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2027 GA DB Bryce Woods (VA Tech Verbal)

Probably a faster way onto the field. Merely my opinion, could see that happening. Maybe a connection to Franklin, hard to tell. Anyway, this young man made a decision best for him, so good luck to him. tOSU will survive this, as we have so many others, and remained as strong as they come. Could recite a number of stale platitudes here, but you guys can probably recite them better than I. Good luck to him.
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Cleveland Browns (Factory of Sadness)


ESPN: Ward 'definitely' wants to stay with Browns after Garrett trade

"I definitely still want to be here," Ward said Saturday at his inaugural celebrity softball game. "Myles is a good friend of mine, a great teammate, but things aren't lost. It's Ohio against the world. So people could doubt us, but we're going out there still trying to play our best ball and bring wins to the city."
Two things:
1. I love that he has maintained his "Ohio against the World" mentality.
2. I also love that he isn't referring to Cincinnati as on his side in "Ohio against the World". I don't mind Cincinnati. I like Cincinnati. But I find it funny that Cleveland fans don't consider Cincinnati as part of Ohio.
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J.J. McCarthy (once a tCun, always a tCun; Nine on the Pine)

Played a round with a Vikes fan today who was pissing and mosning about JJ. Entitled, hasn’t done shit, running his mouth, who’s going to want him, etc.

My response was A. He’s a Michigan grad, so what do you expect and B. who saw him play, especially after the cheating scandal and thought this was a high first round pick?
Right? If he's upset at the team for drafting him, that's fine. Anything else........to be upset means you didn't see it coming. That's on you.
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WR Jeremiah Smith (All B1G, B1G Freshman of Year, B1G WR of Year, Unanimous All-American, 2025 Rose Bowl Off MVP, National Champion)

In terms of just one year salary? Almost certainly yes but I don't know what JS is making.

For perspective, 2nd round guys are making $1.4-$2.4MM for the first year of their contract in 2026.

He's probably already made the equivalent of a NFL 2nd round draft pick in the 3rd year of a 4 year contract. Maybe a lot more, I just have no idea of what he (reportedly) makes.
He mentioned he was offered 10 mill to transfer and somewhere I saw he made 2.5 or something last year. While I don't think OSU matched you'd think they would have to at least up their present number.
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We Don't Deserve Dogs

We're getting to the end on our fox terrier. He has some heart disease at age 16 really good overall quality of life still so nothing to do proactively but I see moments where he's a little short of breath and I feel his heart beat flutter on my lap. Other times he's just fine. Its hard to get to this part but I want to be as good of an owner as he's been a companion.
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MLB General Discussion (Official Thread)

This is the first All Star game I really remember watching....baseball was peak back then...
Back in the old days if you lived on the west coast and the game was being played on the east coast you had to settle for listening to the game on the radio because the local channels wouldn't pre empt scheduled programing for a baseball game. Up until the 80's I listened to most all star games on the radio. The first I remember watching on TV was the 1984 all star game in SF when Huey Lewis and the New sand the national anthem.
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People to Punch, Pet Peeves, and General Vexations (mega-merge)

Had to laugh at this. My wife was cleaning the windows last weekend and I was going to help her pull the top ones down and open them in. She proceeded to tell me that the bottom window had to be shut according to the instructions to open the top one in. Responded that the bottom window had to be opened in for the top one to come down and open in. I showed her it was physically impossible to do what the instructions she found on the internet said. But the instructions say this is how it works. I said okay and went outside to do something else. Low and behold I see her do exactly what I said a little later.
Women, you gotta love them :lol:
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The Dog Thread

I hope the owner gets convicted of at least involuntary manslaughter
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2026 tOSU Defense Discussion

Ohio State may be able to replicate Carnell Tate with a freshman. OSU needs 3 players to replace Caleb Downs

Replacing Caleb Downs will be nearly impossible. While a great player like Carnell Tate will be able to be replaced by a generational freshman recruit like Chris Henry Jr. (since even that is not a guarantee, considering how seamlessly Tate and Jeremiah Smith's games intertwined), a generational performer like Caleb Downs can't be replaced by one player.

"On the other side of the ball, the Buckeyes are pretty well-equipped at linebacker (especially with the new addition of Christian Alliegro via the portal), but safety Caleb Downs is so difficult to replace that they’re turning to three different players to do so. Read that again: Caleb Downs was singlehandedly accomplishing something the coaches are turning to three players collectively for in the future."

Downs was a freak who would blitz past opponents' interior offensive lines, perform spy duties, defend slots in man-coverage, and even act as a fourth linebacker on the outside at times. He did everything. And he did it convincingly enough to be the eighth-highest drafted safety in NFL draft history. Downs was selected No. 11 overall by the Dallas Cowboys in April. Safeties don't get taken that high unless they are special.

Downs is special enough to keep the Buckeyes' coaching staff up at night trying to figure out how to replace him.

Who is replacing Caleb Downs at safety?
The three-man committee that will be replacing Downs will consist of junior safety Jaylen McClain, Florida State Seminoles transfer Earl Little Jr., and Duke Blue Devils transfer Terry Moore. Each will have a portion of the responsibilities Downs is leaving behind.

McClain will be the center fielder who calls out defensive shifts to opposing offensive audibles. Little will be a functional nickel. Moore could find himself in the box defending against the run or blitzing through the A gap like Downs once did. Of course, all of them will be used in more roles than just that, especially McClain. But that's the working idea to replicate what Downs brought to Columbus over the past two years.

