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LGHL You’re Nuts: Behind Enemy Lines - Potential trap games for Ohio State
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You’re Nuts: Behind Enemy Lines - Potential trap games for Ohio State
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images
Which under-the-radar opponent could test the Buckeyes?
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Ohio State’s opponents. From looking at the Big Ten Conference to individual opponents, to specific players, we will bring it all to you. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Behind Enemy Lines” articles here.
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.
Like Owen Wilson and Gene Hackman (still kickin’ at 94), LGHL is going Behind Enemy Lines this week, looking at and breaking down Ohio State’s 2024 opponents. And although I do not share a namesake with either of the actors above – like my esteemed colleague and YN writing partner – I, too, have been known to ignore workplace politics and policy for the sole purpose of saving a fallen soldier...
Alright, I tried to make something work there but one can only do so much with a slightly above-average action movie from two plus decades ago. That being said, it would be fantastic if I found out via my partner’s response that he was indeed named after the man who portrayed Norman Dale in “Hoosiers”.
Getting back to the important stuff, Gene (Ross) and I decided to look at/for teams that could realistically give OSU a scare or a dangerously close game this season. But not in the way that Oregon or Michigan might (and probably will) challenge the Buckeyes. No, we’re talking specifically about trap games. Games – and teams – that might challenge Ohio State unexpectedly.
Always the contrarian/wild card, I’ll say the one that jumps out to me is Michigan State on Sept. 28... Seriously! But not because the overall roster got markedly better. Or because East Lansing is a treacherous place to play. Instead, MSU strikes me as a potential trap game because of the timing and “non-Shoe” venue, as well as the presence of Jonathan Smith and Aidan Chiles, both transplants from Oregon State.
The game at Michigan State will be Ohio State’s first roadie of the season, which in and of itself is not a huge deal. However, OSU’s next two games after the trip to East Lansing are against Iowa and at Oregon. So would we be shocked if the Buckeyes get caught looking ahead just a bit? Not only that, but they (the Buckeyes) do not have a marquee non-con matchup this season, meaning MSU will actually be a big step up in competition for Ryan Day’s squad.
Now let’s give Day the benefit of the doubt and say/assume that Ohio State will be dialed on for Sparty. The other part(s) of the equation is Smith and Chiles. The former guided Oregon State to 18 wins in his last two seasons as the Beavers’ head coach, while the latter was a top-60 player in the 2023 recruiting class before becoming one of the most coveted quarterbacks in this past offseason’s transfer portal.
Do those two (alone) make Michigan State a top-10 team? No, not a chance. But they do comprise what is likely the best coach-QB duo MSU has had since Mark Dantonio and Kirk Cousins.
Look, I’m not trying to say that Ohio State and Michigan State should be a pick ‘em come late September. But Smith, Chiles, and the Spartans are likely going to be a team on the ris. As opposed to the steep decline we’ve seen recently. And that first conference roadie can be tricky. So circle the game in East Lansing and keep an eye on Sparty. Because MSU could present a bigger challenge than it has for several years.
Like Josh, I have my eye on an early-season contest that could present a challenge for the Buckeyes. I do agree that Michigan State might be an early test, as the Spartans should be much improved under Jonathan Smith. As my partner laid out, it will also be a step-up in competition, as the non-conference trio of Akron, Western Michigan and Marshall will be quite a bit easier than the matchup in East Lansing — even if Michigan State isn’t a team many expect to challenge for a Big Ten title or anything like that.
However, the game I want to take a look at is actually the following week at home, where Ohio State will host Iowa.
This game being in Columbus doesn’t make it nearly as scary as it would be at Kinnick, but with Oregon on the schedule the following week, this matchup has big time ‘look-ahead’ potential for the Buckeyes. Add in the fact that the Hawkeyes routinely field one of the best defenses in the country, and a few lapses in focus could put Ryan Day’s group behind the eight ball against an Iowa team they otherwise should beat rather handily.
Offensively, Iowa has finally rid itself of nepotism posterchild Brian Ferentz at offensive coordinator, replacing him with Western Michigan’s Tim Lester. At quarterback, the team brought in Northwestern transfer Brendan Sullivan to compete with Cade McNamara, who missed most of last season with an injury. Luke Lachey returns at tight end and the offensive line will be solid, but as usual there aren’t a ton of explosive weapons at wide receiver or running back that really scare you.
Defensively is obviously where this team makes its hay, and Phil Parker will look to continue his immense success running the group this season. The Hawkeyes return Big Ten tackles leader Jay Higgins at linebacker, and while they lose star corner Cooper DeJean to the NFL, the back end of the defense will once again be strong, headed by Sebastian Castro, who led the team in interceptions last year, and former five-star safety Xavier Nwankpa. Up front, Yahya Black and Aaron Graves present a strong tackle duo, and the defensive end room as a bunch of solid depth.
Ohio State should have the offensive firepower to overcome even an Iowa defense that will likely once again rank near the top of the country, and the Silver Bullets shouldn’t have much of a problem keeping the Hawkeyes out of the end zone. However, with it being the team’s second Big Ten matchup of the year with Oregon looming, all it would take is a lack of focus to find yourself in trouble. A few early turnovers could have the Buckeyes playing from behind, and that isn’t how you want to situate yourself against Iowa.
