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LGHL BOOMing weekend gives Ohio State No. 1 recruiting class in the country

BOOMing weekend gives Ohio State No. 1 recruiting class in the country
Matt Tamanini
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

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...


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On the Gridiron


BOOOOM! Nation’s No. 2 safety commits to Ohio State, Buckeyes move up to No. 1 class
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land


BREAKING: Four-Star Safety Faheem Delane has Committed to Ohio State, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 6’2 205 S from Olney, MD chose the Buckeyes over LSU and Oregon

“Let’s Work”https://t.co/D75azZeir9 pic.twitter.com/L04bhcpVbu

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 9, 2024

Analyzing impact as 4-star safety Faheem Delane commits to Ohio State (paywall)
Jeremy Birmingham, Dotting the Eyes

Faheem Delane is a Buckeye: The impact (paywall)
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Ohio State widens gap for top-ranked class after Faheem Delane commits to Buckeyes
Matt Parker, Lettermen Row

Social media reacted after elite safety Faheem Delane committed to Ohio State
Bill Kurelic, Bucknuts

OSU to open four preseason football practices to fans
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch

Is that good?


It's not that Ohio State has 14 players in the 2025 boat.

It's that Ohio State has as many committed five-stars in the 2025 cycle as

—Alabama

—Clemson

—Notre Dame

—USC

combined.

— RJ Young (@RJ_Young) June 9, 2024

Player to Watch: Gee Scott Jr. has big shoes to fill at tight end for Ohio State
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land

You’re Nuts: Which returning Ohio State starter are you most excited to watch this year
Brett Ludwiczak and Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

You’re Nuts Players to Watch: Who will be the most impactful new Buckeye in 2024?
Matt Tamanini and Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land


On the Hardwood


Ohio State offers scholarship to Kiyan Anthony, Carmelo Anthony’s son
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Player to Watch: Chance Gray is Ohio State’s shooting guard of the future, primed for an immediate impact
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land

You’re Nuts: How many Buckeyes will average double-digit points per game?
Connor Lemons and Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land


"This is a no brainer."

Incoming @OhioStAthletics AD Ross Bjork talks the hire of @OhioStateHoops' new head coach Jake Diebler. #B1Gtoday pic.twitter.com/PK5xwaDXCA

— Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) June 7, 2024

Ohio State AD Ross Bjork believes hiring Jake Diebler was a ‘no-brainer’
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts


Outside the Shoe and Schott


Men’s Tennis: James Trotter Pulls the Double in Tyler
Ohio State Athletics

Track & Field: Bertrand and Mosley Earn All-American First Team at NCAA Championships
Ohio State Athletics


And now for something completely different...


The Lady Deadpool tease is perfect:


Hugh've got a friend in me. #BestFriendsDay #DeadpoolAndWolverine ❤️ pic.twitter.com/wYxuLyDjfQ

— Deadpool Movie (@deadpoolmovie) June 8, 2024

Continue reading...

LGHL ‘What If’ Ohio State has a down year at wide receiver in 2024?

‘What If’ Ohio State has a down year at wide receiver in 2024?
Michael Citro
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ohio State v Michigan

Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images

The Buckeyes have had sure things at wideouts for years. The law of averages says at some point the group may underachieve.

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.



It is understandable if it seems like having great wide receivers at Ohio State is a birthright and not simply the product of the incredible work Brian Hartline is doing both on the recruiting trail and on the practice field. For several years, Ohio State’s wide receiver group has papered over some of the quarterback’s mistakes, provided those signal callers with a wider margin of error, and (in most years, anyway) made even third-and-long situations not seem like a big deal.

The law of averages guarantees a down year at some point, even if the recruits continue to be among the nation’s best. Could that year be 2024?

On the surface, 2024 seems like it could be the year for such a blip. Incumbent Emeka Egbuka is an outstanding talent, but he’s coming back from injury and no longer has bigger threats such as Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jaxon Smith-Njigba to take some of the heat off of him.

