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LGHL Buckeyes set to host arguably the two most important remaining 2024 targets

Buckeyes set to host arguably the two most important remaining 2024 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

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With Bryce West and Aaron Scott on campus this weekend, it’s go time for the Buckeyes.

Two of the most important visits of the 2024 class​


If it’s been said once it’s been said hundreds of times, but the point remains the same when it comes to the recruitment of in-state cornerbacks Aaron Scott and Bryce West. Simply put, these are arguably the two most important targets in the 2024 class, and for no other reason than they both are down to Ohio State and Michigan as their finalists. The Buckeyes must land both, and sure, their position for both is one of great need, but more than anything, OSU has to keep them away from its biggest rival.

Of the two recruitments, the feeling around Bryce West has been less dramatic recently, considering that he seems to be more pro-Ohio State than the alternative, but no deal is done yet. Yes, being a Cleveland Glenville product may ease some worries considering the long-standing pipeline from the high school to Columbus, but to this point in his process, West has long been the guy that seems to be more of a sure thing for the Buckeyes.

That feeling may have been backed further by the recent realization that West opted not to visit Ann Arbor before making this weekend’s trip to Columbus. The No. 49 player nationally, West will be on campus for a multiple-day stay and will join his cornerback counterpart as the Buckeyes do their best to once again prove why staying home is the best option; not only for the next few years, but for life after college as well.

It doesn’t get much bigger than this.

CBus Tomorrow #GoBucks @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/qNB4NYwwFo

— † (@bryvonny) June 23, 2023
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Moving to the other important CB guest this weekend, the Buckeyes of course also play host to Aaron Scott for his official visit. After spending last weekend in Ann Arbor, it’s Ohio State’s turn to roll out the red carpet. The No. 53 player nationally and the fifth-best cornerback in the country per the 247Sports Composite grades, Scott too is also down to just the Buckeyes and Wolverines.

The recruitment that has sent Ohio State followers into a scurry multiple times now, Scott may not be very vocal, but his interest in Michigan is no joke and this weekend is a massive one for the Buckeyes to make sure that they have the upper hand. Knowing how important the next couple of days — are not only for this 2024 class, but also keeping their rivals out of their territory — it will be a full-court press to show Aaron why he needs to stay home and play alongside the other part of this dynamic duo.

Both players have multiple 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions in favor of the Buckeyes from some of the best recruiting analysts in the country, so that is a positive for OSU fans. While that obviously doesn’t guarantee anything, this weekend will almost assuredly be a deciding factor in how it all plays out.

Quick Hits: ​

  • Though the majority of the attention this weekend will be on the official visitors, a top Ohio State target will take the next step in his recruitment by narrowing his offer list down to just five schools.

The No. 9 player nationally and the second-best edge rusher in the country per the 247Sports Composite Ratings, five-star Dylan Stewart shared on Thursday that he would be trimming his top schools' list. The betting favorites to still be in the fold include Georgia, Miami, Alabama, South Carolina, and Ohio State.

One of the top players in the country, regardless of position, Stewart has well over 30 offers to his name, and seeing his individual ranking proves he’s coveted by every school out there.

Narrowing it down shows he’s seriously going through the process now en route to a final decision. While the Buckeyes will likely make the cut, they have some work to do to make this a real possibility.

Top 5 tomorrow ! @Hayesfawcett3

— Dylan Stewart (@Dylan1Stewart_) June 22, 2023
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  • In addition to Scott and West, another top target cornerback will be on site this weekend when Arizona native, Miles Lockhart makes the trek back to Columbus. The No. 357 player nationally, Lockhart is the 31st best cornerback in the class per the 247Sports Composite grades. A recruit that may not jump out at you with his ranking, he is a take in this class that wants four cornerbacks in the fold.

Currently, all of the crystal ball predictions favor the Buckeyes for Lockhart and if this weekend ends up being another successful trip, he could be next in line to make the call for Ohio State’s 2024 class as he plans to announce his decision July 6.

See you tomorrow Columbus #gobucks pic.twitter.com/eU7CaeXbjj

— Miles Lockhart (@MilesLockhart1) June 22, 2023
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LGHL ‘Burning Questions’: Will Julian Fleming (finally) become a household name in 2023?

