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LB Austin Spitler (official thread)

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Austin is going to be a bad ass in the middle this year. Three things I have heard over the last few months, days and today.

1) Sabino said, he envisioned Spit in the middle and himself alongside Homan on the outside. Granted this was in late January.

2) Two weeks ago, James said he attended a Spring practice and "Austin looks like a beast!"

3) I ran into Austin today at the WHAC and he looks BIG. Always knew he was bigger than James but asked how much he was weighing..."About 250" was his reply. Dude is just JACKED!

I'm wanting to see Austin in the middle to plug the holes and let the "athletes" roam free on the outside...ie Bino, Homan, Rolle, and Moeller. I foresee many different looks at LB this year. The D is going to be solid with that line up front.
 
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hawaiianbuckeye;1455599; said:
Austin is going to be a bad ass in the middle this year. Three things I have heard over the last few months, days and today.

1) Sabino said, he envisioned Spit in the middle and himself alongside Homan on the outside. Granted this was in late January.

2) Two weeks ago, James said he attended a Spring practice and "Austin looks like a beast!"

3) I ran into Austin today at the WHAC and he looks BIG. Always knew he was bigger than James but asked how much he was weighing..."About 250" was his reply. Dude is just JACKED!

I'm wanting to see Austin in the middle to plug the holes and let the "athletes" roam free on the outside...ie Bino, Homan, Rolle, and Moeller. I foresee many different looks at LB this year. The D is going to be solid with that line up front.
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I never ever want to be viewed as negative, and you for sure have better insight than I do, but I'm not so sure Spit will win the MLB job by fall...
 
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msj2487;1455658; said:
I never ever want to be viewed as negative, and you for sure have better insight than I do, but I'm not so sure Spit will win the MLB job by fall...
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I'd be shocked if he didn't. I think people overlook him just because he played behind Laurinaitis for so long. He has some talent in his own right and he seems to bring a good attitude to the defense.
 
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hawaiianbuckeye;1455599; said:
3) I ran into Austin today at the WHAC and he looks BIG. Always knew he was bigger than James but asked how much he was weighing..."About 250" was his reply. Dude is just JACKED!
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having seen Laurinaitis and Spitler in person, I always thought that Spitler was noticeably bigger in both height and bulk

I expect him to surprise some people this year
 
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Spitler's time finally arrives at Ohio State - Big Ten - ESPN

If dues-paying was an official NCAA statistic, Austin Spitler would be among the national leaders. Few players have remained on the runway as long as Spitler, waiting for their careers to truly take flight. He redshirted at Ohio State in 2005 and watched as James Laurinaitis stepped into a featured role following two key injuries at linebacker. For the next three years, Spitler backed up Laurinaitis, who became arguably the most decorated linebacker in Ohio State history.

Laurinaitis won the Nagurski and Butkus awards, twice was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and appeared in all 51 games the last four seasons, starting the final 39.

"Spitler's been around forever," Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Heacock said. "But James never came out."

Laurinaitis has finally moved on to the NFL, and Spitler will take over a starting job this fall, either at middle linebacker or strongside 'backer. "Of course it's been tough," said Spitler, who has recorded 44 tackles (3 for loss) in his career. "There's been struggles, but then again, you've got to look at the light at the end of the tunnel and just know that your time is coming. Obviously, I always had this year in mind, that whenever James left, hopefully my time was there."

Spitler has logged only 99 minutes of field time in his career, but he'll be looked upon to help lead a Buckeyes linebacking corps that loses both Laurinaitis (993 career minutes) and Marcus Freeman (832 career minutes). The Buckeyes have reloaded at linebacker throughout coach Jim Tressel's tenure -- from Matt Wilhelm and Cie Grant to A.J. Hawk and Bobby Carpenter to Laurinaitis and Freeman -- but there's more uncertainty than usual heading into this season.

Despite his limited action in games, Spitler has seen what it takes to succeed. He worked alongside Hawk, Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel as a true freshman and competed with Laurinaitis and Freeman the last few years. Ohio State's tradition on defense isn't lost on the 6-foot-3, 234-pound fifth-year senior.

"It's not just going to continue by itself," he said. "We have to make it happen. We want to have our own identity. You never want to let those guys down that paved the way for us and made the Ohio State defense what it is today."

Spitler isn't the most vocal player, but he also recognizes the leadership role he inherits entering the fall. Laurinaitis served as a captain in each of the last two seasons, and Spitler would love to follow the same path.