Three highly regarded players. One man's responsibilities for a multiple-season span. It cannot be overstated how tough it'll be on Matt Patricia, Matt Guerrieri, and Co. to oversee a defense as dominant without Downs. That's why they get paid the big bucks, though.
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DE Qua Russaw (Official Thread)

What will Qua Russaw’s role look like in Ohio State’s 2026 defense?

The former five-star transfer may not enter the season as a full time starter, but his versatility as a pass rusher, edge setter, and hybrid defender could make him one of the Buckeyes’ most important rotational pieces in 2026.

When Ohio State rebuilt its defense this offseason, the Buckeyes were not simply looking for depth in the portal. They were looking for players capable of changing games and maybe even seasons. That is why Qua Russaw’s arrival from Alabama has become one of the most fascinating storylines on the roster.

Russaw enters Columbus carrying one of the most unique resumes on the team. He was a consensus five-star recruit, a top-20 national prospect, and one of the crown jewels of Alabama’s 2024 recruiting class. He was also a player whose college career never quite unfolded the way many expected in Tuscaloosa.

Between injuries, coaching changes, and a crowded depth chart filled to the brim with NFL talent, Russaw flashed his immense upside but never fully established himself as a featured player.

Now he arrives at Ohio State at exactly the right time for him and the Buckeyes. Ohio State does not need him to be a savior. They need him to become a weapon. If spring practice was any indication, that may be exactly how Matt Patricia plans to use him.

The role fits his skill set perfectly

The most important thing to understand about Russaw is that he is not a traditional defensive end. At roughly 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, he possesses the size to play on the edge, but his athletic profile is much closer to a hybrid defender than a strictly hand in the dirt pass rusher.

His burst, pursuit speed, change of direction, and ability to impact plays all over the field. Those traits showed up throughout his time at Alabama, and through spring practies at Ohio State.

While his statistical production never exploded, Russaw demonstrated the ability to rush off the edge, set the edge against the run, chase plays from the backside, and even drop into coverage when asked. During his Alabama career he appeared in over 25 games, recording tackles across multiple defensive roles while showcasing the versatility that made him such a coveted recruit.

That versatility is exactly why Ohio State pursued him. Matt Patricia’s defenses have historically valued players who can create uncertainty. Defenders who force offenses to identify where pressure is coming from before the snap, and players who can align in multiple locations without substituting personnel.

Russaw checks every box.He can rush standing up. He can play as an outside linebacker. He can attack from wider alignments. He can stunt inside, and he can even drop into coverage occasionally. Few edge defenders on Ohio State’s roster bring that combination of athleticism and flexibility.

Russaw’s role may ultimately be larger than his actual snap count.

The third down package could be where he becomes dangerous

The biggest reason Buckeye fans should be excited is what Russaw potentially allows Ohio State to do on passing downs.
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Ohio State transfer has a clear path to be one of Matt Patricia's favorites

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive coordinator Matt Patricia may find Alabama Crimson Tide EDGE transfer Qua Russaw becoming one of his favorite players at his disposal during the 2026 college football season.

As Land-Grant Holy Land's Cole Van Wiechen notes, Russaw's versatility will allow Patricia the chance to get creative on third-down situations, potentially unlocking three-EDGE sets that opposing quarterbacks and play-callers struggle to predict.

"On obvious passing downs, Ohio State could deploy packages featuring Jackson, Atkinson or Grady, Eddrick Houston, and Russaw all on the field simultaneously, and that is where things become really interesting. Because, unlike many edge rushers, Russaw’s presence creates uncertainty before the snap," Van Wiechen wrote.

"He might rush. He might drop. He might loop inside. He might attack from a wide-nine alignment. Offenses cannot simply identify him and assume where he will be coming from. Those players tend to become coordinators’ favorites."

Ohio State DL coach Larry Johnson has commented on Russaw's strength and drive to play hard this spring. Johnson sounds confident that Russaw can set the edge and get to the backfield effectively because of his physical traits.

“He is very physically strong. He’s strong at the point of attack with his hands and body. It’s just amazing that a guy at 245 pounds can set the edge, and he brings great speed to the table…. I think the thing that jumps off the videotape is how hard he plays. And he really has the physical strength, and I think that’s the key to it," Johnson said.

With the physical and mental profile to succeed, Russaw may find himself caught up in a culture that could get more out of him than the one he's coming from. Tuscaloosa stopped being an elite spot for his position during his sophomore season, though.

Kalen DeBoer and Kane Wommack may have held Qua Russaw back

While Kane Wommack utilizes a similar 4-2-5 scheme to Patricia, utilizing "wolf" and "bandit" positions, there is a world of difference for a player's development between the Crimson Tide and Buckeyes.

It's all cultural. And it may have more to do with Kalen DeBoer's failure to inspire an accountable and violent attack. DeBoer is finesse over strength, and for the edge-rushing spot, especially coming from the Nick Saban era, that was not good for Russaw. Bringing a versatile and violent approach to the game will yield him much more success in Central Ohio.

If nothing else, Russaw will be surrounded by more talent this season than he's had since 2023, when he was teammates with Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell. Kenyatta Jackson Jr. is easily the best EDGE since that pair that Russaw will share a position group with.
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