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LGHL Ohio State hoping to flip in-state DL from Florida

Ohio State hoping to flip in-state DL from Florida
Caleb Houser
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Ohio native remains committed to Florida, but hints at news coming on Friday.

With the recruiting dead period underway, Ohio State isn’t able to host prospects or be out on the road visiting what they hope will be future committed players. Seeing several targets come off the board the last week or so, it’s commitment season for the 2026 class, and the Buckeyes are looking to add to their current cycle in a major way.

Lots of talk has been surrounding this Ohio State class, and while it ranks in the top five nationally, you wouldn’t know it by gauging a large part of the fanbase on social media. Definite causes for concern when it comes to the defensive line — and specifically edge rusher — the Buckeyes have some work to do, and it’s looked as if NIL is the culprit for why they are being beat out.

Avoiding that debate, the Buckeyes simply need to take care of business. Opportunities are getting more slim, but you have to trust this staff has a plan as one of the best programs in college football not only on the field as defending national champions, but on the recruiting front as well.

Looking good for a flip on in-state target


If there’s one high school Ohio State can’t lose recruiting battles with, it’s in-state prep program Cleveland Glenville. Arguably the program that has given Ohio State the most in-state players over the years, Glenville continues to churn out top prospects and the Buckeyes seem to bring them in more often than not.

In this 2026 class, defensive line prospect Jamir Perez has had a different storyline to his recruitment. Not receiving an Ohio State offer until this past April, the three-star defensive lineman chose Florida as his destination in May. Since then, Ohio State and Larry Johnson have ramped up their efforts to keep the Ohio native home, and the momentum has trending in favor of the Buckeyes doing just that.

The No. 677 player nationally and 73rd best defensive lineman, Perez may not have the four or five-star grade Ohio State fans have grown used to expecting, but offers from the likes of Alabama, Cincinnati, Florida, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and 20 others should give enough reason to believe that the ranking isn’t the most important feature to this recruitment.

A 6-foot-4, 360 pound athlete, Perez is the ideal body type to play nose at the next level. Being able to rush the passer is an added bonus, but with his size and frame, Perez is the perfect candidate to plug the gaps in the run game freeing up linebackers while being able to shed blocks from the interior of the offensive line.

The most positive development, Perez took to his social media earlier this week to share he has a big announcement coming this Friday. With several crystal ball predictions in Ohio State’s favor this week, it’s looking more and more likely that the Buckeyes get him to flip from his Florida pledge.

What would make the third interior defensive lineman in class if he does in fact flip to Ohio State, the Buckeyes are going all in on this one late into the process, and are hoping they've done enough to keep yet another Glenville product at home for the next three to four years.


Big announcement Friday! @SWiltfong_ @AllenTrieu

— Jamir “JJ” Perez 3⭐️ (@DabigRootJJ) July 2, 2025

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LGHL Overanalyzing Ross Bjork’s recent comments about the Ohio State men’s basketball program

Overanalyzing Ross Bjork’s recent comments about the Ohio State men’s basketball program
Connor Lemons
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Bjork’s comments last week were the most concrete analysis of what he expects from the men’s basketball program.

Early last week, Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork spoke to the Columbus Dispatch about the men’s basketball program. At a time when football is far more popular — and let’s face it, more successful — it can be tough to get Bjork to talk about basketball for more than a few seconds. The Dispatch was able to sit down with him for awhile, and both asked him about this year’s team and his general expectations for the program.

The tangent that follows will mostly focus on Bjork’s expectations for the program, based off of his comments last week. But the Ohio State AD also said that he felt Jake Diebler and his staff did a good enough job in the transfer portal to make the team “stable” and said that the team has “the right pieces” to win this season.

Bjork also commented that having continuity in the program is important, and that he thinks this year’s team will have that after bringing back Bruce Thornton (17.7 PPG), Devin Royal (13.7 PPG), and John Mobley Jr. (13 PPG). In fact, only Purdue and UCLA will rival Ohio State’s returning production in the Big Ten this upcoming season.

