From recruiting bust to valued veteran, Curtis Grant in middle of things for No. 3 Ohio State

Expectations were already high even before Curtis Grant attended his first class at Ohio State.

Maybe too high.

Grant, baptized as a five-star recruit and one of the top 10 high school seniors in the country, was compared favorably to the Buckeyes' pantheon of great linebackers: Chris Spielman, Andy Katzenmoyer, Marcus Marek, Pepper Johnson, Randy Gradishar, A.J. Hawk, James Laurinaitis and others.

Then he put on a scarlet-and-gray uniform and promptly disappointed everybody.

He didn't play much as a freshman and last year lost his starting job to a converted fullback.

Now he's a mainstay of Ohio State's thin corps of 'backers.

After shedding all the labels and hype, is he ready to finally become the player so many thought he was destined to be?