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LGHL BOOOOM! Four-star 2025 wide receiver Phillip Bell commits to Ohio State
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BOOOOM! Four-star 2025 wide receiver Phillip Bell commits to Ohio State
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 four-star WR Phillip Bell | Via @phillipbelliii on Twitter
The Buckeyes add a West Coast pass-catcher to their top-ranked class.
Ohio State picked up its first win of the 2024 season on Saturday, coasting to a 52-6 victory over Akron to begin the new campaign. Shortly thereafter, the Buckeyes earned their second win of the day — this time on the recruiting trail.
On Saturday night, 2025 four-star wide receiver Phillip Bell III chose Ohio State over USC to become the latest member of the nation’s No. 1-ranked class.
Bell ranks as the No. 19 WR and the No. 184 player nationally per the 247Sports Composite. The 6-foot-2 wideout garnered nearly 40 offers during the recruiting process, and eventually cut things down to a final two of Ohio State and USC. The Buckeyes won out over the in-state Trojans in the end thanks largely in part to position coach Brian Hartline’s immense success at developing players for the NFL.
“They know the biggest thing for me is development,” Bell told On3. “I sat down with coach Brian Hartline and watched film. We talked a lot of ball. We went over a lot of things. He showed me how they would use me, where I would line up and how he could develop me.”
Bell has been to Columbus multiple times since first earning his Ohio State offer back in March of last year. The California native make the trek for the Michigan State game in November before returning during the spring on an unofficial visit and then a third time for his official visit on June 14. Bell did make an official visit to USC a week later, but Lincoln Riley and his staff were unable to keep the talented pass-catcher within state lines.
“I met with coach Chip Kelly and we talked offense,” Bell said. “He is a great mind and has had a lot of success in college and NFL, so I like him a lot. Coach Ryan Day was in there too, and he is an offensive-minded head coach that knows a lot about my side of the ball. [...] The coaches know what was most important to me and they did a great job. If I went to Ohio State, I would be developed and have a chance to play for some great coaches.”
As a junior, Bell caught 56 passes for 644 yards and seven touchdowns as he helped lead Mission Viejo to a CIF Division 1-AA title and a Southern Section Division 2 crown. That followed up what was a huge sophomore captain for the receiver at Sacramento Christian Brothers, posting 73 catches for 818 yards and a whopping 20 touchdowns.
Bell becomes Ohio State’s 26th commitment in total and the Buckeyes’ fourth wide receiver commit in the 2025 class, joining fellow four-stars Quincy Porter and De’Zie Jones as well as in-state three-star athlete Bodpegn Miller.
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 four-star WR Phillip Bell | Via @phillipbelliii on Twitter
The Buckeyes add a West Coast pass-catcher to their top-ranked class.
Ohio State picked up its first win of the 2024 season on Saturday, coasting to a 52-6 victory over Akron to begin the new campaign. Shortly thereafter, the Buckeyes earned their second win of the day — this time on the recruiting trail.
On Saturday night, 2025 four-star wide receiver Phillip Bell III chose Ohio State over USC to become the latest member of the nation’s No. 1-ranked class.
Bell ranks as the No. 19 WR and the No. 184 player nationally per the 247Sports Composite. The 6-foot-2 wideout garnered nearly 40 offers during the recruiting process, and eventually cut things down to a final two of Ohio State and USC. The Buckeyes won out over the in-state Trojans in the end thanks largely in part to position coach Brian Hartline’s immense success at developing players for the NFL.
“They know the biggest thing for me is development,” Bell told On3. “I sat down with coach Brian Hartline and watched film. We talked a lot of ball. We went over a lot of things. He showed me how they would use me, where I would line up and how he could develop me.”
Bell has been to Columbus multiple times since first earning his Ohio State offer back in March of last year. The California native make the trek for the Michigan State game in November before returning during the spring on an unofficial visit and then a third time for his official visit on June 14. Bell did make an official visit to USC a week later, but Lincoln Riley and his staff were unable to keep the talented pass-catcher within state lines.
“I met with coach Chip Kelly and we talked offense,” Bell said. “He is a great mind and has had a lot of success in college and NFL, so I like him a lot. Coach Ryan Day was in there too, and he is an offensive-minded head coach that knows a lot about my side of the ball. [...] The coaches know what was most important to me and they did a great job. If I went to Ohio State, I would be developed and have a chance to play for some great coaches.”
As a junior, Bell caught 56 passes for 644 yards and seven touchdowns as he helped lead Mission Viejo to a CIF Division 1-AA title and a Southern Section Division 2 crown. That followed up what was a huge sophomore captain for the receiver at Sacramento Christian Brothers, posting 73 catches for 818 yards and a whopping 20 touchdowns.
