Cameron Heyward, DE

Heyward has spent the better part of his football career to this point trying to avoid being pigeonholed.

The son of the late former NFL running back Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, Cameron grew up running around locker rooms socializing with the players. But he always wanted to create his own path, and chose Ohio State over Pittsburgh, where both of his parents went.

Heyward played in every game during his four seasons in Columbus. After being part of a rotating starter his first two seasons, he earned second-team All-Big Ten honors with 46 tackles, 10 for loss, and 6.5 sacks in 2009.

Voted team captain and named to a host of preseason awards watch lists, Heyward had a relatively quiet senior season with 48 tackles, 13 for loss, and 3.5 sacks. He closed his career showing a lot of versatility, and has plenty of experience, but also a lot of questions about whether he has the physical tools to be a standout in the NFL.

Heyward fought off comparisons at the scouting combine to other former Buckeyes. He said he's a completely different player than Vernon Gholston, a 2008 first-round pick by the Jets who was recently released after three hugely disappointing seasons. And Heyward was quick to dismiss comparisons to the Saints' Will Smith, who has already logged seven productive NFL seasons.

Heyward played all over the defensive line for the Buckeyes, and said his lack of gaudy statistics wasn't for a lack of effort.

"I'm a guy with a very high motor and I'm going to give you all I got," he said. "You'll see all my pass-rush moves. I might not have gotten there every time, but I'm going to continue to work on my pass rush and continue to get better."

Heyward is excited to follow in his father's footsteps into the NFL, but he wants to create his own legacy. Craig Heyward died in 2006 from chordoma, a bone cancer near the base of the skull.

"I don't want to live in his shadow. He was a great player and he's always in my heart," Cameron Heyward said. "I appreciate everything he's done. But I want to do everything by my own. I'm not asking anybody to give me a second look or anything just because my dad was 'Ironhead'. They all know I have a big head just like him."

Heyward's path to the NFL hit a temporary roadblock when he suffered an elbow injury in the Buckeyes' Sugar Bowl victory over Arkansas. He underwent UCL reconstruction surgery Jan. 12, forcing him to sit out of the combine and Ohio State's pro day. He did recover in time to take part in a March 30 workout and let scouts see that he has regained full range of motion.

Known as a versatile player with above average strength, size, athleticism and effort, Heyward is out to prove he indeed can excel in the NFL.

"I'm a guy that likes to be physical with the pass blockers," he said. "I know I need to refine my techniques and continue to improve. I'm a guy that's going to constantly hustle and just give it all I got."

Pass rush: Though not a true outside pass-rush threat, he will pressure the quarterback no matter where he lines up. Lines up on either end, as well as at the five-technique and uses quickness off the snap and excellent length to split double-teams, get inside of linemen when man-up, or push back guards into the pocket. Agile enough to be effective on twists from the outside. Running backs and tight ends are no match against Heyward in pass protection. Tough one-on-one matchup for guards inside due to his lateral quickness, hustle and club move. Corrals and punishes quarterbacks in the backfield, closing quickly and exploding into the tackle. Inconsistent disengaging from blocks; better left tackles can stand him up and latch on with impunity. Can be pushed back with an initial punch but keeps coming to provide a strong secondary rush. Not a great threat to turn the corner from the edge. Forces tackle up the field and can spin inside to prevent scrambles or pressure quarterbacks stepping up into the pocket. Has the length to affect passing lanes when unable to reach the passer but could get his hands up more often.

Run defense: Strong against the run whether lining up against guards or tackles. Crashes down to close gaps. Can spin off of blocks when runners cut back against the grain. Crashes down on inside runs, using length to get into a play. Good punch to knock his man back, attacks the ball when it is in his area. Maintains edge discipline to prevent bootleg plays on his side of the field. His height can be used against him -- he fails to get low on occasion and loses leverage against stronger guards and double teams. Susceptible to cut blocks, though he is athletic enough to recover and get back into the play. Too strong for tight ends to handle one-on-one and uses leverage and hands to blow through edge blocks. Only adequate backfield awareness, will be sucked in on misdirection and lacks great change-of-direction agility.

Explosion: Excellent quickness off the snap, splits double teams with ease and provides a rare pop into his blocker's pads to knock him back. Will be first man off the ball when pinning his ears back on the rush. Very difficult for slower linemen to match his combination of strength and explosiveness, makes beating them look easy.

Strength: Flashes great upper-body and hand strength, dominating most college linemen with leverage and burst, but does not consistently overwhelm better players. Does not have exceptional muscle definition in his arms. Plays tall inside and lacks a great anchor to maintain his ground against NFL-caliber double-team blocking.

