LB James Laurinaitis (St. Louis Rams)

[WoodyWorshiper]

Originally Posted by Rookie

ESPN.com's All American Team: Ivan Maisel

James gets snubbed from ESPN Maisel all-american list.

James is one of the most decorated players in the history of CFB, and obviously one of the greatest to ever play at TOSU. Being "snubbed" by Mr. Maisel deserves no response. It needs to simply be ignored.

Peace.

[osugrad21]

CPD

Laurinaitis earns Sporting News honor

by Doug Lesmerises/Plain Dealer Reporter Wednesday December 17, 2008, 10:46 PM


Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis was named to the Sporting News All-American team on Wednesday, the last major All-American team of the season. Cornerback Malcolm Jenkins did not make that team, so both Laurinaitis and Jenkins were named to four of the five major teams.
That means both will be recognized as consensus All-Americans by the NCAA, making it the 77th and 78th times Ohio State players have earned that recognition.

Cont...

[OregonBuckeye]

Cornerback Malcolm Jenkins did not make that team

Why the hell not?

[osugrad21]

CPD

Big hit is the best moment for Laurinaitis

by Doug Lesmerises/Plain Dealer Reporter Sunday December 21, 2008, 7:22 PM


AP photoOSU linebacker James Laurinaitis.
COLUMBUS -- He gets lost in his thought for a moment. James Laurinaitis is describing the greatest feeling in football, the rare opportunity that make the practices and the workouts and the films sessions all worth it. "The most beautiful thing you can do is when you're rushing a quarterback and you get let free from the backside, coming from the quarterback's back, and I don't get let free too many times, and he has no idea you're behind him. That's the best thing," Laurinaitis said, coming back from his daydream. "If you come from the back and they don't see you, they're totally defenseless, and they have nothing .... I'd pay for a hit like that."
They haven't all been from the back, but Ohio State's senior middle linebacker has had his share of quarterback moments this season, his hits on Michigan State's Brian Hoyer, Penn State's Daryll Clark, Illinois' Juice Williams and Michigan's Nick Sheridan, all in the second half of the season, helping to send to those signal callers to the bench to recover at least for a bit.
After Laurinaitis spent some early games playing steady and solid, if not frightening football, Ohio State's coaches wanted to find more ways to get him free. It at least seemed from there out that the Laurinaitis had more chances each game to pressure the quarterback and blitz from the edge.

"I don't know if it was I was freed up more or if the game started coming to you," Laurinaitis said. "Hoyer was a [bootleg] and the [middle] linebacker has the freedom to go and I got him. Some of those were iffy on being late, but I think you have that respect.
"Clark was just a scramble and I was in coverage and I came up and tried to pop him. And Juice, we had the mindset to attack Illinois in the spread rather than sit back. ... And the hit on Sheridan was one of the best."

Cont...

[Born@OSU]

Strong showing in your last game as a Buckeye, Mr. Laurinaitis. Well done. And thank you for spreading the Word.
Cheek stripes for the Fiesta Bowl: Galatians 2:20.
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Awesome! Send us a couple more just like him!

[-Laurinaitis33-]

Originally Posted by Born@OSU

Strong showing in your last game as a Buckeye, Mr. Laurinaitis. Well done. And thank you for spreading the Word.
Cheek stripes for the Fiesta Bowl: Galatians 2:20.
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Awesome! Send us a couple more just like him!

I completely agree. I wish the whole team had his attitude and work ethic. He had a great four years, and he is definitely a player that will always be remembered by a lot of people. I wish the best of luck the James and the rest of the senior class as they enter into the professional world.

[osugrad21]

Scout$--Senior Retrospective: James Laurinaitis

Awesome read...great insight into an all-time great.

[BB73]

The CLASS award was presented just before the Fiesta Bowl.

Official.site

Laurinaitis Is Inaugural Winner of the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award For Football

Nation?s Premier Award for Seniors Announced During Fiesta Bowl National Telecast


Tempe, Arizona ? Three-time All-American linebacker James Laurinaitis, who returned to Ohio State University for his senior season in 2008 and led the Buckeyes to a fourth consecutive Big Ten Championship while being a role model both on and off the field, has been named the inaugural winner of the Lowe?s Senior CLASS Award for NCAA. Division I Football (Bowl Subdivision).

The award, chosen by a nationwide vote of coaches, media and fans, is presented annually to the most outstanding NCAA Division I senior student-athlete in nine sports. The announcement and trophy presentation to Laurinaitis were made today during the pre-game show of the Fiesta Bowl national telecast on FOX.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Lowe?s Senior CLASS Award has grown into the nation?s premier tribute to college seniors. The award identifies personal qualities that define a complete student-athlete, with criteria including excellence in the classroom, character and community, as well as competition on the field.

Laurinaitis, who has received many awards including the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, said the Lowe?s Senior CLASS Award is special because of what it represents. "What a tremendous honor this is to be recognized with such a prestigious award,? Laurinaitis said. ?The Lowe's Senior CLASS Award is already well known in basketball, and to be the first-ever winner for football is something very special. I appreciate the compliment it pays to me and to Ohio State to be recognized for character, academics and community service. I am very proud to be the winner."

