After Monday's kick-to-the-gut, Buckeye fans now have to endure a little more frustration and pain. Although there hasn't been much word yet, most fans are expecting some Buckeyes to forgo their senior seasons and test the waters of the NFL. Names like the Gun Show, Jenkins, Laurinaitis, Boone, etc. have been rumored as possible candidates for the NFL Draft. But we could get a few surprises as well. Doug Harris of the Dayton Daily News is reporting that junior linebacker Marcus Freeman is considering whether or not to enter the NFL Draft as well:
"You never want to leave college football like this. You never want to leave a loser. But you just have to take time to think about that (decision). I think I'm going to go back and talk to my family and see what's best for me in the next couple days."
Freeman was 2nd on the team with 109 tackles (66 solo). He also had 1.5 sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss, & 2 forced fumbles on the season.
I really hope we don't see a mass-exodus of players. Especially players like Freeman. I hope that players like Freeman (and other juniors) remember that former Buckeye studs like A.J. Hawk, Mike Doss, & Will "Summertime" Smith came back for their senior seasons. And in all three cases, all of them only improved their draft status because of their senior year play. Hell, Doss even won a ring.
As a fan, I'd love for all of the juniors to come back. But realistically, I know some of them will try the NFL. Players who are 1st round projections should probably go, but guys that are projected as 'tweeners and later round (2nd day) picks in the draft should give college ball another try.
Message to the lovely ladies on campus: Find a Buckeye junior & tell him how much you'd love to see them stay!
