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LGHL Ohio State set to host trio of Ohio prospects
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Ohio State set to host trio of Ohio prospects
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State will soon be playing host to a trio of Ohio recruits, and a four-star WR includes the Buckeyes in his top 10.
Ohio State and the college football recruiting world are nearing the end of the dead period. The Ohio State coaching staff has been unable to visit or host recruits this month, but the Buckeyes have still found a way to dominate the recruiting headlines.
This held true on Monday, as we learned the Buckeyes will soon be playing host to a trio of Ohio prospects, and a blue-chip 2026 wide receiver has an Ohio State sticker on his helmet.
Ryan Day and the Ohio State coaching staff have placed an importance on securing commitments from the best prospects in Ohio since Day began his tenure in Columbus. This ideal has grown even stronger as of late with the introduction of NIL and the evolution of the transfer portal.
On multiple occasions, Day and other members of the Ohio State football coaching staff have stated that they want to recruit kids who want to play at Ohio State. They have also confirmed this ideal directly correlates to increasing efforts on recruiting prospects from their own backyard.
With this in mind, Ohio State is gearing up for spring practices, once recruits are again allowed to visit with interested schools. We recently learned that a spring camp the week of March 9 will focus multiple in-state talents, with three more recently adding their names to the list in Jai’mier Scott, Javier Etheridge and Javon Hammonds.
Scott and Etheridge are teammates at Mt Healthy with Scott, and both are currently listed as an athlete. Neither have received scholarship offers from the Buckeyes, but Scott is a member of the 2025 class and will likely need to wait until later in the year before he will receive one. Etheridge on the other hand, will look to soon receive an offer, especially if one is not offered following the camp.
Hammonds will be making the trip on his own as he attends Wayne High School in Dayton, Ohio. Hammonds is listed as a three-star defensive end and holds double-digit offers. Ohio State has not yet offered the blue-chip prospect, but he is the most-likely to land an offer of the trio following the spring practice next month.
It is no secret that Ohio State, led by Brian Hartline, has dominated at wide receiver recruiting. The Buckeyes have easily had the best hauls at the position for the past few years, including commitments from the top-rated WR in the class on multiple occasions.
The Buckeyes once again have a commitment from the No. 1 WR in the 2024 class in Jeremiah Smith. However, the Buckeyes will also look to bring in more prospects at the position than just Smith. The team learned late Monday evening that another commitment at the position could soon be on its way.
2024 four-star WR Demello Jones announced his top 10 schools last night and Ohio State made the cut.
Alongside Ohio State, Jones also included North Carolina, Georgia, Miami, Vanderbilt, Alabam, Tennessee, Kentucky, Notre Dame and South Carolina in his top schools.
Jones received an official scholarship offer from the Buckeyes on January 19th of this year and while this was just over a month ago, the offer meant a lot to him. Enough to have the Buckeyes in his top schools moving forward.
Jones has not yet made a visit to Ohio State but he is planning for one soon. With the dead period soon being lifted, expect him to start scheduling visits and expect Ohio State to be one of them.
Jones is the No. 23 ATH in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and is the No. 194 overall prospect. He is also the No. 28 recruit out of Georgia.
Continue reading...
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State will soon be playing host to a trio of Ohio recruits, and a four-star WR includes the Buckeyes in his top 10.
Ohio State and the college football recruiting world are nearing the end of the dead period. The Ohio State coaching staff has been unable to visit or host recruits this month, but the Buckeyes have still found a way to dominate the recruiting headlines.
This held true on Monday, as we learned the Buckeyes will soon be playing host to a trio of Ohio prospects, and a blue-chip 2026 wide receiver has an Ohio State sticker on his helmet.
Trio of Ohio prospects to visit this spring
Ryan Day and the Ohio State coaching staff have placed an importance on securing commitments from the best prospects in Ohio since Day began his tenure in Columbus. This ideal has grown even stronger as of late with the introduction of NIL and the evolution of the transfer portal.
On multiple occasions, Day and other members of the Ohio State football coaching staff have stated that they want to recruit kids who want to play at Ohio State. They have also confirmed this ideal directly correlates to increasing efforts on recruiting prospects from their own backyard.
With this in mind, Ohio State is gearing up for spring practices, once recruits are again allowed to visit with interested schools. We recently learned that a spring camp the week of March 9 will focus multiple in-state talents, with three more recently adding their names to the list in Jai’mier Scott, Javier Etheridge and Javon Hammonds.
I will be at THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY march 9th@CoachTimWalton @OSUCoachHinton @bzdebski @OhioStateFB @alexgleitman @Bill_Kurelic @CoachJMStevens pic.twitter.com/wEetFL9muw
— Javier “JayJay” Etheridge️ (@thatzJayjay_) February 20, 2023
Scott and Etheridge are teammates at Mt Healthy with Scott, and both are currently listed as an athlete. Neither have received scholarship offers from the Buckeyes, but Scott is a member of the 2025 class and will likely need to wait until later in the year before he will receive one. Etheridge on the other hand, will look to soon receive an offer, especially if one is not offered following the camp.
Hammonds will be making the trip on his own as he attends Wayne High School in Dayton, Ohio. Hammonds is listed as a three-star defensive end and holds double-digit offers. Ohio State has not yet offered the blue-chip prospect, but he is the most-likely to land an offer of the trio following the spring practice next month.