This could very well be a game where Ohio State jumps out to an early lead and never looks back, much like it did in the 54-10 win last time these two teams met in 2022. However, the Hawkeyes are an opponent that you cannot afford to overlook before the big road trip to Eugene.
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images
Which under-the-radar opponent could test the Buckeyes?
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Ohio State’s opponents. From looking at the Big Ten Conference to individual opponents, to specific players, we will bring it all to you. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Behind Enemy Lines” articles here.
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: Potential trap games for Ohio State
Josh’s Take
Like Owen Wilson and Gene Hackman (still kickin’ at 94), LGHL is going Behind Enemy Lines this week, looking at and breaking down Ohio State’s 2024 opponents. And although I do not share a namesake with either of the actors above – like my esteemed colleague and YN writing partner – I, too, have been known to ignore workplace politics and policy for the sole purpose of saving a fallen soldier...
Alright, I tried to make something work there but one can only do so much with a slightly above-average action movie from two plus decades ago. That being said, it would be fantastic if I found out via my partner’s response that he was indeed named after the man who portrayed Norman Dale in “Hoosiers”.
Getting back to the important stuff, Gene (Ross) and I decided to look at/for teams that could realistically give OSU a scare or a dangerously close game this season. But not in the way that Oregon or Michigan might (and probably will) challenge the Buckeyes. No, we’re talking specifically about trap games. Games – and teams – that might challenge Ohio State unexpectedly.
Always the contrarian/wild card, I’ll say the one that jumps out to me is Michigan State on Sept. 28... Seriously! But not because the overall roster got markedly better. Or because East Lansing is a treacherous place to play. Instead, MSU strikes me as a potential trap game because of the timing and “non-Shoe” venue, as well as the presence of Jonathan Smith and Aidan Chiles, both transplants from Oregon State.
The game at Michigan State will be Ohio State’s first roadie of the season, which in and of itself is not a huge deal. However, OSU’s next two games after the trip to East Lansing are against Iowa and at Oregon. So would we be shocked if the Buckeyes get caught looking ahead just a bit? Not only that, but they (the Buckeyes) do not have a marquee non-con matchup this season, meaning MSU will actually be a big step up in competition for Ryan Day’s squad.
Now let’s give Day the benefit of the doubt and say/assume that Ohio State will be dialed on for Sparty. The other part(s) of the equation is Smith and Chiles. The former guided Oregon State to 18 wins in his last two seasons as the Beavers’ head coach, while the latter was a top-60 player in the 2023 recruiting class before becoming one of the most coveted quarterbacks in this past offseason’s transfer portal.
Do those two (alone) make Michigan State a top-10 team? No, not a chance. But they do comprise what is likely the best coach-QB duo MSU has had since Mark Dantonio and Kirk Cousins.
Look, I’m not trying to say that Ohio State and Michigan State should be a pick ‘em come late September. But Smith, Chiles, and the Spartans are likely going to be a team on the ris. As opposed to the steep decline we’ve seen recently. And that first conference roadie can be tricky. So circle the game in East Lansing and keep an eye on Sparty. Because MSU could present a bigger challenge than it has for several years.
Gene’s Take
Like Josh, I have my eye on an early-season contest that could present a challenge for the Buckeyes. I do agree that Michigan State might be an early test, as the Spartans should be much improved under Jonathan Smith. As my partner laid out, it will also be a step-up in competition, as the non-conference trio of Akron, Western Michigan and Marshall will be quite a bit easier than the matchup in East Lansing — even if Michigan State isn’t a team many expect to challenge for a Big Ten title or anything like that.
However, the game I want to take a look at is actually the following week at home, where Ohio State will host Iowa.
This game being in Columbus doesn’t make it nearly as scary as it would be at Kinnick, but with Oregon on the schedule the following week, this matchup has big time ‘look-ahead’ potential for the Buckeyes. Add in the fact that the Hawkeyes routinely field one of the best defenses in the country, and a few lapses in focus could put Ryan Day’s group behind the eight ball against an Iowa team they otherwise should beat rather handily.
Offensively, Iowa has finally rid itself of nepotism posterchild Brian Ferentz at offensive coordinator, replacing him with Western Michigan’s Tim Lester. At quarterback, the team brought in Northwestern transfer Brendan Sullivan to compete with Cade McNamara, who missed most of last season with an injury. Luke Lachey returns at tight end and the offensive line will be solid, but as usual there aren’t a ton of explosive weapons at wide receiver or running back that really scare you.
Defensively is obviously where this team makes its hay, and Phil Parker will look to continue his immense success running the group this season. The Hawkeyes return Big Ten tackles leader Jay Higgins at linebacker, and while they lose star corner Cooper DeJean to the NFL, the back end of the defense will once again be strong, headed by Sebastian Castro, who led the team in interceptions last year, and former five-star safety Xavier Nwankpa. Up front, Yahya Black and Aaron Graves present a strong tackle duo, and the defensive end room as a bunch of solid depth.
