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LB Ross Homan (official thread)

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Lima

OSU's Homan shoulders all the playing time he can get

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October 9, 2008 - 11:37PM
Jim Naveau
COLUMBUS - When it comes to talking about being a team player, Ohio State linebacker Ross Homan has to rank on the 99th percentile or higher.
Even though he is substituted for in many passing situations, the Coldwater High School graduate doesn't complain.
"Whatever is best for the team, whatever the coaches call, I'm 100 percent behind it," Homan said earlier this week. "That's not a big deal with me. Win or lose is all that matters to me."
But when Homan can control his playing time, he will take all he can get. At Wisconsin last Saturday night, the 6-foot, 1-inch, 230-pound sophomore felt his right shoulder go numb early in the game after a collision with the Badgers running back P.J. Hill, but kept playing.
"I kept quiet about it," Homan said. "When adrenaline takes over, you don't really feel anything anyway. I sort of got dinged up but I'm fine now."
Homan has had 10 tackles each of the last two weeks in wins over Wisconsin and Minnesota. He ranks second behind James Laurinaitis with 39 tackles, even though he leaves the field when OSU is in its "nickel" defense with five defensive backs in the lineup.
Homan is grateful for any time on the field after missing the last 10 games of the 2007 season because of a toe injury.
At first it was called turf toe, but later on it was identified as a torn tendon in his foot.
Cont...
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Homan, OSU linebackers let play do the talking
January 3, 2009
Jim Naveau

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Ohio State sophomore linebacker Ross Homan knows the stereotype of linebackers.

That perception is that a linebacker often is someone who is "a loud, outspoken, crazy guy," Homan said on Friday as Ohio State prepared for Monday's Fiesta Bowl game against Texas.

But he also knows that bears little resemblance to himself or OSU's two other starting linebackers, James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman.

When it comes to Ohio State's linebackers, one can scratch loud and outspoken off the list right away. And the closest to crazy any of them has gotten might be Laurinaitis posing for a magazine cover in some of his dad's old professional wrestling gear.

"There are some (linebackers) like that who are crazy. It's a position where you're constantly trying to hit somebody, where you're trying to take someone's head off," Homan said.

"That's not me. It never was. We're all calm, collected, quiet guys," he said.

Homan's statistics weren't quiet this season. The 6-foot, 1-inch, 230-pound sophomore from Coldwater ranks fourth in tackles for OSU with 64, despite often leaving the field when the Buckeyes go with five defensive backs.

But his season was quiet in another way, and that was a good thing. After a 2007 season in which he went from the brink of breaking into the starting lineup to seeing his season ended after four games by a foot injury, the lack of turmoil was a welcome relief.

"It was great, feeling no pressure. Thank God, I was healthy. It was unbelievable playing healthy. It makes the whole season more fun, it makes practice more fun," Homan said.

When he arrived at OSU, there were instant comparisons to A.J. Hawk. Laurinaitis thinks Homan, who received a medical redshirt last season, can live up to the lofty predictions for him.

"When he gets a chance to play every down and learns more of the defense, he'll be special," Laurinaitis said.
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Homan, OSU linebackers let play do the talking | talking, homan, let - Top Stories - LimaOhio.com
 
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OSU notebook: Homan eager to begin role as a leader
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

What to date had been a cloudy spring for Ohio State linebacker Ross Homan started to clear a little yesterday.

Homan finally was allowed to practice after being out of action since April 2 because of a strained left hamstring.

Although it was a no-tackle session conducted in helmets and shoulder pads, Homan said it beat standing on the sideline.

"It has been kind of frustrating, kind of depressing to be on the sideline for most of the spring watching my teammates fly around out there," he said.

"So it felt real good."

Homan was supposed to be the one showing all of the young linebackers how it's done. Gone are All-American James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman, both of whom might go in the first two rounds of the NFL draft Saturday. Homan is the lone returning starter.

"You really can't take a leadership role if you're not out there on the field with your teammates," Homan said. "From that standpoint, it has kind of been frustrating, too."

It's unknown whether Homan will play Saturday in the spring game, but he moved fluidly yesterday, stepping into gaps and flowing to the ball.

He said he wants to "be smart with (the hamstring), know your own body. But it felt good, and it feels good right now."
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BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : OSU notebook: Homan eager to begin role as a leader
 
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Clash of the brothers, and other stories
A few short out-takes from an evening of linebacker talk....sort of makes you want to go put on eye-black, you know?

-- Ross Homan, fourth-year linebacker, and Adam Homan, freshman fullback, met for the first time in practice yesterday. Ross has been out of contact with a sore hamstring, but returned to drills and found himself nearly colliding with his younger brother a few times.

"It's pretty crazy -- it's kind of weird," Ross said. "Even in high school, I was a senior and he was a freshman, so really, I didn?t see him on the field a whole lot. So it's kind of weird, but at the same time, I'm very blessed and so is he, and it?s a great opportunity for both of us."

Adam has looked pretty good at fullback. He's been splitting time with James Georgiades on the first team. Jermil Martin has been hampered by injuries and illness, so Adam Homan may see some action this season.

The Homans are from Coldwater, one of those football-crazed Mercer County towns in northwest Ohio that have produced guys such as Jim Lachey, Bob Hoying and Todd Boeckman, to name just a few.
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Clash of the brothers, and other stories (Blogging the Buckeyes)
 
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Official.site

Spring Profile: Homan Ready to Move Out From Shadows
Name: [URL="http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059313"]Ross Homan[/URL]
Hometown: Coldwater, Ohio
High School: Coldwater
Position: Linebacker
Year: Junior
Last season: Recorded 67 tackles, including six tackles for loss in first season as a starter
This season: Will be leader of linebacker group that lost [URL="http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059421"]James Laurinaitis[/URL] and [URL="http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059241"]Marcus Freeman[/URL] to graduation

by Kyle Rowland, OhioStateBuckeyes.com

Ross Homan has been delivering bone-crushing hits and making offenses weary since his days at powerhouse Coldwater High School in Western Ohio.

