K-State linebacker Buhl is small, but he's mighty

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Jan 1, 2004 by Kurt Caywood Capital-Journal

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. --- Let's get this straight right up front. Josh Buhl isn't a good little college linebacker. He was a good little college linebacker last year.

Buhl passed on the NFL Draft last spring to return to Kansas State, and in his senior season, Buhl was a great little college linebacker.

But between now and this April's draft, Buhl's challenge is to make sure NFL scouts are thinking about the words great, not good, and not the words little and college when they're putting his name on their boards.

Buhl stands just 6 feet tall and weighs just 210 pounds. Anymore, that's average-sized for an NFL strong safety, and virtually unheard of for a linebacker in a league that hammers piledrivers like Jamal Lewis, Jerome Bettis and Clinton Portis up the middle.

"He's in between what the computer says you ought to be," K-State co-defensive coordinator Bobby Elliott said. "If it's the computers that are making the decision, then there's some doubt. But if they leave it up to the coaches, they'll give him a chance. Coaches in the NFL will see that this is just a great football player."

All anyone who has watched the Wildcats' defense has seen is Buhl making plays. His average this season of 12.2 tackles per game led the Big 12 and ranked ninth in the nation. His total of 171 was the highest in the country, and he needs just eight stops in Friday's Fiesta Bowl to break the Wildcats' single-season record. He was second-team All-America, consensus all-conference pick and a Butkus Award semifinalist.

Speed and a sense for the ball most often are mentioned as Buhl's best attributes, but Elliott said there's more.

"I don't know that I've ever been around anybody who is tougher than he is," he said. "He's got one injury after another and yet he never comes off the field. He doesn't miss a beat."

Ask Buhl, and he'll say his desire to hit sets him apart. Suggest to him that a lot of linebackers have that desire, and he persists.

"I don't just want to hit you," he said. "I'm trying to hit you and make sure you know I hit you and make sure everybody else knows I hit you. It's bring the pain, and as much pain as possible every time. I'm not sure every linebacker has that mentality. It's the mentality I have. I'm like Dick Butkus."

Mentally, maybe. But three decades ago, Butkus played his NFL career at least three inches taller and 30 pounds heavier than Buhl is now.

Again, that's the cross the Mesquite, Texas, native will have to bear until he proves his playmaking ability will translate to the next level.

Last season, when fellow linebacker Terry Pierce left K-State early for the draft, Buhl investigated the possibility as well.

"I came pretty close," he said. "The opportunity to make money, that was a big, big factor. But a lot of the things that came into the other side, as far as getting to win a Big 12 championship, playing with these guys again. They won out over leaving."

As an added benefit, Buhl has spent more time in pass coverage and become a better-rounded player in his final college season. That could benefit him if he holds his size and converts to safety.

And that is just another reason Elliott is so confident about Buhl's future.

"I don't know what they'll do with him, but somebody's got to find a place for him, because he's just too good a football player not to," Elliott said. "I can't imagine that somebody can't find a place for Josh Buhl to play."

BUHL IN THE BOOKS

Josh Buhl needs seven tackles in the Fiesta Bowl to tie and eight to overtake Gary Spani and Danny Lankas for the Kansas State record for single-season tackles. The Wildcats' record book:

Season

Player Season Total1. (tie) Gary Spani 1977 1781. (tie) Danny Lankas 1967 1673. Danny Lankas 1966 1754. Josh Buhl 2003 1715. Matt Wallerstedt 1987 165Career

Player Seasons Total1. Gary Spani 1974-77 5432. Brooks Barta 1989-92 4363. Mark Simoneau 1996-99 4004. Josh Buhl 2000-03 3855. Theopilis Bryant 1973-76 381