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LGHL Jaloni Cambridge earns third Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor
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Jaloni Cambridge earns third Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The point guard out of Tennessee led Ohio State in the penultimate week of the regular season
On Monday, the Big Ten announced their weekly honors for the top overall player and best freshman of the previous week. For the third time this season, No. 12 Ohio State women’s basketball point guard Jaloni Cambridge received the honor as the top freshman in the conference.
After fouling out the week prior against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, therefore missing overtime when the Buckeyes lost a 14-point lead in the final five minutes, Cambridge came on strong against the Iowa Hawkeyes on Monday. In another overtime thriller, Cambridge led Ohio State with 29 points, tying the guard’s single game high she reached on the first night of the 2024-25 season, against the Cleveland State Vikings.
This time though it was against a power conference side, led by guard Lucy Olsen who seemingly couldn’t miss in the final minutes of the game to send the rivalry matchup to overtime. Cambridge led Ohio State with six points in the extra period to give the Buckeyes an 86-78 victory.
Cambridge led the Buckeyes again on Thursday in Bloomington with 18 points against the Indiana Hoosiers. The guard added team highs with four rebounds and four steals in the defeat to Indiana, but pushed Ohio State to cut an 18-point deficit at the beginning of the fourth quarter to the eventual 71-61 loss to the Hoosiers.
Then, to close the week out, Cambridge shined again with 20 points, 5 assists and 4 steals in 24 minutes against the Purdue Boilermakers. Cambridge didn’t play more because it was a rout, ending with a program home record for beating a conference opponent by 52 points.
In three games last week, Cambridge averaged 22.3 points, 3.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 3.0 steals.
The Buckeyes end the regular season against No. 23 Michigan State on Thursday and No. 19 Maryland on Sunday. Ohio State needs Cambridge to continue playing the best basketball of her debut season to lock in a top-four seed in the Big Ten Tournament and a top-16 seed in March Madness. The former gives the Scarlet and Gray a double-bye in the conference tournament while the latter saves the Buckeyes the postseason travel by hosting the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
This Freshman of the Week honor ties Cambridge with Michigan guard Syla Swords with three, the most in the Big Ten. However, it’s not the most in Ohio State program history. That honor goes to junior forward Cotie McMahon who secured six Freshman of the Week awards in the 22-23 season.
Last week, Cambridge’s childhood AAU teammate Ava Watson won the award, giving the Buckeyes their first season with different award winners since the debut season of Jacy Sheldon, Madison Greene and Kierstan Bell in the 19-20 season. Bell transferred to Florida Gulf Coast University after one season in Columbus.
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ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The point guard out of Tennessee led Ohio State in the penultimate week of the regular season
On Monday, the Big Ten announced their weekly honors for the top overall player and best freshman of the previous week. For the third time this season, No. 12 Ohio State women’s basketball point guard Jaloni Cambridge received the honor as the top freshman in the conference.
After fouling out the week prior against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, therefore missing overtime when the Buckeyes lost a 14-point lead in the final five minutes, Cambridge came on strong against the Iowa Hawkeyes on Monday. In another overtime thriller, Cambridge led Ohio State with 29 points, tying the guard’s single game high she reached on the first night of the 2024-25 season, against the Cleveland State Vikings.
This time though it was against a power conference side, led by guard Lucy Olsen who seemingly couldn’t miss in the final minutes of the game to send the rivalry matchup to overtime. Cambridge led Ohio State with six points in the extra period to give the Buckeyes an 86-78 victory.
Cambridge led the Buckeyes again on Thursday in Bloomington with 18 points against the Indiana Hoosiers. The guard added team highs with four rebounds and four steals in the defeat to Indiana, but pushed Ohio State to cut an 18-point deficit at the beginning of the fourth quarter to the eventual 71-61 loss to the Hoosiers.
Then, to close the week out, Cambridge shined again with 20 points, 5 assists and 4 steals in 24 minutes against the Purdue Boilermakers. Cambridge didn’t play more because it was a rout, ending with a program home record for beating a conference opponent by 52 points.
In three games last week, Cambridge averaged 22.3 points, 3.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 3.0 steals.
The Buckeyes end the regular season against No. 23 Michigan State on Thursday and No. 19 Maryland on Sunday. Ohio State needs Cambridge to continue playing the best basketball of her debut season to lock in a top-four seed in the Big Ten Tournament and a top-16 seed in March Madness. The former gives the Scarlet and Gray a double-bye in the conference tournament while the latter saves the Buckeyes the postseason travel by hosting the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
This Freshman of the Week honor ties Cambridge with Michigan guard Syla Swords with three, the most in the Big Ten. However, it’s not the most in Ohio State program history. That honor goes to junior forward Cotie McMahon who secured six Freshman of the Week awards in the 22-23 season.
Last week, Cambridge’s childhood AAU teammate Ava Watson won the award, giving the Buckeyes their first season with different award winners since the debut season of Jacy Sheldon, Madison Greene and Kierstan Bell in the 19-20 season. Bell transferred to Florida Gulf Coast University after one season in Columbus.
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LGHL Breaking down Ohio State men’s basketball’s three-game losing streak
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Breaking down Ohio State men’s basketball’s three-game losing streak
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
The Buckeyes have gone cold from distance and can’t buy a rebound.
There is still time to correct course, but it seems the wheels have quickly come off the Ohio State men’s basketball team’s bid for an NCAA Tournament berth. The Buckeyes have lost five of their last seven games over a stretch that included a key road win over Purdue and a closer-than-the-score-indicated road loss at Illinois.
Several factors are at play, including the flu making an unwelcome appearance in the locker room, which has sidelined Aaron Bradshaw for two games and seemed to greatly impact John Mobley Jr.’s performace at UCLA on Sunday (3-of-10 from the floor, including a missed layup, and 2-of-7 from three-point range). But illness isn’t the only problem.
Let’s take a look under the hood.
Ohio State has been successful from distance this season, which has helped the team’s offense throughout 2024-25. The last time the team won, the Buckeyes were on fire, hitting 11-of-18 triples (61%) against the Washington Huskies. That includes an absurd 8-for-12 in the first half (66.7%).