Ohio State should have the offensive firepower to overcome even an Iowa defense that will likely once again rank near the top of the country, and the Silver Bullets shouldn’t have much of a problem keeping the Hawkeyes out of the end zone. However, with it being the team’s second Big Ten matchup of the year with Oregon looming, all it would take is a lack of focus to find yourself in trouble. A few early turnovers could have the Buckeyes playing from behind, and that isn’t how you want to situate yourself against Iowa.
This could very well be a game where Ohio State jumps out to an early lead and never looks back, much like it did in the 54-10 win last time these two teams met in 2022. However, the Hawkeyes are an opponent that you cannot afford to overlook before the big road trip to Eugene.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State’s TC Caffey out with knee injury; Egbuka, Sawyer, Burke at B1G Media Days
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- 0 Replies
Ohio State’s TC Caffey out with knee injury; Egbuka, Sawyer, Burke at B1G Media Days
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Ohio State Running Back TC Caffey Sidelined by Knee Injury
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Egbuka, Sawyer & Burke Will Represent Ohio State at Big Ten Media Days
Ohio State Athletics
I can live with this:
Ohio State Players Seeing “Championship or Bust” Urgency, “Incredible” Leadership in Summer Workouts
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Mike Nugent is undoubtedly the best kicker in Ohio State history
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land
You’re Nuts: What is the most heroic performance you’ve seen from a Buckeye?
Brett Ludwiczak and Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Looking forward to being a lifelong Jeremiah Smith fan:
What superhero would make the best addition to Ohio State’s football roster?
Matt Tamanini and Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land
Who is on Ohio State men’s basketball’s Mount Rushmore?
Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land
Versatile Evan Mahaffey feels home at Ohio State as role changes
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Duane Washington Jr. looking good in the NBA Summer League:
Meechie Johnson, Bruce Thornton believe they can form ‘one of the best backcourts in the country’ this season
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Celeste Taylor signs seven-day contract with Phoenix Mercury
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
You’re Nuts: Is it time to be done with “Crystal Balls” in recruiting?
Connor Lemons and Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land
24 Buckeyes will compete in 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris | Kyle Snyder leads the charge
Dave Biddle, Bucknuts
Who are the 10 best Olympians associated with central Ohio?
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch
Yeah, this looks pretty great:
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
Barbara Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
For your Earholes...
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On the Gridiron
Ohio State Running Back TC Caffey Sidelined by Knee Injury
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Egbuka, Sawyer & Burke Will Represent Ohio State at Big Ten Media Days
Ohio State Athletics
I can live with this:
Ohio State Players Seeing “Championship or Bust” Urgency, “Incredible” Leadership in Summer Workouts
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Mike Nugent is undoubtedly the best kicker in Ohio State history
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land
You’re Nuts: What is the most heroic performance you’ve seen from a Buckeye?
Brett Ludwiczak and Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Looking forward to being a lifelong Jeremiah Smith fan:
Jeremiah Smith is obviously a great football player, but also a great kid
Before even playing a snap at OSU he gave back to his community pic.twitter.com/bZPZPhaNO1
— BuckeyeM️B (@Buckeye_Mob) July 14, 2024
What superhero would make the best addition to Ohio State’s football roster?
Matt Tamanini and Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land
On the Hardwood
Who is on Ohio State men’s basketball’s Mount Rushmore?
Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land
Versatile Evan Mahaffey feels home at Ohio State as role changes
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Duane Washington Jr. looking good in the NBA Summer League:
Meechie Johnson, Bruce Thornton believe they can form ‘one of the best backcourts in the country’ this season
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Celeste Taylor signs seven-day contract with Phoenix Mercury
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
You’re Nuts: Is it time to be done with “Crystal Balls” in recruiting?
Connor Lemons and Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land
Outside the Shoe and Schott
24 Buckeyes will compete in 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris | Kyle Snyder leads the charge
Dave Biddle, Bucknuts
Who are the 10 best Olympians associated with central Ohio?
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch
And now for something completely different...
Yeah, this looks pretty great:
Continue reading...
LGHL Buckeye Heroes: Mike Nugent is undoubtedly the best kicker in Ohio State history
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Buckeye Heroes: Mike Nugent is undoubtedly the best kicker in Ohio State history
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images
The 2004 Lou Groza Award winner holds most of the school’s kicking records.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Ohio State heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history, or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.
There are so many challenges college football coaches have to deal with on and off the field. One of those on the field challenges is finding a reliable place kicker.
Even if you think you have a kicker who is nearly automatic, it seems to never fail that they end up missing when the game is on the line. Just look at Noah Ruggles in the 2022 season, where he was 17-19 before missing a really tough 50-yard field goal with the Buckeyes trailing Georgia by a point late in the fourth quarter.
When it comes to the most reliable kicker in Ohio State history, there is no doubt who has earned that title. Aside from career and single season field goal percentage, which are both held by Ruggles, Mike Nugent holds pretty much every other Ohio State kicking record. Nugent came to Ohio State from Centerville, where he was a teammate of linebacker A.J. Hawk.
Heading into the 2001 season, not only was Jim Tressel trying to find his footing as he transitioned from Youngstown State to Ohio State, the Buckeyes were looking for a new kicker. Mike Nugent and Josh Huston battled it out for the starting position, with Nugent eventually winning the job.
