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LGHL What superhero would make the best addition to Ohio State’s football roster?
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What superhero would make the best addition to Ohio State’s football roster?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Harun Ozalp/Anadolu via Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Ohio State heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history, or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
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With its impressive 2024 football roster—arguably one of the most talented in the country on paper—some might argue the Ohio State Buckeyes already have a few superheroes on the squad.
With graduate transfer Will Howard taking over as quarterback, who put up decent stats at Kansas State even without the arsenal of weapons he’ll have at his disposal as a Buckeye, some of the offensive woes should come to an end.
But it’s really the Buckeyes’ roster of skill players that sets them apart from the competition. The one area they could use a little help (and even this is just gravy) is tight end. With Cade Stover heading to the NFL to play for the Texans next year, tight end is the one potential weakness in the Buckeyes’ offense (though don’t fret too much—the Buckeyes still have an experienced tight end in Gee Scott, Jr., a graduate student who put up decent numbers in 2023).
Still, tight end is the one position where they don’t have a superstar. So this is where they could perhaps make use of a Superhero—in this case, Iron Man.
As a hybrid position, elite tight ends must be able to do double duty as an eligible receiver and an effective blocker for the offense. Their size can be a key factor in making them a weapon, and Iron Man has that going for him, coming in at 6’6” in the comics (the same height as legendary tight end Rob Gronkowski, for example), which would give him an advantage both in blocking and receiving.
Additionally, Iron Man’s armor is the source of superhuman strength and the ability to fly, both of which would give him the ability to blast through defensive lines (or simply fly right over them).
He possesses both the physical skills and the smart, intuitive decision-making tight ends must have in order to read and react to plays quickly, with the instincts and superpowers to catch anything that comes your way. Flying would also come into play here, as Iron Man could theoretically catch a ball even if it were off-target, giving the quarterback the option to get rid of the ball quickly under pressure and trust that Iron Man would be there to scoop it up.
Where blocking is concerned, Iron Man has another weapon in his arsenal, in addition to his strength—his energy projection ability. Imagine being a defender, trying to go up against Iron Man, and he simply blasts you with a burst of energy to keep you back. It would be hard to combat that as an average human (or even a very talented above-average human).
I don’t know that the Buckeyes need much help from a superhero on this season’s roster, but if the opportunity to recruit Iron Man presented itself, suffice it to say I wouldn’t balk at the idea.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25530380/the_thing_fantastic_four_ohio_state_offensive_line.jpg)
You know, if this question had been posed slightly differently, I would have gone with Batman, because while he wouldn’t bring nearly as much to the field as the heroes who have been injected with a super-serum, bitten by a radioactive spider, or is made nearly invincible by the rays of a yellow sun, in today’s world of college football, having a billionaire like Bruce Wayne able to funnel a shit-ton of money into NIL would be helpful.
However, the question specifically mentions the Buckeyes’ roster. So, it needs to be someone who can help as a player. And — again, unfortunately — it does need to be a superhero, otherwise, I would be taking Thanos in a heartbeat. In addition to being absolutely massively imposing figure, imagine him as an offensive lineman leading the way for TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins as he has the ability to literally snap his fingers to eliminate half of the opposing defense.
Alas, I have to go with a good guy. So, I am picking Ben Grimm, The Fantastic Four founding member known as The Thing. First off, he went to Empire State University on a football scholarship, so we know that he’s got the football pedigree to be a contributor for the Buckeyes. Secondly, according to Marvel, The Thing officially measures at 6-foot, 500 pounds, although, like most athletic measurements, those appear to be less than reliable. Nonetheless, can you imagine a rock-solid, 500-pounder stepping into right guard for the Buckeyes this season?
The OSU offensive line is the most suspect part of the roster heading into this season. However, it does appear to be settled that Josh Simmons and Donovan Jackson will handle the left side with Seth McLaughlin taking over at center after transferring from Alabama. Then, at right tackle, Josh Fryar will stay there. That means that the biggest opening would be at RG, and while you probably want a guard to be taller than 6-feet, it’s tough to argue with Grimm’s build.
Also, there shouldn’t be any concern about him picking up the complicated offensive line protections in Columbus. He studied engineering while in college, was a military pilot, and eventually an astronaut. So his mental acuity wouldn’t be in question at a position that notoriously takes a while to pick up the playbook.
