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LGHL Dakorien Moore commits to Oregon, Buckeyes in solid position with another top defensive target
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Dakorien Moore commits to Oregon, Buckeyes in solid position with another top defensive target
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
Ohio State is hoping Saturday brings good news after a tough two days on the recruiting trail.
On Thursday, five-star wide receiver Dakorien Moore committed to Oregon. It feels like the first time in a while Brian Hartline has missed out on a top end player at the position, but that is how it goes in the recruiting world.
Moore was a long-time LSU commit before re-opening his recruitment this past May. After taking multiple trips to Columbus to see the Buckeyes and all that Ohio State had to offer, it was then that Hartline and the rest of the staff really felt they had a shot moving forward considering how they have fared the last several classes at his position.
Following official visits and the rumblings, the Buckeyes landed in his final group with Texas, Oregon, and LSU also in the fold, but Texas was the school that really seemed to be in the driver’s seat. However, this week the Crystal Ball predictions began to change as Oregon surged to the top, and it was the Ducks that landed the five-star’s pledge, continuing what has been an incredible week for them on the trail.
From here, it’s important to note that while Ohio State has lost out on some incredible talent, this staff does still currently boast the top-ranked class in the country with more commits to come. It’s not easy to lose an in-state kid like Justin Hill or to see a conference foe poach the top player at the position you develop better than anyone else, but that seems to be part of the deal now in college football. Simply put, you can’t win them all.
Current Ohio State players such as Jeremiah Smith and future Buckeye Devin Sanchez did their best to pitch Moore late in the process once more, but Oregon is now proving they’re a real threat. It’s never fun to see another team have recruiting success head-to-head with Ohio State, but Dan Lanning and the Ducks are a force to be reckoned with right now.
Still, plenty of optimism surrounds this current 2025 class Ohio State has put together, and that should be the focus as we get deeper into the summer months and closer to the start of the regular season.
Echoing that the Buckeyes are, “all good,” Sanchez’s thoughts pave the way for potential good news on the horizon. That would certainly be a positive development, considering Texas native linebacker target Riley Pettijohn is set to announce his college plans on Saturday.
Ohio State seems to be in solid position this close to decision day for the No. 31 player nationally and fourth-best linebacker in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite, and comments like the ones Steve Wiltfong makes below further promote the Buckeyes and their chances of landing another big time playmaker for their defense.
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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
Ohio State is hoping Saturday brings good news after a tough two days on the recruiting trail.
On Thursday, five-star wide receiver Dakorien Moore committed to Oregon. It feels like the first time in a while Brian Hartline has missed out on a top end player at the position, but that is how it goes in the recruiting world.
Moore was a long-time LSU commit before re-opening his recruitment this past May. After taking multiple trips to Columbus to see the Buckeyes and all that Ohio State had to offer, it was then that Hartline and the rest of the staff really felt they had a shot moving forward considering how they have fared the last several classes at his position.
Following official visits and the rumblings, the Buckeyes landed in his final group with Texas, Oregon, and LSU also in the fold, but Texas was the school that really seemed to be in the driver’s seat. However, this week the Crystal Ball predictions began to change as Oregon surged to the top, and it was the Ducks that landed the five-star’s pledge, continuing what has been an incredible week for them on the trail.
From here, it’s important to note that while Ohio State has lost out on some incredible talent, this staff does still currently boast the top-ranked class in the country with more commits to come. It’s not easy to lose an in-state kid like Justin Hill or to see a conference foe poach the top player at the position you develop better than anyone else, but that seems to be part of the deal now in college football. Simply put, you can’t win them all.
Current Ohio State players such as Jeremiah Smith and future Buckeye Devin Sanchez did their best to pitch Moore late in the process once more, but Oregon is now proving they’re a real threat. It’s never fun to see another team have recruiting success head-to-head with Ohio State, but Dan Lanning and the Ducks are a force to be reckoned with right now.
Still, plenty of optimism surrounds this current 2025 class Ohio State has put together, and that should be the focus as we get deeper into the summer months and closer to the start of the regular season.
