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By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 03:14 p.m. EST, Feb 23, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS: Brian Hartline's somewhat puzzling decision to leave Ohio State after his junior season came down to a matter of passion.
The wide receiver from GlenOak High confounded many analysts when he declared for the NFL Draft. Before the Scouting Combine, which runs through today at Lucas Oil Stadium, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. projected Hartline as a fifth- or sixth-round pick. OSU coach Jim Tressel usually tells his players to come out early only if they'll be selected in the first round.
Hartline is not the only Buckeye who falls into this year's ''What were they thinking?'' category. Junior cornerback Donald Washington also fits that description. But since Hartline's numbers dropped dramatically when freshman Terrelle Pryor replaced senior Todd Boeckman at quarterback this season, the perception was that Hartline thought that he had no chemistry with Pryor, whose techniques as a passer need work.
''There was more eagerness or passion to go after that next step than wait for the following year,'' Hartline said Friday at the combine. ''I knew either way I'd be fine. I was talking to a lot of people, coach (Darrell) Hazell in particular. It just felt right. It was the natural next step. I really like the challenge to move on.''
That challenge began Sunday, when Hartline participated in position drills at the combine. He was probably disappointed with his 4.52 clocking in the 40-yard dash, an unofficial time shown on the NFL Network. Fellow OSU receiver Brian Robiskie went the distance in 4.49.
Hartline had a great day in the other drills. His time of 10.92 seconds in the 60-yard shuttle was first among receivers, and he tied for second in the three-cone drill (6.65) and was fourth in the 20-yard shuttle (4.12).
''This combine is probably going to carry a little more weight for me and Brian, maybe more on my side,'' Hartline said. Asked what he wanted to show, Hartline said, ''Overall athletic ability and running. Running's always that question mark. If you can run, it says a lot.''
Hartline will get a chance to better his time at Ohio State's pro day March 13.
A redshirt in 2005, Hartline said the thought never crossed his mind of leaving early until OSU receivers coach Darrell Hazell mentioned it last summer. Hartline didn't get serious about his decision until the final week of practice at the Fiesta Bowl.
Asked if it was more an emotional or logical decision, Hartline said, ''Probably both. You get into a situation where there's two technically right decisions, it's more of a gut feeling at that point. Very rarely do you have all the information at hand to make a clear-cut decision. A lot of decisions in life you've got to go with your best gut feeling.''
Weighing in here at 6-foot-11/2 and 195 pounds, Hartline hopes to catch the eye of a team looking for a slot receiver.
''I think that's probably a main asset if you're going to draft myself,'' he said. ''There's probably not a ton of slot receivers you can think of off the top of your head. I'm sure there's some desire out there for a certain guy, whether it's me or somebody else.''
Last season, Hartline caught 21 passes for 479 yards and four touchdowns. Two of those scores came against Michigan, a 53-yarder from Pryor and an 18-yarder from Boeckman. In 2007, when Boeckman was the starter, Hartline pulled in 52 passes for 694 yards and six scores. He also averaged 11.4 yards on 20 punt returns and his 90-yard punt return for a touchdown against Kent State broke an OSU record set in 1950. Hartline finished his career with 90 catches for 1,429 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Hartline has great memories of Ohio State, but he's haunted by losses to Florida and LSU in the BCS title games after his freshman and sophomore seasons.
''Those two losses in the national championship game are going to hurt for years to come'' he said. ''That was definitely a down part. Good parts, the friends and memories I've made, playing well against Michigan, never lost (to the Wolverines). And personally going out against Michigan with two touchdowns felt good, too. But losing those two national championships are going to haunt me.''
Hartline knows the adulation he's heard at OSU is over, that he must tune out the doubters in the weeks leading up to the April 25-26 draft. That will be part of his challenge.
''That's always fun trying to prove people wrong or going against people who doubt you,'' he said. ''But that's kind of the idea of sports. Everyone gets doubted from day one.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
INDIANAPOLIS: Brian Hartline's somewhat puzzling decision to leave Ohio State after his junior season came down to a matter of passion.
