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LGHL Unreasonable Expectations: James Peoples will rush for 1,000 yards this season
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Unreasonable Expectations: James Peoples will rush for 1,000 yards this season
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns-Imagn Images
With the Buckeyes explosive passing attack and the running back room, it could be hard for Peoples to get to 1,000 yards this year, but not impossible...
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.
There are a lot of ways you can take an “unreasonable expectation,” and I am going to go with one that isn’t that tough in general, but might be tough when taking into account all of the circumstances.
I am predicting James Peoples to rush for over 1,000 yards this season.
Again, in theory, this isn’t impossible — the Buckeyes just had two running backs accomplish that task.
Last year, Ohio State had a ton of success in the running game under offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. As a team, the Buckeyes ran for 2,662 yards and 34 touchdowns on 523 attempts, which is good for 5.1 yards per attempt.
Quinshon Judkins led the Buckeyes in rushing in his only season as a Buckeye, rushing for 1,060 yards and 14 touchdowns on 194 attempts. TreVeyon Henderson was close behind, rushing for 1,016 yards, and ten touchdowns on 144 attempts.
Judkins ran for 5.5 yards per attempt and Henderson ran for 5.5 yards per attempt. Will Howard added 226 yards and seven touchdowns on 105 attempts.
However, this is a different Ohio State team with a new offensive coordinator.
They will turn to Brian Hartline as the primary play caller and Peoples as RB1 with Judkins and Henderson heading to the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots, respectively.
Peoples was a four star recruit and the No. 7 running back in the 2024 recruiting class from Veterans Memorial in San Antonio, Texas. As a freshman in 2024, Peoples appeared in eight games and ran for 197 yards and two touchdowns on 49 attempts.
To compliment Peoples, CJ Donaldson comes to Columbus from West Virginia and he has been very productive in his college career thus far. Donaldson was technically a tight end in his freshman season in Morgantown, but he still ran for 526 yards and eight touchdowns. In his three seasons, he ran for 2,058 yards and 30 touchdowns on 421 attempts. He ran for 4.9 yards per attempt.
At the NFL scouting combine, Lathan Ransom had great things to say about Peoples and his career coming up.
“I think James Peoples is a dog,” Ransom said at the combine. “That young running back coming up, (he’s going to) make a lot of plays.
“Just a hard worker, man, a dude that runs hard every time he gets a chance,” Ransom added about People’s work ethic. “And he’s a big running back, and tough to get down in that open field, so I think he’s going to make a lot of plays.”
Judkins echoed similar sentiments.
“James is a great young man,” Judkins said at the combine. “Learned a lot from me and Trey with our leadership, taught him a lot of things. He got to see us and how we approach different things. So I think him just coming out in his second year, he’ll grow a lot. A very talented player.
Judkins added, “He’s fast, a bigger back, I would say just a talented guy, you’ll see for sure.”
So, I expect Peoples to be a great producer as a sophomore for the Buckeyes, and of course, there is a chance they play 16 games again to give him a better chance.
The reason I feel this could be an unreasonable expectation is the makeup of the 2025-26 offense. Julian Sayin is coming in as the starting quarterback and Jeremiah Smith returns as the top receiver in the country. Also, Carnell Tate is one of the top receivers in the country and Purdue transfer Max Klare is possibly the top tight end in the country.
It is safe to assume the Buckeyes will rely on a strong passing attack this season, not to mention Donaldson will get a good portion of carries, as well as Sam Williams-Dixon and Bo Jackson.
I think it can be considered unreasonable for Peoples to get to 1,000 yards with the passing attack and the running back room the Buckeyes have. However, because of the playoff and the explosive potential of Peoples, I do think he will get to 1,000 yards.
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
Adam Cairns-Imagn Images
With the Buckeyes explosive passing attack and the running back room, it could be hard for Peoples to get to 1,000 yards this year, but not impossible...
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.
There are a lot of ways you can take an “unreasonable expectation,” and I am going to go with one that isn’t that tough in general, but might be tough when taking into account all of the circumstances.
I am predicting James Peoples to rush for over 1,000 yards this season.
Again, in theory, this isn’t impossible — the Buckeyes just had two running backs accomplish that task.
Last year, Ohio State had a ton of success in the running game under offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. As a team, the Buckeyes ran for 2,662 yards and 34 touchdowns on 523 attempts, which is good for 5.1 yards per attempt.
Quinshon Judkins led the Buckeyes in rushing in his only season as a Buckeye, rushing for 1,060 yards and 14 touchdowns on 194 attempts. TreVeyon Henderson was close behind, rushing for 1,016 yards, and ten touchdowns on 144 attempts.
Judkins ran for 5.5 yards per attempt and Henderson ran for 5.5 yards per attempt. Will Howard added 226 yards and seven touchdowns on 105 attempts.
However, this is a different Ohio State team with a new offensive coordinator.
They will turn to Brian Hartline as the primary play caller and Peoples as RB1 with Judkins and Henderson heading to the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots, respectively.
