Football
Laurinaitis Nabs Nagurski
By John Porentas

It wasn't too long ago that James Laurinaitis was a high school senior and was spending his free time playing hockey in his home state of Minnesota and wearing around one of his favorite shirts, a number 45 Ohio State jersey like the one that was worn by former OSU linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer.

About a year-and-half later, Laurinaitis has his own OSU jersey, number 33, and as a sophomore, has won the Bronco Nagurski Award emblematic of the best defensive player in the country at any position, the first sophomore every to do so. Laurinaitis is incredulous when it's suggested that his notoriety is already beginning to approach that of Katzenmoyer and other OSU linebacker greats.

James Laurinaitis
Photo by Jim Davidson

"It's crazy, because I still sit there and wish my Katzenmoyer jersey fit me so I could wear it around," chuckled Laurinaitis.

"It's surreal. Just to play and start here, and say that I started at linebacker at Ohio and to know everyone else who has started here that's played great in college, whether they went on to the NFL or not, just playing here is something special at that position. It's just an honor," Laurinaitis said.

Laurinaitis has had some moments this season he would probably rather forget, but from the first game of the year it was apparent that he is, above all, a playmaker, and it is most likely that quality that endeared him to the voters for the Nagurski. When the season began, however, Laurinaitis was one of the question marks in the OSU defensive lineup, a new name and new face in a defense composed mostly of new names and new faces. Observers simply wondered if he could be adequate, let alone exceptional. For that matter, so did Laurinaitis. National honors were the absolute last thing on his mind.

"I remember filling out my goal sheet earlier this season and I put my goal for this year to make sure I started every game and did my assignments," said Laurinaitis.

"Coach Tressel has you plan long-term goals and stuff like that. I put as a long-term goal me being All-Big Ten and maybe being up for some awards, but nothing specific or anything.

"It (the award) all comes as a big surprise to me. I didn't think (it could happen), especially coming from Minnesota, I was just trying to find my way onto a roster spot, let alone any of this stuff. It's a definite blessing," Laurinaitis said.

Laurinaitis had plenty of highlight moments this year including a team-high five interceptions, one pass breakup, four sacks, a team-high three forced fumbles and eight tackles for loss to go with his team-leading 100 tackles.

His sophomore year numbers leave you wondering how he could possible follow up with anything better. Laurinaitis, however, doesn't see it that way.

"I'm more the perfectionist type. I'll look at that Texas game and talk about one of the long runs by Jamaal Charles up the middle is my fault. I take that stuff more to heart," said Laurinaitis.

Despite his award and the adulation is brings, Laurinaitis still sees himself as a work in progress. He definitely does not feel as though he has yet measured up to past OSU linebacker greats like A. J. Hawk and Katzenmoyer despite what might be said or written about him now that he has won a national award.

"Maybe by others, but not through my eyes," said Laurinaitis

James Laurinaitis is interviewed (far left) in the atrium of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. The images on the wall are limited to OSU players who have won national awards. Laurinaitis now qualifies for a spot on those walls.
Photo by Jim Davidson

"Not yet. I still feel I'm below those guys and need to continue to work hard to get to that level someday. I've got two more years here. Hopefully when I leave here I'll be able to maybe I'm up on that level but not yet, not yet. I'm still young. I just turned 20.

"You look across the room (in the Woody Hayes Center Atrium) and you see Katzenmoyer up there and you see A. J. and you think 'You have a long way to go,'" Laurinaitis said.

Notes:

* There were five finalists for the Nagurski Award. Laurinaitis, defensive end Gaines Adams of Clemson, cornerback Leon Hall of Michigan, safety Reggie Nelson of Florida and linebacker Patrick Willis of Mississippi. With Hall from Michigan in the group as well as Nelson of Florida, reporters had a field day stirring the pot regarding the BCS championship game.

"At every press conference they had they had James Adams at one end of the table and Patrick Willis on the other. I sat right between Leon Hall and Reggie Nelson, a Florida and a Michigan guy," said Laurinaitis.

"It was always the first question, 'Who did you want to play?' I just sat back and relaxed and let those two fight it out."

* Laurinaitis met with reporters on Tuesday. He was a bit bleary eyed when he did so. Laurinaitis explained.

"It had to fly and get back for two finals this morning," said Laurinaitis.

"I haven't been to sleep since 6:45 yesterday morning when I started going around for the whole thing with the guys, got in about 1:00 AM, then went right over the the Yunkin Success Center and started studying (for exams) and stayed up all night. I found out in the airport (that he won). It was a complete shock," Laurinaitis said.

Laurinaitis didn't have a whole lot of time for cramming. He had a final in Human Nutrition from 7:30 AM until 9:15, then another in micro-economics from 9:30 until 11:15. Then the day got really tough.

"I went and worked out after that too," said Laurinaitis

He spent the afternoon doing errands until he met with reporters. The good news is that he's done with finals and can get some rest.

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