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LGHL Buckeyes in the NFL: 2023 Fantasy Football Preview — Garrett Wilson
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Buckeyes in the NFL: 2023 Fantasy Football Preview — Garrett Wilson
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Wilson, the NFL’s reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, has top-5 positional upside playing alongside a future HOF quarterback.
Rookie wide receivers performing well in their inaugural NFL season(s) is not unheard of. Far from it, actually. But in recent years, a select few have absolutely dominated both on the field and in fantasy football lineups. They now find themselves firmly inside the top-10 of players at their position.
Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings finished the 2020 season with 88 receptions for 1,400 yards and seven TDs, good for 6th in PPR points (WR position only). And in 2021, Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals quickly became the alpha of an already-established receiving core, putting up totals of 81/1,455/13 (5th in PPR). These players are just a few of the recent examples of what a talented wideout can do, at an early NFL age, when dropped into the right situation.
The New York Jets did not have one of those situations in 2022. Sure, the defense and coaching were much improved over previous years, but that’s about it. Because the offense in the Big Apple (technically NJ) was a big dumpster fire. Rookie running back Breece Hall was an early bright spot, but he only started two games before tearing his ACL in October. Quarterback play was abysmal, with Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco, and Mike White all completing less than 60% of their passes. And the team’s No. 2 and No. 3 receivers combined for less than 1,000 yards. Far from ideal.
However, from the smoldering green ashes, a scarlet and gray phoenix did rise... Ok, that was a bit dramatic, but work with me here. With Hall sidelined, another Jets rookie came on strong, especially during the second half of the season. And now that player is a burgeoning star. His name? Garrett Wilson.
This former Ohio State Buckeye was a bright spot in the otherwise dark, dingy, disgusting NYJ offense (5.5 receptions, 78.9 yards per game after Hall’s injury). And Wilson was rewarded for his stellar play with NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. He showed great versatility for the Jets, and often battled opposing secondaries without much help. Which is something that should have placated his (few) detractors.
Prior to entering the NFL, Wilson spent much of his early Ohio State career in the slot. He then moved outside for most of the 2021 season. No matter where the Buckeyes put him, he excelled as a playmaker. The speed, the hands, the ability to make plays after the catch — all facets of his game were dialed in, and continued to improve over the course of three seasons in Columbus. But certain things, over which Wilson had no control, were still held against him. Namely his size (or lack thereof) and the fact that he was constantly and consistently surrounded by other playmakers.
In my humble opinion, Wilson put any and all concerns to rest in 2022. He consistently created separation and came down with contested catches, often as the singular focus of opposing defenses. Footwork and route running are always a work(s) in progress, even for veteran wideouts, so Wilson is far from a finished product, but he showed very few holes in his game as a rookie.
Versatility will be essential for Wilson moving forward, as New York re-tooled and brought on several new (offensive) pieces during the offseason. The biggest new name in town is obviously Aaron Rodgers, but the Jets also added WRs Mecole Hardman, Allen Lazard, and Randall Cobb. The latter two were favorites of Rodgers in Green Bay and will likely cut into some of Wilson’s target share.
Speaking specifically of Rodgers though, his mere presence should boost the value, production, and star power of Wilson, both in real life and fantasy football. And that is why I am all over the former Buckeye early in drafts. He has already proven capable of putting up 80+ receptions and 1,100 yards, and that was as a rookie in a putrid offense! With Rodgers (a no-doubt Hall of Famer) throwing him the ball, I could absolutely see Wilson flirting with 100/1,500 in 2023-24.
That being said, 100 catches is not nothin’, right? So draft Wilson with at least some caution. Because Lazard and Cobb will absorb plenty of targets. Same for Hardman, who has proven to be one of the fastest players in the NFL if nothing else. And the Jets will try to alleviate at least some of the pressure on 39-year old Rodgers by feeding a healthy Hall. There will be plenty of mouths to feed for Gang Green, which is not something you could have said with a straight face last year.
But I am still all-in on Wilson. His current ADP in or around the top-20 does not scare me off one bit. I may even target him earlier, in the mid-to-late teens. I would encourage others to do so as well, because I believe that Wilson has top-5 positional upside. And if you don’t want to buy what I am selling, just check out what a certain future HOF QB had to say.
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
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Wilson, the NFL’s reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, has top-5 positional upside playing alongside a future HOF quarterback.