Peoples was a four star recruit and the No. 7 running back in the 2024 recruiting class from Veterans Memorial in San Antonio, Texas. As a freshman in 2024, Peoples appeared in eight games and ran for 197 yards and two touchdowns on 49 attempts.
To compliment Peoples, CJ Donaldson comes to Columbus from West Virginia and he has been very productive in his college career thus far. Donaldson was technically a tight end in his freshman season in Morgantown, but he still ran for 526 yards and eight touchdowns. In his three seasons, he ran for 2,058 yards and 30 touchdowns on 421 attempts. He ran for 4.9 yards per attempt.
At the NFL scouting combine, Lathan Ransom had great things to say about Peoples and his career coming up.
“I think James Peoples is a dog,” Ransom said at the combine. “That young running back coming up, (he’s going to) make a lot of plays.
“Just a hard worker, man, a dude that runs hard every time he gets a chance,” Ransom added about People’s work ethic. “And he’s a big running back, and tough to get down in that open field, so I think he’s going to make a lot of plays.”
Judkins echoed similar sentiments.
“James is a great young man,” Judkins said at the combine. “Learned a lot from me and Trey with our leadership, taught him a lot of things. He got to see us and how we approach different things. So I think him just coming out in his second year, he’ll grow a lot. A very talented player.
Judkins added, “He’s fast, a bigger back, I would say just a talented guy, you’ll see for sure.”
So, I expect Peoples to be a great producer as a sophomore for the Buckeyes, and of course, there is a chance they play 16 games again to give him a better chance.
The reason I feel this could be an unreasonable expectation is the makeup of the 2025-26 offense. Julian Sayin is coming in as the starting quarterback and Jeremiah Smith returns as the top receiver in the country. Also, Carnell Tate is one of the top receivers in the country and Purdue transfer Max Klare is possibly the top tight end in the country.
It is safe to assume the Buckeyes will rely on a strong passing attack this season, not to mention Donaldson will get a good portion of carries, as well as Sam Williams-Dixon and Bo Jackson.
I think it can be considered unreasonable for Peoples to get to 1,000 yards with the passing attack and the running back room the Buckeyes have. However, because of the playoff and the explosive potential of Peoples, I do think he will get to 1,000 yards.
Continue reading...
LGHL Unreasonable Expectations: Julian Sayin will be a finalist for the Heisman Trophy
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Unreasonable Expectations: Julian Sayin will be a finalist for the Heisman Trophy
Cincinnati1968 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Sep 7, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) throws a pass during the second half of the NCAA football game against the Western Michigan Broncos at Ohio Stadium. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Sayin is poised to be the Buckeyes starting quarterback when the season starts against Texas.
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.
Ever since the 2014 season, when the Buckeyes won the first national championship in the College Football Playoff era, there’s one thing they have been really good at: transitioning at quarterback.
From J.T. Barrett to Dwayne Haskins to Justin Fields to C.J. Stroud to Kyle McCord to Will Howard, the Buckeyes have featured one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the country over the last decade-plus.
Now, it’s Julian Sayin’s turn. Given his pedigree and the talent the Buckeyes return around him, including All-American Jeremiah Smith, Sayin is poised to have a statically impressive season despite his minimal experience coming into 2025. This is an unreasonable expectation, but Sayin could be a finalist for the Heisman Trophy if he reaches his ceiling this season.
Sayin is in a great position quarterbacking this Ohio State offense. Even after losing running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins as well as wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, the Buckeyes offense is loaded with talent at the skill positions.
Having Smith back is paramount to Sayin’s and the team’s success. The previous six Buckeyes quarterbacks all immediately established a stellar connection with an elite wide receiver. Sayin now has the opportunity to do that with Smith, and he can also take advantage of an emerging Carnell Tate.
In addition, Max Klare is going to be a big part of this Buckeyes offense. A tight end can be a quarterback’s security blanket, the same way Cade Stover was for C.J. Stroud and Jeremy Ruckert was for Justin Fields. Klare is coming off a great season at Purdue, and he should fit in well in the Buckeyes offense.
Plus, the Buckeyes are still going to run the ball this season. That will help Sayin settle into his first season as the Buckeyes full-time starting quarterback.
Stroud, Fields and Haskins were all Heisman Trophy finalists in their first seasons as the Buckeyes quarterback. They all had incredible talent surrounding each of them on offense, which resulted in all three of them producing dominant seasons.
The last time a Buckeyes quarterback won the Heisman Trophy was Troy Smith in 2006. The talent surrounding him included Chris “Beanie” Wells, Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez.
Compare that talent to the talent that Sayin will have surrounding him in 2025. I’ll take the 2025 skill player group over 2006 because they’re deeper and more versatile. Part of that is due to Klare bringing a formidable presence at tight end. In addiiton, the Buckeyes will run the ball. There is a long history of great running backs in Columbus, and James Peoples and C.J. Donaldson should fill the void left by Henderson and Judkins’s departures.
