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LGHL Despite uncertain role, Lincoln Kienholz is important to Ohio State’s offense this year
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Despite uncertain role, Lincoln Kienholz is important to Ohio State’s offense this year
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 Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images
Even if the third-year quarterback doesn’t win the starting quarterback job, he provides valuable depth behind Julian Sayin.
One thing Ryan Day has done a great job at since arriving in Columbus is developing quarterbacks. While with the Buckeyes, Day has worked with Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields, C.J. Stroud, and Will Howard.
Even Kyle McCord, who was the least productive quarterback during Day’s time at Ohio State, went on to have a monster season at Syracuse last year before being selected in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Now Day has a new challenge on his hands, as he has to identify the next starter for the Buckeyes. Not only is there enough pressure on Day to make the right choice when it comes to who is going to take snaps next for Ohio State, whoever ends up starting this season will be doing so for the defending national champions.
Julian Sayin is the favorite to be the next man up for the Buckeyes, but Lincoln Kienholz and Tavien St. Clair are going to state their case as to why they deserve to run the Ohio State offense.
Even if Sayin ends up being the starting quarterback, Kienholz is going to be a vital part of the offense. With the expansion of the College Football Playoff, having a backup quarterback who can step in if the starter is injured is massive.
Last year Georgia looked like a true national title threat before Carson Beck was injured in the SEC Championship Game. Even though Gunner Stockton was solid in the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame, it was obvious the Georgia offense wasn’t quite the same without Beck.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26065703/1898129425.jpg "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: DEC 29 Goodyear Cotton Bowl - Missouri vs Ohio State")
Photo by John Bunch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Kienholz already has experience being thrust into action in the middle of a game. As a freshman, Kienholz was called on in the 2023 Cotton Bowl against Missouri when Devin Brown was injured in the first half.
Brown was only starting because McCord announced he was entering the transfer portal following the end of Ohio State’s regular season schedule. Prior to his appearance in the Cotton Bowl, Keinholz had only thrown a handful of passes, with all of them coming late in games when the result was already in the bag.
Nobody would have blamed Kienholz if he did decide to transfer either of the last two seasons. It was obvious in the Cotton Bowl that the coaching staff did him a disservice by not properly preparing him to play, since Day and company were more looking to see what they had with Devin Brown.
Even after last season, many thought Kienholz might be looking for a fresh start, much like Brown did when he entered the transfer portal. Instead, Kienholz decided to stick around and fight for a chance to be the next starting quarterback for the Buckeyes.
When he committed to Ohio State, many probably thought Kienholz was the product of being the big fish in a small pond. Only one other player from South Dakota had ever been a Buckeye. Offensive lineman Grant Schmidt committed to Ohio State in 2015 but transferred before ever taking a snap in the scarlet and gray, moving on to Cincinnati before returning to his home state to close out his college career at South Dakota State.
Despite growing up in a state that isn’t a traditional football hotbed, Kienholz proved in high school he is an amazing athlete. Not only did he excel at football, he was also a basketball and baseball star.
To go along with throwing for the most yards in state history, Kienholz averaged 19.9 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per game on the basketball court, as well as hitting .472 and posting a 1.24 ERA on the baseball diamond. Originally Kienholz committed to the University of Washington before deciding Ohio State was a better fit for him.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26065707/2210250861.jpg "Ohio State Spring Showcase")
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
Throughout most of this offseason, I even thought it was a given that Sayin would be the starter for the Buckeyes this year. Now I think the quarterback competition might be a little more heated than we were expecting it to be.
The best thing for Ohio State would be if Kienholz pushed Sayin throughout preseason camp, since it would force both players to play at their highest level if they wanted to earn the starting position for the season opener against Texas.
Even if he isn’t able to be the starting quarterback to start the year, Kienholz already knows he’ll have to stay ready since his number can be called at any time. With already having experience being forced into action in a game and struggling will only help Kienholz since he won’t want to have the same thing happen as we saw in the Cotton Bowl against Missouri.
While I wouldn’t call Kienholz “Player of the Year” because there is so much uncertainty about what his role will be for the upcoming season, he is an extremely important part of this year’s Ohio State team. If he falls short of becoming the starter at quarterback for the Buckeyes, you know he’ll be ready for whenever his number might be called.
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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 Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images
Even if the third-year quarterback doesn’t win the starting quarterback job, he provides valuable depth behind Julian Sayin.