Bell becomes Ohio State’s 26th commitment in total and the Buckeyes’ fourth wide receiver commit in the 2025 class, joining fellow four-stars Quincy Porter and De’Zie Jones as well as in-state three-star athlete Bodpegn Miller.
Quick Hits
- Ohio State sent out a new offer on Sunday to 2026 wide receiver Donovan Murph, who was in attendance for the Buckeyes’ beatdown of Akron. The 6-foot-2 South Carolina native currently ranks as the No. 19 WR and No. 119 player nationally per 247Sports’ rankings.
- Ohio State also had a big visitor on the hardwood over the weekend, as 2025 five-star combo guard Darryn Peterson was in Columbus on an official visit. The Cuyahoga Falls, OH native, who now plays his prep ball in California, is the No. 1 CG and No. 3 prospect overall per the 247Sports Composite, and would obviously be a massive addition for new head ball coach Jake Diebler were he to choose the Buckeyes as he collegiate destination.
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LGHL Power Two Podcast: A rough start for national championship hopefuls
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Power Two Podcast: A rough start for national championship hopefuls
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images
It’s only Week 1, but there might be concerns about your favorite national title contender.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s Power Two Podcast. On this show, we talk about Big Ten and SEC football… and everyone else. This show is for the die-hard fans and the casual college football fans.
After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the major matchups of the previous weekend and look ahead at the games, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week.
My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host DaNaysia Jones. Lock in as we run a power sweep through the college football landscape.
The NCAA is facing new considerations regarding amateurism. As the NCAA grapples with evolving challenges, the potential impact on student-athletes and institutions could be positive. Jordan and DJ discuss potential changes, including redshirt eligibility, no-name players who sued the NCAA, and allowing the students to have agents. There will also be changes to the NLIs that are yet to be seen.
During the 2 minute drill, we reviewed a few notable games from Week 1, including Oregon, Michigan, and Texas A&M. Jordan has some strong opinions about Notre Dame and their standings over beating Texas A&M. DJ touches on Georgia and Miami’s dominance. The Bulldogs are the strongest championship contender as of right now. Jordan also discusses some notable freshman wide receivers and other breakout players.
The Pregame Power Sweep gives a preview of notable games for Week 2. The big games for this week are Friday’s matchup between BYU and SMU, Texas vs Michigan, Iowa vs Iowa State, Colorado vs Nebraska and Oregon vs Boise State on Saturday. We wrap up the episode with a lively discussion about commercials and A’ja Wilson’s dominance in the WNBA.
If you like the show, please share it with friends and family and leave a five-star review. If you want to keep up with the show, subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network Feed where new episodes drop every Monday.
You can also find Jordan’s article including B1G Thoughts on Land-Grant Holy Land.
Follow the show on YouTube: @JordanW330
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @PowerTwoPodcast
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and DJ:@dj_danaysia
Continue reading...
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images
It’s only Week 1, but there might be concerns about your favorite national title contender.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s Power Two Podcast. On this show, we talk about Big Ten and SEC football… and everyone else. This show is for the die-hard fans and the casual college football fans.
After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the major matchups of the previous weekend and look ahead at the games, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week.
My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host DaNaysia Jones. Lock in as we run a power sweep through the college football landscape.
The NCAA is facing new considerations regarding amateurism. As the NCAA grapples with evolving challenges, the potential impact on student-athletes and institutions could be positive. Jordan and DJ discuss potential changes, including redshirt eligibility, no-name players who sued the NCAA, and allowing the students to have agents. There will also be changes to the NLIs that are yet to be seen.
During the 2 minute drill, we reviewed a few notable games from Week 1, including Oregon, Michigan, and Texas A&M. Jordan has some strong opinions about Notre Dame and their standings over beating Texas A&M. DJ touches on Georgia and Miami’s dominance. The Bulldogs are the strongest championship contender as of right now. Jordan also discusses some notable freshman wide receivers and other breakout players.
The Pregame Power Sweep gives a preview of notable games for Week 2. The big games for this week are Friday’s matchup between BYU and SMU, Texas vs Michigan, Iowa vs Iowa State, Colorado vs Nebraska and Oregon vs Boise State on Saturday. We wrap up the episode with a lively discussion about commercials and A’ja Wilson’s dominance in the WNBA.
If you like the show, please share it with friends and family and leave a five-star review. If you want to keep up with the show, subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network Feed where new episodes drop every Monday.
You can also find Jordan’s article including B1G Thoughts on Land-Grant Holy Land.
Follow the show on YouTube: @JordanW330
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @PowerTwoPodcast
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and DJ:@dj_danaysia
Continue reading...
LGHL If This Were a Movie: Is Jeremiah Smith the Henry Rowengartner of football?
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- 0 Replies
If This Were a Movie: Is Jeremiah Smith the Henry Rowengartner of football?
Jami Jurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
If you told us Smith could throw a 100-mph thunderbolt like Rowengartner does in “Rookie of the Year,” we’d believe you.