Sayin has the talent to help him put up big numbers. That could be enough to earn him a trip to New York in mid-December, and while it may be an unreasonable expectation, it is more than possible.
Continue reading...
Cincinnati1968 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Sep 7, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) throws a pass during the second half of the NCAA football game against the Western Michigan Broncos at Ohio Stadium. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Sayin is poised to be the Buckeyes starting quarterback when the season starts against Texas.
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.
Ever since the 2014 season, when the Buckeyes won the first national championship in the College Football Playoff era, there’s one thing they have been really good at: transitioning at quarterback.
From J.T. Barrett to Dwayne Haskins to Justin Fields to C.J. Stroud to Kyle McCord to Will Howard, the Buckeyes have featured one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the country over the last decade-plus.
Now, it’s Julian Sayin’s turn. Given his pedigree and the talent the Buckeyes return around him, including All-American Jeremiah Smith, Sayin is poised to have a statically impressive season despite his minimal experience coming into 2025. This is an unreasonable expectation, but Sayin could be a finalist for the Heisman Trophy if he reaches his ceiling this season.
Sayin is in a great position quarterbacking this Ohio State offense. Even after losing running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins as well as wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, the Buckeyes offense is loaded with talent at the skill positions.
Having Smith back is paramount to Sayin’s and the team’s success. The previous six Buckeyes quarterbacks all immediately established a stellar connection with an elite wide receiver. Sayin now has the opportunity to do that with Smith, and he can also take advantage of an emerging Carnell Tate.
In addition, Max Klare is going to be a big part of this Buckeyes offense. A tight end can be a quarterback’s security blanket, the same way Cade Stover was for C.J. Stroud and Jeremy Ruckert was for Justin Fields. Klare is coming off a great season at Purdue, and he should fit in well in the Buckeyes offense.
Plus, the Buckeyes are still going to run the ball this season. That will help Sayin settle into his first season as the Buckeyes full-time starting quarterback.
Stroud, Fields and Haskins were all Heisman Trophy finalists in their first seasons as the Buckeyes quarterback. They all had incredible talent surrounding each of them on offense, which resulted in all three of them producing dominant seasons.
The last time a Buckeyes quarterback won the Heisman Trophy was Troy Smith in 2006. The talent surrounding him included Chris “Beanie” Wells, Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez.
Compare that talent to the talent that Sayin will have surrounding him in 2025. I’ll take the 2025 skill player group over 2006 because they’re deeper and more versatile. Part of that is due to Klare bringing a formidable presence at tight end. In addiiton, the Buckeyes will run the ball. There is a long history of great running backs in Columbus, and James Peoples and C.J. Donaldson should fill the void left by Henderson and Judkins’s departures.
Sayin has the talent to help him put up big numbers. That could be enough to earn him a trip to New York in mid-December, and while it may be an unreasonable expectation, it is more than possible.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State lands under-the-radar offensive tackle commit, women’s hoops is heading to the Bahamas
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Ohio State lands under-the-radar offensive tackle commit, women’s hoops is heading to the Bahamas
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Aaron Thomas | @AaronEliThomas
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 to the Land-Grant Podcast Network for all of your Ohio State needs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
BOOOM! Three-star offensive tackle Aaron Thomas commits to Ohio State
Caleb Houser, Land-Grant Holy Land
The Impact: Aaron Thomas gives Ohio State high-ceiling, developing offensive tackle prospect
Jeremy Birmingham, Buckeye Huddle
Three thoughts on Ohio State landing top OT target Aaron Thomas
Mick Walker, Lettermen Row
Social media reacted after Buckeye O-line target Aaron Thomas committed to Ohio State
Bill Kurelic, Bucknuts
Ohio State’s Ohio Stadium ranked No. 3 toughest place to play in CFB26
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Unreasonable Expectations: Caleb Downs will win the Heisman Trophy this year
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land
“Really special” Kenyatta Jackson ready for breakout season
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
The Consummate Buckeye, Bruce Thornton is Back to Win Games in 2025-26: “I Don’t Care What Else I Do”
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Unreasonable Expectations: Max Klare will be the top-producing tight end in the NCAA
Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land
John Mobley, Bruce Thornton among Buckeyes who showed out at the Kingdom Summer League
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land
Women’s Basketball: Ohio State Travels to Bahamas for 2025 Pink Flamingo Championship
Ohio State Athletics
‘Be okay being uncomfortable’ - Devin Royal’s summer challenge as he moves positions
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Ohio State’s Bjork looking to improve Value City Arena atmosphere
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Field Hockey: Five Buckeyes are Headed to Senior Nexus Championships in July
Ohio State Athletics
Women’s Ice Hockey: Six Buckeyes Selected in 2025 PWHL Draft
Ohio State Athletics
Ok, now this is interesting...
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
Aaron Thomas | @AaronEliThomas
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
For your Earholes...
Subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network for all of your Ohio State needs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
On the Gridiron
BOOOM! Three-star offensive tackle Aaron Thomas commits to Ohio State
Caleb Houser, Land-Grant Holy Land
The Impact: Aaron Thomas gives Ohio State high-ceiling, developing offensive tackle prospect
Jeremy Birmingham, Buckeye Huddle
Three thoughts on Ohio State landing top OT target Aaron Thomas
Mick Walker, Lettermen Row
Social media reacted after Buckeye O-line target Aaron Thomas committed to Ohio State
Bill Kurelic, Bucknuts
Ohio State’s Ohio Stadium ranked No. 3 toughest place to play in CFB26
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Unreasonable Expectations: Caleb Downs will win the Heisman Trophy this year
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land
“Really special” Kenyatta Jackson ready for breakout season
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
The Consummate Buckeye, Bruce Thornton is Back to Win Games in 2025-26: “I Don’t Care What Else I Do”
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Unreasonable Expectations: Max Klare will be the top-producing tight end in the NCAA
Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land
On the Hardwood
John Mobley, Bruce Thornton among Buckeyes who showed out at the Kingdom Summer League
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land
Women’s Basketball: Ohio State Travels to Bahamas for 2025 Pink Flamingo Championship
Ohio State Athletics
The Buckeyes are headed to the Bahamas
https://t.co/sChaYnYoa8#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/VK1akY0y22
— Ohio State Women’s Basketball (@OhioStateWBB) June 25, 2025
‘Be okay being uncomfortable’ - Devin Royal’s summer challenge as he moves positions
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Ohio State’s Bjork looking to improve Value City Arena atmosphere
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Outside the Shoe and Schott
Field Hockey: Five Buckeyes are Headed to Senior Nexus Championships in July
Ohio State Athletics
Women’s Ice Hockey: Six Buckeyes Selected in 2025 PWHL Draft
Ohio State Athletics
And now for something completely different...
Ok, now this is interesting...
Continue reading...
LGHL Bucketheads Podcast: Derick Hutchinson of Detroit Local 4 News joins us for a TTUN preview
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Bucketheads Podcast: Derick Hutchinson of Detroit Local 4 News joins us for a TTUN preview
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
We talked with Derick about Dusty May and Jake Diebler, how he feels about May after his first season, and what he has to prove in his second season
“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. In every episode, they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in college hoops.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On episode 163, Connor and Justin are joined by Derick Hutchinson of Local 4 News in Detroit to talk about the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry.
We talked with Derick about Dusty May and Jake Diebler, how he feels about May after his first season, what he has to prove in his second season and how the lineup has shaped up for the Wolverines entering the upcoming season.
We also discuss The Basketball Tournament and who Derick would like to see if Michigan entered an alumni team.
Remember to like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, leave a comment, and review!
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN
Connect with Connor
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Connect with Derick:
Twitter: @Derick_Hutch
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
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
We talked with Derick about Dusty May and Jake Diebler, how he feels about May after his first season, and what he has to prove in his second season
“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. In every episode, they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in college hoops.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On episode 163, Connor and Justin are joined by Derick Hutchinson of Local 4 News in Detroit to talk about the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry.
We talked with Derick about Dusty May and Jake Diebler, how he feels about May after his first season, what he has to prove in his second season and how the lineup has shaped up for the Wolverines entering the upcoming season.
We also discuss The Basketball Tournament and who Derick would like to see if Michigan entered an alumni team.
Remember to like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, leave a comment, and review!
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN
Connect with Connor
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Connect with Derick:
Twitter: @Derick_Hutch
Continue reading...
LGHL BOOOM! Three-star offensive tackle Aaron Thomas commits to Ohio State
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BOOOM! Three-star offensive tackle Aaron Thomas commits to Ohio State
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2026 three-star OT Aaron Thomas | via @AaronEliThomas on Twitter
The Buckeyes add a 17th commitment to their 2026 class.
With June’s recruiting opportunities now in the rearview mirror, it’s time for Ohio State’s staff to see how their efforts pay off. Commitment dates have been set for many prospects the Buckeyes were able to play host to the past few weeks, and the coaches are hoping their hard work made a real push for several of these top players.
Some good news coming in Ohio State’s favor last night, the successful month of June is evident. Keep it locked on the Buckeyes with commitment season officially here and kicking off with a bang.
Tyler Bowen has brought a bit of a new strategy to offensive line recruiting in his short tenure, as Ohio State is showing the willingness to cast a wider net and have more prospects on their recruiting board. In year’s past it’s been a method to zero in just a few top targets, and while that’s great when it works, many times Ohio State has been on the outside looking in.
In the current 2026 class, the Buckeyes are leaving no stone unturned in a cycle that really needs added depth up front — and it’s paying off.
Landing their fourth offensive line commitment of the class thus far on Wednesday, Arizona native Aaron Thomas took to social media to publicly announce his college decision. Choosing Ohio State, Thomas picked the Buckeyes over Florida State, Texas, Texas A&M, and Washington to round out his top five.