The first year for Nugent wasn’t anything special statistically, as he was 7-14 in field goals and 23-25 on extra points. Luckily for Nugent, Tressel had some patience with the kicker since not only was Nugent a freshman, the Buckeyes were just 7-5 in Tressel’s first season in Columbus.
The 2002 season is where Nugent started to break out and assert himself as one of the top kickers in the country. Not only did Nugent hit 25 of his 28 field goal attempts, he hit all but one of his 46 extra point attempts. Nugent finished the season with 120 total points on an Ohio State team that went on to upset Miami in the BCS National Championship Game.
Along with being a national champion, Nugent was a consensus All-American and named second-team All-Big Ten.
Even though Ohio State wasn’t able to repeat as national champions in 2003, Nugent still put together a strong season for the Buckeyes. Much like his sophomore season, Nugent only missed three of his field goal attempts as a junior, and it marked the first season where he hit all of his extra point attempts.
Overall, the Buckeye offense struggled at times to put points on the scoreboard since they were trying to replace running back Maurice Clarett, but Nugent took care of his business when his number was called. For the second year in a row Nugent was named second-team All-Big Ten.
While Nugent’s senior season wasn’t statistically his best, it certainly was his most memorable in the scarlet and gray. In his final season in Columbus, Nugent was 24-27 on field goal attempts and he hit all 30 of his extra point attempts to finish with 102 points.
What made the season more impressive for Nugent is he hit an incredible 55-yard field goal at the end of regulation to beat Marshall 24-21 in Ohio State’s second game of the season, and the next week he followed it up with five field goals in a 22-14 win at North Carolina State. The five field goals in a game tied Bob Atha’s school single-game record, and was later matched by Josh Huston and Devin Barclay.
Nugent’s spectacular senior season earned him unanimous All-American honors, a first-team All-Big Ten spot, and the prestigious Lou Groza Award as the nation’s best college placekicker. Along with all those accolades, Nugent became the first kicker in school history to be named the team’s MVP. Had it not been for Nugent, the Buckeyes definitely wouldn’t have earned a spot in the BCS, where they went on to defeat Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25529644/53359451.jpg "MasterCard Alamo Bowl")
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Nugent was so impressive during his college career that the New York Jets drafted him with the 47th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. Most teams opt to pick up their placekickers either in the latter rounds of the draft or in free agency, making it rare for kickers to be selected in the first two rounds of the draft. Since 2000, only Sebastian Janikowski has been selected higher in the draft than Nugent.
Following four seasons with the Jets to start his NFL career, Nugent bounced around to a couple teams before finding success back in Ohio with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he spent seven years. The final stop in Nugent’s NFL career was in Arizona, where he would appear in four games for the Cardinals in 2020.
Nugent finished his NFL career by making 265 of his 327 field goal attempts, amassing 1,180 career points. Not only did Nugent have six seasons of at least 100 points, he racked up 132 points for the Bengals in 2011.
Even before his NFL career was over, Nugent was inducted into the Ohio State University Athletic Hall of Fame in September 2019. The Centerville product still holds school records for most field goals made in a career, most field goals made in a season, and is tied for most field goals made in a game. Nugent also has the second-highest career field goal percentage, and three of the top-nine single-season field goal percentages, including the third and fourth-best single-season percentages.
These days with analytics, coaches seem to be relying on kickers less, opting instead to leave the offenses out on the field more. Ryan Day’s thought process might change a bit if he had a kicker like Mike Nugent at his disposal. If there is going to be a kicker to oust Nugent from the throne as the best kicker in school history, they’ll have to put together an incredible career since Nugent is the most decorated Buckeye kicker by a wide margin.
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images
The 2004 Lou Groza Award winner holds most of the school’s kicking records.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Ohio State heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history, or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.
There are so many challenges college football coaches have to deal with on and off the field. One of those on the field challenges is finding a reliable place kicker.
Even if you think you have a kicker who is nearly automatic, it seems to never fail that they end up missing when the game is on the line. Just look at Noah Ruggles in the 2022 season, where he was 17-19 before missing a really tough 50-yard field goal with the Buckeyes trailing Georgia by a point late in the fourth quarter.
When it comes to the most reliable kicker in Ohio State history, there is no doubt who has earned that title. Aside from career and single season field goal percentage, which are both held by Ruggles, Mike Nugent holds pretty much every other Ohio State kicking record. Nugent came to Ohio State from Centerville, where he was a teammate of linebacker A.J. Hawk.
Heading into the 2001 season, not only was Jim Tressel trying to find his footing as he transitioned from Youngstown State to Ohio State, the Buckeyes were looking for a new kicker. Mike Nugent and Josh Huston battled it out for the starting position, with Nugent eventually winning the job.
The first year for Nugent wasn’t anything special statistically, as he was 7-14 in field goals and 23-25 on extra points. Luckily for Nugent, Tressel had some patience with the kicker since not only was Nugent a freshman, the Buckeyes were just 7-5 in Tressel’s first season in Columbus.
