Last week we went with a Mike Leach theme as The Pirate opened up spring ball in Pullman. This week, with the Buckeyes opening up spring football, we take a look at one of my personal favorites from the Ohio State program. Andy Katzenmoyer, the Mr. Everything linebacker for the Buckeyes from 1996 to 1998.

In August of 1998, I was 13 going on 14 and about to start my second season of middle school football as a defensive end, backup quarterback and starting tight end. I was a college football nut and the odd kid who cared about laying people out far more than he ever cared about quarterbacks. When the August 31st issue of Sports Illustrated got to the mailbox it had one of my personal favorite players on the cover, Andy Katzenmoyer.

I'm sure that Buckeye fans understood the excitement because he played for them, but for those of you not well versed in lore that was Andy Katzenmoyer, I'll attempt to explain it. The guy was a football-playing machine. His coach John Cooper knew it. His parents knew it. His professors knew it. Basically, everyone knew what the Big Kat was in Columbus to do: get to the NFL. Starting as a freshman, becoming an All-American in year two, the Big Kat was living up to his billing as a football playing freak.

While his on-the-field success was going as planned, Katzenmoyer's classroom issues were throwing a bit of a snag in his progress. It came down to the wire as to whether or not he'd be eligible for that 1998 season, but he got over the hump. There was also the DUI mixed in to the troubles for the Ohio State linebacker as he was pulled just short of his apartment.

Even with all issues and the commentary from folks who were not a fan of Katzenmoyer blatantly viewing the Buckeyes as a spring board to the NFL, the kid never wavered. The plan worked as he was a first-round pick by the New England Patriots. Sadly, Katzenmoyer was only able to play two seasons in the NFL as a neck injury cut his career short after 24 games, just 14 starts. This was far short of where people expected one of the great college linebackers to take his NFL career.

There have been a few stories done on Katzenmoyer and his return to normalcy. Stepping away from the spotlight to run a business, live with his wife and do a little coaching. Kudos to the Big Kat for moving forward with his life.

For me the image of that 45 and the mirrored visor is always going to be lasting. I'm not a Buckeyes fan. In fact in the late 90's my team, the North Carolina Tar Heels, was doing quite alright with their own quality linebackers. I loved Brandon Spoon, Kivuusama Mays and Brian Simmons something fierce. As good as they were, none of them were Andy Katzenmoyer. You could see the intensity in every bead of sweat from the Big Kat. You could see the anger that he played with in every hit. There was a palpable sense of joy that came from putting ball carriers down and for me, even as a kid, that was just something I loved watching.