LB James Laurinaitis (St. Louis Rams)

[Smooth Olaf]

From wwe.com

What a rush...er
By Zack Zeigler
December 5, 2006


Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis, son of WWE Legend Joe Laurinaitis (known to WWE fans as Road Warrior Animal), has been awarded the 2006 Bronko Nagurski Trophy.
The prestigious award is given to the most outstanding defensive football player at the NCAA Division I level. As a sophomore linebacker for the Buckeyes, Laurinaitis compiled an astounding 100 tackles, five interceptions and four sacks.
"It?s amazing? and to think, he was just hoping to start at the beginning of the year," exclaimed his proud father. "He called me from the airport and said, ?Dad, you?ll never believe it, but I won the Bronko Nagurski.?"
Along with being named an AP All-American and a Walter Camp First Team All-American, he was also named second team Academic All-American.
"He has finals," Joe said, "so he had to prepare for them instead of accepting his trophy."

Past recipients of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy include Warren Sapp, Champ Bailey and Charles Woodson, who have all found success in the NFL. But Joe credits the role models James encountered in WWE as a major influence on his work ethic and current successes.

[My son] grew up around the business. JBL ribbed him when Ohio State lost to Texas when James was a freshman," he said. "This year they had to eat crow because the Buckeyes spanked Texas."

Ron "Faarooq" Simmons, another of James' childhood heroes, was also a Walter Camp All-American while at Florida State University.
"It?s pretty cool that Faarooq ? someone James idolized in the wrestling ring ? also won the same award; it was pretty cool and exciting for James," said his father.
While the future looks especially bright for the young Buckeye, his father knows the importance of keeping his sights zeroed in on success.
"James is getting to the point of his own celebrity status as a college football star," Joe said, "but he?ll know how to handle it; he?s got his head on straight and he?s a very humble kid."

[Padraig]

Couldn't have gone to a nicer guy...well done James!

[Smooth Olaf]

It's pretty cool that James, son of a wrestler, won an award named after a football player who was also a professional wrestler.

They're both from Minnesota, too. Congrats, James! And here's looking forward to you forcing a couple fumbles against those jokers from Florida.

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Congrats James!

[DaddyBigBucks]

Congratulations Animal.

(Maybe we should drop the "l'il" now)

[Okinawa's#1Buck]

Great win for James and a nice addition to the overall OSU trophy case.

Congrats James. Here's to another one next year and to breaking Spillman's single season LB interception record against Florida!

[OSU_Buckguy]

Originally Posted by Okinawa's#1Buck

Here's to another one next year and to breaking Spillman's single season LB interception record against Florida!

yeah! c'mon, li'l animal, get that spillman. spills!

[Okinawa's#1Buck]

Originally Posted by 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!)

I went to HS with Charles "Poochie" Woo-- and I can't even say it with out a little Listerine to wash the taste out.

[jimotis4heisman]

amazing, but i don find it odd he wasnt an afca all american...

[osugrad21]