The most likely starters along with Egbuka are true freshman Jeremiah Smith and second-year man Carnell Tate. While both Smith and Tate figure to have big careers in Columbus (and beyond), there are no guarantees. So, 2024 seems like a year with the potential for it to happen.

But what if it does?

If there was ever a time for the wide receivers to not be elite, 2024 might actually be a great season for it to happen. The Buckeyes are well positioned for it with a pair of quarterbacks with the ability to make plays in the run game and a pair of elite running backs.

Although there has been no announcement yet about a starting quarterback, and Ryan Day may be on record as saying no one has yet claimed the position, I believe he’s got at least a decent idea who is leading the race. It pays not to make that announcement too early in the era of the transfer portal, of course, but for two (or more) guys to be virtually dead even at this point seems unlikely, and if it is the case, it’s more likely that nobody has stepped up than it is that multiple quarterbacks have excelled equally and it’s simply a matter of figuring out which is the better of two elite options.

Will Howard and Devin Brown are the favorites, and it seems like freshman Julian Sayin is a darkhorse candidate. Brown has little experience, but has the advantage of being more entrenched in Ryan Day’s offense. Howard might still be learning the system, but he’s seen a lot more snaps and has had some success running a power five offense.

Both Howard and Brown can augment the Ohio State running game with their feet, so if the wide receivers did fall off in 2024, these are they types of quarterbacks that can have success if the passing game isn’t clicking. Many a college program has had a successful season without an elite passer, as long as the starting quarterback is smart and can get some of the tough yards on their own.

Meanwhile, a quick look in the OSU backfield should scare the daylights out of opposing defenses. TreVeyon Henderson can take virtually any toss or handoff to the end zone from anywhere on the field. His breakaway speed is a known commodity, but what hasn’t been seen yet is what he can do with Chip Kelly’s run schemes. Stable mate Quinshon Judkins can get the tough inside yards, but he too can pop off runs of 10 yards or more on any given play.

With the Buckeyes seemingly poised for success in the run game, it should also help the passing game. Establishing the run will pull more defenders into the box, allowing Egbuka, Smith, and Tate to find holes on intermediate routes or get deep on double moves, which will make life easier for whoever emerges as the starter at quarterback.

All three can get behind the defense and then it’s simply a matter of not overthrowing them. If the defenders fear the deep ball and give too great a cushion, comeback and out routes will be easier for guys like Howard and Brown to complete.

If there is going to be a down year at wide receiver, 2024 seems like a year in which it won’t be a killer if Ohio State is going to have a special year. While I don’t expect a down year, it’s reassuring to know the team is built to withstand one — at least for the upcoming season.

Continue reading...

LGHL BOOOOM! Nation’s No. 2 safety commits to Ohio State, Buckeyes move up to No. 1 class

BOOOOM! Nation’s No. 2 safety commits to Ohio State, Buckeyes move up to No. 1 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


GPqmZAEWYAAPHn8.0.jpeg

2025 four-star safety Faheem Delane poses with Ohio State coaches on his official visit. | Via @faheemdelane on X/Twitter

BIA gained its newest member of Sunday with the commitment of elite safety Faheem Delane.

Ohio State is deep in the weeds of official visit season, and these last two weekends have both proved fruitful with the Buckeyes landing a pair of major commitments amid hosting dozens of the nation’s top players. After adding a massive in-state target last week in running back Bo Jackson following his OV, Ryan Day’s group once again made the most of their time on campus with the players with yet another huge addition — this time on defense.

On Sunday, four-star 2025 safety Faheem Delane announced this commitment to Ohio State. The elite defensive back out of Maryland chose the Buckeyes over Oregon and LSU, as the nation’s No. 2 safety and No. 34 player nationally, per the 247Sports Composite, joins a loaded cycle for secondary coaches Tim Walton and Matt Guerrieri.


