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LGHL You’re Nuts: What was your favorite moment from the weekend?
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You’re Nuts: What was your favorite moment from the weekend?
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 Gil Talbot/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
One of the best four-day stretches of the year is the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. This year was no different, as there was tons of exciting action in the men’s and women’s tournaments. On the men’s side, we had a number of upsets in the first round, headlined by Oakland beating Kentucky and James Madison taking down Wisconsin. The second round saw the favorites move on to the Sweet Sixteen, but a few games ended up going to overtime. Oakland and NC State needed five more minutes, while Oregon and Creighton went to double overtime on Saturday night. On Sunday, Texas A&M erased an 11-point deficit with two minutes to go to force an extra session before the Cougars bested the Aggies.
On the women’s side of the NCAA Tournament, it was obviously a second round to forget for Ohio State fans, as the Buckeyes were bounced from the tournament by Duke on Sunday afternoon. Outside of the action in Columbus, most of the attention was focused on LSU coach Kim Mulkey trying to do damage control on a Washington Post article about her that hasn’t even been released. For a half of basketball, it looked like the defending national champions were on the ropes against Middle Tennessee State before the Tigers pulled away from the Blue Raiders. Even with Ohio State eliminated, it looks like we are heading toward another thrilling close to the women’s basketball season.
The entertainment during the weekend wasn’t only on the hardwood. Ohio State won a number of national championships, the NHL and NBA seasons motor towards the playoffs, and the USMNT continued their domination of Mexico with another win over El Tri in the Nations League Final. Today we want to know what was your favorite moment from the weekend. Since we are all about good vibes, it doesn’t even have to be related to sports. Maybe it was a concert or movie you saw, a new restaurant you tried, or maybe you just played with some cute animals.
Being a Columbus Blue Jackets quarter-season ticket holder, I watch a lot of bad hockey, so it is refreshing to see a hockey team in this city have some success. Nadine Muzerall has built a dynasty on the ice at Ohio State, and I’m convinced she would coach circles around Blue Jackets head coach Pascal Vincent, who is the worst coach in franchise history, which says a lot when you look at just how inept Columbus has been since they entered the NHL back in 2000.
What makes this year’s title for Ohio State even more thrilling than their first championship two years ago is how the Buckeyes were able to respond to a couple of late-season defeats to Wisconsin. Ohio State was defeated late in the regular season by the Badgers and was humbled by Wisconsin in the WCHA Final Faceoff title game. Not only were there a couple of setbacks to the Badgers over the last month, the Buckeyes also lost to Wisconsin in last year’s title game. To win their second title in three years, it was going to take a massive effort from Muzerall’s Buckeyes.
Sunday’s championship game certainly lived up to the hype, as the Buckeyes and Badgers were tied 0-0 more than halfway through the third period. Then with just over seven minutes left in the game, freshman Joy Dunne ripped a shot that found its way into the back of the net, giving Ohio State a 1-0 lead. Goaltender Raygan Kirk and the Buckeye defense would make the lead stand, allowing Ohio State to counter Wisconsin’s 1-0 win in last year’s title game with one of their own. In the final game of her college career, Kirk notched her 10th shutout of the season, which was the most in the country this year, and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
Don’t expect Ohio State’s women’s hockey team to let off the gas anytime soon. Muzerall has reloaded over the years, so don’t expect any different even though the Buckeyes will lose some key players from this year’s championship team. One player that will be back next year is Dunne, who was the National Rookie of the Year. Dunne led the team with 24 goals this year, none as important as the final goal of the season. Maybe the Blue Jackets should take some notes on how to build a winner in Columbus.
As we head into the second weekend of the NCAA Basketball Tournaments, it’s nice to take a second and reflect. I love college football rivalry weekend, I love Major League Baseball Opening Day, the Super Bowl is called “The Big Game” for a reason, and the Olympics and World Cups are truly global must-see events. But for me, there is no higher sports holiday than the first day of the March Madness.
From noon until midnight, there is wall-to-wall action, with up to four games on at a time. When I was in college, my friends and I would skip classes on Thursday and Friday to watch every single game in the Round of 64 at a Damon’s restaurant (anyone old enough to remember those) in our hometown, because back then, there was no way to watch all of the games at home. So, we crammed into a booth and watched every game on the four giant projection screens and ate as much food (man do I miss their garlic rolls) as we could.
Yes, times have changed, every game is available nationwide, cable and streaming companies make it possible to watch all four games on one screen simultaneously, and I am a fully grown adult now meaning that I can’t completely shirk all responsibilities to watch college basketball for 24 hours over a two-day period. However, I still get that same excitement in the lead-up to tipoff. I get giddy about what’s ahead, what upsets, what buzzer-beaters, what legendary performances I am about to witness. While these days my bracket might not be filled out until 11:55 a.m. on Thursday, the fun and excitement of the process still hits every year (btw, I’m still in the 92.6 percentile of ESPN’s Bracket Challenge).
So, while I can’t pin-point an exact moment as eloquently as Brett did, there’s just very few things as special in the world of sports as the first day of the Big Dance!
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 Gil Talbot/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
One of the best four-day stretches of the year is the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. This year was no different, as there was tons of exciting action in the men’s and women’s tournaments. On the men’s side, we had a number of upsets in the first round, headlined by Oakland beating Kentucky and James Madison taking down Wisconsin. The second round saw the favorites move on to the Sweet Sixteen, but a few games ended up going to overtime. Oakland and NC State needed five more minutes, while Oregon and Creighton went to double overtime on Saturday night. On Sunday, Texas A&M erased an 11-point deficit with two minutes to go to force an extra session before the Cougars bested the Aggies.
