Ohio State linebacker John Simon's 'Tebowish' dedication an uplifting sight
Published: Friday, May 25, 2012
By Doug Lesmerises, The Plain Dealer
Marvin Fong, Plain Dealer file photo
Linebacker John Simon is expected to play a big role for the Buckeyes this season.
COLUMBUS, Ohio ? Ohio State coach Urban Meyer was at the New York Jets' practice Thursday morning, watching Tim Tebow, his former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback at Florida. Then Meyer returned to Woody Hayes Athletic Center, where just outside his office window, his other Tebow was talking to reporters as several Buckeyes conducted interviews for a final time before the end of classes.
That was John Simon.
John Simon has been called a freak a lot, almost since he arrived at Ohio State as a weight-room addict who played immediately on the defensive line as a freshman. But among the more interesting things Meyer has done since his hiring almost six months ago is to put Simon in context.
Simon is strong. Simon is focused. But it took Meyer to call him "Tebowish."
By doing that last month, Meyer made it clear how much Simon is capable of -- and how critical the senior is to the success of the Buckeyes in what will be Simon's last season in Columbus and Meyer's first.
So is he like Tebow?
"That's a hard question to answer since I never met him, but with his character and with coach Meyer calling me 'Tebowish,' that means a lot," Simon said. "That's exciting, and not just for how great of a football player he was but the kind of person he was also."
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