Here’s what Bjork said are his expectations for the program, broken down bit by bit. Now that we’ve got this on record, we know exactly where the bar is that the second-year AD expects the second-year head coach to clear.


“Finish in the upper quadrant of the Big Ten”


“To me, you want to finish in the upper quadrant of the Big Ten,” Bjork said. “That means you’re competing for a championship.”

By definition, a “quadrant” is one of four spaces on a grid when the x and y axes dissect a grid. Finishing in the “upper quadrant” probably means finishing in the “upper fourth” based on the mathematical definition of the term.

With 18 teams in the Big Ten, that means finishing in the top four or five of the Big Ten every season. It’s been four years since Ohio State finished in the top five of the Big Ten. A top-four finish means getting a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament, so Bjork thinks the Buckeyes should be fighting for that double-bye every season, based on his comments.

Be an NCAA Tournament team


“You want to be in the conversation all year long as an NCAA Tournament team.”

The unspoken part there is to be in the conversation for a Big Ten title all year long as an NCAA Tournament team, but the part I think is most important is the NCAA Tournament part. Bjork expects Ohio State to be playing in the NCAA Tournament every year going forward. Not making the big dance means the season was a failure — end of story.

The Buckeyes have missed the NCAA Tournament each of the past three seasons, although they came close this past season, finishing as the third team left out of the tournament this past season. Of the four teams who were left just on the outside (Ohio State, West Virginia, Indiana, Boise State), the Buckeyes had the highest NET ranking of the group.

Bjork thinks the Buckeyes were close, too, saying, “Did we want to win last year? Yeah, we did. We were maybe one game away from making the NCAA Tournament and being a good seed.”

“Make a run in the NCAA Tournament”


“And then you want to make a run in the NCAA Tournament.”

Diebler won’t be fired if he fails to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament next season — although failing to make the tournament at all might be a different story. Bjork is basically saying here that once every couple years, simply making the NCAA Tournament isn’t going to be enough at Ohio State.

Making it to the NCAA Tournament will be a given, but every once in awhile Bjork expects Ohio State to string some wins together in the tournament, too, resulting in a Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, or better. The last time Ohio State won more than one game in the NCAA Tournament was 2013.



The last three seasons, Ohio State has gone 0-for-3 in the above goals. Now that Diebler’s boss has clearly stated what he expects, we know exactly what the Buckeyes have to shoot for this season. The Buckeyes finished 10th in the Big Ten last season, tied for ninth the year before that, and 13th the year before that.

If Bjork is serious about those parameters he laid out, the lack of winning over the last three years just won’t cut it moving forward. We’ll see if Diebler and his staff are able to help elevate Ohio State’s play this season to a level that will satisfy the big boss.

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LGHL Everything you need to know about new Ohio State quarterback commit Luke Fahey

Everything you need to know about new Ohio State quarterback commit Luke Fahey
Matt Tamanini
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


luke_fahey_ohio_state.0.png

Luke Fahey | @luke.fahey3

All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.

Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.

Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.

You’re welcome!


For your Earholes...


Subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network for all of your Ohio State needs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land


Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio


The Buckeyes are BOOMing


BOOM! Ohio State lands its 2026 quarterback with Luke Fahey’s commitment
Caleb Houser, Land-Grant Holy Land

Ohio State adds QB to its 2026 recruiting class with Luke Fahey
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch

QB Luke Fahey has committed to Ohio State
Bill Kurelic, Bucknuts

Four-Star 2026 Quarterback Luke Fahey Commits to Ohio State
Garrick Hodge and Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors


BREAKING: Four-Star QB Luke Fahey has Committed to Ohio State, he tells me for @rivals

The 6’1 200 QB from Mission Viejo, CA chose the Buckeyes over Indiana & Stanford

“All Glory to God Happy birthday momma Go Bucks!!”https://t.co/AwfFmRRXHb pic.twitter.com/p6hJuWf8lN