On the women’s side of the NCAA Tournament, it was obviously a second round to forget for Ohio State fans, as the Buckeyes were bounced from the tournament by Duke on Sunday afternoon. Outside of the action in Columbus, most of the attention was focused on LSU coach Kim Mulkey trying to do damage control on a Washington Post article about her that hasn’t even been released. For a half of basketball, it looked like the defending national champions were on the ropes against Middle Tennessee State before the Tigers pulled away from the Blue Raiders. Even with Ohio State eliminated, it looks like we are heading toward another thrilling close to the women’s basketball season.
The entertainment during the weekend wasn’t only on the hardwood. Ohio State won a number of national championships, the NHL and NBA seasons motor towards the playoffs, and the USMNT continued their domination of Mexico with another win over El Tri in the Nations League Final. Today we want to know what was your favorite moment from the weekend. Since we are all about good vibes, it doesn’t even have to be related to sports. Maybe it was a concert or movie you saw, a new restaurant you tried, or maybe you just played with some cute animals.
Today’s question: What was your favorite moment from the weekend?
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: Ohio State women’s hockey winning another national championship
Being a Columbus Blue Jackets quarter-season ticket holder, I watch a lot of bad hockey, so it is refreshing to see a hockey team in this city have some success. Nadine Muzerall has built a dynasty on the ice at Ohio State, and I’m convinced she would coach circles around Blue Jackets head coach Pascal Vincent, who is the worst coach in franchise history, which says a lot when you look at just how inept Columbus has been since they entered the NHL back in 2000.
What makes this year’s title for Ohio State even more thrilling than their first championship two years ago is how the Buckeyes were able to respond to a couple of late-season defeats to Wisconsin. Ohio State was defeated late in the regular season by the Badgers and was humbled by Wisconsin in the WCHA Final Faceoff title game. Not only were there a couple of setbacks to the Badgers over the last month, the Buckeyes also lost to Wisconsin in last year’s title game. To win their second title in three years, it was going to take a massive effort from Muzerall’s Buckeyes.
Sunday’s championship game certainly lived up to the hype, as the Buckeyes and Badgers were tied 0-0 more than halfway through the third period. Then with just over seven minutes left in the game, freshman Joy Dunne ripped a shot that found its way into the back of the net, giving Ohio State a 1-0 lead. Goaltender Raygan Kirk and the Buckeye defense would make the lead stand, allowing Ohio State to counter Wisconsin’s 1-0 win in last year’s title game with one of their own. In the final game of her college career, Kirk notched her 10th shutout of the season, which was the most in the country this year, and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
Don’t expect Ohio State’s women’s hockey team to let off the gas anytime soon. Muzerall has reloaded over the years, so don’t expect any different even though the Buckeyes will lose some key players from this year’s championship team. One player that will be back next year is Dunne, who was the National Rookie of the Year. Dunne led the team with 24 goals this year, none as important as the final goal of the season. Maybe the Blue Jackets should take some notes on how to build a winner in Columbus.
Matt’s answer: The opening day of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament
As we head into the second weekend of the NCAA Basketball Tournaments, it’s nice to take a second and reflect. I love college football rivalry weekend, I love Major League Baseball Opening Day, the Super Bowl is called “The Big Game” for a reason, and the Olympics and World Cups are truly global must-see events. But for me, there is no higher sports holiday than the first day of the March Madness.
From noon until midnight, there is wall-to-wall action, with up to four games on at a time. When I was in college, my friends and I would skip classes on Thursday and Friday to watch every single game in the Round of 64 at a Damon’s restaurant (anyone old enough to remember those) in our hometown, because back then, there was no way to watch all of the games at home. So, we crammed into a booth and watched every game on the four giant projection screens and ate as much food (man do I miss their garlic rolls) as we could.
Yes, times have changed, every game is available nationwide, cable and streaming companies make it possible to watch all four games on one screen simultaneously, and I am a fully grown adult now meaning that I can’t completely shirk all responsibilities to watch college basketball for 24 hours over a two-day period. However, I still get that same excitement in the lead-up to tipoff. I get giddy about what’s ahead, what upsets, what buzzer-beaters, what legendary performances I am about to witness. While these days my bracket might not be filled out until 11:55 a.m. on Thursday, the fun and excitement of the process still hits every year (btw, I’m still in the 92.6 percentile of ESPN’s Bracket Challenge).
So, while I can’t pin-point an exact moment as eloquently as Brett did, there’s just very few things as special in the world of sports as the first day of the Big Dance!
Continue reading...
2026 CA WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt is a Buckeye!!!
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LGHL You’re Nuts: Who are you rooting for in the NCAA Women’s tournament now that Ohio State is out?
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You’re Nuts: Who are you rooting for in the NCAA Women’s tournament now that Ohio State is out?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
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.
March Madness did not go according to plan for the Ohio State women’s basketball team, but there is still plenty of women’s basketball to be played.
The eyes of a nation seem to be on the Iowa Hawkeyes and Caitlin Clark, and for good reason: She has done a lot to put women’s basketball on the map. Many consider her the greatest to ever play women’s basketball at the collegiate level, and with that attention on her comes attention on a sport that was often lost in the shadow of men’s basketball’s funding, attendance, and attention. Earlier this season, she became the highest-scoring NCAA women’s basketball player in history (the highest scorer in collegiate basketball history is Pearl Moore, whose 4,061 points between 1975 and 1979 pre-date the NCAA’s sponsorship of women’s basketball).
She is a dynamic player, and it’s hard not to root for her. I’m looking forward to following her career in college and beyond. But Clark, for as impressive as she is (and she is mighty impressive), is not the only person making a name for themselves or women’s basketball.
So to that end, I find myself drawn to the South Carolina Gamecocks, where coach Dawn Staley has been building a dynasty.
I was a little torn here, only because I love a Cinderella story, and Duke—the 7-seed team who ended Ohio State’s run—is still in contention as the lowest-seeded remaining team. To some extent, the Buckeyes’ loss stings a little less if Duke goes far.