One thing Ryan Day has done a great job at since arriving in Columbus is developing quarterbacks. While with the Buckeyes, Day has worked with Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields, C.J. Stroud, and Will Howard.
Even Kyle McCord, who was the least productive quarterback during Day’s time at Ohio State, went on to have a monster season at Syracuse last year before being selected in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Now Day has a new challenge on his hands, as he has to identify the next starter for the Buckeyes. Not only is there enough pressure on Day to make the right choice when it comes to who is going to take snaps next for Ohio State, whoever ends up starting this season will be doing so for the defending national champions.
Julian Sayin is the favorite to be the next man up for the Buckeyes, but Lincoln Kienholz and Tavien St. Clair are going to state their case as to why they deserve to run the Ohio State offense.
Even if Sayin ends up being the starting quarterback, Kienholz is going to be a vital part of the offense. With the expansion of the College Football Playoff, having a backup quarterback who can step in if the starter is injured is massive.
Last year Georgia looked like a true national title threat before Carson Beck was injured in the SEC Championship Game. Even though Gunner Stockton was solid in the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame, it was obvious the Georgia offense wasn’t quite the same without Beck.
Kienholz already has experience being thrust into action in the middle of a game. As a freshman, Kienholz was called on in the 2023 Cotton Bowl against Missouri when Devin Brown was injured in the first half.
Brown was only starting because McCord announced he was entering the transfer portal following the end of Ohio State’s regular season schedule. Prior to his appearance in the Cotton Bowl, Keinholz had only thrown a handful of passes, with all of them coming late in games when the result was already in the bag.
Nobody would have blamed Kienholz if he did decide to transfer either of the last two seasons. It was obvious in the Cotton Bowl that the coaching staff did him a disservice by not properly preparing him to play, since Day and company were more looking to see what they had with Devin Brown.
Even after last season, many thought Kienholz might be looking for a fresh start, much like Brown did when he entered the transfer portal. Instead, Kienholz decided to stick around and fight for a chance to be the next starting quarterback for the Buckeyes.
When he committed to Ohio State, many probably thought Kienholz was the product of being the big fish in a small pond. Only one other player from South Dakota had ever been a Buckeye. Offensive lineman Grant Schmidt committed to Ohio State in 2015 but transferred before ever taking a snap in the scarlet and gray, moving on to Cincinnati before returning to his home state to close out his college career at South Dakota State.
Despite growing up in a state that isn’t a traditional football hotbed, Kienholz proved in high school he is an amazing athlete. Not only did he excel at football, he was also a basketball and baseball star.
To go along with throwing for the most yards in state history, Kienholz averaged 19.9 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per game on the basketball court, as well as hitting .472 and posting a 1.24 ERA on the baseball diamond. Originally Kienholz committed to the University of Washington before deciding Ohio State was a better fit for him.
Throughout most of this offseason, I even thought it was a given that Sayin would be the starter for the Buckeyes this year. Now I think the quarterback competition might be a little more heated than we were expecting it to be.
The best thing for Ohio State would be if Kienholz pushed Sayin throughout preseason camp, since it would force both players to play at their highest level if they wanted to earn the starting position for the season opener against Texas.
Even if he isn’t able to be the starting quarterback to start the year, Kienholz already knows he’ll have to stay ready since his number can be called at any time. With already having experience being forced into action in a game and struggling will only help Kienholz since he won’t want to have the same thing happen as we saw in the Cotton Bowl against Missouri.
While I wouldn’t call Kienholz “Player of the Year” because there is so much uncertainty about what his role will be for the upcoming season, he is an extremely important part of this year’s Ohio State team. If he falls short of becoming the starter at quarterback for the Buckeyes, you know he’ll be ready for whenever his number might be called.
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LGHL Player of the Year: Sonny Styles will make big plays in year two at linebacker
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Player of the Year: Sonny Styles will make big plays in year two at linebacker
Michael Citro 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 via Imagn Images
The linebacker has a knack for putting himself in position to make game-changing plays, and he projects to do that often in 2025.
From now until preseason camp starts on July 31, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the players who will shine this season. Whether they are superstars, diamonds in the rough, or journeymen, these are the Buckeyes who will define the 2025-26 season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Player of the Year” articles here.
The purpose of this column isn’t to suggest Sonny Styles will win the Heisman Trophy, the Big Ten Player of the Year, or even the best player on Ohio State. I can’t entirely rule it out a month before the season begins, but it seems unlikely.
