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LGHL You’re Nuts: What would a successful first year look like for Jake Diebler?
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You’re Nuts: What would a successful first year look like for Jake Diebler?
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by David Berding/Getty Images
How much leeway are you giving the first-year head coach?
First-year head coaches often get some wiggle room from the fans and the athletic department if their inaugural season doesn’t go as well as they’d hoped. Traditionally, building a roster and momentum takes time. You need to recruit well, add a transfer player or two, and bring the most out of the players you have.
With the automatic transfer rule now in effect as well as unlimited number transfers and name, image, and likeness compensation, the expectations for coaches — even in their first year — has changed. How will this impact Jake Diebler this year?
Last week, Connor and Justin debated which Marvel hero or villain would be the biggest force on the court. Justin won the vote with Hawkeye, which garnered 56% of the reader vote. Connor went with Thanos, and the Mad Titan only earned 44%.
Connor- 75
Ohio State fans are restless for the program to fire on all cylinders again. The firing of Holtmann and appointment of Diebler as interim head coach in February shook the fanbase out of an apathetic trance when he started things off by beating No. 2 Purdue. But now that he’s the permanent coach, the warm fuzzies from last season have worn off.
People want to see a winner again, even if it’s a first-time head coach leading the program.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25343607/usa_today_22805773.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Having an Ohio-born guy from a small town in northwest Ohio leading the Ohio State men’s basketball program is a great story, and the fact that he’s also a first-time head coach and the brother of one one of the most beloved players in program history makes it even easier to feel warm and fuzzy about the hire. But don’t get it twisted, Diebler isn’t going to get much wiggle room in year one.
Ross Bjork could’ve gone any number of ways with his first hire. His budget wasn’t unlimited, but the first-year athletic director had the funds needed to take a swing at a sitting high-major coach. Even with several alleged targets like Creighton’s Greg McDermott and South Carolina’s Lamont Paris off the board, there were plenty of experienced coaches at power conference schools that could have been persuaded to come to Ohio State.
Ohio State fans would not have given that coach a pass for a bad first year — they’re not going to do it for Jake Diebler either if that was to happen.
Chris Holtmann made it to the NCAA Tournament in four out of six seasons and won the first round game in three of those four appearances. His Buckeyes never won a Big Ten title, but almost always finished in the top half of the conference. That would satisfy a lot of schools, but the vibes had gone stale, people were growing apathetic, and Ohio State fans expect more.
Because that wasn’t enough to keep Holtmann the job after a pretty strong start to his tenure in Columbus, I don’t think anyone is going to give Diebler a “pass” or any wiggle room if this first season doesn’t go well. With the roster additions via recruiting and incoming transfers, many national writers are expecting this to be a top-25 team in the pre-season. The bar will be exceptionally high for the first-year coach.
Simply making the NCAA Tournament or finishing in the top half of the Big Ten won’t warrant a parade. Holtmann did that most years, and he was fired with zero notice 12 hours after a February loss and escorted out of town before he even had a chance to blink.
The bar has been raised for Diebler. To get a nod of approval from the fanbase, I think he’ll have to accomplish something that results in a new banner being hung in the rafters.
No, that doesn’t mean he needs to win a national championship this year. But I do think Ohio State needs to either win the Big Ten, win the Big Ten Tournament, or make it to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament to make it a “successful” season. Any of those things would result in cutting down nets and needing to sew new words on one of the banners hanging high above the court at the Schottenstein Center.
If the team finishes short of those things, will he be fired? No, absolutely not. But they also won’t be able to reflect back on the season and say “We made progress from what the last guy did.”
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25471827/2087460090.jpg "Ohio State v Illinois")
Photo by David Berding/Getty Images
For me, this is as simple as it gets. Chris Holtmann was fired because Ohio State missed the tournament (or was going to) two-straight seasons. When Ohio State moved on from Thad Matta, they had missed the tournament for two-straight seasons.
The minimum expectation for men’s hoops in Columbus is clear: Make the NCAA Tournament. It is not the main goal, but it is the minimum. Jake Diebler should get them back there.
In college basketball today, it is much easier to flip over a roster right away. A good example is quite literally Ohio State. They will likely be starting Bruce Thornton and four transfer players. Meechie Johnson, Micah Parrish, Sean Stewart, and Aaron Bradshaw are all talented and will immediately impact the Buckeyes.
Plus, Juni Mobley has been one of the most talked-about high school seniors this past season, and will bring immediate shooting to the roster, which will be needed.
They also are returning their starting point guard of the last two years, which is an important piece to bring back. Thornton will be able to help the team mesh as the guy who runs the offense.
Another thing that is hard to quantify but easy to see is vibes — and the vibes around this team are high. Towards the middle of the last season, it was clear that this would be Holtmann’s last season, and negativity like that can wear down a team.
Now, there is a new coach and a newfound energy around the team that Jake Diebler has brought. We all saw it last year, and now he can transfer that energy into this season and this new-look team.
And go back to the NCAA Tournament and go from there.
Continue reading...
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by David Berding/Getty Images
How much leeway are you giving the first-year head coach?
First-year head coaches often get some wiggle room from the fans and the athletic department if their inaugural season doesn’t go as well as they’d hoped. Traditionally, building a roster and momentum takes time. You need to recruit well, add a transfer player or two, and bring the most out of the players you have.
With the automatic transfer rule now in effect as well as unlimited number transfers and name, image, and likeness compensation, the expectations for coaches — even in their first year — has changed. How will this impact Jake Diebler this year?
Last week, Connor and Justin debated which Marvel hero or villain would be the biggest force on the court. Justin won the vote with Hawkeye, which garnered 56% of the reader vote. Connor went with Thanos, and the Mad Titan only earned 44%.
After 154 weeks:
Connor- 75
Justin- 59
Other- 16
(There have been four ties)
Ohio State fans are restless for the program to fire on all cylinders again. The firing of Holtmann and appointment of Diebler as interim head coach in February shook the fanbase out of an apathetic trance when he started things off by beating No. 2 Purdue. But now that he’s the permanent coach, the warm fuzzies from last season have worn off.
