Major: Sports and Leisure Studies (1992), History (1991), Undecided (1989-90)

Weight: 240 (1990-92), 230 (1989)

1992 Media Guide: A leading candidate for this year’s Butkus Award as the top linebacker in college football … named to a first-team berth on the Football Coaches’ All-America team last year … also a Butkus and Lombardi nominee in 1991 … first-team all-Big Ten the past two years … has played in all 36 games the past three seasons and has started 24 straight the past two years on the inside … has led Ohio State in tackles each of the last two years … 97 total tackles last year, including a team-best 61 solo stops … also had 8.5 TFL, three PBU, two fumble recoveries and a blocked punt (against Syracuse in the Hall of Fame Bowl) last year … returned an intercepted PAT 96 yards for two points against Washington State … has a knack for playing his best football in big games, as evidenced by his 11 tackles against Iowa, 10 each versus Illinois and Syracuse and nine against Michigan … has a great combination of size, speed and power, and has been compared to former Ohio State great Randy Gradishar because of his lateral mobility.

1991 Media Guide: Budding superstar at inside linebacker with the potential to win All-America recognition … should be a leading candidate for the Butkus Award … will be in his second year as a starter … led the Buckeyes last year with 125 stops, including 78 solos … won first-team All-Big Ten honors … received the Randy Gradishar Award last year as the team’s top linebacker … physical player who has great lateral movement and the ability to sniff out and get to the ball carrier … also had 6.5 tackles for losses, 3 sacks, 4 passes broken up, 3 fumbles caused and 2 recoveries last year … was in double figures nine times with a high of 14 tackles at Iowa … tied for the team lead in playing time with 316 minutes … one of the top linebackers in college football … broke the fifth metatarsal in his left foot on April 20, but is expected to be 100% in the fall … named to the Playboy preseason All-America team.

1990 Media Guide: One of the top young linebackers in college football … will start on the wide side … has all the ingredients for greatness: size, speed, toughness and intensity … “He makes plays you can’t coach,”’ says OSU linebacker coach Gary Blackney … seems to play his best in big games, as evidenced by 13 tackles at Michigan last year … great hitter and listed as one of the early candidates for this year’s Butkus Award … coming off a great spring.

1989: Played in all 12 games and totaled 151 minutes … fifth on the team in tackles with 58, including three for losses.

HIGH SCHOOL: First team all-Ohio … played six games at defensive end, three at linebacker and one at cornerback as a senior … 105 tackles and seven sacks as a senior … played six games at defensive end, three at inside linebacker and one at cornerback last season … West was 17-3 his last two years … once had two blocked punts, two fumble recoveries, a fumble caused and 15 tackles in a game … served as the team’s punter.

PERSONAL: Hobbies are photography and baseball cards … lists former OSU All-American Chris Spielman as one of the athletes he most admires.