RealGM Football: The Twelfth Writer - A Big 'Little Animal'

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A Big 'Little Animal'

Authored by Patrick Daher - 18th December, 2007 - 1:23 pm

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Standing at a chiseled 6-3 240 pounds, OSU linebacker James Laurinaitis has imposed his will on a number of offenses all across the NCAA. With a team-leading 94 tackles, Laurinaitis possesses a prototypical inside linebacker’s physique with his aforementioned size and surprising speed of 4.6 in the 40 yard dash.

Nicknamed the “Little Animal,” in reference to his father who was a professional wrestler, Laurinaitis has been a mainstay on an OSU defense that ranks No. 1 overall in team and scoring defense this year, allowing only 15 TD’s on the season, ahead of perennial juggernauts USC and LSU.

The Ohio State University has had a rich tradition of developing linebackers that go on to play in the NFL at a high level. In the last decade we have seen Mike Vrabel, Andy Katzenmoyer, and AJ Hawk all leave the Scarlet and Gray and become solid NFL contributors. Laurinaitis, a 2006 Nagurski Award winner and 2007 Butkus award recipient, will look to follow the steps of these alums and most likely declare for the 2008 NFL Draft after the bowl season commences.

Before that day arrives, January 7th might go a long way in determining Laurinaitis’ draft stock. January 7th marks the date when the Buckeyes clash with LSU in New Orleans for the BCS Championship. The Buckeyes will look to avenge last year’s catastrophic 41-14 thumping against the Florida Gators. Another SEC team LSU will prove to be a huge test for Laurinaitis and OSU.

It is widely recognized that OSU struggled in last year’s championship game because of the lightning speed factor that the Gators had over the Buckeyes. This LSU team appears even faster on paper, which brings me back to the impact that Laurinaitis is going to have on this game.

Jim Tressel will most likely use Laurinaitis as a “rover,” meaning he will be responsible for staying at home and minimizing the LSU quarterbacks' scrambling opportunities. The Tigers are a very dangerous team in that they have two QB’s who can hurt with their arms and legs in Matt Flynn and Ryan Perrilloux. Also, the Tigers have a bruising running back in Jacob Hester who will for sure test Laurinaitis’ run stuffing ability.

A number of scouts will be on hand to critique not only Laurinaitis’ play but also heralded defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey, who is expected to go ahead of Laurinaitis in the draft. If the “Little Animal” can play bigger than his diminutive nickname, then he can become a sure bet top-ten pick in the draft, maybe even supplanting Dorsey as the first defensive player taken.

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