Two practices into the spring, Ohio State’s linebackers already feel like they’re getting better because of what they’re learning from James Laurinaitis.
“He's a hell of a guy. I love the dude,” Steele Chambers said of Ohio State’s new graduate assistant linebackers coach. “Whenever I first heard he was coming in, I looked at his résumé and it’s freaking ridiculous, like something out of a movie. But I mean, he's still a personable guy, you can still talk to him about anything. And he's a hell of a coach.”
Chambers was one of five Ohio State linebackers who met with the media after Ohio State’s second practice of the spring on Thursday along with Cody Simon, C.J. Hicks, Reid Carrico and Gabe Powers (Tommy Eichenberg did not meet with reporters due to being unavailable this spring).
While Chambers talked about everything from his personal growth to which animals he would go into battle with, the other four linebackers talked about their aspirations to earn bigger roles at a position where Chambers and Eichenberg played nearly all of the snaps last season.
We’ve rounded up some of the most notable comments from each of them below, and you can watch the videos to hear what of each of them had to say.
Steele Chambers
- Chambers said “it sucked” to lose the Michigan game for the second consecutive season, and he hopes the Buckeyes will use that defeat as motivation for this fall. “It always means a lot to this culture. It means a lot to this program. It’s always on our minds, no matter what happened the year prior. No matter what we’re doing, we’re always working toward The Game.”
- With Eichenberg out for the spring, Chambers said Cody Simon has been “doing a hell of a job” at the second linebacker spot. “He had one of the best winters that anyone’s had here. He’s smart as hell and a great dude.”
- Chambers said C.J. Hicks is incredibly athletic and he “has numbers off the charts” as a sophomore. “He could be something special here. He already is something special here, I think.” Chambers added: “He’s fast, he’s strong – really the whole package.”
- Chambers on James Laurinaitis: “He’s a dude. I love that guy. … I looked at his resume before he came – it was something out of a movie.” Chambers said Laurinaitis has already earned the trust of Ohio State’s linebacker room and many other players on the team.
Cody Simon
- Simon said he thinks of this spring as an opportunity. "I think that's a big part of being here and being mature on this team is knowing to be ready at all times." Simon said he played a big role on special teams because he "filled and role" and did what the coaching staff asked him. He plans to take the same approach heading into next season.
- Simon said he felt physically fine last season after having shoulder surgery in the offseason. However, there was a mental aspect to the ailment that was difficult to overcome. Now Simon says he is fully healthy for the first time in his career, and he hopes to use that to his advantage.
- Simon said he and Chambers have developed a better relationship this offseason, which has allowed him to "see the forest through the trees" as his coaching staff would say. Simon says he wants to help in whatever way he can in 2023 next to Chambers and Tommy Eichenberg.
C.J. Hicks
- Hicks said the defense is clicking in practice, with “guys reacting faster, the defensive linemen getting to the quarterback, the linebacker room getting a good grasp on what coach Knowles is telling us, so everything’s going good.”
- Hicks said he is rooming with Gabe Powers and that he and Powers talk all the time about “how we want to get out there and be the best that we can be.”
- Regarding taking advantage of opportunities for reps this spring, Hicks said he wants to “get out there and execute 100 percent in everything I do. Have fun while I’m out there and enjoy the time that I have here.”
Reid Carrico
- On Laurinaitis: “I think it's a huge advantage for us in our room, to have a guy like that to be around and talk the game with you.” As a native Ohioan, Carrico said he grew up watching Ohio State linebackers Laurinaitis, A.J. Hawk, Anthony Schlegel and Bobby Carpenter.
- Carrico said he has lined up mostly at Will linebacker in Ohio State’s first two practices of the spring but wants to show that he can play all three linebacker positions (Mike, Will and Sam).
- Carrico said he hasn’t given any thought to transferring even though he’s played only sparingly in his first two years at Ohio State. “I take pride in being a great teammate who's 100% all in.”
Gabe Powers
- Powers said he is practicing mostly at Mike linebacker, which he thinks fits his skill set well: “It fits right along with kind of what I played in high school.”
- Powers said learning behind Tommy Eichenberg and watching him “has really improved my game.”
- He said he thinks the addition of Laurinaitis to the coaching staff is “huge” for Ohio State. “In the little bit he's been here, I've learned so much from him.”
- Powers currently weighs 235 pounds but wants to get up to 240-245 pounds by preseason camp.
