There will probably never be a bobble-head doll bearing his likeness or a T-shirt touting him as a Heisman prospect, but Mike Stafford wouldn’t have it any other way.

And don’t even think about calling him “Rudy.”

In the midst of a stellar year, Stafford, a fifth-year senior offensive tackle on the Ohio State football team, has definitely heard his share of comparisons to the underdog icon. And truth be told, the two do share the similarity of having drudged a path to the front lines of a prominent football program – even if Stafford, at 6 feet 3 inches and 300 pounds, would loom over the pint-sized Fighting Irishman.

A former walk-on, Stafford saw limited playing time before converting to scholarship in 2001. In 2002, his final year at OSU, he secured a starting position at the beginning of this season and continued his ascent.

“There’s no question, it’s all been a surprise. I can’t say I saw this coming, but I wouldn’t say I’d change anything about it either,” Stafford said.

In his first start since his senior year in high school, Stafford dominated along with the rest of the offense in the Buckeyes’ season opener against Texas Tech. Serving as offensive captain against Kent State, he was named OSU Offensive Lineman of the Week.

“Michael’s success has really been an inspirational story for people. It’s a five-year career that’s been condensed into just a few weeks,” said his father, Mike Stafford Sr. “He just had the mindset that if he worked harder and longer and dedicated himself to improve, he could follow through with it. It wasn’t a gift – he worked hard for this.”

Despite his whirlwind rise up the Buckeye offense, Stafford remains as humble as he was during his days as a walk-on. He admits to shunning the limelight, and his own family had to pry information out of him when it came to the topic of football.

“He’s completely grounded. It would be so easy for all of this to go to his head, but he hasn’t let it,” said the lineman’s mother, Marilou Stafford. “He’s just enjoying every minute of it. It’s been a lesson for our whole family that if you really set your sights on something, you can achieve anything.”

An ankle injury sustained in the Sept. 21 Cincinnati game forced Stafford to forfeit his starting position. Although he has had playing time throughout the remainder of the season.

“The ankle sprain really messed up his progress, and he’s just now starting to get back to full speed,” said offensive line coordinator Jim Bollman. “Mike’s been a very valuable player for us this year, because he can play in a number of positions and is an intelligent guy who doesn’t make mistakes very often.”

Growing up in nearby Upper Arlington, Stafford, the son of two OSU alumni, never really thought he would end up a Buckeye. But when the opportunity presented itself, he opted to pass on other scholarship offers in favor of OSU, even though it meant being buried behind other prospects.

“Wherever he ended up, Michael knew he was going to have to really work and take a lot of hard hits,” his father said. “Rather than play against small crowds, he figured he might as well give it a shot at a higher level and try to cut it there, because he was going to have to work just as hard.”

It is that work ethic that has made the biggest impact on Stafford’s career. And no one would argue against his persistent dedication earning him a place on the Buckeye squad.

“I’m very critical of myself, and sometimes I think I overdo it. But nothing’s natural with me. I came here wanting to play and wanting to learn, and it’s been an honor to be a part of it all,” Stafford said.

Even during the three strenuous years Stafford spent on the scout team running plays against the first-string team, he said he enjoyed the experience.

“Sometimes it was fun, believe it or not, and I actually enjoyed getting squashed,” he said. “When we did well and got a play by the defense, it was a great feeling, but it was bittersweet. No one was really happy for us when we got it, but we were.”

Stafford and his family welcomed the “clean slate” that a new coaching staff brought when Jim Tressel arrived and individually reevaluated the players.

“Coach Tressel coming in was the turning point. He has a whole different outlook on getting to know each player as a person and giving them all a chance to prove themselves,” Marilou Stafford said.

Family support was surely not in short supply for the Staffords, who admitted that despite his size, the football player was often the one who was picked on most while growing up. Along with his parents, the lineman has four brothers and a sister with a family of her own cheering him every step of the way.

“We are all so proud of him, but it definitely shocked me. After all these years, I never really thought that it would happen, but it’s just amazing to say, That’s my brother out there,'” said Mark Stafford, his brother.

“Michael’s a team player who really just cares a lot and has a lot of passion,” he said. “He has so much potential, he can go anywhere. He’s got so many possibilities, and this year only added to that.”

Besides his ambitious nature – and reputation as the team singer – Stafford’s family agreed that some of his best qualities include his generosity, loyalty and comical, yet mellow, personality.

“I have a pretty off-the-wall, random sense of humor. But I’m the same guy in the locker room as I am on the street,” he said.

Stafford is set to graduate in the spring, sharing the ceremony with his brother, Matt, and sister, Molly, among others. With a degree in criminology, he plans to follow in the footsteps of his father – an officer with the Columbus Division of Police – and pursue a career in law enforcement, possibly working for a government agency.

Although his time on the field came late, Stafford is satisfied with his present position and is just happy to see the undefeated team having a successful season.

“I try not to look too far into the future. We’re all just taking it one day at a time, because there’s no guarantee you’ll be there tomorrow. The more you think about it, the more you take your mind off the game,” he said. “It’s an honor, and I’m sure I’ll recognize it more after I’m done playing football.”

With his focus on reaching the team’s goals, Stafford has been taking every challenge as it presents itself.

“I know I’m going to miss it when it’s all over. I won’t easily walk away,” Stafford said. “I don’t want to think about the end until it’s already gone.”

For Stafford, the difficult road to success at OSU has been worth the years of patience and struggle.

“It’s been about every adjective you can use – from positive, to negative, to indifferent,” Stafford said. “It’s been a roller coaster, that’s for certain. There haven’t been many extreme lows, but there have been some bumps along the road and a lot of highs, on and off the field. But there’s still nothing in the world like getting to wear scarlet and gray and play in front of a crowd of 100,000.”