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Other Pets (non-traditional)
- By Nutriaitch
- Open Discussion (Work-safe)
- 10 Replies
We have a dog thread (and dogs are freaking awesome, love mine)
but here is a thread for y'all to post any non-traditional or even exotic pets
First up, Ragnar
Freyja
Chew Rouge
Gin & Juice
Hela (RIP
)
but here is a thread for y'all to post any non-traditional or even exotic pets
First up, Ragnar
Freyja
Chew Rouge
Gin & Juice
Hela (RIP
)
LGHL Cody Simon a worthy recipient of Ohio State’s ‘Block O’ jersey
- News
- 0 Replies
Cody Simon a worthy recipient of Ohio State’s ‘Block O’ jersey
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The veteran linebacker has proven his leadership over the years, and will don the school’s Block O jersey in 2024.
Senior linebacker Cody Simon is the latest player to earn the right to wear Ohio State’s Block O jersey — a tradition inspired by and dedicated to the late college and pro football hall of famer Bill Willis, whose No. 99 is retired by the Buckeyes. Simon joins previous recipients Jonathon Cooper (2020), Thayer Munford (2021), Kamyrn Babb (2022), and Xavier Johnson (2023).
He’ll turn in his No. 30 and start wearing No. 0 on Saturdays.
The jersey is given annually to players exhibiting Willis’ character, toughness, and leadership. That’s what makes Simon a worthy recipient of the honor, and only the second non-Ohioan to earn the Block O jersey.
Now in his fifth season in Columbus, the Jersey City, NJ native has already received his degree at Ohio State and is now in graduate school. He earned his degree in finance in 2023 and was a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, an OSU Scholar-Athlete and a member of the Academic All-Big Ten Conference team. It was his fourth time as an OSU Scholar-Athlete, and his third time receiving Academic All-Big Ten honors.
Simon has been a steady contributor throughout his Ohio State career, but he is expected to step up to a new level in 2024. Not only will he be the new starting Mike linebacker, replacing 2023 starter Tommy Eichenberg, but he was named one of four OSU team captains for 2024 on Saturday.
During the pandemic-marred 2020 season, Simon managed to get on the field for six games as a freshman linebacker and special teamer, including appearances in the two College Football Playoff games against Clemson and Alabama. Simon managed four tackles in limited action that year.
Making a big jump his sophomore year, Simon finished fourth on the Buckeyes in tackles (54), including eight in one game at Nebraska and seven each against three of the four ‘M’ schools: Minnesota, Maryland, and Michigan. Simon also had his first career interception against Akron, returning it 24 yards.
He finished the season with a sack, 2.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup, and three quarterback hurries. Unfortunately, an injury prevented Simon from participating in Ohio State’s Rose Bowl victory over Utah and kept him out of 2022 spring practice.
Simon slipped to seventh on the team in tackles in 2022, finishing with 32. He recorded 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble, and a quarterback hurry in his third season. His biggest performances in 2022 were a pair of six-tackle performances against Arkansas State and Iowa.
In 2023, Simon climbed back to fourth on the team in tackles (57). He did not record a sack, but tallied three tackles for loss and two pass breakups. His 57 tackles, 24 solos and 33 assists were all career highs, and he had big games against Rutgers and Purdue, recording nine and eight tackles, respectively.
Now as a captain and the recipient of the Block O jersey, more will be expected of Simon in 2024. A promising career that seemed on a high trajectory his senior year when he started 10 games is back on track. With the support of his teammates and coaches — Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinitis recently called him the unquestioned leader of the group — Simon is poised for a statement season in his final year in Columbus.
Continue reading...
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The veteran linebacker has proven his leadership over the years, and will don the school’s Block O jersey in 2024.
Senior linebacker Cody Simon is the latest player to earn the right to wear Ohio State’s Block O jersey — a tradition inspired by and dedicated to the late college and pro football hall of famer Bill Willis, whose No. 99 is retired by the Buckeyes. Simon joins previous recipients Jonathon Cooper (2020), Thayer Munford (2021), Kamyrn Babb (2022), and Xavier Johnson (2023).
