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Former Coldwater, OSU standout Homan goes to Vikings in NFL draft

Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi (12) is tackled by Ohio State linebacker Ross Homan during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010, in Iowa City, Iowa. Ohio State won 20-17.

Charlie Neibergall/STF Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi (12) is tackled by Ohio State linebacker Ross Homan during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010, in Iowa City, Iowa. Ohio State won 20-17.

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By Greg Billing, Staff Writer 11:56 PM Saturday, April 30, 2011

Unlike Ross Homan’s college recruiting experience — when he knew exactly where he was going — the NFL draft presented a different, and stressful, event.

“I had no idea going into it roundwise or teamwise,” the former Coldwater High School standout said of when or where he would go in the NFL’s three-day, seven-round draft. “It’s not like college where you know what school you’re going to. I was kind of going into it with a blind eye.”

The Minnesota Vikings, whose coaching staff might have been rubbing their eyes seeing Homan’s name still on the board, grabbed the Ohio State University linebacker with the 35th pick in the sixth round and No. 200 overall. He was the fifth and final Buckeye selected, joining defensive end Cameron Heyward (first round, Steelers), cornerback Chimdi Chekwa (fourth, Raiders), safety Jermale Hines (fifth, Rams) and linebacker Brian Rolle (sixth, Eagles).

Pro Football Weekly projected Homan, a three-year starter at OSU, to go in the third or fourth round.

“It didn’t really matter (where I went),” said Homan, the fifth and final Buckeye drafted. “I just wanted to be picked and I’m looking forward to it.”

Scouting reports on Homan praise his football instincts and work ethic, but at 6-foot-1 and 240 pounds he’s considered undersized.

Homan, who will learn under linebackers coach Mike Singletary, added 10 pounds in the offseason.

He may have sweated off a few of those pounds as he waited for that call to come at his parents’ house in Coldwater.

“Stressful, but I’m glad it’s over,” he said. “You have no idea whose gonna call, you’re just waiting on a phone call and when it came I was excited.”

Homan, though, still has some waiting to do. With the lockout in place he can’t report to the Vikings until a new agreement is reached.

Homan is a cousin of former Ohio State quarterback Bobby Hoying, who was drafted in the third round (85th overall) by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1996.

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