But what Staley has accomplished in South Carolina is a Cinderella story of sorts as well. Because women’s basketball is no stranger to dynasties—but historically, South Carolina wasn’t one of them.
UConn, whose 11 National Championships make it the team with the most titles in NCAA women’s basketball history, absolutely dominated throughout the early 2000s. They won 10 of those 11 titles between 2000-2016.
Before UConn (and even a bit during UConn’s run), Tennessee seemed to run the board more often than not, bringing in eight titles of their own throughout their program history.
No one else even comes close. Stanford and Baylor have three titles a piece, but UConn and Tennessee stand in a league of their own.
Unless Staley has a say.
Staley herself is a Hall of Fame basketball player and coach, with her name all over the record books in both regards. She is considered one of the 15 best players in WNBA history, has a 1996 Olympic gold medal, coached the US women’s national team, and is the first person to win the Naismith as both a player and a coach.
No one is more qualified to build a dynasty than Staley.
The road to victory wasn’t easy though—she built South Carolina’s program from the ground up. Since her arrival, the Gamecocks have become one of the steadiest, most dominant teams in NCAA women’s basketball. They’ve won two titles in the last eight seasons, were undefeated in the 2023 regular season (ultimately falling in the Final Four to the National Champion LSU Tigers), and they’ve had five Final Four appearances, three of them consecutively.
If anyone deserves to be counted among the UConns and the Tennessees of the women’s basketball world, it’s Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks, and I’m rooting for her to take it all the way to a third title this season.
Here’s the difference between me and Jami. She took the unquestioned No. 1 team in the country that hasn’t lost a single game this entire season and won the national title in 2022 as her pick, and I am taking the lowest remaining seed in the tournament.
Sure, some people might say that she is just a bandwagon fan hopping on the train that seems like it has the best chance of getting back to the station, I mean, I’m not saying that, but some people might be.
I, on the other hand, am taking the No. 7 Duke Blue Devils. Kara Lawson’s squad comes into the Sweet 16 as the only team seeded lower than No. 5 remaining in the tournament as they prepare to face off with the perennial women’s basketball powerhouse No. 3 UConn Huskies.
While I admit that it is difficult to think of any Duke basketball team as an underdog, in this situation, they absolutely are. But Buckeye fans know firsthand that they are quite capable of pulling the upset. Of course, rooting for the underdog is a March Madness tradition unlike any other, but when that underdog is also the team that knocked the squad you were rooting for out of the tournament, that makes it an even easier and more natural rooting option.
So, while both Jami and I are taking teams from the Carolinas she is going with the frontrunner and I am going with the longshot team that also gives OSU fans a legitimate reason to jump on board.
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
Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
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: Who are you rooting for in the NCAA Women’s tournament now that Ohio State is out?
Jami’s Take: South Carolina Gamecocks
March Madness did not go according to plan for the Ohio State women’s basketball team, but there is still plenty of women’s basketball to be played.
The eyes of a nation seem to be on the Iowa Hawkeyes and Caitlin Clark, and for good reason: She has done a lot to put women’s basketball on the map. Many consider her the greatest to ever play women’s basketball at the collegiate level, and with that attention on her comes attention on a sport that was often lost in the shadow of men’s basketball’s funding, attendance, and attention. Earlier this season, she became the highest-scoring NCAA women’s basketball player in history (the highest scorer in collegiate basketball history is Pearl Moore, whose 4,061 points between 1975 and 1979 pre-date the NCAA’s sponsorship of women’s basketball).
She is a dynamic player, and it’s hard not to root for her. I’m looking forward to following her career in college and beyond. But Clark, for as impressive as she is (and she is mighty impressive), is not the only person making a name for themselves or women’s basketball.
So to that end, I find myself drawn to the South Carolina Gamecocks, where coach Dawn Staley has been building a dynasty.
I was a little torn here, only because I love a Cinderella story, and Duke—the 7-seed team who ended Ohio State’s run—is still in contention as the lowest-seeded remaining team. To some extent, the Buckeyes’ loss stings a little less if Duke goes far.
But what Staley has accomplished in South Carolina is a Cinderella story of sorts as well. Because women’s basketball is no stranger to dynasties—but historically, South Carolina wasn’t one of them.
UConn, whose 11 National Championships make it the team with the most titles in NCAA women’s basketball history, absolutely dominated throughout the early 2000s. They won 10 of those 11 titles between 2000-2016.
Before UConn (and even a bit during UConn’s run), Tennessee seemed to run the board more often than not, bringing in eight titles of their own throughout their program history.
No one else even comes close. Stanford and Baylor have three titles a piece, but UConn and Tennessee stand in a league of their own.
Unless Staley has a say.
Staley herself is a Hall of Fame basketball player and coach, with her name all over the record books in both regards. She is considered one of the 15 best players in WNBA history, has a 1996 Olympic gold medal, coached the US women’s national team, and is the first person to win the Naismith as both a player and a coach.
No one is more qualified to build a dynasty than Staley.
The road to victory wasn’t easy though—she built South Carolina’s program from the ground up. Since her arrival, the Gamecocks have become one of the steadiest, most dominant teams in NCAA women’s basketball. They’ve won two titles in the last eight seasons, were undefeated in the 2023 regular season (ultimately falling in the Final Four to the National Champion LSU Tigers), and they’ve had five Final Four appearances, three of them consecutively.
If anyone deserves to be counted among the UConns and the Tennessees of the women’s basketball world, it’s Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks, and I’m rooting for her to take it all the way to a third title this season.
Matt’s Take: Duke Blue Devils
Here’s the difference between me and Jami. She took the unquestioned No. 1 team in the country that hasn’t lost a single game this entire season and won the national title in 2022 as her pick, and I am taking the lowest remaining seed in the tournament.
Sure, some people might say that she is just a bandwagon fan hopping on the train that seems like it has the best chance of getting back to the station, I mean, I’m not saying that, but some people might be.