He was a three-time first-team All-Ohio selection and led Coldwater to the Division IV state championship, a season in which he was also named the defensive player of the year.

Entering his junior season in 2009, Homan is the lone starting linebacker returning to a corps that saw the departure of [URL="http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059421"]James Laurinaitis[/URL] and [URL="http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059241"]Marcus Freeman[/URL] following the season. Now, he will be asked to lead what has been one of the best units in the country for a decade.

Ohio State's linebacker lineage includes a smorgasbord of All-Americans the past 10 years. Names like Andy Katzenmoyer, Na'il Diggs, Matt Wilhelm, A.J. Hawk, and Laurinaitis litter the walls at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. [URL="http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059313"]Ross Homan[/URL] hopes to add his name to that list of legends.

When healthy, he has provided a spark to the silver bullet defense. Homan enrolled early his freshman season of 2006 and got his feet wet before playing in all 13 games for a team that would play for a national championship. Homan was third among linebackers in tackles for the season.

The 2007 season, though, was awash because of a turf toe injury. Homan took a medical redshirt and came back in 2008 hungry to prove that his freshman season was an indicator of what he could do over his four seasons with the Buckeyes. He proved it with 67 tackles, including six behind the line of scrimmage and a key fumble recovery at Wisconsin.

This spring, Homan has once again battled an injury, but recently returned to the field.

"It has been kind of frustrating, kind of depressing to be on the sideline
for most of the spring watching my teammates fly around out there," Homan said. "But it felt real good to get back out there."

In the meantime, Homan has been helping mentor the younger players with senior [URL="http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059336"]Austin Spitler[/URL].

"You really can't take a leadership role if you're not out there on the field with your teammates," Homan said. "From that standpoint, it has kind of been frustrating, too.

?"Austin Spitler has done great from a leadership standpoint," Homan added. "He has also been real physical and a force out there."

With only one returning starter at the linebacker position and a total of five starters total lost on the defensive side of the ball, you can expect the competition to be heavy from now all the way through January.

"It's been very competitive," Homan said. "Coach Fickell has challenged the guys every practice to come out and be fast and physical. Everyone has been flying around and they're constantly trying to get better."

Another added dimension to the season for Homan is having younger brother, Adam, on the team. [URL="http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=3660586"]Adam Homan[/URL], a freshman fullback, enrolled in January so he could take part in spring drills.

"It's crazy," the elder Homan said. "It's the first time I've tackled him since high school, so it is weird."

He added, though, that it is a good feeling to rough up his younger sibling.

"I haven't said anything (trash talk) to him yet," Ross said. "He's been doing great and set some good goals for himself."

For Ross, his goals remain on that All-American wall.
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Oneshot;1461339; said:
Ross's high school tape is still the most fun LB tape I've ever seen.

I think he is going to blow up BIG this year. Finally healed, and ready to rock.
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Alot people don't realize how well Ross played last year thanks to the nickle. He'll be on the field full time this year. Look out!!

Bobby Hoying. Didn't see that comin did ya bitches. lol.
 
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mercer_buckeye;1461355; said:
Alot people don't realize how well Ross played last year thanks to the nickle. He'll be on the field full time this year. Look out!!

Bobby Hoying. Didn't see that comin did ya bitches. lol.
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I totally agree Homan was on the field about 35 to 40% of the snaps last year, and still was like 3rd on the team in tackles and TFL. If he can stay healthy look out!!!!!
 
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The top 20 Ohio State football players for 2009: No. 5, Ross Homan
by Doug Lesmerises, The Plain Dealer
Monday August 10, 2009

small_HomanRossheadshotFIX.jpg

OSU
Ross Homan


No. 5: Junior linebacker Ross Homan

I don't know which Ohio State linebackers are going to start where, and how the rest of them might rotate in, but I'm confident in the idea that Homan is the best linebacker on the roster. Even before Tyler Moeller's status for the season was called into question by his hospitalization for a head injury, it was hard for me to imagine Homan sharing time with anybody, at least not very often.

Whether in the base defense or the nickel, Homan seems to me like the one linebacker you know you want on the field.

Two years ago, before a turf toe injury curtailed his season and led him to redshirt, Homan was splitting time with Marcus Freeman, taking snaps away from a guy who might have been a second-round or third-round NFL pick had he turned pro after that season. (Freeman eventually went in the fifth round after playing with an ankle injury last year.)

On the weakside, Homan attacks the ball and after making 67 tackles a year ago, should be looking at 100 tackles this season. When A.J. Hawk was Ohio State's Will linebacker, the Buckeyes did some things with their scheme to help him make plays. When Hawk graduated and James Laurinaitis became the dominant linebacker playing in the middle, they did some things to help him get to the ball.

Now, the idea should be to get the weakside linebacker to the ball once again, in the form of Homan. There are reasons to expect good things from other OSU linebackers like Austin Spitler, Brian Rolle, Etienne Sabino, Andrew Sweat and maybe even true freshmen like Dorian Bell and Storm Klein.

But Homan is the only one of the linebackers who has already shown what he can do.
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The top 20 Ohio State football players for 2009: No. 5, Ross Homan - cleveland.com
 
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Just got done watching the OSU vs. Wisky game and man can Homan play the run. There were quite a few plays where he went toe to toe with Clay and Hill. I'm looking forward to a big year from Ross.
 
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