‘Burning Questions’: Will Julian Fleming (finally) become a household name in 2023?
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

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Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

As the former No. 1 WR in his own recruiting class, this veteran’s talent is on-par with each and every one of his peers.

From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the most important questions yet unanswered for the season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Burning Questions” articles here.


Julian Fleming was the crown jewel of Ohio State’s 2020 recruiting class, highlighting a group that included Paris Johnson Jr., Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and C.J. Stroud. He was the No. 1 wide receiver and No. 3 overall player in that historic class, in addition to being the first (of many) ‘big fish’ recruited and reeled in by Brian Hartline. Not only that, but when Fleming pledged his allegiance to OSU, he (temporarily) became the Buckeyes’ third highest-rated commit of all-freaking-time. His commitment was a BIG DEAL.

Unfortunately for both player and program, Fleming’s Ohio State career has not gone according to plan. Seemingly banged up since the minute he stepped on campus in Columbus, the now-veteran has never played 12 games in a single season. He has battled shoulder, lower body, and core injuries, resulting in 26 appearances over the course of his three-year collegiate career. And he missed yet another OSU spring game in April, raising doubts about his overall health heading into the upcoming 2023 season.

But when available, Fleming has flashed high-end talent and potential. Which is why yours truly bought up serious real estate on Fleming Island and has refused to sell... Even though my money people have been begging me to cut my losses. The problem is, I have seen and remember too much.

I remember that it was Fleming, not JSN, who started the 2020 Big Ten championship game as a true freshman – and led the Buckeyes in receiving – in place of Chris Olave. I’ve seen the leaping catches and sideline catches that should have been, as well as Fleming’s ability to get open, run after the catch, and block for peers downfield. Watch the 2022 Rose Bowl (shoutout Brodie) for examples of all. The dude can play! But can he stay healthy?


“Can Fleming stay healthy?” is sort of the first Burning Question here, if you’ll allow me to transition into LGHL’s weekly theme. And to be completely honest, I have no idea. Fleming has yet to do so consistently, but I am not one of those people who believes that availability is necessarily an ‘ability’.

I know how the saying goes, but all it takes is one look at Fleming to realize that he takes care of his body. Shoulder injuries are rarely a result of negligence. Lower body injuries are a dime-a-dozen. And core ones, well, they’re a bit for fluky, but it’s not like Fleming is running around out of shape. Sh*t happens, and some athletes are more cursed than others.

Now, as for the (other) burning question of is this Julian Fleming’s year? I doubt it, at least in terms of a ‘big’ statistical output. But my own personal doubt has little to do with Fleming’s talent and/or health. If healthy, he will likely be given plenty of opportunities. And when previously given opportunities, he has generally produced.

However, Ohio State no longer boasts the likes of Justin Fields and/or C.J. Stroud at quarterback. Kyle McCord or Devin Brown will be the new man behind center, and both are unproven (especially Brown). This is not to say that one or the other can’t take the QB job and run with it, but Fields and Stroud were two of the most accomplished and productive passers in Big Ten history. Even they occasionally struggled to spread the wealth to three, four, or five targets.

The 2021 season, when Olave finished third amongst Buckeye wideouts with 936 yards, was an anomaly. Because OSU’s third-leading WR has typically finished with around 600 or 700 yards under Ryan Day, which is just slightly more than Fleming’s 2022 total of 533. And guess what? Fleming is still behind the same group of (2022) pass catchers, including tight end Cade Stover. Not to mention the fact that he will face stiff competition from young pups such as Carnell Tate, Jayden Ballard, and possibly even Brandon Inniss.

There are a lot of mouths to feed in Columbus, and only one, largely unproven QB – regardless of who wins the job – to distribute meals AKA footballs. So I just do not see the third or fourth option on this Ohio State team experiencing a true breakout in terms of receptions or yardage. Touchdowns could be a different story, though I will not be placing a wager on anyone other than Marvin Harrison Jr. to lead the Buckeyes in TD receptions.

That being said... all of it... I would be surprised if Fleming is not at least productive in his role in 2023. Call me crazy, but I am not yet willing to give up on this guy. And I am not the only one who clearly believes in his talent (I assume this is a reference to Fleming).