People want to see a winner again, even if it’s a first-time head coach leading the program.
This week’s question: What would a successful first year look like for Jake Diebler?
Connor: Hang a banner
Having an Ohio-born guy from a small town in northwest Ohio leading the Ohio State men’s basketball program is a great story, and the fact that he’s also a first-time head coach and the brother of one one of the most beloved players in program history makes it even easier to feel warm and fuzzy about the hire. But don’t get it twisted, Diebler isn’t going to get much wiggle room in year one.
Ross Bjork could’ve gone any number of ways with his first hire. His budget wasn’t unlimited, but the first-year athletic director had the funds needed to take a swing at a sitting high-major coach. Even with several alleged targets like Creighton’s Greg McDermott and South Carolina’s Lamont Paris off the board, there were plenty of experienced coaches at power conference schools that could have been persuaded to come to Ohio State.
Ohio State fans would not have given that coach a pass for a bad first year — they’re not going to do it for Jake Diebler either if that was to happen.
Chris Holtmann made it to the NCAA Tournament in four out of six seasons and won the first round game in three of those four appearances. His Buckeyes never won a Big Ten title, but almost always finished in the top half of the conference. That would satisfy a lot of schools, but the vibes had gone stale, people were growing apathetic, and Ohio State fans expect more.
Because that wasn’t enough to keep Holtmann the job after a pretty strong start to his tenure in Columbus, I don’t think anyone is going to give Diebler a “pass” or any wiggle room if this first season doesn’t go well. With the roster additions via recruiting and incoming transfers, many national writers are expecting this to be a top-25 team in the pre-season. The bar will be exceptionally high for the first-year coach.
Simply making the NCAA Tournament or finishing in the top half of the Big Ten won’t warrant a parade. Holtmann did that most years, and he was fired with zero notice 12 hours after a February loss and escorted out of town before he even had a chance to blink.
The bar has been raised for Diebler. To get a nod of approval from the fanbase, I think he’ll have to accomplish something that results in a new banner being hung in the rafters.
No, that doesn’t mean he needs to win a national championship this year. But I do think Ohio State needs to either win the Big Ten, win the Big Ten Tournament, or make it to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament to make it a “successful” season. Any of those things would result in cutting down nets and needing to sew new words on one of the banners hanging high above the court at the Schottenstein Center.
If the team finishes short of those things, will he be fired? No, absolutely not. But they also won’t be able to reflect back on the season and say “We made progress from what the last guy did.”
Justin: Make the NCAA Tournament
For me, this is as simple as it gets. Chris Holtmann was fired because Ohio State missed the tournament (or was going to) two-straight seasons. When Ohio State moved on from Thad Matta, they had missed the tournament for two-straight seasons.
The minimum expectation for men’s hoops in Columbus is clear: Make the NCAA Tournament. It is not the main goal, but it is the minimum. Jake Diebler should get them back there.
In college basketball today, it is much easier to flip over a roster right away. A good example is quite literally Ohio State. They will likely be starting Bruce Thornton and four transfer players. Meechie Johnson, Micah Parrish, Sean Stewart, and Aaron Bradshaw are all talented and will immediately impact the Buckeyes.
Plus, Juni Mobley has been one of the most talked-about high school seniors this past season, and will bring immediate shooting to the roster, which will be needed.
They also are returning their starting point guard of the last two years, which is an important piece to bring back. Thornton will be able to help the team mesh as the guy who runs the offense.
Another thing that is hard to quantify but easy to see is vibes — and the vibes around this team are high. Towards the middle of the last season, it was clear that this would be Holtmann’s last season, and negativity like that can wear down a team.
Now, there is a new coach and a newfound energy around the team that Jake Diebler has brought. We all saw it last year, and now he can transfer that energy into this season and this new-look team.
And go back to the NCAA Tournament and go from there.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: Where will you be starting your Dynasty in College Football 25?
- News
- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: Where will you be starting your Dynasty in College Football 25?
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
It would be far too easy to ride with the Buckeyes...
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.
The story of summer 2024 – despite what else you may have heard or believe – is and will be, even when history is revisited many years from now, the long-awaited return of EA Sports’ college football video game.
That’s right, after an 11-year hiatus, the next iteration of EA’s college football series is dropping on July 19, ending a decade plus of misery for sports gamers across the world. EA College Football’s return to glory (no pun intended) has been several years in the making, with hurdles to clear and many false starts along the way.
Details about the game have been slowly leaking out for months, however, it wasn’t until a few weeks ago that visuals, game modes, and other specifics really began to emerge. Which finally started to make it feel real for NCAA/EA college football-heads like myself.
And the timing could not possibly be any better. Because we are about to enter the dog days of summer, meaning there are far fewer sporting options to choose from. Especially if you’ve given up on baseball like I have. In that (my) case, the major sports calendar gets or becomes pretty bare after the NBA and NHL finals. Fortunately we get the Summer Olympics to help bridge the gap this year, but I can only watch so much diving, equestrian, and sailing... No offense.
So suffice it to say that I plan on picking up the sticks and playing EA College Football 25 until my thumbs hurt this summer. I’ve already told my wife and daughter that I will be going on a “daddy sabbatical” beginning July 19. I’ll still be present for dinner and bedtime, but don’t expect much else.
With the game and its release being such a hot topic, Gene and I decided that for today’s edition of You’re Nuts, we would look ahead to EACF25’s eventual release and discuss which teams we plan on starting a dynasty with. Dynasty mode is inarguably the game’s best mode, and we are both looking forward to either building a new powerhouse program or returning a past power to prominence.
Since I am an Ohio guy, I want to choose an in-state team for my dynasty. However, running the table with Ohio State – from now until my next video game retirement – would be far too easy. For that reason, I will be packing my virtual bags and office and heading about an hour south, down I-71 to Cincinnati, where I will restore the Bearcats to a respectable program (and more).
