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LGHL Nation’s No. 1 player nearing a decision, Ohio State in good position for another top safety target
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Nation’s No. 1 player nearing a decision, Ohio State in good position for another top safety target
Caleb Houser 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
The Buckeyes are in the mix for multiple top players in the 2026 class ahead of a major recruiting weekend.
The No. 1 player in the country regardless of position per the 24Sports Composite is Nixa, Missouri native, Jackson Cantwell. A target that needs no formal introduction, every program in the country would line up for his commitment with all that he brings to the table. Whether it be size, length, strength, or just his prep film, Cantwell is ranked where he’s at for a reason, and Ohio State has been in the mix for some time now.
Releasing a list of six final schools in February, Cantwell has been down to Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, and Ohio State for a while, taking visits to several this spring alone. It looks as if Jackson is really nearing a final decision as he took to his social media on Thursday to share his latest thoughts on where he may end up.
The phrase, “I have all the information I need” was mentioned and that’s pretty telling. As of right now, it appears the Buckeyes likely are on the outside looking in. Taking a spring visit in the past few weeks, Ohio State is still the lone program in his top schools to not have an official visit lined up, and typically that would tell you all you need to know.
The Buckeyes aren’t totally out of it by any means, but the easy guess here is believing they have plenty of ground to make up on the likes of Missouri, Michigan, and Georgia. Ohio State and Tyler Bowen will continue to punch here, but with other options they’re likely more favored for, it’s not all bad news for the Buckeyes.
For now, it does look like they’ll learn their fate one way or another sooner than later.
With two commits locked in at the position, safeties coach Matt Guerrieri is proving his worth on the recruiting trail in a major way thus far in the 2026 class. Landing both Blaine Bradford and Simeon Caldwell, Ohio State has a duo that every coaching staff in the country would love to have. Both commits have also made it clear their recruitments are shut down and it’s all Buckeyes from here on out.
That said, the Buckeyes aren’t done with their defensive secondary recruiting, and if there’s one player they’d still welcome with open arms at the safety position, it’s Mississippi native Bralan Womack.
The No. 24 player nationally and second best safety per the 247Sports Composite, Womack is fresh off an Ohio State unofficial visit, and came away impressed even with the two commits in the fold. If anything, the staff made sure to give Womack their plans to play each in different ways, and it looks as if the visit went as well as it could have considering he’s been quoted as he feels great about Ohio State.
Normally it’s not a strong possibility to land this many elite guys at one position group in the same class, but Ohio State coming off a national championship season is recruiting on another level right now, and Womack to the Buckeyes shouldn’t be dismissed by any means.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser 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
The Buckeyes are in the mix for multiple top players in the 2026 class ahead of a major recruiting weekend.
The No. 1 player in the country regardless of position per the 24Sports Composite is Nixa, Missouri native, Jackson Cantwell. A target that needs no formal introduction, every program in the country would line up for his commitment with all that he brings to the table. Whether it be size, length, strength, or just his prep film, Cantwell is ranked where he’s at for a reason, and Ohio State has been in the mix for some time now.
Releasing a list of six final schools in February, Cantwell has been down to Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, and Ohio State for a while, taking visits to several this spring alone. It looks as if Jackson is really nearing a final decision as he took to his social media on Thursday to share his latest thoughts on where he may end up.
The phrase, “I have all the information I need” was mentioned and that’s pretty telling. As of right now, it appears the Buckeyes likely are on the outside looking in. Taking a spring visit in the past few weeks, Ohio State is still the lone program in his top schools to not have an official visit lined up, and typically that would tell you all you need to know.
The Buckeyes aren’t totally out of it by any means, but the easy guess here is believing they have plenty of ground to make up on the likes of Missouri, Michigan, and Georgia. Ohio State and Tyler Bowen will continue to punch here, but with other options they’re likely more favored for, it’s not all bad news for the Buckeyes.
For now, it does look like they’ll learn their fate one way or another sooner than later.
Buckeyes still in good position for another top safety prospect
With two commits locked in at the position, safeties coach Matt Guerrieri is proving his worth on the recruiting trail in a major way thus far in the 2026 class. Landing both Blaine Bradford and Simeon Caldwell, Ohio State has a duo that every coaching staff in the country would love to have. Both commits have also made it clear their recruitments are shut down and it’s all Buckeyes from here on out.