The No. 439 player nationally and the 36th best offensive tackle per the 247Sports Composite, Thomas may not an eye-popping recruiting profile, but at 6-foot-6, 300 pounds, he has all the size the Buckeyes want in their tackles.
Landing his Ohio State offer back in March, it wasn’t long after that Thomas made his official visit plans to see the Buckeyes again. Following another successful trip, Ohio State’s staff clearly did enough as momentum picked up in favor of the Buckeyes to land his eventual commitment. Bowen and Ohio State will keep hunting to further fill the trenches, but the fourth member is now officially in the fold.
Still a need for the 2026 class, Ryan Day and company have been searching high and low for their quarterback. The Buckeyes typically have their pick of player at the position, but with the 2025 and 2027 classes having elite guys locked in, it was a bit more difficult to navigate this current cycle.
Not a lot of quarterbacks in today’s landscape will sign up to be between two five-star caliber players, but every class needs a quarterback, and one could be coming soon.
California native Luke Fahey has been the talk around town as of late, and rightfully so. The No. 356 player nationally and 24th best quarterback per the 247Sports Composite, Fahey has been saying all of the right things regarding Ohio State. His stock quickly connected to the Buckeyes and their 2026 class after he finally received his offer last week.
Quoted as saying “It’s hard to say no to a school like Ohio State,” the Buckeyes have his interest, and that’s only been further supported with multiple predictions having him ending up in Columbus.
A wait that will soon be over, on Wednesday Fahey announced a commitment date for July 3. Set to decide within the next week, the Buckeyes will soon find out if they have their guy for the 2026 class, and all signs right now point toward that being the case.
The No. 80 player nationally and sixth best at his position per the 247Sports Composite, right now it looks as though Alabama has the inside track to win out in the end.
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
2026 three-star OT Aaron Thomas | via @AaronEliThomas on Twitter
The Buckeyes add a 17th commitment to their 2026 class.
With June’s recruiting opportunities now in the rearview mirror, it’s time for Ohio State’s staff to see how their efforts pay off. Commitment dates have been set for many prospects the Buckeyes were able to play host to the past few weeks, and the coaches are hoping their hard work made a real push for several of these top players.
Some good news coming in Ohio State’s favor last night, the successful month of June is evident. Keep it locked on the Buckeyes with commitment season officially here and kicking off with a bang.
BOO)M! Ohio State lands Arizona offensive line target
Tyler Bowen has brought a bit of a new strategy to offensive line recruiting in his short tenure, as Ohio State is showing the willingness to cast a wider net and have more prospects on their recruiting board. In year’s past it’s been a method to zero in just a few top targets, and while that’s great when it works, many times Ohio State has been on the outside looking in.
In the current 2026 class, the Buckeyes are leaving no stone unturned in a cycle that really needs added depth up front — and it’s paying off.
Landing their fourth offensive line commitment of the class thus far on Wednesday, Arizona native Aaron Thomas took to social media to publicly announce his college decision. Choosing Ohio State, Thomas picked the Buckeyes over Florida State, Texas, Texas A&M, and Washington to round out his top five.
The No. 439 player nationally and the 36th best offensive tackle per the 247Sports Composite, Thomas may not an eye-popping recruiting profile, but at 6-foot-6, 300 pounds, he has all the size the Buckeyes want in their tackles.
Landing his Ohio State offer back in March, it wasn’t long after that Thomas made his official visit plans to see the Buckeyes again. Following another successful trip, Ohio State’s staff clearly did enough as momentum picked up in favor of the Buckeyes to land his eventual commitment. Bowen and Ohio State will keep hunting to further fill the trenches, but the fourth member is now officially in the fold.
Buckeye QB target sets commitment date
Still a need for the 2026 class, Ryan Day and company have been searching high and low for their quarterback. The Buckeyes typically have their pick of player at the position, but with the 2025 and 2027 classes having elite guys locked in, it was a bit more difficult to navigate this current cycle.
Not a lot of quarterbacks in today’s landscape will sign up to be between two five-star caliber players, but every class needs a quarterback, and one could be coming soon.
California native Luke Fahey has been the talk around town as of late, and rightfully so. The No. 356 player nationally and 24th best quarterback per the 247Sports Composite, Fahey has been saying all of the right things regarding Ohio State. His stock quickly connected to the Buckeyes and their 2026 class after he finally received his offer last week.
Quoted as saying “It’s hard to say no to a school like Ohio State,” the Buckeyes have his interest, and that’s only been further supported with multiple predictions having him ending up in Columbus.
A wait that will soon be over, on Wednesday Fahey announced a commitment date for July 3. Set to decide within the next week, the Buckeyes will soon find out if they have their guy for the 2026 class, and all signs right now point toward that being the case.
Quick Hits
- A player Ohio State has long had on their radar, Illinois native Mack Sutter is ready and set to announce his commitment. Coming this evening, the Buckeyes join the likes of Alabama, Illinois, and Ole Miss as the finalists still involved.
