Of course, he hears the critics and doubters. He knows what they have to say about his game. Luckily for Borland and the Buckeyes, he doesn’t care.
He just brushes it off. Borland is a hard-nosed middle linebacker who knows he has the talent he needs to make an impact at Ohio State for a third straight season.
The people in charge know it, too.
“[Borland] played his tail off,” Ohio State linebackers coach Al Washington said. “He was instrumental to us and our success. Incredibly instrumental. He was one of the anchors. You talk about trust? I mean, I trust him — dare I say it — with my life. Out there on the field, I trust him tremendously. He played well, and he’s also a guy who will tell you there are things to work on, and he’s getting better.
“He’s an adult, he’s very mature — it’s hard to put into words. He meets like a coach, we watch film and he’s like an extension of a coach. It’s very comforting, because he’s also a guy who can lead and show young guys how to conduct their business because he’s been there.”