That said, the Buckeyes aren’t done with their defensive secondary recruiting, and if there’s one player they’d still welcome with open arms at the safety position, it’s Mississippi native Bralan Womack.
The No. 24 player nationally and second best safety per the 247Sports Composite, Womack is fresh off an Ohio State unofficial visit, and came away impressed even with the two commits in the fold. If anything, the staff made sure to give Womack their plans to play each in different ways, and it looks as if the visit went as well as it could have considering he’s been quoted as he feels great about Ohio State.
Normally it’s not a strong possibility to land this many elite guys at one position group in the same class, but Ohio State coming off a national championship season is recruiting on another level right now, and Womack to the Buckeyes shouldn’t be dismissed by any means.
Quick Hits
- Making a short trek south to Columbus today, Ohio State will play host to Ohio native Jermaine Polk. An unranked defensive lineman, Polk is a 6-foot-4, 265 pound athlete with nearly ten offers to his name and is hoping this next visit will continue to keep the attention on his recruitment. Schools such as Boston College and Iowa State round out his biggest offers, but several other MAC schools are also in the mix.
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LGHL Ohio State hosts Maryland this afternoon in a men’s lacrosse showdown
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Ohio State hosts Maryland this afternoon in a men’s lacrosse showdown
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State vs Virginia 02/22/25 | Ohio State Athletics
The Buckeyes will look to extend their winning streak to 12 games when they take on the Terrapins at the Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium.
Ohio State football isn’t the only Buckeye team hitting the field in Columbus on Saturday. The second-ranked men’s lacrosse team has a huge game, as they’ll be hosting the sixth-ranked Maryland Terrapins in the final regular season home game of the season for the Buckeyes. Ohio State will be looking for its first win over the Terrapins since 2018, and its first win in Columbus over Maryland since an 11-10 triumph in overtime back in 2017.
The Buckeyes enter today’s game against Maryland with an 11-1 record, their only loss coming at the hands of Utah to kick off the season. Since then, Ohio State has won 11 straight games, the latest being a 14-10 victory over Johns Hopkins. The Buckeyes jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in the first quarter, pushing their advantage over Maryland to 8-3 at halftime. The Terrapins would get as close as 10-8, but Nick Myers’ team would regain its focus to earn its first win over Johns Hopkins since 2021, becoming the first Big Ten team this season to earn three conference wins.
Leading the charge for Ohio State against Johns Hopkins was Alex Marinier, who scored six goals on his way to earning his fourth Big Ten Player of the Week honor. The only game this season where Marinier netted more goals was when he scored seven goals in a win over Air Force back in February. Marinier now has 40 goals this season, making him the 15th player in Ohio State history to record at least 40 goals in a season.
Along with Marinier, Ohio State has six other players who have scored at least 10 goals this season. Garrett Haas had three goals in the win over Johns Hopkins, pushing his season total to 20 goals. Ryan Donnery has 17 goals, Ed Shean has scored 14 times, and Shane O’Leary has 13 goals to round out this season’s top five when it comes to goal scoring on the team. Jack McKenna currently has the team lead with 14 assists.
Patrolling the goal for the Buckeyes is Caleb Fyock, who is coming off a 15-save performance against Johns Hopkins to earn his 11th victory of the season. Fyock is a perfect 11-0 with a 7.13 goals against average and a .626 save percentage. Ohio State has one of the toughest defenses to crack in the country, allowing just 102 goals through their first 12 games of the season. By comparison, the Buckeye offense has scored 160 goals.
Maryland enters today’s game with an 8-2 record this year, but the Terrapins have struggled recently, losing two of their last three games. The latest loss was an 8-6 setback at Rutgers. Even with their recent slump, Maryland is still one of the most dangerous teams in the country. The Terrapins were runners-up last year, falling to Notre Dame 15-5 in the title game. The last national championship for Maryland came in 2022. Since joining the Big Ten in 2015, head coach John Tillman has led the program to seven Final Four appearances.
Powering the Maryland offense is Eric Spanos, who has 19 goals and 11 assists this season> Braden Erska and Daniel Kelly each have 18 goals, while Matthew Keegan has netted 14 goals, and Bryce Ford has been credited with 13 goals for a Terrapin offense that has scored 110 goals this season. The defense has allowed just 76 goals, with Logan McNaney patrolling the goals, posting an 8-2 record with a 7.47 goals against average, and a .615 save percentage.
