James Laurinaitis life and biography

James Richard Laurinaitis is an American football linebacker for the St. Louis Rams. Laurinaitis was a three-year starting middle linebacker at the Ohio State University. He was selected by the St. Louis Rams with the 35th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Pro Highlights:
Selected by St. Louis in the second round (35th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft.

College Highlights:
Started the last 39 of 51 career games at Ohio State…ranks seventh in school history with 375 career tackles…only the 14th player in school history to record over 300 tackles in career…led the team in tackles in three seasons (2006-08), becoming only the fourth player in school history to accomplish the feat…two-time team captain (2007-08) and is only the seventh Buckeye to be elected captain twice in a career.

SENIOR (2008): Earned first-team All-America and All-Big Ten Conference honors…defensive captain for the second consecutive season…winner of Ronnie Lott Trophy, awarded to college football’s defensive impact player of the year…recipient of Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award…registered a career-high 130 tackles…ranked second in the Big Ten and 14th nationally with an average of 10.0 tackles per game…part of a unit that ranked 14th in the nation in total defense (293.77 ypg), sixth in scoring defense (13.92 ppg) and 19th in rush defense (110.23 ypg)…recorded doubledigit tackles in eight of 13 games…vs. Louisiana State (1/7/09): Recorded a BCS championship game record 18 tackles.

JUNIOR (2007): Received first-team All-America honors…first-team All-Big Ten Conference honoree and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year…named Academic All-Big Ten…recipient of the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top linebacker, joining Andy Katzenmoyer (1997) as the only Buckeyes ever to win the award…served as team captain…led Ohio State for second consecutive year with 121 tackles…member of a defense that ranked first in the nation in total defense (233.0 ypg), scoring defense (12.77 ppg) and pass defense (150.15 ypg), while ranking third in rush defense (82.25 ypg)…vs. Wisconsin (11/3): Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after recording career-high 19 total tackles including 1.0 sack.

SOPHOMORE (2006): First-team All-America selection by multiple outlets…earned firstteam All-Big Ten honors and was recipient of the Nagurski Award, given to the nation’s best defensive player…finalist for the Butkus and Bednarik Awards…started all 13 games at middle linebacker, leading the team with 115 tackles, including 4.0 sacks…led the Buckeyes with five interceptions…part of a defense that ranked fifth in the nation in scoring defense (12.77 ppg), 12th in total defense (280.46 ypg) and 15th in rush defense (98.31)…at Texas (9/9): Earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors for performance in victory over No. 2 Texas…forced fumble that led to Ohio State's first score and intercepted QB Colt McCoy in third quarter.

FRESHMAN (2005): Played in all 12 games as a true freshman…totaled nine tackles.

Personal :
Named Minnesota’s “Defensive Mr. Football” as a senior at Plymouth (Minn.) Wayzata High…recorded 193 tackles during senior season, helping his team to the Minnesota Class 5A state championship game…earned All-State and All-Conference honors as a junior…excelled in hockey and was considered a possible second- or third-round pick in the NHL Draft after high school…father was a popular professional wrestler known as “the Animal” of the Legion of Doom…graduated with a degree in communications.

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