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LGHL Breaking down Wednesday’s early signing period for Ohio State’s 2025 recruiting class
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Breaking down Wednesday’s early signing period for Ohio State’s 2025 recruiting class
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Doral Chenoweth/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Buckeyes ink a top-five recruiting class for 2025.
Wednesday marked the beginning of the early signing period for the class of 2025. Always an eventful day for programs across the country, the current college football landscape has never before been this wild.
Whether it be late commitments, flips, rumored NIL deals, and various other headlines, Ohio State found themselves in the mix of some of that craziness, but fortunately still boast a top five national class. On the losing and winning side yesterday, the Buckeyes tried to weather the storm the best they could. Though you’d like as little drama as possible, the modern times may never allow for that to happen unless the NCAA finally decides to step in.
Either way, in the midst of some ups and downs, Ohio State has a class to be proud of with some elite talent. Here’s a breakdown on Wednesday’s happenings both from the positive and negative side of things.
There’s always some potential for the Buckeyes to see some late heroics when it comes to signing day even with an already impressive class. Maybe not the norm as Ohio State tends to have their top guys already locked up early in the process, 2025 gave the staff some things to be excited about.
Landing not one, but two additional players, the Buckeyes were able to pick up the commitment and letter of intent from Alabama native athlete, Anthony “Turbo” Rogers. A player the staff had long been after, Rogers was committed to the in-state Crimson Tide for over a year, but re-opened his recruitment in mid November, giving Ohio State a chance to not only get in the mix once again, but really take a front seat for his eventual pledge.
Releasing his plans to decide between the Ohio State and Georgia on signing day, Turbo gives the Buckeyes their third running back in the class, but more importantly is the all-purpose back this staff was really after. Listed as the No. 148 player nationally and ninth best running back in the class per the 247Sports Composite, seeing Ohio State win out over an SEC school is always a sweet accomplishment, and taking another player from the state of Alabama too only further allows this staff to remain a viable presence moving forward.
In addition to Rogers, Ohio State was also fortunate enough to land the addition of defensive end target Epi Sitanilei, who provides some major depth at a position of real need as the trenches certainly could use some replenishing before the 2025 campaign in Columbus.
A long-time UCLA commit since early summer, Sitanilei is the No. 348 player nationally, and the 27th best edge rusher in the class per the 247Sports Composite. More impressively, 247Sports has him listed as their tenth-best edge rusher and many top analysts believe Epi has one of the higher upsides compared to the rest of the defensive ends in this current cycle.
Likely more confirmation as to how fortunate Ohio State was to land this late commitment, Epi comes from one of the premier programs not only in California but in the nation, as St. John Bosco develops at an incredible rate and plays some of the best prep competition you can find, further proving Sitanilei has all of the tools to be a real player at the next level for the Buckeyes.
A major win for Larry Johnson and Ohio State, the transfer portal will need to be a player for the Buckeyes are they rebuild a roster sure to lose key pieces, but adding another edge rusher of Epi’s caliber is exactly how you want to see this staff faring when it comes down to crunch time on signing day.
Easily the most unfortunate happening on Wednesday, Ohio State did finally lose the commitment of five-star cornerback Na’eem Offord. No shortage of seeing his name in the news, Offord all season long was a player the Buckeyes were having to try their best to hold onto thanks to his continued recruitment that allowed for multiple schools to remain in the mix.
Taking several trips to Auburn this past fall, it’s not a shock to see him leave his Ohio State pledge, as that was long thought to be the eventual outcome based on his many visits. Ending up at Oregon is a blow considering how many recruiting battles the Buckeyes have had this year alone with the Ducks, who now remain as a conference foe.
Choosing the Ducks over both Ohio State and Auburn, the Oregon was in thick of things in the early fall months, but it really was Auburn who being that much closer to home was the real threat knowing their continued communication with him and the addition of their NIL efforts as well playing a major role. Still, Oregon swooping in late was the biggest blow to this Ohio State 2025 class, and while it hurts to lose a five-star in the final moments, having the nation’s top cornerback in the class thanks to Devin Sanchez certainly softens that blow.