Even though this game is the final regular-season home game for Ohio State this year, the seniors will likely get another chance to soak in their final home game when they play in the Big Ten Tournament, which will be played at campus sites. Since they have already excelled in conference play this year, the Buckeyes have pretty much assured themselves of at least one more game in Columbus.
Despite attention in Columbus being given to football’s spring game, this lacrosse contest is massive. Ohio State needs a win over a Maryland team that is often in the Final Four to show Nick Myers’ team they can take down some of the top talent in the country. Even though Ohio State has earned its highest ranking in school history, they don’t want to waste a season like this by getting bounced from the NCAA Tournament early. A win over the Terrapins could truly show the Buckeyes that they belong in the conversation with some of the perennial lacrosse powers.
Time: 2 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network
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Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State vs Virginia 02/22/25 | Ohio State Athletics
The Buckeyes will look to extend their winning streak to 12 games when they take on the Terrapins at the Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium.
Ohio State football isn’t the only Buckeye team hitting the field in Columbus on Saturday. The second-ranked men’s lacrosse team has a huge game, as they’ll be hosting the sixth-ranked Maryland Terrapins in the final regular season home game of the season for the Buckeyes. Ohio State will be looking for its first win over the Terrapins since 2018, and its first win in Columbus over Maryland since an 11-10 triumph in overtime back in 2017.
The Buckeyes enter today’s game against Maryland with an 11-1 record, their only loss coming at the hands of Utah to kick off the season. Since then, Ohio State has won 11 straight games, the latest being a 14-10 victory over Johns Hopkins. The Buckeyes jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in the first quarter, pushing their advantage over Maryland to 8-3 at halftime. The Terrapins would get as close as 10-8, but Nick Myers’ team would regain its focus to earn its first win over Johns Hopkins since 2021, becoming the first Big Ten team this season to earn three conference wins.
Leading the charge for Ohio State against Johns Hopkins was Alex Marinier, who scored six goals on his way to earning his fourth Big Ten Player of the Week honor. The only game this season where Marinier netted more goals was when he scored seven goals in a win over Air Force back in February. Marinier now has 40 goals this season, making him the 15th player in Ohio State history to record at least 40 goals in a season.
Along with Marinier, Ohio State has six other players who have scored at least 10 goals this season. Garrett Haas had three goals in the win over Johns Hopkins, pushing his season total to 20 goals. Ryan Donnery has 17 goals, Ed Shean has scored 14 times, and Shane O’Leary has 13 goals to round out this season’s top five when it comes to goal scoring on the team. Jack McKenna currently has the team lead with 14 assists.
Patrolling the goal for the Buckeyes is Caleb Fyock, who is coming off a 15-save performance against Johns Hopkins to earn his 11th victory of the season. Fyock is a perfect 11-0 with a 7.13 goals against average and a .626 save percentage. Ohio State has one of the toughest defenses to crack in the country, allowing just 102 goals through their first 12 games of the season. By comparison, the Buckeye offense has scored 160 goals.
Maryland enters today’s game with an 8-2 record this year, but the Terrapins have struggled recently, losing two of their last three games. The latest loss was an 8-6 setback at Rutgers. Even with their recent slump, Maryland is still one of the most dangerous teams in the country. The Terrapins were runners-up last year, falling to Notre Dame 15-5 in the title game. The last national championship for Maryland came in 2022. Since joining the Big Ten in 2015, head coach John Tillman has led the program to seven Final Four appearances.
Powering the Maryland offense is Eric Spanos, who has 19 goals and 11 assists this season> Braden Erska and Daniel Kelly each have 18 goals, while Matthew Keegan has netted 14 goals, and Bryce Ford has been credited with 13 goals for a Terrapin offense that has scored 110 goals this season. The defense has allowed just 76 goals, with Logan McNaney patrolling the goals, posting an 8-2 record with a 7.47 goals against average, and a .615 save percentage.
Even though this game is the final regular-season home game for Ohio State this year, the seniors will likely get another chance to soak in their final home game when they play in the Big Ten Tournament, which will be played at campus sites. Since they have already excelled in conference play this year, the Buckeyes have pretty much assured themselves of at least one more game in Columbus.