"He's a senior now, and I'm really excited about his progress and his performance," Heacock said. "He's finally getting his shot, and he's taking full advantage of it. He's coming to work every day and doing a good job." Spitler admits that transferring crossed his mind during the lengthy wait for playing time, but the coaches convinced him to stick it out in Columbus. It's a decision he doesn't regret.

"I never once had a day where I said I wasn't going to work hard because I always wanted to be the best and that's what I strive to be," he said. "There's been difficult times, but just knowing there is light and there are better things to come, it's exciting."
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Ohio State Buckeyes' Austin Spitler shifts to outside linebacker
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter

Columbus- Austin Spitler spent three seasons backing up James Laurinaitis at middle linebacker, but it doesn't look like he'll be starting in the middle this season now that Laurinaitis is gone.

At Tuesday's second practice of the preseason, and the first open to reporters, it was junior Brian Rolle working the middle with the first team, while Spitler was the strongside linebacker and Ross Homan the weakside linebacker. In the spring, Spitler was sharing the middle with Rolle while also working at the strongside.

The linebackers were just one area of interest. Though plenty could change, with shoulder pads going on for the first time today and full pads coming Saturday, Tuesday's look made it clear what the coaches are thinking as they go about replacing 10 starters.
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Ohio State Buckeyes' Austin Spitler shifts to outside linebacker - Cleveland.com
 
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OSU?s Spitler: Hillbilly Strong, Bearded and About to Shine
By Tom Archdeacon | Thursday, August 13, 2009

COLUMBUS ? The Miami Valley will be well represented on this season?s Ohio State football team and I chatted with several of the local Buckeye players and their parents at OSU?s annual Media and Photo Night ? which drew 550 family members and 175 media members ? Thursday at Ohio Stadium.

Kurt Coleman ? the senior safety from Northmont and the true leader of this team on and off the field ? may be my favorite Buckeye player. He?s a gem.

But the guy I really got a kick out of Thursday was Bellbrook?s Austin Spitler, the 6-foot-3, 234-pound, fifth-year senior linebacker who is finally going to get a chance to showcase himself this season after playing much of his career in the shadow of All American James Laurinaitis.

aust-thumb.jpg

Spitler,,,minus most of his new beard

And let me say that he did so with class, though he admits it wasn?t easy and said he drew strength from his teammates ? especially Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman ? and the coaches.

Spitler was in the spotlight Thursday, but you might not have recognized him. He sported a new beard and rolled his eyes and grinned when asked about it.

?I know it still a little weak,? he said with a laugh as he rubbed a fuzzy cheek. ?It?s just a (pre-season) camp look and being lazy, but everybody?s giving me crap about it.

?My mom was really mad at me today that I didn?t get lined up for picture day. But what you gonna do? You can?t make ?em happy all the time.?

Someone mentioned he?s one of the strongest guys on the team and he shrugged:

?Yeah, that may be one of my strengths?no pun intended. Guys on the team call me ?hillbilly strong.? I guess it?s probably because there aren?t many farm and country boys on the team ? though that?s not saying I am either.

?But I have done some baling hay and stuff like that. And everybody thinks I am (country) because I like country music and drive a big truck (a silver Dodge Ram.)

?There?s not very many guys who like country music on the team. Let?s see?I?d say there are maybe five who truly enjoy and are heartfelt about country music.

?My mom worked for a country station so I was brought up on country music. That?s all I knew ?
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Dayton Daily News | Dayton, Ohio, News and Information
 
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Spitler steps into starting role at Ohio State
By Tom Archdeacon, Staff Writer
Saturday, August 15, 2009

ddn081509spitler_547766b.jpg

David Smith Austin Spitler, Buckeyes LB

COLUMBUS ? Kurt Coleman, the senior safety and Northmont High School product, was doing a live TV interview in the south end zone.

Zach Domicone, the freshman defensive back from Beavercreek High, was near the 30-yard line, posing for pictures with his arm around his girlfriend as his diamondlike earrings sparkled in the last rays of the day?s sun.

Not far away, Jake Ballard, the Springboro tight end, stood with three generations of his family. To his left, a fellow Ohio State football player was introducing his parents to his coaches.

And then there was the bemused Austin Spitler, whose mom had just read him the riot act.

This was the scene at OSU?s annual Media and Photo Night ? which drew 550 family members and 175 media types ? Thursday, Aug. 13, at Ohio Stadium.