So, Buckeye Nation, help me in welcoming your new starting right guard, Ben “The Thing” Grimm. ”It’s clobberin’ time!”
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
Photo by Harun Ozalp/Anadolu via Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Ohio State heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history, or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
Today’s Question: What superhero would make the best addition to Ohio State’s football roster?
Jami’s Take: Iron Man at Tight End
With its impressive 2024 football roster—arguably one of the most talented in the country on paper—some might argue the Ohio State Buckeyes already have a few superheroes on the squad.
With graduate transfer Will Howard taking over as quarterback, who put up decent stats at Kansas State even without the arsenal of weapons he’ll have at his disposal as a Buckeye, some of the offensive woes should come to an end.
But it’s really the Buckeyes’ roster of skill players that sets them apart from the competition. The one area they could use a little help (and even this is just gravy) is tight end. With Cade Stover heading to the NFL to play for the Texans next year, tight end is the one potential weakness in the Buckeyes’ offense (though don’t fret too much—the Buckeyes still have an experienced tight end in Gee Scott, Jr., a graduate student who put up decent numbers in 2023).
Still, tight end is the one position where they don’t have a superstar. So this is where they could perhaps make use of a Superhero—in this case, Iron Man.
As a hybrid position, elite tight ends must be able to do double duty as an eligible receiver and an effective blocker for the offense. Their size can be a key factor in making them a weapon, and Iron Man has that going for him, coming in at 6’6” in the comics (the same height as legendary tight end Rob Gronkowski, for example), which would give him an advantage both in blocking and receiving.
Additionally, Iron Man’s armor is the source of superhuman strength and the ability to fly, both of which would give him the ability to blast through defensive lines (or simply fly right over them).
He possesses both the physical skills and the smart, intuitive decision-making tight ends must have in order to read and react to plays quickly, with the instincts and superpowers to catch anything that comes your way. Flying would also come into play here, as Iron Man could theoretically catch a ball even if it were off-target, giving the quarterback the option to get rid of the ball quickly under pressure and trust that Iron Man would be there to scoop it up.
Where blocking is concerned, Iron Man has another weapon in his arsenal, in addition to his strength—his energy projection ability. Imagine being a defender, trying to go up against Iron Man, and he simply blasts you with a burst of energy to keep you back. It would be hard to combat that as an average human (or even a very talented above-average human).
I don’t know that the Buckeyes need much help from a superhero on this season’s roster, but if the opportunity to recruit Iron Man presented itself, suffice it to say I wouldn’t balk at the idea.
Matt’s Take: The Fantastic Four’s The Thing at Right Guard
You know, if this question had been posed slightly differently, I would have gone with Batman, because while he wouldn’t bring nearly as much to the field as the heroes who have been injected with a super-serum, bitten by a radioactive spider, or is made nearly invincible by the rays of a yellow sun, in today’s world of college football, having a billionaire like Bruce Wayne able to funnel a shit-ton of money into NIL would be helpful.
However, the question specifically mentions the Buckeyes’ roster. So, it needs to be someone who can help as a player. And — again, unfortunately — it does need to be a superhero, otherwise, I would be taking Thanos in a heartbeat. In addition to being absolutely massively imposing figure, imagine him as an offensive lineman leading the way for TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins as he has the ability to literally snap his fingers to eliminate half of the opposing defense.
Alas, I have to go with a good guy. So, I am picking Ben Grimm, The Fantastic Four founding member known as The Thing. First off, he went to Empire State University on a football scholarship, so we know that he’s got the football pedigree to be a contributor for the Buckeyes. Secondly, according to Marvel, The Thing officially measures at 6-foot, 500 pounds, although, like most athletic measurements, those appear to be less than reliable. Nonetheless, can you imagine a rock-solid, 500-pounder stepping into right guard for the Buckeyes this season?
The OSU offensive line is the most suspect part of the roster heading into this season. However, it does appear to be settled that Josh Simmons and Donovan Jackson will handle the left side with Seth McLaughlin taking over at center after transferring from Alabama. Then, at right tackle, Josh Fryar will stay there. That means that the biggest opening would be at RG, and while you probably want a guard to be taller than 6-feet, it’s tough to argue with Grimm’s build.
Also, there shouldn’t be any concern about him picking up the complicated offensive line protections in Columbus. He studied engineering while in college, was a military pilot, and eventually an astronaut. So his mental acuity wouldn’t be in question at a position that notoriously takes a while to pick up the playbook.