Ohio State makes top 10 for four-star WR
It is no secret that Ohio State, led by Brian Hartline, has dominated at wide receiver recruiting. The Buckeyes have easily had the best hauls at the position for the past few years, including commitments from the top-rated WR in the class on multiple occasions.
The Buckeyes once again have a commitment from the No. 1 WR in the 2024 class in Jeremiah Smith. However, the Buckeyes will also look to bring in more prospects at the position than just Smith. The team learned late Monday evening that another commitment at the position could soon be on its way.
2024 four-star WR Demello Jones announced his top 10 schools last night and Ohio State made the cut.
Alongside Ohio State, Jones also included North Carolina, Georgia, Miami, Vanderbilt, Alabam, Tennessee, Kentucky, Notre Dame and South Carolina in his top schools.
Jones received an official scholarship offer from the Buckeyes on January 19th of this year and while this was just over a month ago, the offer meant a lot to him. Enough to have the Buckeyes in his top schools moving forward.
Jones has not yet made a visit to Ohio State but he is planning for one soon. With the dead period soon being lifted, expect him to start scheduling visits and expect Ohio State to be one of them.
Jones is the No. 23 ATH in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and is the No. 194 overall prospect. He is also the No. 28 recruit out of Georgia.
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LGHL Ohio State Baseball: Buckeyes open 2023 season in Snowbird Classic vs. UConn
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Ohio State Baseball: Buckeyes open 2023 season in Snowbird Classic vs. UConn
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, FL | Courtesy of @OhioStateBASE on Twitter
The Buckeyes kicked off the new campaign with a four-game series against the UConn Huskies.
Ohio State began its 2023 season on Friday as part of the Snowbird Classic, finding themselves pit against Big East foe UConn.
It was no easy debut for Bill Mosiello in his first year as the Buckeyes’ head coach, as the Huskies come off a 2022 campaign wherein they finished with a 50-16 record and made it to the NCAA Super Regionals. Last year’s Big East champs, they enter this season as the favorites in the conference once again.
Ohio State, meanwhile, is coming off a year where they finished with a 20-30 record, going 8-14 in Big Ten play. The Buckeyes return 20 players from last year’s squad, in addition to 18 newcomers.
On the mound, Ohio State returns left-hander Isaiah Coupet, who struck out 98 batters in 64.2 innings a year ago and was named the No. 12 2023 Big Ten prospect by D1Baseball. The Buckeyes also add Justin Eckhardt, a Texas transfer, who made five starts for the Longhorns in 2022. Out of the bullpen, Landon Beidelschies is a name to keep an eye on. The first-year southpaw was named one of the Big Ten’s impact freshmen by D1Baseball, and is anticipated to be one of Ohio State’s top relief pitchers.
Offensively, the Buckeyes are led by Marcus Ernst and Kade Kern. Ernst, a third baseman, led the team a year ago with a .337 average, and was named Third Team All-Big Ten. Kern, a center fielder, was one of the best hitters in the B1G last season, batting .298 with nine homeruns and 49 RBIs, and is the projected No. 10 2023 Big Ten prospect by D1Baseball.
So, how did Ohio State fare in their first series of the 2023 season against a real tough opponent?
Ohio State opened the 2023 season with a bang, collecting their first win under new head coach Bill Mosiello with a 3-0 shutout win over the Huskies. UConn never really threatened in this one, as the Buckeyes carried a no-hitter into the 6th inning and allowed just four hits in the game overall.
OSU opened up the scoring right from the jump, plating a run in the 1st inning on a single by catcher Cole Andrews in his first at-bat as a Buckeye. The score would remain 1-0 in favor of Ohio State until the bottom of the 6th, when freshman Henry Kaczmar smacked a two-run double to make it 3-0. Nick Erwin led the team in the hits department, going 3-for-4 with a double and a stolen base.
On the pitching side of things, Isaiah Coupet was brilliant, striking out nine and allowing just one hit over six innings of work. Landon Beidelschies put up two scoreless frames in the 8th and 9th inning to earn the save as Ohio State opened up the year at 1-0 in the shutout victory.
Saturday’s game featured a lot more offense, and while the Buckeyes scored first and battled back late, it would not be enough to overcome the deficit in their first loss of the year.
Ohio State got things started quickly, as Marcus Ernst launched a solo home run in the 1st inning to make it 1-0 good guys. UConn got the bats going in the 3rd and 5th inning, scoring three runs in each frame to sandwich a Kaczmar RBI groundout, as the Huskies jumped out to a 6-1 lead. A two-run homer for UConn in the 7th put the Buckeyes in an 8-1 hole, but Ohio State battled back.
In the bottom of the 7th, the Buckeyes worked the count and drew a pair of bases loaded walks to cut the deficit to 8-4. They added two more runs on an error and a sac fly, and just like that the deficit was cut to two skinny runs in an 8-6 game. However, UConn added another run in the 9th, and Ohio State did not have another rally in them as they fell 9-6.
The Buckeyes only put together six hits in the game, but they did manage to draw 10 walks. Kade Kern got on base four times with three walks and a hit, and also stole a pair of bases. Erwin picked up the team’s only extra-base hit on the afternoon, hitting a double and also walking twice. Justin Eckhardt let up six runs in his 2023 debut, but only three of those runs were earned. Nolan Clegg pitched 1.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, fanning a pair.
