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LB Marcus Freeman (HC Notre Dame, Constant Backtracker)

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osugrad21;1386238; said:
DDNBuckeyes sharp in Senior Bowl practice


By Carlos "Big C" Holmes
Staff Writer

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

MOBILE, Ala. ? There is some Grade-A talent here at the Senior Bowl, and a number of the 104 top-rated senior prospects participating in the event wasted no time grabbing the attention of NFL personnel in their first day of practice Monday, Jan. 19.
Some of our area prospects fared well and were among Monday's top performers while others struggled.
Day 1
Freeman opens some eyes
Former Wayne High School and Ohio State linebacker Marcus Freeman received rave reviews from NFL coaches and scouts for his technique, athletic ability and motor. Freeman is fully recovered from a foot injury that plagued him all season and it showed. He looked totally rejuvenated. He demonstrated great sideline-to-sideline pursuit while running down backs during drills.
He also did a nice job dropping into pass coverage. Freeman fought off his blocks well and was in on just about every play.
He was praised by the Bengals coaching staff on more than one occasion during practice.
It was evident that Freeman caught some evaluators off-guard with his athleticism and versatility. One member of the Buffalo Bills' scouting staff called him a very intriguing prospect. That scout was not alone. Freeman interviewed with a boatload of teams Sunday, Jan. 18, that included Dallas, Miami, Washington, Minnesota and Denver.
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No...NO....NOOOOOOOOO!!!!
 
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more positive comments on Marcus...

Yet another Trojan, Clay Mathews, and Ohio State's Marcus Freeman were often overlooked due to their more established teammates, but both have enjoyed strong weeks. Mathews is more fluid in space than expected after spending his senior season primarily rushing the passer. Freeman, finally over the ankle injury that slowed him throughout 2008, has been fluid and aggressive as well.
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Maualuga continues to turn heads in loaded senior LB class - CBS News

Ohio State LB Marcus Freeman made an outstanding INT off a deflected ball. He also fared quite well in blitz drills, showing the power to get an inside rush and the footwork to not get sucked past the QB. He needed a good day and he delivered.
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RealGM Football: Encroachment -
 
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Bruton, Freeman looking good in Mobile
By Carlos "Big C" Holmes
Staff Writer
Friday, January 23, 2009

MOBILE, Ala. ? Two area prospects, Notre Dame safety David Bruton (Miamisburg) and Ohio State linebacker Marcus Freeman (Wayne), impressed NFL scouts with their performances in the practices leading up to Saturday's Senior Bowl.
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Freeman's play has been steady throughout the week, displaying solid technique, good ball awareness and outstanding sideline-to-sideline speed.

Freeman had the play of the day in Wednesday's practice when he intercepted a pass thrown to Purdue running back Kory Sheets, who bobbled the ball. The linebacker dropped out of coverage to make the play.

The one knock on Freeman from scouts is that the former Wayne star lacks aggression. However, he demonstrated some on the interception when he wrestled the ball away from Sheets before the two hit the turf.

The Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints spent a lot of time interviewing Freeman.
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Bruton, Freeman looking good in Mobile

Marcus Freeman had another good day. He is faster than any TE or FB here and showed good ability in coverage to direct his man and to locate the ball. Reminds me of a faster Boss Bailey.
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RealGM Football: Encroachment -
 
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DDN

OSU's Freeman leads the way at Senior Bowl


By Carlos "Big C" Holmes
Staff Writer

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Former Ohio State linebacker Marcus Freeman's performance on the playing field always seemed to go unnoticed while playing for the Buckeyes.
He quietly went about his business flying under the radar giving way to highly publicized linebacker James Laurinaitis, who received Rock Star status in Columbus.
After a solid week of practice and a stellar performance on game day at the Senior Bowl, Freeman is starting to get his just due. The linebacker is no longer a blip on NFL team's radar, but is popping up like a Scud Missile emerging as one of the top linebacking prospects entering the draft.
The 6-foot-2, 235-pound Freeman, a Wayne High School grad, led all defenders in Saturday's Senior Bowl with eight tackles, six of which were solo, in a losing cause for the North squad against the South.
During a phone interview with Freeman on Sunday, the linebacker talked about his Senior Bowl experience:
"To take part in this event was beneficial to me in so many ways," Freeman said. "Not only did it help me to showcase my talents in front of NFL scouts, but I got to learn from professional coaches. I also got to compete with the best players in the nation and made a lot of good friends. It was definitely a great experience."
Cont...
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Much involved for players preparing leap into NFL
Zack Meisel
Issue date: 2/18/09

After classes, some students scurry home to hit the books. Others socialize with friends over a cafeteria meal. For aspiring professional football players such as Marcus Freeman or Brian Hartline, typical post-class activities differ far from those of the average student.