He’ll turn in his No. 30 and start wearing No. 0 on Saturdays.
The jersey is given annually to players exhibiting Willis’ character, toughness, and leadership. That’s what makes Simon a worthy recipient of the honor, and only the second non-Ohioan to earn the Block O jersey.
Now in his fifth season in Columbus, the Jersey City, NJ native has already received his degree at Ohio State and is now in graduate school. He earned his degree in finance in 2023 and was a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, an OSU Scholar-Athlete and a member of the Academic All-Big Ten Conference team. It was his fourth time as an OSU Scholar-Athlete, and his third time receiving Academic All-Big Ten honors.
Simon has been a steady contributor throughout his Ohio State career, but he is expected to step up to a new level in 2024. Not only will he be the new starting Mike linebacker, replacing 2023 starter Tommy Eichenberg, but he was named one of four OSU team captains for 2024 on Saturday.
During the pandemic-marred 2020 season, Simon managed to get on the field for six games as a freshman linebacker and special teamer, including appearances in the two College Football Playoff games against Clemson and Alabama. Simon managed four tackles in limited action that year.
Making a big jump his sophomore year, Simon finished fourth on the Buckeyes in tackles (54), including eight in one game at Nebraska and seven each against three of the four ‘M’ schools: Minnesota, Maryland, and Michigan. Simon also had his first career interception against Akron, returning it 24 yards.
He finished the season with a sack, 2.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup, and three quarterback hurries. Unfortunately, an injury prevented Simon from participating in Ohio State’s Rose Bowl victory over Utah and kept him out of 2022 spring practice.
Simon slipped to seventh on the team in tackles in 2022, finishing with 32. He recorded 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble, and a quarterback hurry in his third season. His biggest performances in 2022 were a pair of six-tackle performances against Arkansas State and Iowa.
In 2023, Simon climbed back to fourth on the team in tackles (57). He did not record a sack, but tallied three tackles for loss and two pass breakups. His 57 tackles, 24 solos and 33 assists were all career highs, and he had big games against Rutgers and Purdue, recording nine and eight tackles, respectively.
Now as a captain and the recipient of the Block O jersey, more will be expected of Simon in 2024. A promising career that seemed on a high trajectory his senior year when he started 10 games is back on track. With the support of his teammates and coaches — Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinitis recently called him the unquestioned leader of the group — Simon is poised for a statement season in his final year in Columbus.
Continue reading...
LGHL Power Two Podcast: Can the Big Ten overtake the SEC in 2024?
- News
- 0 Replies
Power Two Podcast: Can the Big Ten overtake the SEC in 2024?
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 James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Will the Big Ten emerge as the new super conference now that Nick Saban has retired?
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.
After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the major matchups of the previous weekend and look ahead at the games, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week.
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.
There are just a few short days before Week 0 of the 2024 College Football Season. We conclude our season previews with the Big Ten Conference, which stands at the national spotlight's forefront. With storied programs, new faces and high expectations, this season promises to be one of the most competitive and intriguing in recent memory.
The Big Ten’s reputation as one of the premier conferences in college football is on the line. With the SEC’s dominance in recent years, the Big Ten’s top teams must prove they can compete at the highest level. In a post-Nick Saban world, anything can happen — especially for the top contenders.
Ohio State, Oregon, and Penn State emerge as the conference’s heavyweights. Ohio State, led by head coach Ryan Day, boasts a roster loaded with NFL talent. Is this the season that they end the 10-year drought without a National Championship?
Will the newest edition, Oregon, stack up to their potential or will the competitiveness of this conference be too much? Should Penn State be satisfied with a playoff spot but potentially no advancement? DJ and Jordan answer these questions and more.
This season, more than ever, the Big Ten has the opportunity to send multiple teams to the College Football Playoff. With a 12-team CFP on the horizon, the stakes are high, and every game will matter.