In another relatively high-scoring contest, Ohio State came up just short in what turned out to be an exciting back-and-forth affair. Unlike Saturday’s game, it was the Huskies taking an early lead and the Buckeyes rallying back from behind.
With UConn holding a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the 4th inning, Ohio State got two runs back on an RBI single by Kern and a solo home run by Erwin. Then, in the bottom of the 6th inning, it was Kern and Erwin yet again, with the center fielder picking up another RBI single and the third baseman coming through with a two-run single to put OSU in front, 5-4.
Unfortunately, the lead would not hold, as UConn, aided by an error, tallied three runs of their own in the top of the 7th to go back on top, 7-5. Erwin picked up his fourth RBI of the game in the bottom of the frame to get things back within a run, but the Huskies would add one more and Ohio State could not rally in the 9th in an 8-6 loss.
Erwin and Kern drove in all six runs for the Buckeyes, with eight of the team’s nine hits coming from the top four batters in the order. It was a rough outing on the mound for Josh Timmerman, who allowed four runs in his start that lasted just 3.1 innings. His four strikeouts were a team-high on the day, however, as Ohio State racked up 15 Ks on the mound.
Ohio State’s bats really came alive on Monday, as the Buckeyes defeated UConn to earn a split in their opening series of the season.
The scarlet and gray fell behind early, allowing a pair of solo home runs in the 1st inning, but regained the lead in the 3rd inning on a trio of RBI singles by Josh McAlister, Ernst and Kern. The Huskies tied it back up in the 4th with a sac fly, but Ohio State pushed four runs across in the 5th, highlighted by a two-run double by catcher Matthew Graveline . The Buckeyes tacked two more runs on in the 8th on a two-run single by Ernst to make it 10-3. UConn added a pair of runs in the 9th, but their comeback was short-lived as the Buckeyes held on for the 10-5 dub.
It was a really strong outing out of the pen for Jonah Jenkins, who tossed 4.2 scoreless innings in relief while allowing just one hit and one walk while punching out four. Gavin Bruni started the game and struck out six over 3.1 innings.
It was a great start to the new campaign for Mosiello’s team, splitting the series against a really strong opponent.
Ohio State’s infielders really showed out at the plate in the opening series, with Nick Erwin and Marcus Ernst leading the offense. Erwin went 7-for-13 (.538) at the dish with two doubles, a home run and six RBIs. Ernst went 6-for-16 (.375) with a homer and four RBIs. Joining the offensive output was center fielder Kade Kern, who hit 6-for-13 (.462) with three RBIs and also drew a team-high six walks while striking out only once. Kern also leads the Buckeyes with three stolen bases.
Isaiah Coupet and Landon Beidelschies were the stars on the mound. Coupet started the opening game of the series, allowing just one hit and one walk over his six innings of work while striking out nine. Beidelschies, the owner of the team’s only save thus far, pitched 2.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, allowing three hits with four punch outs. Jonah Jenkins (4.2 IP) and Nolan Clegg (2.0 IP) are the only other Buckeyes to pitch multiple innings thus far without allowing a run.
As a team, Ohio State hit .273 compared to .209 for UConn, and the Buckeyes struck out 37 times with 23 walks compared to the Huskies’ 42 strikeouts and 15 walks. As a result, OSU put together a much higher on-base percentage (.380) than UConn (.304) and had the better pitching between the two teams in this series. To the Huskies’ credit, they brought the power to the Snowbird Classic, launching six home runs in contrast to just two for Ohio State.
The Buckeyes will now head to Phoenix, where they are scheduled to take on Grand Canyon and Gonzaga in a pair of two-game series beginning this Thursday, Feb. 23.
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, FL | Courtesy of @OhioStateBASE on Twitter
The Buckeyes kicked off the new campaign with a four-game series against the UConn Huskies.
Ohio State began its 2023 season on Friday as part of the Snowbird Classic, finding themselves pit against Big East foe UConn.
It was no easy debut for Bill Mosiello in his first year as the Buckeyes’ head coach, as the Huskies come off a 2022 campaign wherein they finished with a 50-16 record and made it to the NCAA Super Regionals. Last year’s Big East champs, they enter this season as the favorites in the conference once again.
Ohio State, meanwhile, is coming off a year where they finished with a 20-30 record, going 8-14 in Big Ten play. The Buckeyes return 20 players from last year’s squad, in addition to 18 newcomers.
On the mound, Ohio State returns left-hander Isaiah Coupet, who struck out 98 batters in 64.2 innings a year ago and was named the No. 12 2023 Big Ten prospect by D1Baseball. The Buckeyes also add Justin Eckhardt, a Texas transfer, who made five starts for the Longhorns in 2022. Out of the bullpen, Landon Beidelschies is a name to keep an eye on. The first-year southpaw was named one of the Big Ten’s impact freshmen by D1Baseball, and is anticipated to be one of Ohio State’s top relief pitchers.
Offensively, the Buckeyes are led by Marcus Ernst and Kade Kern. Ernst, a third baseman, led the team a year ago with a .337 average, and was named Third Team All-Big Ten. Kern, a center fielder, was one of the best hitters in the B1G last season, batting .298 with nine homeruns and 49 RBIs, and is the projected No. 10 2023 Big Ten prospect by D1Baseball.