The No. 80 player nationally and sixth best at his position per the 247Sports Composite, right now it looks as though Alabama has the inside track to win out in the end.
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LGHL John Mobley, Bruce Thornton among Buckeyes who showed out at the Kingdom Summer League
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John Mobley, Bruce Thornton among Buckeyes who showed out at the Kingdom Summer League
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Brandon Noel and Ivan Njegovan both had big games as well at Columbus East High School.
Ohio State fans are hoping the trio of John Mobley Jr., Bruce Thornton, and Devin Royal will lead the Buckeye basketball program back to the promised land this season. In a world where rosters are always in flux and so few players stay in the same place for multiple years, bringing back their top three returning scorers was a big deal for Jake Diebler and his coaching staff.
This past weekend at the Kingdom Summer League, fans got a sneak peak of what they might see from Ohio State’s starting backcourt, with both guards scoring more than 20 points at Columbus East High School.
Founded in 2014, the Kingdom Summer League is a men’s league that brings together the best basketball talent in the state of Ohio, focusing on central Ohio. Current, former, and even future Buckeyes have played and continue to play in “The Kingdom” each summer, with current players requiring approval from the coaching staff. Ohio State has typically allowed its players to compete, although Chris Holtmann went against precedent in 2023 and did not allow his players to compete. Jake Diebler has allowed the Buckeyes to play each of the past two summers.
While the competition is nowhere near what these Buckeyes will see during the season, dozens of current and former NBA players, including Trey Burke and Gary Trent Jr., have competed, as well as overseas pros, current college players, and D-I-bound high schoolers.
On Sunday afternoon, Thornton scored 23 points, grabbed five rebounds, and recorded six assists for Team 4 Deep. He also hit four three-pointers, and will look to improve on his career-high 42.4% three-point percentage from last season. Three of his six assists were on baskets scored by his Ohio State teammate, Ivan Njegovan.
Mobley Jr. scored 24 points, grabbed six rebounds, and had six assists for Team Focus Sports Ventures. He is ticketed for a huge role this season after starting 22 games and playing 27.8 minutes per game as a freshman last year.
Brandon Noel, who transferred to Ohio State from Wright State in April, had a huge game for Team Committed to My Craft. The 6-foot-8 forward scored 26 points, had three rebounds and recorded one assist. Included in those 26 points was a trio of three-pointers. Noel will likely start at power forward this season for Ohio State.
Sophomore big man Ivan Njegovan had a double-double playing with Thornton, scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Three of his seven baskets came directly off feeds from Thornton, as well as multiple offensive putbacks. Njegovan could play a pivotal role for the Buckeyes this season as the main backup to Christoph Tilly, who himself has never played more than 22 minutes per game in a season.
Speaking of Tilly, the former Santa Clara Bronco-turned Buckeye scored four points and grabbed eight rebounds for Team Focus Sports Ventures, alongside Mobley. German guard Mathieu Grujicic scored three points and had two rebounds for Team New World Financial Group.
Other noteworthy performances from former and future Buckeyes:
Deshaun Thomas: 26 points, six rebounds, three assists
Alex Smith (2026 OSU commit): 13 points, five rebounds
Musa Jallow: 11 points, nine rebounds, two assists
The Kingdom Summer League plays every Sunday from June 22 to August 3 at various locations throughout central Ohio, but most often at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus. This past weekend the games were played at Columbus East High School. Admission is free, but the Kingdom takes donations at the door.
Game times and locations can be found weekly at the Kingdom Summer League’s Facebook page.
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Brandon Noel and Ivan Njegovan both had big games as well at Columbus East High School.
Ohio State fans are hoping the trio of John Mobley Jr., Bruce Thornton, and Devin Royal will lead the Buckeye basketball program back to the promised land this season. In a world where rosters are always in flux and so few players stay in the same place for multiple years, bringing back their top three returning scorers was a big deal for Jake Diebler and his coaching staff.
This past weekend at the Kingdom Summer League, fans got a sneak peak of what they might see from Ohio State’s starting backcourt, with both guards scoring more than 20 points at Columbus East High School.
Founded in 2014, the Kingdom Summer League is a men’s league that brings together the best basketball talent in the state of Ohio, focusing on central Ohio. Current, former, and even future Buckeyes have played and continue to play in “The Kingdom” each summer, with current players requiring approval from the coaching staff. Ohio State has typically allowed its players to compete, although Chris Holtmann went against precedent in 2023 and did not allow his players to compete. Jake Diebler has allowed the Buckeyes to play each of the past two summers.
While the competition is nowhere near what these Buckeyes will see during the season, dozens of current and former NBA players, including Trey Burke and Gary Trent Jr., have competed, as well as overseas pros, current college players, and D-I-bound high schoolers.
On Sunday afternoon, Thornton scored 23 points, grabbed five rebounds, and recorded six assists for Team 4 Deep. He also hit four three-pointers, and will look to improve on his career-high 42.4% three-point percentage from last season. Three of his six assists were on baskets scored by his Ohio State teammate, Ivan Njegovan.