Rookie wide receivers performing well in their inaugural NFL season(s) is not unheard of. Far from it, actually. But in recent years, a select few have absolutely dominated both on the field and in fantasy football lineups. They now find themselves firmly inside the top-10 of players at their position.
Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings finished the 2020 season with 88 receptions for 1,400 yards and seven TDs, good for 6th in PPR points (WR position only). And in 2021, Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals quickly became the alpha of an already-established receiving core, putting up totals of 81/1,455/13 (5th in PPR). These players are just a few of the recent examples of what a talented wideout can do, at an early NFL age, when dropped into the right situation.
The New York Jets did not have one of those situations in 2022. Sure, the defense and coaching were much improved over previous years, but that’s about it. Because the offense in the Big Apple (technically NJ) was a big dumpster fire. Rookie running back Breece Hall was an early bright spot, but he only started two games before tearing his ACL in October. Quarterback play was abysmal, with Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco, and Mike White all completing less than 60% of their passes. And the team’s No. 2 and No. 3 receivers combined for less than 1,000 yards. Far from ideal.
However, from the smoldering green ashes, a scarlet and gray phoenix did rise... Ok, that was a bit dramatic, but work with me here. With Hall sidelined, another Jets rookie came on strong, especially during the second half of the season. And now that player is a burgeoning star. His name? Garrett Wilson.
this guy right here
@GarrettWilson_V | #DevelopedHere https://t.co/acExlna8u2
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) July 11, 2023
This former Ohio State Buckeye was a bright spot in the otherwise dark, dingy, disgusting NYJ offense (5.5 receptions, 78.9 yards per game after Hall’s injury). And Wilson was rewarded for his stellar play with NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. He showed great versatility for the Jets, and often battled opposing secondaries without much help. Which is something that should have placated his (few) detractors.
Prior to entering the NFL, Wilson spent much of his early Ohio State career in the slot. He then moved outside for most of the 2021 season. No matter where the Buckeyes put him, he excelled as a playmaker. The speed, the hands, the ability to make plays after the catch — all facets of his game were dialed in, and continued to improve over the course of three seasons in Columbus. But certain things, over which Wilson had no control, were still held against him. Namely his size (or lack thereof) and the fact that he was constantly and consistently surrounded by other playmakers.
In my humble opinion, Wilson put any and all concerns to rest in 2022. He consistently created separation and came down with contested catches, often as the singular focus of opposing defenses. Footwork and route running are always a work(s) in progress, even for veteran wideouts, so Wilson is far from a finished product, but he showed very few holes in his game as a rookie.
Versatility will be essential for Wilson moving forward, as New York re-tooled and brought on several new (offensive) pieces during the offseason. The biggest new name in town is obviously Aaron Rodgers, but the Jets also added WRs Mecole Hardman, Allen Lazard, and Randall Cobb. The latter two were favorites of Rodgers in Green Bay and will likely cut into some of Wilson’s target share.
Speaking specifically of Rodgers though, his mere presence should boost the value, production, and star power of Wilson, both in real life and fantasy football. And that is why I am all over the former Buckeye early in drafts. He has already proven capable of putting up 80+ receptions and 1,100 yards, and that was as a rookie in a putrid offense! With Rodgers (a no-doubt Hall of Famer) throwing him the ball, I could absolutely see Wilson flirting with 100/1,500 in 2023-24.
That being said, 100 catches is not nothin’, right? So draft Wilson with at least some caution. Because Lazard and Cobb will absorb plenty of targets. Same for Hardman, who has proven to be one of the fastest players in the NFL if nothing else. And the Jets will try to alleviate at least some of the pressure on 39-year old Rodgers by feeding a healthy Hall. There will be plenty of mouths to feed for Gang Green, which is not something you could have said with a straight face last year.
But I am still all-in on Wilson. His current ADP in or around the top-20 does not scare me off one bit. I may even target him earlier, in the mid-to-late teens. I would encourage others to do so as well, because I believe that Wilson has top-5 positional upside. And if you don’t want to buy what I am selling, just check out what a certain future HOF QB had to say.
Continue reading...
LGHL Buckeyes make cut for top 2025 tight-end, send best wishes as in-state prospects start season
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Buckeyes make cut for top 2025 tight-end, send best wishes as in-state prospects start season
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State makes the shortlist for 2025 tight-end target, Emaree Winston.
