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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...
LGHL Four-star CB names OSU ‘leader’ in his recruitment
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Four-star CB names OSU ‘leader’ in his recruitment
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Four-star 2024 ATH Miles Lockhart | Shotgun Spratling, USCfootball.com/247Sports
The Buckeyes are trending for the 2024 Arizona product.
With this past weekend being the first Sunday without football in quite some time — unless you count the latest iteration of the XFL, which I do not — and the Ohio State men’s basketball team in total freefall, times are tough for Buckeye sports fans. Even the women’s hoops team, which at one point looked to be near the top of the heap, has faltered mightily as of late.
Alas, with not much else positive to look at from the Scarlet and Gray recently, we turn our attention to the recruiting trail, where there is always something to talk about — good, bad or otherwise.
Cornerback is obviously a huge point of emphasis for Ohio State in the 2024 class. The Buckeyes did a good job of bolstering the secondary this offseason, bringing in both safety Ja’Had Carter from Syracuse and corner Davison Igbinosun from Ole Miss via the transfer portal. They also added five defensive backs in the 2023 class, highlighted by corners Jermaine Mathews and Calvin Simpson-Hunt.
Still, the pass defense for the last few seasons has been less than stellar, to put it nicely, and so the more the merrier when it comes to adding even more defensive back talent to the roster. The Buckeyes are still looking for their first DB commit early in the 2024 class, but they may be zeroing in on a potential big addition in Arizona native Miles Lockhart.
A four-star prospect in the 2024 class, Lockhart currently stacks up as the No. 12 athlete and No. 107 player in the 247Sports rankings. The 5-foot-10 athlete projects as a DB at the next level, and expects to be a slot corner to begin his collegiate career. Lockhart first received his Ohio State offer after an impressive camp performance last June, and after putting together a strong junior campaign, it seems as though the Buckeyes are now the team to beat in his recruitment.
In an interview with Eleven Warriors, Lockhart said that he currently views Ohio State as the leader, having this to say about the program:
Just last week, Ohio State earned two Crystal Ball predictions to land Lockhart from a pair of trusted recruiting analysts in Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts and Mountain West recruiting analyst Blair Angulo. It doesn’t hurt the Buckeyes’ chances either that Lockhart was sporting an OSU bandana after helping to lead Basha High School to a state title this past season.
With the current recruiting dead period set to end on Feb. 28 and spring practice right around the corner, March will be a big month for recruiting efforts across the country. That is no different at Ohio State, where a number of big names have already announced their intentions to visit Columbus next month.
One of the biggest names among those with their sights set on a Buckeye visit is four-star running back James Peoples. Ohio State needs to reel in at least one and likely two top-tier tailbacks in this cycle after whiffing in the 2023 class, and Peoples would certainly fit that bill as the No. 5 RB in the country and the No. 78 player overall in the 247Sports Composite.
Peoples included Ohio State among his top six schools earlier this month alongside Alabama, Oklahoma, Oregon, TCU and Texas. Clearly a big priority for position coach Tony Alford, the Buckeyes have clearly made a positive impact on the Texas native, enough so that Peoples now has a multi-day visit planned for the end of March.
While there is still seemingly a lot of time left in this recruitment, Ohio State has to like where they currently stand with Peoples. The 5-foot-10 running back had the following to say of the Buckeyes, via the Columbus Dispatch:
Another position of need moving forward for Ohio State is definitely the offensive line. After the Buckeyes allowed former offensive line coach Greg Studrawa stick around far too long, Justin Frye is now tasked with trying to re-load a room that was left severely lacking by his predecessor. This is especially true at offensive tackle, where the losses of both Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones to the NFL Draft this offseason will be tough pills to swallow.
Looking to get ahead of things early on, Ohio State has already made the top schools list for a Midwest offensive tackle product in four-star OT Nathan Roy. A native of Wisconsin, Roy currently ranks as the No. 12 offensive tackle and No. 185 player nationally in the 2024 class, according to the 247Sports Composite.
Always tough to steal an offensive lineman away from the in-state Badgers, the new Luke Fickell-led Wisconsin program also made the cut among Roy’s top seven, alongside Michigan State, Minnesota, Tennesee, UCLA, USC and of course Ohio State. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound tackle will surely be a focus of Fickell’s staff as the No. 3 player in the state, but Frye and the Buckeyes remain a real player here as one of the final schools in contention for Roy’s services.
The Tarblooder program has been kind to the Buckeyes over the years, producing guys among the likes of Troy Smith, Ted Ginn Jr. and Marshon Lattimore. However, West becoming a member of the Scarlet and Gray is not slam dunk, as Michigan area recruiter Steve Clinkscale and Wolverine DB commit Jacob Oden are pushing hard for the talented corner. Day has struggled on the field against Michigan the last few seasons, but this is an off-field battle within the rivalry that would really hurt to lose.
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
Four-star 2024 ATH Miles Lockhart | Shotgun Spratling, USCfootball.com/247Sports
The Buckeyes are trending for the 2024 Arizona product.
