DaytonDailyNews.com

COLUMBUS — Austin Spitler still has a mark on the bridge of his nose, a reminder of a practice injury. There's another just beneath his lower lip, a second facial scar from his Ohio State football experience.

"I must have a weird-shaped head or something," Spitler joked. "I can't get a helmet that fits me. It slides down, my chin strap comes undone, so now I have a few scars to show for it. Hopefully, soon I'll have one that fits."

He also hopes to find where he fits in the OSU linebacker rotation. Spitler, a junior from Bellbrook, will enter his third straight season as the backup for two-time All-American James Laurinaitis in the fall. Many speculated Laurinaitis would relinquish his final year of eligibility and enter this month's NFL draft.

Laurinaitis, though, decided to return. When asked for his honest reaction for the Laurinaitis news, Spitler smiled.

"Oh, crap," he said.

Spitler was one of the four linebackers Ohio State produced for interviews last week, which means he certainly isn't forgotten. The 6-foot-3, 234-pounder has played in all 26 games of his two-year career, finishing last season with 26 tackles, including 2½ for loss.

Laurinaitis, ahead of him one spot on the depth chart, was the Big Ten's defensive player of the year after making 121 tackles with five sacks and two interceptions. Considered one of the best linebackers in Ohio State history, he was celebrated for announcing his return to complete his four-year career.

Spitler, meanwhile, presumably will wait another year as a backup or possibly look for playing time at the other two linebacker positions.

"At first, when I first heard ... it took me a couple weeks to just think about it, sit down and talk to the coaches. We went over it and everything," Spitler said.

"They made me feel like obviously I was wanted, that I needed to be here. I got over it, and from now on, it's just work, work, work. Continue to get better, and we're going to find the best 11 players and put the best 11 on the field."

Contact this reporter at 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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