Quick Hits
- Speaking of Sanchez, the five-star continues to say and do all the right things concerning his Buckeye pledge. Taking it to heart to peer recruit and help build this 2025 class, Sanchez was active on his social media on Thursday not only pitching to Moore, but also reassuring Ohio State fans that everything is going to be fine even with two consecutive days of news that could have gone better.
Echoing that the Buckeyes are, “all good,” Sanchez’s thoughts pave the way for potential good news on the horizon. That would certainly be a positive development, considering Texas native linebacker target Riley Pettijohn is set to announce his college plans on Saturday.
Ohio State seems to be in solid position this close to decision day for the No. 31 player nationally and fourth-best linebacker in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite, and comments like the ones Steve Wiltfong makes below further promote the Buckeyes and their chances of landing another big time playmaker for their defense.
"I do not think it's going to be the Longhorns" @SWiltfong_ says Ohio State is surging for the No. 2 ranked LB Riley Pettijohn
More: https://t.co/5MkbNAAbiH pic.twitter.com/DQssl9thNZ
— Josh Newberg (@josh_newberg) July 4, 2024
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LGHL Burning Question: How good is the Ohio State men’s basketball backcourt?
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Burning Question: How good is the Ohio State men’s basketball backcourt?
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
With the addition of Meechie Johnson, can this Ohio State backcourt be the best in the conference?
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the most important questions yet unanswered for the season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content and our ”Burning Questions” articles here.
When it comes to the Ohio State men’s basketball program, there are a lot of question marks right now. How will Jake Diebler adapt to being the head guy for a full season? What is his staff like, and will they all work well? How will the transfers mesh with the returning players? What impact will Juni Mobley and Colin White have?
However, there is one question that I think is more positive, and the answer could be that the backcourt of junior point guard Bruce Thornton and senior shooting guard Meechie Johnson propel this team back to the NCAA Tournament and to a successful season.
Johnson returns to Ohio State after spending his first two seasons in Columbus and transferring to South Carolina for two seasons. The fifth-year senior joins Thornton in the backcourt, and the two will be the workhorses for the Buckeyes this upcoming season.
Thornton has started all 70 games of his Buckeye career thus far, averaging 13.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He shot 43.9 percent from the field, 35 percent from three-point range, and 81.2 percent from the free-throw line. Last year, Thornton averaged 15.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists per contest. His shooting splits were a little down — 42.7 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three-point range, and 85 percent from the free-throw line.
He has averaged 32.1 minutes per game in his two years in Columbus. and was voted All-Big Ten and All-Big Ten Tournament last season.
Johnson averages 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game in his career. He shoots 37.1 percent from the field, 32.8 percent from three-point range, and 75.8 percent from the free throw line. Johnson’s best year was last season, when he averaged 14.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. His shooting splits were 39.9 percent from the field, 32.1 percent from three-point range, and 78.8 percent from the free-throw line.
Johnson has played 106 games in college, starting in 67 of them. He played in 43 games for Ohio State in two seasons and 63 games for South Carolina in two seasons. Johnson was named All-SEC last season.
This is the most experienced backcourt the Buckeyes have had in a long time, and both are poised to become 1,000-point scorers this season. Thornton has a chance to challenge for Ohio State’s all-time leading scorer if he starts 70 more games over the next two seasons.
A talented and experienced backcourt is what wins games in March, and this has the potential to be one of the best backcourts not only in the conference, but in the country. In general, not many teams have two players in the backcourt who could both average 15-18 points per game, but Thornton and Johnson could very well do that. If they are efficient, that number could even be 18-20 points per game, since they will be the top two options on offense.
If all goes right, Thornton and Johnson will be the catalysts for the new-look Buckeye team. They could be one of the best backcourts the Buckeyes have had in a while. Both players have shown the capability of scoring 25 points in any given game and can be takeover players.
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
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
With the addition of Meechie Johnson, can this Ohio State backcourt be the best in the conference?
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the most important questions yet unanswered for the season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content and our ”Burning Questions” articles here.
When it comes to the Ohio State men’s basketball program, there are a lot of question marks right now. How will Jake Diebler adapt to being the head guy for a full season? What is his staff like, and will they all work well? How will the transfers mesh with the returning players? What impact will Juni Mobley and Colin White have?
