Pitcock was the blue-collar anchor of the Buckeyes' veteran defensive line that featured fellow seniors David Patterson and Jay Richardson. With Pitcock leading the way, the OSU defense ranked 12th in the nation, giving up just 280.46 yards in total offense in 2006 after ranking fifth nationally in 2005, when the Buckeyes allowed just 281.33 yards per game.

With Pitcock handling multiple blockers, the defense ranked 12th in the nation with an average of 2.92 sacks per game and the team finished fifth nationally in that category the previous season (3.67).

Pitcock was an Associated Press Division II first-team All-Ohio pick as a junior and senior at Piqua High School. He was also named second-team All-American by USA Today after he led Piqua to a berth in the state playoffs and a 12-3 record as a senior.

USA Today rated him the top defensive tackle in the state of Ohio and Super Prep rated him the best defensive tackle in the Midwest. Rivals.com ranked him fifth in the country among defensive tackle prospects.

In his final season, Pitcock recorded 69 tackles with 15 sacks. He also lettered in track, going to the state finals in each of his last three years competing in the shot put and discus.

Pitcock spurned scholarship offers from numerous major colleges to stay in-state and attend Ohio State. He redshirted in 2002 and appeared in 13 games in 2003, playing behind Tim Anderson at right defensive tackle. He earned his first career start that year, shifting to left end against Northwestern and finished the season with 17 tackles (11 solos), three sacks and five stops for losses.

Pitcock took over right defensive tackle chores in 2004, earning All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention. He was in on a career-high 49 tackles (20 solos), adding two sacks and 7½ stops behind the line of scrimmage. He also picked off a pass and deflected another.

Because he saw constant double-team coverage in 2005, Pitcock's statistics did not match his previous season's totals, but the league's coaches recognized his talent, according him All-Big Ten Conference second-team honors. He posted 28 tackles (14 solos) with a sack, three stops for losses, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick.

Even though he missed the Minnesota game and saw limited action against Illinois after leaving the Indiana game early with a concussion, Pitcock was named All-American first-team by Walter Camp, The Sporting News, Associated Press and the AFCA, in addition to being a consensus All-Big Ten first-team choice. The Jim Marshall Warrior Award recipient made 39 tackles (20 solos) and finished second on the team with eight sacks and 12 stops behind the line of scrimmage in 12 games contests.

In 49 games at Ohio State, Pitcock started 34 times. He registered 133 tackles (65 solos) with 14 sacks for minus-66 yards, 27½ stops for losses totaling 95 yards and one quarterback pressure. He recovered one fumble, returned an interception 14 yards, batted away one pass and blocked one kick.

Positives: Thick-framed athlete with large hands, squat frame, with good chest thickness, wide shoulders, thick thighs and calves … Blue-collar type who is the team's unquestioned leader … Plays with a consistent motor, takes well to hard coaching and puts in the extra hours in the training and film rooms … The team's strongest player, he also has very good leaping ability (36-inch vertical jump) … Lacks ideal athletic agility and is stiff in his hips, but makes plays on sheer effort and plays with good urgency … Relishes his role in occupying multiple blockers, letting others make the play … Has the upper body strength and hand punch to push the blockers back on their heels … Not going to explode off the line and shock a blocker, but plays with a consistent tempo … Keeps his head on a swivel and is quick to recognize blocking schemes … Has the low pad level and leg drive to generate gap control … Needs to keep his pad level down, but has the strength to stack and control, as he plays with leverage and it is tough to knock him off the ball (unless he gets his base too narrow) … Has improved his upper body flexibility, somewhat, and it was evident in his counter moves on the pass rush, as he kept his hands inside his frame and showed quicker recoil action with them, resulting in getting a better push off the blocker in attempts to shoot the gaps and push the pocket … Was much quicker using those hands to cross the face of the blocker and also improved his slant and angle ability in attempts to get to the quarterback … Has the overall functional playing strength to lock on, drag and pull blockers … Tight in his hips, but shows good effort moving laterally, taking proper angles while showing a functional burst to the ball … Locates the ball carrier quickly when stepping in to fill the rush lanes … Effective at plugging the gaps at the line of scrimmage and gives good effort when flushing the quarterback out of the pocket … Maintains balance while using his hands forcefully to gain leverage … Has decent swim and rip moves as he spins and turns in order to disengage from blockers on the rush … Gets his hands up immediately in passing situations, riding the blockers wide with his hands in their chest … Productive in a one-gap system, as he uses his hands effectively to shed and scrape working down the line … Takes good angles in pursuit and has developed a good spin move to slip off blocks.

Negatives: Lack of suddenness off the snap prevents him from being consistent in attempts to pressure the pocket … Strong vs. the run, but will struggle vs. double teams, as he tends to get too high in his stance, causing his base to narrow … More of a containment type, lacking playmaking ability (133 tackles in 49 games) … Has shown improvement executing counter moves, but is very stiff in his hips and looks robotic, at times, shooting his hands in attempts to neutralize reach blocks … Moves down the line, but lacks the lateral agility or sustained speed to make plays outside the box … Lacks ideal knee bend to get into position to make the wrap-up tackle (executes a lot of arm shots) … More of a push-&-lean type in his pass rush (more of a bull rusher) … Lacks the burst to close or pressure the pocket (only one QB hurry in 49 games) … When he gets too narrow in his base, he gets smothered at the point of attack by multiple blocks … Lacks the ideal bulk to face up to double team action at the next level … Lacks a good feel for generating gap pressure and will get a little out of control and frustrated when his initial move fails … Best served when stationary at the line, as he lacks the lateral range to make plays on the move and his narrow base causes him to cross his feet and lose balance when having to work in space … Has shorter-than-ideal arms that prevents him from defeating reach blocks and while he needs to add more bulk, his frame appears to be at maximum growth potential.

Compares To: Rocky Bernard, Seattle Seahawks … Pitcock is the classic overachieving blue-collar worker who might lack ideal athletic ability, but makes plays on his effort and tenacity … He is a strong bull rusher, who despite good pass rush figures in 2006, still lacks the moves, suddenness and speed to be effective pressuring the quarterback on a steady basis … He doesn't have the range to make plays outside the box and his frame might be at maximum growth potential, but he understands the defense and is alert to blocking schemes … His instincts and upper body strength are his best assets, but his lack of overall athleticism makes him a potential roster addition, but nothing more.

2005: Played most of the year with a nagging shoulder injury (AC joint) that required arthroscopic surgery after the Fiesta Bowl (1/4/06) and forced him to miss most of 2006 spring camp.

2006: Suffered a concussion vs. Indiana (10/21) that caused him to miss the next game vs. Minnesota and see limited action vs. Illinois (11/4) upon his return to the field.

Campus: 5.09 in the 40-yard dash … 460-pound bench press … 570-pound squat … 334-pound power clean … 36-inch vertical jump … 31-inch arm length.

Attended Piqua (Ohio) High School, earning Associated Press Division II first-team All-Ohio honors as a junior and senior … Named second-team All-American by USA Today after he led Piqua to a berth in the state playoffs and a 12-3 record as a senior … USA Today rated him the top defensive tackle in the state of Ohio and Super Prep rated him the best defensive tackle in the Midwest … Rivals.com ranked him fifth in the country among defensive tackle prospects … In his final season, Pitcock recorded 69 tackles with 15 sacks … Also lettered in track, going to the state finals in each of his last three years, where he competed in the shot put and discus.

Consumer Affairs major, with a minor in Family Resource Management … Son of Janey and Michael Pitcock … Grandfather, Bill Edwards, played football at Miami (Ohio) … Born Sept. 14, 1983 … Resides in Piqua, Ohio.