![]() ![]() Katzenmoyer embodied the persona of a linebacker. His 450-pound bench press was helpful when stepped on the field every Saturday.įollowing his sensational season, Sports Illustrated placed the menacing linebacker on their college football preview edition for the 1998 season. It was frequent that the ball carrier would get up gingerly, or not at all. He had the tendency to appear on the screen in a flash, as if he was shot out of a cannon. Katzenmoyer’s responsibilities were simple, find the ball carrier and kill the ball carrier. He was the lynchpin of a defense that averaged under 11 points a game while helping the Buckeyes defeat Jake Plummer and Arizona State in the 1997 Rose Bowl. The decision to start a freshman paid off as The Big Cat notched 85 tackles, 23 for loss, and 12 sacks. The native son, Katzenmoyer became the first true freshman to start at linebacker for the Buckeyes. Katzenmoyer, whose position on the field was tabbed as “linemonster” had the brute strength to run through concrete walls but the agility mimicking a predator hunting down innocent prey. (USC) and Shane Conlan (PSU) all wreaked havoc on their opponents but for OSU, one linebacker was amongst the most feared to ever play college football.Īndy Katzenmoyer, known to the Buckeye faithful as “The Big Cat,” was a spitting image of the all-time greats, the likes of Dick Butkus and Chuck Bednarik had an influence on the 6’3, 255-pound linebacker. The immediate choices are: Penn State, Ohio State, University of Southern California and The University of Miami. You’re a highly ranked linebacker and want to choose an institution that is known for stockpiling their ‘backers to the professional league. In 2013, Katzenmoyer was arrested after violating a domestic violence civil protection order issued against him by the mother of his child.You’re a high school senior and signing day is steadily approaching. Katzenmoyer is now owner of Katzenmoyer Performance, a training facility along with KP CrossFit also in Westerville, Ohio. The Patriots released Katzenmoyer before the beginning of the 2002 season. He was placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season. During training camp in 2001, Katzenmoyer walked out citing concern about a feeling in his neck. ![]() He suffered a neck injury during his first season with the Patriots that eventually forced him to have surgery and miss half of the 2000 season. The New England Patriots selected Katzenmoyer in the first round (28th pick overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft. ![]() In 2009, he was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall Of Fame. He started 37 consecutive games and finished his college career with 256 tackles, 50 tackles-for-loss, 18 sacks and six Interceptions. Katzenmoyer was a three time first team all-Big Ten selection. As a sophomore in 1997, he was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American, and won the Dick Butkus Award and Jack Lambert Trophy. As a freshman he recorded 12 sacks including three in the 1997 Rose Bowl. In the first game of his college career, he became the first true freshman to ever start at linebacker for the Buckeyes. Katzenmoyer attended Ohio State University, where he played for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team from 1996 to 1998. Football Award and was selected as the national defensive player of the year, his final year of high school. He attended Westerville South High School, and played high school football for the Westerville South Wildcats. He and his family moved to Westerville, Ohio when Andy was 5. His playing career was shortened due to a neck injury. He played college football for Ohio State, and became the first Buckeye to win the Butkus Award. He was selected in the first round (28th overall) of the 1999 NFL draft by the New England Patriots.
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