CPD
OHIO STATE FOOTBALL INSIDER
Helmet in hand, Wilson ready to go
Wednesday, April 02, 2008 Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
Columbus- Is Ohio State defensive end Lawrence Wilson ready to get back at it after breaking his leg in the season opener last year? Ready? He was so ready to get on the field in the national title game that he hid his own helmet.
"I walked behind one bench and hid my helmet behind there so if I wanted to run in the game, I would have to run behind two tables to get my helmet," Wilson said.
Playing in that loss to LSU would have burned a year of Wilson's eligibility. By staying out, he has two seasons of Buckeyes football remaining, starting with this fall, when he'll be back on the field as one of the starting defensive ends, opposite rising sophomore Cameron Heyward. As the defensive linemen were made available for interviews after Ohio State's fourth practice of spring ball Tuesday, defensive coordinator Jim Heacock emphasized how important it was that Wilson made it back at least to practice before the national title game. Now he's back where he left off.
"I really thought he was set up to have a good year last year," Heacock said. "I'm just anxious for him to get his confidence back and play hard. He gives you some more emotional leadership. He's excitable and gets everyone juiced up a little bit."
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