KENNY GREER/THE LANTERN
Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo speaks to the media during a press conference Friday in Scottsdale, ariz. Orakpo, a first-team all-american, will matchup against Ohio State left tackle alex Boone tonight in the Fiesta Bowl.Orakpo, at 6-feet 4-inches and 260 pounds, leads a daunting Texas defense with 10.5 sacks while making 40 tackles, 18 for a loss. He is a first-team All-American and won the Lombardi, Hendricks and Nagurski awards.
The senior from Houston will matchup against Ohio State senior left tackle Alex Boone during Monday's Fiesta Bowl and attempt to pressure freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor.
"Throughout games we played, you can tell when quarterbacks start being hesitant," Orakpo said. "Like somebody is about to hit them and get rid of the ball a little sooner than they want to and not make their reads that fast."
The Buckeye offensive line will have its hands full against Orakpo, along with Miller, Henry Melton and Aaron Lewis along the defensive front.
Boone said he is excited about facing Orakpo and acknowledges the struggles the OSU offensive line has had this season.
"We had some F performances and some B's," Boone said.
It won't take long to figure out the grade against this Lognhorns D-line.
"I have a lot of confidence in our defensive line," Miller said. "I know when we play and we're all on the same page, we're pretty nasty out there."
Still the idea of chasing down Pryor is not something the Longhorns are thrilled about.
The Big 12 has been headlined by outstanding passing offenses this season, and Orakpo said he does not like mobile quarterbacks.
Miller, 6-feet 2-inches and 295 pounds, is not looking forward to chasing down Pryor, either.
"Terrelle Pryor, he'll turn a broken play into a 20-yard gain," Miller said. "The good thing is, I heard [Pryor] ran a 4.5-ish; I think Orakpo runs the same speed and Sergio Kindle is around the same.
"I'm looking forward to helping Orakpo and them chase him around. I've clocked in at a 4.9; I'm considered slow but I've got what you call football speed. You can put those clocks away when I put that helmet on."
James Crepea can be reached at crepea.1@osu.edu.
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