Gamble still ponders over future with NFL

As he gets ready for the Fiesta Bowl the Buckeyes star hasn't made a choice.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Chris Gamble was a third-team All-American a year ago. This season he wasn't even chosen all-conference by the Big Ten coaches.
As Ohio State prepares to meet Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 2, Gamble is privately debating whether he should return for his senior season.
Or at least that's what coach Jim Tressel says.
Gamble, never loquacious, hasn't spoken to reporters for some time, leaving Buckeyes fans to guess whether he'll stay or go.
Filed evaluation papers
Tressel and Gamble have filed the NCAA papers asking pro scouts to evaluate the cornerback's prospects in next year's draft. Gamble has not indicated to Tressel what he plans on doing.
"No, because he doesn't know where he stands NFL-wise," Tressel said. "So we've just filed [the papers]."
Tressel joked that Gamble hasn't told anyone what he's thinking.
"You know, Chris doesn't give you much indication of anything. I don't know if you guys have met with him much," he said with a smile. "So if you've got some indication, let me know."
Gamble was a sensation a year ago as Ohio State's first two-way player in some four decades. Recruited as a wide receiver, he was needed on defense when Richard McNutt -- who had started the first six games at corner -- re-injured a chronic ankle condition that eventually led to a premature end to his career.
Loaned to defense
With almost no one else available to take on such a major position on the defense, coordinator Mark Dantonio approached Tressel about allowing Gamble to split time at cornerback. Tressel had little choice but to loan Gamble to the defense.
The move paid almost immediate dividends, even though Gamble was playing on instinct before he could soak up the dozens of different defensive sets and coverages that the Buckeyes use.
"He was out there kind of freestylin'," safety Nate Salley said with a laugh.
Gamble had four huge interceptions on the season, all at crunch time in close games. None was bigger than his interception and 40-yard return for a touchdown -- the Buckeyes' only touchdown -- in a 13-7 win against Penn State.
The 6-foot-2, 194-pounder capped the season with a big game against Miami in the Fiesta Bowl, making five tackles on defense and catching two passes for 69 yards. His 57-yard grab that led to a field goal and a 17-7 lead was Ohio State's longest pass play of the season.
Gamble finished second to Michael Jenkins in receiving with 31 catches for 499 yards.
Just adequate in 2003
This year, playing almost exclusively on defense, he has simply been adequate. He intercepted two passes for zero return yards and was burned on several long plays.
In his spare time, he caught four passes for 38 yards and averaged just 4.6 yards on 20 punt returns.
It was Gamble who was toasted by Wisconsin's Lee Evans on a 79-yard bomb with 5:20 left that resulted in a 17-10 loss, ending Ohio State's 19-game winning streak. Gamble also was victimized on a long pass play at Michigan.
"Maybe last year it was such as a phenomenon that we had a two-way player and anytime he did something it was just sort of shot out at you," said fellow cornerback Dustin Fox. "It's tough for a player, especially a cornerback, to go out there every down and have millions of people just looking at you to see if you make a mistake. That's tough to do."
Gamble wasn't tested much a year ago, but he sure was in 2003.
"I just think that he's getting challenged a lot more," Salley said. "He's a great competitor. People were scared to throw it his way from time to time. The only time they got him, really, they caught him sleeping a little bit. But he's a great player. I don't think he's slacked off at all this year."
Compared to Carter
Tressel has compared Gamble to legendary NFL and Ohio State wide receiver Cris Carter. He'll get a look at both receiver and cornerback in the pros.
While he mulls his future, the Buckeyes wait.
"I hope he comes back," Fox said. "I'd sure love to play with him for another year. He's a great player, he's a great guy. I'd be sad if he left. But I don't know what he'll do."