In UC’s first season under Scott Satterfield – and first season as a member of the Big 12 – the Bearcats went a dreadful 3-9 and 1-8 in the conference. Simply put, that stinks. So Satterfield will be heading back to a non-Power 5 school while Nippert Stadium becomes The House That Dooley Built.
But taking over Cincinnati is about more than just building a dynasty with an Ohio team. I also want to establish dominance in a P5 conference — with a team that has not been historically dominant. Upon doing so, I can then parlay the Bearcats’ future success into a bigger, better opportunity for myself, a la Brian Kelly and Luke Fickell. Or I can just stick around and become the Queen City’s version of Nick Saban.
Yet another reason I will be taking over UC is that I want to end the Colorado-Deion Sanders experiment once and for all. Frankly, I’m just sort of over it, and I’d like to see Coach Prime and his social media “stars” move on. By coaching and dominating in the Big 12, I can crush the Buffs at least once per year until Sanders is ready for a new hobby... Likely by 2025 or 2026 at the latest.
And lastly, I want to build a dynasty with Cincinnati because I think doing so is or would be rooted in some semblance of reality. UC has been to a College Football Playoff and enjoyed a handful of double-digit win seasons in the past. So elevating the Bearcats’ program to national prominence is more realistic than winning national championships with Ohio University or Kent State, for example. And even though we’re talking about a video game, I have still always preferred to keep things, I don’t know, remotely within reason?
There ya have it, Gene. I can’t wait to hear which program you plan on building up or restoring. Let’s get that online dynasty going against each other!
I love the idea of Cincinnati as a bit of a smaller school, a newcomer to a bigger conference and could use some stability. For the Bearcats, it is their fourth conference in just the past two decades. Cinci was a member of Conference USA until 2005, then joined the now-defunct Big East before helping form the American Athletic Conference in 2013, and finally have jumped ship from the AAC to the Big 12 prior to this past season, where they finished 3-8 (1-9 in-conference) in their first season as a P5 school.
However, while things are quite different from when Luke Fickell was around, Cincinnati has still had too much recent success for me to consider them an option. On top of that, while all black is always a good look for uniforms, the Bearcats don't have too many exciting options to choose from, and that is of course a big factor in what I'm looking for in my prospective rebuild school.
I want a team that both looks good and is currently very bad. A team that has had virtually no track record of success in its history, but plays in a region that I can recruit a bit and build a foundation. Assuming there is also the option for conference realignment, which existed in previous NCAA Football games, I also want to pick a team from the Group of 5 that I can work into a P4 powerhouse.
For all of these reasons, I am going to run with the East Carolina Pirates.
East Carolina looked like they might be building something under head coach Mike Houston, who took the program from 4-8 in his first season at the helm to 7-5 and 8-5 in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Then it all came crashing down in 2023, with the Pirates suffering a 2-10 campaign that featured wins against only Gardner-Webb (FCS) and Florida Atlantic (Tom Herman, you okay?).
East Carolina, in my opinion, has some really incredible jerseys with a variety of potential combinations. Purple and gold always goes so well together, and their chrome purple helmets — which were featured in the trailer for EA Sports College Football 25 — really are some of the best in the sport. They also have an all-black alternate, which could be mixed and matched with their other color combinations to make some fire uniforms.
Recruiting is going to be tough out of the gate, but outside of Clemson and UNC, there are no true powerhouses in either of the Carolinas. You could also dip into Virginia a bit, a state that usually has some good talent (see: TreVeyon Henderson) as neither the Cavaliers or the Hokies have been doing all that much, and probably get some run-off of the excess of talent in Georgia. Plus, I’ll be able to sell ECU on location, as it's less than a two-hour car ride to the beach — the closest of any of the Carolina schools.
Of course, I won’t have to worry about that stuff all that much once I’ve built the Pirates into a national brand capable of joining the ranks of the ACC or SEC (Or even the Big Ten, I guess, since geography clearly doesn’t matter anymore).
The other option I had in mind was Appalachian State. My reasoning for the Mountaineers is 95% based on the stadium, which features likely the best view of any sports stadium in the country. However, App State has probably had a little too much success of late to be considered a true rebuild, with seven bowl wins in the last 10 years and as good as a 10-4 campaign as recently as 2021.
That being said, I’ll definitely also have a second Dynasty on the side with Ohio State where I win each of the next 30 national titles, but that one is just for me...
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
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
It would be far too easy to ride with the Buckeyes...
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: Where will you be starting your Dynasty in College Football 25?
Josh’s Take
The story of summer 2024 – despite what else you may have heard or believe – is and will be, even when history is revisited many years from now, the long-awaited return of EA Sports’ college football video game.
That’s right, after an 11-year hiatus, the next iteration of EA’s college football series is dropping on July 19, ending a decade plus of misery for sports gamers across the world. EA College Football’s return to glory (no pun intended) has been several years in the making, with hurdles to clear and many false starts along the way.
Details about the game have been slowly leaking out for months, however, it wasn’t until a few weeks ago that visuals, game modes, and other specifics really began to emerge. Which finally started to make it feel real for NCAA/EA college football-heads like myself.
And the timing could not possibly be any better. Because we are about to enter the dog days of summer, meaning there are far fewer sporting options to choose from. Especially if you’ve given up on baseball like I have. In that (my) case, the major sports calendar gets or becomes pretty bare after the NBA and NHL finals. Fortunately we get the Summer Olympics to help bridge the gap this year, but I can only watch so much diving, equestrian, and sailing... No offense.
So suffice it to say that I plan on picking up the sticks and playing EA College Football 25 until my thumbs hurt this summer. I’ve already told my wife and daughter that I will be going on a “daddy sabbatical” beginning July 19. I’ll still be present for dinner and bedtime, but don’t expect much else.
With the game and its release being such a hot topic, Gene and I decided that for today’s edition of You’re Nuts, we would look ahead to EACF25’s eventual release and discuss which teams we plan on starting a dynasty with. Dynasty mode is inarguably the game’s best mode, and we are both looking forward to either building a new powerhouse program or returning a past power to prominence.
