-
New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.
LGHL Ohio State offers 2026 offensive tackle, set for another busy day of camps
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State offers 2026 offensive tackle, set for another busy day of camps
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Drew Evers | 247Sports
The Buckeyes’ latest offer goes out to a 2026 Texas native.
Almost at the midway point of June, Ohio State’s staff is in the thick of hosting players from all over the country for both unofficial and official visits, plus one-day camps. As it’s been seen the last couple of weeks, the Buckeyes aren’t shy about offering new prospects in future cycles, and with no signs of slowing down, Wednesday showed yet another new name added to the offer list.
The latest in the 2026 class to earn an Ohio State offer, the Buckeyes are now in the mix for Texas offensive line prospect, Drew Evers. A 6-foot-3, 285 pound athlete, Evers currently plays offensive tackle, but with a shorter stature than most power five tackles, he projects as an interior lineman at the next level. With another two full seasons to play and potentially see more growth, Evers is a player who can play multiple spots moving forward.
The No. 180 player nationally, Evers is the 12th best player at his position per the 247Sports Composite. Now at 30 offers to his name, the Buckeyes getting in the fold later than most join the likes of Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and several others who have also dished out offers of their own.
Make no mistake about it, the Buckeyes and Justin Frye are really focusing on the 2025 class right now and trying to hit on their several targets along the trenches, but there’s nothing wrong with looking ahead a bit and taking advantage of offering a very skilled player who took the time to visit campus on their own dime. The trip definitely was worth it, as the Buckeyes will now try and make up for lost time.
Hosting another one-day camp later today, the Buckeyes expect another big attendance. On Wednesday, several of those players shared they would be taking the time to not only see campus and visit Ohio State, but also compete in camp. Seeing a guest list grow isn’t out of the ordinary by any means for this staff, and today will be no different with plenty of talent on site.
Coming from the DMV, four-star safety Jireh Edwards will be at Ohio State on Thursday. A 6-foot-1, 195 pound athlete, Edwards is currently the No. 86 player nationally and the eighth best safety in the 2026 class per the 247Sports Composite.
Offers from Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee, USC, and others round out some of the bigger schools to be in the mix, but Ohio State has already dished out their own as well. Knowing too how well the defensive staff is recruiting safeties, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Buckeyes continue to impress with Edwards now that he’s back in town.
One of the more highly-ranked players that will be on campus today, surely the staff will take their time and make sure his trip is worth his time and then some.
Another impressive 2026 target that will be making a pretty extensive trip up to Columbus for today’s festivities, Mansfield, Texas native Felix Ojo also plans to take some time to see the Buckeyes and all that they have to offer.
A 6-foot-6, 285 pound offensive tackle, Ojo is the No. 296 player nationally and 22nd best tackle in the 2026 class per the 247Sports Composite, which backs up his offer list. Over 20 schools to his name already, the Buckeyes have yet to throw their name into the mix, but it’s very possible that changes after today. If so, Ohio State would join the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M, and several others.
Frye will have to be on his game to make sure these offensive tackles come away impressed, but as most visits to Ohio State go, the Buckeyes tend to make recruits feel not only welcome, but also thinking highly on the program as a whole. Hopefully that continues to be the case with this position of major importance.
Set to begin his official visit this weekend, Pennsylvania native Isaiah West will be back to see Ohio State, and a potential commitment to the Buckeyes wouldn’t be a real surprise to say the least.
The No. 526 player nationally and 45th best running back per the 247Sports Composite, West has been closely linked with the Buckeyes for a while now, and all of the Crystal Ball predictions are pegged to Columbus, so seeing him end his recruitment by the week’s end isn’t out of the question.
Ohio State has made it clear that they want three running backs in this class, with Jordon Davison being the third, but even a duo of Jackson and West would be a fantastic haul in Locklyn’s first year in charge. Keep a close watch this weekend, as there could be a BOOM in the near future...
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
Drew Evers | 247Sports
The Buckeyes’ latest offer goes out to a 2026 Texas native.
Almost at the midway point of June, Ohio State’s staff is in the thick of hosting players from all over the country for both unofficial and official visits, plus one-day camps. As it’s been seen the last couple of weeks, the Buckeyes aren’t shy about offering new prospects in future cycles, and with no signs of slowing down, Wednesday showed yet another new name added to the offer list.
The latest in the 2026 class to earn an Ohio State offer, the Buckeyes are now in the mix for Texas offensive line prospect, Drew Evers. A 6-foot-3, 285 pound athlete, Evers currently plays offensive tackle, but with a shorter stature than most power five tackles, he projects as an interior lineman at the next level. With another two full seasons to play and potentially see more growth, Evers is a player who can play multiple spots moving forward.