I, on the other hand, am taking the No. 7 Duke Blue Devils. Kara Lawson’s squad comes into the Sweet 16 as the only team seeded lower than No. 5 remaining in the tournament as they prepare to face off with the perennial women’s basketball powerhouse No. 3 UConn Huskies.
While I admit that it is difficult to think of any Duke basketball team as an underdog, in this situation, they absolutely are. But Buckeye fans know firsthand that they are quite capable of pulling the upset. Of course, rooting for the underdog is a March Madness tradition unlike any other, but when that underdog is also the team that knocked the squad you were rooting for out of the tournament, that makes it an even easier and more natural rooting option.
So, while both Jami and I are taking teams from the Carolinas she is going with the frontrunner and I am going with the longshot team that also gives OSU fans a legitimate reason to jump on board.
Let us know who you are agreeing with:
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2026 CA LB Shaun Scott (USC Verbal)
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2026 NV LB Kenneth Goodwin III (SMU Verbal)
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2026 GA QB Brodie McWhorter (West Virginia Decommit, Mississippi St. Verbal)
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2026 CA QB Troy Huhn (Penn St. Decommit)
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LGHL You’re Nuts: Offseason priorities for Ohio State men’s basketball
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You’re Nuts: Offseason priorities for Ohio State men’s basketball
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
After falling in the NIT quarterfinal, it’s time for Ohio State to re-tool and make sure they never play in the NIT again.
These feisty Buckeyes prolonged the inevitable much longer than we thought they would, extending their season nearly into April before falling in the NIT quarterfinals to Georgia this week, 79-77. On February 14, it looked like Jake Diebler was tasked with executing an emergency landing. Could he just get them to the finish line, maybe pick up a win or two along the way, and end the season with a little bit of dignity? Clearly, Diebler, the staff, and this team did a lot more than that, finishing the year with 22 wins.
Last week, Connor and Justin debated which recruits Diebler should be on the phone with first, now that he’s officially the head coach. 57% of people agreed with Justin’s choice of Darryn Peterson. The other 43% of the readers sided with Connor and his pick of Niko Bundalo. As far as we’re aware, Ohio State is not out of the running for either of the elite 2025 recruits.
Connor- 72
Ohio State probably won’t lose a ton this off-season. As of Thursday night, the only player that has transferred so far is seldom-used guard Bowen Hardman. Dale Bonner and Jamison Battle are both out of eligibility and while Ohio State has the options in-house to replace Bonner’s role, it currently does not have anyone capable of replacing Battle’s production. They will have to look elsewhere for that.
This game is a business, however. Players in great situations are sometimes offered a... better... situation, money-wise. Even though it looks like the Buckeyes will retain a good chunk of this team, you really never know.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25360977/usa_today_22874883.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
This may be presumptuous of me, but for this exercise, we’re going to assume Ohio State hangs on to Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle, and Felix Okpara because not bringing them back would be a huge disappointment. Those three sophomores (now juniors) were the leading voices in the locker room saying that Ohio State needed to play in the NIT. I would sure hope that after that emotional end to the season, those three would stick together.
Assuming they keep that core together and the only major piece that leaves is Battle, the biggest challenge will be just that — replacing Battle. Ohio State players not named Jamison Battle shot a combined 30.4% from three-point range last season. Without him, the Buckeyes would’ve been the third-worst three-point shooting team in the Big Ten. Battle was also second on the team with 15.3 points per game, and averaged nearly 20 per game over the final 10 games.
Some of the point production will come from the aforementioned trio getting better and scoring more. From their freshman season to sophomore season, Thornton jumped up over five points per game and Gayle jumped up over nine points per game. Okpara’s per-game statistics didn’t jump as much as the other two, but he finished the year in double-digits in three consecutive games for the first time in his career, which is promising.
However, I don’t think there’s anyone currently on the team that would help replace Battle’s three-point shooting and size at the 3 or 4 spot. We’re assuming Devin Royal will take a starting spot after averaging 8.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game over the final nine games of the season. But if the Buckeyes are serious about winning the Big Ten next season — as they should be — Evan Mahaffey cannot eat up starter’s minutes again. Unfortunately, there’s nobody else on the roster who has the size/scoring combo to step into Battle’s spot and come close to replacing him. This addition will have to come from elsewhere.
Even with Battle, this team didn’t make the NCAA Tournament. If they do in fact run it back with the same core, Diebler and staff will have to work hard and find someone with a size and scoring combination similar to Battle’s to start. He doesn’t need to be a 44% three-point shooter, but he has to be an above-average shooter to help extend defenses. It’s a must.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25361177/usa_today_22875095.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
I know a lot of people may disagree with this, but I really believe this core group of guys has a lot of potential left to tap into.
The core group of guys I am referring to is Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle, Felix Okpara, Scotty Middleton, Devin Royal, Taison Chatman, and Austin Park.
Thornton can play on any team in the country, Gayle improved immensely from his freshman to sophomore season and left room to make another jump to his junior season, and Okpara is an elite rim protector and defender and slowly showed more capabilities on the offensive end as the season went on.
The biggest thing is Gayle and Okpara now have a full season of starting under their belts and can now use another offseason to get stronger and be ready to step right back into the starting roles.
For the freshman turning sophomores, I always want to see a second year. The second offseason for young guys is crucial to development because they have now already spent time on campus and don’t have to make that adjustment. And I am not ready to just Park out yet because we haven’t seen him play.
As of us posting this, the only Buckeye officially in the transfer portal is Bowen Hardman. It's likely one or two more guys will leave, and that will leave two or three spots for head coach Jake Diebler to bring in through the portal.
But I hope those seven return because those seven and two or three impact transfers, plus Juni Mobley and Colin White, are a really solid team. And still, no seniors.
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justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
After falling in the NIT quarterfinal, it’s time for Ohio State to re-tool and make sure they never play in the NIT again.