The 2002 season is where Nugent started to break out and assert himself as one of the top kickers in the country. Not only did Nugent hit 25 of his 28 field goal attempts, he hit all but one of his 46 extra point attempts. Nugent finished the season with 120 total points on an Ohio State team that went on to upset Miami in the BCS National Championship Game.
Along with being a national champion, Nugent was a consensus All-American and named second-team All-Big Ten.
Even though Ohio State wasn’t able to repeat as national champions in 2003, Nugent still put together a strong season for the Buckeyes. Much like his sophomore season, Nugent only missed three of his field goal attempts as a junior, and it marked the first season where he hit all of his extra point attempts.
Overall, the Buckeye offense struggled at times to put points on the scoreboard since they were trying to replace running back Maurice Clarett, but Nugent took care of his business when his number was called. For the second year in a row Nugent was named second-team All-Big Ten.
While Nugent’s senior season wasn’t statistically his best, it certainly was his most memorable in the scarlet and gray. In his final season in Columbus, Nugent was 24-27 on field goal attempts and he hit all 30 of his extra point attempts to finish with 102 points.
What made the season more impressive for Nugent is he hit an incredible 55-yard field goal at the end of regulation to beat Marshall 24-21 in Ohio State’s second game of the season, and the next week he followed it up with five field goals in a 22-14 win at North Carolina State. The five field goals in a game tied Bob Atha’s school single-game record, and was later matched by Josh Huston and Devin Barclay.
Nugent’s spectacular senior season earned him unanimous All-American honors, a first-team All-Big Ten spot, and the prestigious Lou Groza Award as the nation’s best college placekicker. Along with all those accolades, Nugent became the first kicker in school history to be named the team’s MVP. Had it not been for Nugent, the Buckeyes definitely wouldn’t have earned a spot in the BCS, where they went on to defeat Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl.
Nugent was so impressive during his college career that the New York Jets drafted him with the 47th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. Most teams opt to pick up their placekickers either in the latter rounds of the draft or in free agency, making it rare for kickers to be selected in the first two rounds of the draft. Since 2000, only Sebastian Janikowski has been selected higher in the draft than Nugent.
Following four seasons with the Jets to start his NFL career, Nugent bounced around to a couple teams before finding success back in Ohio with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he spent seven years. The final stop in Nugent’s NFL career was in Arizona, where he would appear in four games for the Cardinals in 2020.
Nugent finished his NFL career by making 265 of his 327 field goal attempts, amassing 1,180 career points. Not only did Nugent have six seasons of at least 100 points, he racked up 132 points for the Bengals in 2011.
Even before his NFL career was over, Nugent was inducted into the Ohio State University Athletic Hall of Fame in September 2019. The Centerville product still holds school records for most field goals made in a career, most field goals made in a season, and is tied for most field goals made in a game. Nugent also has the second-highest career field goal percentage, and three of the top-nine single-season field goal percentages, including the third and fourth-best single-season percentages.
These days with analytics, coaches seem to be relying on kickers less, opting instead to leave the offenses out on the field more. Ryan Day’s thought process might change a bit if he had a kicker like Mike Nugent at his disposal. If there is going to be a kicker to oust Nugent from the throne as the best kicker in school history, they’ll have to put together an incredible career since Nugent is the most decorated Buckeye kicker by a wide margin.
Continue reading...
LGHL What superhero would make the best addition to Ohio State’s football roster?
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- 0 Replies
What superhero would make the best addition to Ohio State’s football roster?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Harun Ozalp/Anadolu via Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Ohio State heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history, or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.
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.
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With its impressive 2024 football roster—arguably one of the most talented in the country on paper—some might argue the Ohio State Buckeyes already have a few superheroes on the squad.
With graduate transfer Will Howard taking over as quarterback, who put up decent stats at Kansas State even without the arsenal of weapons he’ll have at his disposal as a Buckeye, some of the offensive woes should come to an end.
But it’s really the Buckeyes’ roster of skill players that sets them apart from the competition. The one area they could use a little help (and even this is just gravy) is tight end. With Cade Stover heading to the NFL to play for the Texans next year, tight end is the one potential weakness in the Buckeyes’ offense (though don’t fret too much—the Buckeyes still have an experienced tight end in Gee Scott, Jr., a graduate student who put up decent numbers in 2023).
Still, tight end is the one position where they don’t have a superstar. So this is where they could perhaps make use of a Superhero—in this case, Iron Man.
As a hybrid position, elite tight ends must be able to do double duty as an eligible receiver and an effective blocker for the offense. Their size can be a key factor in making them a weapon, and Iron Man has that going for him, coming in at 6’6” in the comics (the same height as legendary tight end Rob Gronkowski, for example), which would give him an advantage both in blocking and receiving.
Additionally, Iron Man’s armor is the source of superhuman strength and the ability to fly, both of which would give him the ability to blast through defensive lines (or simply fly right over them).
He possesses both the physical skills and the smart, intuitive decision-making tight ends must have in order to read and react to plays quickly, with the instincts and superpowers to catch anything that comes your way. Flying would also come into play here, as Iron Man could theoretically catch a ball even if it were off-target, giving the quarterback the option to get rid of the ball quickly under pressure and trust that Iron Man would be there to scoop it up.
