James Laurinaitis

Infobox NCAA Athlete
= LightSteelBlue
fontcolor = Black
name = James Laurinaitis


caption =
college = Ohio State
conference = Big Ten
sport = Football
jersey = 33
position = ILB
class = Senior
major =
minor =
nickname =
career_start = 2005
height_ft = 6
height_in = 3
weight_lb = 244
nationality = USA
birth_date = birth date and age|1987|4|3
birth_place = Hamel, Minnesota
death_date =
death_place =
highschool = Wayzata HS,
Plymouth, Minnesota
former_school(s)=
career_highlights =
awards = 2006 Bronko Nagurski Trophy 2007 Dick Butkus Award
honors =
records =
championships =
championship_list =
bowl_games =
bowl_list =
tournaments =
tournament_list =

James Laurinaitis (born April 3, 1987 in Hamel, Minnesota) is an American football linebacker for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Laurinaitis is currently the starting middle linebacker at Ohio State. He was awarded the 2006 Nagurski Trophy, [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=ncf&id=2686463 ESPN - Ohio State's Laurinaitis wins Bronko Nagurski Trophy - College Football ] ] the 2007 Butkus Award for top college linebacker, [cite web| url=http://www.dispatch.com/football/football.php?story=220674 | author=May, Tim | work=The Columbus Dispatch | title=Laurinaitis named Butkus semifinalist | date=2006-10-19 | accessdate=2006-10-21] and named an NCAA All American in 2007 and 2006.

High school

Laurinaitis was touted in the NHL as a 2-3 round pick, but teams didn't draft him because of football. While he was successful in hockey, having been named as team captain as a senior, football was clearly his best sport, as evidenced by his selection as Defensive Mr. Football in Minnesota in 2004. That season, he helped lead Wayzata to the state championship game in Class 5A with 193 tackles, including 28 for loss and five sacks. He signed with the Buckeyes, becoming Ohio State's first scholarship football player from Minnesota since legendary NFL coach Sid Gillman in 1930-33.

Ohio State

As a true freshman in 2005, he played in all 12 games eventually reaching #2 on the depth chart at strong-side linebacker behind (current Dallas Cowboys player) Bobby Carpenter. After Carpenter broke a leg on the first play from scrimmage in their rivalry game against Michigan, Laurinaitis played the rest of that game, and also started in their Fiesta Bowl victory over Notre Dame. As of the end of the 2006 regular season, Laurinaitis led the team in tackles (115) and interceptions (5), and also has 8.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. [cite web|url=http://ohiostatebuckeyes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2006-2007/teamcume.html#TEAM.DEF |title=Overall Defensive Statistics | publisher=Ohio State Buckeyes Football | date=2006-11-18 | accessdate=2007-01-18]

In 2006 Laurinaitis won the Nagurski Award as the nation’s best defensive player. Also in 2006, he was named a finalist for the Butkus and Bednarik awards. He was named 1st team All Big Ten in addition to being named to the Walter Camp and FWAA All-America Teams.

He was named 2007 Big Ten Preseason Defensive Player of the Year by the Big Ten Media.

Laurinaitis won the Butkus Award for most outstanding linebacker in 2007. He was Also named an All-American by multipule media outlets including; Walter Camp, FWAA, AFCA, Sporting News, AP, Rivals.com He was honored as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. [https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059421]

Laurinaitis was considered one of the top prospects for the 2008 NFL Draft if he were to declare himself eligible and leave Ohio State a year early. However, on January 14, 2008, Laurinaitis announced that he would not be leaving Ohio State this year to join the draft, opting instead to finish his football career at OSU as a Senior in the 2008 season. James was a 1st team All American this year.

Family

Both his father and 2 uncles were professional wrestlers. His father, Joe wrestled under the name Animal as one half of the tag-team The Road Warriors. His uncle John formerly known as Johnny Ace is currently Senior Vice President, Talent Relations for World Wrestling Entertainment. His uncle Marcus, The Terminator, was mainly known as one half of the tag team The Wrecking CrewFact|date=December 2007.

James' older brother, Joseph Jr. served in Iraq with the Army and is currently training to become a police officer. His younger sister, Jessica plays on her high school hockey team. [ [http://209.85.165.104/search?hl=en&q=cache:XXJSnT14NfQJ:http://www.wmur.com/entertainment/3278968/detail.html He lives with his wife, Julia, 40, and their two children, James, 16, and Jessica, 14, in suburban Minneapolis. Joseph, 22, his son from a previous marriage, is in the U.S. military, with tours of duty in Kuwait and Iraq under his belt.] ]

Notes and references

External links

* [http://ohiostatebuckeyes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/laurinaitis_james00.html Player Bio]
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=ncf&id=2686463 Ohio State's Laurinaitis wins Bronko Nagurski Trophy] "College Football News Wire", December 4, 2006
* [http://www.the-ozone.net/football/2006/Northwestern/depthchart.htm Depth Chart, The-Ozone.net]