So, how did Ohio State fare in their first series of the 2023 season against a real tough opponent?
Friday, Feb. 17: 3-0 Ohio State
Ohio State opened the 2023 season with a bang, collecting their first win under new head coach Bill Mosiello with a 3-0 shutout win over the Huskies. UConn never really threatened in this one, as the Buckeyes carried a no-hitter into the 6th inning and allowed just four hits in the game overall.
OSU opened up the scoring right from the jump, plating a run in the 1st inning on a single by catcher Cole Andrews in his first at-bat as a Buckeye. The score would remain 1-0 in favor of Ohio State until the bottom of the 6th, when freshman Henry Kaczmar smacked a two-run double to make it 3-0. Nick Erwin led the team in the hits department, going 3-for-4 with a double and a stolen base.
On the pitching side of things, Isaiah Coupet was brilliant, striking out nine and allowing just one hit over six innings of work. Landon Beidelschies put up two scoreless frames in the 8th and 9th inning to earn the save as Ohio State opened up the year at 1-0 in the shutout victory.
Saturday, Feb 18: 9-6 UConn
Saturday’s game featured a lot more offense, and while the Buckeyes scored first and battled back late, it would not be enough to overcome the deficit in their first loss of the year.
Ohio State got things started quickly, as Marcus Ernst launched a solo home run in the 1st inning to make it 1-0 good guys. UConn got the bats going in the 3rd and 5th inning, scoring three runs in each frame to sandwich a Kaczmar RBI groundout, as the Huskies jumped out to a 6-1 lead. A two-run homer for UConn in the 7th put the Buckeyes in an 8-1 hole, but Ohio State battled back.
In the bottom of the 7th, the Buckeyes worked the count and drew a pair of bases loaded walks to cut the deficit to 8-4. They added two more runs on an error and a sac fly, and just like that the deficit was cut to two skinny runs in an 8-6 game. However, UConn added another run in the 9th, and Ohio State did not have another rally in them as they fell 9-6.
The Buckeyes only put together six hits in the game, but they did manage to draw 10 walks. Kade Kern got on base four times with three walks and a hit, and also stole a pair of bases. Erwin picked up the team’s only extra-base hit on the afternoon, hitting a double and also walking twice. Justin Eckhardt let up six runs in his 2023 debut, but only three of those runs were earned. Nolan Clegg pitched 1.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, fanning a pair.
Sunday, Feb 19: 8-6 UConn
In another relatively high-scoring contest, Ohio State came up just short in what turned out to be an exciting back-and-forth affair. Unlike Saturday’s game, it was the Huskies taking an early lead and the Buckeyes rallying back from behind.
With UConn holding a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the 4th inning, Ohio State got two runs back on an RBI single by Kern and a solo home run by Erwin. Then, in the bottom of the 6th inning, it was Kern and Erwin yet again, with the center fielder picking up another RBI single and the third baseman coming through with a two-run single to put OSU in front, 5-4.
Unfortunately, the lead would not hold, as UConn, aided by an error, tallied three runs of their own in the top of the 7th to go back on top, 7-5. Erwin picked up his fourth RBI of the game in the bottom of the frame to get things back within a run, but the Huskies would add one more and Ohio State could not rally in the 9th in an 8-6 loss.
Erwin and Kern drove in all six runs for the Buckeyes, with eight of the team’s nine hits coming from the top four batters in the order. It was a rough outing on the mound for Josh Timmerman, who allowed four runs in his start that lasted just 3.1 innings. His four strikeouts were a team-high on the day, however, as Ohio State racked up 15 Ks on the mound.
Monday, Feb 20: 10-5 Ohio State
Ohio State’s bats really came alive on Monday, as the Buckeyes defeated UConn to earn a split in their opening series of the season.
The scarlet and gray fell behind early, allowing a pair of solo home runs in the 1st inning, but regained the lead in the 3rd inning on a trio of RBI singles by Josh McAlister, Ernst and Kern. The Huskies tied it back up in the 4th with a sac fly, but Ohio State pushed four runs across in the 5th, highlighted by a two-run double by catcher Matthew Graveline . The Buckeyes tacked two more runs on in the 8th on a two-run single by Ernst to make it 10-3. UConn added a pair of runs in the 9th, but their comeback was short-lived as the Buckeyes held on for the 10-5 dub.
It was a really strong outing out of the pen for Jonah Jenkins, who tossed 4.2 scoreless innings in relief while allowing just one hit and one walk while punching out four. Gavin Bruni started the game and struck out six over 3.1 innings.
It was a great start to the new campaign for Mosiello’s team, splitting the series against a really strong opponent.
Ohio State’s infielders really showed out at the plate in the opening series, with Nick Erwin and Marcus Ernst leading the offense. Erwin went 7-for-13 (.538) at the dish with two doubles, a home run and six RBIs. Ernst went 6-for-16 (.375) with a homer and four RBIs. Joining the offensive output was center fielder Kade Kern, who hit 6-for-13 (.462) with three RBIs and also drew a team-high six walks while striking out only once. Kern also leads the Buckeyes with three stolen bases.
Isaiah Coupet and Landon Beidelschies were the stars on the mound. Coupet started the opening game of the series, allowing just one hit and one walk over his six innings of work while striking out nine. Beidelschies, the owner of the team’s only save thus far, pitched 2.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, allowing three hits with four punch outs. Jonah Jenkins (4.2 IP) and Nolan Clegg (2.0 IP) are the only other Buckeyes to pitch multiple innings thus far without allowing a run.
