ESPN

Buzzmaster

  (3:00 PM)

We've got Vernon!

Brian, North Reading Mass

Hey Vernon, was your performance at the combine what you expected?

Vernon Gholston

  (3:01 PM)

Definitely not. I expected to be one of the top guys, if not the top guy in most of all the categories. At the end of the day, I was expecting a low 4.5s in the 40 and jump high. Just show what I'm capable of.

Joe (Staunton, Va)

What's your favorite memory of your Michigan vs. Ohio State games?

Vernon Gholston

  (3:02 PM)

My favorite memory would be winning them. I went 4-0 against Michigan, me being from Michigan, that's a big thing going home. Being at OSU, we pride ourselves on beating them. It's great.

Andrew (Medford, NJ)

What do you feel is the most improtant thing you will take away from your experience playing at THE ohio state university?

Vernon Gholston

  (3:03 PM)

The most important, I would have to say, the experiences that you share with the people that you're with. I met a lot of great people that I hope will be with me the rest of my life. I met some of my closest friends here.

Ryan (Villanova, PA)

Who at the NFL level do you compare yourself to?

Vernon Gholston

  (3:04 PM)

I would say no one in particular. If anyone, I've gotten a lot of comparisons to Merriman. But when I sit down and watch tapes, I don't say that I have to be that player. I just look at what I'm doing and what I need to do.

Brad (Gadsden,Alabama)

Vernon, What is the hardest thing to do at the combine?

Vernon Gholston

  (3:05 PM)

The hardest thing to do was the final day of testing. The drills were back-to-back-to-back. Going from one thing to the next was kind of tiring. But that's what it is. It tests you mentally.

Karl (Minneapolis, MN)

Which position would you rather play in the NFL: Rush linebacker (in the 3-4) or DE (in the 4-3)?

Vernon Gholston

  (3:06 PM)

The biggest thing about me, I say if you can do both, why not do both? It makes you versatile. If I have to say one, I'd say 4-3, down DE. I pride myself on being one of the guys up front and doing the dirty work. You can control the game from there.

Aaron (mesa.AZ

Hey Vernon what do you think will be the biggest adjustment you will have to make coming from college into the pros?

Vernon Gholston

  (3:07 PM)

The biggest adjustment will have to be that it's strictly a business. On any given day, you can be cut from a team. In college, you're with a team for pretty much four years.

Jerry (Haslett, MI)

What's the first thing you are going to buy with your first paycheck?

Vernon Gholston

  (3:07 PM)

The first thing I'll probably buy is probably take my family out to dinner.

adam, New York

What teams have contacted you, if so, what are they looking for you for accomplish for their team.

Vernon Gholston

  (3:08 PM)

I met at the combine with 25 different teams. That's not to say they're all interested in me, but they're interviewing to get a feel for all the guys. For the teams, they look at what kind of person you are. They were looking at my character, my past history, why I play football. They're just trying to get a feel for the person that you are.

Joe (Staunton, Va)

What's your favorite pass rushing move?

Vernon Gholston

  (3:09 PM)

Favorite? I like the bull rush. I like to physical handle the offensive tackle.

Ian Union, New Jersey

How did it feel making Chad Henne feel the pain train this past year?

Vernon Gholston

  (3:10 PM)

It was nothing personal toward those guys. But it being an OSU-Michigan game it was the biggest game of the year. It was big to get the win not just for myself but for the team.

Andrew, SFO

Hey Vernon, What NFL players did you admire when you were growing up?

Vernon Gholston

  (3:10 PM)

It's tough for me, because I didn't get into football until my sophomore year of high school. But when I got into football, I liked the St. Louis Rams and their high powered offense. Marshall Faulk was a guy I liked.

Johnny(Queens)

Which O-lineman that you have faced in your college career was the toughest to battle with?

Vernon Gholston

  (3:11 PM)

The toughest would definitely be Jake Long. He had the strength, speed, quickness. He's an all around competitor.

Ed (Cleveland, Ohio)

What goals are you setting for yourself for your first season?

Vernon Gholston

  (3:11 PM)

My goal is to No. 1, win the Super Bowl, No. 2, win rookie of the year and No. 3 make myself a feared player in the NFL.

Andrew Poland, OH

What teams have been interested in drafting you?

Vernon Gholston

  (3:12 PM)

Nothing specific. Teams try to hide their interest because they don't want to leak their interest. After meeting with them, they really didn't give an indication if they liked you or didn't like you.

Rob (MS)

Vernon, ESPN mock draft has you at 7 to NE. If someone told you a year ago that in this draft, you would be a Top 10 pick and go to a team that was 18-1, what would you have said to them?

Vernon Gholston

  (3:13 PM)

That's an odd situation. That's the only team in the top 10 that was a winning team this year. That just shows you what kind of team they are in building a team and looking to the future. For me, that would be a great situation to go to.

Blake (Cleveland, OH)

What has been the biggest change from your college workouts to your NFL workouts?

Vernon Gholston

  (3:14 PM)

Right now, it's a lot of combine prep stuff. Running the 40 and the agility drills. When I train for football, lifting weights and getting ready for the football field. It's a different type of training. Some of it you have to do to get through the NFL draft process.

Aaron in Colorado

Who is your favorite ex-buckeye?

Vernon Gholston

  (3:15 PM)

It would definitely have to be Jack Tatum. He was a vicious hitter when he was here. He occasionally comes in and talks to us. It shows you that the game hasn't changed from years ago.

Brett (LA,CA)

What player would you most like to have rushing the QB with you?

Vernon Gholston

  (3:16 PM)

No one specific. I would definitely have fantasies of me and Lawrence Taylor coming off the edge together. But hopefully I can do good things for whatever team takes me.

Adam (Vermont)

You appear to be one of, if not THE best defensive player in the draft. Did you ever think you'd have a chance like this? Did you ever think you'd be this good?

Vernon Gholston

  (3:17 PM)

Yeah, definitely. I know I'm very detail oriented to what I do. And I have a lot of passion for what I do. The biggest thing is to have a plan for what you want to do and be disciplined. That's what I do, having a plan and going out there and executing what I have to do.

Jin (Chicago, IL)

Vernon, I am a huge Michigan fan, so I hate what you've done to my team, but I have to respect your game because it is phenomenal. I know you're from Detroit, so what made you pick OSU vs. in state schools such as Michigan and Michigan State?

Vernon Gholston

  (3:18 PM)

The biggest thing was picking a school that was good for me. OSU had a good situation for me coming out of high school. I watched the 2002 national championship game and I think their style of play really suited me. And coach Tressel and what he embodied really made me want to play at OSU.

Mike (Mpls)

What's more stressful, being recruited by colleges or the NFL draft process?

Vernon Gholston

  (3:19 PM)

Definitely being recruited by colleges. When you're being recruited, it's up to you where you go. You have to look at all the details. But when you're in the NFL, it's all up to the teams on where you go. It's in their hands.

Vernon Gholston

  (3:20 PM)

It's been great being at OSU. Being at the national championship games. Thank you for everything you've done for me and supporting me. Go Bucks!