"In between workouts and class, I usually get a massage, have a chef come over to prepare meals, and different stuff like that," said Freeman, an OSU senior linebacker.

These perks represent the transition from student athlete to professional athlete, and mark the start of a lifelong dream, Freeman said.

"You're starting to realize your dream is coming true," he said. "As a kid, you always dream about making it to the NFL, and now I'm that close. I can almost touch it. Although it's not here yet, I'm feeling it."
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An agent helps give an athlete exposure among professional scouts and talent evaluators, Freeman said.

"We're professionals now, and it's your business, and you hire people to represent you," he said. "It's Marcus Freeman's company, and now who do I want on my team?"

Freeman has embraced the fact that he can finally use his production on the field to make some money.

"It's nice because all through college, you're worried about accepting free gifts and you worry about what you can and can't do," he said. "Now, you start to do autograph signings and get a little money. You start to have people send boxes of things to your house, wanting you to go with Nike or Under Armour or something like that."

The transition to the life of a professional athlete varies for each player. Growing up watching football, Hartline knows what to expect out of the NFL Combine, a convention in which football players with NFL aspirations take part in drills in front of hundreds of scouts.

"It's not too crazy because it's the norm," he said. "You go through high school and hear about the NFL Combine, and now it's televised, so a lot of athletes know what to expect to a certain extent."

Freeman said playing football for such an esteemed program as OSU has prepared him for the spotlight of the NFL Combine.

"When you go to Ohio State, you're used to a lot of this stuff," he said. "Every day at practice, you see 20 or 30 scouts watching the seniors. You hear about it and it's nerve-wracking because you know your future depends on how well you do, but at the same time it's what you're used to. Go out there and play and just do what you're used to doing."
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Freeman continues to work toward a Master's degree. For now, however, his focus on schoolwork has waned.

"Football is going to be our job," he said. "Our job isn't going to be to go to school, or do that stuff anymore. It's about playing football, and preparing our bodies to have the longest years of football we can."

Freeman knows that the next few months will play a major role in determining the success of his career in professional football.

"Hopefully I can play this game as long as I can, but I know it won't be forever," he said. "As long as I can play this game I will, and just to enjoy it. I don't look at it as a burden, because when you start saying, 'Man, I have to play football again,' that's when it's going to be time to quit."

The process of auditioning for a professional football career requires each athlete to maintain focus and determination, Freeman said.

"The thing is to just relax. It's the most important time of your life right now."
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Much involved for players preparing leap into NFL - Sports
 
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10. Marcus Freeman, Ohio State, OLB: A fluid athlete who moves well in space and shows above average instincts for the position. He attacks the line of scrimmage quickly after diagnosing plays and flashes explosive quickness while pursuing ball carriers from the backside. As a pass defender, Freeman's athleticism shines in man or zone coverage. He has the speed to run with tight ends and running backs down the seam and is instinctive enough to make plays on the ball while dropping as an underneath defender. Moreover, Freeman's athleticism allows him to be an effective rusher off the edge. While scouts have dinged Freeman for his sub-par production during an injury plagued senior season, his play in two post-season bowl games (Fiesta Bowl and Senior Bowl) have some scouts rethinking their Fall evaluations.
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Trojans Maualuga, Cushing, Matthews headline linebacker prospects - Bucky Brooks - SI.com
 
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Marcus Freeman reported with the linebackers today, and I think he's the Buckeye who might put up the best across-the-board numbers at the combine. And he knows that might be the case.

"I feel like this is something I excel at," Freeman said while working out at Ohio State last week. "Why are you trying to hide that? If you're going to excel, go out there and do them as good as you can and move on."

The combine is more important than usual for Freeman because he played most of the season with a high ankle sprain, and he wasn't as explosive or quick to the ball as expected. Most talent evaluators will be looking at the film from his junior year to better gauge his talent, but now that he's 100 percent healthy, he needs to show them in person as well. He started that process with a good showing at the Senior Bowl.

"A lot of film that I had this year I was injured," Freeman said. "But I feel healthy now and I feel ready to go."

Freeman said he's been hearing anywhere from late first round to third round for his draft status. First round would be a reach, but with good numbers, the second round isn't out of the question.
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Ohio State football: Marcus Freeman, Brian Robiskie, Donald Washington and other combine thoughts - Ohio State Buckeyes Football & Basketball Blog (OSU) - cleveland.com
 
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