The No. 180 player nationally, Evers is the 12th best player at his position per the 247Sports Composite. Now at 30 offers to his name, the Buckeyes getting in the fold later than most join the likes of Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and several others who have also dished out offers of their own.
Make no mistake about it, the Buckeyes and Justin Frye are really focusing on the 2025 class right now and trying to hit on their several targets along the trenches, but there’s nothing wrong with looking ahead a bit and taking advantage of offering a very skilled player who took the time to visit campus on their own dime. The trip definitely was worth it, as the Buckeyes will now try and make up for lost time.
Guest list growing for a Thursday camp day
Hosting another one-day camp later today, the Buckeyes expect another big attendance. On Wednesday, several of those players shared they would be taking the time to not only see campus and visit Ohio State, but also compete in camp. Seeing a guest list grow isn’t out of the ordinary by any means for this staff, and today will be no different with plenty of talent on site.
Coming from the DMV, four-star safety Jireh Edwards will be at Ohio State on Thursday. A 6-foot-1, 195 pound athlete, Edwards is currently the No. 86 player nationally and the eighth best safety in the 2026 class per the 247Sports Composite.
Offers from Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee, USC, and others round out some of the bigger schools to be in the mix, but Ohio State has already dished out their own as well. Knowing too how well the defensive staff is recruiting safeties, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Buckeyes continue to impress with Edwards now that he’s back in town.
One of the more highly-ranked players that will be on campus today, surely the staff will take their time and make sure his trip is worth his time and then some.
Another impressive 2026 target that will be making a pretty extensive trip up to Columbus for today’s festivities, Mansfield, Texas native Felix Ojo also plans to take some time to see the Buckeyes and all that they have to offer.
A 6-foot-6, 285 pound offensive tackle, Ojo is the No. 296 player nationally and 22nd best tackle in the 2026 class per the 247Sports Composite, which backs up his offer list. Over 20 schools to his name already, the Buckeyes have yet to throw their name into the mix, but it’s very possible that changes after today. If so, Ohio State would join the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M, and several others.
Frye will have to be on his game to make sure these offensive tackles come away impressed, but as most visits to Ohio State go, the Buckeyes tend to make recruits feel not only welcome, but also thinking highly on the program as a whole. Hopefully that continues to be the case with this position of major importance.
I’ll be at Ohio State Tomorrow!️ @ryandaytime @CoachJFrye @CoachSollenne @RyanMayhew_ @samspiegs @MikeRoach247 @adamgorney @ChadSimmons_ #GoBuckeyes
— Felix Ojo (@FelixTheOL) June 12, 2024
Quick Hits
- Running backs coach Carlos Locklyn got his first major win in his short tenure of running back’s coach when in-state target Bo Jackson committed to Ohio State just last week. A week later, the Buckeyes and Locklyn are hoping to strike once again with another running back this staff would love to have in the 2025 class.
Set to begin his official visit this weekend, Pennsylvania native Isaiah West will be back to see Ohio State, and a potential commitment to the Buckeyes wouldn’t be a real surprise to say the least.
The No. 526 player nationally and 45th best running back per the 247Sports Composite, West has been closely linked with the Buckeyes for a while now, and all of the Crystal Ball predictions are pegged to Columbus, so seeing him end his recruitment by the week’s end isn’t out of the question.
Ohio State has made it clear that they want three running backs in this class, with Jordon Davison being the third, but even a duo of Jackson and West would be a fantastic haul in Locklyn’s first year in charge. Keep a close watch this weekend, as there could be a BOOM in the near future...
Continue reading...
2027 OH ATH Brayton Feister
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 31 Replies
LGHL Ohio State golfers Neal Shipley and Maxwell Moldovan tee it up at the 124th U.S. Open
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State golfers Neal Shipley and Maxwell Moldovan tee it up at the 124th U.S. Open
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 Andrew Redington/Getty Images
The Buckeyes will be looking to try and solve Pinehurst, No. 2 course this week.
The 124th U.S. Open kicks off on Thursday, and two Buckeyes will be part of the field at Pinehurst, No. 2 in North Carolina.
Maxwell Moldovan and Neal Shipley will be looking to win the annual open national championship of golf in the United States. The total prize fund for this year’s U.S. Open will be $21.5 million, with $4.3 million going to the winner of this year’s event.
This is the third of golf’s four major championships. Scottie Scheffler won the Masters back in April in Georgia, followed by Xander Schauffele notching his first major victory last month at the PGA Championship in Louisville.
Shipley’s spot in the field was sewn up a long time ago when he finished second in the 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship, falling to Alabama’s Nick Dunlap 4 & 3 in the final. This will be the second major championship of the year for Shipley, who finished as the low amateur at the Masters. Shipley played the final round of the tournament with Tiger Woods.