When it comes to Ohio State’s offensive scheme under Ryan Day, the tight end position probably doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves. Wanting to run the ball effectively, the Buckeyes use a tight end to help anchor the trenches in nearly every formation and many times even deploy two tight ends to really up the offensive attack.
Additionally, the position plays an important role in the passing game even if it’s sometimes under-utilized.
Regardless, the tight-end spot plays an important role in the OSU offense, and therefore recruiting that position in every cycle is a serious need. Fortunately, Ohio State has done a stellar job under first-year position coach Keenan Bailey as he’s been able to land two commitments from Damarion Witten and Max LeBlanc in the 2024 class. Looking ahead, Bailey will likely try to bring in another two at his spot for 2025.
With multiple offers already extended, yesterday the Buckeyes took another step in the right direction with one 2025 target as Emaree Winston released an update on his recruitment. A 6-foot-2, 235-pound athlete, Winston took to his Twitter account to announce he was down to just six schools. With nearly 40 offers to his name, the update shows how seriously he is moving through the process toward a decision.
Making the cut for Winston is USC, UCF, Tennessee, North Carolina, Cincinnati, and Ohio State. The No. 207 player nationally, Winston is the seventh-best tight end in the country per the 247Sports Composite grades, but in the 247Sports rankings alone, he’s nearly a top 100 player (ranked No. 103). Though stars and rankings aren’t everything to Ohio State’s coaches, this is still a player the staff would love to have and would be another big-time tight end get. A Calhoun, Ga. native, the Buckeyes are hoping to pull a talented TE from Georgia for the second time in three cycles following 2023’s Jelani Thurman.
Certainly, there’s still work to be done in this recruitment, but currently, the Buckeyes do own both of the 247Sports crystal ball predictions. If all goes to plan and this is a recruitment that is locked up early, the tight-end recruiting efforts for 2025 will be off to a roaring start.
With high school football in Ohio now officially underway, Ohio State’s staff and creative team are doing an incredible job of making prospects feel like a priority even if their attention has now switched to their own seasons. Yesterday, multiple recruiting graphics were sent out wishing players the best as their prep seasons began.
One example, in-state 2025 athlete Amari Valerio-Hudson shared via Twitter that the Buckeyes were wishing him luck. An unranked player right now, the 5-foot-11, 160-pound receiver does currently hold one offer from Ball State. Over the course of these next two seasons though, look for Amari to be a player that works tirelessly for his offer list to grow. Either way, the Buckeyes are paying attention, even if they have yet to offer.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State makes the shortlist for 2025 tight-end target, Emaree Winston.
2025 tight-end target down to six
When it comes to Ohio State’s offensive scheme under Ryan Day, the tight end position probably doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves. Wanting to run the ball effectively, the Buckeyes use a tight end to help anchor the trenches in nearly every formation and many times even deploy two tight ends to really up the offensive attack.
Additionally, the position plays an important role in the passing game even if it’s sometimes under-utilized.
Regardless, the tight-end spot plays an important role in the OSU offense, and therefore recruiting that position in every cycle is a serious need. Fortunately, Ohio State has done a stellar job under first-year position coach Keenan Bailey as he’s been able to land two commitments from Damarion Witten and Max LeBlanc in the 2024 class. Looking ahead, Bailey will likely try to bring in another two at his spot for 2025.
With multiple offers already extended, yesterday the Buckeyes took another step in the right direction with one 2025 target as Emaree Winston released an update on his recruitment. A 6-foot-2, 235-pound athlete, Winston took to his Twitter account to announce he was down to just six schools. With nearly 40 offers to his name, the update shows how seriously he is moving through the process toward a decision.
Making the cut for Winston is USC, UCF, Tennessee, North Carolina, Cincinnati, and Ohio State. The No. 207 player nationally, Winston is the seventh-best tight end in the country per the 247Sports Composite grades, but in the 247Sports rankings alone, he’s nearly a top 100 player (ranked No. 103). Though stars and rankings aren’t everything to Ohio State’s coaches, this is still a player the staff would love to have and would be another big-time tight end get. A Calhoun, Ga. native, the Buckeyes are hoping to pull a talented TE from Georgia for the second time in three cycles following 2023’s Jelani Thurman.