The idea here is to point out that Styles is a player who could be one of the nation’s biggest difference makers.
The senior linebacker out of Pickerington is Ohio State’s leading returning tackler, logging 100 of them during the Buckeyes’ national championship season a year ago. That was second only to former Buckeye linebacker Cody Simon, who racked up 112. Styles inherits the mantle of top tackler, posting 48 solo stops and 52 assists in 2024.
There were 46 players in college football’s top tier last season who had more tackles than Styles, but he will be relied upon more heavily in 2025. Styles recorded 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks a year ago, coming into his own as a playmaker on the Ohio State defense. He didn’t intercept a pass, but he broke up five of them and forced a fumble and was a critical part of Ohio State’s short-yardage excellence in 2024.
I’m not the only one expecting big things from Styles in 2025. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound defensive stopper was recently named to the 2025 Big Ten Preseason Honors Team by Big Ten media voters and representatives of the Big Ten Network. He was also named a Second Team Preseason All-American by both Phil Steele and Athlon’s and his name is on the Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list.
Last year, Styles was named a Second-Team All-Big Ten Conference selection by the league’s coaches.
The Buckeye legacy is the son of former Buckeye Lorenzo Styles, who played for Ohio State in the early to mid 1990s. A four-star/five-star (depending on the source) athlete out of Pickerington Central, Styles chose the Buckeyes over the likes of Alabama, Texas, Penn State, and Notre Dame, joining the 2022 OSU class on Nov. 13, 2021.
The former safety moved to the Will linebacker position for 2024. Everything didn’t always look smooth, but he got a year of experience under his belt. Now, James Laurinaitis will have him ready to become perhaps the team’s biggest defensive difference maker not named Caleb Downs.
In his OSU career, Styles has compiled an impressive 162 tackles (85 solo) in 39 games. He’s logged 16 tackles for a total loss of 74 yards, defended six passes, forced two fumbles, and recovered a fumble.
With his competition of speed, length, and athleticism, Styles will be a problem for opponents this season. A new defensive line means the second and third levels of the defense will likely see more activity.
The combination of new starters and Matt Patricia stepping in as defensive coordinator for the departed Jim Knowles may lead to some growing pains early in the season, but Styles is poised for a big year.
Continue reading...
Michael Citro 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 via Imagn Images
The linebacker has a knack for putting himself in position to make game-changing plays, and he projects to do that often in 2025.
From now until preseason camp starts on July 31, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the players who will shine this season. Whether they are superstars, diamonds in the rough, or journeymen, these are the Buckeyes who will define the 2025-26 season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Player of the Year” articles here.
The purpose of this column isn’t to suggest Sonny Styles will win the Heisman Trophy, the Big Ten Player of the Year, or even the best player on Ohio State. I can’t entirely rule it out a month before the season begins, but it seems unlikely.
The idea here is to point out that Styles is a player who could be one of the nation’s biggest difference makers.
The senior linebacker out of Pickerington is Ohio State’s leading returning tackler, logging 100 of them during the Buckeyes’ national championship season a year ago. That was second only to former Buckeye linebacker Cody Simon, who racked up 112. Styles inherits the mantle of top tackler, posting 48 solo stops and 52 assists in 2024.
There were 46 players in college football’s top tier last season who had more tackles than Styles, but he will be relied upon more heavily in 2025. Styles recorded 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks a year ago, coming into his own as a playmaker on the Ohio State defense. He didn’t intercept a pass, but he broke up five of them and forced a fumble and was a critical part of Ohio State’s short-yardage excellence in 2024.
I’m not the only one expecting big things from Styles in 2025. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound defensive stopper was recently named to the 2025 Big Ten Preseason Honors Team by Big Ten media voters and representatives of the Big Ten Network. He was also named a Second Team Preseason All-American by both Phil Steele and Athlon’s and his name is on the Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list.
Last year, Styles was named a Second-Team All-Big Ten Conference selection by the league’s coaches.
The Buckeye legacy is the son of former Buckeye Lorenzo Styles, who played for Ohio State in the early to mid 1990s. A four-star/five-star (depending on the source) athlete out of Pickerington Central, Styles chose the Buckeyes over the likes of Alabama, Texas, Penn State, and Notre Dame, joining the 2022 OSU class on Nov. 13, 2021.