However, the team has gone ice cold since then, which has contributed to the team’s three-straight losses. Against Michigan, Ohio State connected on a respectable 9-of-25 attempts (36%), but Micah Parrish hit only 1-of-6 attempts, so one of the team’s more dependable options was... less dependable in an eventual three-point loss to the Big Ten leaders at the time.
Things got much worse against Northwestern. Ohio State was bad from everywhere, but the Buckeyes made only 4-of-21 attempts (19%) from outside the arc against a struggling Wildcats team. Sunday was nearly as bad, with Ohio State shooting just 22% on 6-of-27 shooting from distance. Parrish again hit only 1-of-6 attempts, with Mobley making just 2-of-7 and Ques Glover missing both of his two wide-open looks.
The Buckeyes aren’t typically going to dominate opponents in the paint, so until the team starts hitting shots from distance again, the beatings may continue.
Some of the team’s trouble on the glass during the current three-game losing streak is attributable to Bradshaw’s absence and Sean Stewart picking up early fouls, but the Buckeyes have been particularly poor in the rebounding department during this skid.
Michigan held a commanding 46-31 rebounding advantage over Ohio State, including a 19-12 edge in offensive boards. The latter helped the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes in second-chance points, 21-12, which is a great Rush album, but a terrible discrepancy in a game decided by one possession.
Northwestern out-rebounded Ohio State 36-27 (13-10 on the offensive glass) and outscored the Buckeyes 11-5 in second-chance points, but that was minor compared to everything else Ohio State did wrong in that game.
UCLA feasted on the glass as well, out-rebounding Ohio State 45-34, which included a slim 15-13 edge on the offensive end. That narrow margin in offensive rebounds helped the Buckeyes slightly outscore the Bruins in second-chance points, 18-14.
When shots aren’t falling, it hurts even more when a team has so many one-and-done possessions as the Buckeyes have had during this stretch.
The inside game has been abysmal over these last three games. The Buckeyes were wallopped on points in the paint against Michigan. The Wolverines outscored Ohio State 46-34 inside in their 86-83 win on Feb. 16. Northwestern finished with a 40-22 advantage in points in the paint.
Ohio State managed to finish level with UCLA on points in the paint (24-24), but it was the near-misses that were killer in what was mostly a close game. Numerous putback attempts were missed and the Buckeyes struggled with the handle in traffic down low in the key, so the potential was there to finish with the advantage in that category.
There are a number of areas the Buckeyes must improve if they are going to make one more run at an NCAA berth. The three above would do for starters.
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Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
The Buckeyes have gone cold from distance and can’t buy a rebound.
There is still time to correct course, but it seems the wheels have quickly come off the Ohio State men’s basketball team’s bid for an NCAA Tournament berth. The Buckeyes have lost five of their last seven games over a stretch that included a key road win over Purdue and a closer-than-the-score-indicated road loss at Illinois.
Several factors are at play, including the flu making an unwelcome appearance in the locker room, which has sidelined Aaron Bradshaw for two games and seemed to greatly impact John Mobley Jr.’s performace at UCLA on Sunday (3-of-10 from the floor, including a missed layup, and 2-of-7 from three-point range). But illness isn’t the only problem.
Let’s take a look under the hood.
Triple... Threat?
Ohio State has been successful from distance this season, which has helped the team’s offense throughout 2024-25. The last time the team won, the Buckeyes were on fire, hitting 11-of-18 triples (61%) against the Washington Huskies. That includes an absurd 8-for-12 in the first half (66.7%).
However, the team has gone ice cold since then, which has contributed to the team’s three-straight losses. Against Michigan, Ohio State connected on a respectable 9-of-25 attempts (36%), but Micah Parrish hit only 1-of-6 attempts, so one of the team’s more dependable options was... less dependable in an eventual three-point loss to the Big Ten leaders at the time.
Things got much worse against Northwestern. Ohio State was bad from everywhere, but the Buckeyes made only 4-of-21 attempts (19%) from outside the arc against a struggling Wildcats team. Sunday was nearly as bad, with Ohio State shooting just 22% on 6-of-27 shooting from distance. Parrish again hit only 1-of-6 attempts, with Mobley making just 2-of-7 and Ques Glover missing both of his two wide-open looks.
The Buckeyes aren’t typically going to dominate opponents in the paint, so until the team starts hitting shots from distance again, the beatings may continue.
Broken Glass
Some of the team’s trouble on the glass during the current three-game losing streak is attributable to Bradshaw’s absence and Sean Stewart picking up early fouls, but the Buckeyes have been particularly poor in the rebounding department during this skid.
Michigan held a commanding 46-31 rebounding advantage over Ohio State, including a 19-12 edge in offensive boards. The latter helped the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes in second-chance points, 21-12, which is a great Rush album, but a terrible discrepancy in a game decided by one possession.
Northwestern out-rebounded Ohio State 36-27 (13-10 on the offensive glass) and outscored the Buckeyes 11-5 in second-chance points, but that was minor compared to everything else Ohio State did wrong in that game.
UCLA feasted on the glass as well, out-rebounding Ohio State 45-34, which included a slim 15-13 edge on the offensive end. That narrow margin in offensive rebounds helped the Buckeyes slightly outscore the Bruins in second-chance points, 18-14.
When shots aren’t falling, it hurts even more when a team has so many one-and-done possessions as the Buckeyes have had during this stretch.
Poison Paint
The inside game has been abysmal over these last three games. The Buckeyes were wallopped on points in the paint against Michigan. The Wolverines outscored Ohio State 46-34 inside in their 86-83 win on Feb. 16. Northwestern finished with a 40-22 advantage in points in the paint.
Ohio State managed to finish level with UCLA on points in the paint (24-24), but it was the near-misses that were killer in what was mostly a close game. Numerous putback attempts were missed and the Buckeyes struggled with the handle in traffic down low in the key, so the potential was there to finish with the advantage in that category.
There are a number of areas the Buckeyes must improve if they are going to make one more run at an NCAA berth. The three above would do for starters.
