Football Buckeyes To Shine In Senior Bowl

MOBILE, Ala.—Some of the most famous men in football are crowding around nearly 100 college seniors, including Ohio State’s Marcus Freeman and Brian Robiskie, as they battle to impress at this week’s Senior Bowl.

The Senior Bowl, an annual event that features some of the country’s best senior collegiate football players in an NFL combine-like weekend of practices, which culminates with a football game between teams representing the North and the South.

Though a great deal of talented prospects will play in the game, few potential first-round picks, like Ohio State’s Malcolm Jenkins and James Laurinaitis, will be participating due to the risk of injury.

“I’m working out at Ohio State—just working out with the team coaches and things like that,“ Jenkins said. “Life is kind of simple for us right now, but it will get to a pretty cool place coming up soon.“

Jenkins told NBC 4 Sports’ Jerod Smalley that his biggest concerns for now are staying in shape and figuring out where he will be on draft day.

“My home is in Jersey, so regardless, I’ll be close,“ he said. “I’m not sure if I’m gonna go there, if I’m invited, or stay home, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be doing something.“

Each Senior Bowl team is coached by the entire staff of two NFL teams; this year, the North will be coached by Marvin Lewis and his Cincinnati Bengals staff, and Jack Del Rio and his Jacksonville Jaguars staff will coach the South.

The 2009 Senior Bowl will kickoff this Saturday, January 24th at 7:00 pm. The game will be televised by the NFL Network.

Stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for the latest news and information.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail .

MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video