Homan hopes to sign more than autographs for fans

OSU linebacker projected as a 4th-round NFL draft choice, but bargaining agreement comes first.

MIAMI TWP., Montgomery Conty — Pittsburgh Steelers merchandise was outselling the Green Bay Packers by a closer than expected two-to-one margin at Cardboard Heroes in the Dayton Mall on Sunday.

Neither, though, was the biggest draw this Super Bowl Sunday.

Ohio State University linebacker Ross Homan — a 2006 graduate of Coldwater High School — stopped by in the afternoon to sign autographs, pose for photos and greet Buckeyes fans during a two-hour session.

“It’s pretty crazy. You go anywhere ... just like last week I was at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, and you’d be surprised just how many Ohio State fans are in Mobile. The fan base is definitely nationwide,” said Homan, who had three tackles in the North’s 24-10 loss to the South on Jan. 29.

On Sunday the 6-foot, 227-pound linebacker was back in Big Ten Country signing the obligatory merchandise — Ohio State helmets, footballs, hats, jerseys and magazines — and looking right at home in his red Under Armour pullover and jeans wrapping his arms around fans while posing for photos and flashing his easy-going smile.

One couple drove a little over two hours from Lexington, Ky., to add Homan’s autograph to their football shrine of 200 signatures.

So what’s the most unusual thing he’s ever been asked to autograph?

“I’ve signed some baby clothes, that’s probably the strangest thing,” Homan said. “It hasn’t been too strange yet.”

The item Homan wants placed in front of him most is an NFL contract. Early predictions from draft web sites have the three-year starter at Ohio State and first-team Big Ten selection as a fourth rounder. Cousin Bobby Hoying, a quarterback at Ohio State, was a third-round selection (85th overall) by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1996.

“I have no idea. I don’t think anyone really knows,” said Homan, who finished his OSU career with 288 career tackles, including nine in the Sugar Bowl win over Arkansas. “That’s just how the draft is. I’m just going to keep working hard and control what I can control. I don’t really get into the blogs or the mock drafts. I just focus on my training and go from there.”

Homan received an invitation to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine at Indianapolis from Feb. 21 through March 1.

The potential for a lockout by NFL owners — this season doesn’t officially end until March 3 — doesn’t worry Homan just yet. The NFL draft will still happen in April but players can’t sign contracts until a new collective bargaining agreement is reached.

“I think they’ll get it done. You know how America feels about football,” Homan said. “It would be a tragedy if there wasn’t any football for the next year. I think something will get done in the coming months.”

Fans, especially the ones at Cardboard Heroes on Sunday, will have the Buckeyes to fill any void created by the NFL. And despite a five-game suspension facing several Ohio State starters, Homan thinks the Buckeyes will come out successful.

“I think they’ll be good. They have enough talent on that team that they’ll be better off than some teams would. We’ll see how they respond to it but I think they’ll be just fine,” he said.

As for Sunday’s game, Homan was going with the Packers.

“I think Green Bay is going to win. That’s my pick. ... They’ve got three Buckeyes (A.J. Hawk, Ryan Pickett and Matt Wilhelm) and with A.J., growing up seeing him I’m definitely rooting for Green Bay.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2400, ext. 6991, or gbilling@DaytonDailyNews.com.

About the Author