The No. 11 player nationally and second ranked corner per the 247Sports Composite, Offord had been committed since February, but the Nike money spoke volumes late in the process. Ohio State will see Na’eem down the stretch sometime in the future, and hopefully that will be a battle they this time win.
The No. 71 player nationally and the fifth best edge rusher in the 247Sports Composite, Grady said and did all of the right things throughout his recruitment, but on Wednesday it was Auburn who felt like they had found some momentum (NIL money) to the point where a flip may not have been necessarily expected, but was a possibility.
Shutting down that threat, Zion sticking with his Ohio State commitment is massive for this program who cannot afford to lose defensive linemen and really needed him to stay in the class. A player who can get on the field early in his career in Columbus, his signature may have been one of the more important ones not only yesterday, but for years to come.
The top offensive tackle in the country, missing out on his commitment earlier this fall was hard to stomach, but all would be forgiven if they somehow can pull this off. Easier said than done for sure, this is one player you pay whatever it takes knowing the need this team has.
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
Doral Chenoweth/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Buckeyes ink a top-five recruiting class for 2025.
Wednesday marked the beginning of the early signing period for the class of 2025. Always an eventful day for programs across the country, the current college football landscape has never before been this wild.
Whether it be late commitments, flips, rumored NIL deals, and various other headlines, Ohio State found themselves in the mix of some of that craziness, but fortunately still boast a top five national class. On the losing and winning side yesterday, the Buckeyes tried to weather the storm the best they could. Though you’d like as little drama as possible, the modern times may never allow for that to happen unless the NCAA finally decides to step in.
Either way, in the midst of some ups and downs, Ohio State has a class to be proud of with some elite talent. Here’s a breakdown on Wednesday’s happenings both from the positive and negative side of things.
Twice as nice - Ohio State adds two players to their haul
There’s always some potential for the Buckeyes to see some late heroics when it comes to signing day even with an already impressive class. Maybe not the norm as Ohio State tends to have their top guys already locked up early in the process, 2025 gave the staff some things to be excited about.
Landing not one, but two additional players, the Buckeyes were able to pick up the commitment and letter of intent from Alabama native athlete, Anthony “Turbo” Rogers. A player the staff had long been after, Rogers was committed to the in-state Crimson Tide for over a year, but re-opened his recruitment in mid November, giving Ohio State a chance to not only get in the mix once again, but really take a front seat for his eventual pledge.
Releasing his plans to decide between the Ohio State and Georgia on signing day, Turbo gives the Buckeyes their third running back in the class, but more importantly is the all-purpose back this staff was really after. Listed as the No. 148 player nationally and ninth best running back in the class per the 247Sports Composite, seeing Ohio State win out over an SEC school is always a sweet accomplishment, and taking another player from the state of Alabama too only further allows this staff to remain a viable presence moving forward.
In addition to Rogers, Ohio State was also fortunate enough to land the addition of defensive end target Epi Sitanilei, who provides some major depth at a position of real need as the trenches certainly could use some replenishing before the 2025 campaign in Columbus.
A long-time UCLA commit since early summer, Sitanilei is the No. 348 player nationally, and the 27th best edge rusher in the class per the 247Sports Composite. More impressively, 247Sports has him listed as their tenth-best edge rusher and many top analysts believe Epi has one of the higher upsides compared to the rest of the defensive ends in this current cycle.
Likely more confirmation as to how fortunate Ohio State was to land this late commitment, Epi comes from one of the premier programs not only in California but in the nation, as St. John Bosco develops at an incredible rate and plays some of the best prep competition you can find, further proving Sitanilei has all of the tools to be a real player at the next level for the Buckeyes.
A major win for Larry Johnson and Ohio State, the transfer portal will need to be a player for the Buckeyes are they rebuild a roster sure to lose key pieces, but adding another edge rusher of Epi’s caliber is exactly how you want to see this staff faring when it comes down to crunch time on signing day.
