Gholston makes good on one part of his prediction
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston learned two things about himself yesterday with his second-quarter interception: He has good hands for a pass rusher and he should not go around making bold predictions.
After dropping off the line into zone coverage in the flat, his theft of a deflected pass from Bowling Green quarterback Anthony Turner set up the Buckeyes? third touchdown in their 35-7 win. But even though Gholston returned it 8 yards to the BG 21, it wasn?t what he had predicted, and his defensive line mates reminded him.
"Earlier in the week, he had said, ?If I ever get a pick in the flat, I?m going to take it to the house,? " defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock said. "So I gave him a hard time about that. But I am just ecstatic he was able to catch it."
Besides, he did get 8 yards.
"Yeah, but you?d like to go all the way," Gholston said.
No matter, the pick will do a lot for the morale in the D-line meeting room, defensive coordinator Jim Heacock said, and bring attention to a relatively unsung player for the top-ranked Buckeyes, who boosted their nation-leading interception total to 12.
"Vernon has played well all year," Heacock said of the sophomore, who added a sack to raise his total to 4.5, second only to Pitcock?s five. "He has just really been a consistent player.
"I don?t know coming into the season if I thought that would have happened, but he has really been consistent and made some big plays."
The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Gholston is just getting started, really, said middle linebacker James Laurinaitis.
"Vernon, I think, is seeing how dominant he can be with how strong he is," Laurinaitis said. "He is realizing how strong he is and how much of an impact he can have on this team and this Dline. ? He?s showing he?s got some hands, too.
"He has the capability of really doing whatever he wants, that?s how strong he is."
But getting his hands on an interception, that was his first one since ?
"Ever," Gholston said. "That?s something we?re not used to as defensive linemen, so the opportunity to get the ball in my hands, it was great."
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