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, you can 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: @JordanW330
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @PowerTwoPodcast
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 James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Will the Big Ten emerge as the new super conference now that Nick Saban has retired?
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.
After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the major matchups of the previous weekend and look ahead at the games, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week.
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.
There are just a few short days before Week 0 of the 2024 College Football Season. We conclude our season previews with the Big Ten Conference, which stands at the national spotlight's forefront. With storied programs, new faces and high expectations, this season promises to be one of the most competitive and intriguing in recent memory.
The Big Ten’s reputation as one of the premier conferences in college football is on the line. With the SEC’s dominance in recent years, the Big Ten’s top teams must prove they can compete at the highest level. In a post-Nick Saban world, anything can happen — especially for the top contenders.
Ohio State, Oregon, and Penn State emerge as the conference’s heavyweights. Ohio State, led by head coach Ryan Day, boasts a roster loaded with NFL talent. Is this the season that they end the 10-year drought without a National Championship?
Will the newest edition, Oregon, stack up to their potential or will the competitiveness of this conference be too much? Should Penn State be satisfied with a playoff spot but potentially no advancement? DJ and Jordan answer these questions and more.
This season, more than ever, the Big Ten has the opportunity to send multiple teams to the College Football Playoff. With a 12-team CFP on the horizon, the stakes are high, and every game will matter.
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, you can 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: @JordanW330
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @PowerTwoPodcast
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and DJ:@dj_danaysia
Continue reading...
LGHL After missing on David Sanders Jr., Ohio State must alter its recruiting strategy in 2026 class
- News
- 0 Replies
After missing on David Sanders Jr., Ohio State must alter its recruiting strategy in 2026 class
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2026 OT Maxwell Riley | Mick Walker, 247Sports
The Buckeyes cannot afford similar results in the next cycle.
As was the expected result after the past few weeks, five-star offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. committed to Tennessee over the weekend. With Josh Petty committing to Georgia Tech earlier in the week, Ohio State’s top two remaining options along the offensive line are now both off the board. The Buckeyes are left with just a pair of commits at the position group in the 2025 class in Carter Lowe and Jake Cook in a cycle where they really needed to restock the cupboard.
While chasing those five-star national linemen like Sanders is always an uphill battle, Ohio State and Justin Frye have compounded the issue by having no real backup plan in the event that the North Carolina native committed elsewhere. Of the fewer than 30 total offensive linemen the Buckeyes have offered in this cycle — a net cast not nearly wide enough — just four players remain uncommitted, and only one of them has any real interest in Ohio State in three-star IOL Jayvon McFadden.
Now Frye finds himself on the hot seat — and for good reason. Ryan Day brought the former UCLA staffer in to replace an unwilling recruiter in Greg Studrawa, and has seen little to no increase in efforts from the new position coach. Ohio State offered far fewer players along the offensive line than the top tier programs they are competing against, and failed to even offer some of the talented prospects from within state borders like Wisconsin commit Nolan Davenport (No. 33 OT, No. 12 OH) or Kentucky commit Jermiel Atkins (No. 48 OT, No. 19 OH).
With Ohio State set to lose three if not four of its starting offensive lineman to graduation and/or the NFL Draft at the conclusion of this upcoming season, this leaves the Buckeyes in a pretty dire position. They will likely need to add multiple players through the transfer portal next offseason — something the program has also been hesitant to do despite lucking out on a late addition in Josh Simmons and taking a flyer on Seth McLaughlin.
That is a dangerous way to live, given that it is no guarantee the quality of player both that will be available and that Ohio State is willing to pursue. On top of that, offensive line is one of if not the hardest position to build via the transfer portal. If the Buckeyes want to actually get serious about improving a unit that has performed well below expectations over the past several seasons, the recruiting strategy — and effort — will need to improve in the 2026 class.
That will begin with locking down the guys who are right within your own backyard. Luckily, there are a handful of big time prospects along the offensive line in Ohio in the next cycle — three of the four of which already hold an Ohio State offer.