Mobley Jr. scored 24 points, grabbed six rebounds, and had six assists for Team Focus Sports Ventures. He is ticketed for a huge role this season after starting 22 games and playing 27.8 minutes per game as a freshman last year.
Brandon Noel, who transferred to Ohio State from Wright State in April, had a huge game for Team Committed to My Craft. The 6-foot-8 forward scored 26 points, had three rebounds and recorded one assist. Included in those 26 points was a trio of three-pointers. Noel will likely start at power forward this season for Ohio State.
Sophomore big man Ivan Njegovan had a double-double playing with Thornton, scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Three of his seven baskets came directly off feeds from Thornton, as well as multiple offensive putbacks. Njegovan could play a pivotal role for the Buckeyes this season as the main backup to Christoph Tilly, who himself has never played more than 22 minutes per game in a season.
Speaking of Tilly, the former Santa Clara Bronco-turned Buckeye scored four points and grabbed eight rebounds for Team Focus Sports Ventures, alongside Mobley. German guard Mathieu Grujicic scored three points and had two rebounds for Team New World Financial Group.
Other noteworthy performances from former and future Buckeyes:
Deshaun Thomas: 26 points, six rebounds, three assists
Alex Smith (2026 OSU commit): 13 points, five rebounds
Musa Jallow: 11 points, nine rebounds, two assists
The Kingdom Summer League plays every Sunday from June 22 to August 3 at various locations throughout central Ohio, but most often at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus. This past weekend the games were played at Columbus East High School. Admission is free, but the Kingdom takes donations at the door.
Game times and locations can be found weekly at the Kingdom Summer League’s Facebook page.
Continue reading...
LGHL Unreasonable Expectations: Caleb Downs will win the Heisman Trophy this year
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Unreasonable Expectations: Caleb Downs will win the Heisman Trophy 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
Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
After being named Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year in 2024, Downs has a real shot at winning college football’s most prestigious award.
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.
Sometimes it is hard to believe that Caleb Downs is only entering his junior season. The safety has been spectacular in his first two seasons in college football.
After becoming the first freshman to lead Alabama in tackles, recording 107 stops for the Crimson Tide in 2023, Downs transferred to Ohio State following the retirement of Alabama head coach Nick Saban. In his first season in Columbus, Downs was part of a veteran defense that was one of the toughest to crack in the country last season.
Now with Lathan Ransom, Denzel Burke, and Jordan Hancock gone from the secondary, even more responsibility is going to land on the shoulders of Downs. If his first two years of college football are any indication, Downs shouldn’t have any problem rising to the moment.
Downs and Alabama nearly made the title game two years ago, losing to Michigan in overtime in the CFP semifinal at the Rose Bowl. Last season, Downs was able to take care of some unfinished business, as the Buckeyes rebounded from the loss to Michigan at the end of the regular season to go on an incredible four-game run in the expanded College Football Playoff, beating Notre Dame in the title game.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26037176/2188110394.jpg "Michigan v Ohio State")
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
The list of accolades in Downs’ first two seasons of college football is pretty ridiculous. After earning First Team All-SEC honors and being named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2023, Downs was named First Team All-Big Ten, the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, and a unanimous All-American.
The sophomore season for Downs should have included even more hardware since he was named a finalist for the Thorpe, Nagurski, and Lott IMPACT Awards. Although I’m sure Downs isn’t going to sweat not being named the winner of those national awards last year since Ohio State went on to win the national championship.
While the ultimate goal for Downs and the Buckeyes will be to repeat as national champions, the superstar safety has a great chance to be one of the few defensive players to win the Heisman Trophy. In the modern era, only two defensive players have won the award given annually to the top player in college football, and both of those players saw time on offense.
Last year, Travis Hunter lined up at both cornerback and wide receiver, while Charles Woodson primarily played cornerback in 1997, but did mix in some time at wide receiver to allow him to earn the upset victory over Tennessee’s Peyton Manning.
With Ohio State’s incredible talent and depth at the wide receiver position, don’t expect to see Downs lining up to catch passes from Julian Sayin this season. Last year Downs did practice at running back briefly, but he was never needed at the position since the Buckeyes already had Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson.
Maybe with Judkins and Henderson now in the NFL, Downs gets a few carries this season, although it’s hard to imagine that happening since Downs is too important to the defense to risk being injured by giving him a few carries to try and pad his Heisman resumé.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26037178/usa_today_26052111.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Disp / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
So if Downs was going to supplement his defense stats by producing in another role, how would he do so? There’s an easy answer to that question! Downs has proven he can be an electric kick returner. In last year’s victory against Indiana, Downs notched Ohio State’s first punt return touchdown in 10 years when he took a punt by the Hoosiers back 79 yards for a score.
