Ohio State's Johnathan Hankins is a Dearborn Heights native who was recruited by Michigan State, but despite playing on the same Detroit Southeastern defensive line as Spartans star William Gholston, he ended up a Buckeye.

Nicknamed "Big Hank," the 6-foot-3, 322-pound junior defensive tackle has since earned preseason All-America recognition and will be given strong consideration as a first-round NFL draft pick after the season.

And in his first game at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, Hankins has his sights set on stopping Michigan State running back Le'Veon Bell.

"I'm going to try to rip his head off," Hankins said when asked which part of Bell he would go after first in an attempt to stop him, according to

.

the Buckeyes defense is built for stopping a straight-ahead runner like Bell, but it also ranks last in the Big Ten while giving up 394.8 yards per game.

"It doesn't really hurt our pride,"

. "I feel that we're 4-0, and we're working hard to go 5-0, so that's all that's in my mind right now."

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio knows the two Ohio State players who hail from Michigan, Hankins and offensive lineman Reid Fragel from Grosse Pointe Farms, indicated those two could come into the game with extra motivation.

"I'm sure they'll be ready to play as well," Dantonio said. "I think it goes back the other way as well."

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