Newark, OH: Eye of the Storm

Ohio State has produced some of the finest linebackers in college football like Pepper Johnson and Chris Spielman. More recently, AJ Hawk and James Laurinaitis have added to that legacy. Looking to continue the Ohio State linebacker tradition is Licking Valley’s Storm Klein (pictured above being honored at the 2009 OSU Spring Game).

Klein, who finished high school early so he could enroll at Ohio State in time to participate in spring football practice, got his first taste of what Buckeye football is all about during Saturday’s spring game.  Klein played linebacker and was on the kickoff and kickoff return teams and finished with four tackles.

Klein will play for Team USA in the Junior World Championship in Canton. We are headed to Licking Valley High School in Newark, Ohio to meet his coach, Randy Baughman. Since Baughman took over as head coach in 1982, Licking Valley has produced seven perfect regular seasons. With Klein on their roster, the Panthers compiled a 43-7 record and won all 28 MSL-Ohio Division games. During his junior year, Klein played in part of the 2007 state final — a 17-10 loss to Big Walnut — with a lacerated kidney. The Panthers lost in a Division III state semifinal this year. Klein is his first Ohio State recruit.

Check out the video of Coach Kyle talking about Storm Klein and his Buckeye/Team USA teammate Jack Mewhort.