Each week, we’ll analyze the Ohio State game (and occasionally other games as well) through the lens of cinema. If this game were the next “Remember the Titans,” “Space Jam” or “The Notebook,” what storylines would keep us talking? What would make us laugh, reach for the box of tissues, or have us on the edge of our seats? Grab your popcorn and get ready for pop culture references, a hint of snark, and a trip back in time to the Blockbuster Video days.
When Ohio State opened their season with a 52-6 victory over the Akron Zips, it marked the debut of someone who has been described by his coaches as a once-in-a-generation talent—true freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith—and boy, did he prove he’s earned the “built different” comments.
Smith, as a true freshman on a team with a treasure trove of receiver options including Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate, led the team in yardage, average yards per play and touchdowns. It felt a little bit like watching 12-year-old Henry Rowengartner pitch in “Rookie of the Year.” You almost can’t believe someone so young, so inexperienced, is doing what you’re watching them do.
But that’s exactly what happened when Rowengartner healed from a broken arm and started firing 100-mph thunderbolts for the Chicago Cubs in the film, a feat so impressive it requires viewers to suspend disbelief and choose to be along for the ride. With Rowengartner pitching, the Chicago Cubs (a historically tragic team, and I can say that as a lifelong Cubs fan who has stuck with them through everything) do the unthinkable—they start winning games.
Now, I don’t mean to imply that the Buckeyes are a historically tragic team, when we all know it’s quite the opposite. But Smith took the field yesterday and stood out in the same way Rowengartner does in the movie, not just getting the job done but, in Smith’s case, leading the team in receiving with 92 yards and two touchdowns on six receptions.
Funnily enough, they both had to shake off the jitters before the superpowers came out too. Rowengartner gave up a home run on his first pitch, before ultimately earning the save, while Smith dropped his first pass, something he quickly shook off.
The thing that makes both Rowengartner and Smith different (besides their superhuman physical talent) is their ability to not just let those early mistakes roll off their back, but their ability to execute and create big plays with no experience at their current level. Rowengartner goes from Little League to the MLB overnight. Smith had never played in a college football game prior to today, but he led what many consider to be one of the strongest receiving corps in the country.
Not only that, but he did it with flair, capped with a spectacular one-handed catch to set up a touchdown for the Buckeyes in the third. In fact, if you look at ESPN’s highlights from the game, Smith is the playmaker in three of the four clips featured. He had six receptions—that means fifty percent of those were highlight-reel worthy.
That’s nuts no matter who your opponent is. He didn’t need to find his sea legs. They were there inherently.
Toward the end of “Rookie of the Year,” Rowengartner’s arm returns to normal. But while Smith’s talent doesn’t appear to be going anywhere, the other trait Rowengartner and Smith share is their ability to communicate with their teammates to get the job done. Rowengartner, for his part, lets his teammates know when his superhuman arm goes away, allowing the team to strategize. For Rowengartner, it was about the good of the team more than his own personal accolades.
Smith proved to be of the same mindset yesterday in his play on the field, and he said in postgame interviews, “I just wanted to come in and be a guy, just work and not just be about hype.” His hope was to impress his coaches and teammates.
Work he did, impress he did, and he—and his team—got the results to prove it. Smith has already proven he’s not out for himself. He’s here for the program, and boy are the Buckeyes going to reap the rewards of that combination of attitude and talent.
Unlike Rowengartner, Smith isn’t necessarily surpassing expectations. He’s merely living up to the hype that’s been there all along—he was the No. 1 recruit in college football for his class, after all. But that hype led to him being named CBS Sports Preseason Freshman of the Year, and if he continues to deliver the way he is now, he, like Rowengartner, should take home the title given to the player with the most impressive debut season.
For what it’s worth, Rowengartner isn’t just named “Rookie of the Year” — the Chicago Cubs go all the way on his watch. If Buckeye fans are lucky, Smith just might be able to contribute to similar results in Columbus.
Continue reading...
Jami Jurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
If you told us Smith could throw a 100-mph thunderbolt like Rowengartner does in “Rookie of the Year,” we’d believe you.
Each week, we’ll analyze the Ohio State game (and occasionally other games as well) through the lens of cinema. If this game were the next “Remember the Titans,” “Space Jam” or “The Notebook,” what storylines would keep us talking? What would make us laugh, reach for the box of tissues, or have us on the edge of our seats? Grab your popcorn and get ready for pop culture references, a hint of snark, and a trip back in time to the Blockbuster Video days.
When Ohio State opened their season with a 52-6 victory over the Akron Zips, it marked the debut of someone who has been described by his coaches as a once-in-a-generation talent—true freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith—and boy, did he prove he’s earned the “built different” comments.
