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Boeckman, Laurinaitis, Hartline on list to find out potential draft status
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Friday, Dec 14, 2007
COLUMBUS: Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel said Thursday that 13 of his players would be getting evaluations from the NFL to see in which round they might land in the draft next spring.
Ohio State will face LSU in the BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 7. Regardless of the outcome, OSU certainly would be a candidate to compete for a championship next season if its current lineup of juniors returns to school.
Junior linebacker James Laurinaitis isn't surprised that Tressel encouraged his players to learn their status and that individual circumstances should determine whether a player considers leaving school early.
''I don't think information can hurt, you know what I mean?'' said Laurinaitis, who will learn his draft status. ''Guys have to trust what comes back. It's not definite where you'll go or anything.''
The NFL requires that players remain in college for three years before entering the draft.
Players submit forms to a committee that determines where they might end up in the current talent pool.
Players confirmed to have sent in papers include: quarterback Todd Boeckman, wide receivers Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie, linebackers Marcus Freeman and Laurinaitis, defensive lineman Vernon Gholston and defensive back Malcolm Jenkins.
''I'm just finding out about what the NFL is going to say about where I stand, I guess,'' Laurinaitis said. ''I'm definitely confident coming back with this team. I love Ohio State. I love it here and I'm having a good time.''
Some players said talk of the NFL and the banquet circuit led to Ohio State's demise in last year's BCS title-game loss — 41-14 to Florida. Tressel said he realizes that talk can divert attention from the team's goal.
''It's hard to guard against life being a distraction, because that's part of some people's lives right now. You have to work hard at being where you need to be mentally at the moment you need to be there,'' he said. ''I don't look for that being a huge distraction, but, again, we're people, and I'd like to think we'll handle that well.''
Tackle Kirk Barton is familiar with the situation. Barton, a fifth-year senior and team captain, passed on the draft to return for his final year of college eligibility.
''Last year, I knew I had a shot. I had a fourth-round grade. That's all right, but I knew I could do better. I've really enjoyed my senior year,'' Barton said. ''I wouldn't trade this year for any of them because we came together and we have a good shot, and blocking for a guy like Chris 'Beanie' Wells, a kid you love blocking for.''
Gee sounds off
Put OSU President E. Gordon Gee in the ''nay'' column with respect to whether the NCAA should adopt a playoff system for college football.
''As far as a playoff system, there will not be one,'' he said Thursday. ''They'll have to wrench a playoff system out of my cold, dead hand. It smacks too much of universities being too much of a farm system for the pros.''
Scouting report
Hartline, a GlenOak graduate, is doing his best to pump University of Kentucky players and coaches for information about LSU. His brother Mike is a quarterback on the Wildcats' roster.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/sportsblitz/
COLUMBUS: Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel said Thursday that 13 of his players would be getting evaluations from the NFL to see in which round they might land in the draft next spring.
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