Free man: Freeman passes up cash, NFL

The senior linebacker will still be in James Laurinaitis’ shadow, but he enjoys it.

Gatehouse News Service

COLUMBUS — When Marcus Freeman decided to return to Ohio State for his senior season, it wasn’t to heal his wounds or reshape a legacy after two straight national title losses.

He didn’t want to regret not being a Buckeye for one more season.

“A lot of people think you just get to the national championship. Let’s face it, the chances of getting back to the national championship are slim, very slim,” Freeman said after a recent spring practice. “Being in this college football atmosphere, you never want to leave. You make lifelong friends. College is the [best] time of my life.”

But Freeman knows what kind of talent Ohio State returns. A year ago, Jim Tressel was supposed to be rebuilding. The pieces fell in place, and OSU rebuilt itself back to the national title game.

The 2008 season was the one most people pointed toward as being Ohio State’s chance to make a run at a title.

Pieces again have to fall in place. A skeptical media and voting system may not believe the Buckeyes deserve a third straight shot.

“A lot of people will say, ‘How can you put them back in the national championship game after the last two years?’” Freeman said. “I understand that, because if I was a reporter, I’d say the same thing.

“We know we have a long season ahead of us and a lot of work. We know how good this team can be, too.”

Freeman was Ohio State’s most consistent linebacker last fall behind Butkus Award winner James Laurinaitis. The two have forged a close relationship going back to when they were freshmen.

Freeman is a fan of WWE wrestling and knew as much about Joe Laurinaitis, James’ famous wrestling father, as the son did.

“I remember being a freshman, and I was like, who cares about this Laurinaitis guy. I want to meet his dad,” Freeman said. “[The relationship] has grown. We’re going to be lifelong friends. We’re in the same linebacker meeting room. We’re similar, and yet we’re different. We both love wrestling and football. It’s just something that’s grown since we’ve know each other.”

Freeman has watched Laurinaitis in the weight room. He takes mental notes on him in practice. He sees everyday how good “Little Animal” is, and yet the next day he’s trying to improve.

“No matter how good he gets, or how much recognition he gets, every day you see him running past everybody in practice,” Freeman said. “A lot of coaches talk about that, but when you get out there every day, you get tired. He’s the guy who finds that energy and makes sure he gets better and better.”

Laurinaitis said that work ethic is reciprocal.

“He’s constantly making me work hard,” Laurinaitis said. “There’s trust amongst each other, which helps myself and the team play better. Plus, he’s a huge wrestling fan, which helps.”

Last season, Freeman finished with 109 tackles, second to Laurinaitis. He did have one more tackle for loss (9 1/2) than Laurinaitis.

The 6-foot-2, 235-pounder from Huber Heights Wayne High School emerged at the end of the season as a leader, a role he is sure to pick up on this year. But he returns again in the shadow of Laurinaitis, who passed up a top 10 draft spot to return as well.

“Any time you’re in the shadow of a Butkus Award winner and a player like James, you can’t be too disappointed,” Freeman said. “I’m thankful to be behind him and be able to learn.”

They’re learning from each other. But at the end of their time together at OSU, they have a common goal.

Leave a champion.

“I think when you look back it’s a huge accomplishment,” Freeman said. “To be the last two our of what, 119 teams, that’s a huge accomplishment. But to end the season with a loss and not finish the season the way you wanted to is a disappointment. ... It’s an accomplishment to get there, but we want to finish it off the right way, and that’s something we’re going to strive to do.”