Not all goes as planned
Easily the most unfortunate happening on Wednesday, Ohio State did finally lose the commitment of five-star cornerback Na’eem Offord. No shortage of seeing his name in the news, Offord all season long was a player the Buckeyes were having to try their best to hold onto thanks to his continued recruitment that allowed for multiple schools to remain in the mix.
Taking several trips to Auburn this past fall, it’s not a shock to see him leave his Ohio State pledge, as that was long thought to be the eventual outcome based on his many visits. Ending up at Oregon is a blow considering how many recruiting battles the Buckeyes have had this year alone with the Ducks, who now remain as a conference foe.
Choosing the Ducks over both Ohio State and Auburn, the Oregon was in thick of things in the early fall months, but it really was Auburn who being that much closer to home was the real threat knowing their continued communication with him and the addition of their NIL efforts as well playing a major role. Still, Oregon swooping in late was the biggest blow to this Ohio State 2025 class, and while it hurts to lose a five-star in the final moments, having the nation’s top cornerback in the class thanks to Devin Sanchez certainly softens that blow.
The No. 11 player nationally and second ranked corner per the 247Sports Composite, Offord had been committed since February, but the Nike money spoke volumes late in the process. Ohio State will see Na’eem down the stretch sometime in the future, and hopefully that will be a battle they this time win.
Quick Hits
- The biggest win of the day in this opinion, Ohio State being able to hold on to Alabama native and defensive end commit Zion Grady cannot be overstated.
The No. 71 player nationally and the fifth best edge rusher in the 247Sports Composite, Grady said and did all of the right things throughout his recruitment, but on Wednesday it was Auburn who felt like they had found some momentum (NIL money) to the point where a flip may not have been necessarily expected, but was a possibility.
Shutting down that threat, Zion sticking with his Ohio State commitment is massive for this program who cannot afford to lose defensive linemen and really needed him to stay in the class. A player who can get on the field early in his career in Columbus, his signature may have been one of the more important ones not only yesterday, but for years to come.
@GradyZion #THE25 | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/F9BSiWeYQk
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 4, 2024
- Most have heard by now, but in case you missed it, Tennessee commit David Sanders Jr. did not sign his NLI yesterday with the Vols. Regardless of reason, if there is one at all, this leaves a crack in the window for Ohio State, and they’ll be doing all they can to pry that open hoping they can pull off some late magic with the position that needs more help than any other on this current roster.
The top offensive tackle in the country, missing out on his commitment earlier this fall was hard to stomach, but all would be forgiven if they somehow can pull this off. Easier said than done for sure, this is one player you pay whatever it takes knowing the need this team has.
BREAKING: 5️ OT David Sanders Jr. is NOT expected to sign today, per our @TomLoy247.
Sanders has been committed to Tennessee since August.
247Sports National Signing Day 2024 Show https://t.co/71pux3IPss pic.twitter.com/Fq1S7iMs76
— 247Sports (@247Sports) December 4, 2024
Continue reading...
LGHL Uncut: Ryan Day talks 2025 recruiting class, says he intends to coach Ohio State next year
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Uncut: Ryan Day talks 2025 recruiting class, says he intends to coach Ohio State next year
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State Athletics
He also kinda sorta owns owns the Michigan loss.
Throughout the year, the Land-Grant Podcast Network will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
On today’s episode of “Land-Grant Uncut,” we are bringing you unedited audio from the Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 press conference with Ohio State football coach Ryan Day on the first day of the Early Signing Period. The first portion of the press conference is spent discussing the players who had already signed their scholarship offers. There were a handful of Buckeyes who had ceremonies after Day’s presser, so they weren’t discussed, despite the fact that they did end Wednesday as official Buckeyes.
Then, the media was afforded the opportunity to ask about anything they wanted... and they did. They asked Day about the obsessive need to run the ball against Michigan even when it clearly wasn’t working, whether or not he overthinks The Game, whether or not he intends to be Ohio State’s coach next season, what types of changes he has planned for the College Football Playoff, and much more.
