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LGHL ‘What If’ Ohio State men’s basketball beat Kentucky in 2011?
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‘What If’ Ohio State men’s basketball beat Kentucky in 2011?
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Was this season the best chance Thad Matta had at winning a national championship?
Throughout the Thad Matta era of Ohio State mens basketball, success was something everyone got used to. Conference championships, winning basketball and deep runs in the NCAA Tournament were expectations, not exceptions.
However, one season that will go down in infamy for the wrong reason was 2011.
The 2010-11 Ohio State Buckeyes were arguably Thad Matta’s most talented team (no one will argue if you say it is 2006-07, but it up for debate). The Buckeyes finished the regular season an amazing 29-2 overall and 16-2 in the Big Ten. They went 13-0 in the non-conference schedule, with wins over Florida, Florida State and South Carolina.
The only two losses the Buckeyes had were against No. 13 Wisconsin and No. 11 Purdue. Both games were on the road at two of the most difficult places to play in the conference. They finished with five wins over ranked opponents.
The Buckeyes went 3-0 in the Big Ten Tournament, beating Penn State 71-60 in the championship game. Ohio State earned the No. 1 overall seed in the 2011 NCAA Tournament, starting off with a match-up against No. 16 seed UTSA, winning 75-46. The Buckeyes were challenged early in that contest, but they led 37–21 at halftime and ran away with the win.
Ohio State then moved on to the Round of 32, facing the No. 8 seed George Mason. Ohio State faced no issues, winning 98-66 to get to the Sweet 16 and set up a showdown against Kentucky. Led by seniors Jon Diebler and David Lighty, Ohio State doubled up George Mason, leading 52-26 at the half.
And then, the infamous Kentucky game. An Ohio State offense that looked like it couldn’t be stopped scored only 60 points and lost to Kentucky 62-60 after a Brandon Knight go-ahead shot with five seconds left in the game.
Jon Diebler hit a long three-pointer to tie the game at 60 with 15 seconds remaining, but he was unable to get the ball to try and win it for the Buckeyes after William Buford’s game-winning three-pointer came up just short, ending Ohio State’s season.
Buford finished 2-for-16, Diebler finished 5-for-10 from the field, and Jared Sullinger led Ohio State with 21 points and 16 rebounds. For Kentucky, Josh Harrellson finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and DeAndre Liggins finished with 15 points and six rebounds off the bench.
The reason this is a ‘What If’ and, in my opinion, Thad Matta’s best chance to win a championship, is the path they would have had. If they beat Kentucky, they would have played North Carolina in the Elite Eight, who was good but beatable, proven by the fact that Kentucky beat them.
In the Final Four, they would have played UConn, who really only had Kemba Walker, and Ohio State would have felt good throwing David Lighty and Aaron Craft on him. Then, in the final, they would have played No. 8 seed Butler, and the Buckeyes were better than the Bulldogs.
In other years, like 2006-07, the Buckeyes made the final but lost to a better team in Florida. That happens. It was the same in 2011-12 when the Buckeyes lost to a very good Kansas team, but even if they won that, they would have played an Anthony Davis-led Kentucky in the final and likely lost that game.
In 2011-12, the bracket broke in a great way for the Buckeyes, but they fell into the Sweet 16 and could not take advantage. I will go to my grave saying if Ohio State wins this game, they win the 2011 National Championship.
Continue reading...
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Was this season the best chance Thad Matta had at winning a national championship?
Throughout the Thad Matta era of Ohio State mens basketball, success was something everyone got used to. Conference championships, winning basketball and deep runs in the NCAA Tournament were expectations, not exceptions.
However, one season that will go down in infamy for the wrong reason was 2011.
The 2010-11 Ohio State Buckeyes were arguably Thad Matta’s most talented team (no one will argue if you say it is 2006-07, but it up for debate). The Buckeyes finished the regular season an amazing 29-2 overall and 16-2 in the Big Ten. They went 13-0 in the non-conference schedule, with wins over Florida, Florida State and South Carolina.
The only two losses the Buckeyes had were against No. 13 Wisconsin and No. 11 Purdue. Both games were on the road at two of the most difficult places to play in the conference. They finished with five wins over ranked opponents.
The Buckeyes went 3-0 in the Big Ten Tournament, beating Penn State 71-60 in the championship game. Ohio State earned the No. 1 overall seed in the 2011 NCAA Tournament, starting off with a match-up against No. 16 seed UTSA, winning 75-46. The Buckeyes were challenged early in that contest, but they led 37–21 at halftime and ran away with the win.
Ohio State then moved on to the Round of 32, facing the No. 8 seed George Mason. Ohio State faced no issues, winning 98-66 to get to the Sweet 16 and set up a showdown against Kentucky. Led by seniors Jon Diebler and David Lighty, Ohio State doubled up George Mason, leading 52-26 at the half.
And then, the infamous Kentucky game. An Ohio State offense that looked like it couldn’t be stopped scored only 60 points and lost to Kentucky 62-60 after a Brandon Knight go-ahead shot with five seconds left in the game.
Jon Diebler hit a long three-pointer to tie the game at 60 with 15 seconds remaining, but he was unable to get the ball to try and win it for the Buckeyes after William Buford’s game-winning three-pointer came up just short, ending Ohio State’s season.
Buford finished 2-for-16, Diebler finished 5-for-10 from the field, and Jared Sullinger led Ohio State with 21 points and 16 rebounds. For Kentucky, Josh Harrellson finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and DeAndre Liggins finished with 15 points and six rebounds off the bench.
The reason this is a ‘What If’ and, in my opinion, Thad Matta’s best chance to win a championship, is the path they would have had. If they beat Kentucky, they would have played North Carolina in the Elite Eight, who was good but beatable, proven by the fact that Kentucky beat them.
In the Final Four, they would have played UConn, who really only had Kemba Walker, and Ohio State would have felt good throwing David Lighty and Aaron Craft on him. Then, in the final, they would have played No. 8 seed Butler, and the Buckeyes were better than the Bulldogs.
In other years, like 2006-07, the Buckeyes made the final but lost to a better team in Florida. That happens. It was the same in 2011-12 when the Buckeyes lost to a very good Kansas team, but even if they won that, they would have played an Anthony Davis-led Kentucky in the final and likely lost that game.
In 2011-12, the bracket broke in a great way for the Buckeyes, but they fell into the Sweet 16 and could not take advantage. I will go to my grave saying if Ohio State wins this game, they win the 2011 National Championship.
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LGHL Ohio State offers 2026 offensive tackle, set for another busy day of camps
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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
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LGHL Ohio State golfers Neal Shipley and Maxwell Moldovan tee it up at the 124th U.S. Open
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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
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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:
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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
- 3 Replies
247
Rivals
Twitter
HudL
Class: 2026
Position: OT
School: Flower Mound(TX) Flower Mound
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 296lbs
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Rivals
HudL
Class: 2026
Position: OT
School: Flower Mound(TX) Flower Mound
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 296lbs
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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
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Rivals
HudL
Class: 2026
Position: DE
School: Temple(TX) Temple
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 230lbs
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