Certainly, there’s still work to be done in this recruitment, but currently, the Buckeyes do own both of the 247Sports crystal ball predictions. If all goes to plan and this is a recruitment that is locked up early, the tight-end recruiting efforts for 2025 will be off to a roaring start.
Quick Hits:
With high school football in Ohio now officially underway, Ohio State’s staff and creative team are doing an incredible job of making prospects feel like a priority even if their attention has now switched to their own seasons. Yesterday, multiple recruiting graphics were sent out wishing players the best as their prep seasons began.
One example, in-state 2025 athlete Amari Valerio-Hudson shared via Twitter that the Buckeyes were wishing him luck. An unranked player right now, the 5-foot-11, 160-pound receiver does currently hold one offer from Ball State. Over the course of these next two seasons though, look for Amari to be a player that works tirelessly for his offer list to grow. Either way, the Buckeyes are paying attention, even if they have yet to offer.
Ohio State love before game 1@etwill21 @ryandaytime @Barnett_OSU #gobucks pic.twitter.com/IQfCV0xS0B
— Amari Valerio-Hudson (@imjustamari) August 17, 2023
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LGHL Initial 2026 class rankings show Ohio is loaded with in-state targets
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Initial 2026 class rankings show Ohio is loaded with in-state targets
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State will look to lock down their borders with how much talent resides within their own backyard.
Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Brian Hartline is the best receivers coach in the country and it’s not particularly close. Both in on-field development and in his recruiting efforts, you’d be hard-pressed to find an assistant that pulls more weight than he does right now. The success his position group is having over the last several years is more than you can ask for, and it’s a trend that shows no sign of slowing down considering the elite talent he is bringing in year after year.
Though it’s early, the Buckeyes have already landed the commitment of in-state product, Christ Henry Jr. for their 2026 class, and on Wednesday he received one of the highest honors you can have for his position.
A 6-foot-5, 185 pound athlete, Henry Jr. is the son of the late Chris Henry Sr. and has the lineage that proves he destined for stardom on the football field. Thanks to 247Sports releasing the rankings for his class, Henry Jr. was named the No. 8 player nationally and the top receiver in the country. Also slotted as the top-ranked player in Ohio for 2026, the Buckeyes clearly are getting an elite talent once again for Hartline’s room, and considering how talented he is already, it’s scary to think how good he will be three years from now when he’s ready to step foot on campus.
At any rate, the beat goes on for the Buckeyes, Hartline, and the receiver position. The ability to land the nation’s best receiver in any given cycle has belonged to Ohio State more times than not, and 2026 is just the next year in line to make that the case.
Keeping in the 2026 class, the 247Sports rankings update not only gave the Buckeyes another No. 1 receiver commit, but it also proved that this class is going to be one of the deeper classes Ohio has seen for some time now. Home to four of the top 100 players in the country, the staff has always made their home state recruiting grounds the top priority. In this class, it will only be heightened as several positions of importance regardless of year are available.
Starting on the offensive line, 6-foot-5, 265 pound offensive tackle target Maxwell Riley was listed as the No. 14 player nationally, the third ranked offensive tackle, and the second best player in Ohio for 2026. An Avon Lake product, Riley already holds an offer from the Buckeyes, as well as from many other schools including Florida State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Penn State, Tennessee, and more.
The Buckeyes, though early, do hold the lone Crystal Ball prediction, and though there’s plenty of time to go in this recruitment, Ohio State being all over this one early and often bodes well for their chances of keeping him at home for his college career.
Next on the list, another top offensive tackle made the top 100 for 247Sports. 6-foot-8 290 pound Sam Greer already has incredible size for just a high school sophomore, so it’s easy to see why he was listed as the No. 78 player nationally and the 12th best offensive tackle for his cycle. Also the third ranked athlete in Ohio, Greer is another in-state native the Buckeyes have already extended an offer to.
With Michigan, Florida, Miami, and Purdue also on his offer list, Greer is due for a domino effect of several other programs to come calling, and the hope here is that position coach Justin Frye locks it down early with both Greer and the aforementioned Riley. If he can, that would be an incredible duo that means two of the nation’s top tackles are staying in-state. A feat that would be more than ideal, it’s a major focus for this staff.