Duh but numbers don’t matter. We have 3 1st rounders next year…

— Brian Hartline (@brianhartline) February 2, 2023
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While 1,000 yards and 10 TD is not likely in 2023, Fleming does have a decent stretch of games during which he balled out. As a matter of fact, it took place just last year. After missing the Notre Dame and Arkansas State games due to yet another injury, he put together an impressive five-game run where he totaled 17 receptions for 327 yards and 6 TD.

Fleming’s production fell off a cliff after the Iowa game, but it is entirely possible that his body was worn down from playing so much. That is not a sarcastic dig, just pointing out that the 2022 season was almost like a traditional freshman season for the (then) third-year wideout. He may have hit the ‘freshman wall’ as an academic junior.

I fully expect Fleming to contribute in 2023, and he might even be the source of many highlights. However, I am not sure that his contributions and/or highlights (will) equate to a big-time statistical breakout. Because Ohio State has a full John Wick-esque array of weapons, with a new QB figuring out how to properly use them.

In a nutshell, my answer to these burning questions is “not likely”. But I will be rooting hard for Fleming and hoping that Buckeye fans get to see more than a flash of his star potential.

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LGHL Brice Sensabaugh drafted by the Utah Jazz with the 28th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft

Brice Sensabaugh drafted by the Utah Jazz with the 28th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

The All-Big Ten honoree rose up from an under-recruited four-star recruit to a one-and-done prospect in less than one calendar year.

With the 28th pick, the Utah Jazz select Brice Sensabaugh, a freshman forward from The ™ Ohio State University, in the 2023 NBA Draft.

And with that, Ohio State’s leading scorer from a year ago is off to the NBA, joining the Utah Jazz in what is sure to be in intriguing journey from this point on for the broad shouldered forward from Orlando, Florida.

@bricepsensa is comin' to SLC #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/LfcRyRvyrS

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) June 23, 2023
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Sensabaugh arrived at Ohio State one year ago with plenty of hype, although said hype came more from the mouth of head coach Chris Holtmann than anyone else. Sensabaugh was under-recruited out of high school, reaching No. 86 in the 2022 class by the time he arrived on campus. Agility and defense were always going to be a point of concern for the 6-foot-6, 235-pound forward, but Holtmann repeatedly praised his offensive moxie and wide skillset.

Sensabaugh backed up his coach’s talk, averaging 16.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, both of which were team highs. He also shot 40.5 % from three-point land and 80.3% from the free throw line during his freshman season, appearing in 33 of Ohio State’s 35 games.

Sensabaugh was named to the All-Big Ten third team at the season’s conclusion. He becomes the second one-and-done player in two years for Ohio State, joining Malaki Branham (Spurs) — the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

One of the few bright spots during an otherwise dismal season in Columbus, Sensabaugh led the Buckeyes in scoring for 13 consecutive games from December 17 until Feb 2, a freshman record at Ohio State. He missed the final two games of the season — both in the Big Ten Tournament — due to a knee injury.

Sensabaugh’s best tool is clear — his ability to score the ball. Whether it be off the pass or dribble, he has shown the ability to score in bunches and at a highly efficient level. He shot 40% from three-point range last season, but his best shot actually comes in the mid-range area. Sensabaugh got to the elbow or just a bit in from the elbow time and time again last season, creating space for himself before knocking down a one-legged jumper from 12-15 feet out. He’s also an above average finisher below the basket, a great cutter, and a highlight reel dunker. There’s not much missing in the offensive toolbox.

His shortcomings lie on the defensive end, and in a major way. As the season progressed, Sensabaugh proved to be — at best — a vulnerable defender and at times a glaring liability. Teams would isolate Sensabaugh and find ways to attack him specifically, hoping to get an easy basket, draw a foul on the freshman, or perhaps both. During a brutal stretch where Ohio State lost 14 of 15 games, there were times Holtmann had to keep Sensabaugh on the bench for extended stretches due to poor defense.

It’s obvious that if Sensabaugh struggled on the defensive end in college, he will in the NBA as well. But the ability to create your own shot is as valuable now as it has ever been in the league, so the Jazz are willing to live with the defense for now. It’s also possible that Sensabaugh’s knee injury from March caused him to slip a few spots.


