OSU linebackers have a great desire to play

COLUMBUS — Etienne Sabino is neither choosy nor demanding when it comes to where he might fit in with the Ohio State defense this season.

“I just want to get on the field,” the sophomore linebacker said. “I want to play on the field. That’s all I want. If I am on the field helping my teammates, I’ll be comfortable wherever they put me.”

That slight hint of desperation is understandable. The loss of Tyler Moeller for the season because of a serious head injury suffered on a family vacation stole the headlines last week. But the Buckeyes still have at least eight capable and highly touted candidates for the three linebacker spots.

“The competition is going to be intense,” junior Brian Rolle said.

This week is the crescendo for that intensity, starting with the first two-a-day practice Monday headed toward the jersey scrimmage Saturday. It will be the closest the team will get to real-game conditions before the season opener Sept. 5 vs. Navy.

For the linebackers, this week will be like an extended game of musical chairs. NFL draftees James Laurinaitis, a two-year captain, and Marcus Freeman left two of the three chairs open. Ross Homan is the lone returning starter, at weakside linebacker.

“Those two guys were great guys; James was a great leader and so was Marcus,” Sabino said. “But right now we’re all just trying to show what we can bring best to the team.”

It’s going to be an inexperienced group, even though fifth-year player Austin Spitler has been biding his time the past three seasons as Laurinaitis’ backup. But it’s also a talented group, if the recruiting rankings of the past few years are credible.

According to Rivals.com, Spitler was the lowest rated of the eight coming out of high school. He was 48th nationally among inside linebackers in 2005.

The rest were in the top 17 or better for their specialty. Sabino was No. 1 among inside linebackers in 2008. Freshman Dorian Bell was third among outside linebackers this year and is the highest-rated prospect overall in Ohio State’s incoming class.

Rivals.com ranked Bell, Storm Klein and Jordan Whiting as the third-best group of linebacker recruits for 2009, trailing Notre Dame and Alabama.

“You look at the current roster of linebackers and their obvious potential, and I think it says something about the tradition of Ohio State,” analyst Bill Kurelic of ESPN.com said. ‘Everybody likes to talk about Penn State being ‘Linebacker U,’ but Ohio State has a great reputation for linebackers, which only has been enhanced recently by likes of A.J. Hawk and James Laurinaitis.”

That reputation helped lure Sabino from Krop High School in Miami, and he said he now finds himself in a fraternity of fellows with similar talents and demeanors.

“Everybody has a little different technique, and maybe different ways of getting it done,” Sabino said. “But we all love to run and hit.”

All also want to play, and co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell, who coaches the linebackers, has told them what will determine playing times.

“The best ones are gonna play,” Sabino said. “There is a lot of competition, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. You’ve just got to get after it, because you know the guy behind you will get it if you don’t. So everybody is just trying to compete, and the best three will play.”