DaytonDailyNews.com

COLUMBUS — Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston would root, root, root for the home team while growing up in Detroit, a passionate follower of the Pistons, Red Wings and other pro sports.

But if you asked him then about the Maize and Blue, Gholston might have responded, "The Maize and Who?"

A second-team All-Big Ten pick last season, Gholston still gets grief at home for turning down a scholarship offer from Michigan and choosing the rival Buckeyes. But the fourth-year junior had little interest in college football before he began to hear from recruiters, and he didn't develop any attachments that would keep him from leaving the state.

"Growing up, I didn't get into football until my sophomore year," he said. "I really didn't think I would be playing college football — it was just something to do in high school. Once I saw I had a future and could go somewhere, it was all about making the best decision for me."

The Buckeyes' conquest of mighty Miami in the 2002 national title game caught Gholston's eye.

"I know the mystique Miami had. Everybody thought Ohio State was going to get routed. But I saw the toughness they played with, and that's something I see in myself," he said. "And then knowing the person coach (Jim) Tressel is — the genuineness he has that trickles down to his coaches and players — that's something I wanted to be a part of."

The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Gholston blossomed last season after taking a red-shirt year in 2005 because of a broken finger. He led the Buckeyes with 8.5 sacks and 15 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, ranking fourth in the Big Ten in both categories.

"It was hard not being with my team," Gholston said of his red-shirt season. "But I took that year and ran with it, as far as being in the weight room and studying the game and knowing my plays. When I came back the next year, and I was more mature and ready to play."

Gholston also came back with a V-shaped physique, one so sculpted that he wouldn't look out of place in a Mr. Universe contest. As his bench press rose to more than 450 pounds, his body fat dropped to five percent.

"I've always kept a nice frame," he said. "Working out has been my biggest thing since high school. That's where I put most of my focus and pride."

Another source of pride for Gholston is the team's three straight wins over Michigan. That's a feat that hasn't been matched at OSU since the early 1960s, and it's earned Gholston some grudging respect back home.

"Most people congratulate me, especially my family and friends. They're glad I came to a great situation," he said. "But they hope Michigan can beat me one of these years."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or at dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com