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 3, 2025

Scouting Take: Ohio State lands yet another talented QB from out West in Luke Fahey
Greg Biggins, 247Sports

The Impact: Luke Fahey gives Ohio State its long-awaited 2026 quarterback
Jeremy Birmingham, Buckeye Huddle

Three thoughts on Ohio State landing four-star QB Luke Fahey
Mick Walker, Lettermen Row

QB Luke Fahey discusses his Ohio State commitment
Bill Kurelic, Bucknuts

Luke Fahey talks Ohio State commitment: ‘It feels like a dream come true’
Alex Gleitman, Lettermen Row

Three-star quarterback Luke Fahey is ready to compete in loaded position room
Blair Angulo, 247Sports

Reactions after Buckeye QB target Luke Fahey committed to Ohio State
Bill Kurelic, Bucknuts


On the Gridiron


Ohio State adds QB to its 2026 recruiting class with Luke Fahey
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch

Burning Questions: What will Ohio State’s offensive line look like this season?
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land

Ohio State’s Keenan Bailey Has Evolved From Intern to One of Nation’s Best Tight End Coaches, All in Columbus
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors


CJ Stroud and Justin Fields putting in work together pic.twitter.com/iWtukxhpam

— G.O.A.T. Farm Sports (@GOATfarmmedia) July 3, 2025

Ohio State hoping to flip in-state DL from Florida
Caleb Houser, Land-Grant Holy Land

Arvell Reese maturing into “special talent” at linebacker for Buckeyes
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Who Will Be The Surprise Stars For Ohio State This Year
Tony Gerdeman, Buckeye Huddle

Burning Questions: Is there a dark-horse Big Ten challenger to Ohio State this season
Alex Frank, Land-Grant Holy Land


On the Hardwood


They came back to finish the job: Ohio State’s core trio returns with one goal – win
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Ohio State basketball’s Jimmy Sotos recalls when cops mistakenly stormed campus apartment
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch


Outside the Shoe and Schott


Former OSU golfer beats current Buckeye at Ohio Open
Michael Leonard, Akron Beacon Journal

Women’s Lacrosse: Carrasquillo Joins Ohio State Staff
Ohio State Athletics


And now for something completely different...


This was wild to notice live:


First official look at Sacha Baron Cohen as Mephisto in the MCU. pic.twitter.com/Yt28u0TomI

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) July 3, 2025

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LGHL BOOOOM! Four-star 2026 QB Luke Fahey commits to Ohio State

BOOOOM! Four-star 2026 QB Luke Fahey commits to Ohio State
Caleb Houser
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Gu9HtKLb0AI31sP.0.jpeg

2026 Ohio State QB commit Luke Fahey

The Buckeyes have found their quarterback in the 2026 class.

Starting the holiday weekend off with some early fireworks, Thursday brought Ohio State their 2026 quarterback when California native Luke Fahey gave the Buckeyes the nod. The No. 357 player nationally and 25th best signal caller per the 247Sports Composite, Fahey chose Ohio State over the likes of Indiana, Oklahoma State, and Stanford.

Filling a major hole for Ohio State’s current class, the Buckeyes long waited for the quarterback of this cycle to commit. While Fahey wasn’t necessarily atop the list to begin the cycle, the coaching staff firmly believes they found a player better than his ranking, but also a great fit scheme wise with his accuracy and ability to move in and out of the pocket.

Former teammates with current Ohio State receiver Phillip Bell, Ryan Day has seen plenty of what Fahey brings to the table, and clearly feels good enough about where his game can go if he continues to develop. Doing so under this offensive staff, you have to like the upside under Day’s watchful eye and help.

A recruitment that didn’t take long after Ohio State offered, Fahey made it clear that the Buckeyes would be hard to say no to, and yesterday he put his money where his mouth is by saying yes.

