<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>LB Laurinaitis Returning to Ohio State 2-Time All-America Linebacker James Laurinaitis Will Stay at Ohio State for His Senior Year By RUSTY MILLER AP Sports Writer The Associated Press COLUMBUS, Ohio - Two-time All-America linebacker James Laurinaitis will stay at Ohio State for his senior year. "After a long thought process and strategic evaluation of the pros and cons of this decision with my close family and friends, I've decided to stay at Ohio State," Laurinaitis said in a statement issued by the school. Laurinaitis, a 6-foot-3, 244-pounder from Hamel, Minn., won the 2007 Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker and the 2006 Nagurski Award as the top defensive player in college football. The Big Ten defensive player of the year this past season, he set a BCS championship game record with 18 tackles against LSU in the Buckeyes' 38-24 loss, their second consecutive national title game loss. Laurinaitis, the son of WWE professional wrestler Animal from the Legion of Doom, led the Buckeyes with 121 tackles for the season. Most NFL draft projections have pegged Laurinaitis as a high first-round draft pick. During Ohio State's preparations for the game with LSU he had batted away questions about what he would do next season. "I know I can still improve as a player, and I know there is still much more to me and for the Buckeyes to accomplish," he said. "I want stay a Buckeye for another season. You only get to do this once, so I want to take full advantage. There are a lot of things that money can't buy, and some of those things are the experiences of a senior season." Coach Jim Tressel disclosed in December that he had urged 13 juniors to file the paperwork with the NFL to receive scouting evaluations to determine what round the players might be taken in this spring's draft. So far, only second-team All-American defensive end Vernon Gholston has said he will give up his senior year to make himself eligible for the draft. The deadline for third-year players to declare their intentions is Tuesday.</div> Damn I was hoping either the Falcons or Saint would consider him.
I was kinda expecting this. He just doesn't seem like the kind of player to leave early. Only JR they lost was Vernon Gholston. They kept 3 key ones in him, OL Alex Boone, and CB Malcolm Jenkins.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Laurinaitis, the son of WWE professional wrestler Animal from the Legion of Doom, led the Buckeyes with 121 tackles for the season.</div> Green Bay needs to draft this guy next year. That way, they will have one of the greatest tag teams in sports history, (A.J.)Hawk & Animal, the new Legion of Doom! That flying clothesline from the top turnbuckle is sinister!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Return of the Raider @ Jan 15 2008, 12:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Laurinaitis, the son of WWE professional wrestler Animal from the Legion of Doom, led the Buckeyes with 121 tackles for the season.</div> Green Bay needs to draft this guy next year. That way, they will have one of the greatest tag teams in sports history, (A.J.)Hawk & Animal, the new Legion of Doom! That flying clothesline from the top turnbuckle is sinister! </div> Ha, but Hawk and Animal didnt help OSU to any Nat. Championships.
He would have been the 1st inside LB taken so he must really love college football to pass on that and return for another season....maybe he feels like theres some unfinished business....
Or maybe he's smart enough to know that a football career could end on the next play. Never go wrong by getting that degree. Sure he wants another shot, so would I.
I was really surprised to see him come back for his senior season. IMO he was a top 15 pick, and would have likely landed with the Pats as a top 10. Lets just hope he doesnt end up like Quentin Moses or Matt Leinart and lose millions by staying in school.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TheBeef @ Jan 15 2008, 04:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>He would have been the 1st inside LB taken so he must really love college football to pass on that and return for another season....maybe he feels like theres some unfinished business....</div> Championship! he sees all his teammates coming back, he probably wants to give it another shot.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The GM @ Jan 15 2008, 08:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I was really surprised to see him come back for his senior season. IMO he was a top 15 pick, and would have likely landed with the Pats as a top 10. Lets just hope he doesnt end up like Quentin Moses or Matt Leinart and lose millions by staying in school.</div> Leinart had a shoulder injury after his JR yr. He came back because he would've lost a lot more millions than what's between pick #1 and pick #10. Could've fallen to 2nd rd or further.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (o.iatlhawksfan @ Jan 15 2008, 08:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TheBeef @ Jan 15 2008, 04:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>He would have been the 1st inside LB taken so he must really love college football to pass on that and return for another season....maybe he feels like theres some unfinished business....</div> Championship! he sees all his teammates coming back, he probably wants to give it another shot. </div> Yeah, definitely. But Ohio State is going to have to go unbeaten if they want another crack, because they'll likely get passed over with 1 loss after what's happened last 2 yrs.