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LGHL Uncut: Ohio State talks lopsided win over Boilermakers, preview Michigan State
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Uncut: Ohio State talks lopsided win over Boilermakers, preview Michigan State
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
Madison Greene talks final home games in scarlet and Chance Gray talks press vs. press against Sparty
Throughout the year, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Ohio State women’s basketball headed into Sunday’s game against the Purdue Boilermakers struggling in recent games. It started with giving up a double-digit lead to the Iowa Hawkeyes on Monday, and then a poor performance in Bloomington against the Indiana Hoosiers. That changed against Purdue, with Ohio State pulling away in a 98-46 blowout over the Boilermakers.
Following the game, head coach Kevin McGuff spoke with the media about his team’s response to losing against Indiana, the importance of this game for Chance Gray who had her first multiple three-point game in nine games and facing Michigan State and Maryland to end the season.
Then, guard Madison Greene discussed playing one of her final games in the Schottenstein Center after six seasons. Junior guard Chance Gray talked about the excitement around facing former teammate Grace VanSlooten and the Michigan State Spartans, playing against the MSU press and getting back into her shooting form following a rough month of cold shooting.
That and more on the latest “Uncut.”
Connect with Thomas:
Bluesky: @ThomasCostello
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
Madison Greene talks final home games in scarlet and Chance Gray talks press vs. press against Sparty
Throughout the year, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
Ohio State women’s basketball headed into Sunday’s game against the Purdue Boilermakers struggling in recent games. It started with giving up a double-digit lead to the Iowa Hawkeyes on Monday, and then a poor performance in Bloomington against the Indiana Hoosiers. That changed against Purdue, with Ohio State pulling away in a 98-46 blowout over the Boilermakers.
Following the game, head coach Kevin McGuff spoke with the media about his team’s response to losing against Indiana, the importance of this game for Chance Gray who had her first multiple three-point game in nine games and facing Michigan State and Maryland to end the season.
Then, guard Madison Greene discussed playing one of her final games in the Schottenstein Center after six seasons. Junior guard Chance Gray talked about the excitement around facing former teammate Grace VanSlooten and the Michigan State Spartans, playing against the MSU press and getting back into her shooting form following a rough month of cold shooting.
That and more on the latest “Uncut.”
Connect with Thomas:
Bluesky: @ThomasCostello
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
LGHL Power Two Podcast: The NFL Combine preview
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Power Two Podcast: The NFL Combine preview
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
DJ and Jordan discuss the NFL Combine invitees, the new concept of general managers in college sports, as well as the recent meetings between the Big 10 and SEC.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s Power Two Podcast. On this show, we talk about Big Ten and SEC football…and everyone else. This show is for the die-hard fans and the casual college football fans. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host DaNaysia Jones. Lock in as we run a power sweep through the college football landscape.
On this week’s episode, Jordan and DJ discuss the potential outcomes of the recent B1G-SEC meetings. There was discussion of bye weeks, auto bids, playoff expansion, and even the potential of a play-in tournament. The potential for more B1G-SEC matchups was incredibly appealing to Jordan, of course. DJ was excited about the prospect of more games, especially for the underdogs.
In the two-minute drill, Jordan shares the new phenomenon that is college football general managers. There are already a few programs that have instituted this new role responsible for roster construction, NIL management, and player retention. Different schools have different structures, with the GM’s reporting either to the head coach or athletic director or vice versa. DJ and Jordan discuss which structure they favor most.
In the power sweep, DJ and Jordan discuss the NFL Combine selections based on school. Jordan has some very strong opinions about the combine and how some players do not give it their all. Ohio State has the most prospects invited with 15 total. If 16 Ohio State players are drafted this year, they will be the program with the most draftees in NFL history.
Oregon and Texas close in at second with 14. Alabama still makes the list with just nine prospects. Jordan takes a moment to review the quarterback invitees, and DJ shouts out the SMU invitees.
In the two-minute warning, DJ shares a great sports documentary called The Inside Story. Jordan shares his new Netflix faves: Black Doves, Aftermath and To Catch a Killer.
If you like the show, please share it with friends and family and leave a five-star review. If you want to keep up with the show, subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network Feed where new episodes drop every Monday.
You can also find Jordan’s article ‘B1G Thoughts’ on Land-Grant Holy Land.
Follow the show on YouTube: @GetDefensiveSportsNetwork
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @GetDefensiveSportsNetwork
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and DJ:@dj_danaysia
Continue reading...
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
DJ and Jordan discuss the NFL Combine invitees, the new concept of general managers in college sports, as well as the recent meetings between the Big 10 and SEC.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s Power Two Podcast. On this show, we talk about Big Ten and SEC football…and everyone else. This show is for the die-hard fans and the casual college football fans. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host DaNaysia Jones. Lock in as we run a power sweep through the college football landscape.
On this week’s episode, Jordan and DJ discuss the potential outcomes of the recent B1G-SEC meetings. There was discussion of bye weeks, auto bids, playoff expansion, and even the potential of a play-in tournament. The potential for more B1G-SEC matchups was incredibly appealing to Jordan, of course. DJ was excited about the prospect of more games, especially for the underdogs.
In the two-minute drill, Jordan shares the new phenomenon that is college football general managers. There are already a few programs that have instituted this new role responsible for roster construction, NIL management, and player retention. Different schools have different structures, with the GM’s reporting either to the head coach or athletic director or vice versa. DJ and Jordan discuss which structure they favor most.
In the power sweep, DJ and Jordan discuss the NFL Combine selections based on school. Jordan has some very strong opinions about the combine and how some players do not give it their all. Ohio State has the most prospects invited with 15 total. If 16 Ohio State players are drafted this year, they will be the program with the most draftees in NFL history.
Oregon and Texas close in at second with 14. Alabama still makes the list with just nine prospects. Jordan takes a moment to review the quarterback invitees, and DJ shouts out the SMU invitees.
In the two-minute warning, DJ shares a great sports documentary called The Inside Story. Jordan shares his new Netflix faves: Black Doves, Aftermath and To Catch a Killer.
If you like the show, please share it with friends and family and leave a five-star review. If you want to keep up with the show, subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network Feed where new episodes drop every Monday.
You can also find Jordan’s article ‘B1G Thoughts’ on Land-Grant Holy Land.
