DT Cameron Heyward (6x Pro Bowl, 3x All Pro, Pittsburgh Steelers)

[GeorgiaBuck2]

The only thing he doesn't have on the stat sheet is a sack, but that will come in time.

 

[Buckskin86]

Senior defenders: Top prospects by position
Expert By Chad Reuter
The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com
Sep. 27, 2010

Defensive end

1. Cameron Heyward (Ohio State) 6-5/285/4.92/1
Strong five-technique/inside pass rusher had his Ndamukong Suh moment when dropping into coverage and returning an interception 80 yards against Miami.

2. Adrian Clayborn (Iowa) 6-3/286/4.79/1
Going up against left tackles, he brings constant pressure by using leverage and strong hands off the edge.

3. Allen Bailey (Miami, Fla.) 6-4/288/4.79/1
Like Heyward, he looks to project nicely as 3-4 defensive end (12 tackles, three for loss, one sack).

4. Cameron Jordan (California) 6-4/285/4.85/1-2
Another excellent 3-4 prospect, Jordan is consistently pushing the pocket and playing strong against the run. He could shoot to the top of this list by season's end.

5. Ryan Kerrigan (Purdue) 6-4/263/4.82/1-2
The nation's leader in tackles for loss combines strength and hustle to be a pass rusher in the Aaron Kampman mold.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/14027087/senior-defenders-top-prospects-by-position

 

[Buckskin86]

Ohio State notes: View is different for Heyward (with video)
Published: Wednesday, October 13, 2010
By John Kampf
[email protected]

Anna Norris/Journal Register News Service Ohio State defensive end Cameron Heyward slows Indiana�s Trea Burgess in the first half of Ohio State�s 38-10 win at Ohio Stadium Saturday afternoon in Columbus.

COLUMBUS ? Things are different in Columbus now, and Cameron Heyward knows it.

With Alabama's loss to LSU last weekend and Ohio State's win over Indiana, the Buckeyes (6-0) will head to Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday night to play No. 18 Wisconsin (5-1) as the new No. 1 team in the land.

Ohio State is 66-11-1 all time as the nation's top-ranked team. But the Buckeyes' recent experiences as No. 1 haven't been all that kind. They lost to LSU, 38-24, in the 2007 national championship game the last time they were ranked No. 1. And the time before that, they were crushed by Florida, 41-14, in the 2006 title game.

"We always just want to be No. 2, then we just go under the radar," Heyward said. "But we know since we're No. 1 we're going to have the bull's-eye on our back even more. But I don't think anyone's complaining about it. We know we have great responsibility.

"Yeah, no one expects to do everything. But when you're at No. 1, everyone's looking to you to fall. We know everybody does and we look forward to just proving them wrong."

http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2010/10/13/sports/nh3160645.txt

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSvTqP_qvlw"]YouTube - Cameron Heyward talks about Wisconsin (Part I)[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noJVq1fFIu0"]YouTube - Cameron Heyward talks about Wisconsin (Part II)[/ame]

 

[Ryan36_1]

With Alabama's loss to LSU last weekend and Ohio State's win over Indiana, the Buckeyes (6-0) will head to Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday night to play No. 18 Wisconsin (5-1) as the new No. 1 team in the land.

Man, I knew Les Miles was a lucky coach who wins games he has no business winning, but this is taking it to a whole new level.

 

[GeorgiaBuck2]

Man, I knew Les Miles was a lucky coach who wins games he has no business winning, but this is taking it to a whole new level.

 

[BB73]

Official.site

Heyward, Homan Named Lott IMPACT Trophy Quarterfinalists

COLUMBUS, Ohio ? Ohio State seniors Cameron Heyward and Ross Homan are two of 23 finalists for the 2010 Lott IMPACT Trophy, awarded to college football?s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. The award is given to the player who exhibits the same characteristics Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

The semifinalists will be announced Nov. 3 and the four finalists Nov. 24. Those four finalists will be flown to Newport Beach, Ca. for the annual black-tie banquet that will be televised by FOX.