Ohio State wants to take a player at quarterback in every recruiting class considering how crucial the depth is each year. While some may look at the ranking and compare it to the usual five-star caliber players the Buckeyes tend to bring in under center, Ohio State is confident in Fahey, and they now have their guy.

Slotting in between current freshman Tavien St. Clair and 2027 commit Brady Edmunds, this is a great addition and a solid fit.


BREAKING: Four-Star QB Luke Fahey has Committed to Ohio State, he tells me for @rivals

The 6’1 200 QB from Mission Viejo, CA chose the Buckeyes over Indiana & Stanford

“All Glory to God Happy birthday momma Go Bucks!!”https://t.co/AwfFmRRXHb pic.twitter.com/p6hJuWf8lN

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 3, 2025

2026 EDGE target sets commitment date


If there’s a position that been talked about more than any other surrounding Ohio State recruiting lately, it’s edge rusher. Just one commitment in the fold thus far, the Buckeyes are in desperate need to add numbers at the spot, and that’s been a theme the last couple of cycles.

Ohio State been able to land their top edge rusher targets as of late, and that has many fans questioning not only the strategy, but the personnel going after these highly coveted players.

Narrowing it down to NIL and Ohio State’s viewpoints on the matter, the Buckeyes are losing out on their top targets many times due to what they are offering money wise. A safe approach, sure it could benefit them down the road, but in the current landscape it’s costing them the players they want the most and something needs to change.

Top guys coming off the board quickly, Ohio State is running out of real options here. On Thursday, Texas native KJ Ford set his commitment date for July 11. Down to Florida, Texas A&M, and Ohio State, the Buckeyes really need to win this recruitment, and they know what it’s going to take. If the program changes their tune with the NIL stance, then the Buckeyes have every bit of a shot here. If not, it’s going to be hard to win out.

The No. 116 player nationally and 15th best at his position per the 247Sports Composite, you can’t overstate how important this win would be. Time is the only measure that will tell if the Buckeyes go all in, but with little to no options left, it may be time to increase the offer.


NEWS: Four-Star EDGE KJ Ford is down to Florida, Texas A&M, & Ohio State, he tells me for @rivals

The 6’4 245 EDGE from Duncanville, TX will announce his Commitment on July 11th

Where Should He Go? ⬇️https://t.co/vI9jwNqacU pic.twitter.com/s6FwRRmUv1

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 3, 2025

Quick Hits​

  • An unexpected contender this late in his recruitment, last night five-star offensive tackle prospect and long-time Ohio State target Felix Ojo was predicted to land at Texas Tech, per Steve Wiltfong of On3.

Announcing his commitment later today, Ojo took to his social media to share four schools he would be deciding from, but Texas Tech is clearly making a last minute effort to sway him away from the original four schools, which included Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, and Texas.

The No. 7 player nationally and the second-best offensive tackle in the 2026 class per the 247Sports Composite, Ojo landing at Texas Tech would have to be an NIL deal situation, but either way, it would be a surprise if the Buckeyes were the ones called in the end.


NEW: Rivals’ @samspiegs and @SWiltfong_ have logged expert predictions for Texas Tech to land 5-star OT Felix Ojo

Read: https://t.co/5X3J4NUwFm pic.twitter.com/2GFzuXKlqF

— Rivals (@Rivals) July 3, 2025
  • The top running back in the 2026 class, Virginia native Savion Hiter took to his social media on Thursday to share that a decision was coming closer to being made. Set to decide between a final four schools, Ohio State is in the mix with Georgia, Michigan, and Tennessee rounding out the rest.

Looking to set a date in the near future, the Buckeyes have long been in the running, but right now it seems like Michigan and Tennessee are out in front. Rumors of what he could cost in the NIL landscape, it’s not likely Ohio State gets into a bidding war if that’s what it comes down to.


Commitment date coming soon ⏳#GoBucks #GoDawgs #GoBlue 〽️#GBO pic.twitter.com/6Z4egQUO5j

— Savion “Cinco” Hiter (High-ter) (@5starsavi) July 3, 2025

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