Follow the show on YouTube: @GetDefensiveSportsNetwork
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @GetDefensiveSportsNetwork
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and DJ:@dj_danaysia
Continue reading...
LGHL How Ohio State’s win over Purdue reset the Buckeyes — maybe
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How Ohio State’s win over Purdue reset the Buckeyes — maybe
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
Was the win Sunday what Kevin McGuff’s side needed to set the season straight, or was the big win over Purdue more deceptive than it seems?
In January of 2023, Ohio State women’s basketball traveled to Bloomington on a chilly Thursday evening and lost by double digits to the Indiana Hoosiers. Then, three days later, the Buckeyes lost, at home, to an underdog Purdue Boilermakers. It was the third loss in a row that began with a home defeat to Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes, and exposed an Ohio State side that previously won 19 games to start the season.
While the Buckeyes didn’t win 19 games to start the 2024-25 campaign, a similar run of play against Iowa, Indiana and Purdue this season exposed cracks. Against Iowa, the Scarlet and Gray gave up a double-digit lead with 1:38 left in the game, ultimately ending in an overtime Buckeye victory.
Ohio State’s loss the Hoosiers Thursday on a frigid Indiana night continued the storyline that the Buckeyes can’t consistently defend. Plus, lackluster offense by anyone without McMahon or J. Cambridge on the back of their jersey left many wondering how far this Ohio State team would go. Or more accurately, can the Buckeyes get out of the first or second round of March Madness?
On Sunday, Ohio State ended a five-game run of either a loss or a salvaged overtime win after a blown lead in a big way when they defeated the Purdue Boilermakers by 52 points. Was the rout due to the Buckeyes overcoming their in-game issues or was it the product of playing a Purdue side that’s struggling mightily this season?
Here are signs that the victory is the reset the Buckeyes needed.
Since losing to the Penn State Nittany Lions on Jan. 19, a tradition of Ohio State post game press conferences included junior forward Cotie McMahon sharing how the defense doesn’t play 40 minutes of basketball. It included moments where the outspoken Buckeye leader nearly called out specific players’ lack of attention and questioning the grit of the team as a whole.
Sunday, Ohio State showed grit and defensive prowess from the jump through the final buzzer. In every quarter, the Buckeyes forced at least five turnovers. There were plays by guard/forward Taylor Thierry who followed up her Senior Day ceremony with plays fans have watched for nearly four seasons where the senior leaps at midcourse to halt passes in their tracks.
Then there were moments from the Cambridge sisters Jaloni and Kennedy where the two either poked the ball away or picked up loose balls to swing momentum in the Buckeyes’ favor. The two combined for seven of Ohio State’s 12 steals this season, over their 11.7 average per game.
“I thought we executed way better,” said head coach Kevin McGuff. “Our ball pressure at the point of attack was way better. And I think our patience in trapping, so they weren’t just making easy passes over our head, was better. So, our execution in the press was a lot better today.”
The Buckeyes forced 21 turnovers in the victory, but that doesn’t tell the entire story because looking simply at turnovers and connecting them to a win doesn't ‘t work considering Ohio State forced 23 turnovers against both the UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans.
What was different Sunday was how those turnovers morphed into points. The Buckeyes scored 35 points off 46 combined turnovers in two games in Los Angeles. Against Purdue on Sunday Ohio State turned 21 turnovers into 35 points.
Turnovers are the way the Buckeyes get most of their extra possessions, because most of the time Ohio State gets rebounded out of the gym, Against Indiana, a team that was last in the conference in offensive rebounds, the Buckeyes were still out rebounded on the offensive boards and by 14 rebounds total.
Height is part of the rebounding game, but it’s also the intensity to get into the paint and fight for the ball. Ohio State did that Sunday, grabbing 45 rebounds and holding Purdue to 33, including a 10-6 advantage on offensive boards turning into eight second chance points.
“We didn’t seem connected at all offensively or defensively,” said guard Chance Gray. “And I think like we took a big step in that direction and just McGuff talking about playing a complete 40-minute game. And we definitely took a step in the right direction today.”
Ohio State beat Purdue in every single team category. More shots, more efficient shooting, more rebounds of every kind, less turnovers, more steals and more assists. Every single statistic leaned in the Scarlet and Gray’s favor. The one that jumps out the most though is three-point shooting, and it came from what’s recently been an unlikely source.
Shooting is a streaky thing. For Gray, it’s been a streak in the wrong direction. Against the Nittany Lions, Gray was one of only a couple bright spots in the loss, scoring 18 points and hitting two shots from beyond the arc.
In the eight games that followed, Gray hit three shots from deep total and went 25.4 percent from the floor with 6.5 points per game. The former McDonald’s All-American and star for the Oregon Ducks was missing shots and losing minutes in the timeframe. Despite open looks, the shots weren’t falling and the Buckeyes were desperate for deep shooting.
Against Purdue, the floodgates broke for Gray. The junior shooting guard went 5-of-12 from three-point range, while the Boilermakers went 5-of-18 as an entire team.
It was a slow start for Gray, who started the first half going 1-of-4 from deep, and 1-of-5 overall, but look back to the 40 minutes of pressure idea and Gray didn’t give in. Gray scored 18 points in the second half and hit half of her eight shots from deep.
The dip in form wasn’t because of contested shots either. Gray was missing open looks in each game. So, that means Sunday might have been what the Buckeyes need from the guard to start hitting a positive run of form.
“This is probably the most I had to work at it just to try to get back in that groove,” said Gray. “All I need to see is one go in, then I’m fine after that. So it was good just to see a couple fall and then keep plugging on from here. I wanted to see it get back out of it before we head into March.”
Gray wasn’t alone. Ajae Petty’s struggles followed the same downward trajectory as Gray, leading to fewer minutes and more time on the court for freshman center Elsa Lemmilä. It felt like any game could see Petty go to the bench and Lemmilä become the Buckeyes’ starter, a role the Finn is likely to hold for the next three years.
Since hitting a double-double against the Oregon Ducks, the third in the previous seven games for Petty, the Kentucky graduate transfer fell hard. In the previous eight games, Petty averaged 5.0 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, not hitting even double-digit scoring or rebounding in any of the games. In the last three games of that stretch, Petty a total of 42 minutes, and two of those games went to overtime.