Watch the full press conferences on Ohio State’s official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/buckeyes/live_videos
Contact Matt Tamanini
Online Profile: https://authory.com/MattTamanini
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
Ohio State Athletics
He also kinda sorta owns owns the Michigan loss.
Throughout the year, the Land-Grant Podcast Network will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
On today’s episode of “Land-Grant Uncut,” we are bringing you unedited audio from the Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 press conference with Ohio State football coach Ryan Day on the first day of the Early Signing Period. The first portion of the press conference is spent discussing the players who had already signed their scholarship offers. There were a handful of Buckeyes who had ceremonies after Day’s presser, so they weren’t discussed, despite the fact that they did end Wednesday as official Buckeyes.
Then, the media was afforded the opportunity to ask about anything they wanted... and they did. They asked Day about the obsessive need to run the ball against Michigan even when it clearly wasn’t working, whether or not he overthinks The Game, whether or not he intends to be Ohio State’s coach next season, what types of changes he has planned for the College Football Playoff, and much more.
Watch the full press conferences on Ohio State’s official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/buckeyes/live_videos
Contact Matt Tamanini
Online Profile: https://authory.com/MattTamanini
Music by: www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
LGHL Four Things: An Ohio State checklist to beat the Terrapins
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Four Things: An Ohio State checklist to beat the Terrapins
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
The Buckeyes travel to the DMV tonight, hoping to pick up a win in an absolute nightmare of an arena.
Wednesday night’s game is going to be a brutally difficult challenge for the Ohio State men’s basketball team (5-2), but that doesn’t mean the Buckeyes can’t walk out of the Xfinity Center victorious.
The odds are going to be stacked against them.... in more ways than one.
Since Maryland joined the Big Ten in 2014, Ohio State is 1-6 at the Xfinity Center, the home of Terrapin basketball since 2002. The Buckeyes’ last win there was Feb. 8, 2021 — the year the Buckeyes were a 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament before.... well, never mind that.
Since then, Ohio State is 0-2 at Maryland, losing by 15 points in 2022 and seven points in 2023. The two teams only played once last season, in Columbus.
On top of the fact that Ohio State never beats Maryland on the road, this particular Maryland team looks to be a perfect foil for this Ohio State team.
The Buckeyes are down their starting center, as 7-foot-1 sophomore Aaron Bradshaw is away from the team as he goes through a “university process” per the team. There is no timeline for when he will be back, and in the meantime, his team is severely undersized below the basket.
Coincidentally, Maryland’s two leading scorers are its starting center, Derik Queen, and last year’s starting center who now plays power forward alongside Queen, Julian Reese.
Can Ohio State flip this game on its head and turn a supposed weakness into a strength? All hope is not lost. Here are four things the Buckeyes absolutely must do to have a chance at beating the Terrapins on the road Wednesday night:
There’s no getting around it — Ohio State is going to be severely undermanned in the post on Wednesday night. 6-foot-9 Sean Stewart will be tasked with guarding dynamic freshman big man Derik Queen, who is 6-foot-10 himself and is currently averaging 16.5 points and eight rebounds per game.
Stewart is about 25 pounds lighter than Queen, and is also averaging one personal foul every 5.4 minutes this season. He’s been limited to 16 minutes per game because he keeps getting in foul trouble — not because the coaches don’t want him playing more. Stewart will need to step up, accept the challenge, and give Jake Diebler and the coaching staff more than 16 minutes Wednesday night — there’s just no other option.
The other size issue is Reese. The 6-foot-9, 255-pound forward played center for Maryland last year, but now is playing more of the four. He’s averaging a super-efficient 13.4 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in just 22 minutes per contest this year, and it’ll most likely be Devin Royal who will draw the defensive assignment.
Royal is 6-foot-6 and about 220 pounds — not tiny. But Reese has three inches and about 30 pounds on the sophomore from Pickerington, and it’ll be a problem if the bigger Reese wears him out near the basket.
