-
New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.
LGHL Ohio State offers in-state 2025 tight end among several others after busy day of camps
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State offers in-state 2025 tight end among several others after busy day of camps
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Buckeyes look to have several more names worth watching as multiple new offers get sent out.
As if Ohio State’s coaching staff hasn’t sent out enough offers to new names already, Thursday’s camp and visit opportunities presented another impressive amount of new offers to nearly double-digit prospects.
Currently, Ohio State has just one tight end committed to their 2025 class thanks to Oklahoma product, Nate Roberts. The top player on Ohio State and Keenan Bailey’s board this cycle, the Buckeyes having him locked up is a major feat for this class overall, and shows the recruiting chops Bailey has in just a short amount of time.
Still, just having one at the spot leads to the potential for adding one more player at tight end for depth, and Thursday saw a step taken when Ohio State offered in-state prospect Brody Lennon (Gilmour Academy/Gates Mills, Ohio) after a very impressive camp performance.
A 6-foot-4, 220 pound athlete, Lennon is the No. 830 player nationally and 40th best tight end in the country per the 247Sports Composite, and while his ranking may not be as high as the typical Ohio State prospect, the coaching staff obviously saw enough in person to believe he has what it takes.
Additionally, having 20 offers to his name and from the likes of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Wisconsin, and others show he certainly is made for the next level. Following the offer, Lennon already has his return trip to Ohio State scheduled including his official visit plans. Odds are this could be a case of Brody working quickly, which wouldn’t be a shock to see him end up a member of this 2025 class in the near future.
An in-state linebacker, Miller was another camper on Thursday, and he too turned enough heads to make his trip down to Columbus worth his time after leaving with an offer to his name.
A 6-foot-3, 220 pound athlete, Miller has the prototypical frame to be a solid inside linebacker at the next level, with how well he moves, he certainly can play side to side as well. The No. 240 player nationally and the 20th best linebacker in the 2026 class per the 247Sports Composite, Miller is no stranger to Ohio State’s attention. This latest offer further helps the notion of the staff being able to keep yet another in-state kid at home.
A class of 2026 receiver, Hampton was on site Thursday camping for the Buckeyes, and impressed enough to also be the next in line to see an offer from Ohio State.
The No. 464 player nationally and 66th best receiver in the class per the 247Sports Composite, Hampton’s offer from Ohio State is a big time update in his recruitment considering how well the Buckeyes develop and recruit the receiver position thanks to Brian Hartline.
Hartline’s offers are a rarity, so if he believes the kid can play, that is all that needs to be said. Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin and others are already in the mix, but with the Buckeyes now in the fold look for other top programs to also start paying a closer look.
The 2026 offensive lineman was just talked about on Thursday as a potential offer candidate since he’d be on campus, and that’s exactly what happened following his trip to Columbus.
The 6-foot-6, 285 pound athlete is the No. 296 player nationally and 22nd best offensive tackle per the 247Sports Composite. Showing his worth in front of the coaches clearly went well, and now Justin Frye can really start attacking the relationship building. Casting a wider net for offensive tackles seems to be the trend here, ensuring that Ohio State lands who they need.
Ojo’s impressive offer list that includes Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and more will make him another tough target to land with so many other suitors out there, but Ohio State has plenty of reason to show him why Columbus would be a great fit moving forward.
One of two 2027 tight ends from the state of Michigan Ohio State offered on Thursday, Cartwright is already a very impressive 6-foot-4, 200 pound athlete yet to even start his sophomore year of school.
Offers from Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Ole Miss, and a host of others have already been extended, but once again, an Ohio State offer is sure to bring him continued attention as his recruitment only further increases.
Unranked via his 247Sports profile right now, more success this summer will surely change that when the updated grades for the 2027 class are available.
The second Michigan native tight end in the 2027 class to land an offer from Ohio State on Thursday, Niemi really impressed the coaching staff, turning heads of not only Keenan Bailey, but others too.
A 6-foot-5, 210 pound athlete, Holden’s two biggest offers are from Michigan and Ohio State so far, but he definitely falls into the category of a player who will see his recruitment really start to ramp up thanks to his impressive summer camp performances.
