Post-OSU Update: Marcus Freeman was selected in the fifth round (154th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft. Freeman never played in the NFL, getting picked  up and waived by three teams during the 2009 season. He retired as a player in May of 2010 due to an enlarged heart condition. He started a coaching career by serving as a graduate assistant at Ohio State in 2010. Freeman held assistant jobs at Kent State, Purdue, and Cincinnati (for Head Coach Luke Fickell) before being promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach at Notre Dame in 2021. (updated: Jun. 2023)

Jersey #: 1 (2005-08), 17 (2004)

Major: Graduate Student (2008), Sports and Leisure Studies (2007)

Weight: 239 (2008), 242 (2006-07), 230 (2004-05)

2008 Media Guide: 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: 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.

2007 Media Guide: Starting linebacker whose play last year helped turn Ohio State’s young defense into one of the best in the county … will be a candidate for postseason honors in 2007 … is equally talented in coming forward to stop the run and dropping into coverage … can play any of the three linebacker positions.

2006: 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 … had at least two tackles in every game, including six in three games (Penn State, Bowling Green and Minnesota) … named Ohio State’s defensive attack force player of the game against Minnesota.

2006 Media Guide: Talented young linebacker who injured a knee in the season opener against Miami last year and then was redshirted after an infection slowed his recovery … at the very least would have been the fourth linebacker in 2005 and would have made last year’s already speedy group of backers even faster with his exceptional speed … expected to start at Will linebacker this fall, although he can play any of the three linebacker positions … has added 12 pounds since last season and showed signs in the spring of being a more physical player.

2005: 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 and being redshirted.

2005 Media Guide: Played in all 12 games last year as a true freshman and is highly regarded by the defensive staff … most of his playing time last year did come as a member of the special teams, but he wound up the season as the No. 2 Sam linebacker behind junior Bobby Carpenter and is being groomed as the latter’s replacement in 2006 … enrolled in Winter Quarter of 2004 and took part in winter conditioning and spring practice and benefitted greatly from both sessions … will figure more prominently in the rotation this year and should see significantly more playing time … has exception speed for his position.

2004: Finished his rookie season with four tackles, recording one solo tackle and three assists … made his collegiate debut in the season opener with Cincinnati and picked up his first career assist … also credited with assists against Northwestern and Michigan State before logging his first career solo tackle against Michigan … seven minutes at Purdue was his longest stint of the year, but he did not have any tackles against the Boilers … also played five minutes against Indiana … earned his first varsity letter.

High School: Considered one of the top linebackers in the country coming out of high school … enrolled at Ohio State at the beginning of Winter Quarter and went through winter conditioning and spring practice … is a great athlete with outstanding speed … goes into fall as the backup to Bobby Carpenter at outside linebacker … also will play on the special teams … rated as one of the top three overall prospects in Ohio last year … a 2004 Parade All-American … rated as the third best inside linebacker in the country by Prep Football Report … rated as the 11th best overall linebacker prospect in the nation by TheInsiders.com, which also listed him among their Top 100 overall prospects … SuperPrep rated him as the 26th best overall prospect in the nation, the fourth best overall prospect in the Midwest and the fifth best overall linebacker in the nation … named second team All-America by USA Today … 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 4×100-meter relay and throwing the shot and discus … current Buckeye wide receiver John Hollins also attended Wayne as did Will Allen, a senior All-American at safety on the 2003 OSU squad.

Personal: Son of Michael and Chong Freeman … would like to have dinner with historical figures Jesus Christ, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King … favorite Ohio State tradition is the team’s locking of arms before the game … if not on the football team, would like to be playing basketball for the Buckeyes … enjoys playing golf … favorite food is his mom’s egg rolls … favorite NFL player in Hines Ward.