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2025 FL WR Vernell Brown III (Florida Signee)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 59 Replies
247
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Class: 2025
Position: WR
School: Orlando(FL) Jones
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 165lbs
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HudL
Class: 2025
Position: WR
School: Orlando(FL) Jones
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 165lbs
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2026 FL WR Jabari Brady (Verbal Offer)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 18 Replies
247
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Class: 2026
Position: WR
School: Ft. Lauderdale (FL) Chaminade Madonna
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 185lbs
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HudL
Class: 2026
Position: WR
School: Ft. Lauderdale (FL) Chaminade Madonna
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 185lbs
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LGHL ‘This or That’: What does Ohio State need from its tight end position?
- News
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‘This or That’: What does Ohio State need from its tight end position?
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 Ben Jackson/Getty Images
The Buckeyes have developed a number of productive TEs, but there seems to be additional meat on the bone.
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 taking sides in head-to-head debates. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”This or That” articles here.
Jeff Heuerman, Nick Vannett, Luke Farrell, Jeremy Ruckert, presumably Cade Stover... Ohio State football has experienced plenty of recent success in developing tight ends and sending them to the NFL. Does that mean OSU should be referenced as TE U? No, no it does not. But four TE in nine drafts, with a fifth (Stover) likely on the way is somewhat impressive. Especially when looking at these players’ production while in Columbus. We’re talking a few dozen catches and a few hundred yards per season. Maybe! Farrell, for example, totaled just 380 receiving yards for his entire Buckeye career.
Despite their general lack of production, these big-bodied Buckeye pass catchers have been viewed as NFL prospects because they possess — or have possessed — a well-rounded skillset. Players mentioned above have shown the ability to run, catch, and block, which is what I would call the hybrid model of a TE. On occasion, they (let’s be honest, we’re only talking about Ruckert here) have been able to dominate a drive, a quarter, or a game with their playmaking. But for the most part, these guys have been role players or cogs in the wheel.
While the recent arrangement and/or utilization of these players has been beneficial to all, it seems as if there is a higher ceiling for both team and certain individual(s), especially in a Ryan Day/Brian Hartline-curated offense. I am talking about a Kelce-esque ceiling, as in Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs. The all-world TE blessed with wide receiver skills and Rob Gronkowski size is considered one of the most dangerous weapons in the NFL. And his skillset helps give the Chiefs’ offense a higher ceiling than most. At least higher than the offenses which prefer to deploy a traditional in-line blocker or two. Sure, having Patrick Mahomes doesn’t hurt, but Kelce gives Kansas City an extra (dangerous) weapon. It is akin to having a third, fourth, or fifth wide receiver on the field at all times.
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Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
So should Ohio State stick with a ‘traditional’ hybrid approach (this), especially considering the current roster’s lack of experience along the offensive line? Or will fans and observers see the Buckeyes lean (more) into a ‘new school’ plan of attack, relying heavily upon the TE position (that)? Obviously, personnel will help dictate direction moving forward, but it seems as if Day and Co. have already made their choice regarding this or that...
The choice appears to be embracing the ‘Kelce Way’ of utilizing their TE as a legit weapon rather than just a blunt object. Stover’s usage in 2022 is clear evidence of the shift. This former linebacker, who is not the most skilled pass catcher in the world, reeled in 36 receptions for 406 yards and 5 TD last season, producing one of the best seasons by an OSU TE since Rickey Dudley ran around The Shoe. And we’re talking about a guy in Stover who was playing LB in the 2022 Rose Bowl!
No offense, but he (Stover) is not in the same league, skill-wise, as Kelce, Mark Andrews, or George Kittle. But the Buckeyes still used the heck out of him. And not only did he play a significant role, but he also ended up establishing himself as one of the team’s most valuable offensive assets. This became clear when Stover was knocked out of last season’s Peach Bowl.
Past evidence of desired TE involvement was Day’s attempted utilization of Jeremy Ruckert – which yielded mixed results – while future, further evidence is and has been supported by the recruitment of players like Jelani Thurman, Max LeBlanc, and Ty Lockwood, who Ohio State failed to land. These incoming freshmen and/or freshmen to be, in my humble opinion, profile primarily as pass catchers. Thurman, especially, looks like he was created in a lab using equal parts Kelce and Lebron James. He is the modern TE. He, in theory, could finish with 500, 600, and 700 yards in a season for the Buckeyes.
And that (wordplay, embracing this week’s LGHL theme, get it?) is what I hope we eventually see in Columbus. Because I think taking the metaphorical cover off the TE position and putting the pedal to the metal, is a way for Day, Hartline, and others to take an already potent offense to an even higher level. I mean, imagine Dalton Kincaid, formerly of the Utah Utes, playing in OSU’s offense last year — alongside Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka. JSN would have been forgotten by Week 6!