Never easy to go into enemy territory and pluck one of the better players in Michigan's back yard, Ohio State is shooting their best shot early and often this 2027 cycle and though Niemi and Cartwright are close to the team up north, the Buckeyes offering allows them to be a real threat for the foreseeable future.
Seeing multiple tweets hinting of at least something pro-Ohio State, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Buckeyes land at least one more BOOOM in the coming 48 hours. Of course, it’s hard to say who it could be, but stay tuned as this weekend surely could bring some more talent to Ohio State’s already top-ranked recruiting class.
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
Buckeyes look to have several more names worth watching as multiple new offers get sent out.
As if Ohio State’s coaching staff hasn’t sent out enough offers to new names already, Thursday’s camp and visit opportunities presented another impressive amount of new offers to nearly double-digit prospects.
In-state 2025 tight end prospect earns OSU offer
Currently, Ohio State has just one tight end committed to their 2025 class thanks to Oklahoma product, Nate Roberts. The top player on Ohio State and Keenan Bailey’s board this cycle, the Buckeyes having him locked up is a major feat for this class overall, and shows the recruiting chops Bailey has in just a short amount of time.
Still, just having one at the spot leads to the potential for adding one more player at tight end for depth, and Thursday saw a step taken when Ohio State offered in-state prospect Brody Lennon (Gilmour Academy/Gates Mills, Ohio) after a very impressive camp performance.
A 6-foot-4, 220 pound athlete, Lennon is the No. 830 player nationally and 40th best tight end in the country per the 247Sports Composite, and while his ranking may not be as high as the typical Ohio State prospect, the coaching staff obviously saw enough in person to believe he has what it takes.
Additionally, having 20 offers to his name and from the likes of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Wisconsin, and others show he certainly is made for the next level. Following the offer, Lennon already has his return trip to Ohio State scheduled including his official visit plans. Odds are this could be a case of Brody working quickly, which wouldn’t be a shock to see him end up a member of this 2025 class in the near future.
After a great camp and conversation with @CoachKee I am blessed to receive and offer to THE Ohio State University!!! @OhioStateFB @Rivals @247Sports @Bill_Kurelic @GALancerAD @GALancerS_C @GALancerFB @CoachTomKaufman @AllenTrieu @Mark__Porter @GregSmithRivals pic.twitter.com/0GdnqtpGvf
— Brody Lennon 3️ (@brody_lennon) June 13, 2024
Plenty of other offers on Thursday
- Storm Miller (Strongsville/Strongsville, Ohio)
An in-state linebacker, Miller was another camper on Thursday, and he too turned enough heads to make his trip down to Columbus worth his time after leaving with an offer to his name.
A 6-foot-3, 220 pound athlete, Miller has the prototypical frame to be a solid inside linebacker at the next level, with how well he moves, he certainly can play side to side as well. The No. 240 player nationally and the 20th best linebacker in the 2026 class per the 247Sports Composite, Miller is no stranger to Ohio State’s attention. This latest offer further helps the notion of the staff being able to keep yet another in-state kid at home.
- Messiah Hampton (James Monroe/Rochester, New York)
A class of 2026 receiver, Hampton was on site Thursday camping for the Buckeyes, and impressed enough to also be the next in line to see an offer from Ohio State.
The No. 464 player nationally and 66th best receiver in the class per the 247Sports Composite, Hampton’s offer from Ohio State is a big time update in his recruitment considering how well the Buckeyes develop and recruit the receiver position thanks to Brian Hartline.
Hartline’s offers are a rarity, so if he believes the kid can play, that is all that needs to be said. Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin and others are already in the mix, but with the Buckeyes now in the fold look for other top programs to also start paying a closer look.
#AGTG After a great camp and conversation with @brianhartline & @ryandaytime I am blessed to recieve an️ffer from THE
️ @CTC4CHANGE @RoeFootball_ @GregCTC585 @BruceJ_55 pic.twitter.com/vtHbSXe1kq
— Messiah (M2) Hampton (@messiah_O8) June 13, 2024
- Felix Ojo (Lake Ridge/Mansfield, Texas)
The 2026 offensive lineman was just talked about on Thursday as a potential offer candidate since he’d be on campus, and that’s exactly what happened following his trip to Columbus.
