CFB notebook: Ohio State to honor Shazier at spring game

Former Ohio State and current Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier has been selected as an honorary captain for the Buckeyes' spring game on April 14. Shazier suffered a career-threatening spinal injury in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 4. Days after being injured, Shazier had spinal stabilization surgery. He spent eight weeks in a hospital and currently is enrolled in an outpatient rehabilitation program. He has vowed to return to play but has been ruled out for the 2018 season. The other honorary captain will be two-time Super Bowl champion, Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Malcolm Jenkins. Jenkins wore the Scarlet and Gray from 2005 to 2008, helping the Buckeyes reach BCS games four times in his four years. --The family of former Washington State quarterback Tyler Hilinski wanted to thank everyone for their support after the 21-year-old took his own life in January. The family wrote a letter as part of half-page display ads in newspapers from Seattle to Yakima, Wash. The letter, which was part of the ad, began: "From the bottom of our broken hearts, I am writing today to thank you all for your outpouring of love and support, words of kindness and encouragement, and most of all, the amazing amount of love you've shown for our son Tyler. From the spring games to the fall scrimmages and camps and the games every weekend. In class and around town. He was touched by all of you ... and so are we." Hilinski died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Jan. 16. While his death has left a void and many unanswered questions, his family has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support. --Jim Harbaugh's record in three years at Michigan is an underwhelming by Wolverines standards at 28-11. But there is nothing underwhelming about his commitment to fight pediatric. For his efforts, Harbaugh will be honored in May by the V Foundation. Harbaugh, along with ESPN's Mike Greenberg and Florida State basketball coach Leonard Hamilton, will share the spotlight at the 13th Annual Dick Vitale Gala in Sarasota, Fla. The event is designed to raise money for pediatric cancer research and make more people aware of the disease.