Ohio State's linebackers might be getting coached by a Hall of Famer soon.
Current Buckeye linebackers coach and team linebacker legend James Laurinaitis is one of 79 players nominated for the College Football Hall of Fame class of 2026. It's his seventh consecutive year on the ballot.
Laurinaitis makes a great case for induction as one of the greatest linebackers in not just Ohio State history but college football history. A three-time All-American, Laurinaitis has one of the loaded trophy cases possible for a collegiate defender. He won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the best defensive player in college football in 2006, the Dick Butkus Award as the nation's best linebacker in 2007 and the Ronnie Lott IMPACT Trophy for excellence on and off the field as a defensive player in 2008. He was the two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2007 and 2008.
The last Buckeye to record 100 tackles in three consecutive seasons, Laurinaitis is No. 7 in school history with 375 takedowns. He added 24.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks and nine interceptions. He set a single-season school record for linebackers with five picks in 2006.
A second-round NFL draft pick, Laurinaitis enjoyed a long and successful NFL career with the Rams (then of St. Louis, now of Los Angeles), where he played seven seasons before rounding out his career with a year playing for the New Orleans Saints. He collected at least 100 tackles each of his campaigns in St. Louis, collecting 869 for his career with 32 TFLs, 16.5 sacks and 10 interceptions.
Ballots are sent from the College Football Hall to more than 12,000 National Football Foundation members and Hall of Fame inductees, with the voting closing on July 1. The inductees will be announced in early 2026.
Laurinaitis would be the 35th Ohio State player or coach inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He'd be the fourth linebacker selected in the school's decorated history at the position, joining Randy Gradishar, Tom Cousineau and Chris Spielman.