The wide receiver from GlenOak High confounded many analysts when he declared for the NFL Draft. Before the Scouting Combine, which runs through today at Lucas Oil Stadium, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. projected Hartline as a fifth- or sixth-round pick. OSU coach Jim Tressel usually tells his players to come out early only if they'll be selected in the first round.
Hartline is not the only Buckeye who falls into this year's ''What were they thinking?'' category. Junior cornerback Donald Washington also fits that description. But since Hartline's numbers dropped dramatically when freshman Terrelle Pryor replaced senior Todd Boeckman at quarterback this season, the perception was that Hartline thought that he had no chemistry with Pryor, whose techniques as a passer need work.
''There was more eagerness or passion to go after that next step than wait for the following year,'' Hartline said Friday at the combine. ''I knew either way I'd be fine. I was talking to a lot of people, coach (Darrell) Hazell in particular. It just felt right. It was the natural next step. I really like the challenge to move on.''
That challenge began Sunday, when Hartline participated in position drills at the combine. He was probably disappointed with his 4.52 clocking in the 40-yard dash, an unofficial time shown on the NFL Network. Fellow OSU receiver Brian Robiskie went the distance in 4.49.
Hartline had a great day in the other drills. His time of 10.92 seconds in the 60-yard shuttle was first among receivers, and he tied for second in the three-cone drill (6.65) and was fourth in the 20-yard shuttle (4.12).
''This combine is probably going to carry a little more weight for me and Brian, maybe more on my side,'' Hartline said. Asked what he wanted to show, Hartline said, ''Overall athletic ability and running. Running's always that question mark. If you can run, it says a lot.''
Hartline will get a chance to better his time at Ohio State's pro day March 13.
A redshirt in 2005, Hartline said the thought never crossed his mind of leaving early until OSU receivers coach Darrell Hazell mentioned it last summer. Hartline didn't get serious about his decision until the final week of practice at the Fiesta Bowl.
Asked if it was more an emotional or logical decision, Hartline said, ''Probably both. You get into a situation where there's two technically right decisions, it's more of a gut feeling at that point. Very rarely do you have all the information at hand to make a clear-cut decision. A lot of decisions in life you've got to go with your best gut feeling.''
Weighing in here at 6-foot-11/2 and 195 pounds, Hartline hopes to catch the eye of a team looking for a slot receiver.
''I think that's probably a main asset if you're going to draft myself,'' he said. ''There's probably not a ton of slot receivers you can think of off the top of your head. I'm sure there's some desire out there for a certain guy, whether it's me or somebody else.''
Last season, Hartline caught 21 passes for 479 yards and four touchdowns. Two of those scores came against Michigan, a 53-yarder from Pryor and an 18-yarder from Boeckman. In 2007, when Boeckman was the starter, Hartline pulled in 52 passes for 694 yards and six scores. He also averaged 11.4 yards on 20 punt returns and his 90-yard punt return for a touchdown against Kent State broke an OSU record set in 1950. Hartline finished his career with 90 catches for 1,429 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Hartline has great memories of Ohio State, but he's haunted by losses to Florida and LSU in the BCS title games after his freshman and sophomore seasons.
''Those two losses in the national championship game are going to hurt for years to come'' he said. ''That was definitely a down part. Good parts, the friends and memories I've made, playing well against Michigan, never lost (to the Wolverines). And personally going out against Michigan with two touchdowns felt good, too. But losing those two national championships are going to haunt me.''
Hartline knows the adulation he's heard at OSU is over, that he must tune out the doubters in the weeks leading up to the April 25-26 draft. That will be part of his challenge.
''That's always fun trying to prove people wrong or going against people who doubt you,'' he said. ''But that's kind of the idea of sports. Everyone gets doubted from day one.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
Comments
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Akron, Oh
Posted 08:30 AM, 02/24/2009
Good thing he left otherwise he was on the sidelines - no talent bad attitude = no PT.