However, there is one question that I think is more positive, and the answer could be that the backcourt of junior point guard Bruce Thornton and senior shooting guard Meechie Johnson propel this team back to the NCAA Tournament and to a successful season.
Johnson returns to Ohio State after spending his first two seasons in Columbus and transferring to South Carolina for two seasons. The fifth-year senior joins Thornton in the backcourt, and the two will be the workhorses for the Buckeyes this upcoming season.
Thornton has started all 70 games of his Buckeye career thus far, averaging 13.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He shot 43.9 percent from the field, 35 percent from three-point range, and 81.2 percent from the free-throw line. Last year, Thornton averaged 15.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists per contest. His shooting splits were a little down — 42.7 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three-point range, and 85 percent from the free-throw line.
He has averaged 32.1 minutes per game in his two years in Columbus. and was voted All-Big Ten and All-Big Ten Tournament last season.
Johnson averages 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game in his career. He shoots 37.1 percent from the field, 32.8 percent from three-point range, and 75.8 percent from the free throw line. Johnson’s best year was last season, when he averaged 14.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. His shooting splits were 39.9 percent from the field, 32.1 percent from three-point range, and 78.8 percent from the free-throw line.
Johnson has played 106 games in college, starting in 67 of them. He played in 43 games for Ohio State in two seasons and 63 games for South Carolina in two seasons. Johnson was named All-SEC last season.
This is the most experienced backcourt the Buckeyes have had in a long time, and both are poised to become 1,000-point scorers this season. Thornton has a chance to challenge for Ohio State’s all-time leading scorer if he starts 70 more games over the next two seasons.
A talented and experienced backcourt is what wins games in March, and this has the potential to be one of the best backcourts not only in the conference, but in the country. In general, not many teams have two players in the backcourt who could both average 15-18 points per game, but Thornton and Johnson could very well do that. If they are efficient, that number could even be 18-20 points per game, since they will be the top two options on offense.
If all goes right, Thornton and Johnson will be the catalysts for the new-look Buckeye team. They could be one of the best backcourts the Buckeyes have had in a while. Both players have shown the capability of scoring 25 points in any given game and can be takeover players.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State loses out on a top in-state target, hope to bounce back this weekend
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Ohio State loses out on a top in-state target, hope to bounce back this 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
The Buckeyes are hoping to win out for an elite Texas linebacker on Saturday.
On Wednesday, Ohio State saw arguably their first real bad news this 2025 cycle when in-state prospect Justin Hill chose Alabama over the Buckeyes. The No. 58 player nationally and fourth-best edge rusher in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite, Hill decided on the Crimson Tide over Ohio State, Oregon, and USC.
No real way of sugar-coating it — this is a major loss for the Buckeyes.
Shortly before his announcement Wednesday afternoon, the Crystal Ball predictions flipped from Ohio State to Alabama, and the writing was on the walls that the staff was losing out on a recruitment that is very important to say the least. Rumors of his family preferring Alabama and more, the Buckeyes lost their footing in the final stretch.
Ohio State’s lack of his “Jack” position on the field is likely the real cause for why the Buckeyes lost this recruitment. Not utilizing his position is confusing, considering Jim Knowles is very much a proponent of using multiple defensive fronts. Larry Johnson’s commitment to a four-down front left Hill without seeing a real example of how he’d be used in Ohio State’s defense, and you just have to believe that’s the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Losing an elite playmaker is never easy, but when he’s an in-state product and from a prep program you have recruited well in the past, it stings that much more. However, it is important to note that the Buckeyes still boast the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class, and have a very impressive haul already along the defensive line. Up to five commits currently, Johnson can’t take too much heat for one miss, but winning elsewhere would soften the blow.
For now, you can guarantee Ohio State will continue recruiting Hill up until he signs. This season could be one where the multiple defensive schemes are shown, and if so, maybe the Buckeyes can get right back in the mix for a potential flip. It’s nothing to bank on, but all is not totally lost, and surely the staff will try their hand again until ink hits paper.
Shortly after the aforementioned Hill’s decision was made, linebackers coach James Laurinaitis took to social media to release the tweet below, and immediately that had Buckeye fans all over rumbling about what this could mean.
