Football
The-Ozone Note and Quotebook
By John Porentas

One More Try: Former OSU punter Andy Groom has not caught on as an NFL kicker, but Groom has not given up on the idea of an NFL career. Groom is working out at OSU this summer and says his is will be in an NFL camp this fall.

"I'm at St. Louis now," said Groom. "I'm going to give it one more try."

Moving on up: Last year we reported that former Buckeye defensive back Richard McNutt had embarked on a coaching career at Division 3 Washington and Jefferson College. McNutt has now moved up to Division I-AA this year having been hired as the defensive secondary coach at Virginia Military Institute. McNutt was hired by new VMI Head Coach Jim Reid. Also joining Reid's staff is former Buckeye assistant and Youngstown State assistant Ken Conatser will will server as special teams coordinator and chief of staff.

More NFL Opportunities: Former Buckeye Brandon Joe is working out at the WHAC this summer in preparation for reporting to the Pittsburgh Steelers July 28. Joe is under contract with the Steelers, but must make the team to collect on that contract. Joe is looking forward to the opportunity, but is a bit taken aback by the problems that former Buckeye and Pittsburgh draftee Santonio Holmes has encountered.

"You don't judge a person until you hear details," said Joe.

"I'll always go to bat for a teammate or ex-teammate, because I know the type of character that Santonio Holmes displayed the years I was around him. He's an excellent stand-up guy who had a clean slate at Ohio State. He's a very well-spoken young man and a playmaker who works hard."

Despite his open support of Holmes, Joe agrees that Holmes' recent problems have the potential to harm his NFL career prospects.

"Yes, because the NFL is big on evaluating character. Because of the type of money they're willing to give these guys, they don't want to get burned, so in all honesty, yes, it can affect his NFL dreams," said Joe.

Also working out at the WHAC is former Buckeye defensive back Ashton Youboty. Youboty, who came out for the NFL draft as a junior, was not taken until the third round, but doesn't seem at all discouraged by that outcome.

"I'm going to a lot of mini camps, trying to learn as much as I can about their defense and meeting my teammates and trying to settle down in Buffalo," said Youboty.

"Things happen for a reason. The way it went, it couldn't be better. Of course I would have preferred the first round. I think I was the corner that had to take the worst-case scenario. I'm happy that I ended up with a new coaching staff. I think I'm in a good position right now as far as the defense."

Coaching Staff Health Update: The OSU coaching staff has been hit by a rash of illnesses of late, including potentially serious heart problems for both Offensive Coordinator Jim Bollman and Quarterbacks Coach Joe Daniels. According to OSU running backs coach Dick Tressel, there is good news on Jim Bollman.

"He didn't actually have a heart attack," said Tressel. "He's back home and says he is walking about three miles a day now. He was here at camp for one day. He's the kind of guy that it will be hard to keep away from here. He's got good color and he's chomping at the bit."

Daniels, however, remains hospitalized and it is believed that he did in fact suffer a heart attack.

In another coaching staff health update, you may remember that wide receivers coach Darrell Hazell missed a football game last year due to a sudden illness. Hazell is not fully recovered from that problem, but will undergo corrective surgery this summer sometime after the end of camps.

Defensive backs coach Paul Haynes will also undergo knee surgery this summer.

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