Congrats to Brice on being drafted to the Jazz. We’ll always be pulling for you here at LGHL!

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Google Texas 2025 Running Back Target Tory Blaylock Says the Buckeyes Are “At the Top of My Board” After Camping At Ohio ... - Eleven Warriors

Texas 2025 Running Back Target Tory Blaylock Says the Buckeyes Are “At the Top of My Board” After Camping At Ohio ... - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Texas 2025 Running Back Target Tory Blaylock Says the Buckeyes Are “At the Top of My Board” After Camping At Ohio ... Eleven Warriors

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LGHL Brice Sensabaugh will be the latest Ohio State basketball player to be selected in the NBA Draft

Brice Sensabaugh will be the latest Ohio State basketball player to be selected in the NBA Draft
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Ohio State v Iowa

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

The one-and-done forward will look to follow in Malaki Branham’s footsteps.

The 2023 NBA Draft will take place tonight in Brooklyn, and at least one Buckeye will join the professional ranks. After one season in Columbus, Brice Sensabaugh should be drafted at some point in the back half of the first round, which will likely put him on a team that made the NBA playoffs this year.

Along with finding out where Sensabaugh will be starting his NBA career, Ohio State’s first round pick from last year, Malaki Branham, will get a new teammate that is being talked about as a possible generational talent.

The next Buckeye drafted​


When Sensabaugh is drafted tonight, he will become the 56th Ohio State player selected in the NBA Draft since 1947. The first Buckeye to be drafted was Jack Underman by the St. Louis Bombers with the seventh overall pick. Even though he was drafted by St. Louis, Underman would never play in the NBA. The last Ohio State alums to be picked were Malaki Branham, who was selected with the 20th pick last year, followed by E.J. Liddell, who the New Orleans Pelicans announced as the 41st overall pick.

Even though nothing is set in stone, it sounds like Sensabaugh is going to be a first round selection in this year’s draft, which would make him the 26th Ohio State player picked in the first round of the NBA Draft. A couple teams that could draft Sensabaugh later in the first round are the Sacramento Kings with the 24th pick, or the Los Angeles Clippers with the 30th pick.

Sacramento would be a fun team to see Sensabaugh suit up for since they have tons of young, exciting players already. The Clippers might not quite have the depth, but they do have two all-star caliber players in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

What makes Sensabaugh such an attractive prospect is his ability to put points up in a hurry. The one-and-done forward averaged 16.3 points per game in his only season in Columbus, and when you go to his scoring average per 40 minutes, that number comes in at 27 points per game. Sensabaugh made 48.2 percent of his field goals and shot 40.5 percent from three-point range.

Not only was Sensabaugh third nationally in scoring amongst true freshmen, he became the first freshman to lead Ohio State in scoring since D’Angelo Russell accomplished the feat in 2015. Russell would go on to be picked second overall by the Los Angeles Lakers.

We would likely be hearing Sensabaugh’s named called earlier tonight if he hadn’t had to undergo knee surgery at the the end of the season. Sensabaugh missed the final two games Ohio State played in the Big Ten Tournament after he suffered a knee injury that required surgery. NBA teams could shy away from drafting Sensabaugh earlier in the draft because he had two other knee surgeries in high school.

If Sensabaugh can stay healthy at the professional level, teams that pass on him could find themselves regretting the decision, since many believe Sensabaugh is a top-20 talent in this year’s draft.

Could another Ohio State player be selected tonight?​


Another Buckeye that will be hoping to hear his name called tonight is Justice Sueing. Even though it seems unlikely Sueing is drafted, he has worked out for a number of teams over the last few weeks, so there will be interest in Sueing as an undrafted free agent if a team doesn’t pick him tonight.

After starting his college career at Cal, Sueing transferred to Ohio State, where he played 68 games over three seasons.

NCAA Basketball: Maryland at Ohio State
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

What could make Sueing an interesting option for teams, whether it be in the draft or as a free agent, is his versatility, along with his maturity. Sueing has the ability to do a little bit of everything on the court, and his experience at the college level could pair well with some younger rookies teams bring in.

