“I got a good vibe from Coach Anderson in the short 15 minutes we spoke,” he said. “I could tell that he was a really great teacher because he was a wealth of knowledge. I perceived him to be a good guy. He’s the type of coach that players want to play hard for.”
The 5-foot-11, 220-pound Saine was Ohio’s 2006 Mr. Football after rushing for 1,895 yards and 27 touchdowns his senior season at Piqua High School. At OSU, he had a four-year total of 1,408 yards rushing.
“Coming from a small town to O-State, I didn’t really know what to expect,” Saine said. “All I knew was to go in, work hard, and see what happens.
“I was given a couple of opportunities my freshman year and contributed to the team. The following season I pulled a hamstring during camp, and that threw a wrench in things right away. The injury affected my entire season. I was never able to get back into a rhythm and became a role player that year.”
Saine rebounded his junior year, rushing for 739 yards while splitting time with Dan Herron. Saine began the 2010 season as a starter and team captain, but his time on the field diminished as the season wore on.
“I had a lot of high hopes going into this past season, but had to keep myself grounded,” Saine said. “Whatever was going to happen did. The coaches saw an opportunity to find a better role for me as a do-all type back, and that became my role.
“I don’t hold any grudges regarding the coaches’ decisions. I’m looking toward the future.”
Saine, who graduated with a degree in business administration, will be looking to help his draft status during OSU’s Pro Day on Friday.
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