Chillicothe’s Ben Hartsock still talking football after NFL career
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (BVM) – Ben Hartsock is one of the best football players to come out of Chillicothe, Ohio, and his involvement with the game has not stopped since his retirement from the NFL almost a decade ago.
Hartsock got his start on the gridiron at Unioto High School where he starred on both sides of the ball. On offense, he racked up 86 career receptions for 1,562 yards. He also played some running back for the Shermans, rushing for 356 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior. However, many of his highlights during his final year at Unioto came on defense as Hartsock made 61 tackles and 19 sacks along with forcing four fumbles and recovering three. The talented athlete was named a Division IV All-Ohio performer in 1998.
During his senior year at Unioto, Hartsock also committed to stay home for college with the Ohio State Buckeyes. After being redshirted in 1999, Hartsock’s career in Columbus started slow in his freshman and sophomore years. However, he became a starter by the end the 2001 campaign, and was an important part of the Buckeyes’ offense during his junior and senior seasons in 2002 and 2003.
Over those final two seasons, Hartsock caught 50 balls for 427 yards and two touchdowns, also becoming a tremendous blocker for the Buckeyes. He was a member of Ohio State’s 2002 squad that went a perfect 14-0 and won a national championship.
Hartsock was selected No. 68 overall in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts following his college career. He put up minimal stats playing behind the likes of Marcus Pollard and Dallas Clark in Indy, leading to his transition to the Tennessee Titans in 2006. The best years of the Chillicothe native’s pro career would arguably come in Nashville, as he caught 18 balls for 206 yards across his two seasons there.
Following a season with the Atlanta Falcons, Hartsock caught his first and only career touchdown with the New York Jets in 2009, and concluded his time in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers. While he may not have put up gaudy stats, Hartsock was a team captain, player representative and Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee during his pro career.
Since his 10-year NFL career, Hartsock has not strayed far from football. Shortly after retirement, he began working for Priority Sports out of Chicago as an agent – the same firm which represented him throughout his career.
Over the past few years, Hartsock has also ventured into a media role, working as a college football and NFL analyst for ESPN Radio. Currently, Hartsock can be heard giving his college football analysis on Sirius XM’s ESPNU and Big Ten channels.
While there was nothing flashy about Hartsock on the field, he became a national champion and played 10 years at the highest level. It’s part of a terrific football life thus far for the Chillicothe native, one that now continues on through his media work.
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