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LGHL 2026 four-star UNC edge commit to visit Ohio State

2026 four-star UNC edge commit to visit Ohio State
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

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2026 four-star edge Zavion Griffin-Haynes | via Jim Hawkins/Inside Carolina, 247Sports

The Buckeyes will also host a blue-chip Ohio safety this weekend.

Ohio State is now 4-0 following an impressive showing Saturday, traveling to East Lansing to beat Michigan State 38-7. The Buckeyes will now prepare for this weekend, where they will play host to Iowa.

With much of the talk surrounding this current crop of Buckeyes, it is easy to miss Ohio State making recruiting headlines. Ryan Day and the Ohio State coaching staff never take a break from recruiting, and because of this the Buckeyes are making headlines on the daily.

This held true Monday as Ohio State learned it will soon play host to a couple of key 2026 targets.

Ohio State to host UNC edge commit​


Ohio State has been targeting 2026 four-star edge Zavion Griffin-Haynes (Rolesville, NC / Rolesville) since the summer. He took an unofficial visit with the Buckeyes in August and left with an official scholarship offer.

The offer was not the only news surrounding Griffin-Haynes following his visit to Ohio State, as predictions were also cast in favor of Ohio State for his recruitment. However, earlier this month the North Carolina native committed to the home state school of North Carolina.

The news of the commitment came as a surprise to those in Buckeye Nation as it was shortly following the visit. The Buckeyes have also not stopped recruiting him. Griffin-Haynes scheduled four upcoming visits, and due to the continued efforts of the Ohio State coaching staff, they were included on the list.


Four-star North Carolina DE commit Zavion Griffin-Haynes has four visits lined up beginning with a trip to Georgia this weekend and visits back to Florida State, Ohio State and Chapel Hill

More on the Rivals250 inside: https://t.co/HiSmutxAJr pic.twitter.com/O73hy4LKox

— Sam Spiegelman (@samspiegs) September 30, 2024​
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Griffin-Haynes will visit with Ohio State on Nov. 23 when the Buckeyes play host to Indiana. The visit with the Buckeyes will be his third and the only one that will be after is the school he is committed to, UNC.

Ohio State has just one commitment in its 2026 class in five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. The team is making the defensive line a priority in this class and Griffin-Haynes is a recruit Ohio State has identified as one they want.

Griffin-Haynes is the No. 11 edge in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and he is the No. 114 overall prospect. He is also the No. 9 recruit out of North Carolina.

Ohio State to host in-state safety this weekend​


Ohio State is not only scheduling future visits, as they have a home game this weekend against Iowa and the Buckeyes are once again set to host a handful of recruits. The most recent name to be added to this week’s visitor list is 2026 three-star safety Kaden Gebhardt (Lewis Center, OH / Olentangy).


I will be at The Ohio State University this weekend for a gameday visit!! @Kstaff07 @MattGuerrieri @jchorba16 @CoachJimKnowles @bzdebski @OHSBravesFB @Bill_Kurelic @MattParkerLR @markpantoni @mickdwalker @alexgleitman pic.twitter.com/SQJpi0W9pO

— Kaden Gebhardt 4⭐️ S/ATH (@kaden_gebhardt) September 30, 2024​
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Gebhardt saw his recruitment take off this summer, and since the start of this current season of high school football, the momentum has only increased. Because of this, he is building an impressive offer sheet including programs like Ohio State, Akron, Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Penn State, Michigan State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Duke, Iowa State, Kentucky, Louisville, Missouri, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and many others.

Ohio State has made recruiting in-state talents a priority in its recruiting strategy since the arrival of NIL and the revamping of the transfer portal. Gebhardt is one of many in-state talents the Buckeyes have offered in the 2026 class and he is one the Buckeyes are making a priority.

The Buckeyes got him on campus twice this summer, making this weekend’s visit his third in a matter of months. If this visit goes as well as the previous two, it would not be out of reach to view the Buckeyes as the leaders in his recruitment. Although, Penn State has also made him a priority target for their class so the Buckeyes are not alone.

Gebhardt is the No. 41 safety in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and he is the No. 481 overall prospect. However, 247Sports has him as its No. 17 safety and No. 213 overall prospect, so his recruiting ranking will likely rise as more recruiting databases update their 2026 class rankings.