Despite attention in Columbus being given to football’s spring game, this lacrosse contest is massive. Ohio State needs a win over a Maryland team that is often in the Final Four to show Nick Myers’ team they can take down some of the top talent in the country. Even though Ohio State has earned its highest ranking in school history, they don’t want to waste a season like this by getting bounced from the NCAA Tournament early. A win over the Terrapins could truly show the Buckeyes that they belong in the conversation with some of the perennial lacrosse powers.
Time: 2 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network
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LGHL Buckeye fans think Sayin will be QB1, offensive line will impress in Spring Game
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Buckeye fans think Sayin will be QB1, offensive line will impress in Spring Game
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.
Throughout the year, we will be asking and answering questions about various Ohio State teams, the players, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33, or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
Buckeye fans, believe it or not, but we have an actual, real-life Ohio State football game to watch today. Granted, the term “game” will likely be rather loosely applied to this game, but nonetheless, the Scarlet and Gray will be on the field at Ohio Stadium today, so ahead of what will hopefully be an awe-inspiring and revelatory intrasquad scrimmage, we asked Buckeye Nation some questions this week about the future (near and long-term) of the program.
Earlier this week, in our weekly fan survey, we asked LGHL readers to put their two cents in on who would eventually win out in the battle to be the OSU QB. While Ryan Day has said that the two main contenders are neck and neck, you never know what can happen. The other question had to do with the performance of individual position groups in the scrimmage today.
So, check out the responses below and see if you agree with your fellow fans. If now, head to the comments at the bottom of the article and let us know your thoughts.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25949928/OhioState_1_40925.png)
The smart money is on Julian Sayin, but if I’m being honest, I am surprised how many people are predicting Lincoln Kienholz to win this job. There is likely no chance that Day — short of an absolutely mind-blowing performance today — will declare a starting quarterback before halfway through fall camp. Even in seasons when we all knew what the result would be, Day has stuck to his timeline, and I think that will be the case this season.
While I too expect the former Alabama recruit to take the snaps this fall, there is still a long way between now and the season opener.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25949929/OhioState_2_40925.png)
You know, it’s tough to argue with the offensive line at this point. I know that all of his success has been confined to the recruiting trail, but Tyler Bowen has been pretty darn impressive since landing in Columbus. Admittedly, Justin Frye did a pretty bang-up job down the stretch with the shuffled offensive line, but if Bowen’s boys can come out and looked good against a completely new defensive line, there should be a lot of confidence about that unit heading into the summer.
Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.
Throughout the year, we will be asking and answering questions about various Ohio State teams, the players, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33, or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
Buckeye fans, believe it or not, but we have an actual, real-life Ohio State football game to watch today. Granted, the term “game” will likely be rather loosely applied to this game, but nonetheless, the Scarlet and Gray will be on the field at Ohio Stadium today, so ahead of what will hopefully be an awe-inspiring and revelatory intrasquad scrimmage, we asked Buckeye Nation some questions this week about the future (near and long-term) of the program.
Earlier this week, in our weekly fan survey, we asked LGHL readers to put their two cents in on who would eventually win out in the battle to be the OSU QB. While Ryan Day has said that the two main contenders are neck and neck, you never know what can happen. The other question had to do with the performance of individual position groups in the scrimmage today.
So, check out the responses below and see if you agree with your fellow fans. If now, head to the comments at the bottom of the article and let us know your thoughts.
Question 1: Who wins Ohio State’s quarterback battle?
The smart money is on Julian Sayin, but if I’m being honest, I am surprised how many people are predicting Lincoln Kienholz to win this job. There is likely no chance that Day — short of an absolutely mind-blowing performance today — will declare a starting quarterback before halfway through fall camp. Even in seasons when we all knew what the result would be, Day has stuck to his timeline, and I think that will be the case this season.
While I too expect the former Alabama recruit to take the snaps this fall, there is still a long way between now and the season opener.
Question 2: Which position group will be the most pleasantly surprising in the Spring Game?
You know, it’s tough to argue with the offensive line at this point. I know that all of his success has been confined to the recruiting trail, but Tyler Bowen has been pretty darn impressive since landing in Columbus. Admittedly, Justin Frye did a pretty bang-up job down the stretch with the shuffled offensive line, but if Bowen’s boys can come out and looked good against a completely new defensive line, there should be a lot of confidence about that unit heading into the summer.
Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Continue reading...