BREAKING: Four-Star Safety Faheem Delane has Committed to Ohio State, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 6’2 205 S from Olney, MD chose the Buckeyes over LSU and Oregon

“Let’s Work”https://t.co/D75azZeir9 pic.twitter.com/L04bhcpVbu

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 9, 2024

An important recruiting win over the now-conference-rival Ducks, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Delane holds offers from over 30 schools, but seemingly always had Ohio State and Oregon near the top of his list alongside LSU, Maryland and Virginia Tech — the five programs that made his official short list in early April. Beginning his official visit with the Buckeyes on Friday, Guerrieri and Walton were able to seal the deal.

“I was really excited, because Ohio State, that’s definitely one of the DBUs,” Delane told Eleven Warriors after getting his initial offer back in May of 2022. “Jeff Okudah, Marshon Lattimore and Malik Hooker all came from there. So many more in the history of the program with DBs going to the NFL. To get that offer was just an honor.

Here is some of what 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins had to say of Delane’s abilities:

“An aggressive back-seven defender that can cover the pass, defend the run, and get home on the blitz. [...] Quick to trigger and tends to play with tons of confidence. Has been utilized primarily as a box safety and a slot corner at the prep level and found plenty of success in both roles. Physical more times than not and always looking to deliver a blow. [...] Has what it takes to get on the field sooner rather than later like his brother, who starred as a freshman at Virginia Tech.”

As a junior at Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, MD), Delane recorded 69 tackles and 18 pass breakups, good enough to be named an All-Met selection by the Washington Post. The do-it-all defender helped lead to the Falcons to a WCAC Championship victory this past season, and will look to bring that athleticism, versatility and championship pedigree to the next level.

“I like to blitz off the edge, play man-to-man and zone, I love to do it all, but mostly I love to blitz off the edge and play man because my best qualities are just sticking with receivers and covering them,” Delane told Eleven Warriors. “Either way, safety or cornerback, I definitely feel comfortable at both positions. I think I could play both at a high level.”

Delane’s pledge gives Ohio State 14 total commitments in its 2025 class, a group that is now ranked as No. 1 in the country — despite having seven less commits than No. 2 Notre Dame. The Buckeyes’ average player rating of 95.14 also ranks atop the nation, with seven top-100 players already committed, including Delane, as well as three composite five-stars. That trio of five-stars is the same amount as the next six best recruiting classes (Notre Dame, Clemson, USC, Alabama and Oklahoma, in that order) combined.

Looking at the secondary in particular, Ohio State could not be off to a more perfect start in this cycle. The Buckeyes hold commitments from the top two cornerbacks in the country in Devin Sanchez (No. 1 CB, No. 4 Natl.) and Na’eem Offord (No. 2 CB, No. 6 Natl.) and now add the No. 2 safety in Delane. That isn’t even including the other pair of talented safeties in Ohio State’s class in DeShawn Stewart and Cody Haddad, as well as the continued pursuit of No. 1 safety Trey McNutt, an Ohio native.

Quick Hits

  • It isn’t just prime recruiting season for Ohio State football. Jake Diebler’s group was also busy over the weekend, sending out a new offer to 2025 shooting guard Kiyan Anthony. The son of NBA legend Carmelo Anthony, Kiyan currently ranks as the No. 4 SG and No. 38 player nationally per the 247Sports Composite. He is the top player from his home state of New York.

Blessed to receive an offer from Ohio State University!! #AGTG pic.twitter.com/3ERA4IYabk

— Kiyan Anthony (@kiyananthony) June 7, 2024
  • With another list of double-digit official visitors on hand this weekend, names to keep an eye from this group include four-star defensive end Damien Shanklin and four-star defensive tackle Trajen Odom. The Buckeyes will need a big haul along the defensive line in this class, and while they are off to a great start with a pair of top-150 commits in Zahir Mathis and London Merritt, there is still work to be done.