Where blocking is concerned, Iron Man has another weapon in his arsenal, in addition to his strength—his energy projection ability. Imagine being a defender, trying to go up against Iron Man, and he simply blasts you with a burst of energy to keep you back. It would be hard to combat that as an average human (or even a very talented above-average human).
I don’t know that the Buckeyes need much help from a superhero on this season’s roster, but if the opportunity to recruit Iron Man presented itself, suffice it to say I wouldn’t balk at the idea.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25530380/the_thing_fantastic_four_ohio_state_offensive_line.jpg)
You know, if this question had been posed slightly differently, I would have gone with Batman, because while he wouldn’t bring nearly as much to the field as the heroes who have been injected with a super-serum, bitten by a radioactive spider, or is made nearly invincible by the rays of a yellow sun, in today’s world of college football, having a billionaire like Bruce Wayne able to funnel a shit-ton of money into NIL would be helpful.
However, the question specifically mentions the Buckeyes’ roster. So, it needs to be someone who can help as a player. And — again, unfortunately — it does need to be a superhero, otherwise, I would be taking Thanos in a heartbeat. In addition to being absolutely massively imposing figure, imagine him as an offensive lineman leading the way for TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins as he has the ability to literally snap his fingers to eliminate half of the opposing defense.
Alas, I have to go with a good guy. So, I am picking Ben Grimm, The Fantastic Four founding member known as The Thing. First off, he went to Empire State University on a football scholarship, so we know that he’s got the football pedigree to be a contributor for the Buckeyes. Secondly, according to Marvel, The Thing officially measures at 6-foot, 500 pounds, although, like most athletic measurements, those appear to be less than reliable. Nonetheless, can you imagine a rock-solid, 500-pounder stepping into right guard for the Buckeyes this season?
The OSU offensive line is the most suspect part of the roster heading into this season. However, it does appear to be settled that Josh Simmons and Donovan Jackson will handle the left side with Seth McLaughlin taking over at center after transferring from Alabama. Then, at right tackle, Josh Fryar will stay there. That means that the biggest opening would be at RG, and while you probably want a guard to be taller than 6-feet, it’s tough to argue with Grimm’s build.
Also, there shouldn’t be any concern about him picking up the complicated offensive line protections in Columbus. He studied engineering while in college, was a military pilot, and eventually an astronaut. So his mental acuity wouldn’t be in question at a position that notoriously takes a while to pick up the playbook.
So, Buckeye Nation, help me in welcoming your new starting right guard, Ben “The Thing” Grimm. ”It’s clobberin’ time!”
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
Photo by Harun Ozalp/Anadolu via Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Ohio State heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history, or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.
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.
Today’s Question: What superhero would make the best addition to Ohio State’s football roster?
Jami’s Take: Iron Man at Tight End
With its impressive 2024 football roster—arguably one of the most talented in the country on paper—some might argue the Ohio State Buckeyes already have a few superheroes on the squad.
With graduate transfer Will Howard taking over as quarterback, who put up decent stats at Kansas State even without the arsenal of weapons he’ll have at his disposal as a Buckeye, some of the offensive woes should come to an end.
But it’s really the Buckeyes’ roster of skill players that sets them apart from the competition. The one area they could use a little help (and even this is just gravy) is tight end. With Cade Stover heading to the NFL to play for the Texans next year, tight end is the one potential weakness in the Buckeyes’ offense (though don’t fret too much—the Buckeyes still have an experienced tight end in Gee Scott, Jr., a graduate student who put up decent numbers in 2023).
Still, tight end is the one position where they don’t have a superstar. So this is where they could perhaps make use of a Superhero—in this case, Iron Man.
As a hybrid position, elite tight ends must be able to do double duty as an eligible receiver and an effective blocker for the offense. Their size can be a key factor in making them a weapon, and Iron Man has that going for him, coming in at 6’6” in the comics (the same height as legendary tight end Rob Gronkowski, for example), which would give him an advantage both in blocking and receiving.
Additionally, Iron Man’s armor is the source of superhuman strength and the ability to fly, both of which would give him the ability to blast through defensive lines (or simply fly right over them).
He possesses both the physical skills and the smart, intuitive decision-making tight ends must have in order to read and react to plays quickly, with the instincts and superpowers to catch anything that comes your way. Flying would also come into play here, as Iron Man could theoretically catch a ball even if it were off-target, giving the quarterback the option to get rid of the ball quickly under pressure and trust that Iron Man would be there to scoop it up.
Where blocking is concerned, Iron Man has another weapon in his arsenal, in addition to his strength—his energy projection ability. Imagine being a defender, trying to go up against Iron Man, and he simply blasts you with a burst of energy to keep you back. It would be hard to combat that as an average human (or even a very talented above-average human).
I don’t know that the Buckeyes need much help from a superhero on this season’s roster, but if the opportunity to recruit Iron Man presented itself, suffice it to say I wouldn’t balk at the idea.
Matt’s Take: The Fantastic Four’s The Thing at Right Guard
You know, if this question had been posed slightly differently, I would have gone with Batman, because while he wouldn’t bring nearly as much to the field as the heroes who have been injected with a super-serum, bitten by a radioactive spider, or is made nearly invincible by the rays of a yellow sun, in today’s world of college football, having a billionaire like Bruce Wayne able to funnel a shit-ton of money into NIL would be helpful.