LGHL Three things to watch for during Ohio State’s Spring Game
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Three things to watch for during Ohio State’s Spring Game
Jami Jurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
We’ll be keeping a close eye on these storylines during Saturday’s Spring Game as we start to get a feel for what lies ahead.
After four weeks of practice, Buckeye fans will finally get a sneak peek at the 2025 football team during Saturday’s Spring Game, which begins at 12 noon ET. The game is a chance for the team to feel things out in a game environment, while fans will have the opportunity to scope out new coaches and player dynamics alike. While new questions about the fall usually arise during the game, it can also bring some early answers about what to expect in the team’s bid to defend its 2024 National Championship title come fall.
Here are three things to keep an eye on during Saturday’s Spring Game today as we look to learn more about the new version of Ohio State football.
The coaching staff has seen a few major changes since the National Championship back in January, with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles heading to Penn State in the same role, and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly to return to the NFL as the Raiders’ OC.
The Spring Game is our first chance to get a feel for new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and to see how Brian Hartline, the former co-offensive coordinator who was promoted into the role outright, handles his new play-calling responsibilities.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25950305/2205941838.jpg "Ohio State Spring Practice")
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
Under Knowles, the defense returned to powerhouse status. Aggressive and versatile, Knowles’ defense improved each year, and they finished last season as the statistical best in the nation. Patricia will look to continue that excellence but with his own look and feel — and while players like safety Caleb Downs have already sung his praises, it will be exciting to see Patricia’s work in action on Saturday as we get a feel for how the defense will measure up to last year’s title winners.
On the offensive side of the ball, Hartline is a familiar face, but with increased play-calling responsibilities, we might get to see a different side of him. Saturday won’t show his full hand, and we will likely only see very minor snapshots of his playbook, but it could give us an idea of what sort of tendencies we might see from the offense this fall.
Staffing changes weren’t the only changes for Ohio State, and one of the top players they’ll need to replace is quarterback Will Howard, who used his last year of eligibility during the championship season and declared for the NFL Draft.
Former five-star recruit Julian Sayin was widely considered the clear-cut favorite for the starting job, but head coach Ryan Day announced this past week that Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz are “neck-and-neck” for the starting job.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25950309/2205877151.jpg "Ohio State Spring Practice")
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
Sayin is a true dual threat on the field, but Kienholz has, by all accounts, looked great in practice. Now, both quarterbacks will have the chance to show how they handle the pressure of a crowd.
We’ll also probably see some snaps from freshman quarterback Tavien St. Clair, a five-star recruit who, while unlikely to start in the fall simply due to inexperience, will hopefully factor in heavily for the Buckeyes in years to come. Saturday will be our first chance to see what he’s made of at this level and how well he lives up to the hype.
Will Saturday’s game be the deciding factor for who starts in the fall? Not at all. But though the Spring Game isn’t make-or-break, it is certainly a good opportunity for these two signal-callers to make a case for themselves.
Much like the quarterback battle, the Spring Game isn’t a perfect crystal ball into how players will perform during the regular season. You might have guys who look just okay during the Spring Game but turn a corner in their development as a player over the summer and have a lights-out season, or you could have guys who leave it all on the field in the Spring Game but can’t replicate that later on.
But the game is data — often important data — into both which individuals will shine and into each unit’s dynamic. It tells us a lot about the freshmen, transfers and replacements for former players.
Heading into the Spring Game, there are some exciting transfers and freshmen to keep an eye on.
In addition to St. Clair, the Buckeyes have some other freshmen who are coming to the team as highly rated, highly touted names to pay attention to. Perhaps most exciting is Devin Sanchez, a top-five recruit in the country and the top-ranked cornerback in his class. Wide receiver Quincy Porter could also be a huge playmaker for the team in time. He comes to OSU as a five-star recruit and one of the top-five wide receivers in his class. Under Hartline, whose skill as a wide receivers coach is renowned, Porter has the potential to develop into a household name.
On the transfer front, I’ll be keeping my eye on tight end Max Klare, coming to the Buckeyes from Purdue. Additionally, I’m keeping my eye on offensive tackle Ethan Onianwa out of Rice. Onianwa lost his black stripe earlier this week and is in a good position to win a starting job at left tackle in the fall.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25950315/2180584335.jpg "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 26 Rice at UConn")
For every player you intend to pay close attention to in the Spring Game, there will surely be four more names who jump out and surprise you in the moment, so I’m also excited to see who we aren’t talking about yet but can’t shut up about come tomorrow evening.