Odom, the No. 31 DL and No. 283 player nationally per the 247Sports Composite, received a Crystal Ball to Ohio State a little over a week ago. Shanklin, the No. 11 EDGE and No. 114 player nationally, seems to be currently leaning towards LSU. The Buckeyes appear to have a lead for Odom, though that is no guarantee, but will need to do a bit more to lure the Indiana native Shanklin to Columbus. Defensive line coach Larry Johnson would love to add one or both to his room in this cycle.


2025 four-star defensive end Damien Shanklin on his official visit to Ohio State this weekend .

@ damegotfanz_ pic.twitter.com/nkJvXa6ZAg

— The Scarlet and Gray Podcast (@TheSG_Podcast) June 9, 2024

2025 four-star defensive lineman Trajen Odom on his official visit to Ohio State this weekend .

@ young_hibachii pic.twitter.com/Ugm10uTDDT

— The Scarlet and Gray Podcast (@TheSG_Podcast) June 9, 2024

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LGHL Player to Watch: Gee Scott Jr. has big shoes to fill at tight end for Ohio State

Player to Watch: Gee Scott Jr. has big shoes to fill at tight end for Ohio State
Brett Ludwiczak
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


COLLEGE FOOTBALL: DEC 29 Goodyear Cotton Bowl - Missouri vs Ohio State

Photo by Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Following Cade Stover moving on to the NFL, Gee Scott Jr. is ready to lead at tight end.

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 the Buckeyes we expect to excel this season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all our “Players to Watch” articles here.



With the addition of running back Quinshon Judkins from the transfer portal, the return of TreVeyon Henderson and Emeka Egbuka, as well as superstar freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith finally arriving in Columbus, not a lot of attention has been paid to the loss of tight end Cade Stover to the NFL.

All “Farmer Gronk” did as a Buckeye was finish second in school history among tight ends in receptions and receiving yards, along with being named Big Ten Tight End of the Year in 2023 and a finalist for the Mackey Award. Even though Marvin Harrison Jr. was the focal point of the Buckeye passing attack last year, Stover was the security valve for Kyle McCord.

When it comes to the Ohio State offense in 2024, tight end doesn’t seem to be much of a concern. The bigger questions have to do with how Will Howard will transition to running the Buckeye offense after transferring in from Kansas State, and how carries will be distributed between Judkins and Henderson.

Even though Buckeye Nation might not be thinking much about who will step into Stover’s role, there is one tight end who is ready to shine.

Gee Scott Jr. was recruited to Ohio State as a wide receiver as part of the 2020 recruiting class before moving over to tight end during 2021 spring practices. Prior to coming to Columbus, Scott was a four-star wide receiver out of Eastside Catholic High School in Seattle.

Not only was Scott the 12th ranked wide receiver in the country in the class of 2020, he was also ranked second overall out of all recruits coming out of Washington. After catching 76 passes for 1,453 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior, Scott was invited to play in the Army All-American Bowl.

The transition from wide receiver to tight end is a lot more difficult than football fans can imagine. Scott came to Ohio State at 210 pounds, which is really light for a tight end. By comparison, both Stover and Jeremy Ruckert weighed around 250 pounds. Not only did Scott have to work on putting some weight on to be able to sniff some playing time, he also had to learn the ins and outs of blocking.

No matter what offense a tight end is playing in, if they can’t show they are able to run block and pass protect, they aren’t going to see the field because their coaches and teammates won’t be able to trust them.

CFP National Championship Presented by AT&T - Ohio State v Alabama
Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images

Luckily for Scott he had a couple great tight ends ahead of him in Stover and Ruckert to learn from. Scott was the first to admit during the spring just how much time and attention moving to tight end has required. There are so many different facets to the position, as well as having to go up against pretty much everyone on the opposing defense.

Some plays you are helping against monster defensive tackles or speedy edge rushers. Other times you are trying to get separation against linebackers and safeties to try and make yourself a target for your quarterback.

So far in his Ohio State career, Scott has 20 catches for 140 yards and two scores. After catching just five passes in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons, last year Scott doubled his reception total, hauling in 10 passes. Back in 2022 against Michigan State Scott found the end zone for the first time, and last year he added his second career touchdowns in the win over Rutgers. Even though Scott’s stats aren’t going to jump off the page at people, it’s obvious there has been growth as he has become more comfortable at the tight end position.

