James Laurinaitis has officially taken his place among college football’s elite. The former Ohio State linebacker has been elected to the College Football Hall of Fame, becoming the 29th Buckeye to receive the honor and just the fourth linebacker from the program to do so - joining a legendary group that includes Tom Cousineau, Randy Gradishar, and Chris Spielman.
For anyone who watched Laurinaitis during his time in Columbus from 2005 to 2008, this moment feels like a long time coming. Known as the “Little Animal” - a nod to his father, pro wrestling icon Joe “Road Warrior Animal” Laurinaitis - James carved out a legacy that went far beyond the family name. He was the heartbeat of Ohio State’s defense during one of the most dominant stretches in program history.
Let’s talk numbers, because Laurinaitis’ résumé is as stacked as they come. Over four seasons, he totaled 375 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, nine interceptions, and four forced fumbles.
That’s not just production - that’s disruption at every level of the field. He was a three-time First-Team All-American, the only two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in school history, and racked up a trophy case full of hardware: the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (2006), Butkus Award (2007), and the Lott IMPACT Trophy (2008).
He also wore the captain’s “C” for two seasons, a reflection of the leadership and respect he commanded in the locker room.
Team success followed his individual brilliance. During Laurinaitis’ time in Columbus, Ohio State won four consecutive Big Ten titles, went undefeated against Michigan (4-0), and made back-to-back appearances in the national championship game. He was the kind of player who not only set the tone but raised the standard - and the Buckeyes followed.
His impact didn’t stop in college. Laurinaitis was selected in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the St.
Louis Rams, where he became a model of consistency over an eight-year career. He racked up 871 tackles, 49 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, 10 interceptions, and 35 passes defensed.
He wasn’t just filling up stat sheets - he was anchoring defenses and setting the tempo on Sundays the same way he did on Saturdays.
After hanging up the cleats, Laurinaitis transitioned into coaching, first joining Marcus Freeman’s staff at Notre Dame before returning to Ohio State in 2023. Now serving as the Buckeyes’ linebackers coach, he’s back where it all started - mentoring the next generation and passing down the knowledge and passion that made him a legend in the first place.
Laurinaitis will officially be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on December 8 at the National Football Foundation’s Annual Awards Dinner in Las Vegas. It’s a fitting stage for a player who always rose to the occasion - and a well-earned tribute to one of Ohio State’s all-time greats.