DaytonDailyNews.com

COLUMBUS — NFL general managers are always looking for disruptive speed-rushers at defensive end, and Ohio State's senior football players showed they understand how valuable those players are while serving as GMs for the spring game draft Wednesday, April 16.

First, some quick background: Coach Jim Tressel divvies up his seniors-to-be between the Scarlet and Gray teams and then lets them take turns selecting the nonseniors one position at a time. And it's always a lively affair.

With the opening pick, Scarlet linebacker James Laurinaitis and his mates surprised onlookers by grabbing sophomore Thaddeus Gibson, who has excelled this spring at the "Leo" spot, which is a linebacker-defensive end hybrid whose primary function is to pressure quarterbacks.

After announcing his name, they mimicked the NFL draft by presenting Tressel with Gibson's No. 90 jersey.

"For him to be the first pick, that tells you what his teammates felt," Tressel said. "And it wasn't just one guy saying it. ... They thought it out."

Sophomore tackle Bryant Browning was the first nonsenior offensive lineman taken. Junior running back Chris Wells is among those sitting out the game with injuries.

When the draft concluded, the trash-talking commenced.

"I think the Scarlet has unbelievable team unity and had unbelievable decision-making by the senior leaders," Laurinaitis said. "We have an athletic defensive line to get after the quarterback. We made some good choices, way better than the Gray."

"We have a tremendous secondary and great running backs and receivers. And at offensive and defensive line, we're set," countered senior cornerback Malcolm Jenkins, the Gray spokesman. "We'll come out on top, just like we did last year."

Ohio State spring game

When: 1 p.m. Saturday, April 19 (will follow a men's lacrosse game, which begins at 11 a.m.)

Where: Ohio Stadium

Tickets: General admission, $5, can be purchased at the stadium

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