With this past weekend being the first Sunday without football in quite some time — unless you count the latest iteration of the XFL, which I do not — and the Ohio State men’s basketball team in total freefall, times are tough for Buckeye sports fans. Even the women’s hoops team, which at one point looked to be near the top of the heap, has faltered mightily as of late.
Alas, with not much else positive to look at from the Scarlet and Gray recently, we turn our attention to the recruiting trail, where there is always something to talk about — good, bad or otherwise.
Four-star CB names Ohio State the ‘leader’ in his recruitment
Cornerback is obviously a huge point of emphasis for Ohio State in the 2024 class. The Buckeyes did a good job of bolstering the secondary this offseason, bringing in both safety Ja’Had Carter from Syracuse and corner Davison Igbinosun from Ole Miss via the transfer portal. They also added five defensive backs in the 2023 class, highlighted by corners Jermaine Mathews and Calvin Simpson-Hunt.
Still, the pass defense for the last few seasons has been less than stellar, to put it nicely, and so the more the merrier when it comes to adding even more defensive back talent to the roster. The Buckeyes are still looking for their first DB commit early in the 2024 class, but they may be zeroing in on a potential big addition in Arizona native Miles Lockhart.
A four-star prospect in the 2024 class, Lockhart currently stacks up as the No. 12 athlete and No. 107 player in the 247Sports rankings. The 5-foot-10 athlete projects as a DB at the next level, and expects to be a slot corner to begin his collegiate career. Lockhart first received his Ohio State offer after an impressive camp performance last June, and after putting together a strong junior campaign, it seems as though the Buckeyes are now the team to beat in his recruitment.
In an interview with Eleven Warriors, Lockhart said that he currently views Ohio State as the leader, having this to say about the program:
Just last week, Ohio State earned two Crystal Ball predictions to land Lockhart from a pair of trusted recruiting analysts in Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts and Mountain West recruiting analyst Blair Angulo. It doesn’t hurt the Buckeyes’ chances either that Lockhart was sporting an OSU bandana after helping to lead Basha High School to a state title this past season.
Big-time RB sets Ohio State visit
With the current recruiting dead period set to end on Feb. 28 and spring practice right around the corner, March will be a big month for recruiting efforts across the country. That is no different at Ohio State, where a number of big names have already announced their intentions to visit Columbus next month.
One of the biggest names among those with their sights set on a Buckeye visit is four-star running back James Peoples. Ohio State needs to reel in at least one and likely two top-tier tailbacks in this cycle after whiffing in the 2023 class, and Peoples would certainly fit that bill as the No. 5 RB in the country and the No. 78 player overall in the 247Sports Composite.
Peoples included Ohio State among his top six schools earlier this month alongside Alabama, Oklahoma, Oregon, TCU and Texas. Clearly a big priority for position coach Tony Alford, the Buckeyes have clearly made a positive impact on the Texas native, enough so that Peoples now has a multi-day visit planned for the end of March.
While there is still seemingly a lot of time left in this recruitment, Ohio State has to like where they currently stand with Peoples. The 5-foot-10 running back had the following to say of the Buckeyes, via the Columbus Dispatch:
2024 OT lists Buckeyes in his Top 7
Another position of need moving forward for Ohio State is definitely the offensive line. After the Buckeyes allowed former offensive line coach Greg Studrawa stick around far too long, Justin Frye is now tasked with trying to re-load a room that was left severely lacking by his predecessor. This is especially true at offensive tackle, where the losses of both Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones to the NFL Draft this offseason will be tough pills to swallow.
Looking to get ahead of things early on, Ohio State has already made the top schools list for a Midwest offensive tackle product in four-star OT Nathan Roy. A native of Wisconsin, Roy currently ranks as the No. 12 offensive tackle and No. 185 player nationally in the 2024 class, according to the 247Sports Composite.
Always tough to steal an offensive lineman away from the in-state Badgers, the new Luke Fickell-led Wisconsin program also made the cut among Roy’s top seven, alongside Michigan State, Minnesota, Tennesee, UCLA, USC and of course Ohio State. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound tackle will surely be a focus of Fickell’s staff as the No. 3 player in the state, but Frye and the Buckeyes remain a real player here as one of the final schools in contention for Roy’s services.
Quick Hits
- Ryan Day has maintained the Ohio State tradition of locking down some of the best players from within the state’s borders. This will be of the utmost importance when it comes to the recruitment of 2024 CB Bryce West. The five-star prospect and No. 26 overall player in the 247Sports Composite, Day made it clear that West is a top priority for the program when he personally offered the Glenville native back in December.
The Tarblooder program has been kind to the Buckeyes over the years, producing guys among the likes of Troy Smith, Ted Ginn Jr. and Marshon Lattimore. However, West becoming a member of the Scarlet and Gray is not slam dunk, as Michigan area recruiter Steve Clinkscale and Wolverine DB commit Jacob Oden are pushing hard for the talented corner. Day has struggled on the field against Michigan the last few seasons, but this is an off-field battle within the rivalry that would really hurt to lose.
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