The Buckeye shot a 73 on Sunday, finishing his round four shots better than the legendary golfer.
Even though Shipley has exhausted his college eligibility and will start playing next week on the North American Swing of PGA Tour Americas, he will have to compete in the U.S. Open as an amateur, which is a requirement since he earned his spot in the field because of his finish in the 2023 U.S. Amateur.
Joining Shipley on the PGA’s third-tier tour will be Moldovan and former Buckeye Caleb Ramirez. The North American Swing of PGA Tour Americas will provide golfers opportunities to qualify for the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Q-School.
The other Buckeye teeing it up at this year’s U.S. Open is Maxwell Moldovan, who will be making his third appearance in the major. After missing the cut in 2022 at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, Moldovan was an alternate in last year’s field and made the most of his opportunity, finishing in 65th place at the Los Angeles Country Club. It’s a bit of deja vu for Moldovan this year, as he was an alternate following qualifying before learning he would be included in this year’s field.
It has been a busy last few weeks for Moldovan. After Ohio State made a run to the NCAA Championship semifinals at the end of May, Moldovan was a player marker for the first two rounds of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club on Thursday and Friday. Because the tournament had an odd number of players in the field, Moldovan played with Davis Thompson in the first two rounds.
Following his duties at the Memorial, Moldovan went to Springfield, Ohio for the U.S. Open qualifier, where he narrowly missed out on earning his spot before making the field as an alternate.
Shipley will be paired with Nico Echavarria and Robert Rock, with the trio teeing off at the first hole at 8:24 a.m. ET on Thursday, followed by a 2:09 p.m. tee time at the 10th hole on Friday. Moldovan will tee off at the first hole with Taisei Shimizu and amateur Gunnar Broin Thursday afternoon at 2:31 p.m. Their second round tee time at the 10th hole on Friday will be at 8:46 a.m. ET.
All the golfers in this week’s field will be looking to try and beat Scheffler, who is the hottest golfer on the planet right now. Not only did Scheffler win the Masters back in April, he is coming off a win at last week’s Memorial Tournament in Dublin, marking his fifth win of the season. The defending champion of the U.S. Open is Wyndham Clark, who earned his first major championship victory last year in Los Angeles.
This year’s U.S. Open will be played at Pinehurst, No.2 course, which is a Par 70. This marks the fourth time the tournament will be held at the Donald J. Ross designed course. Martin Kaymer won by eight strokes in 2014 over Erik Compton and Rickie Fowler, while Michael Campbell won in 2005 and the late Payne Stewart won his second U.S. Open in 1999.
While many U.S. Open courses are famous for their extremely difficult rough, Pinehurst will throw a challenge at players since many of their greens are crowned. Years ago, Johnny Miller said trying to land a shot on a green at Pinehurst is like, “trying to hit a ball on top of a VW Beetle”.
Coverage for Thursday’s first round can be found on USA and Peacock, followed by NBC and Peacock providing second round coverage on Friday. USA will open coverage on Saturday and Sunday morning before NBC has the conclusion of rounds three and four starting at noon.
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 Andrew Redington/Getty Images
The Buckeyes will be looking to try and solve Pinehurst, No. 2 course this week.
The 124th U.S. Open kicks off on Thursday, and two Buckeyes will be part of the field at Pinehurst, No. 2 in North Carolina.
Maxwell Moldovan and Neal Shipley will be looking to win the annual open national championship of golf in the United States. The total prize fund for this year’s U.S. Open will be $21.5 million, with $4.3 million going to the winner of this year’s event.
This is the third of golf’s four major championships. Scottie Scheffler won the Masters back in April in Georgia, followed by Xander Schauffele notching his first major victory last month at the PGA Championship in Louisville.
Shipley’s spot in the field was sewn up a long time ago when he finished second in the 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship, falling to Alabama’s Nick Dunlap 4 & 3 in the final. This will be the second major championship of the year for Shipley, who finished as the low amateur at the Masters. Shipley played the final round of the tournament with Tiger Woods.
The Buckeye shot a 73 on Sunday, finishing his round four shots better than the legendary golfer.
Even though Shipley has exhausted his college eligibility and will start playing next week on the North American Swing of PGA Tour Americas, he will have to compete in the U.S. Open as an amateur, which is a requirement since he earned his spot in the field because of his finish in the 2023 U.S. Amateur.
Joining Shipley on the PGA’s third-tier tour will be Moldovan and former Buckeye Caleb Ramirez. The North American Swing of PGA Tour Americas will provide golfers opportunities to qualify for the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Q-School.
The other Buckeye teeing it up at this year’s U.S. Open is Maxwell Moldovan, who will be making his third appearance in the major. After missing the cut in 2022 at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, Moldovan was an alternate in last year’s field and made the most of his opportunity, finishing in 65th place at the Los Angeles Country Club. It’s a bit of deja vu for Moldovan this year, as he was an alternate following qualifying before learning he would be included in this year’s field.