Laurinaitis was voted team captain for the second consecutive season by his teammates and is only the seventh Buckeye to be elected twice. He is a three-time, first-team All-Big Ten selection, and finished second in the Big Ten in 2008 with 121 tackles (10.1 per game). He recorded eight double-figure tackle games this season and ranks seventh in Ohio State history with 366 career tackles. During his tenure as a Buckeye, Ohio State has played in four BCS Bowl games, including two national championship games.

A fierce competitor, Laurinaitis? ambition is also apparent in the classroom. The Academic All-Big Ten selection will graduate this March with a degree in communications and currently maintains a 3.28 GPA.

A native of Hamel, Minnesota, Laurinaitis makes community outreach a priority. He shares his personal testimony to multiple groups per month and sees his position as a football player as a platform to motivate others.

"James Laurinaitis is the type of young man who takes to heart the ability of a college athlete to be a positive role model for others,? remarked Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel. ?Through his play on the field, through his academic success and through his service to others, he represents Ohio State and collegiate athletics in a tremendously positive manner."

Of the finalists. Joining Laurinaitis on the 2008 first team are: Louie Sakoda (University of Utah), Chase Daniel (University of Missouri - Columbia), Chase Clement (Rice University), and Jeff Byers (University of Southern California). The second team includes Maurice Crum, Jr. (University of Notre Dame), Darryl Richard (Georgia Tech University), Alex Mack (University of California - Berkeley), Travis Beckum (University of Wisconsin - Madison), and Austin Starr (Indiana University).

?When you read about James Laurinaitis one question comes to mind, ?How does he do it??? said Bob Gfeller, Lowe?s senior vice president of Marketing and Advertising. ?James will leave Ohio State University not only as the one of the best defensive players in school history, but also with his degree. Lowe?s is honored to recognize one of the nation?s top athletes not only for his dominance on the football field, but for his community, character and classroom success.?
Sportscaster Dick Enberg, Honorary Chairman of the Lowe?s Senior CLASS Award, first conceived the idea of an award for seniors in 2001 in response to the growing trend of men?s basketball players leaving school early for the NBA.

Cont'd ...

[Buckskin86]

JL not at senior bowl while Rey Maualuga is....

http://seniorbowl.com/north.doc

http://seniorbowl.com/south.doc

[Buckskin86]

mcshay on JL's decision not to particiapte at the Senior Bowl..

Ohio State LB James Laurinaitis
Laurinaitis is one of the true tough guys in the 2009 draft class, which is why his decision not to play in this year's Senior Bowl makes no sense. Wake Forest OLB Aaron Curry doesn't get a totally free pass, but at least he projects as a high first-round pick. Laurinaitis could have used this week to prove he's worthy of a pick in the top half of the first round.

West Virginia QB Pat White among the players to watch at the Senior Bowl - ESPN

[muffler dragon]

[*sarcasm]Right Todd, because we all know JL isn't a first half of the first round pick outside of his collegiate resume.[*/sarcasm]

How the hell this p.o.s. is employed is beyond me.

[WoodyWorshiper]

Originally Posted by muffler dragon

[*sarcasm]Right Todd, because we all know JL isn't a first half of the first round pick outside of his collegiate resume.[*/sarcasm]

How the hell this p.o.s. is employed is beyond me.

Spot-On post, muffler.

JL has won pretty much every award that matters in his time here. He's played at his very best in BIG games when the team hasn't necessarily played their best. Simply put, what Tebow has been on the Offensive side of the ball over the past three years, Lauranaitis has been on the Defensive side of the ball. Call me crazy, bit isn't IT about great players playing great?

Screw the Senior Bowl, they don't even have Cheerleaders!!

Peace.

[808 Buck]

they don't even have Cheerleaders!!

Sure they do. Guys like Kiper, McShay, and the other draft gurus, who appoint themselves experts, and then proceed to second guess real football people who actually have to make a decision.

Just my opinion, but all it takes is one freak injury in a practice/game, and James' career is changed. Yes, there is room for him to improve, but his productivity on the field speaks for itself. Then, there's this little thing called character. He's got plenty of it.

[Buckskin86]

more mcshay on JL....

Seven other players of note either decided not to come or to leave for reasons outside of injuries. They are Wake Forest OLB Aaron Curry, Virginia OT Eugene Monroe, Baylor OT Jason Smith, Texas DE/OLB Brian Orakpo, Ohio State DB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State MLB James Laurinaitis and Georgia Tech DE Michael Johnson.

The absence of these seven players is noticeable and it's made this one of the most disappointing turnouts in recent Senior Bowl history through no fault of the Senior Bowl staff. With few exceptions, they selected and invited the right prospects in our opinion. The problem is agents appear to be steering their players away from this game. The most logical reason for this decision is they don't want their players to risk getting injured but it's a mistake, especially for Laurinaitis and Johnson.

Though Laurinaitis projects himself as a fierce competitor, he's not here to compete with USC's linebackers and scouts are wondering if he has something to hide.

Oklahoma's Juaquin Inglesias, UConn's Darius Butler shine at Senior Bowl - ESPN

[MililaniBuckeye]

Though Laurinaitis projects himself as a fierce competitor, he's not here to compete with USC's linebackers and scouts are wondering if he has something to hide.

Since when did Laurinaitis "project himself" as a fierce competitor, other than by his actual performance on the field? And I doubt the scouts are the ones wondering if he has something to hide. [censored] you, McShay.