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1/13/06
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OSU FOOTBALL
Hawk, Carpenter may skip Senior Bowl
Linebackers don’t want to hurt draft status
Friday, January 13, 2006
Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
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</IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Ohio State linebacker Bobby Carpenter </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Two of Ohio State’s highest-rated NFL draft prospects that have been invited to the Senior Bowl might not play in the game.
Linebackers A.J. Hawk and Bobby Carpenter said Wednesday that they are weighing their options and might not decide what they’re doing until a few days before the Jan. 28 game.
Their reasons for hesitation are slightly different, but it boils down to this: They might not need to showcase themselves in the game in order to be a high draft pick.
Carpenter is still healing from a broken bone in his lower right leg suffered against Michigan on Nov. 20. He sat out the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 2.
He said he is not yet 100 percent.
"The risk of reinjury at this point is pretty minimal," he said. "The fracture is pretty well healed. I’m going to get another X-ray next week to make sure it’s solid in there, but it feels pretty good. There’s just some soft-tissue stuff I’m trying to take care of."
The issue with the Senior Bowl, as it was in his decision not to play in the Fiesta, has to do with how well he could play.
"If I don’t feel like I can go down there (to Mobile, Ala.) and perform, I’m not going to play," Carpenter said. "(The Senior Bowl) is something that can help me, but it can hurt me a little bit if I don’t play well.
"That’s something I’m going to have to determine Wednesday or Thursday of that week, maybe later, depending on how it’s feeling."
He is confident his performance at Ohio State the past four years, plus his workouts at the NFL combine beginning Feb. 21, will serve him well.
Carpenter is projected as a secondround draft pick with the potential to move up into the first round.
"Part of the advantage of being at Ohio State is playing against top-notch competition every week," he said. "I’ve got good film against good competition."
Hawk has no injury concerns, but his bottom line is the same. Projected as a likely top-10 pick, his stock might not be helped by playing in the game.
Last year, 83 Senior Bowl participants were drafted, but only 10 of 32 first-round picks played in the game.
"I don’t know if I’m playing yet, I haven’t made up my mind," Hawk said.
"They said I could wait up until the last minute. I just listen to whatever people say. I don’t really know how it all works, so I just talk to the people that I need to to see if I should play or not."
Center Nick Mangold plans to play in the Senior Bowl.
Other Buckeyes in all-star games are defensive end Mike Kudla (Hula Bowl, Jan. 21) and safety Nate Salley, offensive lineman Rob Sims, kicker Josh Huston and linebacker Anthony Schlegel (East-West Shrine Game, Jan. 21).
Ohio State has several players who could use the games to improve their draft standing, including Schlegel.
"Any time you get to go against the best and if you can prove yourself there, that always just helps you out," he said.
The draft will take place April 29-30. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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