As a team, Ohio State hit .273 compared to .209 for UConn, and the Buckeyes struck out 37 times with 23 walks compared to the Huskies’ 42 strikeouts and 15 walks. As a result, OSU put together a much higher on-base percentage (.380) than UConn (.304) and had the better pitching between the two teams in this series. To the Huskies’ credit, they brought the power to the Snowbird Classic, launching six home runs in contrast to just two for Ohio State.
The Buckeyes will now head to Phoenix, where they are scheduled to take on Grand Canyon and Gonzaga in a pair of two-game series beginning this Thursday, Feb. 23.
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LGHL We’ll talk about this later: Celebrity games and ‘Space Jam’
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We’ll talk about this later: Celebrity games and ‘Space Jam’
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
Your dose of lighthearted takes from this week’s happenings.
Each week, we’ll break down something that happened during the Ohio State game (and occasionally other games and events) that we’ll be talking about for a while—you know, the silly sideline interactions, the awful announcing and the weird storylines that stick with us for years to come. We’ll also compare each of these happenings to memorable moments in pop culture, because who doesn’t love a good Office reference?
Alas, we’re through football season. College basketball is meh (if you’re an Ohio State fan) and the NBA is on its All-Star break. We’re approaching the spring sports desert, when hoops and hockey aren’t quite approaching the playoff hype and we’re far enough from football’s kickoff that it feels like an eternity. So, we have to find our wins where we can.
Which leads us to NBA All-Star weekend. As is the case with many aspects of the NBA’s operations, the All-Star break is a well-rounded series of events that give the people what they want (see: dunk contest) while creating a spectacle (see: celebrity game).
Who doesn’t love a good celebrity game. In some ways, it’s cool to see professional athletes from other sports on the hardcourt. This year, DK Metcalf and Calvin Johnson graced the roster of celebrities. Plus, we get to see celebs from outside the sports arena which can be concurrently impressive and humbling.
Somehow, the 5-foot-2 Kevin Hart is better at hoops than we might have expected. This year, Janelle Monae, fresh off of Glass Onion, showed she can be a singer, actress and athlete.
But as great as the celebrity game can be, there’s one celebrity game that will top them all that is, of course, Space Jam — when the Toon Squad (headlined by Michael Jordan) defeated the Monstars in the battle royale to save Looney Toon Land. Jordan was, of course, a baseball player in the minors and his appearance (plus Bill Murray’s) made a really good celebrity game proxy — joined, of course, by Bugs Bunny and the rest of the toons.
We also got to see a set of the greatest players in the NBA at the time (plus Larry Bird). Seeing Charles Barkley getting shown up by, as he describes it, a five-foot-nothing girl never gets old.
Jordan is top of mind right now for many with Ben Affleck’s upcoming film, Air, about Nike’s pursuit of MJ for sneaker rights in the 1980s, but apparently the story might not have as much staying power with the younger generations: Just this weekend, a friend’s child asked me who Michael Jordan was while her dad and I debated who, between Jordan and LeBron James, is the GOAT.
Time to join AARP and get my Golden Buckeye card, I guess.
Continue reading...
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
Your dose of lighthearted takes from this week’s happenings.
Each week, we’ll break down something that happened during the Ohio State game (and occasionally other games and events) that we’ll be talking about for a while—you know, the silly sideline interactions, the awful announcing and the weird storylines that stick with us for years to come. We’ll also compare each of these happenings to memorable moments in pop culture, because who doesn’t love a good Office reference?
Alas, we’re through football season. College basketball is meh (if you’re an Ohio State fan) and the NBA is on its All-Star break. We’re approaching the spring sports desert, when hoops and hockey aren’t quite approaching the playoff hype and we’re far enough from football’s kickoff that it feels like an eternity. So, we have to find our wins where we can.
Which leads us to NBA All-Star weekend. As is the case with many aspects of the NBA’s operations, the All-Star break is a well-rounded series of events that give the people what they want (see: dunk contest) while creating a spectacle (see: celebrity game).
Who doesn’t love a good celebrity game. In some ways, it’s cool to see professional athletes from other sports on the hardcourt. This year, DK Metcalf and Calvin Johnson graced the roster of celebrities. Plus, we get to see celebs from outside the sports arena which can be concurrently impressive and humbling.
Somehow, the 5-foot-2 Kevin Hart is better at hoops than we might have expected. This year, Janelle Monae, fresh off of Glass Onion, showed she can be a singer, actress and athlete.
But as great as the celebrity game can be, there’s one celebrity game that will top them all that is, of course, Space Jam — when the Toon Squad (headlined by Michael Jordan) defeated the Monstars in the battle royale to save Looney Toon Land. Jordan was, of course, a baseball player in the minors and his appearance (plus Bill Murray’s) made a really good celebrity game proxy — joined, of course, by Bugs Bunny and the rest of the toons.
We also got to see a set of the greatest players in the NBA at the time (plus Larry Bird). Seeing Charles Barkley getting shown up by, as he describes it, a five-foot-nothing girl never gets old.
