Share This Story There’s an old tradition at Ohio State that started under Woody Hayes called “Senior Tackle.” After the final regular-season practice every fall, the Thursday morning before the Michigan game, Ohio State players and coaches gather in the practice facility to send the seniors off with a thank-you for everything they’ve done. Players stand on one side of the field, with guests in bleachers on the other and the year’s graduating class of football players sitting on a bench in between. For every player, a younger teammate gets up and talks to the group about the player’s contributions and what he meant to the team. Then an assistant coach does the same. Then the player himself. When the speeches are done, the player sprints downfield and, for his last time as a Buckeye, hits a tackling dummy. Typically, the walk-ons are honored first, then the backups, then the starters. As one of Ohio State’s senior captains and veteran leaders, new Lions offensive lineman Taylor Decker was among the last players in the Senior Tackle rotation last Thanksgiving. Detroit Lions first round draft pick Taylor Decker.(Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier, DFP) First, his housemate, guard Pat Elflein, stood and told the group about the brotherhood they had and all they accomplished together on the field. Next, offensive coordinator Ed Warinner spoke of Decker’s work ethic and how much he’d grown in his four years in Columbus. Finally, it was Decker’s turn to talk, and the undisputed leader of the Buckeyes’ offense spent 5 or so minutes speaking about his experience at Ohio State, his family and football…
Continue Reading: Taylor Decker has the heart of a Lion