He’s only attempted one three-pointer over the past four games, but Royal has to knock at least one or two down in this game. He does not need to abandon what makes him great — offensive rebounding, smart cuts to the basket, etc — but Royal absolutely needs to extend Reese to the perimeter. Royal needs to force Reese to run around and guard him all over the floor, because Royal is much quicker than Reese.
Force Kevin Willard to either accept this mismatch, or force Willard to pull Reese out of the game.
In Ohio State’s two losses this season, their opponents were able to grab over 35% of their own misses. During the loss to Pitt, the Panthers’ offensive rebounding rate was north of 40% (!).
Defending good teams is difficult as is, so Ohio State can’t stand around and allow Maryland to do the same thing — one shot, secure the defensive rebound, and get moving.
Jake Diebler wants Ohio State to move quickly and play with pace, but in this game the Buckeyes might have to sacrifice a quicker pace in order to limit second-chance opportunities. Box-outs have to be deliberate when Maryland takes jump shots. Multiple guys should be below the rim going for defensive rebounds, even if that means the Terrapins get a chance to settle back into a half-court defense.
Pitt had 20 second-chance points against Ohio State. Texas A&M had 16. Maybe Maryland will bully Ohio State below the basket to the point of no doubt, maybe not. But the Buckeyes can’t let the Terrapins out-effort them on the glass. They’ll be undersized, but that just means the effort will have to be that much higher than normal.
Ohio State looked scared, stagnant, and slow against Texas A&M two weeks ago. The Buckeyes scored a whopping five points over the first 10 minutes of the game, and only had four assists in the first half.
After Ohio State’s win over Campbell, Diebler said that he’d love to see Bruce Thornton — who is averaging a team-high 6.3 assists per game — be even more aggressive with the ball in his hands. Thornton has only turned the ball over seven times this season, because he values each possession and makes the smart pass rather than the flashy one.
But in this Maryland game, the smart, easy passes aren’t going to be there like they have been against some lesser teams. To avoid a cold start like we saw against Texas A&M, Ohio State’s guards need to be aggressive with their passes and their drives.
Even though they’re the smaller team, they cannot play soft, settle for a ton of three-pointers, and refuse to drive. If you get blocked once or twice, so be it — but the offense cannot exist solely on the perimeter if you want to win.
At some point on Wednesday night, Austin Parks’ number is going to be called. He may only need to play six or seven minutes, or he may need to play 15. Parks played really well against Pitt on Friday night, even when the Panthers continuously isolated him against much quicker guards.
Parks finished with four points on a perfect 2-of-2 shooting and one assist in eight minutes against Pitt. He picked up two fouls.
Parks has better passing vision than he’s given credit for, and at least looks competent in one-on-one situations below the basket. At 6-foot-10 and 260 pounds, he’s actually bigger than Stewart, Reese, and Queen.
The big sophomore from northwest Ohio is going to play a role in this game, but the size of that role will be determined by how Stewart plays.
At the very least, Parks has five fouls to give, but he doesn’t have to be just a big body with five fouls. Based on his play and how Diebler has talked about him, Parks has earned an opportunity to show that he can hold his own against any level of competition.
Ohio State is going to need him to be a difference maker at some point on Wednesday night, even if it’s only in a few short spurts.
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
Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
The Buckeyes travel to the DMV tonight, hoping to pick up a win in an absolute nightmare of an arena.
Wednesday night’s game is going to be a brutally difficult challenge for the Ohio State men’s basketball team (5-2), but that doesn’t mean the Buckeyes can’t walk out of the Xfinity Center victorious.
The odds are going to be stacked against them.... in more ways than one.
Since Maryland joined the Big Ten in 2014, Ohio State is 1-6 at the Xfinity Center, the home of Terrapin basketball since 2002. The Buckeyes’ last win there was Feb. 8, 2021 — the year the Buckeyes were a 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament before.... well, never mind that.
Since then, Ohio State is 0-2 at Maryland, losing by 15 points in 2022 and seven points in 2023. The two teams only played once last season, in Columbus.
On top of the fact that Ohio State never beats Maryland on the road, this particular Maryland team looks to be a perfect foil for this Ohio State team.
