LB James Laurinaitis (St. Louis Rams)

[OhioState49]

Congradulations James! You definently earned it!

[slickman]

reminds me of the time i won my first Nagurski... ahhh... those were the days...

oh, wait. Shoot, that wasn't me. I keep daydreaming other people's daydreams. I guess its safe to say that James is pretty good, even though posters on the Gators forums think he's overrated and undersized.

Originally Posted by GatorinOhio
Lord Gator
Posts: 1704
12/4/06 10:20pm

Quote
Reply
Re: OSU LB Laurinitis wins top defender (Nagurski) award--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have seen a few OSU games and I personally think he is overrated. Very good player, but I can think of at least 10 other defensive players in the country I would take over him. He is not great at stopping the run but he is good at pass coverage. I don't think he is that much better than Siler either.

Especially compared to their LBs:
13 Brian Crum | 6-3, 237, Sr., 2V
41 Ryan Stamper | 6-1, 217, Fr., RS

30 Earl Everett | 6-2, 231, Sr., 3V
32 Dustin Doe | 6-2, 206, Fr., HS
56 Darryon Robinson | 6-0, 235, Sr., SQ

40 Brandon Siler | 6-2, 239, Jr., 2V
41 Ryan Stamper | 6-1, 217, Fr., RS

vs

33 James Laurinaitis | 6-3, 244

[AtlBuckeyeFan]

Congrats, Lil'Animal!

[BB73]

Awesome news - congrats to Lil' Animal!

[Bestbuck36]

Let the hardware onslaught begin! I don't think he'll stay two more years but if he did, he could be the most celebrated linebacker (as far as awards) that we've ever had.

[Steve19]

This is well-deserved. Congrats to Li'l Animal. We lost one of the best linebacking corps ever last year and it went pretty much unnoticed this year. That is one heck of an accomplishment.

I don't think this is going to his head or anyone else's. Our defense has some work to do before the NC game and they will do it.

[lvbuckeye]

wow... i didn't see this coming... he's in some pretty elite company with the likes of Warren Sapp and Charles Woo-- ugh, i just threw up a little bit in my mouth... i can't finish.

Congrats, Animal! (can't call him 'Little' anymore!)

[osugrad21]

CPD

Award-winning Buckeye

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

B est known as the son of a professional wrestler when he arrived at Ohio State last year, middle line backer James Laurinaitis is now known for his accomplish ments on the football field. Monday, the sophomore from Minnesota won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given to the top defensive player in the country.
Laurinaitis, who saw his only significant playing time as a freshman in OSU's final two games, beat out four other finalists, including Leon Hall from Michigan and Florida's Reggie Nelson. He leads the Buckeyes with 100 tackles and five interceptions and has a knack for coming up with game-turning plays. One of many Buckeyes up for postseason honors, Laurinaitis is the first sophomore to win the award.

CPD

OSU FOOTBALL



Laurinaitis wins Nagurski Trophy



Tuesday, December 05, 2006 Doug Lesmerises

Plain Dealer Reporter
The Heisman Trophy finalists won't be announced until Wednesday, but Ohio State's awards season got off to a flying start Monday when sophomore linebacker James Laurinaitis won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the best defensive player in the country.
The honor capped a remarkable rise for the Buckeyes' middle linebacker, who came to lead and represent the unexpected success of a young defense during Ohio State's 12-0 regular season. He's the first Buckeyes player and first sophomore to be honored in the 14-year history of the Nagurski.
"To win this year, just think about the next two years. That's going to be really scary," his father, Joe Laurinaitis, a former professional wrestler, said Monday night. "But anything on top of what's already happened this season is a bonus. To win something like this is overwhelming. He's on cloud nine."

Laurinaitis' parents didn't accompany him to the Nagurski banquet in Charlotte, N.C., because they knew he'd be leaving before the announcement in order to get back for a final exam today. OSU linebackers coach Luke Fickell accepted the award on behalf of Laurinaitis.
"It was an honor to be here," Laurinaitis said in a statement. "To be with this level of players, it's kind of surreal, me being the young guy. I was in high school when these guys were [already] in college. I definitely could not have done it without the entire defensive line and the whole defense."
Though Laurinaitis leads the Buckeyes with 100 tackles and five interceptions, his selection couldn't be based on just numbers. With 8.33 tackles per game, he's tied for 46th in the country, and his five picks tie him for 20th. But the Buckeyes have the No. 2 scoring defense in the nation.
Laurinaitis is also one of three finalists for the Butkus Award as top linebacker, which will be handed out Thursday. The other two finalists for the Butkus are Penn State's Paul Posluszny and Mississippi's Patrick Willis, and after Monday night, Laurinaitis must be considered the Butkus favorite.
The other four players up for the Nagurski were Willis, Michigan cornerback Leon Hall, Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams and Florida safety Reggie Nelson. Past Nagurski winners include Warren Sapp, Charles Woodson and Champ Bailey.