Homan, the Lott player of the week Sept. 18, leads the Buckeyes with 41 tackles on the season, including 2.0 TFL, one sack, one interception, three pass break-ups, a forced fumble and a recovery. Heyward has 20 tackles on the year and leads the Buckeyes with 5.5 TFL, an 80-yard interception return and a fumble recovery.

Now in its seventh year, the Lott is the first ? and only ? college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. Former Buckeye James Laurinaitis won the award in 2008.

There are 10 defensive linemen on the quarterfinalist list; eight linebackers and five defensive backs. The Big 12 and the Big Ten have five players on the list, the Pac-10 four, the SEC and ACC three each, the WAC two and one independent, Army.


Cont'd ...

 

[Buckskin86]

Heyward a Lombardi semifinalist

Ohio State defensive lineman Cameron Heyward is one of 12 players named today as a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award, which is given to a lineman (offensive or defensive) or a linebacker who lines up no further than five yards from the ball (those criteria are taken directly off the Lombardi web site, by the way.)

OSU players have won the award six times: Jim Stillwagon won the inaugural award in 1970, followed by John Hicks (1973), Chris Spielman (1987), Orlando Pace (1995 and 1996) and A.J. Hawk in 2005.

This year's winner will be named on December 8.

The 12 semifinalists are:

http://blog.dispatch.com/buckeyesblog/2010/10/heyward_a_lombardi_semifinalis.shtml

 

[Buckskin86]

Ohio State spotlight: Cameron Heyward
Friday, October 29, 2010
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

There was a moment during Ohio State's win over Purdue last week when Cameron Heyward heard something over the public address system he'd heard rarely this season.

"They actually said my name, and I was surprised by that," Heyward said.

It was expected to be heard a lot this season when he opted to return for his senior year and was considered to be one of the top defensive linemen in the nation. Instead, going into tonight's game at Minnesota he has made just 6.5 tackles for loss, and been credited with just half of a sack. He had 6.5 sacks all of last season.

He's been a constant target of double-team blocks which has been frustrating at times, he said, because "you want to play good for your team. You know you can help this team out, and when you're not getting the plays you want to make, and you're not capitalizing on the opportunities, just being a step short sometimes, it can be frustrating.

"But when we're getting off the field (without giving up a score) I can't complain."

He also keeps working on his craft, such as "I've got to use my hands a little more," Heyward said. "Last year I used my hands pretty good. I've just got to get off blocks a little bit quicker. The quarterbacks are getting (the passes off) pretty quick, but that's no excuse for it. We've just got to get back in the backfield even more."

That's why he looks at tonight's game in prime time as the next chance for a breakout against a team that likely will throw the ball a lot.

"Because I haven't dominated a game yet, I look forward to just playing good," Heyward said. "Every chance out there I am trying to make the most out of it."

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/buckeyextra/stories/gameday/2010/week9/osu_spot.html

 

[Buckskin86]

Just like dad, Heyward heads a Penn State rival
Cameron Heyward will anchor Ohio State's defense against the Lions, just like his dad led Pitt's rushing attack against them.
By FRANK BODANI
Daily Record/Sunday News
Updated: 11/10/2010

Cameron Heyward always had the football size and the proper football lineage.

But there would be life-lessons to learn first.

Go back five years now, when the Ohio State defensive end was only a junior in high school. That's when he was fed a crash-course of loving and appreciating his father, even caring for him.

His dad was dying.

And the entire episode also was of public interest because his father was Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, the former running back star with the Pitt Panthers and then in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons.

"Ironhead," of course, wasn't your typical running back. The nickname came from his oversized head that apparently did plenty of damage to the guts of boyhood pals during backyard football games.

Actually, everything about Heyward was oversized, starting with his massive frame that ranged from 250 to over 300 pounds.

How about that big, funny Ironhead in the shower during those Zest body wash TV commercials?

All of that was the backdrop for the brain tumor that gradually stole his life. There was the initial surgery to remove it, followed by radiation ... only to have it eventually storm back several years later.

And that's when it was time for Cameron Heyward to step in.