Last but not least, the Buckeyes have one more in-state top 100 target they’ll certainly be paying close attention thanks to quarterback Nathan Bernhard. The 6-foot-5, 210 pound Ashland product fits the build of any elite pocket passer, and though Ohio State has yet to offer, Ryan Day does pretty darn well with his recruiting efforts. If the plan in 2025 was to go in-state and 2026 once again presented the same potential, this staff would surely have little to no issue making that happen.
As of right now, Ohio State has offered multiple signal callers in the 2026 class, with Julian Lewis being the most talked about, but Bernhard checks in as No. 80 player nationally and the eighth best QB in the country and is right in their backyard. Simply put, it always helps to have top talent right in Ohio.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State will look to lock down their borders with how much talent resides within their own backyard.
Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Brian Hartline is the best receivers coach in the country and it’s not particularly close. Both in on-field development and in his recruiting efforts, you’d be hard-pressed to find an assistant that pulls more weight than he does right now. The success his position group is having over the last several years is more than you can ask for, and it’s a trend that shows no sign of slowing down considering the elite talent he is bringing in year after year.
Though it’s early, the Buckeyes have already landed the commitment of in-state product, Christ Henry Jr. for their 2026 class, and on Wednesday he received one of the highest honors you can have for his position.
A 6-foot-5, 185 pound athlete, Henry Jr. is the son of the late Chris Henry Sr. and has the lineage that proves he destined for stardom on the football field. Thanks to 247Sports releasing the rankings for his class, Henry Jr. was named the No. 8 player nationally and the top receiver in the country. Also slotted as the top-ranked player in Ohio for 2026, the Buckeyes clearly are getting an elite talent once again for Hartline’s room, and considering how talented he is already, it’s scary to think how good he will be three years from now when he’s ready to step foot on campus.
At any rate, the beat goes on for the Buckeyes, Hartline, and the receiver position. The ability to land the nation’s best receiver in any given cycle has belonged to Ohio State more times than not, and 2026 is just the next year in line to make that the case.
2026 in-state class is loaded with talent
Keeping in the 2026 class, the 247Sports rankings update not only gave the Buckeyes another No. 1 receiver commit, but it also proved that this class is going to be one of the deeper classes Ohio has seen for some time now. Home to four of the top 100 players in the country, the staff has always made their home state recruiting grounds the top priority. In this class, it will only be heightened as several positions of importance regardless of year are available.
Starting on the offensive line, 6-foot-5, 265 pound offensive tackle target Maxwell Riley was listed as the No. 14 player nationally, the third ranked offensive tackle, and the second best player in Ohio for 2026. An Avon Lake product, Riley already holds an offer from the Buckeyes, as well as from many other schools including Florida State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Penn State, Tennessee, and more.
The Buckeyes, though early, do hold the lone Crystal Ball prediction, and though there’s plenty of time to go in this recruitment, Ohio State being all over this one early and often bodes well for their chances of keeping him at home for his college career.
Next on the list, another top offensive tackle made the top 100 for 247Sports. 6-foot-8 290 pound Sam Greer already has incredible size for just a high school sophomore, so it’s easy to see why he was listed as the No. 78 player nationally and the 12th best offensive tackle for his cycle. Also the third ranked athlete in Ohio, Greer is another in-state native the Buckeyes have already extended an offer to.
With Michigan, Florida, Miami, and Purdue also on his offer list, Greer is due for a domino effect of several other programs to come calling, and the hope here is that position coach Justin Frye locks it down early with both Greer and the aforementioned Riley. If he can, that would be an incredible duo that means two of the nation’s top tackles are staying in-state. A feat that would be more than ideal, it’s a major focus for this staff.
Last but not least, the Buckeyes have one more in-state top 100 target they’ll certainly be paying close attention thanks to quarterback Nathan Bernhard. The 6-foot-5, 210 pound Ashland product fits the build of any elite pocket passer, and though Ohio State has yet to offer, Ryan Day does pretty darn well with his recruiting efforts. If the plan in 2025 was to go in-state and 2026 once again presented the same potential, this staff would surely have little to no issue making that happen.
As of right now, Ohio State has offered multiple signal callers in the 2026 class, with Julian Lewis being the most talked about, but Bernhard checks in as No. 80 player nationally and the eighth best QB in the country and is right in their backyard. Simply put, it always helps to have top talent right in Ohio.
Continue reading...