Spitler, the fifth-year senior linebacker from Bellbrook, finally was in the spotlight ? after a redshirt season and three as a backup he?s going into two-a-days as a starter ? and that?s why Mom was on his case.

She didn?t like what the bright lights were picking up ? specifically his new beard.

?It?s just a (preseason) camp look and being lazy, but everybody?s giving me crap about it,? he laughed. ?My mom was really mad that I didn?t get lined up for picture day. But what you gonna do? You can?t make ?em happy all the time.?

He shrugged and admitted the new look might soon be gone: ?Coach Tressel wants things trimmed up.?

So what you see isn?t always what you get.

One of OSU?s strongest players, he laughingly admitted: ?Some guys call me ?hillbilly strong.? I guess it?s because there aren?t many farm and country boys on the team ? though that?s not saying I am either ... My parents live in (Bellbrook) now.

?But I have baled hay. And everybody thinks I?m country ?cause I like country music and drive a big truck (silver Dodge Ram).

?I?d say there are maybe just five guys on the team who truly are heartfelt about country music. But my mom worked for a country station, so I was brought up on it.?
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Spitler steps into starting role at Ohio State
 
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Bob Hunter commentary: Patience, belief finally paying off for Spitler
Sunday, August 16, 2009
By Bob Hunter

OSUFOOT09_KR_98_-_08_13_2009_-_08-16-09_C2_TDEPIQU.jpg

Kyle Robertson | DISPATCH
After three years of waiting, Ohio State linebacker Austin Spitler finally is getting his chance to be a starter.

Austin Spitler is one of the strongest players on the Ohio State football team -- "hillbilly strong," to hear his teammates tell it. The fifth-year senior linebacker admits that, at least in some ways, the description fits.

Spitler has baled hay. He drives a silver Dodge Ram pickup. He wears a scruffy beard, at least until the coaches tell him to ditch it. He is one of the few players on the team -- he counted five out of 105 -- who likes country music.

Spitler is from Bellbrook, a small town southeast of Dayton that's not exactly Rabbit Hash, Ky. But, hey, everything is relative. To a kid growing up in South Philly, Columbus is the country. A kid growing up in the Bronx probably could be convinced there's a silo in my Westerville backyard.

So on a college football team of mostly city boys, being a little bit country is the other side of the world from Eminem, Ludacris and Chamillionaire.

"Obviously, you can't go wrong with Kenny (Chesney)," Spitler said. "But I like Sugarland a lot. I really like Brooks and Dunn. (Their) song Believe was always one of my favorites."

That track isn't about football, but the title fits Spitler's college football life perfectly: Probably no one on the current OSU team has been asked to do that more than Spitler. Ever since he was a sophomore, he might just as well have been in Luckenbach, Texas,as where he was, working in a dark shadow behind three-time All-American James Laurinaitis.

Remember how Laurinaitis won the Nagurski Award as nation's best defensive player as a sophomore? So does Spitler. He was a redshirt freshman then, looking at two more years of little or no playing time.

"I had some downs," he said. "There were a couple of times when it was real hard. I'd say my sophomore season, just knowing that I had this guy just playing unbelievable football ahead of me, and it wasn't looking too great. But (Laurinaitis) helped me, my coaches helped me and the other linebackers really helped me pull through and helped me stay strong, and I saw the light at the end of the tunnel."

Just to be clear, it was a long, dark, sweaty tunnel.

"It's so hard," defensive coordinator Jim Heacock said. "I mean, it's got to be real hard, especially when you're playing behind a guy like James and you're pretty certain you're not going to play a whole lot. The neat thing he did, in my opinion, was to just keep working anyway. A lot of times a guy will get in that position and just kind of level off, just go with the flow and see what happens. But he just kept working and working and getting better and better. I'm really excited for him."
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BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : Bob Hunter commentary: Patience, belief finally paying off for Spitler
 
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The more I read about this guy the more I like him, he just embodies what it means to be a Buckeye. As good as he is, he could have gone to a MAC school a couple of years ago and maybe starred for a couple years, but he decided to wait his turn and now I hope he really shines.
 
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southcampus;1516701; said:
Easily one of my favorite guys on the team. He looked VERY good on BTN in those linebacker skills. Lots of explosion and surprising speed, I can't wait for the season to start to see our new players shine! Go Bucks!
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I cant wait to see him put one of these on Barkley.


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l6slzy-U2o]YouTube - OSU's Darrion Scott's hit on WSU's Jason Gesser in 2002.[/ame]
 
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