What has helped to raise expectations this season for Scott are the glowing reviews he received in spring practices from head coach Ryan Day and tight ends coach Keenan Bailey. Day raved about the leadership and attitude Scott has brought to the unit after the graduation of Stover, while Bailey said Scott emerged as the leader of the tight end unit.

What has also helped push Scott during the offseason was the addition of Will Kacmarek from Ohio in the transfer portal. The former Bobcat is going to compete with Scott for playing time, along with Bennett Christian, who is returning from a year-long suspension due to PED use.

While it would be great if Scott could mirror Stover’s receiving numbers, it is by no means necessary or even expected. Some reasonable goals for what you might see from Scott this season are 20-25 catches with the Seattle product finding the end zone somewhere around three or four times. Anything above that would likely be a bonus for the Buckeyes.

What the offense really needs Scott to do is just play sound football and not make mistakes in blocking and pass protection. Last year Stover had to do more with the running game struggling, the injury to Emeka Egbuka, and some inconsistent play at quarterback from McCord. This year doesn’t feel like there will be as many questions on offense for Ohio State, especially with Day handing over the offensive control to Chip Kelly.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 04 Ohio State at Rutgers
Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Then again, it is no secret how much Will Howard loved utilizing the tight end while he was a starter at Kansas State, so we could see the new Ohio State quarterback look Scott’s way early in the season to try and build a rhythm with the tight end if Howard does end up as the starting quarterback from the Buckeyes.

No matter how this season ends up turning out, we have to recognize just how much work Scott has put in during his time in Columbus so far. If anyone deserves success on the field, it is Scott.

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LGHL You’re Nuts: Which returning Ohio State starter are you most excited to watch this year?

You’re Nuts: Which returning Ohio State starter are you most excited to watch this year?
Brett Ludwiczak
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

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 the Buckeyes we expect to excel this season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all our “Players to Watch” articles here.



With the calendar turning to June, we are now under three months away from the start of the college football season. Despite an end to the 2023 season which saw Ohio State look lost in their final two games of the season in losses to Michigan and Missouri, it didn’t take long for expectations to ramp up for 2024. While a huge reason for optimism came from the transfer commitment of Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins, the real reason the Buckeyes should be one of the favorites to win this year’s national title is because of the number of starters from last year who decided to forego the NFL Draft and return to Columbus for another season.

While there is a ton of excitement surrounding Judkins, Kansas State transfer quarterback Will Howard, and freshmen like Jeremiah Smith, today we are going to focus on returning starters from the 2023 Ohio State squad. What we want to know is which Buckeye returning starter from last year is most intriguing and exciting to you this season. With some massive talents on both sides of the football coming back for another season in the scarlet and gray, there shouldn’t be a problem finding a returning starter that you have high hopes for this season as Ohio State looks to add another national title to their trophy case.

Today’s question: Which returning Ohio State starter are you most excited to watch this year?

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: Jack Sawyer


Heading into last season there was a ton of hype surrounding J.T. Tuimoloau after the defensive end had one of the best games you’ll ever see from a defensive player in the victory at Penn State in 2022. Even though Tuimoloau finished last season with five sacks, his contributions on the field didn’t match what Buckeye Nation was expecting to see. Not that Tuimoloau wasn’t effective on the field, he just set the bar so high with his unbelievable performance against Penn State in 2022.

Hopefully, I’m not falling into the same trap at the other end of the defensive line this year. At the end of last season, Jack Sawyer finally showed why he was one of the most sought-after defensive recruits coming out of high school, registering five sacks in the last three games. It looked like Sawyer was one of the few Buckeyes that actually wanted to play in the Cotton Bowl in late December, notching three sacks in the loss to Missouri. After recording just 7.5 sacks in his first two years as a Buckeye, the Pickerington product finished the 2023 season with 6.5 sacks.