The top dog in the 2026 class at offensive tackle is Maxwell Riley. The 6-foot-5, 280-pound lineman ranks as the No. 6 OT and No. 37 player overall as the top prospect in Ohio per 247Sports’ rankings. With nearly 30 offers to his name from all the high-end programs, Riley is an absolute must-get for Ohio State. It will not be a slam dunk to get the Avon Lake native to Columbus, but the Buckeyes do currently hold the lone Crystal Ball prediction via Bill Kurelic — albeit, one that was cast in early 2023.
The other two in-state lineman with Ohio State offers thus far in the 2026 class are Sam Greer and Will Conroy. Greer, an Akron native, ranks as the No. 13 OT and No. 170 prospect nationally as the No. 6 player in Ohio per the 247Sports Composite. Conroy, who hails from Cleveland, is the No. 16 IOL and No. 13 player in the state per 247Sports. Greer was offered by the Buckeyes early on in April 2023, while Conroy earned his offer in January of this year.
With Greer, Ohio State can perhaps gain some ground through peer recruiting, as current 2025 commit Eli Lee as well as 2026 cornerback target Elbert Hill both attend the lineman’s high school, Archbishop Hoban — the same prep program that produced former OSU running back Chip Trayanum. As far as Conroy, the Buckeyes were left off the IOL’s top five schools list in July despite Conroy saying Ohio State was his “dream school” and having grown up rooting for the program, which is... concerning?
Another blue chip prospect within state lines who currently lacks an Ohio State offer is offensive tackle Adam Guthrie. Listed at 6-foot-7, 285 pounds, Guthrie ranks as the No. 16 OT and No. 215 player nationally as the No. 9 in-state prospect per the 247Sports Composite. The Miami Trace product holds over 30 offers to this point, but for whatever reason the Buckeyes have yet to enter the mix. That will obviously need to change — and soon.
Still, while the 2026 class presents a handful of talented options right within Ohio along the offensive line that seem prime for the taking, early indications once again show a concerning trend.
Ohio State has officially offered just 15 total players along the offensive line in the cycle to this point. Compare that to some of the other top schools in the Big Ten, like Michigan (32 offers), Oregon (37) and Penn State (55), as well as some of the top national programs like Alabama (33) and Georgia (40), and it once again paints a troubling picture for Frye’s efforts on the recruiting trail.
The pure number of offers you send out isn’t a direct reflection of the work being done behind the scenes, but it’s also a pretty bad look given the current circumstances of the position group and its failing recruiting strategy. If Frye is going to keep his job beyond this season, we are going to have to see some increased energy on top of some actual results at some point.
That work should start by locking down the top guys in Ohio, then taking aim at some of the top national prospects elsewhere. Ohio State cannot finish another cycle putting all of its eggs in one basket and coming up empty, especially at a position so crucial to winning at the highest level.
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2026 OT Maxwell Riley | Mick Walker, 247Sports
The Buckeyes cannot afford similar results in the next cycle.
As was the expected result after the past few weeks, five-star offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. committed to Tennessee over the weekend. With Josh Petty committing to Georgia Tech earlier in the week, Ohio State’s top two remaining options along the offensive line are now both off the board. The Buckeyes are left with just a pair of commits at the position group in the 2025 class in Carter Lowe and Jake Cook in a cycle where they really needed to restock the cupboard.
While chasing those five-star national linemen like Sanders is always an uphill battle, Ohio State and Justin Frye have compounded the issue by having no real backup plan in the event that the North Carolina native committed elsewhere. Of the fewer than 30 total offensive linemen the Buckeyes have offered in this cycle — a net cast not nearly wide enough — just four players remain uncommitted, and only one of them has any real interest in Ohio State in three-star IOL Jayvon McFadden.
Now Frye finds himself on the hot seat — and for good reason. Ryan Day brought the former UCLA staffer in to replace an unwilling recruiter in Greg Studrawa, and has seen little to no increase in efforts from the new position coach. Ohio State offered far fewer players along the offensive line than the top tier programs they are competing against, and failed to even offer some of the talented prospects from within state borders like Wisconsin commit Nolan Davenport (No. 33 OT, No. 12 OH) or Kentucky commit Jermiel Atkins (No. 48 OT, No. 19 OH).
