Buckeye Bits: Third year as the starter at will linebacker in 2007 ... exciting linebacker whose play has helped turn a young Ohio State defense from a question mark to one of the best in the country ... equally talented in coming forward to stop the run and dropping into pass coverage.
2007 (Junior): Second-year starting linebacker and a part of three special units ... second team all-Big Ten (coaches) ... second on squad with 109 tackles for season ... 9.5 TFL, 5 PBU in 2007 ... 11 tackles at Minnesota ... 14 tackles led OSU at Penn State ... also forced a PSU fumble ... 18 tackles vs. Illinois ... leading tackler (9) at Michigan ... 14 tackles in BCS championship game ... defensive player of week: Minnesota, Penn State ... Attack Force award: Northwestern, Purdue, Michigan ... special teams dog tags: Michigan ... Randy Gradishar award for outstanding linebacker ... Big Ten all-academic ... third-year letterman.
2006 (Sophomore): Team’s third-leading tackler with 71 stops, including 15 in the national championship game ... played in all 13 games and started 11 at strongside linebacker ... second on the team with six pass break-ups ... both of his interceptions came on the road, at Iowa (5-yard return) and at Michigan State ... also had a sack in the Iowa game ... nine tackles in the season-opener against Northern Illinois ... had at least two tackles in every game, including six in three games (Penn State, Bowling Green and Minnesota) ... defensive attack force player of the game against Minnesota.
2005 (Redshirt): Went into the season as a possible starter, but injured his knee in the season opener and wound up missing the remainder of the year.
2004 (Freshman): Finished his rookie season with four tackles, recording one solo stop and three assists, in 13 games ... made his college debut in the season opener against Cincinnati and picked up his first career assist ... earned his first varsity letter ... enrolled at the start of winter quarter in 2004 and took part in winter conditioning and spring practice.
High School: Rated as one of the Top 3 overall prospects in Ohio as a senior and named to the Parade All-America team ...credited with 127 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries as a senior ... totaled 152 tackles, including 29 behind the line of scrimmage, and eight sacks as a junior ... a four-year starter and a two-time first-team All-Ohio selection ... also ran track, competing in the 4x100-meter relay and throwing the shot and discus.
Personal: Is the son of Michael and Chong Freeman ... his mother and father met in Korea when the latter was in the Air Force ... has an older brother, Mike Jr. ... earned his bachelor’s degree in December, 2007.
