James Laurinaitis sends harsh warning to recruits thinking about playing for Ohio State

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James Laurinaitis knows what it takes to play for Ohio State. The winner of the Lott Trophy, Butkus Award, and Bronko Nagurski Trophy played for the Buckeyes from 2005-08. Now he is back as a linbeackers coach, and understands the expectations for the Ohio State program.

Laurinaitis, who is entering his fourth season as a coach with the Buckeyes, has a clear message to recruits who are thinking about joining the team, per Chris Low of On3.

“If you’re thinking you’re coming to Ohio State to have a good time, enjoy your social life, play college football and see what comes of it, this is not your place,” said Laurinaitis. “That’s not it as a player and never has been. It’s the same way as a coach. If you’re going to be the linebackers coach here, you better be the best linebackers coach in the world. So what you do is you find the right guys that are driven by that expectation, players who are motivated by it.”

Laurinaitis was a three-time All-American, including being a unanimous All-American in 2007. He was also the Big Ten defensive player of the year twice. As a coach, he has won a national championship. Laurinaitis has put in the work to get to the top, as both a player and a coach.

“If you want to be a Day 1 starter instantly, there are probably better places for you than here. You will have the opportunity, but usually the competition level is such that you’re not going to be able to do that. But that’s the way you want it. I still remember when I played and had just been named All-American for the second year in a row and then looking at our recruiting, the recruits coming in, and all you would see is four- and five-star linebackers,” Laurinaitis added. “They were bringing in other talent to replace me, and it made you want to be that much better. There was an urgency to every single rep because of it, and even with all the changes in college football, that hasn’t changed here at Ohio State.”

Laurinaitis came to Ohio State and played as a true freshman in 2005, but was a backup almost all year. He only got a start in the Fiesta Bowl after Bobby Carpenter was injured against Michigan. He would go on to play three more seasons with the Buckeyes before being selected in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He would have an eight-year NFL career before jumping into coaching as a graduate assistant in 2022 at Notre Dame. He would move to Ohio State the next season, where he has coached since.

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James Laurinaitis sends harsh warning to recruits thinking about playing for Ohio State

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