It has been a busy last few weeks for Moldovan. After Ohio State made a run to the NCAA Championship semifinals at the end of May, Moldovan was a player marker for the first two rounds of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club on Thursday and Friday. Because the tournament had an odd number of players in the field, Moldovan played with Davis Thompson in the first two rounds.
Following his duties at the Memorial, Moldovan went to Springfield, Ohio for the U.S. Open qualifier, where he narrowly missed out on earning his spot before making the field as an alternate.
Shipley will be paired with Nico Echavarria and Robert Rock, with the trio teeing off at the first hole at 8:24 a.m. ET on Thursday, followed by a 2:09 p.m. tee time at the 10th hole on Friday. Moldovan will tee off at the first hole with Taisei Shimizu and amateur Gunnar Broin Thursday afternoon at 2:31 p.m. Their second round tee time at the 10th hole on Friday will be at 8:46 a.m. ET.
All the golfers in this week’s field will be looking to try and beat Scheffler, who is the hottest golfer on the planet right now. Not only did Scheffler win the Masters back in April, he is coming off a win at last week’s Memorial Tournament in Dublin, marking his fifth win of the season. The defending champion of the U.S. Open is Wyndham Clark, who earned his first major championship victory last year in Los Angeles.
This year’s U.S. Open will be played at Pinehurst, No.2 course, which is a Par 70. This marks the fourth time the tournament will be held at the Donald J. Ross designed course. Martin Kaymer won by eight strokes in 2014 over Erik Compton and Rickie Fowler, while Michael Campbell won in 2005 and the late Payne Stewart won his second U.S. Open in 1999.
While many U.S. Open courses are famous for their extremely difficult rough, Pinehurst will throw a challenge at players since many of their greens are crowned. Years ago, Johnny Miller said trying to land a shot on a green at Pinehurst is like, “trying to hit a ball on top of a VW Beetle”.
Coverage for Thursday’s first round can be found on USA and Peacock, followed by NBC and Peacock providing second round coverage on Friday. USA will open coverage on Saturday and Sunday morning before NBC has the conclusion of rounds three and four starting at noon.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State offers four-star OT, set to host more recruits
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State offers four-star OT, set to host more recruits
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2026 four-star OT Keenyi Pepe via Andrew Ivins, 247Sports
Ohio State offered a top 100 OT in the 2026 class on Monday, and the Buckeyes will look to host even more recruits on campus this week.
Ohio State had a busy recruiting weekend. The Buckeyes played host to numerous recruits on official visits, and the work paid off as the team earned a commitment from 2025 four-star safety Faheem Delane. The commitment moved Ohio State ahead of Notre Dame into the top spot in the 247Sports Class Rankings, despite the Irish having seven more commitments than the Buckeyes.
Ryan Day and the Ohio State coaching staff will not rest on their laurels, and are set to welcome even more recruits this week. With the Buckeyes back as hosts this week, the coaching staff also hit the recruiting road and offered one of the top offensive tackles in the 2026 class.
Four-star OT Keenyi Pepe (Bradenton, FL / IMG Academy) took to X Monday afternoon to announce his Ohio State offer.
The 6-foot-7, 295-pound lineman has already impressed in camp cycles, which has not gone unnoticed. He is already regarded as one of the top prospects at his position, and he has the offer sheet to prove this. Pepe holds more than 30 offers from some of the nation’s top football programs including but not limited to Alabama, Auburn, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, USC, etc.
Pepe’s recruitment really took off in the spring, and the Buckeyes obviously have some strong competition. No school has yet to separate themselves from the pack, but after attending the Oregon spring game, the Ducks may be the early favorite. Regardless, the Buckeyes are getting involved early enough to become real contenders for Pepe.
Pepe is the No. 7 OT in the 247Sports Composite, and is the No. 45 overall prospect in the 2026 class. He is also the No. 5 recruit out of the talent-rich state of Florida.
As was previously mentioned, Ohio State is going to play host to even more recruits this week following a weekend which saw the Buckeyes’ coaching staff host numerous recruits on campus for official visits. While this week’s visitor list already includes multiple big-name recruits, even more will likely add their names by the end of the week.
Below are just some of the recruits who plan to make the trek to Columbus in the coming days:
Class: 2026
Class: 2026
Class: 2026
The Buckeyes had a very successful weekend hosting official and unofficial visits. Reactions from the weekend continued to roll through X on Monday. Below are just some of those reactions:
Continue reading...
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2026 four-star OT Keenyi Pepe via Andrew Ivins, 247Sports
Ohio State offered a top 100 OT in the 2026 class on Monday, and the Buckeyes will look to host even more recruits on campus this week.