The 6-foot-6, 285 pound athlete is the No. 296 player nationally and 22nd best offensive tackle per the 247Sports Composite. Showing his worth in front of the coaches clearly went well, and now Justin Frye can really start attacking the relationship building. Casting a wider net for offensive tackles seems to be the trend here, ensuring that Ohio State lands who they need.
Ojo’s impressive offer list that includes Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and more will make him another tough target to land with so many other suitors out there, but Ohio State has plenty of reason to show him why Columbus would be a great fit moving forward.
- Anthony Cartwright (Detroit Country Day/Franklin, Michigan)
One of two 2027 tight ends from the state of Michigan Ohio State offered on Thursday, Cartwright is already a very impressive 6-foot-4, 200 pound athlete yet to even start his sophomore year of school.
Offers from Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Ole Miss, and a host of others have already been extended, but once again, an Ohio State offer is sure to bring him continued attention as his recruitment only further increases.
Unranked via his 247Sports profile right now, more success this summer will surely change that when the updated grades for the 2027 class are available.
- Holden Niemi (Dexter/Dexter, Michigan)
The second Michigan native tight end in the 2027 class to land an offer from Ohio State on Thursday, Niemi really impressed the coaching staff, turning heads of not only Keenan Bailey, but others too.
A 6-foot-5, 210 pound athlete, Holden’s two biggest offers are from Michigan and Ohio State so far, but he definitely falls into the category of a player who will see his recruitment really start to ramp up thanks to his impressive summer camp performances.
Never easy to go into enemy territory and pluck one of the better players in Michigan's back yard, Ohio State is shooting their best shot early and often this 2027 cycle and though Niemi and Cartwright are close to the team up north, the Buckeyes offering allows them to be a real threat for the foreseeable future.
Quick Hits
- So far both official visit weekends this month have brought a commitment to Ohio State’s 2025 class. With another massive opportunity to host some of their top targets this weekend once again, social media got busy with cryptic tweets that more good news could be coming Ohio State’s way.
Seeing multiple tweets hinting of at least something pro-Ohio State, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Buckeyes land at least one more BOOOM in the coming 48 hours. Of course, it’s hard to say who it could be, but stay tuned as this weekend surely could bring some more talent to Ohio State’s already top-ranked recruiting class.
️Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: What is the best individual performance against Ohio State since 2010?
- News
- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: What is the best individual performance against Ohio State since 2010?
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Set Number: X155983 TK1 R2 F17
Which opponent sticks out in your mind as the biggest single-game thorn in the Buckeyes’ side?
Zach Edey averaged 26.7 points per game against Ohio State in Purdue’s final three meetings with the Buckeyes, dating back to the 2022-2023 season. He was the biggest heel in the Buckeyes’ side the last two seasons, but he’s far from the only foe who has put up big games against Ohio State over the past decade.
Ever heard of someone by the last name of Carr, perhaps? That’s a trick question, since every player with the last name Carr tends to drop 20 automatically on Ohio State. More on this later...
Last week, Connor and Justin debated how many Buckeyes will average 10 or more points per game this season. Connor said it would be a max of four players, while Justin said at least five will. For reference, only three Buckeyes averaged double-digits last season.
76% of the readers sided with Connor, saying that at most, four Buckeyes will average double-digits. The remaining 24% agreed with Justin’s lofty expectation.
Connor- 76
This week, the guys are each naming an opposing player that’s had a standout performance against Ohio State. Since the Bucketheads are both millennials, the timeframe is from 2010 to present day. This just misses the very best of Thad Matta’s teams, but still includes one Final Four run and several NCAA Tournament teams.
Three days after going on the road to Carver-Hawkeye Arena and pummeling a bad Iowa team by 29, Ohio State traveled to Champaign to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini, led by future NBA players Brandon Paul and Meyers Leonard.