The Buckeyes are down their starting center, as 7-foot-1 sophomore Aaron Bradshaw is away from the team as he goes through a “university process” per the team. There is no timeline for when he will be back, and in the meantime, his team is severely undersized below the basket.
Coincidentally, Maryland’s two leading scorers are its starting center, Derik Queen, and last year’s starting center who now plays power forward alongside Queen, Julian Reese.
Can Ohio State flip this game on its head and turn a supposed weakness into a strength? All hope is not lost. Here are four things the Buckeyes absolutely must do to have a chance at beating the Terrapins on the road Wednesday night:
Use Devin Royal’s athleticism to counter the size disadvantage
A Royal Flush@DevinRoyal7 | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/ntrCULc7fK
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) November 20, 2024
There’s no getting around it — Ohio State is going to be severely undermanned in the post on Wednesday night. 6-foot-9 Sean Stewart will be tasked with guarding dynamic freshman big man Derik Queen, who is 6-foot-10 himself and is currently averaging 16.5 points and eight rebounds per game.
Stewart is about 25 pounds lighter than Queen, and is also averaging one personal foul every 5.4 minutes this season. He’s been limited to 16 minutes per game because he keeps getting in foul trouble — not because the coaches don’t want him playing more. Stewart will need to step up, accept the challenge, and give Jake Diebler and the coaching staff more than 16 minutes Wednesday night — there’s just no other option.
The other size issue is Reese. The 6-foot-9, 255-pound forward played center for Maryland last year, but now is playing more of the four. He’s averaging a super-efficient 13.4 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in just 22 minutes per contest this year, and it’ll most likely be Devin Royal who will draw the defensive assignment.
Royal is 6-foot-6 and about 220 pounds — not tiny. But Reese has three inches and about 30 pounds on the sophomore from Pickerington, and it’ll be a problem if the bigger Reese wears him out near the basket.
He’s only attempted one three-pointer over the past four games, but Royal has to knock at least one or two down in this game. He does not need to abandon what makes him great — offensive rebounding, smart cuts to the basket, etc — but Royal absolutely needs to extend Reese to the perimeter. Royal needs to force Reese to run around and guard him all over the floor, because Royal is much quicker than Reese.
Force Kevin Willard to either accept this mismatch, or force Willard to pull Reese out of the game.
Prioritize defensive rebounding over moving fast
In Ohio State’s two losses this season, their opponents were able to grab over 35% of their own misses. During the loss to Pitt, the Panthers’ offensive rebounding rate was north of 40% (!).
Defending good teams is difficult as is, so Ohio State can’t stand around and allow Maryland to do the same thing — one shot, secure the defensive rebound, and get moving.
Jake Diebler wants Ohio State to move quickly and play with pace, but in this game the Buckeyes might have to sacrifice a quicker pace in order to limit second-chance opportunities. Box-outs have to be deliberate when Maryland takes jump shots. Multiple guys should be below the rim going for defensive rebounds, even if that means the Terrapins get a chance to settle back into a half-court defense.
Pitt had 20 second-chance points against Ohio State. Texas A&M had 16. Maybe Maryland will bully Ohio State below the basket to the point of no doubt, maybe not. But the Buckeyes can’t let the Terrapins out-effort them on the glass. They’ll be undersized, but that just means the effort will have to be that much higher than normal.
Come out aggressive and be willing to take chances
Ohio State looked scared, stagnant, and slow against Texas A&M two weeks ago. The Buckeyes scored a whopping five points over the first 10 minutes of the game, and only had four assists in the first half.
After Ohio State’s win over Campbell, Diebler said that he’d love to see Bruce Thornton — who is averaging a team-high 6.3 assists per game — be even more aggressive with the ball in his hands. Thornton has only turned the ball over seven times this season, because he values each possession and makes the smart pass rather than the flashy one.
But in this Maryland game, the smart, easy passes aren’t going to be there like they have been against some lesser teams. To avoid a cold start like we saw against Texas A&M, Ohio State’s guards need to be aggressive with their passes and their drives.
