Freeman Could Leave As Well
Freeman could be bolting(Photo: Jim Davidson - The O-Zone)
After Monday’s kick-to-the-gut, Buckeye fans now have to endure a little more frustration and pain. Although there hasn’t been much word yet, most fans are expecting some Buckeyes to forgo their senior seasons and test the waters of the NFL. Names like the Gun Show, Jenkins, Laurinaitis, Boone, etc. have been rumored as possible candidates for the NFL Draft. But we could get a few surprises as well. Doug Harris of the Dayton Daily News is reporting that junior linebacker Marcus Freeman is considering whether or not to enter the NFL Draft as well:
“You never want to leave college football like this. You never want to leave a loser. But you just have to take time to think about that (decision). I think I’m going to go back and talk to my family and see what’s best for me in the next couple days.”
Freeman was 2nd on the team with 109 tackles (66 solo). He also had 1.5 sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss, & 2 forced fumbles on the season.
I really hope we don’t see a mass-exodus of players. Especially players like Freeman. I hope that players like Freeman (and other juniors) remember that former Buckeye studs like A.J. Hawk, Mike Doss, & Will “Summertime” Smith came back for their senior seasons. And in all three cases, all of them only improved their draft status because of their senior year play. Hell, Doss even won a ring.
As a fan, I’d love for all of the juniors to come back. But realistically, I know some of them will try the NFL. Players who are 1st round projections should probably go, but guys that are projected as ‘tweeners and later round (2nd day) picks in the draft should give college ball another try.
Message to the lovely ladies on campus: Find a Buckeye junior & tell him how much you’d love to see them stay!
Prediction? Boone stays, but Laurinaitis, Freeman, Gholston and Jenkins go.
Of all of them, Freeman is, to me, the most likely to leave. He reminds me a lot of Na’il Diggs. A lot.
Sounds about right. I’d love to see Laurinaitis stay, though. Stud linebackers are supposed to blow up plays in the opponent’s backfield, not 6 yards off the ball.
Joe, I see your point. That’s a good comparison. I guess I was just counting on Freeman coming back. And I really hope he does. He had a great year…and next year would only be better.
when is the deadline for their decision to turn pro?
Tuesday 1/15
kinda sad. I expect Gholston to go, and am thinking the same for Jenkins. Laurinaitis leaving would be surprising considering his family’s emphasis on education. Boone will leave if the prospect of 3rd round draft pick money is enticing enough. The news on Freeman is surprising, though, considering the apparent surgery he needed. That, and I don’t think most NFL draft scouts know who he is considering how much press Laurinaitis gets (they’ll probably learn).
Of course, fans like me are delusional, but I can’t get over the pride thing. I’d petition the NCAA for additional years if I was part of a class that whiffed in two national title games. But alas, it’s their lives and they’ve given enough good times.
I understand moving to the “next level”- it’s a career move, and it makes sense from a “gosh, I hope I don’t get injured” perspective.
But part of the reason that we lost this year is because of juniors making this same decision last year- imagine if just one of our offensive juniors had stayed. Hard to ask a young man to think past self and future dollars for the greater good of the program and current teammates, but (as another delusional fan) you can always hope for the Peyton Manning decision.
Good point MaliBuckeye, because the hallmark of the last two teams to drub the Buckeyes is they were stocked with seniors (LSU especially).
Although if Pitt had stuck around, with Tress being as loyal as he is, Beanie would have got the ball about 8 times a game all year.
Another thing, I read somewhere that former players were telling this year’s crop of juniors that once you leave, it’s all business. And that sometimes playing football is a lot more fun in college.
Sounds like the same thing for any profession. Growing up & entering the “real” world isn’t as fun as your college days.
IMO, Freeman will make a better pro than Laurinaitis.
“IMO, Freeman will make a better pro than Laurinaitis.”
You know, that’s a smart wager. Freeman has a pro body, is limber, etc. I think Jimmy is more stiff and not as fluid. If you’d have told me that Na’il Diggs would still have a job in the pros after all these years, and Katzenmoyer wouldn’t, I’d have thought you were crazy.
Now, Jimmy isn’t Katzenmoyer, and Andy was cut short by injury, but Freeman reminds me so strongly of Diggs that I bet he plays 6-8 years in the pros. I wouldn’t spend a first round pick on Jimmy, but I’d spend a third on Freeman.
I always thought Freeman would go b/c he has a little girl to take care of. Boone should stay b/c there are a bunch of tackles this year, Long UM, Baker USC, the guy from Boise State, if Boone stays he works himself into the 1st round next year, if he goes he’s at best a high second rounder, which is less money. The animal showed he still has work to do, he can’t cover a TE, and was lost a few times vs LSU he should come back, if he leaves the bucks will be okay b/c Ross Homan, and Curtis Terry are back and they have a bunch of great fast lb’s coming back and sweat coming in they’ll be fine at lb. Gholston will hurt if he leaves but Robert Rose and Wilson will just have to show why they are here. Boone is the one that needs to stay so we don’t have 2 freshman tackles next year.
The Plain Dealer has reported that Lil Animal will speak with A.J. Hawk about if he should go pro or stay for another year.
Laurinaitis was dominated in the national championship game. Don’t let the 18 tackles fool you. Many of them were him finally chasing down an LSU player after a successful play or tackling the tight end he couldn’t cover after a successful play. Laurinaitis is over-rated and should stay his junior year.
Although if Pitt had stuck around, with Tress being as loyal as he is, Beanie would have got the ball about 8 times a game all year.
Jason - January 10th, 2008 at 1:50 am - #
Hell….that’s all it seemed like Beanie got the ball all game. He couldn’t have had too many more carries than that.
Jason…….Tress is loyal with quarterbacks…..not so much with Runningbacks…..a la Mo Clarret knocking Lydell Ross down on the depth chart.
Wil, I think what you meant to say is that Tressel is loyal to seniors. Regardless of position.
No, that is not what he means. And, I should replace TB next year with my super speed, agility, and poon go getter ability. Let me run some options, other than veering for pseudo-hookers on high street.
Booyah, Boeckman Feet!
I love that everyone has multiple personalities now!
(It makes me part of the majority instead of minority for once)
& I’m all for Henton getting a chance! (With the ladies and in the games)
Henton is a good quarterback with his feet, but in practice he struggles badly with the 10-20 yard intermediate routes, and that’s a kiss of death. That must improve for him to unseat Boeckman, or even share time.
I’m afraid it’s Todd’s show next year, folks, unless Antonio’s accuracy and reading ability vastly improve this offseason and over the summer.
Thanks for the inside info Joe, I’ve been a big “pro-Henton guy” bat all I know is the little I’ve seen in games and what gets leaked. If what you say is true I say we go back to the 2002 offense, stick with Todd & ride Beanie to 2000 yards and 20 TD’s.