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Google Did Michigan State expose a massive red flag for Ohio State entering the Buckeyes' showdown against Iowa? - AtoZ Sports

Did Michigan State expose a massive red flag for Ohio State entering the Buckeyes' showdown against Iowa? - AtoZ Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Did Michigan State expose a massive red flag for Ohio State entering the Buckeyes' showdown against Iowa? AtoZ Sports

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LGHL Stock Market Report: The defense bends, but doesn't break against Michigan State

Stock Market Report: The defense bends, but doesn't break against Michigan State
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

JJ Smith makes another incredible play, the defense holds the Spartans to seven points, and the Peacock broadcast wasn’t great

In its first “test” of the season, the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes went to East Lansing and came away with a comfortable 38-7 win to move to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in Big Ten play.

Here is who and what we are high on and low on after Week 5 heading into the Iowa game.

Blue Chip​


I think saying Jeremiah Smith is too easy, but I have to say Jeremiah Smith

I mean, I genuinely don’t know what else there is to say. I wouldn’t argue with anyone if they said JJ Smith was the most talented receiver in Ohio State history already. He could play in the NFL tomorrow, and he has two and a half more seasons left in Columbus.

This feels like it is too simple, but it is impossible not to acknowledge.

Solid Investments​


Bend don’t break

No one will argue that the defense was perfect in East Lansing. However, the end result has to matter. The Buckeyes went on the road and only gave up seven points, 246 yards, and 47 yards rushing. Michigan State was also only 2-for-9 on third-down conversions.

They forced some turnovers late in drives and got a huge fourth-down stop early in the game. Iowa and Oregon coming up are different challenges, but a bend but don’t break defense can still win a lot of games. You just have to make sure it doesn’t break.

Fourth Down Efficiency

In a perfect world, you never have to convert on fourth down because you convert at a high level on third down. And to be fair, the Buckeyes were 8-for-17 on third down this week, which isn’t bad.

The Buckeyes were 3-for-4 on fourth down with two touchdowns. Ryan Day and Chip Kelly were aggressive, and it paid off in a major way. That needs to continue until the later part of the season.

Junk Bond​


Quarterback pressure

Sometimes, a team’s sack numbers can be deceiving, and Ohio State was able to get to Aidan Chiles four times on Saturday, but they have to put more pressure on the quarterback moving forward. It won’t matter against Iowa, but Dillon Gabriel and Oregon can pick any defense apart if given the time and opportunity.

The good part is that the second unit looks great, so there is depth. They just need more from the starting unit. Hopefully getting Tyleik Williams will help that as well.

Buy/Sell​


Buy: The playmaker’s blocking ability

On the one-handed catch by J.J. Smith from Devin Brown for the touchdown, a lot of people pointed out that TreVeyon Henderson was the man to thank. He picked up a blitzing linebacker on a block that gave Brown the time to get the ball out.

However, all the running backs and receivers are good blockers. Egbuka, Tate, Henderson, and everyone else buy into their roles as not only playmakers but also blockers. And it makes everyone better.

Buy: Carnell Tate

I just mentioned Carnell Tate in the above buy, but I wanted to mention him again because I think it is important what he is doing gets recognized. I know JJ Smith (also see above) and Emeka Egbuka are great, but Tate has settled into his role as the third option so well and is fully bought into this offense and what he brings to it. His breakout game is coming, but until then, he will continue to be mister consistent for the offense and Will Howard.

Sell: Colt McCoy broadcasting

This is more of a tongue-in-cheek one because I really don’t care about broadcasters all that much. Ohio State won’t play on Peacock again this year, but the early returns on Colt McCoy as a broadcaster aren’t great.

I loved McCoy as a player, and I hope he improves. It’s only week five, anyway.

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LGHL You’re Nuts: Jeremiah Smith is the best Ohio State freshman since...

You’re Nuts: Jeremiah Smith is the best Ohio State freshman since...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Andy Katzenmoyer #45


The Buckeyes’ star wide receiver has already put his name on an elite list.

Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.

In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.

This week’s topic: Jeremiah Smith is the best Ohio State freshman since...​

Josh’s Take​


Ohio State pushed its record to a perfect 4-0 on Saturday night with a comfortable win over Michigan State in the Buckeyes’ Big Ten opener. Going on the road for the first time this season, OSU took a while to get going in East Lansing, resulting in “just” a 3-0 lead after one quarter.