However, the question specifically mentions the Buckeyes’ roster. So, it needs to be someone who can help as a player. And — again, unfortunately — it does need to be a superhero, otherwise, I would be taking Thanos in a heartbeat. In addition to being absolutely massively imposing figure, imagine him as an offensive lineman leading the way for TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins as he has the ability to literally snap his fingers to eliminate half of the opposing defense.
Alas, I have to go with a good guy. So, I am picking Ben Grimm, The Fantastic Four founding member known as The Thing. First off, he went to Empire State University on a football scholarship, so we know that he’s got the football pedigree to be a contributor for the Buckeyes. Secondly, according to Marvel, The Thing officially measures at 6-foot, 500 pounds, although, like most athletic measurements, those appear to be less than reliable. Nonetheless, can you imagine a rock-solid, 500-pounder stepping into right guard for the Buckeyes this season?
The OSU offensive line is the most suspect part of the roster heading into this season. However, it does appear to be settled that Josh Simmons and Donovan Jackson will handle the left side with Seth McLaughlin taking over at center after transferring from Alabama. Then, at right tackle, Josh Fryar will stay there. That means that the biggest opening would be at RG, and while you probably want a guard to be taller than 6-feet, it’s tough to argue with Grimm’s build.
Also, there shouldn’t be any concern about him picking up the complicated offensive line protections in Columbus. He studied engineering while in college, was a military pilot, and eventually an astronaut. So his mental acuity wouldn’t be in question at a position that notoriously takes a while to pick up the playbook.
So, Buckeye Nation, help me in welcoming your new starting right guard, Ben “The Thing” Grimm. ”It’s clobberin’ time!”
Let us know who you are agreeing with:
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: What is the most heroic performance you’ve seen from a Buckeye?
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You’re Nuts: What is the most heroic performance you’ve seen from a Buckeye?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Ohio State heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history, or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.
There are times when a player puts a team on his back and wills them to victory. It could be either from a player performing at such a high level they bring up their teammates, or they might be fighting through personal or physical issues and their presence inspires their teammates, much like Willis Reed did for the New York Knicks when he hobbled out for Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals.
Today we want to know about some heroic performances by Ohio State players over the years. When we say heroic it doesn’t necessarily mean a player was physically injured like Reed was in the NBA Finals. Maybe it was a Buckeye who was playing out of his mind in a game, which resulted in Ohio State winning an important game. What are some performances by the Buckeyes that will live forever in Ohio State lore?
Games at Penn State are never easy for Ohio State. The Buckeyes entered the late October contest in State College undefeated and ranked second in the country. Ohio State took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter but the Nittany Lions fought back and took a 21-16 lead early in the fourth quarter. On the next drive, the Buckeyes regained the lead in just three plays when TreVeyon Henderson scampered 41 yards for a score.
With Ohio State holding a 23-21 lead, J.T. Tuimoloau really put his stamp on the game. The five-star defensive end had already been a handful for the Nittany Lions throughout the game prior to the drive, as earlier in the game he tipped a pass that ended up being intercepted by teammate Zach Harrison. Then on the second play of Penn State’s drive after Ohio State regained the lead, Tuimoloau sacked quarterback Sean Clifford while forcing a fumble and recovering the football. On the very next play, C.J. Stroud found Cade Stover for a 24-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 30-21.
Following a Penn State field goal, the Buckeyes would again find the end zone to restore their two-score lead with less than three minutes to go. Tuimoloau still had one more trick up his sleeve, as on his next defensive snap he leaped to pick off Clifford and return the interception 14 yards for a score. When it was all said and done, Tuimoloau finished with six tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, a pass breakup, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a defensive touchdown.
How good was Tuimoloau on that day in State College? The Seattle product was just the second FBS player since 2000 with two interceptions, two sacks, and a forced fumble in a game. What we saw from Tuimoloau back in 2022 against Penn State is not only in the conversation as one of the best defensive performances in a game by a player in Buckeye history, it is one of the most dominant defensive performances in a game in college football history.
What makes Tuimoloau’s historic game even more memorable is it came in a game where Ohio State was on the ropes. Penn State had all the momentum after taking the lead in the fourth quarter and the tide was turned with Tuimoloau’s efforts. Had it not been for Tuimoloau, the Buckeyes might have not gone on to win the game and make the College Football Playoff. Tuimoloau set the bar very high for the best individual defensive performance in a game in school history.
It’s funny, when Brett suggested this week’s topic, I immediately thought of J.T. over Penn State... little did I know that he also was thinking of J.T. against the Nits. The only thing is that we had different J.T.s in. mind; he went with Jaylahn and I went with Joe Thomas.
Midway through the third quarter of the Buckeyes’ 2017 game in Columbus, the visiting Nittany Lions led by 15, but with the ball in J.T. Barrett’s hands, the OSU offense was essentially perfect in the final quarter. Barrett went 13-for-13 for 170 yards in the final frame — including three touchdowns. The Bucks outscored PSU 19-3 in the final quarter to win 39-38.