Smith, as a true freshman on a team with a treasure trove of receiver options including Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate, led the team in yardage, average yards per play and touchdowns. It felt a little bit like watching 12-year-old Henry Rowengartner pitch in “Rookie of the Year.” You almost can’t believe someone so young, so inexperienced, is doing what you’re watching them do.
But that’s exactly what happened when Rowengartner healed from a broken arm and started firing 100-mph thunderbolts for the Chicago Cubs in the film, a feat so impressive it requires viewers to suspend disbelief and choose to be along for the ride. With Rowengartner pitching, the Chicago Cubs (a historically tragic team, and I can say that as a lifelong Cubs fan who has stuck with them through everything) do the unthinkable—they start winning games.
Now, I don’t mean to imply that the Buckeyes are a historically tragic team, when we all know it’s quite the opposite. But Smith took the field yesterday and stood out in the same way Rowengartner does in the movie, not just getting the job done but, in Smith’s case, leading the team in receiving with 92 yards and two touchdowns on six receptions.
Funnily enough, they both had to shake off the jitters before the superpowers came out too. Rowengartner gave up a home run on his first pitch, before ultimately earning the save, while Smith dropped his first pass, something he quickly shook off.
The thing that makes both Rowengartner and Smith different (besides their superhuman physical talent) is their ability to not just let those early mistakes roll off their back, but their ability to execute and create big plays with no experience at their current level. Rowengartner goes from Little League to the MLB overnight. Smith had never played in a college football game prior to today, but he led what many consider to be one of the strongest receiving corps in the country.
Not only that, but he did it with flair, capped with a spectacular one-handed catch to set up a touchdown for the Buckeyes in the third. In fact, if you look at ESPN’s highlights from the game, Smith is the playmaker in three of the four clips featured. He had six receptions—that means fifty percent of those were highlight-reel worthy.
That’s nuts no matter who your opponent is. He didn’t need to find his sea legs. They were there inherently.
Toward the end of “Rookie of the Year,” Rowengartner’s arm returns to normal. But while Smith’s talent doesn’t appear to be going anywhere, the other trait Rowengartner and Smith share is their ability to communicate with their teammates to get the job done. Rowengartner, for his part, lets his teammates know when his superhuman arm goes away, allowing the team to strategize. For Rowengartner, it was about the good of the team more than his own personal accolades.
Smith proved to be of the same mindset yesterday in his play on the field, and he said in postgame interviews, “I just wanted to come in and be a guy, just work and not just be about hype.” His hope was to impress his coaches and teammates.
Work he did, impress he did, and he—and his team—got the results to prove it. Smith has already proven he’s not out for himself. He’s here for the program, and boy are the Buckeyes going to reap the rewards of that combination of attitude and talent.
Unlike Rowengartner, Smith isn’t necessarily surpassing expectations. He’s merely living up to the hype that’s been there all along—he was the No. 1 recruit in college football for his class, after all. But that hype led to him being named CBS Sports Preseason Freshman of the Year, and if he continues to deliver the way he is now, he, like Rowengartner, should take home the title given to the player with the most impressive debut season.
For what it’s worth, Rowengartner isn’t just named “Rookie of the Year” — the Chicago Cubs go all the way on his watch. If Buckeye fans are lucky, Smith just might be able to contribute to similar results in Columbus.
Continue reading...
LGHL Hangout in the Holy Land: Ohio State’s 52-6 win over Akron is full of highs and a handful of lows
- News
- 0 Replies
Hangout in the Holy Land: Ohio State’s 52-6 win over Akron is full of highs and a handful of lows
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
We recap the game at hand, give some things we liked and didn’t like, and recap week one at the national level.
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Justin Golba as they discuss Ohio State football, basketball, recruiting, and much more! Come for the hot takes. Stay for the warm ones.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Since it is officially in season, Josh and Justin are back for a second episode this week, and we are recapping Ohio State's Week 1 victory over the Akron Zips.
It wasn’t perfect, but it is hard to complain about a 52-6 win. Or is it? We took a look at the good and the bad from the Buckeye’s week one win.
We also give out some awards, review the Stock Market Report for this week, and, of course, examine the national landscape from week one.
Please like, rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast. As always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod:
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley:
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Justin Golba:
Twitter: @justin_golba
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
Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
We recap the game at hand, give some things we liked and didn’t like, and recap week one at the national level.
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Justin Golba as they discuss Ohio State football, basketball, recruiting, and much more! Come for the hot takes. Stay for the warm ones.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Since it is officially in season, Josh and Justin are back for a second episode this week, and we are recapping Ohio State's Week 1 victory over the Akron Zips.
It wasn’t perfect, but it is hard to complain about a 52-6 win. Or is it? We took a look at the good and the bad from the Buckeye’s week one win.
We also give out some awards, review the Stock Market Report for this week, and, of course, examine the national landscape from week one.
Please like, rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast. As always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod:
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley:
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Justin Golba:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...