Ohio State had a busy recruiting weekend. The Buckeyes played host to numerous recruits on official visits, and the work paid off as the team earned a commitment from 2025 four-star safety Faheem Delane. The commitment moved Ohio State ahead of Notre Dame into the top spot in the 247Sports Class Rankings, despite the Irish having seven more commitments than the Buckeyes.
Ryan Day and the Ohio State coaching staff will not rest on their laurels, and are set to welcome even more recruits this week. With the Buckeyes back as hosts this week, the coaching staff also hit the recruiting road and offered one of the top offensive tackles in the 2026 class.
Four-star OT Keenyi Pepe (Bradenton, FL / IMG Academy) took to X Monday afternoon to announce his Ohio State offer.
The 6-foot-7, 295-pound lineman has already impressed in camp cycles, which has not gone unnoticed. He is already regarded as one of the top prospects at his position, and he has the offer sheet to prove this. Pepe holds more than 30 offers from some of the nation’s top football programs including but not limited to Alabama, Auburn, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, USC, etc.
Pepe’s recruitment really took off in the spring, and the Buckeyes obviously have some strong competition. No school has yet to separate themselves from the pack, but after attending the Oregon spring game, the Ducks may be the early favorite. Regardless, the Buckeyes are getting involved early enough to become real contenders for Pepe.
Pepe is the No. 7 OT in the 247Sports Composite, and is the No. 45 overall prospect in the 2026 class. He is also the No. 5 recruit out of the talent-rich state of Florida.
Ohio State to host more recruits this week
As was previously mentioned, Ohio State is going to play host to even more recruits this week following a weekend which saw the Buckeyes’ coaching staff host numerous recruits on campus for official visits. While this week’s visitor list already includes multiple big-name recruits, even more will likely add their names by the end of the week.
Below are just some of the recruits who plan to make the trek to Columbus in the coming days:
Four-star WR Brody Keefe
Class: 2026
Hometown: Charlotte, NC / Myers Park
Size: 6-foot-3 / 185 pounds
O-H@brianhartline @ryandaytime @RyanMayhew_ @parkerwereb8 @N_Murph @myersparkfball @coachjames29 @mauriceharris03 @QBC_Charlotte @roepro_athletes pic.twitter.com/KCqqbl9ZTO
— Brody Keefe (@BrodyHKeefe) June 10, 2024
Three-star QB Brady Palmer
Class: 2026
Hometown: San Diego, CA / Cathedral Catholic
Size: 6-foot-3 / 195 pounds
OT Hunter Caudill
Class: 2026
Hometown: Grapevine, TX / Grapevine
Size: 6-foot-3 / 265 pounds
More reactions from last weekend
The Buckeyes had a very successful weekend hosting official and unofficial visits. Reactions from the weekend continued to roll through X on Monday. Below are just some of those reactions:
2025 four-star WR Quincy Porter
Thank you Ohio State for the awesome visit!!!@ryandaytime @brianhartline @bccoachvito @BCBROTHERHOOD @CoachJordan82 pic.twitter.com/7JVq0Lg9q6
— Quincy Porter (@QuincyPorter18) June 10, 2024
2025 three-star OT Andrew Stargel
I had a great time on my OV in Columbus ! @ryandaytime @CoachJFrye @CoachSollenne pic.twitter.com/Xqw2Q46jIU
— Andrew Stargel 3️ (@astargel34) June 10, 2024
2025 four-star ATH commit Cody Haddad
2026 four-star safety Simeon Caldwell
Had an awesome time at camp and visiting Ohio State this weekend!!!
— Simeon Caldwell (@Sim_C24) June 10, 2024
Continue reading...
2028 OH LB Brydon Feister
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 16 Replies
2026 TX OL Drew Evers (Verbal Offer)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 0 Replies
247
Rivals
Twitter
HudL
Class: 2026
Position: OT
School: Flower Mound(TX) Flower Mound
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 296lbs
Login to view embedded media
Rivals
HudL
Class: 2026
Position: OT
School: Flower Mound(TX) Flower Mound
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 296lbs
Login to view embedded media
2026 TX DL Jamarion Carlton (Verbal Offer)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 1 Replies
247
Rivals
Twitter
HudL
Class: 2026
Position: DE
School: Temple(TX) Temple
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 230lbs
Login to view embedded media
Rivals
HudL
Class: 2026
Position: DE
School: Temple(TX) Temple
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 230lbs
Login to view embedded media
LGHL Michigan can’t stop stealing; Second Ohio State staffer heads up north
- News
- 0 Replies
Michigan can’t stop stealing; Second Ohio State staffer heads up north
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
X (formerly Twitter) @e_dunston
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!