Ohio State only won the rebounding margin because of the play of Petty. The forward had 14 rebounds, tying her total against the Ducks. That included four offensive rebounds. Defensively, Petty had three blocks, tied with Lemmilä with the two both splitting the game with 20 minutes a piece.
Petty was more active against Purdue than in recent games. The graduate senior showed how vital she is to any sort of run of Ohio State to end the season.
Also, the partnership with Lemmilä means there isn’t a drop from the starter Petty to the freshman bench center. That takes away any kind of break for opponents if both are playing to the potential shown against Purdue.
Both Gray and Petty visibly lost confidence over the last month of the season. Look at the Boilermakers record entering Sunday and it wasn’t great. Purdue was 9-17 and only two wins came in Big Ten play. Realistically, a team led by McMahon and Cambridge offensively would have likely been enough to defeat the Boilermakers.
The fact that it was led by Gray’s shooting and a double-double by Petty means more.
Now it’s time for that “maybe.”
Ohio State beat a team that it should beat, playing the game it should play for nearly 40 minutes and featured play from athletes that were previously struggling.
The perceived positives from the Purdue pouncing won’t amount to much if the Buckeyes struggle to follow it up in the final two games of the season. Ohio State plays the Michigan State Spartans and Maryland Terrapins, sides that will give the Buckeyes different looks.
On Wednesday, it’s the Spartans who play a similar style to the Buckeyes. Head coach Robyn Fralick plays a full-court defense that sightly resembles Ohio State, complete with former Buckeye guard Emma Shumate on the roster. Both sides force turnovers in bunches and average double-digit steals per game.
“I think it’ll be a good test for us just to test how we handle the ball and handle a lot of pressure,” said Gray.
To add to the pressure, two wins in the last two regular season games means Ohio State earns a bye into the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. Also, a higher likelihood of hosting the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, a privilege that the Buckeyes are close to losing after sitting as a No. 14 out of the 16 who get to host. That was before traveling to Indiana and losing to the unranked Hoosiers.
Then it’s a trip to College Park to face the Maryland Terrapins, Ohio State beat the Terps 74-66 back on Jan. 23, but that was without guard Shyanne Sellers, who suffered a knee injury in the game prior to the defeat.
Ohio State has three wins in 10 games on Maryland’s home court. It’s not an easy place for teams to play, let alone steal a victory even with the Terrapins’ recent issues.
Maryland lost four of five games when guard Bri McDaniel went down for the season and Sellers momentarily left the lineup. Since the poor run, Maryland has four wins in their last five, including two away wins against Oregon and the Washington Huskies, plus a home victory against the Michigan Wolverines. Their lone defeat in the most recent stretch was due to the Nebraska Cornhuskers bullying head coach Brenda Frese’s team on the boards.
It will be a chance for Ohio State to not only continue the form shown on Sunday, but turn these games into a tryout for the postseason that is quickly approaching in less than two weeks.
“Yeah, I mean these are really good teams and so they’re going to challenge us to be at our best which I think that’s the thing for us,” said McGuff. “When we’re good, we’re good. We just have to be there for closer to 40 minutes, so hopefully these last two very challenging games will keep us going in that right direction.”
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Was the win Sunday what Kevin McGuff’s side needed to set the season straight, or was the big win over Purdue more deceptive than it seems?
In January of 2023, Ohio State women’s basketball traveled to Bloomington on a chilly Thursday evening and lost by double digits to the Indiana Hoosiers. Then, three days later, the Buckeyes lost, at home, to an underdog Purdue Boilermakers. It was the third loss in a row that began with a home defeat to Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes, and exposed an Ohio State side that previously won 19 games to start the season.
While the Buckeyes didn’t win 19 games to start the 2024-25 campaign, a similar run of play against Iowa, Indiana and Purdue this season exposed cracks. Against Iowa, the Scarlet and Gray gave up a double-digit lead with 1:38 left in the game, ultimately ending in an overtime Buckeye victory.
Ohio State’s loss the Hoosiers Thursday on a frigid Indiana night continued the storyline that the Buckeyes can’t consistently defend. Plus, lackluster offense by anyone without McMahon or J. Cambridge on the back of their jersey left many wondering how far this Ohio State team would go. Or more accurately, can the Buckeyes get out of the first or second round of March Madness?
On Sunday, Ohio State ended a five-game run of either a loss or a salvaged overtime win after a blown lead in a big way when they defeated the Purdue Boilermakers by 52 points. Was the rout due to the Buckeyes overcoming their in-game issues or was it the product of playing a Purdue side that’s struggling mightily this season?
Here are signs that the victory is the reset the Buckeyes needed.
40 Minutes of Pressure
Since losing to the Penn State Nittany Lions on Jan. 19, a tradition of Ohio State post game press conferences included junior forward Cotie McMahon sharing how the defense doesn’t play 40 minutes of basketball. It included moments where the outspoken Buckeye leader nearly called out specific players’ lack of attention and questioning the grit of the team as a whole.
Sunday, Ohio State showed grit and defensive prowess from the jump through the final buzzer. In every quarter, the Buckeyes forced at least five turnovers. There were plays by guard/forward Taylor Thierry who followed up her Senior Day ceremony with plays fans have watched for nearly four seasons where the senior leaps at midcourse to halt passes in their tracks.
Then there were moments from the Cambridge sisters Jaloni and Kennedy where the two either poked the ball away or picked up loose balls to swing momentum in the Buckeyes’ favor. The two combined for seven of Ohio State’s 12 steals this season, over their 11.7 average per game.
“I thought we executed way better,” said head coach Kevin McGuff. “Our ball pressure at the point of attack was way better. And I think our patience in trapping, so they weren’t just making easy passes over our head, was better. So, our execution in the press was a lot better today.”
The Buckeyes forced 21 turnovers in the victory, but that doesn’t tell the entire story because looking simply at turnovers and connecting them to a win doesn't ‘t work considering Ohio State forced 23 turnovers against both the UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans.
What was different Sunday was how those turnovers morphed into points. The Buckeyes scored 35 points off 46 combined turnovers in two games in Los Angeles. Against Purdue on Sunday Ohio State turned 21 turnovers into 35 points.
