TE Ben Hartsock (New York Jets)

[Buckskin86]

Ex-Colt Hartsock finally fitting in
By Terry McCormick, tmccormick@nashvillecitypaper.com
June 01, 2007

Hartsock was a third-round pick by Indianapolis in 2004 out of Ohio State, but the former Buckeyes tight end never really got going in the Colts system with just six catches in two-and-a-half injury-filled seasons. Hartsock became the proverbial square peg in Indy.

?I guess they just decided that the type of player that I was wasn?t going to suit the type of system that they were,? Hartsock said. ?They tend to use a smaller tight end, and obviously they?re sending a lot of guys down the field, and that?s not the thing that I do best. ? I think their heaviest guy is only about 240 pounds and I?m about 270.?

?I think there?s a very good opportunity [here],? Hartsock said. ?My opportunity had kind of come and gone in Indianapolis, and it?s nice to have a fresh start with a new team. I feel fortunate to have gotten here when I did because the little bit of game time that I did get last year has helped me to have an opportunity this spring.?

The City Paper - Smart, Fast, Free

[UpNorthBuckeye]

wow. Great to see him catching on there. I completely missed him playing for the Titans last year. Very cool!

[joefoshow]

He can do well in Tennessee with Vince young being who he is.

[Cornerback6]

Originally Posted by joefoshow

He can do well in Tennessee with Vince young being who he is.

If Hartsock does well in Tennessee it will have a whole lot more to do with the team's offensive style of play and play calling than it will Vince.

I do hope he gets some serious pt out there though. I was always kind of bummed he didn't do much in Indy.

[osugrad21]

Link

Unioto grad, NFL player starts scholarship
Ben Hartsock to sell OSU season tickets for $1,000 gifts for four seniors

By JONA ISON
Gazette Staff Writer

Ben Hartsock may live in Tennessee now, but Chillicothe is never far from his heart.
The 1999 Unioto High School grad and Tennessee Titans tight end is starting a local scholarship fund that will benefit four upcoming seniors.
"My wife (Amy) and I speak a lot about the community back home. We both hold it very close to our heart and we just wanted to do something for students back there," Hartsock said.
Hartsock was blessed, he said, to have gotten athletic scholarships to play football at The Ohio State University and knows that not everyone gets an opportunity like that. So he has joined with Chillicothe-Ross Community Foundation to create the Ben Hartsock Scholarship Fund that will start out giving four $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors.

Cont...

[Buckskin86]

Hartsock begins 4th season in pro football
Titans face Jags to start season

Staff , wire reports

NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? Chillicothe native Ben Hartsock begins his fourth year in professional football Sunday as his team, the Tennessee Titans, travel to Jacksonville.

Hartsock, a tight end, is expected to play a big part in the running game as the Titans try to take advantage of his runblocking ability. The Titans already have two pass catching tight ends, Bo Scaife and Ben Troupe.

Chillicothe Gazette - www.chillicothegazette.com - Chillicothe, OH

[osucollegebuck]

to Hartsock for crushing one of the most annoying players in the NFL. Hey Merriman, you got knocked the phuck out!!!!

YouTube - Shawne Merriman Gets Jacked UP

[Buckskin86]

Hartsock caught up in Titans 'hit' controversy

Gannett News Service

NASHVILLE ? Titans Coach Jeff Fisher took offense to claims by the Chargers that he ordered a "hit" on star linebacker Shawne Merriman during Sunday's game.

Merriman suffered a sprained ligament in his left knee against the Titans and will miss this Sunday's game against the Lions.

"I didn't order a hit," Fisher said Monday. "The play was designed and you saw it on the practice field if you watched practice. We're playing ball, that's all. ... He's a good player, but we're playing ball."

Chillicothe Gazette - www.chillicothegazette.com - Chillicothe, OH

[Buckskin86]

Unioto grad on special visit with troops
Titans tight end Ben Hartsock on Super Sunday Tour in Afghanistan, Qatar
By JOEY CHANDLER
Gazette Sports Writer

Wednesday night, the excitement continued to build for Tennessee Titans tight end Ben Hartsock.

In less than 24 hours, he'd be boarding a plane to Afghanistan.

Today he'll be on one of various Army bases throughout Qatar and Afghanistan watching the Super Bowl with the troops.

As part of the 2008 Super Sunday Tour, Hartsock, joined by Carolina Panthers punter Jason Baker, Oakland Raiders guard Cooper Carlisle and two Cincinnati Ben-Gals cheerleaders will visit with soldiers through Saturday. The main focus of the trip is Super Bowl Sunday, but the group also will participate in autograph sessions, meet and greets and visit hospitals. Stops, as Hartsock puts it, will hopefully "help left some spirits."

"One thing that stands out to me is I think it is easy to look at the NFL guys that are going over there and think what a great thing they are doing - but it is really just the opposite and you really have to keep that in perspective," said Hartsock. "It really is a humbling and a wonderful privilege for me to get to go over there and spend time with these men and women."

After the 12-hour flight, Hartsock will be under full military watch. Even as apprehensive as he and his wife were about the risks involving a war zone, they both agreed it was important to grasp such an opportunity.

"We talked it over and it turned out to be an easy decision for both of us," said Hartsock. "My wife Amy made a great point. She said there are thousands of women that have sons and husbands and brothers that go over there and are risking their lives every day. The least we can do is get out of our comfort zone just a little bit to go into their every day reality and spend more time with them. To learn about what it is they go through."

