BrutusReport - Ohio State Buckeyes

Vernon Gholston, the Making of a Great D-Lineman

All of Buckeye nation will be watching when Gholston is selected in the first round this coming spring by one lucky NFL team that will have a top-notch speed rush and coverage capable end on the roster for years to come that will do things the right way and stay out of trouble. Understanding the team always comes before self.

By Steve Patterson

Vernon Gholston had never played football until his sophomore year in high school at Cass Technical in Detroit Michigan. He was drafted into the program by the head coach his sophomore year and played his first two seasons at Offensive Guard. His junior year he suffered a mild ankle sprain which limited his mobility and kept him on the line. His senior season he got to the play the position he desired, which was linebacker. Scouts across the country looked at his size and labeled him a defensive end. Ohio State among many other top programs recruited him as a defensive end.

His senior season at Cass Technical he earned All-State honors as an offensive lineman and gained valuable experience playing linebacker. He completed his high school final season with 75 tackles and six sacks.

Gholston turned down offers from Michigan, Michigan State and Iowa to become a Buckeye and became the only Michigan born player on the team when he enrolled. His size at 6’4” 250 lbs and athletic ability made him a highly sought after high school prospect in the mid-west.

As a freshman, Gholston played in six games exclusively at defensive end moving into the second string behind Mike Kudla, a position of need for Ohio State who had a number of d-lineman graduate the previous year. Defensive End Will Smith was selected in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints. Defensive Tackle Tim Anderson was drafted in 2004 in the third round and Defensive End Darrion Scott was also drafted in the same year.

During his sophomore year, Gholston suffered a hand injury against Miami (Ohio) in the season opener, did not make it back onto the field for the rest of the year and was red-shirted. He made good use of his time off in the weight room and returned to action in the spring in the best condition of his career to that point.

As a red-shirt sophomore, he started all 13 games of the regular season and post-season. He showed the athletic ability and strength the coaching staff had initially seen in high school and during his first year with the team. He had 15 tackles for loss and 49 tackles total to lead the defensive line. On the highlight reel for the season might be the 7.5 sacks that he earned and the first interception of his career against Bowling Green.

What would end up being his final season at Ohio State, Gholston became a stand-out at the Leo position following in the footsteps of Mike Kudla and Will Smith before him. In early November, Gholston dominated the Wisconsin Badgers offensive line, sacking Quarterback Tyler Donavon four times for 32 yards on the day. Then what will be remember throughout Ohio for years to come, he plowed over Michigan Quarterback Chad Henne in terrible weather in Ann Arbor three times as Ohio State completely shut down Michigan’s offensive for an entire second half of the heated 2007 rivalry game.

A week after losing to LSU in the National Championship game, Gholston made the decision everyone thought that he would to declare for the 2008 NFL Draft. He is projected to be a first round selection. His speed, athletic ability, strength and size make him one of the standout defensive ends in the country.

Many feel that if he can show the ability to play coverage in addition to rushing the passer during the NFL Combine in mid-February, he should be a mid-first round selection to either the New York Jets or the New England Patriots.

Gholston has been working out in Tempe Arizona with Athletes’ Performance Institute. He has been working on strength and speed mainly. Some interviewing skill development has also been on the agenda according to Gholston, “We've worked on our interview skills, as well as our physical skills.” He reported recently.

Sources:

ChicagoSports.com
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/cs-080219-pompei-nfl-combine,1,4394633.column

NFLDraftScout.com
http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/vernon-gholston?id=756

Sporting News
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=356018

OhioStateBuckeyes.com Official Website
http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87746&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059303&Q_SEASON=2007