Ohio lineman headed to the Detroit Lions
Other Bobcats getting shot at NFL, too
By William Strome, Staff Writer
June 6, 2008 | 3 p.m.
Never has an Ohio Bobcat heard his name called at the NFL draft, shook the hand of the commissioner and his new team's owner and hoisted up a jersey with his name on the back, instantly earning celebrity status.
But that does not mean their names go left unsaid during draft weekend.
On April 27, 2008, with the 216th pick overall and ninth pick in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions selected defensive tackle from Ohio University, Landon Cohen.
The last Bobcat to hear his name during draft weekend was punter Dave Zastudil, who went in the fourth round in the 2002 draft to the Baltimore Ravens with the 112th pick overall.
Sure, the seventh round may not be the most glamorous, but since 1990, 12 seventh-round selections have earned a spot in the Pro Bowl. Those names include Shannon Sharpe, Johnny Johnson, Leon Lett, Brock Marion, Michael McCrary, Tom Nalen, Jamal Anderson, Gus Frerotte, Adam Timmerman, Donald Driver, Brian Jennings and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Of those 12, eight have played in a Super Bowl.
Cohen, the 27th Bobcat drafted in team history, was far from huddled around a television watching the rounds with friends and family intensely hoping his name would be called. When he received that call from Detroit, his mind was focused more on his studies than his approaching professional football career.
"Homework was the only thing that I could do to keep my mind off of [the draft]," Cohen said. "Then that phone rang, and the second I put it down, all I could do was pray."
However, the Lions were not the first to call the Spartanburg, S.C., native on that second day of the draft. According to Cohen, Arizona called and said they were looking to take him later in the round with the 225th pick.
"Before the draft I talked to just about every team, and they all said the same thing, 'It's going to be a long weekend so just make sure you stay by your phone,'" Cohen said. "They needed a land line and cell phone number in case the line was busy."
Cohen had visited with Detroit before the draft where they showed much interest in the defensive tackle. Despite scouts telling Cohen he was a little undersized, Detroit felt he was a great fit for their scheme.
"They like smaller, faster linemen who can make plays not just in the backfield but down the line as well," he said.
Listed at 274 pounds on OhioBobcats.com, Cohen is now tipping the scales above 290. But it is not Cohen's size that sparked the Lions attention, rather his consistent style of play seen throughout his college career.
"They expect me to do all the things I did here, have a high motor and play excited," Cohen said. "It's a business, and in order to be successful at that level you have to be mentally sharp and have that drive in you to get better every day."
Cohen will not be the only Bobcat busting his chops to make an NFL squad come training camp.
Wide receiver Scott Mayle was re-signed in the offseason by the Buffalo Bills, who signed him as an undrafted free agent following the 2007 draft. Mayle spent the first 16 weeks of last season on the practice squad prior to being listed as inactive for Buffalo's season finale.
Linebacker Matt Muncy was also picked up following the '07 draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. Following training camp and preseason, Muncy was released along with former Ohio defensive back, T.J. Wright. Muncy will get a second shot at the NFL, this time with the Tennessee Titans who signed him this past offseason.
Four other Bobcats from the 2007 team will compete for jobs in the league as undrafted free agents. Safety Todd Koenig was snagged by the Cleveland Browns, long-snapper Ryan Senser went to the New Orleans Saints and running back Joshua Abrams was inked by the New York Jets. All-time leading rusher in Ohio history Kalvin McRae slipped through the cracks of the draft and went to the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent.
Cohen finished his career with 144 career tackles including 39.5 for a loss which is tied for fourth in Ohio history with Muncy. He started 37 consecutive games dating back to his sophomore season and was Second-Team All-Mid American Conference his junior and senior seasons.
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