In addition to wearing his Titans gear, Hartsock will be on the lookout for any Buckeyes deployed overseas.

"I'll also be wearing my Ohio State gear trying to send out a flag to somebody that knows or is from that area so they can flag me down and we can talk," said Hartsock.

Central Ohio - www.centralohio.com - Central Ohio, OH

[Buckin' A]

While having a few cold ones on Bourbon Street the day before the game, I met Ben's brother through a mutual friend. They are probably the most down to earth country guys that you'll meet. Turns out that their family farm was only about 30 miles from where I grew up.

[Best Buckeye]

Originally Posted by Buckin' A

While having a few cold ones on Bourbon Street the day before the game, I met Ben's brother through a mutual friend. They are probably the most down to earth country guys that you'll meet. Turns out that their family farm was only about 30 miles from where I grew up.

Just Some real Ohioans , My kind of people.



I guess they thought 30 miles was just far enough.......

[Buckin' A]

Originally Posted by Best Buckeye

Just Some real Ohioans , My kind of people.



I guess they thought 30 miles was just far enough.......

After meeting me, they probably wish it was more!

[BUCKYLE]

"I'll also be wearing my Ohio State gear trying to send out a flag to somebody that knows or is from that area so they can flag me down and we can talk," said Hartsock.

Ben...you were a starting tight end on the first national title football team in 34 years. You won't have to send out any flags.

[Buckskin86]

saw this posted on ozone...follow-up to Ben's Afghanistan trip

Overseas military tour 'humbled' Hartsock

Titans tight end Ben Hartsock earlier this week returned from Afghanistan, where he spent 10 days visiting U.S. troops as part of a goodwill tour.

He shook countless hands, signed hundreds of autographs and, when compared to his life in the states, "roughed it'' while sleeping on base. But he doesn't want a pat on the back for doing it.

"People are very quick to praise those of us who went because of what we did,'' Hartsock said. "But I really try to stress (that the soldiers) are the ones that need to be praised and thanked for what they do month after month after month, instead of a couple of football players taking 10 days to go see them.

"I was very humbled and honored to have a chance to spend time with these soldiers. It was an incredible experience for me.''

As part of a "Super Sunday Tour" arranged through the Pentagon, Hartsock joined Raiders guard Cooper Carlisle, Panthers punter Jason Baker and a few cheerleaders from the Cincinnati Bengals.

Hartsock spent five days at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan and three days in Qatar on the Persian Gulf. The group was scheduled to visit even more bases overseas, but a snowstorm early in the trip limited the travel.

Last offseason, Titans cornerback Nick Harper made a similar goodwill tour, as he traveled to Iraq with several NFL players.

Hartsock said it was an experience he'll never forget.

Among other things, he saw F-15 fighter jets and Apache fighter helicopters, and he toured central command, though he noticed the maps were covered up "so we wouldn't see anything we weren't supposed to see.''

While he spotted protection bunkers around the base and heard jets and helicopters taking off on missions, he said he never felt threatened, in part because the group had a military escort at all times.

"The soldiers, they were so happy for anybody to be there. Not everybody was a huge football fan, but everybody was just happy that there was someone there interested in what they were doing. I had so many guys come up and they just wanted to show you, 'This is what I do. This is where I sit. This is my role in this operation.' Everyone was proud of what they did,'' Hartsock said.

"Now, some people got to sit in cockpits of Apache fighter helicopters ? other people sat behind a desk ordering supplies for everybody. But they were equally as excited about what they got to do.''

Hartsock also met a group of soldiers from Fort Campbell and some from Nashville. As Titans fans, they were thrilled to see him walk in the first day in his Titans jersey, he said.

But perhaps the biggest thrill came when they gathered ? at 3:30 a.m. ? to watch Super Bowl XLII. About 100 soldiers got up early to watch, on a projection screen, the Giants upset the Patriots.

"That was a whole lot of fun,'' Hartsock said. "In a lot of ways, it was just like watching a football game with a lot of friends, though a lot of these guys had loaded rifles at their sides.''

What about Ben? Hartsock is one of the Titans scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent.

His agent has had some conversations with the Titans but the two sides have a way to go. Hartsock caught 12 passes for 138 yards last season and is regarded as a solid blocking tight end.

"We are in a situation where I have really enjoyed my time in Tennessee and I would love to have the opportunity to come back,'' he said. "We just hope we can get the details worked out at this point and make it beneficial for both sides and I am optimistic for that.''

Overseas military tour 'humbled' Hartsock | www.tennessean.com |

[Buckskin86]

Hartsock And Troupe Plan Visits Elsewhere
Staff Report February 29, 2008

Some Titans tight ends are getting attention in free agency, The Tennessean reported.

Tight end Ben Hartsock is scheduled to visit the Falcons on Friday, and Ben Troupe is expected to visit the Buffalo Bills this weekend.

Troupe, a second-round draft pick by the Titans in 2004, caught just 5 passes for 47 yards last season. In four seasons with the Titans he started 29 games, catching 106 passes for 1,056 yards and seven touchdowns.

Hartsock caught 12 passes for 138 yards last season.

Both players became an unrestricted free agent on Friday

Titans Radio: Hartsock And Troupe Plan Visits Elsewhere