Continue reading...
Jami Jurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
We’ll be keeping a close eye on these storylines during Saturday’s Spring Game as we start to get a feel for what lies ahead.
After four weeks of practice, Buckeye fans will finally get a sneak peek at the 2025 football team during Saturday’s Spring Game, which begins at 12 noon ET. The game is a chance for the team to feel things out in a game environment, while fans will have the opportunity to scope out new coaches and player dynamics alike. While new questions about the fall usually arise during the game, it can also bring some early answers about what to expect in the team’s bid to defend its 2024 National Championship title come fall.
Here are three things to keep an eye on during Saturday’s Spring Game today as we look to learn more about the new version of Ohio State football.
Coaching Changes
The coaching staff has seen a few major changes since the National Championship back in January, with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles heading to Penn State in the same role, and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly to return to the NFL as the Raiders’ OC.
The Spring Game is our first chance to get a feel for new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and to see how Brian Hartline, the former co-offensive coordinator who was promoted into the role outright, handles his new play-calling responsibilities.
Under Knowles, the defense returned to powerhouse status. Aggressive and versatile, Knowles’ defense improved each year, and they finished last season as the statistical best in the nation. Patricia will look to continue that excellence but with his own look and feel — and while players like safety Caleb Downs have already sung his praises, it will be exciting to see Patricia’s work in action on Saturday as we get a feel for how the defense will measure up to last year’s title winners.
On the offensive side of the ball, Hartline is a familiar face, but with increased play-calling responsibilities, we might get to see a different side of him. Saturday won’t show his full hand, and we will likely only see very minor snapshots of his playbook, but it could give us an idea of what sort of tendencies we might see from the offense this fall.
Who will replace Will Howard at quarterback?
Staffing changes weren’t the only changes for Ohio State, and one of the top players they’ll need to replace is quarterback Will Howard, who used his last year of eligibility during the championship season and declared for the NFL Draft.
Former five-star recruit Julian Sayin was widely considered the clear-cut favorite for the starting job, but head coach Ryan Day announced this past week that Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz are “neck-and-neck” for the starting job.
Sayin is a true dual threat on the field, but Kienholz has, by all accounts, looked great in practice. Now, both quarterbacks will have the chance to show how they handle the pressure of a crowd.
We’ll also probably see some snaps from freshman quarterback Tavien St. Clair, a five-star recruit who, while unlikely to start in the fall simply due to inexperience, will hopefully factor in heavily for the Buckeyes in years to come. Saturday will be our first chance to see what he’s made of at this level and how well he lives up to the hype.
Will Saturday’s game be the deciding factor for who starts in the fall? Not at all. But though the Spring Game isn’t make-or-break, it is certainly a good opportunity for these two signal-callers to make a case for themselves.
Who are the new players to watch?
Much like the quarterback battle, the Spring Game isn’t a perfect crystal ball into how players will perform during the regular season. You might have guys who look just okay during the Spring Game but turn a corner in their development as a player over the summer and have a lights-out season, or you could have guys who leave it all on the field in the Spring Game but can’t replicate that later on.
But the game is data — often important data — into both which individuals will shine and into each unit’s dynamic. It tells us a lot about the freshmen, transfers and replacements for former players.
Heading into the Spring Game, there are some exciting transfers and freshmen to keep an eye on.
In addition to St. Clair, the Buckeyes have some other freshmen who are coming to the team as highly rated, highly touted names to pay attention to. Perhaps most exciting is Devin Sanchez, a top-five recruit in the country and the top-ranked cornerback in his class. Wide receiver Quincy Porter could also be a huge playmaker for the team in time. He comes to OSU as a five-star recruit and one of the top-five wide receivers in his class. Under Hartline, whose skill as a wide receivers coach is renowned, Porter has the potential to develop into a household name.
On the transfer front, I’ll be keeping my eye on tight end Max Klare, coming to the Buckeyes from Purdue. Additionally, I’m keeping my eye on offensive tackle Ethan Onianwa out of Rice. Onianwa lost his black stripe earlier this week and is in a good position to win a starting job at left tackle in the fall.
For every player you intend to pay close attention to in the Spring Game, there will surely be four more names who jump out and surprise you in the moment, so I’m also excited to see who we aren’t talking about yet but can’t shut up about come tomorrow evening.
Continue reading...