Even though they’re the smaller team, they cannot play soft, settle for a ton of three-pointers, and refuse to drive. If you get blocked once or twice, so be it — but the offense cannot exist solely on the perimeter if you want to win.
Austin Parks, keep getting better!
At some point on Wednesday night, Austin Parks’ number is going to be called. He may only need to play six or seven minutes, or he may need to play 15. Parks played really well against Pitt on Friday night, even when the Panthers continuously isolated him against much quicker guards.
Parks finished with four points on a perfect 2-of-2 shooting and one assist in eight minutes against Pitt. He picked up two fouls.
Parks has better passing vision than he’s given credit for, and at least looks competent in one-on-one situations below the basket. At 6-foot-10 and 260 pounds, he’s actually bigger than Stewart, Reese, and Queen.
The big sophomore from northwest Ohio is going to play a role in this game, but the size of that role will be determined by how Stewart plays.
At the very least, Parks has five fouls to give, but he doesn’t have to be just a big body with five fouls. Based on his play and how Diebler has talked about him, Parks has earned an opportunity to show that he can hold his own against any level of competition.
Ohio State is going to need him to be a difference maker at some point on Wednesday night, even if it’s only in a few short spurts.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ryan Day is on the hot seat, what do you think he has to do to keep his job?
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Ryan Day is on the hot seat, what do you think he has to do to keep his job?
Matt Tamanini 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
You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.
Throughout the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
It’s a dark week in Buckeye Nation as the Mighty Buckeyes have struck out... again... for the fourth time in a row. It was a disastrous weekend for the Ohio State football team, and by extension the fans. So, we wanted to check in to see where your collective heads were at about the future of the program.
So, in this week’s fan survey, we have a question about Ryan Day’s status as the team’s head coach and then another about how you think the Bucks will fare in the College Football Playoff.
Take a look at the questions — and my brief thoughts — below, and then make your voice heard in the survey at the bottom of the article. If we didn’t include an option that is at the top of the list for you, feel free to write it in in the comments below.
I have gone on the record about my position as it pertains to Ryan Day’s job status. It is not a position I come to lightly, nor emotionally. While emotions are certainly involved in watching the continued crumbling of potential within the program that I love, to me, looking at Day’s routine failures in the most critical of situations is about objective of a data point you could possibly have. In all honesty, I have long wanted Ryan Day to be Ohio State’s head coach for his entire, multi-decade career. But his inability to maximize his team’s talent is unacceptable.
So, for me, I would not retain Day no matter the outcome of the season. Of course, I recognize that if the Buckeyes win the national title, there is no way that the head coach will lose his job (although I think he could decide to leave on his own in that case). However, if Day does end up sticking as the head coach for 2025, then I do think that two of the options in the survey are necessary.
I think that it is beyond time for Day to clean out the program’s remnants of Urban Meyer’s tenure. Don’t get me wrong, Larry Johnson, Mickey Marotti, and Mark Pantoni have been among the best in the business during their times in Columbus, but there have been obvious philosophical differences between Johnson and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, and it just feels like it’s time for new voices when it comes to strength and conditioning and recruiting.
I actually argued for this following last season’s Cotton Bowl embarrassment as well. Day did end up taking most of the advice I gave in that article, so hopefully he will follow through with the rest this offseason if athletic director Ross Bjork decides to keep Day on staff.
At this point, I would also like to start over at offensive line. I think that Justin Frye did an admirable job getting the offensive line in shape to be competent following the injuries to Josh Simmons and Seth McLaughlin, but the overall development and recruitment at the position has been well below OSU standard.
If Day is going to stay, I think he also needs to be aggressive when the transfer portal opens next week. The Buckeyes need to lock in upgrades on the offensive line, because I don’t think that a championship-level line is on the roster for next year, and I wouldn’t mind seeing some help at linebacker and cornerback being brought in.
While I might be in favor of the Buckeyes moving on from Ryan Day, I am not one of those fans who would ever root for the team to fail in order to bring about a coaching change. I will be completely on board the hype train as OSU heads into the CFP.