Paul’s season-high to that point was 28 points, but on Jan. 10, 2012 he blew that number out of the water, dropping a career-high 43 points in a 79-74 win over the fifth-ranked Buckeyes. Paul scored Illinois’ final 15 points of the game to close out Ohio State in a late-night battle that the Buckeyes led by five at halftime.
Led by DeShaun Thomas and Jared Sullinger, who combined for 44 points, Ohio State opened up an 11-point lead early in the second half. But the Illini swung back, with Paul knocking down eight three-pointers, tying the school record. With Illinois up one point and 43 seconds remaining on the clock, Paul buried a long three-pointer over the outstretched arms of Aaron Craft to put the Illini up 74-70. They would not relinquish that lead, beating the No. 5 Buckeyes 79-74.
Paul’s 43 points is still the third-most ever scored in a game by an Illinois player, and is the most an Illinois player has ever scored against the Buckeyes. His 43 points is the fourth-most ever scored against Ohio State in the history of the two programs, and he remains the most recent player to drop 40 points on the Buckeyes. It had been 18 years before that (1994) since someone scored at least 40 points against Ohio State.
Illinois was not good in 2012, finishing ninth in the Big Ten with a 6-12 record. Paul scored 54% of Illinois’ points that night, and hit eight of his team’s 11 three-pointers. What was most impressive about this game — was the fact that Illinois kept going back to Paul, and every time he found a way to either score or draw a foul. The Buckeyes had no answer for the 6-foot-4 junior. Scoring 43 points on 15 shot attempts is a level of efficiency that we may never see again in this sport.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25490924/usa_today_15757624.jpg "NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament-Oral Roberts at Ohio State")
IndyStar-USA TODAY Sports
Over the last decade or so of Ohio State men’s basketball, there is one performance and one game that stands out to me: March 19, 2021, against Oral Roberts and Kevin Obanor.
The forward for Oral Roberts had the game of his career, as the No. 15 seed knocked off the No. 2 seeded Ohio State 75-72 in overtime. Max Abmas also had a great game, recording 29 points and going 10-for-24 from the field. But Abmas was the leading scorer in college basketball that season, so 29 points was not out of the ordinary for him.
However, Obanor scored 30 points and 11 rebounds in 45 minutes and was the true difference maker, with Ohio State having to play very small in the matchup due to Kyle Young being out.
Abmas is very hard to deal with, but you can expect the output from him and really focus on everyone else to limit the damage. When two guys go for 30 against you, it becomes extremely difficult to limit everyone else enough to win the game.
Obanor had a phenomenal season in 2020-21 for Oral Roberts, averaging 18.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, but 30 and 11 was his best game of the season and his career, and he picked a great time to show it.
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
Set Number: X155983 TK1 R2 F17
Which opponent sticks out in your mind as the biggest single-game thorn in the Buckeyes’ side?
Zach Edey averaged 26.7 points per game against Ohio State in Purdue’s final three meetings with the Buckeyes, dating back to the 2022-2023 season. He was the biggest heel in the Buckeyes’ side the last two seasons, but he’s far from the only foe who has put up big games against Ohio State over the past decade.
Ever heard of someone by the last name of Carr, perhaps? That’s a trick question, since every player with the last name Carr tends to drop 20 automatically on Ohio State. More on this later...
Last week, Connor and Justin debated how many Buckeyes will average 10 or more points per game this season. Connor said it would be a max of four players, while Justin said at least five will. For reference, only three Buckeyes averaged double-digits last season.
76% of the readers sided with Connor, saying that at most, four Buckeyes will average double-digits. The remaining 24% agreed with Justin’s lofty expectation.
After 156 weeks:
Connor- 76
Justin- 60
Other- 16
(There have been four ties)
This week, the guys are each naming an opposing player that’s had a standout performance against Ohio State. Since the Bucketheads are both millennials, the timeframe is from 2010 to present day. This just misses the very best of Thad Matta’s teams, but still includes one Final Four run and several NCAA Tournament teams.
This week’s question: What is the best individual performance against Ohio State since 2010?