These feisty Buckeyes prolonged the inevitable much longer than we thought they would, extending their season nearly into April before falling in the NIT quarterfinals to Georgia this week, 79-77. On February 14, it looked like Jake Diebler was tasked with executing an emergency landing. Could he just get them to the finish line, maybe pick up a win or two along the way, and end the season with a little bit of dignity? Clearly, Diebler, the staff, and this team did a lot more than that, finishing the year with 22 wins.
Last week, Connor and Justin debated which recruits Diebler should be on the phone with first, now that he’s officially the head coach. 57% of people agreed with Justin’s choice of Darryn Peterson. The other 43% of the readers sided with Connor and his pick of Niko Bundalo. As far as we’re aware, Ohio State is not out of the running for either of the elite 2025 recruits.
After 145 weeks:
Connor- 72
Justin- 54
Other- 15
(There have been four ties)
Ohio State probably won’t lose a ton this off-season. As of Thursday night, the only player that has transferred so far is seldom-used guard Bowen Hardman. Dale Bonner and Jamison Battle are both out of eligibility and while Ohio State has the options in-house to replace Bonner’s role, it currently does not have anyone capable of replacing Battle’s production. They will have to look elsewhere for that.
This game is a business, however. Players in great situations are sometimes offered a... better... situation, money-wise. Even though it looks like the Buckeyes will retain a good chunk of this team, you really never know.
This week’s question: What is Ohio State men’s basketball’s priority this off-season?
Connor: Replacing Jamison Battle
This may be presumptuous of me, but for this exercise, we’re going to assume Ohio State hangs on to Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle, and Felix Okpara because not bringing them back would be a huge disappointment. Those three sophomores (now juniors) were the leading voices in the locker room saying that Ohio State needed to play in the NIT. I would sure hope that after that emotional end to the season, those three would stick together.
Assuming they keep that core together and the only major piece that leaves is Battle, the biggest challenge will be just that — replacing Battle. Ohio State players not named Jamison Battle shot a combined 30.4% from three-point range last season. Without him, the Buckeyes would’ve been the third-worst three-point shooting team in the Big Ten. Battle was also second on the team with 15.3 points per game, and averaged nearly 20 per game over the final 10 games.
Some of the point production will come from the aforementioned trio getting better and scoring more. From their freshman season to sophomore season, Thornton jumped up over five points per game and Gayle jumped up over nine points per game. Okpara’s per-game statistics didn’t jump as much as the other two, but he finished the year in double-digits in three consecutive games for the first time in his career, which is promising.
However, I don’t think there’s anyone currently on the team that would help replace Battle’s three-point shooting and size at the 3 or 4 spot. We’re assuming Devin Royal will take a starting spot after averaging 8.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game over the final nine games of the season. But if the Buckeyes are serious about winning the Big Ten next season — as they should be — Evan Mahaffey cannot eat up starter’s minutes again. Unfortunately, there’s nobody else on the roster who has the size/scoring combo to step into Battle’s spot and come close to replacing him. This addition will have to come from elsewhere.
Even with Battle, this team didn’t make the NCAA Tournament. If they do in fact run it back with the same core, Diebler and staff will have to work hard and find someone with a size and scoring combination similar to Battle’s to start. He doesn’t need to be a 44% three-point shooter, but he has to be an above-average shooter to help extend defenses. It’s a must.
Justin: Retain the current core
I know a lot of people may disagree with this, but I really believe this core group of guys has a lot of potential left to tap into.
The core group of guys I am referring to is Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle, Felix Okpara, Scotty Middleton, Devin Royal, Taison Chatman, and Austin Park.
Thornton can play on any team in the country, Gayle improved immensely from his freshman to sophomore season and left room to make another jump to his junior season, and Okpara is an elite rim protector and defender and slowly showed more capabilities on the offensive end as the season went on.
The biggest thing is Gayle and Okpara now have a full season of starting under their belts and can now use another offseason to get stronger and be ready to step right back into the starting roles.
For the freshman turning sophomores, I always want to see a second year. The second offseason for young guys is crucial to development because they have now already spent time on campus and don’t have to make that adjustment. And I am not ready to just Park out yet because we haven’t seen him play.
As of us posting this, the only Buckeye officially in the transfer portal is Bowen Hardman. It's likely one or two more guys will leave, and that will leave two or three spots for head coach Jake Diebler to bring in through the portal.
But I hope those seven return because those seven and two or three impact transfers, plus Juni Mobley and Colin White, are a really solid team. And still, no seniors.
Continue reading...
LGHL OSU men see its first transfer as football prepares for Student Appreciation scrimmage
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OSU men see its first transfer as football prepares for Student Appreciation scrimmage
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports
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
Huge recruiting weekend as Buckeyes hold their Student Appreciation Day scrimmage
Bill Kurelic, Bucknuts
Three unknowns about Buckeyes as spring practice hits halfway point (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Buckeyes TE Bennett Christian aims to show growth after suspension
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State Wide Receivers Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss Love Each Other, Compete Like Brothers
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Comfort is building for Sonny Styles in his move to linebacker
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Ohio State: Buckeyes’ defensive line depth in focus this spring (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes
Kenyatta Jackson no longer overthinking after up-and-down 2023 season (paywall)
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Once a soccer star in Germany, Hero Kanu eager for bigger role at OSU
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
Bowen Hardman enters transfer portal after two seasons at Ohio State
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land
What are Ohio State’s four biggest questions this offseason?