So, Buckeye Nation, help me in welcoming your new starting right guard, Ben “The Thing” Grimm. ”It’s clobberin’ time!”
Let us know who you are agreeing with:
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: What is the most heroic performance you’ve seen from a Buckeye?
- News
- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: What is the most heroic performance you’ve seen from a Buckeye?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Ohio State heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history, or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.
There are times when a player puts a team on his back and wills them to victory. It could be either from a player performing at such a high level they bring up their teammates, or they might be fighting through personal or physical issues and their presence inspires their teammates, much like Willis Reed did for the New York Knicks when he hobbled out for Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals.
Today we want to know about some heroic performances by Ohio State players over the years. When we say heroic it doesn’t necessarily mean a player was physically injured like Reed was in the NBA Finals. Maybe it was a Buckeye who was playing out of his mind in a game, which resulted in Ohio State winning an important game. What are some performances by the Buckeyes that will live forever in Ohio State lore?
Games at Penn State are never easy for Ohio State. The Buckeyes entered the late October contest in State College undefeated and ranked second in the country. Ohio State took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter but the Nittany Lions fought back and took a 21-16 lead early in the fourth quarter. On the next drive, the Buckeyes regained the lead in just three plays when TreVeyon Henderson scampered 41 yards for a score.
With Ohio State holding a 23-21 lead, J.T. Tuimoloau really put his stamp on the game. The five-star defensive end had already been a handful for the Nittany Lions throughout the game prior to the drive, as earlier in the game he tipped a pass that ended up being intercepted by teammate Zach Harrison. Then on the second play of Penn State’s drive after Ohio State regained the lead, Tuimoloau sacked quarterback Sean Clifford while forcing a fumble and recovering the football. On the very next play, C.J. Stroud found Cade Stover for a 24-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 30-21.
Following a Penn State field goal, the Buckeyes would again find the end zone to restore their two-score lead with less than three minutes to go. Tuimoloau still had one more trick up his sleeve, as on his next defensive snap he leaped to pick off Clifford and return the interception 14 yards for a score. When it was all said and done, Tuimoloau finished with six tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, a pass breakup, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a defensive touchdown.
How good was Tuimoloau on that day in State College? The Seattle product was just the second FBS player since 2000 with two interceptions, two sacks, and a forced fumble in a game. What we saw from Tuimoloau back in 2022 against Penn State is not only in the conversation as one of the best defensive performances in a game by a player in Buckeye history, it is one of the most dominant defensive performances in a game in college football history.
What makes Tuimoloau’s historic game even more memorable is it came in a game where Ohio State was on the ropes. Penn State had all the momentum after taking the lead in the fourth quarter and the tide was turned with Tuimoloau’s efforts. Had it not been for Tuimoloau, the Buckeyes might have not gone on to win the game and make the College Football Playoff. Tuimoloau set the bar very high for the best individual defensive performance in a game in school history.
It’s funny, when Brett suggested this week’s topic, I immediately thought of J.T. over Penn State... little did I know that he also was thinking of J.T. against the Nits. The only thing is that we had different J.T.s in. mind; he went with Jaylahn and I went with Joe Thomas.
Midway through the third quarter of the Buckeyes’ 2017 game in Columbus, the visiting Nittany Lions led by 15, but with the ball in J.T. Barrett’s hands, the OSU offense was essentially perfect in the final quarter. Barrett went 13-for-13 for 170 yards in the final frame — including three touchdowns. The Bucks outscored PSU 19-3 in the final quarter to win 39-38.
On the day, Barrett was 33-of-39 for 318 yards passing and 4 TDs; he had an additional 95 yards on the ground. Decked out in those odd, all-gray uniforms, Barrett led a team that was looking to avoid losses to the Lions in consecutive years — something that has never happened in the history of this rivalry.
To me, this game is the peak of Barrett’s career. While he might never be considered amongst the best quarterbacks in Ohio State history, I think it is difficult to argue against him being one of the greatest. To me, the best is about athleticism, skills, physical dominance, etc. But greatest takes into account so much more: wins, leadership, record vs. your rival, the totality of your career.
J.T. Barrett left an inarguably massive mark on the Ohio State football program and his legacy should never be forgotten. He might not have been Superman, but he was a more than capable Clark Kent; under the radar, stepping up when he was called upon, and being the right kind of hero when his team needed him the most.