Turnovers are the way the Buckeyes get most of their extra possessions, because most of the time Ohio State gets rebounded out of the gym, Against Indiana, a team that was last in the conference in offensive rebounds, the Buckeyes were still out rebounded on the offensive boards and by 14 rebounds total.
Height is part of the rebounding game, but it’s also the intensity to get into the paint and fight for the ball. Ohio State did that Sunday, grabbing 45 rebounds and holding Purdue to 33, including a 10-6 advantage on offensive boards turning into eight second chance points.
“We didn’t seem connected at all offensively or defensively,” said guard Chance Gray. “And I think like we took a big step in that direction and just McGuff talking about playing a complete 40-minute game. And we definitely took a step in the right direction today.”
Ohio State beat Purdue in every single team category. More shots, more efficient shooting, more rebounds of every kind, less turnovers, more steals and more assists. Every single statistic leaned in the Scarlet and Gray’s favor. The one that jumps out the most though is three-point shooting, and it came from what’s recently been an unlikely source.
Chance Gray and Ajae Petty Reintroduction
Shooting is a streaky thing. For Gray, it’s been a streak in the wrong direction. Against the Nittany Lions, Gray was one of only a couple bright spots in the loss, scoring 18 points and hitting two shots from beyond the arc.
In the eight games that followed, Gray hit three shots from deep total and went 25.4 percent from the floor with 6.5 points per game. The former McDonald’s All-American and star for the Oregon Ducks was missing shots and losing minutes in the timeframe. Despite open looks, the shots weren’t falling and the Buckeyes were desperate for deep shooting.
Against Purdue, the floodgates broke for Gray. The junior shooting guard went 5-of-12 from three-point range, while the Boilermakers went 5-of-18 as an entire team.
It was a slow start for Gray, who started the first half going 1-of-4 from deep, and 1-of-5 overall, but look back to the 40 minutes of pressure idea and Gray didn’t give in. Gray scored 18 points in the second half and hit half of her eight shots from deep.
The dip in form wasn’t because of contested shots either. Gray was missing open looks in each game. So, that means Sunday might have been what the Buckeyes need from the guard to start hitting a positive run of form.
“This is probably the most I had to work at it just to try to get back in that groove,” said Gray. “All I need to see is one go in, then I’m fine after that. So it was good just to see a couple fall and then keep plugging on from here. I wanted to see it get back out of it before we head into March.”
Gray wasn’t alone. Ajae Petty’s struggles followed the same downward trajectory as Gray, leading to fewer minutes and more time on the court for freshman center Elsa Lemmilä. It felt like any game could see Petty go to the bench and Lemmilä become the Buckeyes’ starter, a role the Finn is likely to hold for the next three years.
Since hitting a double-double against the Oregon Ducks, the third in the previous seven games for Petty, the Kentucky graduate transfer fell hard. In the previous eight games, Petty averaged 5.0 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, not hitting even double-digit scoring or rebounding in any of the games. In the last three games of that stretch, Petty a total of 42 minutes, and two of those games went to overtime.
Ohio State only won the rebounding margin because of the play of Petty. The forward had 14 rebounds, tying her total against the Ducks. That included four offensive rebounds. Defensively, Petty had three blocks, tied with Lemmilä with the two both splitting the game with 20 minutes a piece.
Petty was more active against Purdue than in recent games. The graduate senior showed how vital she is to any sort of run of Ohio State to end the season.
Also, the partnership with Lemmilä means there isn’t a drop from the starter Petty to the freshman bench center. That takes away any kind of break for opponents if both are playing to the potential shown against Purdue.
Both Gray and Petty visibly lost confidence over the last month of the season. Look at the Boilermakers record entering Sunday and it wasn’t great. Purdue was 9-17 and only two wins came in Big Ten play. Realistically, a team led by McMahon and Cambridge offensively would have likely been enough to defeat the Boilermakers.
The fact that it was led by Gray’s shooting and a double-double by Petty means more.
What Comes Next
Now it’s time for that “maybe.”
Ohio State beat a team that it should beat, playing the game it should play for nearly 40 minutes and featured play from athletes that were previously struggling.
The perceived positives from the Purdue pouncing won’t amount to much if the Buckeyes struggle to follow it up in the final two games of the season. Ohio State plays the Michigan State Spartans and Maryland Terrapins, sides that will give the Buckeyes different looks.
On Wednesday, it’s the Spartans who play a similar style to the Buckeyes. Head coach Robyn Fralick plays a full-court defense that sightly resembles Ohio State, complete with former Buckeye guard Emma Shumate on the roster. Both sides force turnovers in bunches and average double-digit steals per game.
“I think it’ll be a good test for us just to test how we handle the ball and handle a lot of pressure,” said Gray.
To add to the pressure, two wins in the last two regular season games means Ohio State earns a bye into the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. Also, a higher likelihood of hosting the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, a privilege that the Buckeyes are close to losing after sitting as a No. 14 out of the 16 who get to host. That was before traveling to Indiana and losing to the unranked Hoosiers.
Then it’s a trip to College Park to face the Maryland Terrapins, Ohio State beat the Terps 74-66 back on Jan. 23, but that was without guard Shyanne Sellers, who suffered a knee injury in the game prior to the defeat.
Ohio State has three wins in 10 games on Maryland’s home court. It’s not an easy place for teams to play, let alone steal a victory even with the Terrapins’ recent issues.
Maryland lost four of five games when guard Bri McDaniel went down for the season and Sellers momentarily left the lineup. Since the poor run, Maryland has four wins in their last five, including two away wins against Oregon and the Washington Huskies, plus a home victory against the Michigan Wolverines. Their lone defeat in the most recent stretch was due to the Nebraska Cornhuskers bullying head coach Brenda Frese’s team on the boards.
It will be a chance for Ohio State to not only continue the form shown on Sunday, but turn these games into a tryout for the postseason that is quickly approaching in less than two weeks.
“Yeah, I mean these are really good teams and so they’re going to challenge us to be at our best which I think that’s the thing for us,” said McGuff. “When we’re good, we’re good. We just have to be there for closer to 40 minutes, so hopefully these last two very challenging games will keep us going in that right direction.”