Since I am an Ohio guy, I want to choose an in-state team for my dynasty. However, running the table with Ohio State – from now until my next video game retirement – would be far too easy. For that reason, I will be packing my virtual bags and office and heading about an hour south, down I-71 to Cincinnati, where I will restore the Bearcats to a respectable program (and more).
In UC’s first season under Scott Satterfield – and first season as a member of the Big 12 – the Bearcats went a dreadful 3-9 and 1-8 in the conference. Simply put, that stinks. So Satterfield will be heading back to a non-Power 5 school while Nippert Stadium becomes The House That Dooley Built.
But taking over Cincinnati is about more than just building a dynasty with an Ohio team. I also want to establish dominance in a P5 conference — with a team that has not been historically dominant. Upon doing so, I can then parlay the Bearcats’ future success into a bigger, better opportunity for myself, a la Brian Kelly and Luke Fickell. Or I can just stick around and become the Queen City’s version of Nick Saban.
Yet another reason I will be taking over UC is that I want to end the Colorado-Deion Sanders experiment once and for all. Frankly, I’m just sort of over it, and I’d like to see Coach Prime and his social media “stars” move on. By coaching and dominating in the Big 12, I can crush the Buffs at least once per year until Sanders is ready for a new hobby... Likely by 2025 or 2026 at the latest.
And lastly, I want to build a dynasty with Cincinnati because I think doing so is or would be rooted in some semblance of reality. UC has been to a College Football Playoff and enjoyed a handful of double-digit win seasons in the past. So elevating the Bearcats’ program to national prominence is more realistic than winning national championships with Ohio University or Kent State, for example. And even though we’re talking about a video game, I have still always preferred to keep things, I don’t know, remotely within reason?
There ya have it, Gene. I can’t wait to hear which program you plan on building up or restoring. Let’s get that online dynasty going against each other!
Gene’s Take
I love the idea of Cincinnati as a bit of a smaller school, a newcomer to a bigger conference and could use some stability. For the Bearcats, it is their fourth conference in just the past two decades. Cinci was a member of Conference USA until 2005, then joined the now-defunct Big East before helping form the American Athletic Conference in 2013, and finally have jumped ship from the AAC to the Big 12 prior to this past season, where they finished 3-8 (1-9 in-conference) in their first season as a P5 school.
However, while things are quite different from when Luke Fickell was around, Cincinnati has still had too much recent success for me to consider them an option. On top of that, while all black is always a good look for uniforms, the Bearcats don't have too many exciting options to choose from, and that is of course a big factor in what I'm looking for in my prospective rebuild school.
I want a team that both looks good and is currently very bad. A team that has had virtually no track record of success in its history, but plays in a region that I can recruit a bit and build a foundation. Assuming there is also the option for conference realignment, which existed in previous NCAA Football games, I also want to pick a team from the Group of 5 that I can work into a P4 powerhouse.
For all of these reasons, I am going to run with the East Carolina Pirates.
East Carolina looked like they might be building something under head coach Mike Houston, who took the program from 4-8 in his first season at the helm to 7-5 and 8-5 in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Then it all came crashing down in 2023, with the Pirates suffering a 2-10 campaign that featured wins against only Gardner-Webb (FCS) and Florida Atlantic (Tom Herman, you okay?).
East Carolina, in my opinion, has some really incredible jerseys with a variety of potential combinations. Purple and gold always goes so well together, and their chrome purple helmets — which were featured in the trailer for EA Sports College Football 25 — really are some of the best in the sport. They also have an all-black alternate, which could be mixed and matched with their other color combinations to make some fire uniforms.
Recruiting is going to be tough out of the gate, but outside of Clemson and UNC, there are no true powerhouses in either of the Carolinas. You could also dip into Virginia a bit, a state that usually has some good talent (see: TreVeyon Henderson) as neither the Cavaliers or the Hokies have been doing all that much, and probably get some run-off of the excess of talent in Georgia. Plus, I’ll be able to sell ECU on location, as it's less than a two-hour car ride to the beach — the closest of any of the Carolina schools.
Of course, I won’t have to worry about that stuff all that much once I’ve built the Pirates into a national brand capable of joining the ranks of the ACC or SEC (Or even the Big Ten, I guess, since geography clearly doesn’t matter anymore).
The other option I had in mind was Appalachian State. My reasoning for the Mountaineers is 95% based on the stadium, which features likely the best view of any sports stadium in the country. However, App State has probably had a little too much success of late to be considered a true rebuild, with seven bowl wins in the last 10 years and as good as a 10-4 campaign as recently as 2021.
That being said, I’ll definitely also have a second Dynasty on the side with Ohio State where I win each of the next 30 national titles, but that one is just for me...
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State picks up big Crystal Ball, makes top schools for pair of top-100 linebackers
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State picks up big Crystal Ball, makes top schools for pair of top-100 linebackers
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Four-star 2025 RB Bo Jackson | via @nolimitbo__ (Bo Jackson) on Instagram
The Buckeyes are coming off a massive recruiting weekend that saw them pick up momentum with some big names.
Ohio State kicked off the month of June with its biggest recruiting weekend since the spring game, with double-digit players on campus between Saturday and Sunday on official visits. Among those in attendance were some of the biggest names on the Buckeyes’ recruiting board on both sides of the football.
Before we jump into all that, Ohio State also got some positive news on Sunday from a prospect who was not in town for the all the festivities, as four-star 2025 linebacker Gavin Nix listed the program among his final six schools.
Nix isn’t a player we’ve heard a ton in regards to the Buckeyes, having been offered by position coach James Laurinaitis just this January. The No. 11 LB and No. 88 overall prospect nationally per 247Sports’ rankings, Nix is another big name out of IMG Academy in Florida, but is a native of the Sunshine State as well. While the in-state schools in Florida State and Miami seem to be atop his list, the 6-foot, 225-pound defender is prioritizing opportunity over location.