Connor: Brandon Paul scores 43 as Illinois upsets No. 5 Ohio State (2012)
Three days after going on the road to Carver-Hawkeye Arena and pummeling a bad Iowa team by 29, Ohio State traveled to Champaign to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini, led by future NBA players Brandon Paul and Meyers Leonard.
Paul’s season-high to that point was 28 points, but on Jan. 10, 2012 he blew that number out of the water, dropping a career-high 43 points in a 79-74 win over the fifth-ranked Buckeyes. Paul scored Illinois’ final 15 points of the game to close out Ohio State in a late-night battle that the Buckeyes led by five at halftime.
Led by DeShaun Thomas and Jared Sullinger, who combined for 44 points, Ohio State opened up an 11-point lead early in the second half. But the Illini swung back, with Paul knocking down eight three-pointers, tying the school record. With Illinois up one point and 43 seconds remaining on the clock, Paul buried a long three-pointer over the outstretched arms of Aaron Craft to put the Illini up 74-70. They would not relinquish that lead, beating the No. 5 Buckeyes 79-74.
Paul’s 43 points is still the third-most ever scored in a game by an Illinois player, and is the most an Illinois player has ever scored against the Buckeyes. His 43 points is the fourth-most ever scored against Ohio State in the history of the two programs, and he remains the most recent player to drop 40 points on the Buckeyes. It had been 18 years before that (1994) since someone scored at least 40 points against Ohio State.
Illinois was not good in 2012, finishing ninth in the Big Ten with a 6-12 record. Paul scored 54% of Illinois’ points that night, and hit eight of his team’s 11 three-pointers. What was most impressive about this game — was the fact that Illinois kept going back to Paul, and every time he found a way to either score or draw a foul. The Buckeyes had no answer for the 6-foot-4 junior. Scoring 43 points on 15 shot attempts is a level of efficiency that we may never see again in this sport.
Justin: Kevin Obanor in the 2021 Oral Roberts tournament game
Over the last decade or so of Ohio State men’s basketball, there is one performance and one game that stands out to me: March 19, 2021, against Oral Roberts and Kevin Obanor.
The forward for Oral Roberts had the game of his career, as the No. 15 seed knocked off the No. 2 seeded Ohio State 75-72 in overtime. Max Abmas also had a great game, recording 29 points and going 10-for-24 from the field. But Abmas was the leading scorer in college basketball that season, so 29 points was not out of the ordinary for him.
However, Obanor scored 30 points and 11 rebounds in 45 minutes and was the true difference maker, with Ohio State having to play very small in the matchup due to Kyle Young being out.
Abmas is very hard to deal with, but you can expect the output from him and really focus on everyone else to limit the damage. When two guys go for 30 against you, it becomes extremely difficult to limit everyone else enough to win the game.
Obanor had a phenomenal season in 2020-21 for Oral Roberts, averaging 18.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, but 30 and 11 was his best game of the season and his career, and he picked a great time to show it.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: Who is your favorite Ohio State Buckeye who came from the 614?
- News
- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: Who is your favorite Ohio State Buckeye who came from the 614?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
Friday is the 14th day of the sixth month of the year, which makes it 614 Day. The 614 area code is synonymous with the greater Columbus area. The day has become a holiday of sorts in the capital city of Ohio, as all the greatest people, places, and things from the area are celebrated even more than normal. Even though the 614 area code doesn’t cover as much area as it used to, especially with the recent introduction of the 380 area code, the 614 area code still gets acknowledged as the area code pertaining to Columbus. Plus, there is no March 80th or even 380th day of the year that we celebrate like we do 614 Day.
It would be easy to go on for quite some time about all of our favorite things from Columbus. Instead, we’ll keep it simple and show some love to our favorite Buckeyes who came to Ohio State from the 614. Since the 614 area code essentially covers Franklin County and some parts of a couple of surrounding counties, we’re looking at Ohio State alums who came to the school from Columbus and nearby suburbs. To keep things fun, just use your best judgment when it comes to whether a certain Buckeye can be considered a 614 product.
I can already hear everybody booing even before I mention I’m a New York Yankees fan. Not like I’m not used to it after living in Columbus for nearly 20 years and sporting a Yankees hat pretty much every time I leave the house. Combining my Yankees and Buckeyes fandom made my choice for this question very easy.