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LGHL Way-too-early 2025 Ohio State depth chart projection: Defense
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Way-too-early 2025 Ohio State depth chart projection: Defense
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Caleb Downs highlights the Buckeyes’ few returnees on defense in 2025.
Now that the dust has settled on Ohio State’s national championship celebrations, it is as good a time as any to take a way-too-early look ahead at the 2025 Buckeyes. We’ve already broken down the offensive side of the ball, so today we’ll turn our sights towards the defense.
Ryan Day was tasked this offseason with replacing defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. After spending three years in Columbus helping to build what ultimately became a national title-winning defense, Knowles decided to take his talents to Happy Valley and accept the same position at Penn State. In his place, Day has hired longtime New England Patriots assistant Matt Patricia, who was on staff for three Super Bowl victories.
While we still have a long ways to go before the first depth charts are put together, here is how we think the starting lineup will look on defense as we project ahead to Aug. 30.
LE: Caden Curry
Ohio State has to replace its entire starting defensive line this season, with both ends in J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer as well as both tackles in Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton now off to the NFL. Sawyer, Tuimoloau and Hamilton each played at least 664 snaps in 2024, with Williams right behind them at 583. That core four combined for 27.5 sacks and 45 tackles for loss in 2024, and no other defensive lineman played more than 314 snaps behind them.
Needless to say, that is a lot of production and a ton of snaps to fill moving forward.
Caden Curry and Kenyatta Jackson are the heir apparent at both end spots, as the two were the primary backups to Sawyer and Tuimoloau the past few years. Jackson played the most snaps of any non-starting DL in 2024 with 314, while Curry was next in line at 229. Both members of the 2022 recruiting class, the rising seniors have shown flashes of their talent at different points in their careers, but will be expected to take a big step up now thrust into starting roles.
Ohio State brought in Logan George from the FCS ranks to help supplement at defensive end, with the former Idaho State standout recording 19.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks over 12 starts this past season. CJ Hicks will also likely move down from his linebacker spot to more of a true edge-rusher, a position that would suit him best and make the greatest use of his abilities on the field.
Eddrick Houston and Kayden McDonald also haven’t played major roles to this point, but each looked great in reserve roles down the stretch in 2024. Houston is a former five-star defensive end who saw the field a bunch for a freshman even after switching positions from the edge to the interior, while McDonald was part of some key stops as a big body up the middle. Behind them, Jason Moore and Tywone Malone will provide solid depth.
MIKE LB: Arvell Reese
Ohio State had a stellar linebacker duo in Cody Simon and Sonny Styles, and with Simon now off to the NFL, there are some big shoes to fill for Arvell Reese.
The rising junior played a bunch for the Buckeyes earlier in the season as the defense was still getting its footing and Knowles was utilizing a lot more three-linebacker sets, but playing time became hard to come by once Caleb Downs moved into the box. Reese still finished with the third-most snaps at the position (307), but it was way less than both Simon (797) and Styles (894). When he was on the field, Reese showcased his abilities as a sure tackler and a dynamic athlete.
Styles’ 2024 campaign started off a bit rocky, but he was one of the most improved players on that side of the ball by season’s end. The former five-star is due for a big 2025 in what will be his second full season at the position after moving down from safety. Even with a transition period early on, Styles finished the year second to only Simon on Ohio State with 100 total tackles, adding 11 tackles for loss, six sacks and five pass breakups.
CB1: Jermaine Mathews Jr.
Ohio State loses Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock to the NFL, but it brings back almost everyone else from a deep and talented cornerbacks room. That includes starting corner Davison Igbinosun, who elected to return to Columbus rather than go pro, and Jermaine Mathews Jr., who played a ton in a rotational role in the College Football Playoff.
When Igbinsonun isn’t being flagged for pass interference, he is a legitimate stud. The former Ole Miss transfer made a number of big plays for the Buckeyes this past season, including a crucial interception in the end zone against Penn State. Igbinosun really needs to cut down on the penalties in 2025, though, or his spot in the starting rotation will be in serious jeopardy — especially with all the guys behind him itching to get on the field.
Mathews Jr. will slide in and take over for Burke after playing the third-most snaps (395) of any outside corner for Ohio State in 2024 behind only Iggy (807) and Burke (717). The rising junior earned real and important reps in his sophomore campaign, playing more than 40 snaps in a trio of contests, including twice in the CFP against both Oregon and Texas. The former top-50 prospect has all the makings of the next elite Buckeye cornerback.
The slot position, formerly manned by Hancock, is one of the most interesting spots on the field for this version of Ohio State’s defense. Much of what Hancock did for the Silver Bullets didn’t show up in the stat sheet, but his presence in the secondary was invaluable. Now, that spot will got to an almost totally unproven — albeit talented — player, whether that be incoming five-star freshman Devin Sanchez or a pair of highly-touted sophomores in Bryce West or Aaron Scott, who each played less than 80 snaps this past season.
FS: Caleb Downs
The one position on defense Ohio State knows it won’t have to worry even a little bit is at free safety, where Caleb Downs returns as one of if not the best player in the country. Downs did a little bit of everything for the Buckeyes in 2024, manning the middle of the field in almost a hybrid linebacker/safety position built specifically for him. With Downs entrenched in the center of Ohio State’s defense, teams were unable to scheme away from him, and he caused havoc from sideline to sideline all season long.
Opposite Downs will be one of two fresh faces, with his former counterpart Lathan Ransom now off to the NFL. Ransom’s production will certainly not be easy to replace, but Matt Guerrieri has a pair of talented guys in his room ready to compete for the job in Malik Hartford and Jaylen McClain.
Neither safety seems to have the upper-hand heading into the offseason, playing similar snaps with Hartford at 94 and McClain at 106. Both players got valuable reps in the CFP against Tennessee, playing 12 snaps apiece against the Vols, with Hartford getting into one additional CFP game with his one single snap against Texas. We haven’t seen much of either guy in anything resembling meaningful game action to this point, so this will be one of a few big position battles this spring.
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Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Caleb Downs highlights the Buckeyes’ few returnees on defense in 2025.