On the day, Barrett was 33-of-39 for 318 yards passing and 4 TDs; he had an additional 95 yards on the ground. Decked out in those odd, all-gray uniforms, Barrett led a team that was looking to avoid losses to the Lions in consecutive years — something that has never happened in the history of this rivalry.
To me, this game is the peak of Barrett’s career. While he might never be considered amongst the best quarterbacks in Ohio State history, I think it is difficult to argue against him being one of the greatest. To me, the best is about athleticism, skills, physical dominance, etc. But greatest takes into account so much more: wins, leadership, record vs. your rival, the totality of your career.
J.T. Barrett left an inarguably massive mark on the Ohio State football program and his legacy should never be forgotten. He might not have been Superman, but he was a more than capable Clark Kent; under the radar, stepping up when he was called upon, and being the right kind of hero when his team needed him the most.
There is no doubt that this is The J.T. Barrett Game!
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Ohio State heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history, or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.
There are times when a player puts a team on his back and wills them to victory. It could be either from a player performing at such a high level they bring up their teammates, or they might be fighting through personal or physical issues and their presence inspires their teammates, much like Willis Reed did for the New York Knicks when he hobbled out for Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals.
Today we want to know about some heroic performances by Ohio State players over the years. When we say heroic it doesn’t necessarily mean a player was physically injured like Reed was in the NBA Finals. Maybe it was a Buckeye who was playing out of his mind in a game, which resulted in Ohio State winning an important game. What are some performances by the Buckeyes that will live forever in Ohio State lore?
Today’s question: What is the most heroic performance you have seen from a Buckeye?
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: J.T. Tuimoloau against Penn State in 2022
Games at Penn State are never easy for Ohio State. The Buckeyes entered the late October contest in State College undefeated and ranked second in the country. Ohio State took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter but the Nittany Lions fought back and took a 21-16 lead early in the fourth quarter. On the next drive, the Buckeyes regained the lead in just three plays when TreVeyon Henderson scampered 41 yards for a score.
With Ohio State holding a 23-21 lead, J.T. Tuimoloau really put his stamp on the game. The five-star defensive end had already been a handful for the Nittany Lions throughout the game prior to the drive, as earlier in the game he tipped a pass that ended up being intercepted by teammate Zach Harrison. Then on the second play of Penn State’s drive after Ohio State regained the lead, Tuimoloau sacked quarterback Sean Clifford while forcing a fumble and recovering the football. On the very next play, C.J. Stroud found Cade Stover for a 24-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 30-21.
Following a Penn State field goal, the Buckeyes would again find the end zone to restore their two-score lead with less than three minutes to go. Tuimoloau still had one more trick up his sleeve, as on his next defensive snap he leaped to pick off Clifford and return the interception 14 yards for a score. When it was all said and done, Tuimoloau finished with six tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, a pass breakup, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a defensive touchdown.
How good was Tuimoloau on that day in State College? The Seattle product was just the second FBS player since 2000 with two interceptions, two sacks, and a forced fumble in a game. What we saw from Tuimoloau back in 2022 against Penn State is not only in the conversation as one of the best defensive performances in a game by a player in Buckeye history, it is one of the most dominant defensive performances in a game in college football history.
What makes Tuimoloau’s historic game even more memorable is it came in a game where Ohio State was on the ropes. Penn State had all the momentum after taking the lead in the fourth quarter and the tide was turned with Tuimoloau’s efforts. Had it not been for Tuimoloau, the Buckeyes might have not gone on to win the game and make the College Football Playoff. Tuimoloau set the bar very high for the best individual defensive performance in a game in school history.
Matt’s answer: J.T. Barett against Penn State in 2017
It’s funny, when Brett suggested this week’s topic, I immediately thought of J.T. over Penn State... little did I know that he also was thinking of J.T. against the Nits. The only thing is that we had different J.T.s in. mind; he went with Jaylahn and I went with Joe Thomas.
Midway through the third quarter of the Buckeyes’ 2017 game in Columbus, the visiting Nittany Lions led by 15, but with the ball in J.T. Barrett’s hands, the OSU offense was essentially perfect in the final quarter. Barrett went 13-for-13 for 170 yards in the final frame — including three touchdowns. The Bucks outscored PSU 19-3 in the final quarter to win 39-38.
On the day, Barrett was 33-of-39 for 318 yards passing and 4 TDs; he had an additional 95 yards on the ground. Decked out in those odd, all-gray uniforms, Barrett led a team that was looking to avoid losses to the Lions in consecutive years — something that has never happened in the history of this rivalry.
To me, this game is the peak of Barrett’s career. While he might never be considered amongst the best quarterbacks in Ohio State history, I think it is difficult to argue against him being one of the greatest. To me, the best is about athleticism, skills, physical dominance, etc. But greatest takes into account so much more: wins, leadership, record vs. your rival, the totality of your career.
J.T. Barrett left an inarguably massive mark on the Ohio State football program and his legacy should never be forgotten. He might not have been Superman, but he was a more than capable Clark Kent; under the radar, stepping up when he was called upon, and being the right kind of hero when his team needed him the most.
There is no doubt that this is The J.T. Barrett Game!
Continue reading...
