Vernon Gholston - #56 - LB - Ohio State - Profile

CAREER TRANSACTIONS    

■ Signed first NFL contract 7/25/08.

■ Selected by Jets in first round (sixth overall) of 2008 NFL Draft.

BEFORE THE NFL

■ Named All-America first-team by AP and NFL Draft Report and second-team by Walter Camp.

■ Named 2007 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year by conference coaches.

■ In 2007 was All-Big Ten selection by coaches and media and finalist for Ted Hendricks Award after recording 14 sacks to set Ohio State single-season record and had 37 tackles and 15.5 TFL.

■ In 2006 earned All-Big Ten second-team honors after recording 49 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 15 TFL one interception.

■ Totaled 87 tackles, 30.5 TFL, one INT and one FR in 34 games (25 stats) at OSU.

■ Attended Cass Technical HS in Detroit, playing football for HC Thomas Wilcher.

■ Earned all-state honors as offensive lineman as senior but also played LB, from where he recorded 75 tackles with six sacks in his only scholastic season on defense.

■ Started playing football as sophomore when he was first tried at LB but was moved to guard, where he played exclusively as junior.

OFF THE FIELD

■ Son of Cheryl Gholston.

■ His father, Vernon, died in 1999 from pneumonia after battling multiple sclerosis for seven years. He helped care for his father while his mother worked on General Motors assembly line.

■ Most played artists on his iPod include Luther Vandross, Lil' Wayne, the Isley Brothers, R Kelly and the Temptations.

■ Credits HS defensive coordinator Charleston Fobbs with helping him develop mentality to want to be the best.