Now, would there be enough targets to go around, with two, three, or four top-notch WR and a Kelce-type TE on the field? Probably not. Not if Ohio State wanted to maintain balance. But I vote that they (continue to) recruit dynamic playmakers at TE and figure the rest out as you go. At least have a set of plays or a general game plan in place which allows these big men to take advantage of mismatches and put the fear of some deity into opposing linebackers and defensive backs.
I have a hunch that Day and his coaches will do exactly... You guessed it, that. As opposed to recruiting, and then not bothering to target or utilize, block-first TE. The days of Jeremy Ruckert catching 26 balls for 300 yards are (and should be) a thing of the past. Expect more Gee Scott Jr. conversions and far fewer Rashod Berry experiments in the future. And the Buckeyes will be better off – and more potent – as a result.
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 Ben Jackson/Getty Images
The Buckeyes have developed a number of productive TEs, but there seems to be additional meat on the bone.
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 taking sides in head-to-head debates. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”This or That” articles here.
Jeff Heuerman, Nick Vannett, Luke Farrell, Jeremy Ruckert, presumably Cade Stover... Ohio State football has experienced plenty of recent success in developing tight ends and sending them to the NFL. Does that mean OSU should be referenced as TE U? No, no it does not. But four TE in nine drafts, with a fifth (Stover) likely on the way is somewhat impressive. Especially when looking at these players’ production while in Columbus. We’re talking a few dozen catches and a few hundred yards per season. Maybe! Farrell, for example, totaled just 380 receiving yards for his entire Buckeye career.
Despite their general lack of production, these big-bodied Buckeye pass catchers have been viewed as NFL prospects because they possess — or have possessed — a well-rounded skillset. Players mentioned above have shown the ability to run, catch, and block, which is what I would call the hybrid model of a TE. On occasion, they (let’s be honest, we’re only talking about Ruckert here) have been able to dominate a drive, a quarter, or a game with their playmaking. But for the most part, these guys have been role players or cogs in the wheel.
While the recent arrangement and/or utilization of these players has been beneficial to all, it seems as if there is a higher ceiling for both team and certain individual(s), especially in a Ryan Day/Brian Hartline-curated offense. I am talking about a Kelce-esque ceiling, as in Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs. The all-world TE blessed with wide receiver skills and Rob Gronkowski size is considered one of the most dangerous weapons in the NFL. And his skillset helps give the Chiefs’ offense a higher ceiling than most. At least higher than the offenses which prefer to deploy a traditional in-line blocker or two. Sure, having Patrick Mahomes doesn’t hurt, but Kelce gives Kansas City an extra (dangerous) weapon. It is akin to having a third, fourth, or fifth wide receiver on the field at all times.
So should Ohio State stick with a ‘traditional’ hybrid approach (this), especially considering the current roster’s lack of experience along the offensive line? Or will fans and observers see the Buckeyes lean (more) into a ‘new school’ plan of attack, relying heavily upon the TE position (that)? Obviously, personnel will help dictate direction moving forward, but it seems as if Day and Co. have already made their choice regarding this or that...
The choice appears to be embracing the ‘Kelce Way’ of utilizing their TE as a legit weapon rather than just a blunt object. Stover’s usage in 2022 is clear evidence of the shift. This former linebacker, who is not the most skilled pass catcher in the world, reeled in 36 receptions for 406 yards and 5 TD last season, producing one of the best seasons by an OSU TE since Rickey Dudley ran around The Shoe. And we’re talking about a guy in Stover who was playing LB in the 2022 Rose Bowl!
No offense, but he (Stover) is not in the same league, skill-wise, as Kelce, Mark Andrews, or George Kittle. But the Buckeyes still used the heck out of him. And not only did he play a significant role, but he also ended up establishing himself as one of the team’s most valuable offensive assets. This became clear when Stover was knocked out of last season’s Peach Bowl.
Past evidence of desired TE involvement was Day’s attempted utilization of Jeremy Ruckert – which yielded mixed results – while future, further evidence is and has been supported by the recruitment of players like Jelani Thurman, Max LeBlanc, and Ty Lockwood, who Ohio State failed to land. These incoming freshmen and/or freshmen to be, in my humble opinion, profile primarily as pass catchers. Thurman, especially, looks like he was created in a lab using equal parts Kelce and Lebron James. He is the modern TE. He, in theory, could finish with 500, 600, and 700 yards in a season for the Buckeyes.
And that (wordplay, embracing this week’s LGHL theme, get it?) is what I hope we eventually see in Columbus. Because I think taking the metaphorical cover off the TE position and putting the pedal to the metal, is a way for Day, Hartline, and others to take an already potent offense to an even higher level. I mean, imagine Dalton Kincaid, formerly of the Utah Utes, playing in OSU’s offense last year — alongside Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka. JSN would have been forgotten by Week 6!
