Major: Undeclared (2005-06)

Weight: 280 (2006), 265 (2005)

2006 Media Guide: One of the young players to watch on this year’s defense … redshirted last year as a true freshman … got the attention of the coaching staff in the spring with his steady play … has worked his way up the depth chart to the No. 2 spot behind David Patterson at tackle … strong (bench presses 350), fast (has been timed at 4.7) and is one of those players whose motor is always running … coaches like his work ethic and competitive nature … only shortcoming right now is his lack of experience, but that will change quickly once the season starts … also a fine student.

2005 Media Guide: Ranked as the top defensive line prospect in the state of Ohio and the seventh-best overall prospect in Ohio by Rivals.com … ranked as the 14th-defensive tackle in the nation by Rivals.com and 13th by Scout.com … rated No. 16 in the country by ESPN’s Tom Lemming … bench presses more than 350 pounds, squats more than 450 and has a 28-inch vertical leap … 2004 first-team All-Ohio … has great size and was timed at 4.71 seconds in the 40-yard dash at Ohio State’s summer camp in 2004.

High School: Recorded a 3.75 GPA … collected 60 tackles, including 13 behind the line of scrimmage and seven sacks, as a senior … started at defensive tackle as a freshman and sophomore but moved to middle linebacker as a junior … was just as good at his new position, totaling 125 tackles, including 17 stops behind the line of scrimmage, six sacks and an interception … will be the first student-athlete from Troy High School to play football at Ohio State since Bryan Ferguson (1976-79), who was a nephew of the late Bob Ferguson, an OSU All-American in 1960 and 1961 … played for Steve Nolan.

Personal: Is the son of Barr and Teri Denlinger … has an older brother, Kyle, who attends the University of Cincinnati, and a younger sister, Annie, who is in grade school … enjoys pheasant and deer hunting and bass fishing … also likes to draw … goal this year (2006) is to get a lot of playing time.