But then – similar to what we saw against Akron and Marshall – Ryan Day’s squad pulled away in the second and third (quarters), eventually going up 38-7 and pulling starters. All in all, it was a productive and prosperous business trip for the Scarlet and Gray, despite another slow(ish) start.

Another common theme is, was, and has been the outstanding play of Ohio State true freshman Jeremiah Smith. The seemingly AI-generated wide receiver produced at least two more insane highlights on Saturday night, as part of a six-touch, two-touchdown outing — his second two-TD performance in just four games. Sorry, that was a lot of twos.

Smith’s continued excellence already has people labeling him the best true freshman and possibly best wide receiver in OSU history. Which might sound crazy after just four games, but I mean, there’s an argument to be made, right? And that argument is more or less what inspired today’s edition of You’re Nuts.

Gene and I acknowledge and agree that Smith is up there, somewhere, in terms of all-time first-year greats for the Buckeyes. But we were wondering: Best since when? Or best since whom?

By leading off, I know that I get/have an advantage. I get the pick of the litter. And in my opinion, the pick of the litter is Andy Katzenmoyer, who was a true freshman in 1996... A scorching hot take, right?

As a true freshman in ‘96, the Big Kat became the first freshman linebacker ever to start Week 1 for Ohio State. He then proceeded to wreck shop all season for the Buckeyes, earning Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year, All-Big Ten, and All-American honors/status along the way. Katzenmoyer also helped OSU reach and win the 1997 Rose Bowl while setting multiple school records. Not freshman records, mind you. School records.

Now, I acknowledge(d) that my pick of Katzenmoyer is not the hottest take ever published. But here’s where I will spice things up a bit: Not only do I think that Katenzmoyer is the best freshman in Ohio State history, but I also don’t think that Jeremiah Smith will come close to “catching” the Big Kat, relatively speaking. Allow me to explain.

Katzenmoyer was a Second Team All-American as a freshman. He racked up 12 sacks, 23 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, 4 interceptions and a pick-6. He did things that no other Buckeye had ever done before, and hasn’t done since! Hell, there’s an argument to be made that Katzenmoyer produced the single greatest defensive season in OSU history. As a damn freshman.

So yeah, Smith is doing some crazy things. He is quite possibly the most talented football player I’ve ever laid eyes on. And he could very well break every OSU receiving record by the time he leaves Columbus. But to put Smith in the conversation with Katzenmoyer (frosh season(s) only), I need to see something like 1,800 yards and 15 TD from the former.

And if Smith does put up those numbers – as a true freshman – well then, we might just have to start talking about him as potentially the best player in Ohio State history. Not freshman... Player.

Until then, I’m riding with the Big Kat.

Gene’s Take​


It is honestly unfair to Jeremiah Smith that he has to spend three full seasons playing college football, as I realistically think he would be perfectly fine to enter the NFL after this season and would quickly become one of the league’s best wide receivers. That being said, Ohio State is certainly happy that they get multiple years of Smith, as he is already one of the program’s top dogs after just four career games.

Unlike Josh, my Buckeyes fandom didn’t start until much later in life when I enrolled at Ohio State in 2014 — a pretty good year to do it, I might add. That said, my four years in Columbus and subsequent following of the team has led me to pick up on a lot of the history of the storied program, and so while my recency bias for guys I’ve actually watched play would probably lead me to talk about J.K. Dobbins’ 1,400-yard season as a freshman in 2017, I will instead go with the more obvious standout freshman running back.

That, of course, is Maurice Clarett.

An Ohio kid like Katzenmoyer, Clarett attended Warren G. Harding High School, where he was awarded Ohio Mr. Football and was named a U.S. Army All-American. Clarett committed to Ohio State coach Jim Tressel in 2002, having already been familiar with the head coach after his previous run at Youngstown State, with Clarett having been born in Youngstown. The 6-foot tailback came to Columbus as the No. 5 RB in the country and a top-40 player nationally.