Overall, Downs returned six punts last year, averaging 16.3 yards per return. Despite Brandon Inniss possibly being the primary punt returner like he was last season, Downs will likely be called upon in big spots.
When it comes to the Buckeye who will likely be in contention for the Heisman Trophy this year, the smart money is on Jeremiah Smith. In a perfect world, Downs would win the golden stiffarm in 2025 and go on to be a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, while Smith follows up the triumph from Downs by winning the award in 2026.
If there was a year for a player who primarily lines up on defense to win, it would be this year since there is so much turnover when it comes to starting quarterbacks on the top teams around the country. Downs has already established himself as the top defensive player in the country, so he has a headstart on a lot of the field.
Is pushing for Downs a bit of a pipedream because of how defensive players have been treated over the years when it comes to the Heisman? It probably is, but if there was a player who could break through, Downs certainly has the talent to do so. It’s not often that safeties are looked at as top-10 NFL Draft picks, so that should tell you just how high the expectations for Downs are going forward.
If Downs is able to become the eighth Ohio State Buckeye to win the Heisman, there’s no question that he would have to be the best defensive player in school history.
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 Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
After being named Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year in 2024, Downs has a real shot at winning college football’s most prestigious award.
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.
Sometimes it is hard to believe that Caleb Downs is only entering his junior season. The safety has been spectacular in his first two seasons in college football.
After becoming the first freshman to lead Alabama in tackles, recording 107 stops for the Crimson Tide in 2023, Downs transferred to Ohio State following the retirement of Alabama head coach Nick Saban. In his first season in Columbus, Downs was part of a veteran defense that was one of the toughest to crack in the country last season.
Now with Lathan Ransom, Denzel Burke, and Jordan Hancock gone from the secondary, even more responsibility is going to land on the shoulders of Downs. If his first two years of college football are any indication, Downs shouldn’t have any problem rising to the moment.
Downs and Alabama nearly made the title game two years ago, losing to Michigan in overtime in the CFP semifinal at the Rose Bowl. Last season, Downs was able to take care of some unfinished business, as the Buckeyes rebounded from the loss to Michigan at the end of the regular season to go on an incredible four-game run in the expanded College Football Playoff, beating Notre Dame in the title game.
The list of accolades in Downs’ first two seasons of college football is pretty ridiculous. After earning First Team All-SEC honors and being named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2023, Downs was named First Team All-Big Ten, the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, and a unanimous All-American.
The sophomore season for Downs should have included even more hardware since he was named a finalist for the Thorpe, Nagurski, and Lott IMPACT Awards. Although I’m sure Downs isn’t going to sweat not being named the winner of those national awards last year since Ohio State went on to win the national championship.
While the ultimate goal for Downs and the Buckeyes will be to repeat as national champions, the superstar safety has a great chance to be one of the few defensive players to win the Heisman Trophy. In the modern era, only two defensive players have won the award given annually to the top player in college football, and both of those players saw time on offense.
Last year, Travis Hunter lined up at both cornerback and wide receiver, while Charles Woodson primarily played cornerback in 1997, but did mix in some time at wide receiver to allow him to earn the upset victory over Tennessee’s Peyton Manning.
With Ohio State’s incredible talent and depth at the wide receiver position, don’t expect to see Downs lining up to catch passes from Julian Sayin this season. Last year Downs did practice at running back briefly, but he was never needed at the position since the Buckeyes already had Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson.
Maybe with Judkins and Henderson now in the NFL, Downs gets a few carries this season, although it’s hard to imagine that happening since Downs is too important to the defense to risk being injured by giving him a few carries to try and pad his Heisman resumé.
So if Downs was going to supplement his defense stats by producing in another role, how would he do so? There’s an easy answer to that question! Downs has proven he can be an electric kick returner. In last year’s victory against Indiana, Downs notched Ohio State’s first punt return touchdown in 10 years when he took a punt by the Hoosiers back 79 yards for a score.
Overall, Downs returned six punts last year, averaging 16.3 yards per return. Despite Brandon Inniss possibly being the primary punt returner like he was last season, Downs will likely be called upon in big spots.
When it comes to the Buckeye who will likely be in contention for the Heisman Trophy this year, the smart money is on Jeremiah Smith. In a perfect world, Downs would win the golden stiffarm in 2025 and go on to be a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, while Smith follows up the triumph from Downs by winning the award in 2026.
If there was a year for a player who primarily lines up on defense to win, it would be this year since there is so much turnover when it comes to starting quarterbacks on the top teams around the country. Downs has already established himself as the top defensive player in the country, so he has a headstart on a lot of the field.
Is pushing for Downs a bit of a pipedream because of how defensive players have been treated over the years when it comes to the Heisman? It probably is, but if there was a player who could break through, Downs certainly has the talent to do so. It’s not often that safeties are looked at as top-10 NFL Draft picks, so that should tell you just how high the expectations for Downs are going forward.
If Downs is able to become the eighth Ohio State Buckeye to win the Heisman, there’s no question that he would have to be the best defensive player in school history.
Continue reading...