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
How the NCAA basketball coaching carousel could impact Ohio State women’s basketball
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State Women’s Basketball Needs to Improve Rebounding and Depth, Add Impact Transfers for Better Postseason Results in 2024-25
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Inside the numbers of a championship season for Ohio State women’s hockey
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State Wrestling: Jesse Mendez claims OSU’s first national title since 2018, team takes 8th at the NCAA Wrestling Championships
Josh Dooley, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State softball hosts Northwestern in home-opener three-game series
Megan Husslein, Land-Grant Holy Land
Men’s Swim & Dive: Yost Repeats as NCAA 1-Meter Champion
Ohio State Athletics
Women’s Gymnastics: Hodges Earns WCGA All-American Honors
Ohio State Athletics
Men’s Volleyball: No. 9 Ohio State Wins in 5 Sets at No. 18 McKendree
Ohio State Athletics
Women’s Lacrosse: Buckeyes Rally to Down No. 19 Penn State, 9-8
Ohio State Athletics
This is still better than I could do:
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
Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports
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
Huge recruiting weekend as Buckeyes hold their Student Appreciation Day scrimmage
Bill Kurelic, Bucknuts
Three unknowns about Buckeyes as spring practice hits halfway point (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Buckeyes TE Bennett Christian aims to show growth after suspension
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State Wide Receivers Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss Love Each Other, Compete Like Brothers
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Comfort is building for Sonny Styles in his move to linebacker
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Ohio State: Buckeyes’ defensive line depth in focus this spring (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes
Kenyatta Jackson no longer overthinking after up-and-down 2023 season (paywall)
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Once a soccer star in Germany, Hero Kanu eager for bigger role at OSU
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
On the Hardwood
Bowen Hardman enters transfer portal after two seasons at Ohio State
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land
What are Ohio State’s four biggest questions this offseason?
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
How the NCAA basketball coaching carousel could impact Ohio State women’s basketball
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State Women’s Basketball Needs to Improve Rebounding and Depth, Add Impact Transfers for Better Postseason Results in 2024-25
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Outside the Shoe and Schott
Inside the numbers of a championship season for Ohio State women’s hockey
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State Wrestling: Jesse Mendez claims OSU’s first national title since 2018, team takes 8th at the NCAA Wrestling Championships
Josh Dooley, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State softball hosts Northwestern in home-opener three-game series
Megan Husslein, Land-Grant Holy Land
. .
Lyle Yost is the NCAA 1-meter champion for the second straight year#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/qoxIkxZBzd
— Ohio State Swim/Dive (@OhioStSwimDive) March 29, 2024
Men’s Swim & Dive: Yost Repeats as NCAA 1-Meter Champion
Ohio State Athletics
Women’s Gymnastics: Hodges Earns WCGA All-American Honors
Ohio State Athletics
Men’s Volleyball: No. 9 Ohio State Wins in 5 Sets at No. 18 McKendree
Ohio State Athletics
Women’s Lacrosse: Buckeyes Rally to Down No. 19 Penn State, 9-8
Ohio State Athletics
And now for something completely different...
This is still better than I could do:
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State softball hosts Northwestern in home-opener three-game series
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Ohio State softball hosts Northwestern in home-opener three-game series
Megan.Husslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
@OhioStateSB Twitter
It’s going to be a good one.
The Buckeyes are FINALLY playing at home after spending the first two months of the season on the road. Their first Big Ten home series is starting off with a bang against the reigning Big Ten champs, the Northwestern Wildcats.
Ohio State (18-10) is having a really solid season. Their .309 batting average is fourth-best in the Big Ten. Leading the way on offense is senior Tegan Cortelletti, whose .459 average through the first half of the season is second-best in the Big Ten among players with 50 or more at-bats. Also, seven other everyday starters are hitting .300 or better so far.
So the Buckeyes can clearly hit, but they can also hit for power. They are currently third in the Big Ten in slugging percentage (.500) and second in home runs (34).
As for pitching, senior Allison Smith is the ace this year, as she has a 2.05 ERA, 72 strikeouts in 78.2 innings, and a .228 batting average allowed.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25361168/Screenshot_2024_03_28_at_11.57.09_PM.png)
@OhioStateSB Twitter
Moving onto Northwestern (17-7), the Wildcats are currently riding a nine-game win streak. They are an overall extremely talented team. During that win streak, they swept Michigan State last weekend to begin conference play.
Their player to watch on offense is Kansas Robinson, as her .486 batting average leads both the team and the Big Ten. She also has seven home runs, seven doubles, and 21 RBI.
In the circle, Ashley Miller, a transfer from Michigan State, carries a 0.85 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 74.0 innings.
The Wildcats have played in some very close games this season with some of the nation’s best teams. They lost by one run to No. 12 LSU, No. 19 UCLA, and No. 25 Auburn. They defeated No. 24 Boston University and No. 23 South Carolina. Clearly, they have a very tough schedule but are very competitive in these games.
It’s always a battle between the Bucks and the Cats, with Northwestern usually coming out on top. Let’s see if Ohio State can change the narrative this year.
All three games of the series will be streamed on BTN+. The first game is today at 6 p.m. ET, then Saturday at 2 p.m. ET, and finally Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
Continue reading...
Megan.Husslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
@OhioStateSB Twitter
It’s going to be a good one.
The Buckeyes are FINALLY playing at home after spending the first two months of the season on the road. Their first Big Ten home series is starting off with a bang against the reigning Big Ten champs, the Northwestern Wildcats.
Ohio State (18-10) is having a really solid season. Their .309 batting average is fourth-best in the Big Ten. Leading the way on offense is senior Tegan Cortelletti, whose .459 average through the first half of the season is second-best in the Big Ten among players with 50 or more at-bats. Also, seven other everyday starters are hitting .300 or better so far.
So the Buckeyes can clearly hit, but they can also hit for power. They are currently third in the Big Ten in slugging percentage (.500) and second in home runs (34).
As for pitching, senior Allison Smith is the ace this year, as she has a 2.05 ERA, 72 strikeouts in 78.2 innings, and a .228 batting average allowed.
Moving onto Northwestern (17-7), the Wildcats are currently riding a nine-game win streak. They are an overall extremely talented team. During that win streak, they swept Michigan State last weekend to begin conference play.