There is no doubt that this is The J.T. Barrett Game!
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Ohio State heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history, or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.
There are times when a player puts a team on his back and wills them to victory. It could be either from a player performing at such a high level they bring up their teammates, or they might be fighting through personal or physical issues and their presence inspires their teammates, much like Willis Reed did for the New York Knicks when he hobbled out for Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals.
Today we want to know about some heroic performances by Ohio State players over the years. When we say heroic it doesn’t necessarily mean a player was physically injured like Reed was in the NBA Finals. Maybe it was a Buckeye who was playing out of his mind in a game, which resulted in Ohio State winning an important game. What are some performances by the Buckeyes that will live forever in Ohio State lore?
Today’s question: What is the most heroic performance you have seen from a Buckeye?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: J.T. Tuimoloau against Penn State in 2022
Games at Penn State are never easy for Ohio State. The Buckeyes entered the late October contest in State College undefeated and ranked second in the country. Ohio State took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter but the Nittany Lions fought back and took a 21-16 lead early in the fourth quarter. On the next drive, the Buckeyes regained the lead in just three plays when TreVeyon Henderson scampered 41 yards for a score.
With Ohio State holding a 23-21 lead, J.T. Tuimoloau really put his stamp on the game. The five-star defensive end had already been a handful for the Nittany Lions throughout the game prior to the drive, as earlier in the game he tipped a pass that ended up being intercepted by teammate Zach Harrison. Then on the second play of Penn State’s drive after Ohio State regained the lead, Tuimoloau sacked quarterback Sean Clifford while forcing a fumble and recovering the football. On the very next play, C.J. Stroud found Cade Stover for a 24-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 30-21.
Following a Penn State field goal, the Buckeyes would again find the end zone to restore their two-score lead with less than three minutes to go. Tuimoloau still had one more trick up his sleeve, as on his next defensive snap he leaped to pick off Clifford and return the interception 14 yards for a score. When it was all said and done, Tuimoloau finished with six tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, a pass breakup, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a defensive touchdown.
How good was Tuimoloau on that day in State College? The Seattle product was just the second FBS player since 2000 with two interceptions, two sacks, and a forced fumble in a game. What we saw from Tuimoloau back in 2022 against Penn State is not only in the conversation as one of the best defensive performances in a game by a player in Buckeye history, it is one of the most dominant defensive performances in a game in college football history.
What makes Tuimoloau’s historic game even more memorable is it came in a game where Ohio State was on the ropes. Penn State had all the momentum after taking the lead in the fourth quarter and the tide was turned with Tuimoloau’s efforts. Had it not been for Tuimoloau, the Buckeyes might have not gone on to win the game and make the College Football Playoff. Tuimoloau set the bar very high for the best individual defensive performance in a game in school history.
Matt’s answer: J.T. Barett against Penn State in 2017
It’s funny, when Brett suggested this week’s topic, I immediately thought of J.T. over Penn State... little did I know that he also was thinking of J.T. against the Nits. The only thing is that we had different J.T.s in. mind; he went with Jaylahn and I went with Joe Thomas.
Midway through the third quarter of the Buckeyes’ 2017 game in Columbus, the visiting Nittany Lions led by 15, but with the ball in J.T. Barrett’s hands, the OSU offense was essentially perfect in the final quarter. Barrett went 13-for-13 for 170 yards in the final frame — including three touchdowns. The Bucks outscored PSU 19-3 in the final quarter to win 39-38.
On the day, Barrett was 33-of-39 for 318 yards passing and 4 TDs; he had an additional 95 yards on the ground. Decked out in those odd, all-gray uniforms, Barrett led a team that was looking to avoid losses to the Lions in consecutive years — something that has never happened in the history of this rivalry.
To me, this game is the peak of Barrett’s career. While he might never be considered amongst the best quarterbacks in Ohio State history, I think it is difficult to argue against him being one of the greatest. To me, the best is about athleticism, skills, physical dominance, etc. But greatest takes into account so much more: wins, leadership, record vs. your rival, the totality of your career.
J.T. Barrett left an inarguably massive mark on the Ohio State football program and his legacy should never be forgotten. He might not have been Superman, but he was a more than capable Clark Kent; under the radar, stepping up when he was called upon, and being the right kind of hero when his team needed him the most.
There is no doubt that this is The J.T. Barrett Game!
Continue reading...