“Location isn’t a big deal for me,” Nix told On3’s Chad Simmons. “The main things for me are, what a school can do for me as a person outside of football and where I can be best developed. It is about the fit, not about the location. I just want to excel as a man on and off the field.”
If Laurinaitis and the Buckeyes really want to have a chance in this one, they will need to get Nix on campus for an official visit. The linebacker currently has OV’s scheduled for Miami (June 7), Oregon (June 14) and Florida State (June 21), but does not yet have plans to make the trip up to Columbus.
Moving onto the guys that were on campus these past few days — but sticking with the theme of top-100 linebackers putting Ohio State among their top schools — one of the biggest names in town this weekend was high four-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn. On Saturday, during his three-day official visit with Ohio State, Pettijohn trimmed his top schools list down to four, with the Buckeyes making the cut alongside Texas, Texas A&M and USC.
While it feels like an uphill climb to lure Pettijohn away from the in-state Longhorns, Ohio State, led by Laurinaitis, cornerbacks coach Tim Walton and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, rolled out the red carpet for the No. 4 LB and No. 31 overall player in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite. Having already visited Columbus a few months ago, the Buckeyes getting an official visit a few months later — one that seeming went as well as possible — seems to have them in real contention.
“The atmosphere in Columbus was pretty exciting and we enjoyed spending time getting to know the coaches and getting a feel for the program as a whole,” Pettijohn’s father Duke told On3 after their visit in March. “I think what excited Riley most about Ohio State is the competitive business-like approach the players have and the tradition of excellence there.”
Ohio State currently has a pair of linebackers committed in its 2025 class in Tarvos Alford and Eli Lee. Alford, also a top-100 prospect the No. 8 LB in the cycle, was on hand for his official visit this weekend as well, and appeared to be locked in on Pettijohn and putting on his best peer recruiting cap to try and add another big time talent to the room.
Ohio State is looking to add at least one more linebacker in this cycle, and while Nix remains an intriguing option, Pettijohn is without a doubt at the top of the big board at the position.
Moving to the other side of the football, perhaps one of the biggest headlines to come out of this big recruiting weekend for the Buckeyes was a pair of new Crystal Balls being cast in their favor. Courtesy of On3’s Vice President of Recruiting, Steve Wiltfong, and OSU insider Alex Gleitman, two predictions were logged for 2025 running back Bo Jackson to Ohio State.
If you follow Ohio State recruiting even a little bit, then you’ve likely heard Jackson’s name a bunch. The Cleveland native checks in as the No. 5 RB as well as the No. 81 overall player and No. 5 prospect in Ohio in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite. Hailing from within state lines, Jackson is one of — if not the — most important players for the Buckeyes at running back in this cycle.
Here is some of what 247Sports national analyst Hudson Standish has to say of Jackson’s abilities:
Ohio State now owns all three predictions for Jackson, with a 247Sports Crystal Ball cast in favor of the Buckeyes by OSU insider Bill Kurelic back in January as well. If they are able to land Jackson, it would give them commitments from three of the top five players in Ohio in 2025, with the other two also strong possibilities to end up in Columbus — one of which was also on campus this weekend...
That would be linebacker/edge rusher Justin Hill, another massive priority target for the Buckeyes, who made his official visit with Ohio State beginning on Friday.
Listed as the No. 7 EDGE and No. 72 player nationally per the 247Sports Composite, Laurinaitis and Ohio State are recruiting Hill as a Jack — a position we are still waiting to see fully unveiled by Knowles and the Buckeyes’ defense. The Winton Woods product is a superb athlete with a track background, and would be able to play either as a 3-4 outside linebacker or a hybrid 4-3 edge (AKA, the Jack) at the next level. His speed, versatility and him being an in-state prospect put him right near the top of the program’s big board.
Ohio State appears to be in the driver’s seat for Hill at this current juncture, but he does have three more official visits coming up with USC (June 7), Alabama (June 14) and Oregon (June 21). It sounds like a big part of the Buckeyes’ plans with Hill this weekend included them selling the idea of him as their priority target to play at the Jack, and all reports indicate that the visit went incredibly well. Laurinaitis and the rest of the staff will find out how well it actually went when Hill announces his commitment on July 3.
These weren’t the only big names on campus this weekend, as a handful of other four and five-star prospects were also involved in this flurry of visitors. All players are in the 2025 class and all were on official visits unless otherwise indicated:
“Ohio State is an incredible program but especially for quarterbacks.” Bell told On3. “I’ve always been a Buckeye fan and looked up to some of their quarterbacks. Coach Day and the program are always competing for a National Championship and I think that Coach Kelly is going to be a great addition to their offense!”
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Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Four-star 2025 RB Bo Jackson | via @nolimitbo__ (Bo Jackson) on Instagram
The Buckeyes are coming off a massive recruiting weekend that saw them pick up momentum with some big names.
Ohio State kicked off the month of June with its biggest recruiting weekend since the spring game, with double-digit players on campus between Saturday and Sunday on official visits. Among those in attendance were some of the biggest names on the Buckeyes’ recruiting board on both sides of the football.
Before we jump into all that, Ohio State also got some positive news on Sunday from a prospect who was not in town for the all the festivities, as four-star 2025 linebacker Gavin Nix listed the program among his final six schools.
NEWS: Four-Star LB Gavin Nix is down toSchools, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’0 225 LB from Bradenton, FL is ranked as a Top 160 Recruit in the ‘25 Class (per On3 Industry)
Where Should He Go? https://t.co/eJzjpOXLkJ pic.twitter.com/r7UmZ2eMJn
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 2, 2024
Nix isn’t a player we’ve heard a ton in regards to the Buckeyes, having been offered by position coach James Laurinaitis just this January. The No. 11 LB and No. 88 overall prospect nationally per 247Sports’ rankings, Nix is another big name out of IMG Academy in Florida, but is a native of the Sunshine State as well. While the in-state schools in Florida State and Miami seem to be atop his list, the 6-foot, 225-pound defender is prioritizing opportunity over location.