On Tuesday night, we got a little bit more clarity on where the Buckeyes would be in the 12-team bracket. It looks like it is nearly impossible for Ohio State to not play a first-round home game, but who knows what could happen if Conference Championship Weekend gets increasingly chaotic.
I’m not ready to make my prediction as to how far the Buckeyes will go in the playoff, but I still believe that if Day gets over his obsession of trying to be a “tough,” run-first team ignoring his roster’s strength, that OSU has the ability to win it all. Now let’s just hope the head coach can figure that out in time.
Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
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Throughout the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
It’s a dark week in Buckeye Nation as the Mighty Buckeyes have struck out... again... for the fourth time in a row. It was a disastrous weekend for the Ohio State football team, and by extension the fans. So, we wanted to check in to see where your collective heads were at about the future of the program.
So, in this week’s fan survey, we have a question about Ryan Day’s status as the team’s head coach and then another about how you think the Bucks will fare in the College Football Playoff.
Take a look at the questions — and my brief thoughts — below, and then make your voice heard in the survey at the bottom of the article. If we didn’t include an option that is at the top of the list for you, feel free to write it in in the comments below.
Question 1: If you were making the decision, what would Ryan Day need to do to remain Ohio State’s head coach for next season?
I have gone on the record about my position as it pertains to Ryan Day’s job status. It is not a position I come to lightly, nor emotionally. While emotions are certainly involved in watching the continued crumbling of potential within the program that I love, to me, looking at Day’s routine failures in the most critical of situations is about objective of a data point you could possibly have. In all honesty, I have long wanted Ryan Day to be Ohio State’s head coach for his entire, multi-decade career. But his inability to maximize his team’s talent is unacceptable.
So, for me, I would not retain Day no matter the outcome of the season. Of course, I recognize that if the Buckeyes win the national title, there is no way that the head coach will lose his job (although I think he could decide to leave on his own in that case). However, if Day does end up sticking as the head coach for 2025, then I do think that two of the options in the survey are necessary.
I think that it is beyond time for Day to clean out the program’s remnants of Urban Meyer’s tenure. Don’t get me wrong, Larry Johnson, Mickey Marotti, and Mark Pantoni have been among the best in the business during their times in Columbus, but there have been obvious philosophical differences between Johnson and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, and it just feels like it’s time for new voices when it comes to strength and conditioning and recruiting.
I actually argued for this following last season’s Cotton Bowl embarrassment as well. Day did end up taking most of the advice I gave in that article, so hopefully he will follow through with the rest this offseason if athletic director Ross Bjork decides to keep Day on staff.
At this point, I would also like to start over at offensive line. I think that Justin Frye did an admirable job getting the offensive line in shape to be competent following the injuries to Josh Simmons and Seth McLaughlin, but the overall development and recruitment at the position has been well below OSU standard.
If Day is going to stay, I think he also needs to be aggressive when the transfer portal opens next week. The Buckeyes need to lock in upgrades on the offensive line, because I don’t think that a championship-level line is on the roster for next year, and I wouldn’t mind seeing some help at linebacker and cornerback being brought in.
Question 2: What do you think Ohio State’s fate will be in the College Football Playoff?
While I might be in favor of the Buckeyes moving on from Ryan Day, I am not one of those fans who would ever root for the team to fail in order to bring about a coaching change. I will be completely on board the hype train as OSU heads into the CFP.
On Tuesday night, we got a little bit more clarity on where the Buckeyes would be in the 12-team bracket. It looks like it is nearly impossible for Ohio State to not play a first-round home game, but who knows what could happen if Conference Championship Weekend gets increasingly chaotic.
I’m not ready to make my prediction as to how far the Buckeyes will go in the playoff, but I still believe that if Day gets over his obsession of trying to be a “tough,” run-first team ignoring his roster’s strength, that OSU has the ability to win it all. Now let’s just hope the head coach can figure that out in time.
Share your thoughts here:
Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Continue reading...