One of the plethora of publications critiquing prospects for the NFL Draft refers to Vernon Gholston as being built “like a Greek god.” Meant as a compliment, the description doesn’t do Gholston justice. After all, when was the last time Zeus or Apollo bench pressed 225 pounds 37 times at the scouting combine?
Gholston, who left Ohio State after his redshirt junior season, is expected to be drafted between No. 2 (Rams) and No. 7 (Patriots) on Saturday. While his chiseled 6-foot-3, 266-pound frame is certainly a factor, his on-field production is even more noteworthy.
He had 14 sacks in 2007, when he was named Big Ten defensive lineman of the year. That followed 7½ sacks the previous season, giving him the most in the country over the last two seasons.
“From his second year to his third year he made a tremendous leap,” said OSU offensive tackle Kirk Barton, who’s projected to be a middle-round pick. “We weren’t sure what we were going to get out of him. But when he started playing well he became dominant, and this year he took it to a new level.
“He’s just physically freakish.”
Gholston’s rare combination of size, strength and speed allowed him to turn a late start into a multimillion-dollar future. He didn’t play football until his sophomore year in high school in Detroit, after he was persuaded by the coach who had mistaken him for an adult while passing in the hallway.
“Actually, I never really watched football,” Gholston said at the scouting combine. “I played basketball and I was a big wrestling fan, loved working out, but football kind of slipped through the cracks.”
He didn’t need long to get the hang of it, earning a scholarship to Ohio State and playing six games as a freshman. He made the switch from high school linebacker to college end, overcame a redshirt 2005 season when he broke his hand and capped a remarkable career with a three-sack performance against Michigan in November.
One of the sacks came against left tackle Jake Long, who signed with the Dolphins on Tuesday to become the first pick in the draft. Long gave up one sack in 2007 and two in his career.
“I take it personally. I wanted to make sure that I was perfect and not let up a sack but Vernon is a great player and he had a good move on me and I let it up,” said Long, who tied Gholston for tops at the combine with 37 bench press reps.
“That was a big battle for me,” Gholston said. “He was tough competition. I just waited for the right moment. The biggest thing was speed.”
Gholston flashed his speed again at the combine, running the 40-yard dash in 4.67 seconds.
“When you’re talking about a 266-pound guy running a 4.65 at the combine, that’s as impressive if not more impressive than (running back) Darren McFadden running his 4.3-something,” NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said.
The athleticism makes Gholston appealing to every NFL team. Not only has he shown the ability to play end out of a three-point stance in a 4-3 scheme at Ohio State, his mobility allows 3-4 teams to project him as an outside linebacker, where he’ll have to drop back in pass coverage.
The Browns’ Kamerion Wimbley successfully made the switch two years ago, and Gholston is confident he can do the same.
“I love playing defensive end. I love getting after the quarterback and affecting the game that way,” he said. “But at the end of the day, whatever the team that picks me wants.
“The biggest thing is I’m capable of playing both positions.”
Negatives are hard to find with Gholston, but this is draft season and there are too many so-called experts for even the top prospects to go unscathed. Pro Football Weekly, which made the “Greek god” comment, said he lacks game-to-game consistency and does not always play hard.
ESPN analyst and former quarterback Ron Jaworski isn’t sold and thinks Gholston could slide out of the top 10 Saturday afternoon.
“I think he’s a rigid, straight-line guy,” Jaworski said. “When I look at tape, I don’t see a guy that shows up on every single play. I don’t get the ‘wow’ factor.”
Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel would beg to disagree.
“Whoever gets Vernon is obviously getting a great football player but they’re getting a better person,” Tressel told The Associated Press. “It just shows you that good things happen to good people.
“He may be one of the top five or six picks in the whole draft. You’d have never bet that when in the ninth grade he didn’t play football.”
Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.

TOP DEFENDERS

Linemen

Chris Long, DE, Virginia (right): Great bloodlines (father is NFL Hall-of-Famer Howie Long) and a great work ethic make him a sure thing.
Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU: Immensely talented and productive; injuries are only concern.
Sedrick Ellis, NT, USC: Can step in at nose tackle immediately — a rare commodity in the draft.

Linebackers

Vernon Gholston, OLB, OSU: Fourteen sacks in 2007 are almost as impressive as his sculpted physique. Can also play end in a 4-3 scheme.
Keith Rivers, OLB, USC: Big, strong and versatile with good coverage skills.
Curtis Lofton, MLB, Oklahoma: Strong tackler whose production should carry over to the next level.

Secondary

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State: Great size (6-foot-1½, 184) and speed (4.33 in 40-yard dash) make him impossible to pass up.
Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy: Physically gifted cover corner and a quality kick returner.
Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida: Hasn’t lived up to potential, but special physical attributes make him a first-rounder.

BROWNS’ NEEDS

They will draft at least one cornerback, possibly with their first pick in the fourth round. Linebacker is next on the to-do list. The Browns have needs inside and outside, but an edge pass rusher who could step in on third down would have the most immediate impact.

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