Laurinaitis: “I Think They Realize What They’re Getting”

Ohio State inside linebacker James Laurinaitis, whose well-known father wrestled under the name “Animal” with The Road Warriors’ championship tag team, has drawn heavy interest from NFL teams, according to Scout.com. Laurinaitis has taken official visits with the New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans and the Kansas City Chiefs. The three-time All-American selection conducted private workouts with the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons and the St. Louis Rams, and held formal interviews with the Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers and the Indianapolis Colts at the NFL Scouting Combine. Laurinaitis is a past winner of the Nagurski Award, Dick Butkus Award and the Jack Lambert and Ronnie Lott trophies. He has been projected as a first-day draft pick. “I’ve talked to a few teams who really want to draft me as the foundation of their defense, and I think they realize what they’re getting when they get me,” Laurinaitis told Scout.com. “They’re getting a hard-working kid who will never take a play off, works extremely hard and will always put the team before him. They’re going to get a guy who sets goals high and who achieves them. “That’s one thing that I learned from my dad, the day you get satisfied in the way you are as a player, you should just quit because you’re going to start becoming a worse player if you’re satisfied with yourself.” The 6'2,” 244-pounder has run the 40-yard dash in 4.75 seconds. As a senior, Laurinaitis recorded 130 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions.