Ohio State linebackers used to being eclipsed by All-American Laurinaitis

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Marcus Freeman doesn't mind staying in the background while All-American James Laurinaitis gets all the attention.

He's also more than happy to stay in the shadows when two teammates are trading pranks.

"I'm not a huge fan of people pranking me back, so I just like to watch and get a good laugh," Freeman said of the almost constant give and take between Laurinaitis and his Ohio State backup at linebacker, Austin Spitler.

Quietly and effectively, Freeman has established himself as one of the best linebackers around. He was a second-team all-conference choice by the Big Ten coaches last year and is expected to be even better heading into his fifth season.

Yet few know him.

In the Buckeyes' solar system, everything seems to revolve around Laurinaitis, winner of the Butkus Award as the nation's best linebacker, a two-time All-American and last season's Big Ten defensive player of the year.

Freeman and the third starting linebacker, Ross Homan, along with Spitler, might be stars at another Top 25 program. But at Ohio State, they're just considered bit players to the megastar who wears No. 33.

Laurinaitis recognizes the problem he creates.

"Marcus is a terrific player," Laurinaitis said. "His physical abilities are unbelievable. He has great leadership, he obviously is explosive, he's fast, he's unbelievably strong.

"He just does his job silently."

Meanwhile, almost everything Laurinaitis does is trumpeted by media, fans, coaches and national pundits.

And that seems to be OK with everybody.

"James is a great football player," said Homan, a sophomore in his first year as a starter. "We look at it as an opportunity to get better, to learn from James."