Jordan is top of mind right now for many with Ben Affleck’s upcoming film, Air, about Nike’s pursuit of MJ for sneaker rights in the 1980s, but apparently the story might not have as much staying power with the younger generations: Just this weekend, a friend’s child asked me who Michael Jordan was while her dad and I debated who, between Jordan and LeBron James, is the GOAT.
Time to join AARP and get my Golden Buckeye card, I guess.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: What are you most looking forward to from spring practice?
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You’re Nuts: What are you most looking forward to from spring practice?
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Buckeyes return to the practice in a few short weeks.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
This week’s topic: What are you most looking forward to from spring practice?
With the beginning of spring practice surprisingly just a few weeks away, Ohio State football fans such as Gene and myself once again have something to look forward to!
It has been nearly two whole months since the Scarlet and Gray lost a heartbreaker in Atlanta, and I for one am ready to get the hype train rolling for the 2023 season. Onward and upward, baby. Let’s leave those broken hearts and dried up tears (just me?) in the past and begin our six-month countdown to the Buckeyes’ opener in... Bloomington.
Alright, so the countdown to Bloomington might be a bit much. OSU’s opener is not exactly a marquee matchup. And the atmosphere is likely to disappoint, given that Indiana was just flat-out awful last season. But here we are, Gene. Reaching for content in February, in part because we refuse to acknowledge the men’s basketball team.
Regardless of what we are counting down to, or why we are avoiding other topics, I am legitimately excited for Ryan Day’s football team to get back on the practice field. Not just because I love football, but also because we kinda/sorta/maybe have no idea what to expect in 2023! Brian Hartline as the new offensive coordinator, no proven quarterback taking snaps, 60% of the offensive line gone, and the defense! Is Jim Knowles the defensive mastermind we believed him to be, or did he simply feast on inferior opponents?
There is much to be sorted out before Sept. 2 rolls around, and spring practice seems like the first major step in attempting to do so. Ohio State has questions (or issues) on both sides of the ball, as well as on the sideline. And while I think most fans, media types, and even coaches will be dialed in on the Buckeyes’ QB battle, I am especially interested in another position battle. One where the starters are presumably already in place.
The position battle – or lack thereof – I am referring to is the one at linebacker. With Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers both returning, the top of the OSU depth chart should be pre-determined. But what if it’s not? Even if Eichenberg and Chambers are entrenched as starters, who will provide depth? And lastly, will Knowles stick with a 4-2-5 defensive alignment, or shift toward a more traditional 4-3?
Spring practice will begin to answer some or all of the questions above. And I believe that said answers will be heavily influenced by the presence and practice of a few guys we did not hear from (much) during the 2022 season: C.J. Hicks, Reid Carrico, Gabe Powers, and potentially even Sonny Styles. All of these guys should be given ample opportunity to earn playing time at LB, especially with Eichenberg sidelined due to injury. And for most, this is their first real opportunity to do so.
The potential talent infusion and expansion of the LB rotation is something Buckeye Nation should be very excited about, especially considering the way this unit had underperformed in previous seasons. But 2022 saw a semi-return to the Silver Bullet days, and even better, Day brought in an actual Silver Bullet to help take them to the next level! James Laurinaitis is back in Columbus to coach his old position group, and hopefully provide a(nother) boost to this defense in general.
I truly believe that this current collection of talent Ohio State has at LB is the best it has had since at least 2016, and I am excited to see what players can and will do under the guidance of a Buckeye legend. I mean, imagine if Laurinaitis can do with linebackers what Hartline did with wide receivers! Am I getting too ahead of myself?
Maybe. But time will tell... And the clock begins ticking (again) on March 7.
As Josh alluded to, we are really looking for any reason at this point to ignore what is happening on the hardwood for Ohio State. The mens team is in total free fall, having lost 13 of their last 14 contests without any hope remaining of evening making it to the NCAA Tournament this season. The women's team began the year 19-0, but even they have fallen on hard times as of late, dropping five of their last eight contests — albeit four of those losses came against AP Top-10 ranked teams.
So, our focus shifts back to the football team, who after seemingly just ending their season not too long ago returns to the practice field in just 15 days from now. There are a lot of question marks surrounding this team, stemming from both how last season ended to all of the personnel losses to the NFL Draft. New faces and old faces will soon make a name for themselves in Columbus, but what are we looking forward to the most once spring practice gets underway?
Personally, I and much of Buckeye Nation will be focused on how the secondary shakes out. The Ohio State defense crumbled under pressure last year, allowing 40+ points in each of the teams final two games — both losses — against Michigan and Georgia. Defense has been a huge problem for the Buckeyes during Ryan Day’s tenure, and while Jim Knowles’ defense certainly looked improved for most of the regular season, the same issues we have seen in years past returned when the competition got stiffer.
However, in year two of Knowles’ system with some new talent in the mix, maybe we will finally see some improvement in the defensive backfield in 2023.
Ohio State will only have two true returning starters among the five secondary spots this year in corner Denzel Burke and safety Lathan Ransom. Burke struggled for much of the 2022 campaign, but we know what he’s capable of after earning himself freshman All-American honors during the 2021 season. Ransom began the year as a backup behind Josh Proctor, but quickly took over the starting job and became one of the Buckeyes’ best defensive players.
That leaves one starting corner and two safety positions up for grabs.
