Journal-News.com

CINCINNATI — Brandon Underwood was a highly recruited cornerback who earned a football scholarship to Ohio State. He's a guy who's had trouble with academics and other issues in the past. He's a player who transferred to the University of Cincinnati last season and will battle in the fall for a starting spot on the Bearcats defense.

But there's one other thing.

Brandon Underwood is now a family man. Everything else is in the past.

Before, the Hamilton High School standout only had to worry about himself, and perhaps that's why he struggled while at Ohio State. But now, with a wife beside him and a newborn baby boy in his arms, he has two other Underwoods who depend on him.

He's determined not to disappoint them.

"It's different," Underwood said. "It's something to get adjusted to, because it's not all about you. It's about the family now. It's kind of tough."

Life has been tough the past few years for Underwood.

After signing to Ohio State in 2004 as the 16th-best cornerback in the country, as rated by rivals.com, Underwood injured his shoulder in the Big 33 all-star game, and that eventually led to a pair of surgeries. He had to redshirt his freshman season, and after playing intermittently in 2005, he missed all of 2006 with more shoulder problems. Ultimately, his scholarship wasn't renewed.

Underwood, though, doesn't seem bitter.

"It was a great learning experience," he said. "Any time you can't participate, you can always learn from the great people who play ahead of you. I learned a lot, and I'm still learning a lot. I just didn't take care of everything I needed to take care of. Academically, I would have been eligible, but it was lot of other little things. I didn't do all the little things right."

After spending all of last season at UC with the scout team, the 21-year-old Underwood and Brandie, who he had been seeing for four years, married, and last month, they welcomed Cameron to the world.

So Underwood has football practice in the morning, classes during the day and a wife and baby who occupy him at night. He's certainly learning how to manage his time and priorities.

"I've got a great wife," said Underwood, who worked 40 hours a week at a local video store during the winter before earning a scholarship this quarter. "She gets me going in the morning. Then, once I get here, everything balances itself out. I do football and then I've got a strict class schedule. I have very little time to relax."

He's still got more work ahead, though.

"He's just a gifted player," UC coach Brian Kelly said. "He's got athletic ability. He's got a great burst on the ball. He's an NFL-caliber player. That's never been in question about Brandon Underwood. But he's got to make good decisions relative to his academics and being accountable. He's got a lot on his plate and a lot of potential distractions. But he's done a very good job in the year he's been here."

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