Ohio State fans have been spoiled over the last decade with some of the talented defensive ends that have been Buckeyes. While nobody is expecting Sawyer to match Chase Young’s sack total from the 2019-20 season, the senior and Tuimoloau are going to be one of the best defensive end combos in the country this year. What I’m most interested to see when it comes to Sawyer this year is if he can continue the growth and improved play we saw from him late in the 2023 season. If Sawyer can build on the strong finish to his junior season, he can demand to be in the conversation as one of the best defensive ends in the country. If he does that, he will undoubtedly put himself in a position to be one of the first defensive ends taken in the 2025 NFL Draft.


Matt’s answer: Emeka Egbuka


This time last season, we were all talking about how the Buckeyes had the best two wide receivers in the country in Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka. Marv was able to go out and prove his side of that belief to be true, winning the Biletnikoff Award and becoming the top WR drafted. Unfortunately, due to injuries, Egbuka’s 2023 season was a series of fits and starts.

The veteran receiver ended up having only 515 yards and four touchdowns, both behind not only Harrison but tight end Cade Stover as well. In part because of that, some young Buckeye receivers have been garnering much of the attention from fans and media during the offseason. The second-year potential of Carnell Tate and true-freshman sensation that is Jeremiah Smith have people across the country buzzing, and rightfully so. But don’t forget about Emeka.

In 2022, when he was fully healthy, Emeka finished the season with 1,151 yards and 10 TDs, averaging 15.6 yards per reception, three ypc more than in 2023. So, now that Emeka is the veteran of the group, I am optimistic that he will be able to put together the type of season that we have long known that he is capable of, and I think the young guns on the roster will only help.

The explosiveness of Tate and Smith should play very well with the versatility of Egbuka. Assuming that whichever quarterback ends up being the starter is able to properly distribute the ball, he should have Emeka coming from all parts of the formation, perhaps including from the backfield. Egbuka is incredibly dynamic and if he is healthy, I don’t think that there is any reason that he can reach the types of statistical heights that we saw Marv achieve last year.

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LGHL You’re Nuts Players to Watch: Who will be the most impactful new Buckeye in 2024?

You’re Nuts Players to Watch: Who will be the most impactful new Buckeye in 2024?
Matt Tamanini
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


NCAA Football: Rose Bowl-Alabama at Michigan

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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 our Unreasonable Expectations. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Unreasonable Expectations 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: Who will be the most impactful new football Buckeye in 2024?


Jami’s Take: Caleb Downs


Caleb Downs rocked the college football world when he announced he was closing up shop at Alabama and heading north to Columbus in the wake of Nick Saban’s retirement.

Downs will don his Buckeye jersey in the wake of a season in which he cemented himself as one of the best—if not the best—safeties in college football. Just last season, he recorded 107 tackles (70 of them solo) in 14 games—the most of any Alabama player last season (40 more than the next-closest player).

Add to that Downs’ forced fumble, a fumble recovery, two interceptions, and it’s no surprise he was named a second-team all-American. But did I mention he did all that as a true freshman?

He came into the 2023 season as a top-10 prospect and the top-rated safety in his class. He finished it as the first true freshman in Crimson Tide history (which is not a shabby history) to record the team’s highest number of tackles on the season. He was also the top player to enter the portal.

If you told me Downs was built by a mad scientist who genetically engineered him to be the ideal football player, I’d believe you. He’s that good.

And now, he might be just what the Buckeyes need to go from a great team to an unstoppable one.

While Ohio State ended the season with one of the top defenses in the country, there were still some vocal critics about the depth and versatility of the secondary (give me a break).

The addition of Downs should be enough to silence them, as he joins Lathan Ransom, Jordan Hancock, Denzel Burke, and Davison Igbinosun in the secondary. Not to be hyperbolic, but this could be one of the most powerful secondaries the Buckeyes have ever fielded.