The former safety moved to the Will linebacker position for 2024. Everything didn’t always look smooth, but he got a year of experience under his belt. Now, James Laurinaitis will have him ready to become perhaps the team’s biggest defensive difference maker not named Caleb Downs.
In his OSU career, Styles has compiled an impressive 162 tackles (85 solo) in 39 games. He’s logged 16 tackles for a total loss of 74 yards, defended six passes, forced two fumbles, and recovered a fumble.
With his competition of speed, length, and athleticism, Styles will be a problem for opponents this season. A new defensive line means the second and third levels of the defense will likely see more activity.
The combination of new starters and Matt Patricia stepping in as defensive coordinator for the departed Jim Knowles may lead to some growing pains early in the season, but Styles is poised for a big year.
Continue reading...
LGHL Player of the Year: Carnell Tate is going to demand attention at wide receiver this season
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Player of the Year: Carnell Tate is going to demand attention at wide receiver this season
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 Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images
While Jeremiah Smith grabs all the headlines for Ohio State, Carnell Tate is ready to show why he belongs in the conversation as one of the best wide receivers in the country.
From now until preseason camp starts on July 31, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the players who will shine this season. Whether they are superstars, diamonds in the rough, or journeymen, these are the Buckeyes who will define the 2025-26 season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Player of the Year” articles here.
What Ohio State has been doing with their receiving corps over the last decade has been incredible. Not only have the Buckeyes seen five wide receivers selected in the first round over the last four NFL Drafts, since 2015 four other Ohio State receivers have been selected in the second round.
Nine receivers drafted in the first or second round since 2015, and that’s not even counting Jameson Williams, who was selected in the first round after transferring to Alabama.
The next Ohio State receiver to be taken in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft is looking like it will be Carnell Tate, who is primed to step into an even bigger role in the Buckeye offense this year. Even though Jeremiah Smith is the best receiver in college football, Tate should benefit from the attention that Smith will demand in Ohio State’s passing attack.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26064577/2191974990.jpg "Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential - Ohio State V Oregon")
Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images
Last year we saw glimpses of the talent Tate possesses, as the Chicago native caught 52 passes for 733 yards and four touchdowns. The best yardage performance for Tate came against Nebraska when he finished with 102 yards, while in his return to Chicago against Northwestern, the sophomore hauled in two touchdowns.
Overall, Tate’s most memorable game was in the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas when he grabbed seven passes for 87 yards. Even though Tate didn’t find the end zone against the Longhorns, he picked up the slack for Smith, who was blanketed all game by the Texas secondary.
Unfortunately for Smith, Ohio State’s opponents this year will likely look at how Texas defended him in the Cotton Bowl and it might be harder to get the superstar the football this season. Add in the Buckeyes breaking in a new quarterback and Ohio State is going to need another receiver to step up.
With Emeka Egbuka now in the NFL, Tate is looking like the perfect option to have a real breakout season in 2025. Last year we saw Tate step up with almost 40 more catches than he had in his freshman season. Now it’s time for the junior to take the next step and show NFL teams why he should be one of the first receivers taken in 2026 if he declares for the NFL Draft.
Will Tate end up having bigger stats than Smith in 2025? It’s highly unlikely since Smith is such an athletic freak that he can make catches while being blanketed. What Tate is going to do is give Julian Sayin a trusted option when the quarterback isn’t able to find Smith. In a way look at it like whe Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave lined up together, except the current Ohio State duo have a chance to be an even more prolific combo than Wilson and Olave.
Opposing defensive coordinators will have a lot of sleepless nights as they try to devise a plan on how to defend Smith and Tate, along with the rest of the weapons that the Buckeye offense will throw at them.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26064578/2187147992.jpg "Ohio State v Northwestern")
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Along with having incredible talent, Tate will also have tremendous motivation every time he steps on the football field. Back in July 2023, Tate’s mother was murdered in a drive-by shooting in Chicago. With how much Tate has already been through in his life, the wide receiver has even more fight and determination than most players since everything he does is to honor the memory of his mother.
In high pressure situations, expect Tate to dig even deeper and lay it all on the line for his teammates.
With how dynamic Ohio State receivers have been since former Buckeye wideout Brian Hartline joined the coaching staff, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see both Smith and Tate named First Team All-Big Ten this season. Despite some of the other talented receivers around the conference, it is a testament to just how high the ceiling is for Smith, Tate, and the Buckeye offense in general.