Not solely the position coach Hill would have had in Columbus, Laurinaitis was still very much a lead role in that recruitment, so it could have had something to do with his pledge. However, the initial thought here is that this likely hints toward the feeling that Ohio State and their 2025 defensive recruiting efforts are going to be just fine when all is said and done.
With a commitment announcement coming from Texas linebacker target Riley Pettijohn later this weekend, some believe the Buckeyes are in the driver seat, with USC following just behind. Again, the rug could always be pulled out in the final moments once again, but seeing Texas insiders removing their picks toward the Longhorns and hearing 247Sports’ Mike Roach state that, “the winds are blowing toward Ohio State,” has to mean something.
The No. 31 player nationally and the fourth-best linebacker in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite is set to announce on Saturday, and a commitment for Ohio State would be just what the doctor ordered to get the defense quickly back on the right track.
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
The Buckeyes are hoping to win out for an elite Texas linebacker on Saturday.
On Wednesday, Ohio State saw arguably their first real bad news this 2025 cycle when in-state prospect Justin Hill chose Alabama over the Buckeyes. The No. 58 player nationally and fourth-best edge rusher in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite, Hill decided on the Crimson Tide over Ohio State, Oregon, and USC.
No real way of sugar-coating it — this is a major loss for the Buckeyes.
Shortly before his announcement Wednesday afternoon, the Crystal Ball predictions flipped from Ohio State to Alabama, and the writing was on the walls that the staff was losing out on a recruitment that is very important to say the least. Rumors of his family preferring Alabama and more, the Buckeyes lost their footing in the final stretch.
Ohio State’s lack of his “Jack” position on the field is likely the real cause for why the Buckeyes lost this recruitment. Not utilizing his position is confusing, considering Jim Knowles is very much a proponent of using multiple defensive fronts. Larry Johnson’s commitment to a four-down front left Hill without seeing a real example of how he’d be used in Ohio State’s defense, and you just have to believe that’s the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Losing an elite playmaker is never easy, but when he’s an in-state product and from a prep program you have recruited well in the past, it stings that much more. However, it is important to note that the Buckeyes still boast the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class, and have a very impressive haul already along the defensive line. Up to five commits currently, Johnson can’t take too much heat for one miss, but winning elsewhere would soften the blow.
For now, you can guarantee Ohio State will continue recruiting Hill up until he signs. This season could be one where the multiple defensive schemes are shown, and if so, maybe the Buckeyes can get right back in the mix for a potential flip. It’s nothing to bank on, but all is not totally lost, and surely the staff will try their hand again until ink hits paper.
Cryptic tweet could spell good news for Buckeyes
Shortly after the aforementioned Hill’s decision was made, linebackers coach James Laurinaitis took to social media to release the tweet below, and immediately that had Buckeye fans all over rumbling about what this could mean.
Not solely the position coach Hill would have had in Columbus, Laurinaitis was still very much a lead role in that recruitment, so it could have had something to do with his pledge. However, the initial thought here is that this likely hints toward the feeling that Ohio State and their 2025 defensive recruiting efforts are going to be just fine when all is said and done.
With a commitment announcement coming from Texas linebacker target Riley Pettijohn later this weekend, some believe the Buckeyes are in the driver seat, with USC following just behind. Again, the rug could always be pulled out in the final moments once again, but seeing Texas insiders removing their picks toward the Longhorns and hearing 247Sports’ Mike Roach state that, “the winds are blowing toward Ohio State,” has to mean something.
The No. 31 player nationally and the fourth-best linebacker in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite is set to announce on Saturday, and a commitment for Ohio State would be just what the doctor ordered to get the defense quickly back on the right track.
Quick Hits
- Five-star receiver and Ohio State target Dakorien Moore announced via social media last night that he will make his commitment later today. The No. 3 player nationally and top receiver in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite, Moore is down to just LSU, Ohio State, Oregon, and Texas. Though the Buckeyes are certainly in the mix here, it would be a surprise at this point if the Longhorns weren’t the pick.
NEWS Five-Star Plus+ WR Dakorien Moore will announce his commitment tomorrow on July 4, per @Hayesfawcett3
Will it be Texas, LSU, Oregon or Ohio State?
Read: https://t.co/eIRSszRs81 pic.twitter.com/FuPPklbHww
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) July 4, 2024
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