After a year on Ohio State's coaching staff as a graduate assistant, James Laurinaitis is preparing for his first spring as a full-time assistant.
But Laurinaitis had already been ingrained as a vital coach for linebackers on the Buckeyes' defensive staff before his promotion on Feb. 15. While meeting with reporters Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine, Steele Chambers and Tommy Eichenberg both endorsed Laurinaitis as a teacher and credited him with helping them on the field.
Chambers, who said he endearingly called Laurinaitis "uncle" after he became the full-time linebackers coach, was happy to see him get promoted.