The next level: Tracy Sprinkle ready for first year at Ohio State
Published: Friday, July 19, 2013
By TIM BIELIK
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Former Elyria Pioneer defensive lineman Tracy Sprinkle has waited a long time for this summer to arrive.
The 2012 Lorain County Golden Helmet Award winner and Division I Co-Defensive Player of the Year will soon start his first fall camp as a member of the Ohio State Buckeyes, fulfilling one of his biggest dreams.
Sprinkle committed to coach Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes on April 17, 2012, and hopes to have an impact on the team right away when OSU kicks off the 2013 season on August 31 against Buffalo.
?I?ve been dreaming since I was little to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes,? Sprinkle said. ?I know it?s right around the corner to get out on that field, getting ready for the season which is actually at the end of next month. So it?s pretty exciting. It?s a blessing.?
Sprinkle was one of just five freshmen to enroll at Ohio State in January so he could get a head start on his classes as well as getting into a collegiate weight room and on the practice field.
Enrolling early also allowed Sprinkle to participate in last April?s spring game at Paul Brown Stadium, in which he assisted on three tackles.
?It was a great experience. I advise for any younger guys to do it,? he said. ?You get stronger, you get faster and everything. You get a jump start on everybody.?
The jump start should benefit Sprinkle as he fights for playing time on an Ohio State defensive line which must replace all four starters. Only one other freshman on the defensive line enrolled early with Sprinkle, which means they have a leg up at the moment on the rest of the freshmen class.
Sprinkle has had the opportunity to not only create a bond with his veteran teammates on the line, but also to get coached up by the OSU defensive staff, namely co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell and defensive line coach Mike Vrabel.
?Both guys just get after it,? Sprinkle said. ?They just taught me the college level of playing football that you have to just get after it every play, every breath, every down.
?Coach Vrabel really emphasizes us being a brotherhood. The whole defensive line, the upper class, those guys have really just taken me under their wing, took me off and let me know what I need to do, let me know what I can do to help the team.?
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