“Location isn’t a big deal for me,” Nix told On3’s Chad Simmons. “The main things for me are, what a school can do for me as a person outside of football and where I can be best developed. It is about the fit, not about the location. I just want to excel as a man on and off the field.”
If Laurinaitis and the Buckeyes really want to have a chance in this one, they will need to get Nix on campus for an official visit. The linebacker currently has OV’s scheduled for Miami (June 7), Oregon (June 14) and Florida State (June 21), but does not yet have plans to make the trip up to Columbus.
Moving onto the guys that were on campus these past few days — but sticking with the theme of top-100 linebackers putting Ohio State among their top schools — one of the biggest names in town this weekend was high four-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn. On Saturday, during his three-day official visit with Ohio State, Pettijohn trimmed his top schools list down to four, with the Buckeyes making the cut alongside Texas, Texas A&M and USC.
NEWS: Elite 2025 LB Riley Pettijohn is down toSchools, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’3 215 LB from McKinney, TX is ranked as the No. 2 LB in the ‘25 Class (per On3)
Where Should He Go? https://t.co/EdtV50nx72 pic.twitter.com/NCul9gF1wv
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 1, 2024
While it feels like an uphill climb to lure Pettijohn away from the in-state Longhorns, Ohio State, led by Laurinaitis, cornerbacks coach Tim Walton and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, rolled out the red carpet for the No. 4 LB and No. 31 overall player in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite. Having already visited Columbus a few months ago, the Buckeyes getting an official visit a few months later — one that seeming went as well as possible — seems to have them in real contention.
“The atmosphere in Columbus was pretty exciting and we enjoyed spending time getting to know the coaches and getting a feel for the program as a whole,” Pettijohn’s father Duke told On3 after their visit in March. “I think what excited Riley most about Ohio State is the competitive business-like approach the players have and the tradition of excellence there.”
Ohio State currently has a pair of linebackers committed in its 2025 class in Tarvos Alford and Eli Lee. Alford, also a top-100 prospect the No. 8 LB in the cycle, was on hand for his official visit this weekend as well, and appeared to be locked in on Pettijohn and putting on his best peer recruiting cap to try and add another big time talent to the room.
Ohio State is looking to add at least one more linebacker in this cycle, and while Nix remains an intriguing option, Pettijohn is without a doubt at the top of the big board at the position.
Moving to the other side of the football, perhaps one of the biggest headlines to come out of this big recruiting weekend for the Buckeyes was a pair of new Crystal Balls being cast in their favor. Courtesy of On3’s Vice President of Recruiting, Steve Wiltfong, and OSU insider Alex Gleitman, two predictions were logged for 2025 running back Bo Jackson to Ohio State.
If you follow Ohio State recruiting even a little bit, then you’ve likely heard Jackson’s name a bunch. The Cleveland native checks in as the No. 5 RB as well as the No. 81 overall player and No. 5 prospect in Ohio in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite. Hailing from within state lines, Jackson is one of — if not the — most important players for the Buckeyes at running back in this cycle.
Here is some of what 247Sports national analyst Hudson Standish has to say of Jackson’s abilities:
Ohio State now owns all three predictions for Jackson, with a 247Sports Crystal Ball cast in favor of the Buckeyes by OSU insider Bill Kurelic back in January as well. If they are able to land Jackson, it would give them commitments from three of the top five players in Ohio in 2025, with the other two also strong possibilities to end up in Columbus — one of which was also on campus this weekend...
That would be linebacker/edge rusher Justin Hill, another massive priority target for the Buckeyes, who made his official visit with Ohio State beginning on Friday.
Listed as the No. 7 EDGE and No. 72 player nationally per the 247Sports Composite, Laurinaitis and Ohio State are recruiting Hill as a Jack — a position we are still waiting to see fully unveiled by Knowles and the Buckeyes’ defense. The Winton Woods product is a superb athlete with a track background, and would be able to play either as a 3-4 outside linebacker or a hybrid 4-3 edge (AKA, the Jack) at the next level. His speed, versatility and him being an in-state prospect put him right near the top of the program’s big board.
Ohio State appears to be in the driver’s seat for Hill at this current juncture, but he does have three more official visits coming up with USC (June 7), Alabama (June 14) and Oregon (June 21). It sounds like a big part of the Buckeyes’ plans with Hill this weekend included them selling the idea of him as their priority target to play at the Jack, and all reports indicate that the visit went incredibly well. Laurinaitis and the rest of the staff will find out how well it actually went when Hill announces his commitment on July 3.
These weren’t the only big names on campus this weekend, as a handful of other four and five-star prospects were also involved in this flurry of visitors. All players are in the 2025 class and all were on official visits unless otherwise indicated:
- Five-star wide receiver Dakorien Moore (No. 1 WR, No. 3 Natl. | Duncanville, TX).
Five-Star Plus+ WR Dakorien Moore on his official visit to Ohio State this weekend
OSU, LSU, Texas and Oregon make up his top 4 schoolshttps://t.co/QIAIQ9kLe7 pic.twitter.com/OZErFZlXJ1
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) June 2, 2024
- Four-star wide receiver Daylan McCutcheon (No. 12 WR, 94 Natl. | Lucas, TX).
- Four-star wide receiver Vernell Brown III (No. 6 WR, No. 39 Natl. | Orlando, FL).
(@VB3_9) - Four-star safety DeShawn Stewart (No. 26 S, No. 295 Natl. | Wayne, NJ) — OSU commit.
- Four-star running back Anthony Rogers (No. 7 RB, No. 104 Natl. | Montgomery, AL) — Unofficial visit, Alabama commit.
- Three-star OL Kaden Strayhorn (No. 27 IOL, No. 432 Natl. | Bradenton, FL).
- Three-star OL Henry Fenuku (No. 26 IOL, No. 427 Natl. | Fort Worth, TX).