Now that the dust has settled on Ohio State’s national championship celebrations, it is as good a time as any to take a way-too-early look ahead at the 2025 Buckeyes. We’ve already broken down the offensive side of the ball, so today we’ll turn our sights towards the defense.
Ryan Day was tasked this offseason with replacing defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. After spending three years in Columbus helping to build what ultimately became a national title-winning defense, Knowles decided to take his talents to Happy Valley and accept the same position at Penn State. In his place, Day has hired longtime New England Patriots assistant Matt Patricia, who was on staff for three Super Bowl victories.
While we still have a long ways to go before the first depth charts are put together, here is how we think the starting lineup will look on defense as we project ahead to Aug. 30.
LE: Caden Curry
DT1: Kayden McDonald
DT2: Eddrick Houston
RE: Kenyatta Jackson
Depth: CJ Hicks, Logan George, Tywone Malone, Jason Moore
Ohio State has to replace its entire starting defensive line this season, with both ends in J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer as well as both tackles in Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton now off to the NFL. Sawyer, Tuimoloau and Hamilton each played at least 664 snaps in 2024, with Williams right behind them at 583. That core four combined for 27.5 sacks and 45 tackles for loss in 2024, and no other defensive lineman played more than 314 snaps behind them.
Needless to say, that is a lot of production and a ton of snaps to fill moving forward.
Caden Curry and Kenyatta Jackson are the heir apparent at both end spots, as the two were the primary backups to Sawyer and Tuimoloau the past few years. Jackson played the most snaps of any non-starting DL in 2024 with 314, while Curry was next in line at 229. Both members of the 2022 recruiting class, the rising seniors have shown flashes of their talent at different points in their careers, but will be expected to take a big step up now thrust into starting roles.
Ohio State brought in Logan George from the FCS ranks to help supplement at defensive end, with the former Idaho State standout recording 19.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks over 12 starts this past season. CJ Hicks will also likely move down from his linebacker spot to more of a true edge-rusher, a position that would suit him best and make the greatest use of his abilities on the field.
Eddrick Houston and Kayden McDonald also haven’t played major roles to this point, but each looked great in reserve roles down the stretch in 2024. Houston is a former five-star defensive end who saw the field a bunch for a freshman even after switching positions from the edge to the interior, while McDonald was part of some key stops as a big body up the middle. Behind them, Jason Moore and Tywone Malone will provide solid depth.
MIKE LB: Arvell Reese
SAM LB: Sonny Styles
Ohio State had a stellar linebacker duo in Cody Simon and Sonny Styles, and with Simon now off to the NFL, there are some big shoes to fill for Arvell Reese.
The rising junior played a bunch for the Buckeyes earlier in the season as the defense was still getting its footing and Knowles was utilizing a lot more three-linebacker sets, but playing time became hard to come by once Caleb Downs moved into the box. Reese still finished with the third-most snaps at the position (307), but it was way less than both Simon (797) and Styles (894). When he was on the field, Reese showcased his abilities as a sure tackler and a dynamic athlete.
Styles’ 2024 campaign started off a bit rocky, but he was one of the most improved players on that side of the ball by season’s end. The former five-star is due for a big 2025 in what will be his second full season at the position after moving down from safety. Even with a transition period early on, Styles finished the year second to only Simon on Ohio State with 100 total tackles, adding 11 tackles for loss, six sacks and five pass breakups.
CB1: Jermaine Mathews Jr.
CB2: Davison Igbinosun OR Devin Sanchez
Nickel: Bryce West OR Aaron Scott OR Sanchez
Ohio State loses Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock to the NFL, but it brings back almost everyone else from a deep and talented cornerbacks room. That includes starting corner Davison Igbinosun, who elected to return to Columbus rather than go pro, and Jermaine Mathews Jr., who played a ton in a rotational role in the College Football Playoff.
When Igbinsonun isn’t being flagged for pass interference, he is a legitimate stud. The former Ole Miss transfer made a number of big plays for the Buckeyes this past season, including a crucial interception in the end zone against Penn State. Igbinosun really needs to cut down on the penalties in 2025, though, or his spot in the starting rotation will be in serious jeopardy — especially with all the guys behind him itching to get on the field.
Mathews Jr. will slide in and take over for Burke after playing the third-most snaps (395) of any outside corner for Ohio State in 2024 behind only Iggy (807) and Burke (717). The rising junior earned real and important reps in his sophomore campaign, playing more than 40 snaps in a trio of contests, including twice in the CFP against both Oregon and Texas. The former top-50 prospect has all the makings of the next elite Buckeye cornerback.
The slot position, formerly manned by Hancock, is one of the most interesting spots on the field for this version of Ohio State’s defense. Much of what Hancock did for the Silver Bullets didn’t show up in the stat sheet, but his presence in the secondary was invaluable. Now, that spot will got to an almost totally unproven — albeit talented — player, whether that be incoming five-star freshman Devin Sanchez or a pair of highly-touted sophomores in Bryce West or Aaron Scott, who each played less than 80 snaps this past season.
FS: Caleb Downs
SS: Malik Hartford OR Jaylen McClain
The one position on defense Ohio State knows it won’t have to worry even a little bit is at free safety, where Caleb Downs returns as one of if not the best player in the country. Downs did a little bit of everything for the Buckeyes in 2024, manning the middle of the field in almost a hybrid linebacker/safety position built specifically for him. With Downs entrenched in the center of Ohio State’s defense, teams were unable to scheme away from him, and he caused havoc from sideline to sideline all season long.
Opposite Downs will be one of two fresh faces, with his former counterpart Lathan Ransom now off to the NFL. Ransom’s production will certainly not be easy to replace, but Matt Guerrieri has a pair of talented guys in his room ready to compete for the job in Malik Hartford and Jaylen McClain.
Neither safety seems to have the upper-hand heading into the offseason, playing similar snaps with Hartford at 94 and McClain at 106. Both players got valuable reps in the CFP against Tennessee, playing 12 snaps apiece against the Vols, with Hartford getting into one additional CFP game with his one single snap against Texas. We haven’t seen much of either guy in anything resembling meaningful game action to this point, so this will be one of a few big position battles this spring.
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