Now, would there be enough targets to go around, with two, three, or four top-notch WR and a Kelce-type TE on the field? Probably not. Not if Ohio State wanted to maintain balance. But I vote that they (continue to) recruit dynamic playmakers at TE and figure the rest out as you go. At least have a set of plays or a general game plan in place which allows these big men to take advantage of mismatches and put the fear of some deity into opposing linebackers and defensive backs.
I have a hunch that Day and his coaches will do exactly... You guessed it, that. As opposed to recruiting, and then not bothering to target or utilize, block-first TE. The days of Jeremy Ruckert catching 26 balls for 300 yards are (and should be) a thing of the past. Expect more Gee Scott Jr. conversions and far fewer Rashod Berry experiments in the future. And the Buckeyes will be better off – and more potent – as a result.
Continue reading...
2025 TX RB Chad Gasper (Florida Signee)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 0 Replies
247
Rivals
Twitter
HudL
Class: 2025
Position: RB
School: Katy (TX) Jordan
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 195 lbs
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Rivals
HudL
Class: 2025
Position: RB
School: Katy (TX) Jordan
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 195 lbs
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LGHL This or That: Miyan Williams, TreVeyon Henderson both worthy of RB1 role
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This or That: Miyan Williams, TreVeyon Henderson both worthy of RB1 role
CMinnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
Both Buckeyes RBs Will Be Counted Upon For 2023
The tradition of Ohio State running backs is strong and varied over the years. Archie Griffin is firmly established on the “Mount Rushmore” of Ohio State greats, as the only two-time winner of the Heisman Trophy. In the 1980s, players such as Tim Spencer and Keith Byars made their respective marks on the program in a positive fashion for Earle Bruce’s teams.
While John Cooper’s tenure is often derided for a lack of wins versus Michigan, the Buckeyes had players such as Robert Smith and Eddie George carrying the ball, and creating tremendous Ohio State football memories.
Jim Tressel’s teams were traditionally oriented towards ball control, and players such as Chris “Beanie” Wells were often called upon to pound opposing teams into submission. And of course, Urban Meyer, with his spread offense — which was rooted in a power running game — relied on the talents of Carlos Hyde, Ezekiel Elliott, and J.K. Dobbins during his tenure.
So there have been a wide variety of skills and talents over the years from Ohio State running backs, which brings us up to the present day, as Ohio State again has an abundance of talent in its RB room for the upcoming 2023 season. Miyan Williams, TreVeyon Henderson, Chip Trayanum, Dallan Hayden, and Evan Pryor will all be looking for carries when the season begins.
Ohio State fans have grown accustomed to the old adage for their running backs of needing “a pair and a spare.” Ohio State has that, and more, with Williams and Henderson considered to be the “pair,” and Trayanum, Hayden, and Pryor all filling that “spare” role. Considering how precarious Ohio State’s running back depth was at the end of the 2022 season, it is a good thing that there are plenty of spares ready to go in 2023.
Focusing on Williams and Henderson as the likely starters, I tend to think of them as co-starters, each having a unique skill set that fits nicely into the OSU offense. Williams, listed at 5-foot-9, 225 pounds, is more of a power back who is happy to run by you, or over you, as he demonstrated versus Clemson in the 2020 Sugar Bowl. Williams was eventually slowed by injuries at the end of the 2022 season, including following a freak entanglement with a yardage chain.
Henderson — listed at 5-foot-10 and 214 pounds — is capable of power, but usually elicits the oohs and ahs when he breaks out into the open field. Henderson battled injuries throughout 2022 and will be itching to get back to show the college football world the type of player he demonstrated in his freshman season of 2021.
He even admitted that the negativity surrounding his injury and how it was handled inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center briefly led him to consider transferring. However, the former five-star prospect is still a Buckeye and looking to finally meet his full potential as a college running back.
Thunder (Williams) and Lightning (Henderson), both have considerable talents, and both figure prominently for the 2023 Ohio State Buckeyes.
Should it be a case of one over the other? My answer is emphatically no.
The ideal game plan, in my estimation, is to play to each running back’s strengths. In Williams’ case, his power and deceptive shiftiness would make him an ideal candidate to wear down opponents. In the case of Henderson, his explosive speed as both a runner and a receiver out of the backfield — as demonstrated in the video clip up above — would seem to make him perfect to come in to seal the victory, after the opposing defense has been worn down from the power running style of Williams.
How many carries or touches should each get? That is a tough call, as most running backs will tell you that they prefer to stay in the game after they have developed a rhythm. As I wrote up above, looking at how the defense is — or is not — responding to the play of Williams or Henderson would be key for the Ohio State coaching staff. Considering the Buckeyes will be breaking in a brand new quarterback, it may make more sense to rely upon a strong running game, to help get the quarterback better acclimated throughout the early part of the season.