Quick Hits
- Ohio State will receive one of three June visits for elite 2026 quarterback Dia Bell. The No. 3 QB and No. 10 prospect nationally in the next cycle, the Florida native will be visiting Florida State (June 9), Ohio State (June 11) and LSU (June 13) in the next few weeks.
“Ohio State is an incredible program but especially for quarterbacks.” Bell told On3. “I’ve always been a Buckeye fan and looked up to some of their quarterbacks. Coach Day and the program are always competing for a National Championship and I think that Coach Kelly is going to be a great addition to their offense!”
Elite 2026 4-star QB Dia Bell will take visits to Florida State, Ohio State and LSU this month, he tells @SWiltfong_
Bell is the No. 12 overall prospect in the 2026 class️
Read: https://t.co/B6p8WWRU8R pic.twitter.com/pwuuHBgDQ2
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) June 2, 2024
- Ohio State will also be getting a visit in June from one of the nation’s top edge rushers in the 2026 class. Zion Elee, the No. 4 EDGE and No. 35 player overall in the cycle per the 247Sports Composite, will make the trip to Columbus on June 17. It will be Elee’s first trip to campus since picking up his offer from the Buckeyes on May 8.
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LGHL Player To Watch: Devin Royal primed for sophomore breakout
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Player To Watch: Devin Royal primed for sophomore breakout
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Royal averaged 8.7 points per game over the final nine games of the 2023-2024 season.
When Dale Bonner’s three-point prayer settled into the bottom the net in East Lansing with less than one second remaining on Feb. 25, Ohio State picked up its first win at Breslin since the 2011-2012 season. While Bonner’s shot was the individual play that delivered the win, the Buckeyes would not have been in a position to win the game that day without the contributions of then-freshman Devin Royal.
In reality, Bonner only got the ball because Royal found a way to inbound the ball between three Michigan State defenders six seconds earlier. After Tyson Walker split a pair of free throws to tie the game with six seconds left, then-interim head coach Jake Diebler trusted the freshman to inbound the basketball, knowing that a turnover would give the Spartans the ball back under their own basket.
Royal pump faked to Bruce Thornton’s right, forcing Michigan State’s Tre Holloman to take a step to his left. Thornton and Royal were on the same wavelength, as the freshman immediately dotted the pass to the opposite side of Thornton, with Holloman leaning the wrong way. The pass snuck in between Holloman and two other Spartan defenders. Thornton took three dribbles up the sideline, passed ahead to Bonner, and the rest is history.
Below is a screenshot of the play as Royal is passing to Thornton, with both Buckeyes circled in yellow. Royal fits the pass into the smallest of windows between three defenders, right into Thornton’s hands after the pump fake created space.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25475362/Screenshot_2024_06_02_at_10.55.23_PM.png)
Aside from the crucial inbounds pass at the end, Royal also led the Buckeyes in scoring for the first time in his career with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting in 18 minutes. He also had two steals. 10 of those 14 points came in the second half, as Ohio State stormed back from a 12-point second-half deficit on the road.
It was noteworthy that Royal’s best performance of the season came against the Spartans, as Tom Izzo and Michigan State appeared to be the biggest competitor to land Royal out of Pickerington Central High School two years ago. Instead, Royal opted to play locally for the Buckeyes, and was a massive thorn in Izzo’s side the very first time he faced the Spartans.
While the legendary Michigan State head coach wasn’t going to sit around and heap praise on an opposing player after a loss, he did mention Royal after the game during the post-game press conference.
“I mean, you look at their stats, those aren’t very good numbers other than Royal,” he said. “They shoot 37% (overall) and 17% (from three) and we lost the game.”
Royal’s performance against the Spartans shows the promise the rising sophomore has. On a day where second-leading scorer and starting forward Jamison Battle was ruled out with an injury, Royal still only played 18 minutes due to foul trouble. He picked up his second foul 10:19 into the game, which limited his ability to be aggressive and impact the game for the rest of the first half. Coincidentally, the Buckeyes were outscored 19-10 for the rest of the first half after Royal picked up that second foul.
With the foul concerns temporarily cast aside, Royal played much more freely in the second half, scoring 10 points and bullying the Spartans around the basket. Royal never misses a turnaround jumper (or so it seems), and he just kept beating Michigan State with the same move over and over in the second half. His three-point shot hasn’t quite developed yet, but Royal was money on most everything in the 6-to-10 foot range his freshman season.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25475368/2031357555.jpg "COLLEGE BASKETBALL: FEB 25 Ohio State at Michigan State")
Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
So, what happens in this game if Royal doesn’t get into early foul trouble? He’s certainly not held to 18 minutes, and his career-high of 14 points probably winds up being something much higher. Hell, Dale Bonner’s game-winner might not have even been necessary to grab the win in East Lansing.
That’s a big reason why so many people are bullish on Royal and his prospects for a big sophomore season. Royal played 10 or more minutes 19 times this past season, and in 12 of those games he picked up at least three fouls. He only fouled out once, but as we see all the time in college basketball, early foul trouble can completely change the script for not just the individual player, but his team too if he’s pulled out of the game after early fouls. If Royal can put a few of those fouls in his pocket and stay on the floor for longer stretches, he’s shown that he can be an extremely efficient scorer.
Additionally, Royal saw his minutes and opportunities expand almost instantaneously when Chris Holtmann was fired and Diebler took over. Over the first 22 games of the season, Royal averaged just over eight minutes per game and scored 3.2 points per game. He played 10+ minutes in eight of those 22 games.
Holtmann was fired after Ohio State’s loss to Wisconsin — the Buckeyes’ 22nd game of the year. Over the final 11 games under Diebler, Royal’s playing time basically doubled, as he averaged 16:31 per game until the end of the season. He averaged 7.6 points per game with Diebler as head coach, and played at least 12 minutes in every single game. His per-40 averages under Diebler? 18.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.
While it’s true that Royal improved as the season went on, and probably wasn’t as reliable of an option against Texas A&M in November as he was against Michigan State three months later, it’s also true that Diebler trusted Royal to make the right play more than Holtmann did.
