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OSU notebook: Freshman paying for arrest
Williams restricted to hotel while teammates sightsee
Thursday, January 1, 2009
By Ken Gordon and Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- There was a Nathan Williams sighting yesterday, a rarity for the Ohio State defensive end on this trip.

As a result of Williams being arrested and charged with shoplifting Dec. 10, the freshman is dealing with some serious restrictions while the Buckeyes prepare for the Fiesta Bowl on Monday.

He practiced with the team at Pinnacle High School yesterday, but he's virtually on "hotel arrest" and not allowed to spend his free time enjoying the sights.

"He's paying a very severe price for his mistake; he's not real comfortable right now," defensive coordinator Jim Heacock said. "And rightly so. He screwed up. He's got a lot of things, hurdles that he's going to have to jump."

Heacock said he thinks Williams will play, but he's not sure how extensively. Coach Jim Tressel will make that call, and he was not available for interviews yesterday.

Williams was caught leaving a Macy's store in the Mall at Fairfield Commons in suburban Dayton with three shirts valued at $80. He told The Dispatch that his friend took the shirts, but Williams agreed to take the blame because his friend had been in prior legal trouble.

He has pleaded not guilty to the first-degree misdemeanor.

Williams, from Washington Court House, had seen increased playing time as the season progressed and was solidly in the rotation by season's end. He finished with 17 tackles and two sacks.

BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : OSU notebook: Freshman paying for arrest