Swisher was born in Columbus but spent his teenage years in Parkersburg, West Virginia with his grandparents after his parents divorced. Even though he played high school baseball in West Virginia, I’m still counting Swisher as a Columbus guy since he was born here and spent the first few years of his life in the capital of Ohio. Plus, he loved it here so much that he returned to Columbus to play baseball at Ohio State. Over three seasons with the Buckeyes, Swisher hit .323 in 169 games with 35 home runs and 156 runs batted in.
After going undrafted out of high school, Swisher was selected in the first round with the 16th overall pick of the 2002 MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics. Following a 20-game stint with Oakland in 2004, Swisher became a fixture with the A’s in 2005, smashing 21 home runs and knocking in 74 runs in 131 games, finishing sixth in voting for American League Rookie of the Year. In January 2008, Swisher was traded to the Chicago White Sox, where he would spend a year on the south side.
The White Sox would trade Swisher to the Yankees in November 2008, but there was the question of how long Swisher would be in pinstripes since the Yankees signed Mark Teixeira, and heading into the 2009 season New York had Xavier Nady starting in right field. Nady would end up getting injured early in the season, opening up a spot for Swisher to see regular time in the lineup. The Yankees would go on to win the 2009 World Series.
Even though I wasn’t a fan of Swisher heading to Cleveland following the 2012 season, it ended up being a blessing for New York since they used the compensatory draft pick they received for losing Swisher to draft Aaron Judge, who is probably mashing another home run as you are reading this. Swisher has a larger-than-life personality and you could tell how much he loved playing baseball and entertaining the fans.
It also is apparent how much the university loves Swisher since the playing field at Bill Davis Stadium is named for Swisher. While there can be a debate on who the best football and basketball Ohio State players from Columbus are, there’s no doubt Swisher takes the honor when it comes to baseball.
There is likely a little bit of recency bias and hometown pride baked into this one, but I am going with fellow Pickerington native Jae’Season Tate. When he was a Buckeye, he was an undersized post-player who fought, scratched, and clawed his way on the floor and into being one of the best players on some pretty good OSU teams.
He was never the most athletic or skilled player on the squads, but there were times when he was certainly the most reliable and possibly the best. From the moment he made the 20-ish minute trip to campus as a freshman, Tate was an impact player. As a true freshman in 2014-15, he averaged 8.8 points and 5 rebounds per game for Thad Matta. As a sophomore, that improved to 11.7 points and 6.4 boards, and he added in 1.5 assists as well.
However, his best statistical season came in what proved to be Matta’s final year with the Buckeyes. In 2016-17, Tate led the team with 14.3 points and was second with 6.4 rebounds. But what makes that season stand out in my mind is how rock-solid he was in an otherwise disappointing season.
The Buckeyes finished the season 17-15 (7-11 in Big Ten play), the only time Matta didn’t reach 20 wins in Columbus. However, Tate continued to fight for his team, his coach, and himself. He was the epitome of what you would want a Buckeye to be. He made me proud to be a Buckeye and a Pickerington Tiger.
He followed that up with a good season under Chris Holtmann and then pursued his professional career. After two seasons overseas, Tate worked his way onto the roster of the Houston Rockets and has become a valuable piece of the franchise, even making the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2021.
Jae’Season Tate will likely never be remembered as the best player in the history of Buckeye basketball, but he very well might be my favorite player.
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
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
Friday is the 14th day of the sixth month of the year, which makes it 614 Day. The 614 area code is synonymous with the greater Columbus area. The day has become a holiday of sorts in the capital city of Ohio, as all the greatest people, places, and things from the area are celebrated even more than normal. Even though the 614 area code doesn’t cover as much area as it used to, especially with the recent introduction of the 380 area code, the 614 area code still gets acknowledged as the area code pertaining to Columbus. Plus, there is no March 80th or even 380th day of the year that we celebrate like we do 614 Day.