The other cornerback opposite Burke will likely be Davison Igbinosun, who transferred to Ohio State this offseason from Ole Miss. A former freshman All-American like Burke, Igbinosun was rated the No. 10 overall transfer by 247Sports. He played in all 13 games for the Rebels in 2022, making 10 starts. He brings some experience to a CB room at Ohio State that is otherwise lacking. Other candidates for the job include Jyaire Brown and Jordan Hancock, who both played sparingly for the Buckeyes in 2022, and Jermaine Mathews, who comes to Columbus as a very highly regarded freshman.
The safety spots are even more interesting, as there are a number of quality talents to join Ransom in Knowles’ three-safety system. One of the likely starters will be Ja’Had Carter, who transferred to Ohio State from Syracuse this offseason as the No. 14 overall player in the portal. The last remaining spot will presumably be former five-star safety Sonny Styles’ to lose, but guys like Kye Stokes, Cam Martinez and Kourt Williams will all be pushing for those two starting roles.
It will be fun to see who winds up coming out on top of the depth chart, but at the very least there appears to be far more depth within the defensive secondary than there was last year — which, I guess, isn’t saying a whole lot. Still, there is reason to be optimistic about the guys in this room making a real impact in 2023.
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Buckeyes return to the practice in a few short weeks.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
This week’s topic: What are you most looking forward to from spring practice?
Josh’s Take
With the beginning of spring practice surprisingly just a few weeks away, Ohio State football fans such as Gene and myself once again have something to look forward to!
It has been nearly two whole months since the Scarlet and Gray lost a heartbreaker in Atlanta, and I for one am ready to get the hype train rolling for the 2023 season. Onward and upward, baby. Let’s leave those broken hearts and dried up tears (just me?) in the past and begin our six-month countdown to the Buckeyes’ opener in... Bloomington.
Alright, so the countdown to Bloomington might be a bit much. OSU’s opener is not exactly a marquee matchup. And the atmosphere is likely to disappoint, given that Indiana was just flat-out awful last season. But here we are, Gene. Reaching for content in February, in part because we refuse to acknowledge the men’s basketball team.
Regardless of what we are counting down to, or why we are avoiding other topics, I am legitimately excited for Ryan Day’s football team to get back on the practice field. Not just because I love football, but also because we kinda/sorta/maybe have no idea what to expect in 2023! Brian Hartline as the new offensive coordinator, no proven quarterback taking snaps, 60% of the offensive line gone, and the defense! Is Jim Knowles the defensive mastermind we believed him to be, or did he simply feast on inferior opponents?
There is much to be sorted out before Sept. 2 rolls around, and spring practice seems like the first major step in attempting to do so. Ohio State has questions (or issues) on both sides of the ball, as well as on the sideline. And while I think most fans, media types, and even coaches will be dialed in on the Buckeyes’ QB battle, I am especially interested in another position battle. One where the starters are presumably already in place.
The position battle – or lack thereof – I am referring to is the one at linebacker. With Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers both returning, the top of the OSU depth chart should be pre-determined. But what if it’s not? Even if Eichenberg and Chambers are entrenched as starters, who will provide depth? And lastly, will Knowles stick with a 4-2-5 defensive alignment, or shift toward a more traditional 4-3?
Spring practice will begin to answer some or all of the questions above. And I believe that said answers will be heavily influenced by the presence and practice of a few guys we did not hear from (much) during the 2022 season: C.J. Hicks, Reid Carrico, Gabe Powers, and potentially even Sonny Styles. All of these guys should be given ample opportunity to earn playing time at LB, especially with Eichenberg sidelined due to injury. And for most, this is their first real opportunity to do so.
The potential talent infusion and expansion of the LB rotation is something Buckeye Nation should be very excited about, especially considering the way this unit had underperformed in previous seasons. But 2022 saw a semi-return to the Silver Bullet days, and even better, Day brought in an actual Silver Bullet to help take them to the next level! James Laurinaitis is back in Columbus to coach his old position group, and hopefully provide a(nother) boost to this defense in general.
I truly believe that this current collection of talent Ohio State has at LB is the best it has had since at least 2016, and I am excited to see what players can and will do under the guidance of a Buckeye legend. I mean, imagine if Laurinaitis can do with linebackers what Hartline did with wide receivers! Am I getting too ahead of myself?
Maybe. But time will tell... And the clock begins ticking (again) on March 7.
Gene’s Take
As Josh alluded to, we are really looking for any reason at this point to ignore what is happening on the hardwood for Ohio State. The mens team is in total free fall, having lost 13 of their last 14 contests without any hope remaining of evening making it to the NCAA Tournament this season. The women's team began the year 19-0, but even they have fallen on hard times as of late, dropping five of their last eight contests — albeit four of those losses came against AP Top-10 ranked teams.
So, our focus shifts back to the football team, who after seemingly just ending their season not too long ago returns to the practice field in just 15 days from now. There are a lot of question marks surrounding this team, stemming from both how last season ended to all of the personnel losses to the NFL Draft. New faces and old faces will soon make a name for themselves in Columbus, but what are we looking forward to the most once spring practice gets underway?
Personally, I and much of Buckeye Nation will be focused on how the secondary shakes out. The Ohio State defense crumbled under pressure last year, allowing 40+ points in each of the teams final two games — both losses — against Michigan and Georgia. Defense has been a huge problem for the Buckeyes during Ryan Day’s tenure, and while Jim Knowles’ defense certainly looked improved for most of the regular season, the same issues we have seen in years past returned when the competition got stiffer.