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Ohio State Recruiting Staffer Erin Dunston Leaving for Michigan
Chase Brown, Eleven Warriors
Ohio State’s new hires paying off with big recruiting wins
Caleb Houser, Land-Grant Holy Land
Former Ohio State LB Steele Chambers signs with the New England Patriots
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Ohio State coach Jake Diebler confident Buckeyes have 3-point shooters
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Buckeyes to finish Texas A&M series, potentially start another home-and-home in 2024-25
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup Standings: Ohio State 7th; 1st Big Ten
Ohio State Athletics
Ohio State men’s, women’s hockey to play games at Wrigley Field, per report
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State Track & Field carries the spring sports season across the finish line
Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land
Christopher Reeve is, was, and always will be the right answer.
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
X (formerly Twitter) @e_dunston
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: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On the Gridiron
Ohio State Recruiting Staffer Erin Dunston Leaving for Michigan
Chase Brown, Eleven Warriors
️ Ohio State’s new hires paying off with big recruiting wins
Caleb Houser, Land-Grant Holy Land
Former Ohio State LB Steele Chambers signs with the New England Patriots
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
On the Hardwood
Ohio State coach Jake Diebler confident Buckeyes have 3-point shooters
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Buckeyes to finish Texas A&M series, potentially start another home-and-home in 2024-25
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Outside the Shoe and Schott
LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup Standings: Ohio State 7th; 1st Big Ten
Ohio State Athletics
Ohio State men’s, women’s hockey to play games at Wrigley Field, per report
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State Track & Field carries the spring sports season across the finish line
Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land
And now for something completely different...
Christopher Reeve is, was, and always will be the right answer.
Continue reading...
LGHL What If: Nick Saban hadn’t retired following the 2023 season?
- News
- 0 Replies
What If: Nick Saban hadn’t retired following the 2023 season?
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Rob Schumacher / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State already benefitted immensely from the former Alabama coach’s retirement.
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 our imagination. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our What If columns here.
On Jan. 10 of this year, just days removed from Alabama’s loss in the Rose Bowl to Michigan, longtime Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban surprised many by announcing his retirement. After 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa and 28 total as a college head coach, the living legend and GOAT decided to hang it up rather than witness(ing) the slow, painful death of the game he had grown to love and dominate.
Ok, so maybe he didn’t say the last part out loud, but it was certainly implied. And frankly, I couldn’t and wouldn’t have blamed him if he did point to the current state of the game as his primary reason for getting out.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25485153/1893313614.jpg)
Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images
Regardless of why Saban walked away, the fact that he did set off a chain reaction of events or happenings that would and will shape CFB for at least the next few years. One of the many falling dominoes attributed to Saban’s exit was a mass exodus of Alabama players, led by star safety Caleb Downs and incoming freshman quarterback Julian Sayin, both of whom ended up at Ohio State. Joining them was center Seth McLaughlin, forming a trio of Bama players that accounted for half of OSU’s winter transfer portal additions.
Not surprisingly, said trio has acclimated quite well to Columbus. Downs is virtually guaranteed to start and star for the Scarlet and Gray, while McLaughlin is a safe bet to do the same, and Sayin has pockets of Buckeye Nation already referring to him as Ohio State’s next star quarterback. Whether or not the latter comes to fruition, who knows? However, one thing that has already been proven with certainty is that OSU benefitted immensely from Saban’s retirement.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25485155/2060765665.jpg)
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
But what if the GOAT had chosen to continue as head coach of the Crimson Tide? How different would Ryan Day’s team look, this year and beyond? What would the long-term impact have been on Ohio State, if any? Or what... What if Saban stuck around just long enough to beat Day and the Buckeyes in the 2024-25 national championship game!?
The obvious truth is that we will never know. But it sure is fun to speculate and/or wonder. Which is the point of this week’s LGHL theme: What If?
So with that being said, I thought that it would be both fun and interesting to run through the above Saban scenario(s) in my head. And then attempt to recap my fantastical findings coherently. Here’s what I came up with:
For starters, Ohio State would never have landed Downs and/or Sayin. It just wasn’t going to happen with Saban still at the crimson helm. And while this may not have been a huge blow to OSU’s QB situation in 2024, it most definitely would have had an adverse effect on the Buckeyes’ secondary.
Had Saban and Downs both remained in Tuscaloosa, Tim Walton and Matt Guerrieri might have ended up with a safety depth chart consisting of Lathan Ransom and “some guys”. And that’s no shot at Malik Hartford, Jayden Bonsu, (possibly) Ja’had Carter, or anybody else. It’s just that Ohio State’s other safeties are seriously lacking in the experience department.