We’ll never know for sure, but it’s hard to believe that Holtmann would’ve put Royal on the on the baseline to inbound the ball against Michigan State. Diebler did. Holtmann did not give Royal the opportunities to prove himself during the first two-thirds of the season. Once Diebler took over, Royal immediately became an integral part of the rotation.
Part of the allure of hiring Diebler — a first-time head coach — was the hope that he could keep the team’s young core together. That didn’t exactly happen, but as his primary recruiter, Diebler was able to keep Devin Royal in Columbus. If the now-sophomore Royal can limit the mental mistakes that lead to unnecessary fouls, he should take a major leap forward this upcoming season as a crucial piece of Jake Diebler’s first Ohio State team.
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Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Royal averaged 8.7 points per game over the final nine games of the 2023-2024 season.
When Dale Bonner’s three-point prayer settled into the bottom the net in East Lansing with less than one second remaining on Feb. 25, Ohio State picked up its first win at Breslin since the 2011-2012 season. While Bonner’s shot was the individual play that delivered the win, the Buckeyes would not have been in a position to win the game that day without the contributions of then-freshman Devin Royal.
In reality, Bonner only got the ball because Royal found a way to inbound the ball between three Michigan State defenders six seconds earlier. After Tyson Walker split a pair of free throws to tie the game with six seconds left, then-interim head coach Jake Diebler trusted the freshman to inbound the basketball, knowing that a turnover would give the Spartans the ball back under their own basket.
Royal pump faked to Bruce Thornton’s right, forcing Michigan State’s Tre Holloman to take a step to his left. Thornton and Royal were on the same wavelength, as the freshman immediately dotted the pass to the opposite side of Thornton, with Holloman leaning the wrong way. The pass snuck in between Holloman and two other Spartan defenders. Thornton took three dribbles up the sideline, passed ahead to Bonner, and the rest is history.
Below is a screenshot of the play as Royal is passing to Thornton, with both Buckeyes circled in yellow. Royal fits the pass into the smallest of windows between three defenders, right into Thornton’s hands after the pump fake created space.
Aside from the crucial inbounds pass at the end, Royal also led the Buckeyes in scoring for the first time in his career with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting in 18 minutes. He also had two steals. 10 of those 14 points came in the second half, as Ohio State stormed back from a 12-point second-half deficit on the road.
It was noteworthy that Royal’s best performance of the season came against the Spartans, as Tom Izzo and Michigan State appeared to be the biggest competitor to land Royal out of Pickerington Central High School two years ago. Instead, Royal opted to play locally for the Buckeyes, and was a massive thorn in Izzo’s side the very first time he faced the Spartans.
While the legendary Michigan State head coach wasn’t going to sit around and heap praise on an opposing player after a loss, he did mention Royal after the game during the post-game press conference.
“I mean, you look at their stats, those aren’t very good numbers other than Royal,” he said. “They shoot 37% (overall) and 17% (from three) and we lost the game.”
Royal’s performance against the Spartans shows the promise the rising sophomore has. On a day where second-leading scorer and starting forward Jamison Battle was ruled out with an injury, Royal still only played 18 minutes due to foul trouble. He picked up his second foul 10:19 into the game, which limited his ability to be aggressive and impact the game for the rest of the first half. Coincidentally, the Buckeyes were outscored 19-10 for the rest of the first half after Royal picked up that second foul.
With the foul concerns temporarily cast aside, Royal played much more freely in the second half, scoring 10 points and bullying the Spartans around the basket. Royal never misses a turnaround jumper (or so it seems), and he just kept beating Michigan State with the same move over and over in the second half. His three-point shot hasn’t quite developed yet, but Royal was money on most everything in the 6-to-10 foot range his freshman season.
So, what happens in this game if Royal doesn’t get into early foul trouble? He’s certainly not held to 18 minutes, and his career-high of 14 points probably winds up being something much higher. Hell, Dale Bonner’s game-winner might not have even been necessary to grab the win in East Lansing.
That’s a big reason why so many people are bullish on Royal and his prospects for a big sophomore season. Royal played 10 or more minutes 19 times this past season, and in 12 of those games he picked up at least three fouls. He only fouled out once, but as we see all the time in college basketball, early foul trouble can completely change the script for not just the individual player, but his team too if he’s pulled out of the game after early fouls. If Royal can put a few of those fouls in his pocket and stay on the floor for longer stretches, he’s shown that he can be an extremely efficient scorer.
Additionally, Royal saw his minutes and opportunities expand almost instantaneously when Chris Holtmann was fired and Diebler took over. Over the first 22 games of the season, Royal averaged just over eight minutes per game and scored 3.2 points per game. He played 10+ minutes in eight of those 22 games.
Holtmann was fired after Ohio State’s loss to Wisconsin — the Buckeyes’ 22nd game of the year. Over the final 11 games under Diebler, Royal’s playing time basically doubled, as he averaged 16:31 per game until the end of the season. He averaged 7.6 points per game with Diebler as head coach, and played at least 12 minutes in every single game. His per-40 averages under Diebler? 18.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.
While it’s true that Royal improved as the season went on, and probably wasn’t as reliable of an option against Texas A&M in November as he was against Michigan State three months later, it’s also true that Diebler trusted Royal to make the right play more than Holtmann did.
We’ll never know for sure, but it’s hard to believe that Holtmann would’ve put Royal on the on the baseline to inbound the ball against Michigan State. Diebler did. Holtmann did not give Royal the opportunities to prove himself during the first two-thirds of the season. Once Diebler took over, Royal immediately became an integral part of the rotation.
Part of the allure of hiring Diebler — a first-time head coach — was the hope that he could keep the team’s young core together. That didn’t exactly happen, but as his primary recruiter, Diebler was able to keep Devin Royal in Columbus. If the now-sophomore Royal can limit the mental mistakes that lead to unnecessary fouls, he should take a major leap forward this upcoming season as a crucial piece of Jake Diebler’s first Ohio State team.
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