With Ohio State set to lose three if not four of its starting offensive lineman to graduation and/or the NFL Draft at the conclusion of this upcoming season, this leaves the Buckeyes in a pretty dire position. They will likely need to add multiple players through the transfer portal next offseason — something the program has also been hesitant to do despite lucking out on a late addition in Josh Simmons and taking a flyer on Seth McLaughlin.
That is a dangerous way to live, given that it is no guarantee the quality of player both that will be available and that Ohio State is willing to pursue. On top of that, offensive line is one of if not the hardest position to build via the transfer portal. If the Buckeyes want to actually get serious about improving a unit that has performed well below expectations over the past several seasons, the recruiting strategy — and effort — will need to improve in the 2026 class.
That will begin with locking down the guys who are right within your own backyard. Luckily, there are a handful of big time prospects along the offensive line in Ohio in the next cycle — three of the four of which already hold an Ohio State offer.
The top dog in the 2026 class at offensive tackle is Maxwell Riley. The 6-foot-5, 280-pound lineman ranks as the No. 6 OT and No. 37 player overall as the top prospect in Ohio per 247Sports’ rankings. With nearly 30 offers to his name from all the high-end programs, Riley is an absolute must-get for Ohio State. It will not be a slam dunk to get the Avon Lake native to Columbus, but the Buckeyes do currently hold the lone Crystal Ball prediction via Bill Kurelic — albeit, one that was cast in early 2023.
The other two in-state lineman with Ohio State offers thus far in the 2026 class are Sam Greer and Will Conroy. Greer, an Akron native, ranks as the No. 13 OT and No. 170 prospect nationally as the No. 6 player in Ohio per the 247Sports Composite. Conroy, who hails from Cleveland, is the No. 16 IOL and No. 13 player in the state per 247Sports. Greer was offered by the Buckeyes early on in April 2023, while Conroy earned his offer in January of this year.
With Greer, Ohio State can perhaps gain some ground through peer recruiting, as current 2025 commit Eli Lee as well as 2026 cornerback target Elbert Hill both attend the lineman’s high school, Archbishop Hoban — the same prep program that produced former OSU running back Chip Trayanum. As far as Conroy, the Buckeyes were left off the IOL’s top five schools list in July despite Conroy saying Ohio State was his “dream school” and having grown up rooting for the program, which is... concerning?
Another blue chip prospect within state lines who currently lacks an Ohio State offer is offensive tackle Adam Guthrie. Listed at 6-foot-7, 285 pounds, Guthrie ranks as the No. 16 OT and No. 215 player nationally as the No. 9 in-state prospect per the 247Sports Composite. The Miami Trace product holds over 30 offers to this point, but for whatever reason the Buckeyes have yet to enter the mix. That will obviously need to change — and soon.
Still, while the 2026 class presents a handful of talented options right within Ohio along the offensive line that seem prime for the taking, early indications once again show a concerning trend.
Ohio State has officially offered just 15 total players along the offensive line in the cycle to this point. Compare that to some of the other top schools in the Big Ten, like Michigan (32 offers), Oregon (37) and Penn State (55), as well as some of the top national programs like Alabama (33) and Georgia (40), and it once again paints a troubling picture for Frye’s efforts on the recruiting trail.
The pure number of offers you send out isn’t a direct reflection of the work being done behind the scenes, but it’s also a pretty bad look given the current circumstances of the position group and its failing recruiting strategy. If Frye is going to keep his job beyond this season, we are going to have to see some increased energy on top of some actual results at some point.
That work should start by locking down the top guys in Ohio, then taking aim at some of the top national prospects elsewhere. Ohio State cannot finish another cycle putting all of its eggs in one basket and coming up empty, especially at a position so crucial to winning at the highest level.
Continue reading...