Now who knows, maybe OSU could or would have ended up with Jardin Gilbert or Andrew Mukuba instead, the No. 2 and No. 3-ranked transfer safeties, respectively. But let’s be honest, those guys are a notch or two (or three) below Downs in terms of talent, potential, production, etc. The latter not only filled a position of need for the Buckeyes, but he also has three years of eligibility remaining, whereas Gilbert and Mukuba only have one or two each. I’ll have more on that later.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25485159/usa_today_22696186.jpg)
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
As for Saban’s retirement having an impact on Ohio State’s QB situation – in 2024 specifically – well... I guess I just don’t think there’s much of one (an impact). I certainly don’t wish to downplay Sayin’s talent or minimize his potential long-term impact in any way, but at the same time, I also don’t anticipate the latter leading the Buckeyes to a natty this season.
Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely, unequivocally, 100% believe that Sayin will eventually be a special college player. And I guess I wouldn’t be shocked if he supplants Will Howard as OSU’s starter at some point during the upcoming season. But earning a starting gig and becoming a difference maker or freshman Heisman Trophy contender are very different outcomes.
Even if Sayin were to be named Ryan Day’s starter at any point in 2024, I just don’t think that he (or Howard) will be the reason Ohio State wins. If the Buckeyes win – and win a lot – I believe that it will be because of the team’s defense, running game, playmakers, and coaching. This means that Saban’s decision to retire will likely have minimal impact on OSU’s QB situation. This year.
But in the slightly more distant future? Like 2025 and beyond? Well, now we’re talking about something completely different. Something beyond the impact and/or influence of Downs and Sayin. Because while Downs is already that good and Sayin that talented (and McLaughlin that experienced), those players are likely not determining championships on their own.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25485162/usa_today_22402814.jpg)
Doral Chenoweth/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Conversely, one individual who has seemingly determined championships on their own is Saban. I mean, he’s the GOAT for a reason, right? So if he had chosen to continue as Alabama’s head coach, he definitely would have kept Downs and Sayin in Tuscaloosa while also robbing Ohio State of a few key pieces. And then there’s the whole recruiting, Kalen DeBoer, Jedd Fisch, etc. angle. But let’s keep this OSU-centric. Here is my best guess as to how Saban’s presence would have impacted the Buckeyes in general and the CFB world as a whole in 2024, 2025, and beyond.
Even without Downs and Sayin, and possibly McLaughlin, Ohio State still kicks serious ass in ‘24 so much so that they earn a spot in the CFP final... against Alabama! Then, in the championship game, Jalen Milroe can’t hit the broad side of a barn against OSU’s stingy defense, leading to calls for Sayin from the Bama faithful.
But unlike (in) 2017, Saban is hesitant to pull the trigger. He leaves Milroe in to throw three interceptions, one of which is picked off by Malik Hartford, Ohio State’s ball-hawking All-American safety. The Buckeyes defeat the Crimson Tide 31-6, and Saban announces his retirement from the losing locker room.
Upon his former coach’s retirement, Downs transfers to OSU in January 2025. As does Sayin, who was very upset about not playing in the CFP. Downs and Sayin then convince Keon Keeley to join them in Columbus, where Ryan Day is king.
Ohio State completes a back-to-back in ’25, and the rest is history. Day establishes himself as the best coach in CFB, while Saban flourishes as a Little Debbie spokesperson.
And that, folks, is the answer to “What if Nick Saban never retired following the 2023 season?” Argue if you like, but it seems pretty obvious to yours truly.
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Rob Schumacher / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State already benefitted immensely from the former Alabama coach’s retirement.
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 our imagination. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our What If columns here.
On Jan. 10 of this year, just days removed from Alabama’s loss in the Rose Bowl to Michigan, longtime Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban surprised many by announcing his retirement. After 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa and 28 total as a college head coach, the living legend and GOAT decided to hang it up rather than witness(ing) the slow, painful death of the game he had grown to love and dominate.
Ok, so maybe he didn’t say the last part out loud, but it was certainly implied. And frankly, I couldn’t and wouldn’t have blamed him if he did point to the current state of the game as his primary reason for getting out.
Regardless of why Saban walked away, the fact that he did set off a chain reaction of events or happenings that would and will shape CFB for at least the next few years. One of the many falling dominoes attributed to Saban’s exit was a mass exodus of Alabama players, led by star safety Caleb Downs and incoming freshman quarterback Julian Sayin, both of whom ended up at Ohio State. Joining them was center Seth McLaughlin, forming a trio of Bama players that accounted for half of OSU’s winter transfer portal additions.
Not surprisingly, said trio has acclimated quite well to Columbus. Downs is virtually guaranteed to start and star for the Scarlet and Gray, while McLaughlin is a safe bet to do the same, and Sayin has pockets of Buckeye Nation already referring to him as Ohio State’s next star quarterback. Whether or not the latter comes to fruition, who knows? However, one thing that has already been proven with certainty is that OSU benefitted immensely from Saban’s retirement.
