OSU's Homan shoulders all the playing time he can get

COLUMBUS - When it comes to talking about being a team player, Ohio State linebacker Ross Homan has to rank on the 99th percentile or higher.

Even though he is substituted for in many passing situations, the Coldwater High School graduate doesn't complain.

"Whatever is best for the team, whatever the coaches call, I'm 100 percent behind it," Homan said earlier this week. "That's not a big deal with me. Win or lose is all that matters to me."

But when Homan can control his playing time, he will take all he can get. At Wisconsin last Saturday night, the 6-foot, 1-inch, 230-pound sophomore felt his right shoulder go numb early in the game after a collision with the Badgers running back P.J. Hill, but kept playing.

"I kept quiet about it," Homan said. "When adrenaline takes over, you don't really feel anything anyway. I sort of got dinged up but I'm fine now."

Homan has had 10 tackles each of the last two weeks in wins over Wisconsin and Minnesota. He ranks second behind James Laurinaitis with 39 tackles, even though he leaves the field when OSU is in its "nickel" defense with five defensive backs in the lineup.

Homan is grateful for any time on the field after missing the last 10 games of the 2007 season because of a toe injury.

At first it was called turf toe, but later on it was identified as a torn tendon in his foot.

It was the first time he had missed a game in his career. Eventually, he was granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA.

"All the trainers were like, ‘Oh, it's turf toe,' and I'd be able to be taped up and go out there. I couldn't even stand on it," Homan said. "Football is running. I couldn't do that so I was out."

The injury made him more conscious of every ache and pain and what it could become.

"Prehab before rehab is what I say now," he said. "If I have anything, I'm in the training room, working it out, getting it stretched, icing constantly. After that happens to you, you take everything seriously. You don't take any bump or bruise lightly."

Ohio State's most famous toe-injury patient, tailback Chris Wells, and Homan have compared notes.

"He kind of came to me and was like, ‘How was your toe?' We compared toes to see what was what. It was kind of weird," Homan said.