OZone

Football
Laurinatis Nabs Nagurski
By John Porentas
It wasn't too long ago that James Laurinaitis was a high school senior and was spending his free time playing hockey in his home state of Minnesota and wearing around one of his favorite shirts, an number 45 Ohio State jersey like the one that was worn by former OSU linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer.
About a year-and-half later, Laurinaitis has his own OSU jersey, number 33, and as a sophomore, has won the Bronco Nagurski Award, the first sophomore every to do so. Laurinaits in incredulous when it's suggested that his noteriety is already beginning to approach that of Katzenmoyer and other OSU linebacker greats.
James Laurinaitis
Photo by Jim Davidson "It's crazy, because I still sit there and wish my Katzenmoyer jersey fit me so I could wear it around," chuckled Laurinaitis.
"It's surreal. Just to play and start here, and say that I started at linebacker at Ohio and to know everyone else who has started here that's played great in college, whether they went on to the NFL or not, just playing here is something special at that position. It's just an honor," Laurinaitis said.
Laurinaitis has had some moments this season he would probably rather forget, but from the first game of the year it has been apparent that he is, above all, a playmaker, and it is most likely that quality that endeared him to the voters for the Nagurski. When the season began, however, Laurinaitis was one of the question marks in the OSU lineup, a new name and new face in a defense composed mostly of new names and new faces. Observers simply wondered if he could be adequate, let along exceptional. For that matter, so did Laurinaitis. National honors were the absolute last thing on his mind.
"I remember filling out my goal sheet earlier this season and I put my goal for this year to make sure I started every game and did my assignments," said Laurinaitis.
"Coach Tressel has you plan long-term goals and stuff like that. I put as a long-term goal me being All-Big Ten and maybe being up for some awards, but nothing specific or anything.
"It (the award) all comes as a big surprise to me. I didn't think, especially coming from Minnesota, I was just trying to find my way onto a roster spot, let alone any of this stuff. It's a definite blessing," Laurinaitis said.
Laurniaitis had plenty of highlight moments this year including a team-high five interceptoins, one pass breakup, four sacks, and team-high three forced fumbles and eight tackles for loss to go with his team-leading 100 tackles.
His sophomore year leaves you wondering how he could possible follow up with anything better. Laurinaitis, however, doesn't see it that way.
"I'm more the perfectionist type. I'll look at that Texas game and talk about one of the long runs by Jamal Charles up the middle is my fault. I take that stuff more to heart," said Laurinaitis.
Despite his award and the adulation is brings, Laurinaitis still sees himself as a work in progress. For starters, he does not feel as though he has yet measured up to past OSU linebacker greats like A. J. Hawk and Katzenmoyer.
"Maybe by others, but not through my eyes," said Laurinaits.
"Not yet. I still feel I'm below those guys and need to continue to work hard to get to that level someday. I've got two more years here. Hopefully when I leave here I'll be able to maybe I'm up on that level but not yet, not yet. I'm still young. I just turned 20.
"You look across the room and you see Katzenmoyer up there and you see A. J. and you thing 'You have a long way to go,'" Laurinaitis said.
Notes:
* There were five finalists for the Nagurski Award. Laurinaitis, defensive end Gaines Adams of Clemson, cornerback Leon Hall of Michigan, safety Reggie Nelson of Florida and linebacker Patrick Willis of Mississippi. With Hall from Michigan in the group as well as Nelson of Florida, reporters had a field day stirring the pot regarding the BCS championship game.
"At every press conference they had they had James Adams at one end of the table and Patick Willis on the other. I sat right between Leon Hall and Reggie Nelson, a Florida and a Michigan guy," said Laurinaitis.
"It was always the first question, 'Who did you want to play?' I just sat back and relaxed and let those two fight it out."
* Laurinaitis met with reporters on Tuesday. He was a bit bleary eyed when he did so. Laurinaitis explained.
"It had to fly and get back for two finals this morning," said Laurinaitis.
"I haven't been to sleep since 6:45 yesterday morning when I started going around for the whole thing with the guys, got in about 1:00 AM, then went right over the the Yunkin Success Center and started studing (for exams) and stayed up all night. I found out in the airport (that he won). It was a complete shock," Laurinaitis said.
Laurinaitis didn't have a whole lot of time for cramming. He had a final in Human Nutrition from 7:30 AM until 9:15, then another in micro-economics from 9:30 until 11:15. Then the day got really tough.
"I went and worked out after that too," said Laurinaits.
He spent the afternoon doing errands until he met with reporters. The good news is that he's done with finals and can get some rest.

[BB73]

Congrats to James on being a Butkus finalist.

The 2006 Butkus winner is Patrick Willis of Ole Miss.

[osugrad21]

Can't complain about the choice...Willis is a stud also.

[scarletngrey11]

I agree, Willis definitely deserves this award.

[Best Buckeye]

Congrats James,
Willis is a good choice 137 takles Wow.

[Tresselbeliever]

Congrats for being a finalist. Bring it home next season!