.

2000 Season: Played in all 12 games and started at Purdue … lone catch of the year was in the season opener against Fresno State (11 yards).

2000 Media Guide: Ben Hartsock is a promising young tight end that was redshirted last season and recovered from an ankle injury sustained in the summer. He has prototypical tight end size and is extremely fundamentally sound. “Ben is a very well-rounded tight end,” Bill Conley, tight ends coach, said. “He’s a good blocker and good receiver and has deceiving speed. He’s faster than a lot of people think he would be. He played numerous positions in high school from running back to linebacker to tight end to kicker. He’s very versatile.” Ohio State uses several two tight end sets, meaning Hartsock’s talents could be utilized frequently this season.

1999 Season: Redshirted.

High School: Selected first-team Division IV all-Ohio by the Associated Press as a senior … Recorded 86 receptions for 1,562 yards during his career … rushed for 356 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior … also recorded 61 tackles including 19 sacks on defense as a senior with four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

Personal: The son of Patricia and Timothy Hartsock … enjoys racing dirt bikes and riding motorcycles … born July 5, 1980.