Canton

Laurinaitis wins Nagurski Trophy
Tuesday, December 5, 2006


Ohio State middle linebacker James Laurinaitis won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Monday night, awarded to the nation’s best defensive player by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. The sophomore leads the top-ranked Buckeyes with 100 tackles and five interceptions. He also has four sacks.
The award was another victory for Ohio State over rival Michigan, with Wolverines cornerback Leon Hall was one of the five finalists. The 6-foot-3 244-pound Laurinaitis also beat out Florida safety Reggie Nelson. The Buckeyes will face the Gators for national title on Jan. 8.

[osugrad21]

BN Free (Greg Powers)

BN II Free (Steve Helwagen)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Congratulations to Laurinaitis. He is very deserving. Pretty impressive to be the first Sophmore to win the award.




Dispatch

BRONKO NAGURSKI AWARD
Laurinaitis named top defender in college
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

JOHN W . ADKISSON CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Ohio State’s James Laurinaitis with the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

James Laurinaitis


James Laurinaitis found himself in somewhat of a bind at lunch yesterday, hours before the Bronko Nagurski Award ceremony in Charlotte, N.C.
As the Ohio State sophomore linebacker took his assigned seat, he found Florida safety Reggie Nelson on one side of him and Michigan cornerback Leon Hall on the other.
In front of him were inquiring minds.
"Somebody asked me who I would rather play in the national championship game," Laurinaitis said by telephone before the award was announced. "I just told them they were both great programs and it would be an honor to play either of them."
Laurinaitis’ diplomacy proved he’s getting the hang of the big stage. Besides, he turned out to be the star of the show, even in absentia.
Laurinaitis left early to catch a flight back to Columbus — he has a couple of exams today before he heads to his next awards ceremony — before the Charlotte Touchdown Club named him the nation’s best defensive player.
His credentials, which include leading the Buckeyes in tackles (100) and interceptions (five), match up well with his competition, but Laurinaitis said Ohio State’s success, in particular the rise of the defense, put him in the spotlight.
"I look at this as a direct compliment to our great defensive line and the rest of the guys on our defense," he said. "We played well together as the season went along, and that line especially allowed a lot of us other guys to make plays. I feel very fortunate in that respect."
With that said, former Ohio State linebacker Bobby Carpenter predicted good things for Laurinaitis months ago. In the spring, when Carpenter was asked about the prospects for a Buckeyes defense that lost nine starters, he told everyone to keep an eye on Laurinaitis.
"I just remembered watching his freshman season last year, and the way he worked, the way he picked up things," Carpenter said by phone yesterday. "It takes a little time to adjust to the physical nature of college football, but you could tell he was going to be a good one."
By the end of the week, Laurinaitis could be one of the more decorated sophomore linebackers in history. He also is up for the Butkus Award, with the winner to be announced Thursday night.
Andy Katzenmoyer, the only OSU player to win the award as the nation’s top linebacker, also did it as a sophomore, in 1997.
Laurinaitis belongs among the candidates, said Carpenter, who is now with the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and has kept tabs on the player who replaced him one play into last year’s Michigan game after a broken ankle ended Carpenter’s season.
"His stats really speak for themselves," Carpenter said. "He was on a great defense, and he was a focal point of that defense. And his big plays, most of them came at crucial times that really turned the tide.
"He’s very deserving. Plus, I am rooting for him 100 percent to win that Butkus. A.J. (Hawk) kind of got messed over when he didn’t get that award last year."
Penn State’s Paul Posluszny won the Butkus last year and is a finalist again, along with Laurinaitis and Patrick Willis of Mississippi.
"I would like to make amends for A.J., but I have to tell you, Paul is a great person and a great player — it’s too bad they couldn’t have given two of those last year," Laurinaitis said. "Just to be associated with all of these great players is an honor in itself."
tmay@dispatch.com

[sandgk]

Once again Congratulations to Little Animal, it seems more ironic that he was flanked by Leon Hall and Reggie Nelson before the award was announced.
BTW - did anyone catch this?

Laurinaitis, nicknamed "Little Hawk" in reference to his professional wrestling father, "Road Warrior Hawk," is the first sophomore to win the award, which is voted upon by the Football Writers Association of America and sponsored by the Charlotte Touchdown Club.

On BN II -- nicknamed Little Hawk?? Methinks they have mucked up Hegstrand & Laurinaitis.

[Cornerback6]

Very cool news. Congrats to James and yes, let the Hardware Party begin! All in attendance: JL, TS...the rest TBA.

[BuckBackHome]

Outstanding news! I never expected it for a sophomore. Congrats to James!

[bkochmc]

Congrats James! Now let's cap that award with a 10+ tackle, 1 forced fumble, and 1 INT night on Jan 8!

[SanAntonioBuck]

Congratulations Lil' Animal! Well deserved!