[Buckskin86]

Laurinaitis honored by comparisons to Buckeye greats
Thursday, January 17, 2008
By Todd Porter
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

NEW ORLEANS In the large shadow of his father, James Laurinaitis arrived at Ohio State an unknown. He was ?Animal?s? kid, son of half of the Legion of Doom tag team ?The Road Warriors.?

He may be playing his last game tonight, when Ohio State and LSU decide the college football national championship. The 21-year-old linebacker, a virtual NFL first-round lock if he decides to leave after his junior year, has made a name for himself.

Laurinaitis could leave as one of the best linebackers ? if not the best ? in Buckeye history. That?s heady stuff for a kid who was thrown into action against Michigan two years ago because of an injury.

Laurinaitis became the second OSU linebacker to win the Butkus Award, joining Andy Katzenmoyer. He won the Nagurski Award last season and was a finalist for it again, as well as the Lombardi, Lott and Bednarik awards.

?It?s unbelievable to be mentioned in the same category as A.J. (Hawk) or (Chris) Spielman,? Laurinaitis said. ?To be honest, I don?t even feel like it?s necessary yet. I?m so humbled to even be up for these awards.

?I was down at the Lombardi, and seeing the six previous winners and reading those names off, it?s just so surprising to me. I still don?t feel like I?m on the same level as those players. ... I think you have to have the mentality that you?re not there yet. If you?re there, you?re going to be satisfied, and you?re not going to keep working the same.?

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