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James Laurinaitis is the new Bronko Nagurski winner!
charlotte.com
BRONKO NAGURSKI AWARD
Laurinaitis top defender
Ohio State linebacker 1st sophomore winner
RON GREEN JR.
[email protected]
Ohio State won another one.
Buckeyes linebacker James Laurinaitis won the Bronko Nagurski Award on Monday night at the Westin Hotel, capturing the honor as college football's top defensive player in a vote by the Football Writers Association of America.
It was the first time in the 14-year history of the award that a sophomore has been honored. Laurinaitis was chosen over Clemson's Gaines Adams, Michigan's Leon Hall, Florida's Reggie Nelson and Mississippi's Patrick Willis.
"It's kind of surreal being the younger guy. I was still in high school when these other guys were in college. It's a blessing," Laurinaitis said.
There are many reasons the top-ranked Buckeyes finished the regular season unbeaten and will face Florida in the Bowl Championship Series title game Jan. 8. Laurinaitis was chief among those reasons.
A 6-foot-3, 244-pound middle linebacker, Laurinaitis led Ohio State with 100 tackles and five interceptions. In one stretch, he had interceptions in consecutive games against Texas, Cincinnati, Penn State and Iowa.
In a 24-7 victory Sept. 9 at Texas in a showdown of No. 1 vs. No. 2, Laurinaitis forced two fumbles to go with his interception.
"It was a coming-out party for our whole defense," he said.
The finalists -- along with Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald, Monday's featured speaker and only two-time winner of the award -- spent the day together.
Despite the national debate about Florida replacing Michigan as the second-ranked team in the country and earning a shot in the title game against Ohio State, Laurinaitis, Hall and Nelson steered clear of much conversation about bowl matchups.
"I got to relax" Sunday, Laurinaitis said. "Both teams were deserving. Other people can do the arguing."
Hall, a cornerback, admitted he was disappointed.
"Things didn't work out the way I or my team would have liked," he said. "It's unfortunate we didn't settle it before."
Nelson wasn't aware the Gators had been awarded the spot in the championship game until he landed in Charlotte on Sunday. It wasn't until he saw his teammates on television that he knew what had transpired.
"It was good news to hear," Nelson said.
Other winners
ROMAN GABRIEL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Alexander Vieregg, Myers Park.DONNIE SHELL HIGH SCHOOL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: David Paschal, Charlotte Latin.
HIGH SCHOOL COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Josh Secrest, Indian Trail Sun Valley.
LOCAL COLLEGE WINNERS: Brent Johnson, Catawba; Brett Dioguardi, Davidson; Kory Alston, Gardner-Webb; Edward Wilson, Johnson C. Smith; Kenwin Cummings, Wingate.
James Laurinaitis
SCHOOL: Ohio State
CLASS: Sophomore
POSITION: Middle linebacker
HEIGHT: 6-foot-3
WEIGHT: 244 pounds
HOMETOWN: Hamel, Minn.
HIGHLIGHTS: Laurinaitis had 8.5 tackles for loss this season for 44 yards, including four sacks for 40 yards. ... Had 13 tackles against then-No. 2 Texas. ...Is the son of Joe Laurinaitis, a pro wrestler during the 1980s and '90s known as "Animal" in the Legion of Doom.
charlotte.com
BRONKO NAGURSKI AWARD
Laurinaitis top defender
Ohio State linebacker 1st sophomore winner
RON GREEN JR.
[email protected]
Ohio State won another one.
Buckeyes linebacker James Laurinaitis won the Bronko Nagurski Award on Monday night at the Westin Hotel, capturing the honor as college football's top defensive player in a vote by the Football Writers Association of America.
It was the first time in the 14-year history of the award that a sophomore has been honored. Laurinaitis was chosen over Clemson's Gaines Adams, Michigan's Leon Hall, Florida's Reggie Nelson and Mississippi's Patrick Willis.
"It's kind of surreal being the younger guy. I was still in high school when these other guys were in college. It's a blessing," Laurinaitis said.
There are many reasons the top-ranked Buckeyes finished the regular season unbeaten and will face Florida in the Bowl Championship Series title game Jan. 8. Laurinaitis was chief among those reasons.
A 6-foot-3, 244-pound middle linebacker, Laurinaitis led Ohio State with 100 tackles and five interceptions. In one stretch, he had interceptions in consecutive games against Texas, Cincinnati, Penn State and Iowa.
In a 24-7 victory Sept. 9 at Texas in a showdown of No. 1 vs. No. 2, Laurinaitis forced two fumbles to go with his interception.
"It was a coming-out party for our whole defense," he said.
The finalists -- along with Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald, Monday's featured speaker and only two-time winner of the award -- spent the day together.
Despite the national debate about Florida replacing Michigan as the second-ranked team in the country and earning a shot in the title game against Ohio State, Laurinaitis, Hall and Nelson steered clear of much conversation about bowl matchups.
"I got to relax" Sunday, Laurinaitis said. "Both teams were deserving. Other people can do the arguing."
Hall, a cornerback, admitted he was disappointed.
"Things didn't work out the way I or my team would have liked," he said. "It's unfortunate we didn't settle it before."
Nelson wasn't aware the Gators had been awarded the spot in the championship game until he landed in Charlotte on Sunday. It wasn't until he saw his teammates on television that he knew what had transpired.
"It was good news to hear," Nelson said.
Other winners
ROMAN GABRIEL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Alexander Vieregg, Myers Park.DONNIE SHELL HIGH SCHOOL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: David Paschal, Charlotte Latin.
HIGH SCHOOL COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Josh Secrest, Indian Trail Sun Valley.
LOCAL COLLEGE WINNERS: Brent Johnson, Catawba; Brett Dioguardi, Davidson; Kory Alston, Gardner-Webb; Edward Wilson, Johnson C. Smith; Kenwin Cummings, Wingate.
James Laurinaitis
SCHOOL: Ohio State
CLASS: Sophomore
POSITION: Middle linebacker
HEIGHT: 6-foot-3
WEIGHT: 244 pounds
HOMETOWN: Hamel, Minn.
HIGHLIGHTS: Laurinaitis had 8.5 tackles for loss this season for 44 yards, including four sacks for 40 yards. ... Had 13 tackles against then-No. 2 Texas. ...Is the son of Joe Laurinaitis, a pro wrestler during the 1980s and '90s known as "Animal" in the Legion of Doom.
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