Posted on Sun, Aug. 13, 2006
Sophomore shaping up as starter for OSU
Former St. V-M standout Lawrence Wilson improves running style with help of former world record holder
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sportswriter
COLUMBUS - Since he made his first start in the Fiesta Bowl in January, Ohio State's Lawrence Wilson has analyzed films of last year's defense. He's studied his Buckeyes idols, Mike Kudla and Will Smith. He's lost seven pounds of what he calls ``baby fat'' and fine-tuned his 6-foot-6, 270-pound frame.
But the true sophomore from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School might have made the most strides in his work with fellow Akron native Butch Reynolds.
Reynolds, the former world-record holder in the 400 meters who serves as OSU's speed coordinator, took one look at Wilson's running style and decided he needed a makeover.
``He had speed, but it was all over the place,'' Reynolds said.
Ranked the top defensive end in Ohio coming out of high school and also a basketball standout, Wilson struggled to describe his old form without making himself sound like a klutz.
``He said I ran, I wouldn't call it uncoordinated, kind of crazy,'' Wilson said of Reynolds. ``He said I'm so explosive, but I can't really control it right now. He said if I compacted all my energy and explosiveness into a smooth running form I would be a lot faster.''
Reynolds' results won't be known until Ohio State takes the field Sept. 2 for the season opener against Northern Illinois. But as preseason practice opened last week, Wilson was listed as a starter at defensive end, a spot the coaches don't expect him to relinquish.
``He's got a lot of potential. He's really talented. He's special,'' OSU defensive coordinator Jim Heacock said Thursday at the team's picture day.
``He's got the weight, he's got the strength, he's got the explosion. He's got the whole package. Good kid, studies hard, learns the game. Off the field good young man, great family. Now you've just got to go out and make plays. That's the next step.''
Wilson's teammates don't seem to have any doubt what that next step will be.
In the draft for April's spring game, the seniors made Wilson the first position player taken. The Scarlet team later tried to trade for him. Even though he missed some time with a hamstring injury suffered in winter conditioning, the buzz surrounding Wilson was undeniable.
Heacock said one of Wilson's first plays at OSU, when he went over the top of an opponent trying to get to the quarterback, was typical of his style.
Asked if that was youthful exuberance or idiocy, Heacock said: ``Stupidity. That's the way he plays, though. He plays all out. He's fanatical. He's very intense. We'll take that. I'd like to have about 10 more.''
None of these compliments seem to have gone to Wilson's head. He said he doesn't even consider himself a starter yet.
``A lot of people are talking about it. But I'm trying to stay humble and help our defense be the No. 1 defense in the country,'' he said of the unit that lost nine starters. ``I felt good coming out of the spring. I felt I learned the defense. I thought I executed pretty well. This summer I've got a lot to learn. I'm still young and I've still got a lot to accomplish.
``I'm playing a lot faster because I don't have to think as much. If I get to the point where I don't have to think at all and it comes natural, I think I'll be pretty good.''
Wilson admitted that seeing 17 minutes of action in the Fiesta Bowl inspired him, even though he recorded no tackles.
``I'm a lot more hungry now,'' he said. ``Once you get a little taste, I want to play a lot more and contribute and help us win a national championship.''
Heacock doesn't sound worried that he's putting a lot on a sophomore.
``He's ready. He was ready last year,'' Heacock said. ``It takes a special kid to be able to play as a freshman with everything that's going on, the autographs, the academics, pressure. If they can handle it as a freshman, that's pretty unique. He was able to handle it, and really you would never know he was a freshman.''
Even with only a few glimpses of Wilson's ability on the field, some are already comparing him with Smith, the former OSU All-American and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2003. Smith recorded 8 ½ sacks in his second season last year with the New Orleans Saints.
``I love Will's explosiveness off the line,'' Wilson said. ``I'd love to be half the player Will Smith was.''
But Heacock isn't the one making that comparison. While Smith weighed about 235 pounds and was leaner than Wilson when he arrived in Columbus, he said their skills are different.
``Will was a little bit more of an edge guy, a speed guy,'' Heacock said. ``Lawrence is more of a physical guy, has a little bit more explosion, a little more physical on blockers. I don't think they're similar-type players. But in capabilities they're probably similar.''
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Marla Ridenour can be reached at
[email protected]