This group comes to the table with experience and proven results, and due in no small part to what Downs brings to the table, you can expect those results to continue.

Downs has tremendous instincts, which make him a powerful threat to opponents’ run games (evidenced by his absurd statistics last season). His ability to break through blocks and read the play should leave OSU’s opponents quaking in their boots.

He’ll replace Josh Proctor, who graduated last year, and Proctor functioned as the crux of a lot of Jim Knowles’ defensive strategy. It’s no secret that Knowles runs a safety-driven defense, and Downs will have no problem stepping up to the task.

When you combine his ability to break up plays (he had 3.5 tackles for loss last season and missed fewer than one tackle per game—only 14 on the season) with his ability to play multiple safety positions, the sky is the limit for Knowles, who now has a buffet of options to choose from when developing his schema.

As an added bonus, The Game is going to feel as personal for Downs as it does for Buckeye fans who have suffered defeat three years in a row. He’s already getting into the rivalry spirit, and it’s no surprise when you consider his freshman season ended in overtime at the hands of the Wolverines.

That’s not the point, but I look forward to it being the cherry on top of the sundae next season, and I look forward to Caleb Downs rearranging the brain cells of Buckeye fans when we see him in action this fall.


Matt’s Take: Seth McLaughlin


Look, Caleb Downs is a very good answer. He is an absolutely elite player and adding an elite player to Ohio State’s secondary is never a bad thing. But you know what was already elite? Ohio State’s defense and especially the secondary.

So, while I have no doubt that Downs will be an improvement — as he would be for literally every team in the country — how much of an improvement might be a bit in question. The Buckeyes were essentially a top-three defense in every major statistical category last season, so how far up can they go?

On the other hand, you know what was not an elite unit for the Buckeyes last year? The offensive line. In fact, I think it is fair to say that the o-line was the least productive and reliable position group on the team in 2023. Coming out of the embarrassing Cotton Bowl performance, I was adamant that the coaching staff needed to kick the tires on — and bring in — “anybody and everybody who would be even a modest upgrade over the current lot” via the transfer portal.

Now, I am not an offensive line expert, so I cannot definitively tell you what type of talent was actually available in the portal this offseason, but I can tell you that I was hoping that Justin Frye and Ryan Day would find a few more upgrades than the end up getting. The only new offensive lineman of any immediate import for the Buckeyes is former Alabama center Seth McLaughlin.

After a disastrous CFP performance, he was looking for a new home even before Saban had announced his retirement, and while he is not the slamdunk, must-have that Downs is, he does come in as an obvious improvement at a position of need for OSU.

Last year’s offensive line was the culmination of years of bad recruiting and development by the previous position coach. Those who watch the sport know that offensive linemen take far longer to develop — both physically and mentally — than any other players on a football team.

Therefore, I am optimistic that the growth that we saw from 2023 transfer Joshua Simmons will continue into the fall and we can get a maximization of potential from Donovan Jackson and Josh Fryar, while one of the other guys in contention to start can take a step forward and become an all-conference level performer.

If the maturation of the multi-year OSU guys gets to where it should be, then I believe that having someone in the center of the line like McLaughlin — who started 24 games for Alabama — could be just the thing to push the unit, and the offense, to where it needs to be to contend for a national title.

With Chip Kelly now calling plays and running the offense, there is little doubt that OSU will be running the ball more than it has during the rest of the Ryan Day Era. With a backfield led by the most dynamic one-two running back punch in the country — TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins — the offensive line will be called up to open up holes this season.

While the jury is still out on who will be the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback, the line will either be blocking for a first-time starter (Devin Brown), or — more likely in my opinion — a first-time starter for the Buckeyes (Will Howard). Either way, giving the QB time in the pocket — or holes to run through — is a necessity after the unit failed to do that in 2023.

I don’t think that Seth McLaughlin is going to be the best addition to Ohio State’s roster in 2024, but I do think that because of the position he plays — and how far behind the unit is from much of the rest of the team — he could end up being the most impactful.


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