Much like Smith, Clarett became a household name almost immediately upon his arrival. In the Buckeyes’ very first game of the 2002 season against Texas Tech, Clarett racked up 175 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries as he helped lead Ohio State to a 45-21 victory in front of the home crowd. He followed it up with another two-touchdown performance in a blowout win over Kent State, and from there tallied five-straight games of at least 100 yards rushing, with at least two touchdowns in four of the five games and a 230-yard rushing performance against Washington State.

Despite not playing in three games and battling a shoulder injury in the latter half of the season, Clarett went on to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year after racking up 1,237 yards on the ground — at the time a freshman record — and 18 touchdowns. However, Clarett’s magical first-year run did not stop there, as he was also a pivotal part of Ohio State’s 2002 National Championship.

Clarett scored twice in the hotly contested matchup against Miami, including what would end up being the winning score in double overtime on a 5-yard touchdown run to seal a 31-24 victory for the Buckeyes. He also made a crucial play in that game without the ball in his hands, stripping the ball from Hurricanes’ safety Sean Taylor on an interception return to get Ohio State the ball back.

Obviously Clarett had his issues off the field, but he has since really turned his life around and has become an active member of his community. Clarett has used his struggles to keep others on the right path, sharing his story at prisons, juvenile detention facilities and at youth football camps to keep others from repeating it. He has since been invited back to Ohio State on several occasions, including for the 10-yard anniversary the of 2002 championship season in 2012.

Clarett completely dominated on the field as a freshman, and it is a shame we didn’t get to see how the rest of his collegiate career at Ohio State would have unfolded. Still, the Buckeyes will always be grateful for Clarrett’s role in helping them to win a national title in his first year on campus. Hopefully Smith can be a part of his own national championship run as a freshman with the Buckeyes.

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Google Ohio State film study: What worked — and what didn’t — in the Buckeyes’ win at Michigan State - The New York Times

Ohio State film study: What worked — and what didn’t — in the Buckeyes’ win at Michigan State - The New York Times
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Ohio State film study: What worked — and what didn’t — in the Buckeyes’ win at Michigan State The New York Times

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LGHL Power Two Podcast: Alabama-Georgia will go down as a timeless classic

Power Two Podcast: Alabama-Georgia will go down as a timeless classic
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 28 Georgia at Alabama

Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

An epic battle between two powerhouse programs that will be etched in college football history.

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.

Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio​


Jordan and DJ start today’s show with a general conversation about Roc Nation athletes and DJs’ connections with the NFL. Jordan dives into his boomer opinions about conference realignment and gives the latest update regarding the Mountain West.

This week’s two-minute drill starts with the controversial call that ended the Miami-Virginia Tech game. Mario Cristobal is still a loser, so we anticipate that even with this bailout, there will be a game where it happens.

Jordan shares his thoughts on the dissolution of the Big Ten East and how Maryland, Rutgers, and Indiana stand to benefit from it. They then relish in the beauty that was the Alabama-Georgia game, and wrap up with a lively discussion about Ashton Jeanty and Travis Hunter’s Heisman contention.

For once, we were not completely irritated by the AP Rankings. They could be reordered, but the addition of Indiana and UNLV gives us hope that we are finally rewarding teams for their efforts not just for their conference or previous season.

We are really on a roll in our Pregame Power Sweep, having projected five of the top games from Week 5. For Week 6, we suggested these games:

  • Friday: Syracuse-UNLV
  • Saturday, Noon: Mizzou-A&M or SMU-Louisville
  • Mid-Day: Iowa-Ohio State
  • Primetime: Michigan-Washington\
  • After Dark: Miami-Cal
  • Honorable Mentions: Ole Miss-South Carolina (mid-day), Rutgers-Nebraska (mid-day), and Indiana-Northwestern (mid-day).

In the two-minute warning, Jordan shares his excitement for the New York Yankees being the No. 1 seed. DJ shares an update about the WNBA Playoffs — Round Two starts this week and the matchups will be great basketball to watch.


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 ‘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

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Google How many Ohio State football figures belong on our 40 most influential list? Buckeye Talk Podcast (BONUS EPIS - cleveland.com

How many Ohio State football figures belong on our 40 most influential list? Buckeye Talk Podcast (BONUS EPIS - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

How many Ohio State football figures belong on our 40 most influential list? Buckeye Talk Podcast (BONUS EPIS cleveland.com

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