Their player to watch on offense is Kansas Robinson, as her .486 batting average leads both the team and the Big Ten. She also has seven home runs, seven doubles, and 21 RBI.
In the circle, Ashley Miller, a transfer from Michigan State, carries a 0.85 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 74.0 innings.
The Wildcats have played in some very close games this season with some of the nation’s best teams. They lost by one run to No. 12 LSU, No. 19 UCLA, and No. 25 Auburn. They defeated No. 24 Boston University and No. 23 South Carolina. Clearly, they have a very tough schedule but are very competitive in these games.
It’s always a battle between the Bucks and the Cats, with Northwestern usually coming out on top. Let’s see if Ohio State can change the narrative this year.
All three games of the series will be streamed on BTN+. The first game is today at 6 p.m. ET, then Saturday at 2 p.m. ET, and finally Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State dishes out a handful of new offers in the 2026 class ahead of major recruiting weekend
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Ohio State dishes out a handful of new offers in the 2026 class ahead of major recruiting weekend
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeyes extended four new offers on Thursday to 2026 targets.
Spring practice has given Ohio State ample opportunities to bring in several top targets. With so many players making the trek to Columbus, a majority of them may have existing relationships with the staff, but it’s also been seen over the last few weeks that there’s new names worth watching moving forward after leaving their respective visits with an offer in hand.
Thursday proved to be one of the more influential days for new prospects, as a handful of offers were extended out by the staff. On the eve of what is to be one of the busier weekends Ohio State will have this spring on the recruiting front, here’s the latest on those new names that left campus with a feeling that the trip was more than worth their time.
2026 quarterback Troy Huhn was able to get some time with head coach Ryan Day on Thursday to chat, resulting in an Ohio State offer coming to fruition. A 6-foot-4, 205 pound signal caller, the Buckeyes have dished out quite a few offers to quarterbacks in the junior class this spring, and the California native is one of the next in line.
Unranked via his 247Sports profile right now, offers from the likes of Florida State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, and now Ohio State show the caliber of player Huhn is. He will be a guy to keep an eye on moving forward as the staff pinpoints who they want to focus on to be their guy in the upcoming class.
Keeping with the trend of 2026 quarterbacks, Ohio State also extended an offer to Georgia native Brodie McWhorter. A 6-foot-2, 190 pound athlete, McWhorter is another player that currently does not have a 247Sports grade on his profile due to his class status. Odds are when those rankings come out, he too will be another player that ranks among the best in the country at his position.
Currently, McWhorter owns nearly 20 offers to his name, and once again from some of the best schools the country has to offer. Programs such as Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, North Carolina and others are already locked in with an offer of their own, but now that Ohio State is in the mix it won’t be long before others come calling as well.
You’d have to think that many times the in-state school offering would mean something, and maybe it still does, but Georgia landing the commitment of five-star Jared Curtis just last week likely means other schools are more in play for McWhorter. Ohio State tends to have their pick of the guys they want at this spot, and 2026 shouldn’t be any different.
Moving to the other side of the ball, the Buckeyes were also just as busy trying to get in the mix for elite playmakers that can help the defense too. Having as many prospects on campus as they have the last few days, the defensive coaches have been able to show face a ton, and Thursday provided the chance to recruit some familiar programs.
Coming away with his latest offer, 6-foot-3, 225 pound edge rusher Shaun Scott now has the Buckeyes involved in his recruitment. Hailing from prep power Mater Dei, the California native is another 2026 target that has an early offer sheet that is impressive to say the least, totaling near 20 schools already.
Florida, Oklahoma, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, USC, Washington, and more round out the bigger programs to get in on this one early, but Ohio State isn’t just “another” offer. Having the chance to speak with multiple coaches on Thursday is a big-time development and it certainly doesn’t hurt that fellow class of 2026 target and current Buckeye commit, Chris Henry Jr., is now his teammate at Mater Dei.
A school the Buckeyes are constantly trying to recruit, having Henry Jr. in his ear should be an advantage for nearly the next two years.
One more for good measure, the Buckeyes hosted Nevada native Kenneth Goodwin for an unofficial visit on Thursday, and he too came away from his time in Columbus with an offer. Making time to speak with both coach Day and James Laurinaitis, Goodwin is the next linebacker that has received attention from Ohio State in a list that has really grown over the last month or so.
A 6-foot-1, 205 pound athlete, Goodwin doesn’t have a long list of offers to his name just yet, but he certainly makes up for that with quality over quantity. Georgia, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and now the Buckeyes make up most of his offers, but again, it’s still relatively early on in his process.
Hoping for good news later this weekend in the 2025 class when Florida product Tarvos Alford makes his commitment public, the linebacker recruiting should be showing the fruits of Laurinaitis and his efforts on the trail. Knowing that this current 2025 class is the first priority, it’s an awesome sign to see the staff all-in on the future cycles as well, getting right into it with building early relationships with guys they’ll recruit for the next year-plus.
It is not out of the question completely that this major recruiting weekend could bring a major BOOM or even BOOM(s) to Ohio State’s 2025 class. Having some major targets who have been closely linked to the Buckeyes on campus certainly provides that sentiment of possibility.
One name that fits that bill is IMG Academy product, London Merritt. A four-star edge rusher, Merritt is the No. 101 player nationally and the tenth best at his position per the 247Sports Composite. Crystal Balled to Ohio State by Director of Recruiting for 247Sports, Steve Wiltfong, the Buckeyes do seem to be the leader in Merritt’s recruitment, but the staff is still putting in plenty of time to ensure he knows how much of a priority he truly is.
Set to be back on campus this weekend, it cannot be overstated how big this is for Larry Johnson and crew to get him back around the program. Many times these visits are what can seal the deal for a player, and that’s obviously going to be a point of emphasis while Merritt is in Columbus as the environment is sure to be special.
A commitment isn’t guaranteed by any means, but knowing how closely the two have been linked, maybe this visit will be what pushes Ohio State over the top for when he does eventually decide.