However, in year two of Knowles’ system with some new talent in the mix, maybe we will finally see some improvement in the defensive backfield in 2023.
Ohio State will only have two true returning starters among the five secondary spots this year in corner Denzel Burke and safety Lathan Ransom. Burke struggled for much of the 2022 campaign, but we know what he’s capable of after earning himself freshman All-American honors during the 2021 season. Ransom began the year as a backup behind Josh Proctor, but quickly took over the starting job and became one of the Buckeyes’ best defensive players.
That leaves one starting corner and two safety positions up for grabs.
The other cornerback opposite Burke will likely be Davison Igbinosun, who transferred to Ohio State this offseason from Ole Miss. A former freshman All-American like Burke, Igbinosun was rated the No. 10 overall transfer by 247Sports. He played in all 13 games for the Rebels in 2022, making 10 starts. He brings some experience to a CB room at Ohio State that is otherwise lacking. Other candidates for the job include Jyaire Brown and Jordan Hancock, who both played sparingly for the Buckeyes in 2022, and Jermaine Mathews, who comes to Columbus as a very highly regarded freshman.
The safety spots are even more interesting, as there are a number of quality talents to join Ransom in Knowles’ three-safety system. One of the likely starters will be Ja’Had Carter, who transferred to Ohio State from Syracuse this offseason as the No. 14 overall player in the portal. The last remaining spot will presumably be former five-star safety Sonny Styles’ to lose, but guys like Kye Stokes, Cam Martinez and Kourt Williams will all be pushing for those two starting roles.
It will be fun to see who winds up coming out on top of the depth chart, but at the very least there appears to be far more depth within the defensive secondary than there was last year — which, I guess, isn’t saying a whole lot. Still, there is reason to be optimistic about the guys in this room making a real impact in 2023.
Continue reading...
LGHL I-70 Football Podcast: ‘22 Season Recap — Tier 4 B1G Teams
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I-70 Football Podcast: ‘22 Season Recap — Tier 4 B1G Teams
JordanW330 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
In the final 2022 season recap, we discuss the five teams who didn’t reach a bowl game.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s I-70 podcast. On this show, we talk about all things Big Ten football and basketball. After every week of action, we will get you caught up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players that you should be paying attention to in the next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
After a week off, we are back with our final 2022 season recap. We talk through the dregs of the Big Ten, focusing on the five teams that did not make bowl games. Many of these teams are in different places in their program.
Indiana and Northwestern should enter the season with coaches on the hot seat. Pat Fitzgerald is a Northwestern legend, and it’s unlikely he’ll be fired despite going 1-11, but Tom Allen will need to improve after going 4-8 in 2022.
Nebraska fired Scott Frost mid-season and struggled to find an identity or consistency on either side of the ball as the defense took a significant step back from 2021. Despite transfers at quarterback, running back, and wide receiver, the offense was boom or bust all season. Of all the teams in this tier, their season is the most forgivable.
Michigan State and Rutgers entered 2022 with third-year head coaches coming off promising seasons. The Spartans finished the season 11-2, and while Rutgers couldn’t reach that level, they entered the last game of the season 5-6 with a chance to make a bowl game. Despite a loss, they still played in the postseason as the country’s best 5-7 team.
In 2022 they both took a step back. Rutgers had one of the worst offenses in the country, playing three quarterbacks, while Michigan State couldn’t rebound from the loss of Kenneth Walker III.
All five teams struggled in 2022 for various reasons. It was not a fun season, but they’ll enter 2023 with a fresh slate.
Connect with us on Twitter:
Jordan: @JordanW330
Dante: @DanteM10216
Continue reading...
JordanW330 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
In the final 2022 season recap, we discuss the five teams who didn’t reach a bowl game.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s I-70 podcast. On this show, we talk about all things Big Ten football and basketball. After every week of action, we will get you caught up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players that you should be paying attention to in the next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
After a week off, we are back with our final 2022 season recap. We talk through the dregs of the Big Ten, focusing on the five teams that did not make bowl games. Many of these teams are in different places in their program.
Indiana and Northwestern should enter the season with coaches on the hot seat. Pat Fitzgerald is a Northwestern legend, and it’s unlikely he’ll be fired despite going 1-11, but Tom Allen will need to improve after going 4-8 in 2022.
Nebraska fired Scott Frost mid-season and struggled to find an identity or consistency on either side of the ball as the defense took a significant step back from 2021. Despite transfers at quarterback, running back, and wide receiver, the offense was boom or bust all season. Of all the teams in this tier, their season is the most forgivable.
Michigan State and Rutgers entered 2022 with third-year head coaches coming off promising seasons. The Spartans finished the season 11-2, and while Rutgers couldn’t reach that level, they entered the last game of the season 5-6 with a chance to make a bowl game. Despite a loss, they still played in the postseason as the country’s best 5-7 team.
In 2022 they both took a step back. Rutgers had one of the worst offenses in the country, playing three quarterbacks, while Michigan State couldn’t rebound from the loss of Kenneth Walker III.
All five teams struggled in 2022 for various reasons. It was not a fun season, but they’ll enter 2023 with a fresh slate.
Connect with us on Twitter:
Jordan: @JordanW330
Dante: @DanteM10216
Continue reading...