It would be easy to go on for quite some time about all of our favorite things from Columbus. Instead, we’ll keep it simple and show some love to our favorite Buckeyes who came to Ohio State from the 614. Since the 614 area code essentially covers Franklin County and some parts of a couple of surrounding counties, we’re looking at Ohio State alums who came to the school from Columbus and nearby suburbs. To keep things fun, just use your best judgment when it comes to whether a certain Buckeye can be considered a 614 product.
Today’s question: Who is your favorite Ohio State Buckeye who came from the 614?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: Nick Swisher
I can already hear everybody booing even before I mention I’m a New York Yankees fan. Not like I’m not used to it after living in Columbus for nearly 20 years and sporting a Yankees hat pretty much every time I leave the house. Combining my Yankees and Buckeyes fandom made my choice for this question very easy.
Swisher was born in Columbus but spent his teenage years in Parkersburg, West Virginia with his grandparents after his parents divorced. Even though he played high school baseball in West Virginia, I’m still counting Swisher as a Columbus guy since he was born here and spent the first few years of his life in the capital of Ohio. Plus, he loved it here so much that he returned to Columbus to play baseball at Ohio State. Over three seasons with the Buckeyes, Swisher hit .323 in 169 games with 35 home runs and 156 runs batted in.
After going undrafted out of high school, Swisher was selected in the first round with the 16th overall pick of the 2002 MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics. Following a 20-game stint with Oakland in 2004, Swisher became a fixture with the A’s in 2005, smashing 21 home runs and knocking in 74 runs in 131 games, finishing sixth in voting for American League Rookie of the Year. In January 2008, Swisher was traded to the Chicago White Sox, where he would spend a year on the south side.
The White Sox would trade Swisher to the Yankees in November 2008, but there was the question of how long Swisher would be in pinstripes since the Yankees signed Mark Teixeira, and heading into the 2009 season New York had Xavier Nady starting in right field. Nady would end up getting injured early in the season, opening up a spot for Swisher to see regular time in the lineup. The Yankees would go on to win the 2009 World Series.
Even though I wasn’t a fan of Swisher heading to Cleveland following the 2012 season, it ended up being a blessing for New York since they used the compensatory draft pick they received for losing Swisher to draft Aaron Judge, who is probably mashing another home run as you are reading this. Swisher has a larger-than-life personality and you could tell how much he loved playing baseball and entertaining the fans.
It also is apparent how much the university loves Swisher since the playing field at Bill Davis Stadium is named for Swisher. While there can be a debate on who the best football and basketball Ohio State players from Columbus are, there’s no doubt Swisher takes the honor when it comes to baseball.
Matt’s answer: Jae’Sean Tate
There is likely a little bit of recency bias and hometown pride baked into this one, but I am going with fellow Pickerington native Jae’Season Tate. When he was a Buckeye, he was an undersized post-player who fought, scratched, and clawed his way on the floor and into being one of the best players on some pretty good OSU teams.
He was never the most athletic or skilled player on the squads, but there were times when he was certainly the most reliable and possibly the best. From the moment he made the 20-ish minute trip to campus as a freshman, Tate was an impact player. As a true freshman in 2014-15, he averaged 8.8 points and 5 rebounds per game for Thad Matta. As a sophomore, that improved to 11.7 points and 6.4 boards, and he added in 1.5 assists as well.
However, his best statistical season came in what proved to be Matta’s final year with the Buckeyes. In 2016-17, Tate led the team with 14.3 points and was second with 6.4 rebounds. But what makes that season stand out in my mind is how rock-solid he was in an otherwise disappointing season.
The Buckeyes finished the season 17-15 (7-11 in Big Ten play), the only time Matta didn’t reach 20 wins in Columbus. However, Tate continued to fight for his team, his coach, and himself. He was the epitome of what you would want a Buckeye to be. He made me proud to be a Buckeye and a Pickerington Tiger.
He followed that up with a good season under Chris Holtmann and then pursued his professional career. After two seasons overseas, Tate worked his way onto the roster of the Houston Rockets and has become a valuable piece of the franchise, even making the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2021.
Jae’Season Tate will likely never be remembered as the best player in the history of Buckeye basketball, but he very well might be my favorite player.
Continue reading...