This is just my opinion, but it seemed like Henderson, at times in 2022, was bound and determined to demonstrate his physical toughness, that he was just as tough as Williams. Perhaps that contributed to some of the nagging injuries that he sustained last season.
I guess I would summarize it in a manner or fashion that my late Dad might have said. My Dad enjoyed woodworking, and he would often say that “every tool has a specific purpose.” Could I use the thick end of a screwdriver to try and hammer a nail into a wall? Sure, but why not use the right tool, in this case, a hammer, to do the job?
Every tool has a specific purpose. With this theme of “This or That,” I am of the belief that it is more a case of This AND That, and Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson will both be needed for specific purposes in 2023 for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Continue reading...
CMinnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
Both Buckeyes RBs Will Be Counted Upon For 2023
The tradition of Ohio State running backs is strong and varied over the years. Archie Griffin is firmly established on the “Mount Rushmore” of Ohio State greats, as the only two-time winner of the Heisman Trophy. In the 1980s, players such as Tim Spencer and Keith Byars made their respective marks on the program in a positive fashion for Earle Bruce’s teams.
While John Cooper’s tenure is often derided for a lack of wins versus Michigan, the Buckeyes had players such as Robert Smith and Eddie George carrying the ball, and creating tremendous Ohio State football memories.
Jim Tressel’s teams were traditionally oriented towards ball control, and players such as Chris “Beanie” Wells were often called upon to pound opposing teams into submission. And of course, Urban Meyer, with his spread offense — which was rooted in a power running game — relied on the talents of Carlos Hyde, Ezekiel Elliott, and J.K. Dobbins during his tenure.
So there have been a wide variety of skills and talents over the years from Ohio State running backs, which brings us up to the present day, as Ohio State again has an abundance of talent in its RB room for the upcoming 2023 season. Miyan Williams, TreVeyon Henderson, Chip Trayanum, Dallan Hayden, and Evan Pryor will all be looking for carries when the season begins.
Ohio State fans have grown accustomed to the old adage for their running backs of needing “a pair and a spare.” Ohio State has that, and more, with Williams and Henderson considered to be the “pair,” and Trayanum, Hayden, and Pryor all filling that “spare” role. Considering how precarious Ohio State’s running back depth was at the end of the 2022 season, it is a good thing that there are plenty of spares ready to go in 2023.
Focusing on Williams and Henderson as the likely starters, I tend to think of them as co-starters, each having a unique skill set that fits nicely into the OSU offense. Williams, listed at 5-foot-9, 225 pounds, is more of a power back who is happy to run by you, or over you, as he demonstrated versus Clemson in the 2020 Sugar Bowl. Williams was eventually slowed by injuries at the end of the 2022 season, including following a freak entanglement with a yardage chain.
Henderson — listed at 5-foot-10 and 214 pounds — is capable of power, but usually elicits the oohs and ahs when he breaks out into the open field. Henderson battled injuries throughout 2022 and will be itching to get back to show the college football world the type of player he demonstrated in his freshman season of 2021.
He even admitted that the negativity surrounding his injury and how it was handled inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center briefly led him to consider transferring. However, the former five-star prospect is still a Buckeye and looking to finally meet his full potential as a college running back.
Thunder (Williams) and Lightning (Henderson), both have considerable talents, and both figure prominently for the 2023 Ohio State Buckeyes.
Should it be a case of one over the other? My answer is emphatically no.
The ideal game plan, in my estimation, is to play to each running back’s strengths. In Williams’ case, his power and deceptive shiftiness would make him an ideal candidate to wear down opponents. In the case of Henderson, his explosive speed as both a runner and a receiver out of the backfield — as demonstrated in the video clip up above — would seem to make him perfect to come in to seal the victory, after the opposing defense has been worn down from the power running style of Williams.
How many carries or touches should each get? That is a tough call, as most running backs will tell you that they prefer to stay in the game after they have developed a rhythm. As I wrote up above, looking at how the defense is — or is not — responding to the play of Williams or Henderson would be key for the Ohio State coaching staff. Considering the Buckeyes will be breaking in a brand new quarterback, it may make more sense to rely upon a strong running game, to help get the quarterback better acclimated throughout the early part of the season.
This is just my opinion, but it seemed like Henderson, at times in 2022, was bound and determined to demonstrate his physical toughness, that he was just as tough as Williams. Perhaps that contributed to some of the nagging injuries that he sustained last season.
I guess I would summarize it in a manner or fashion that my late Dad might have said. My Dad enjoyed woodworking, and he would often say that “every tool has a specific purpose.” Could I use the thick end of a screwdriver to try and hammer a nail into a wall? Sure, but why not use the right tool, in this case, a hammer, to do the job?
Every tool has a specific purpose. With this theme of “This or That,” I am of the belief that it is more a case of This AND That, and Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson will both be needed for specific purposes in 2023 for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Continue reading...