As mentioned, Saturday could provide some fireworks for Ohio State at the linebacker position, but barring a last minute change, Sacca looks to be headed elsewhere.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeyes extended four new offers on Thursday to 2026 targets.
Spring practice has given Ohio State ample opportunities to bring in several top targets. With so many players making the trek to Columbus, a majority of them may have existing relationships with the staff, but it’s also been seen over the last few weeks that there’s new names worth watching moving forward after leaving their respective visits with an offer in hand.
Thursday proved to be one of the more influential days for new prospects, as a handful of offers were extended out by the staff. On the eve of what is to be one of the busier weekends Ohio State will have this spring on the recruiting front, here’s the latest on those new names that left campus with a feeling that the trip was more than worth their time.
2026 quarterback Troy Huhn was able to get some time with head coach Ryan Day on Thursday to chat, resulting in an Ohio State offer coming to fruition. A 6-foot-4, 205 pound signal caller, the Buckeyes have dished out quite a few offers to quarterbacks in the junior class this spring, and the California native is one of the next in line.
Unranked via his 247Sports profile right now, offers from the likes of Florida State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, and now Ohio State show the caliber of player Huhn is. He will be a guy to keep an eye on moving forward as the staff pinpoints who they want to focus on to be their guy in the upcoming class.
Keeping with the trend of 2026 quarterbacks, Ohio State also extended an offer to Georgia native Brodie McWhorter. A 6-foot-2, 190 pound athlete, McWhorter is another player that currently does not have a 247Sports grade on his profile due to his class status. Odds are when those rankings come out, he too will be another player that ranks among the best in the country at his position.
Currently, McWhorter owns nearly 20 offers to his name, and once again from some of the best schools the country has to offer. Programs such as Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, North Carolina and others are already locked in with an offer of their own, but now that Ohio State is in the mix it won’t be long before others come calling as well.
You’d have to think that many times the in-state school offering would mean something, and maybe it still does, but Georgia landing the commitment of five-star Jared Curtis just last week likely means other schools are more in play for McWhorter. Ohio State tends to have their pick of the guys they want at this spot, and 2026 shouldn’t be any different.
Moving to the other side of the ball, the Buckeyes were also just as busy trying to get in the mix for elite playmakers that can help the defense too. Having as many prospects on campus as they have the last few days, the defensive coaches have been able to show face a ton, and Thursday provided the chance to recruit some familiar programs.
Coming away with his latest offer, 6-foot-3, 225 pound edge rusher Shaun Scott now has the Buckeyes involved in his recruitment. Hailing from prep power Mater Dei, the California native is another 2026 target that has an early offer sheet that is impressive to say the least, totaling near 20 schools already.
Florida, Oklahoma, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, USC, Washington, and more round out the bigger programs to get in on this one early, but Ohio State isn’t just “another” offer. Having the chance to speak with multiple coaches on Thursday is a big-time development and it certainly doesn’t hurt that fellow class of 2026 target and current Buckeye commit, Chris Henry Jr., is now his teammate at Mater Dei.
A school the Buckeyes are constantly trying to recruit, having Henry Jr. in his ear should be an advantage for nearly the next two years.
One more for good measure, the Buckeyes hosted Nevada native Kenneth Goodwin for an unofficial visit on Thursday, and he too came away from his time in Columbus with an offer. Making time to speak with both coach Day and James Laurinaitis, Goodwin is the next linebacker that has received attention from Ohio State in a list that has really grown over the last month or so.
A 6-foot-1, 205 pound athlete, Goodwin doesn’t have a long list of offers to his name just yet, but he certainly makes up for that with quality over quantity. Georgia, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and now the Buckeyes make up most of his offers, but again, it’s still relatively early on in his process.
Hoping for good news later this weekend in the 2025 class when Florida product Tarvos Alford makes his commitment public, the linebacker recruiting should be showing the fruits of Laurinaitis and his efforts on the trail. Knowing that this current 2025 class is the first priority, it’s an awesome sign to see the staff all-in on the future cycles as well, getting right into it with building early relationships with guys they’ll recruit for the next year-plus.
It is not out of the question completely that this major recruiting weekend could bring a major BOOM or even BOOM(s) to Ohio State’s 2025 class. Having some major targets who have been closely linked to the Buckeyes on campus certainly provides that sentiment of possibility.
One name that fits that bill is IMG Academy product, London Merritt. A four-star edge rusher, Merritt is the No. 101 player nationally and the tenth best at his position per the 247Sports Composite. Crystal Balled to Ohio State by Director of Recruiting for 247Sports, Steve Wiltfong, the Buckeyes do seem to be the leader in Merritt’s recruitment, but the staff is still putting in plenty of time to ensure he knows how much of a priority he truly is.
Set to be back on campus this weekend, it cannot be overstated how big this is for Larry Johnson and crew to get him back around the program. Many times these visits are what can seal the deal for a player, and that’s obviously going to be a point of emphasis while Merritt is in Columbus as the environment is sure to be special.
A commitment isn’t guaranteed by any means, but knowing how closely the two have been linked, maybe this visit will be what pushes Ohio State over the top for when he does eventually decide.
Quick Hits
- Current Ohio State offeree Anthony Sacca is slated to announce his commitment on Saturday. The No. 187 player nationally and 25th best linebacker per the 247Sports Composite, the Buckeyes are among his final group of schools, but at this point it would be a surprise to see him end up anywhere other than Notre Dame.
As mentioned, Saturday could provide some fireworks for Ohio State at the linebacker position, but barring a last minute change, Sacca looks to be headed elsewhere.
NEWS 4-star LB Anthony Sacca will announce his commitment on Saturday, he tells @ChadSimmons_
Read: https://t.co/MKxkg9K503 pic.twitter.com/CtPwn64Zqm
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) March 28, 2024
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