Tackling: Solid tackler; can be explosive and always gives good effort. Leans when closing on the ball to ensure contact and his long arms allow him to wrap consistently. Good hustle downfield on screens. Also follows plays down the line and can chase to the opposite sideline. Best when attacking plays in front of him. Though he can redirect well for his height and size, he doesn't change direction easily and lacks the immediate burst to play on the edge in the NFL.

Intangibles: He has a great attitude, work ethic and immense talent. Well-liked by his teammates and coaches, he has fun playing the game. Hustles without wearing down much during the game. Returned for his senior season because he enjoyed college and wanted to win a national championship. Father, the late Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, was a star running back in college and the NFL. Stepfather is Cory Blackwell, a star basketball player for the Wisconsin Badgers in the 1980s who played one season for the NBA's Seattle Sonics.

Compares to: Marcus Spears, Cowboys -- Long, strong and experienced in both fronts, don't expect Heyward to post big sack totals, but he'll hold up well at the point of attack, especially as a five-technique defensive end in the 3-4 alignment.

--Chad Reuter

Four-year starter on defensive line … voted team captain … first team all-Big Ten … Playboy All- America … Lombardi Award semifinalist … Lott Trophy quarterfinalist … Nagurski, Lombardi, Lott, Hendricks awards preseason watch list … 45 career starts … career totals: 157 tackles, 34 TFL, 14.5 sacks … 80-yard interception return against Miami … also 4 tackles and a TFL against the Hurricanes … safety, TFL and recovered an Ohio fumble … sack, TFL and 6 tackles in win at Illinois … 4 tackles, TFL at Wisconsin … 5 tackles, sack for -5 in Purdue win … 7 tackles, TFL vs. Penn State … 11-yard sack squelched Iowa's last drive … 6 tackles vs. Michigan … defensive player of week: Purdue … Attack Force award: Illinois, Penn State … Phil Steele midseason all-Big Ten 2nd team … Bill Willis award from coaches as outstanding defensive player.

Had 10 TFL, 6.5 sacks for the Rose Bowl champs … second team all-Big Ten … Lombardi Award nominee … five tackles vs. Navy … two TFL, seven tackles against USC … 7-yard sack, three tackles in the Toledo game … sack, five tackles in the win over Wisconsin … pair of unassisted stops at Purdue … team-best 11 tackles, two sacks, three TFL in dominant performance at Penn State … four tackles in Iowa win … fumble recovery for a touchdown at Michigan was game's first score … also had a sack and two tackles … 9-yard sack in Rose Bowl victory … Big Ten player of week: Penn State … defensive player of week: Penn State … Attack Force award: USC, Toledo … Jack Stephenson Award (outstanding defensive lineman) from Ohio State coaches … Top Ten Tenacious five times … third-year letterwinner.

Rotating starter along the defensive front who is equally comfortable

at tackle or end … 36 tackles, three sacks for season … five-yard sack at Wisconsin … TFL and two tackles at Michigan State … six tackles and a pass breakup in a strong performance

against Penn State … forced a fumble on a fourth-quarter sack at Northwestern … recorded seven tackles at Illinois … sack and six tackles against Michigan … Attack Force award: Penn State, Michigan … Jack Tatum big hit: Penn State … second-year letterman.

Became a starter along the defensive line as a true freshman … freshman All-America (Sporting News, Rivals, Scout) … freshman all-Big Ten (Sporting News) … 30 tackles, 9 TFL, 2.5 sacks and 2 PBU … five tackles and a sack at Penn State … Attack Force award: Penn State … Jack Tatum hit of week: Michigan State, Penn State … team's outstanding first-year player on defense … first-year letterman.

2011: suffered an elbow injury in the Buckeyes' Sugar Bowl victory over Arkansas. He underwent UCL reconstruction surgery Jan. 12, forcing him to sit out of the combine and Ohio State's pro day. He did return for a March 30 workout.

Combine: 30-inch vertical. Skipped rest of testing due to elbow surgery.

Pro Day: 4.95-second 40-yard dash; 35-inch vertical.

Named the 2006 Georgia Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year … rated as the No. 15 prospect overall in Georgia and as high as the nation's No. 20 defensive tackle … totaled over 100 tackles and 16 sacks as a senior … benches 335-pounds and squats 510 … ranked the seventh-best player in Georgia and the 13th best defensive tackle in the nation … owns a 3.2 GPA … an outstanding basketball player, who plans to play the latter at Ohio State.

Born May 6, 1989 … son of former NFL running back Craig "Ironhead" Heyward and Charlotte Heyward-Blackwell … stepfather Cory Blackwell played at Wisconsin.