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Ohio State DE ready to return to starting position on top unit
Lawrence Wilson missed 2007 season and the BCS title game after breaking his leg in the opener.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
COLUMBUS — Lawrence Wilson, who missed almost the entire 2007 regular season with a broken leg, had practiced with the Ohio State football team leading up to the BCS championship game. As the game neared, many wondered whether the defensive end would see the field.
"I knew I wasn't going to play before the game, but as soon as you get into warm-ups the juices started flowing," Wilson said surrounded by reporters on Tuesday, April 1. "I actually second-guessed myself. I was thinking, 'Should I run out there? Should I not?'"
Extras
Just in case, Wilson took an unusual method to protect himself from last-minute urges.
"I hid my helmet from myself so I couldn't find it," Wilson said.
This spring, Wilson has been a hidden man in the OSU statistics. The Buckeyes will technically return nine starters from last season's defensive unit that was considered one of the nation's best, but the number really could be 10. Wilson, a junior from Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary who was a highly publicized, final-day commitment to the Buckeyes in February 2005, started the opener against Youngstown State last season but broke his leg and didn't return the rest of the year.
With a medical redshirt, the 6-foot-6, 276-pound Wilson presumably slides back into his starting spot at defensive end and gives OSU more experience on an already seasoned group. To protect his redshirt, though, Wilson had to stay off the field against LSU in the Superdome.
That's where his helmet-hiding skills came in.
"Right before, I took it off and went behind the bench; I went behind this other bench and put it behind there," Wilson said. "So, if I was tempted to run in, I would have to go find it."
OSU fans and teammates await Wilson's return to the field, especially because of his workout numbers — a 4.6-second 40-yard dash, 600-pound squat, 300-pound bench press and 36-inch vertical leap. He rejoins a defensive line missing just one starter, presumed first-round draft pick Vernon Gholston.
"I am anxious to see what he can do," said OSU defensive coordinator Jim Heacock. "I thought he was set up to have a really good year last year. I thought he was really going to be a cornerstone of the defense."
With a year watching from the sidelines and the film room, many feel Wilson can quickly resume that role. This time, he'll have his helmet with him.
"I think I made the right decision," Wilson said of not playing the national championship game. "I wasn't fully 100 percent for the game, so I would've been favoring it. Now that I have two more years, I can go all out."
Wilson's career
At Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary: Ranked Ohio's top defensive end by several recruiting services as a senior in 2005. Was first-team All-Ohio as a senior after collecting 10 sacks (plus 15 as a junior).
2005: Missed only the Texas game as a Buckeye rookie and played 17 minutes against Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. Had two tackles.
2006: Played in 12 games and had 17 tackles (as well as three sacks). His best game came against Illinois, when he had five tackles.