But what if the GOAT had chosen to continue as head coach of the Crimson Tide? How different would Ryan Day’s team look, this year and beyond? What would the long-term impact have been on Ohio State, if any? Or what... What if Saban stuck around just long enough to beat Day and the Buckeyes in the 2024-25 national championship game!?
The obvious truth is that we will never know. But it sure is fun to speculate and/or wonder. Which is the point of this week’s LGHL theme: What If?
So with that being said, I thought that it would be both fun and interesting to run through the above Saban scenario(s) in my head. And then attempt to recap my fantastical findings coherently. Here’s what I came up with:
For starters, Ohio State would never have landed Downs and/or Sayin. It just wasn’t going to happen with Saban still at the crimson helm. And while this may not have been a huge blow to OSU’s QB situation in 2024, it most definitely would have had an adverse effect on the Buckeyes’ secondary.
Had Saban and Downs both remained in Tuscaloosa, Tim Walton and Matt Guerrieri might have ended up with a safety depth chart consisting of Lathan Ransom and “some guys”. And that’s no shot at Malik Hartford, Jayden Bonsu, (possibly) Ja’had Carter, or anybody else. It’s just that Ohio State’s other safeties are seriously lacking in the experience department.
Now who knows, maybe OSU could or would have ended up with Jardin Gilbert or Andrew Mukuba instead, the No. 2 and No. 3-ranked transfer safeties, respectively. But let’s be honest, those guys are a notch or two (or three) below Downs in terms of talent, potential, production, etc. The latter not only filled a position of need for the Buckeyes, but he also has three years of eligibility remaining, whereas Gilbert and Mukuba only have one or two each. I’ll have more on that later.
As for Saban’s retirement having an impact on Ohio State’s QB situation – in 2024 specifically – well... I guess I just don’t think there’s much of one (an impact). I certainly don’t wish to downplay Sayin’s talent or minimize his potential long-term impact in any way, but at the same time, I also don’t anticipate the latter leading the Buckeyes to a natty this season.
Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely, unequivocally, 100% believe that Sayin will eventually be a special college player. And I guess I wouldn’t be shocked if he supplants Will Howard as OSU’s starter at some point during the upcoming season. But earning a starting gig and becoming a difference maker or freshman Heisman Trophy contender are very different outcomes.
Even if Sayin were to be named Ryan Day’s starter at any point in 2024, I just don’t think that he (or Howard) will be the reason Ohio State wins. If the Buckeyes win – and win a lot – I believe that it will be because of the team’s defense, running game, playmakers, and coaching. This means that Saban’s decision to retire will likely have minimal impact on OSU’s QB situation. This year.
But in the slightly more distant future? Like 2025 and beyond? Well, now we’re talking about something completely different. Something beyond the impact and/or influence of Downs and Sayin. Because while Downs is already that good and Sayin that talented (and McLaughlin that experienced), those players are likely not determining championships on their own.
Conversely, one individual who has seemingly determined championships on their own is Saban. I mean, he’s the GOAT for a reason, right? So if he had chosen to continue as Alabama’s head coach, he definitely would have kept Downs and Sayin in Tuscaloosa while also robbing Ohio State of a few key pieces. And then there’s the whole recruiting, Kalen DeBoer, Jedd Fisch, etc. angle. But let’s keep this OSU-centric. Here is my best guess as to how Saban’s presence would have impacted the Buckeyes in general and the CFB world as a whole in 2024, 2025, and beyond.
Even without Downs and Sayin, and possibly McLaughlin, Ohio State still kicks serious ass in ‘24 so much so that they earn a spot in the CFP final... against Alabama! Then, in the championship game, Jalen Milroe can’t hit the broad side of a barn against OSU’s stingy defense, leading to calls for Sayin from the Bama faithful.
But unlike (in) 2017, Saban is hesitant to pull the trigger. He leaves Milroe in to throw three interceptions, one of which is picked off by Malik Hartford, Ohio State’s ball-hawking All-American safety. The Buckeyes defeat the Crimson Tide 31-6, and Saban announces his retirement from the losing locker room.
Upon his former coach’s retirement, Downs transfers to OSU in January 2025. As does Sayin, who was very upset about not playing in the CFP. Downs and Sayin then convince Keon Keeley to join them in Columbus, where Ryan Day is king.
Ohio State completes a back-to-back in ’25, and the rest is history. Day establishes himself as the best coach in CFB, while Saban flourishes as a Little Debbie spokesperson.
And that, folks, is the answer to “What if Nick Saban never retired following the 2023 season?” Argue if you like, but it seems pretty obvious to yours truly.
Continue reading...