It was in 2005 and 2006 when those tumors ripped through his father, causing a stroke, blindness and even paralysis. The kid needed to help care for him.

Ironhead was paralyzed from the waist down and required assistance doing most everything.

"I just cherish those moments. I'm just happy I had the time to even talk to him then," said Cameron Heyward, the Buckeyes' senior defensive end who is now an NFL prospect himself.

"We were always helping him get out of bed and change his clothes. He couldn't even talk for a while. He was always trying to sign and write things on a board. We'd watch movies and help take care of him anyway possible because we didn't know how long he had.

"We were always happy taking care of him."

His father died in May of 2006, only 39 years old.

http://www.ydr.com/premium/ci_16578551

 

[Buckskin86]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAosJQa0WCc"]YouTube - Michigan Week with Ohio State DE Cameron Heyward Part 1 of 2 (TheBuckeyeTimes.com)[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR7L4QcGgaE"]YouTube - Michigan Week with Ohio State DE Cameron Heyward Part 2 of 2 (TheBuckeyeTimes.com)[/ame]

 

[Bill Lucas]

I know it's a little early but thank you Cameron Heyward for giving us four great years. You've been a joy to watch on the field and you represent our beloved university as well as any Buckeye I can remember. There can't be anything ahead for you but success.

 

[Buckskin86]

The ties that bind
As Cameron Heyward brings his college career to a close, he has always played with Mom and Dad close to his heart
Friday, November 26, 2010
By Tim May
The Columbus Dispatch

RUMBLIN': Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward runs after intercepting a pass against Miami this season. (Fred Squillante, Dispatch)

As Cameron Heyward stands in the south end zone of Ohio Stadium today and hears himself introduced over the public-address system on Senior Day, he will be dealing with two distinctly different impulses.

One will be to take his time, to relish the moment of his introduction. The Ohio State defensive lineman opted to return for his senior season because he has loved everything about the college experience, one reason he was in no hurry to get to the NFL.

But the other impulse will be to sprint toward his mother, Charlotte Heyward, at midfield for a big bear hug.

"My mom always gets emotional at these kinds of things, and always thinks of my dad, what he would say if he were here, and how much she misses him," Cameron said.

When Charlotte sees Cameron coming, there will be similar thoughts.

"It's going to be a range of emotions, for sure," Charlotte said. "I can't believe he's a senior because it has gone by really fast. And then I am proud he has developed into the young man he is. It's also going to be sad to know he is ending his career at Ohio State.

"And it's also going to be sad that his dad's not there."

Craig "Ironhead" Heyward died in May 2006 of complications from brain cancer. The former star running back at the University of Pittsburgh and 11-year NFL player also didn't live to see the senior festivities in Cameron's final high school season of 2006 at Peachtree Ridge in Suwanee, Ga.

Craig, though, doesn't have to be there physically to take part.

"I always play with him in my heart," Cameron said. "To know he's not going to be there just breaks my heart, but I know he is always with me. I play every down for him and my mom and my family, because those are the people who have affected my life the most and have meant so much to me."

Unlike his father, Cameron had no interest in leaving school early, in large part because of the teachings of his mother.

"I hope I raised all of my sons to understand there are things in life way more important than money," Charlotte said. "There are memories and life experiences that will carry you much further in life than financial rewards. I heard a quote that I passed along to them and I hope they all remember, that 'Your personality can open doors, but your character is what keeps those doors open.' "

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/buckeyextra/stories/gameday/2010/week13/cover_story.html

 

[bucknut11]

Cam gets 1st team All Big 10 (coaches and media)

BTN

 

[buckeyes_rock]

I'm surprised to not see Cameron's name pop up on any All-American teams. The Camp had Kerrigan from Purdue and Clayborn from Iowa on their 1st team and Watt from Wisky on their second.

Hope Cam shows up big time in the Sugar Bowl. Getting pressure on Big Tex will be key. Just pretend it's scUM big Cam and light 'em up!

 

[Buckskin86]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t2t3qUvsUo"]YouTube - TheBuckeyeTimes.com: Sugar Bowl media day with Ohio State DE Cameron Heyward[/ame]