There will be games where Smith stuffs the stat sheet, and others where Smith is bottled up and Tate gets his chance to eat.
It’s hard to be considered a sleeper after catching 52 passes for over 700 yards last season, but that just illustrates how much attention Smith demands at receiver. Those who overlook Carnell Tate this season will be wishing they paid more attention to the junior because when the season is all said and done, Tate will be in the conversation as one of the best receivers in the country.
Along with a drive for back-to-back national championships, Tate has all the tools to be the latest Ohio State wideout to be a first round pick in the NFL Draft.
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 Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images
While Jeremiah Smith grabs all the headlines for Ohio State, Carnell Tate is ready to show why he belongs in the conversation as one of the best wide receivers in the country.
From now until preseason camp starts on July 31, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the players who will shine this season. Whether they are superstars, diamonds in the rough, or journeymen, these are the Buckeyes who will define the 2025-26 season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Player of the Year” articles here.
What Ohio State has been doing with their receiving corps over the last decade has been incredible. Not only have the Buckeyes seen five wide receivers selected in the first round over the last four NFL Drafts, since 2015 four other Ohio State receivers have been selected in the second round.
Nine receivers drafted in the first or second round since 2015, and that’s not even counting Jameson Williams, who was selected in the first round after transferring to Alabama.
The next Ohio State receiver to be taken in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft is looking like it will be Carnell Tate, who is primed to step into an even bigger role in the Buckeye offense this year. Even though Jeremiah Smith is the best receiver in college football, Tate should benefit from the attention that Smith will demand in Ohio State’s passing attack.
Last year we saw glimpses of the talent Tate possesses, as the Chicago native caught 52 passes for 733 yards and four touchdowns. The best yardage performance for Tate came against Nebraska when he finished with 102 yards, while in his return to Chicago against Northwestern, the sophomore hauled in two touchdowns.
Overall, Tate’s most memorable game was in the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas when he grabbed seven passes for 87 yards. Even though Tate didn’t find the end zone against the Longhorns, he picked up the slack for Smith, who was blanketed all game by the Texas secondary.
Unfortunately for Smith, Ohio State’s opponents this year will likely look at how Texas defended him in the Cotton Bowl and it might be harder to get the superstar the football this season. Add in the Buckeyes breaking in a new quarterback and Ohio State is going to need another receiver to step up.
With Emeka Egbuka now in the NFL, Tate is looking like the perfect option to have a real breakout season in 2025. Last year we saw Tate step up with almost 40 more catches than he had in his freshman season. Now it’s time for the junior to take the next step and show NFL teams why he should be one of the first receivers taken in 2026 if he declares for the NFL Draft.
Will Tate end up having bigger stats than Smith in 2025? It’s highly unlikely since Smith is such an athletic freak that he can make catches while being blanketed. What Tate is going to do is give Julian Sayin a trusted option when the quarterback isn’t able to find Smith. In a way look at it like whe Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave lined up together, except the current Ohio State duo have a chance to be an even more prolific combo than Wilson and Olave.
Opposing defensive coordinators will have a lot of sleepless nights as they try to devise a plan on how to defend Smith and Tate, along with the rest of the weapons that the Buckeye offense will throw at them.
Along with having incredible talent, Tate will also have tremendous motivation every time he steps on the football field. Back in July 2023, Tate’s mother was murdered in a drive-by shooting in Chicago. With how much Tate has already been through in his life, the wide receiver has even more fight and determination than most players since everything he does is to honor the memory of his mother.
In high pressure situations, expect Tate to dig even deeper and lay it all on the line for his teammates.
With how dynamic Ohio State receivers have been since former Buckeye wideout Brian Hartline joined the coaching staff, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see both Smith and Tate named First Team All-Big Ten this season. Despite some of the other talented receivers around the conference, it is a testament to just how high the ceiling is for Smith, Tate, and the Buckeye offense in general.
There will be games where Smith stuffs the stat sheet, and others where Smith is bottled up and Tate gets his chance to eat.
It’s hard to be considered a sleeper after catching 52 passes for over 700 yards last season, but that just illustrates how much attention Smith demands at receiver. Those who overlook Carnell Tate this season will be wishing they paid more attention to the junior because when the season is all said and done, Tate will be in the conversation as one of the best receivers in the country.
Along with a drive for back-to-back national championships, Tate has all the tools to be the latest Ohio State wideout to be a first round pick in the NFL Draft.
Continue reading...
