After a stellar playing career at Ohio State followed by a tremendous workout performance at the Combine, Buckeyes' DE Vernon Gholston has elevated his draft status from a potential Top 10 to a Top 5 pick.

The 6-foot-4 266-pound freak of nature wowed NFL scouts with his speed, strength, agility and athletic ability during drills at the Combine. Gholston is one imposing figure and a master of destruction on the playing field going from 0 to 60 in a millisecond to get all up in the quarterback's grill.

The sack master posted 22.5 sacks in his last two seasons with the Buckeyes.

I had a few scouts tell me that Gholston was the man to see in Indy and that was before his workout. They referred to him as the most intriguing prospect entering the draft.

With the Cincinnati Bengals slapping the franchise tag on OG Stacy Andrews that leaves the door open for veteran DE Justin Smith to pound the pavement and test the waters of free agency. Should Smith find greener pastures outside the 'Nati this would create an immediate void at the defensive end position on defense.

The consensus of Cincinnati Bengal fans that I have talked to would love to see the team select Gholston with their first pick in the upcoming draft. The Bengals currently own the No. 9 selection in this year's draft, but would definitely have to move up the board if they are to have any shot at nabbing Gholston.

There are at least two teams picking in the Top 5 that could be potential trade partners for the Bengals. That would be the Atlanta Falcons with the No. 3 pick and Kansas City Chiefs with the No. 5 pick. The Bengals organization may have a better chance of convincing the Chiefs' Powers That Be to swap places due to the close relationship that Marvin Lewis and Herm Edwards share.

The Bengals could take their chances and stand pat, but there is no guarantee that the fierce pass-rusher would be available at No. 9.

There is no question that the Bengals could use a player on defense with the versatility of Gholston.

He was recruited to Ohio State as a linebacker and made the switch to end once he arrived in Columbus. So playing linebacker would be a familiar role if the team felt a need to make a switch.

According to agent Ben Dogra, Gholston would excel in any type of defense.

"It's a little early to speculate but we believe that Vernon has the ability to play in either a 4-3 or 3-4 defense. He has a lot of versatility," Dogra said.

"We think he has the ability to be a strong end in a 4-3 defense and the ability to drop back in the 3-4. I think he's very unique from that perspective because there are very few players who have that combination of strength and speed. That's not a very easy thing to find, and because of that he offers that type of flexibility to a team running either defense. That's what sets him apart from the other guys."

As for Gholston, he doesn't have a preference to the type of defense he could end up playing and welcomes the challenge of the unknown.

"When I was at Ohio State I predominately had my hands down in the dirt," Gholston said. "But 30 or 40 percent of the time I was in a standup alignment so there really is no preference for me. I think that is one of the big things I bring to the table. With me it's all about taking advantage of that. Whatever a team wants me to do whether it is standup or play down in games. I'm able and willing to do that."

How does Gholston see himself? Pretty much like all the scouts.

"Outside looking in, I see a guy who really has no limits," he said. We can put him anywhere on the field and he is going to make plays. We can do so many different things with him and not be a liability."

Gholston said the constant growth of getting better is there and that he has only scratched the surface of where he wants to take his game.

Big C's Scouting Report:

Gholston is an explosive player with tremendous upside. He's very strong and versatile with a non-stop motor. He's a disruptive player capable of wreaking havoc on every down.

Gholston is a gifted athlete with good study habits and is highly intelligent. He has outstanding quickness and is not one dimensional.

Teams have seen Gholston play defensive end, but want to see him do all the drops from a standup position. Gholston weighs 266 pounds and could carry 270 pounds on his granite frame which would be an ideal weight for a pass-rusher in the pros. It is believed that Gholston could carry that weight and still have one of the quickest first steps off the edge.