Sueing will probably have to make some noise at the NBA Summer League, and will likely see his professional career start in the NBA G League, where he can still get floor time and is just a phone call away from the NBA.

Last year’s Ohio State first round pick getting some big time help​


Malaki Branham was taken by the San Antonio Spurs with the 20th overall pick in last year’s NBA Draft. Branham had a solid first season with the Spurs, appearing in 66 games and averaging 10.2 points per game. Following a slow start to his rookie year, Branham really found his legs in the second half of the season. After averaging no more than 7.8 points per game in any month through January, Branham averaged at least 11.5 points per game in the last three months of the season, with his best month of play coming in February when he averaged 16.8 points per game.

San Antonio dealt with a lot of injuries last season that were both a gift and a curse. The injuries the Spurs had to work through hurt the team on the court, as evidenced by Gregg Popovich’s squad having one of the worst records in the league. The upside is the injuries allowed the team to get an extended look at Branham, especially in the second half of the season. By showing the ability to hold his own at the professional level, Branham stated his case as a player to watch over the next few years.

Boulogne Levallois v Monaco - Betclic Elite
Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images

The Spurs hold the first pick in tonight’s draft, and they are going to draft 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama, who is 19 years old. Wembanyama has tremendous length and athleticism, which has been on display for Metropolitans 92 in France this year. There was an obvious jump in Wembanyama’s play on the court this season, as he averaged 21.6 points per game, 10.4 rebounds per game, and 3.0 blocks per game.

While Wembanyama will have to add some bulk to his lean frame to handle some of the physicality he’ll see in the NBA, the top prospect is looking like he could become an even longer version of Kevin Durant.


TV: ABC (First round only) & ESPN
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET

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Google Zak Herbstreit, OSU tight end and son of Kirk Herbstreit, hospitalized - The Columbus Dispatch

Zak Herbstreit, OSU tight end and son of Kirk Herbstreit, hospitalized - The Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

  1. Zak Herbstreit, OSU tight end and son of Kirk Herbstreit, hospitalized The Columbus Dispatch
  2. 'Long Journey Ahead': Ohio State TE Zak Herbstreit Updates Health Amidst Hospitalization Sports Illustrated
  3. More details after Kirk Herbstreit's son was hospitalized at Ohio State Sports Illustrated

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LGHL ‘Burning Questions’: What does Ohio State’s secondary need to do to return to the elite class?

‘Burning Questions’: What does Ohio State’s secondary need to do to return to the elite class?
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Ohio State v Maryland

Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images

Ohio State’s secondary has been a bit of sore spot as of late, but if they can return to the elite level, the sky is the limit for the Buckeyes defense

Last year for Ohio State, their secondary was never able to put it all together as a collective unit. The cornerbacks battled health and inconsistency for most of the year, while the safeties started off playing consistent football until the most important part of the season.

This offseason personnel decisions have been made to provide competition in both the corner and safety room. Competition is supposed to bring out the best in all involved, but that will not be the deciding factor on if the Buckeyes’ back end improves in 2023. Being in year two of Jim Knowles’ scheme will be a huge factor in the Buckeyes being more comfortable with the techniques he wants, and a high-level secondary unlocks Knowles’ creativity.

Ohio State needs an elite secondary. There has been a wide gap between the last elite group after a successful run. There is also the chicken and egg argument about the coverage helping the pass rush, or the pass rush helping coverage. Regardless of which side is right, the secondary has been bad by Ohio State’s standards. That gives into the reason an improved secondary will make Ohio State’s front six that much better.

For secondary and corners coach Tim Walton and safeties coach Perry Eliano to get things churning again, the talent they have in the room should be enough. Coaching the scheme and technique with the amount of coverage is the most important aspect of getting this group to excel. But the burning question that lingers for most Ohio State fans: What can Ohio State’s secondary do to return to the elite class and bring back the BIA mindset?

Looking at the spring game, there is promise​


Going back to last fall at this point is an unnecessary exercise. Everyone remembers the inconsistencies on the field and the lack of health all over the secondary. For the Buckeyes, the first major story coming out of the spring was Ohio State’s secondary sustaining no long-term injuries. Ja’Had Carter ended up banged up right at the end, but the rest of the group was able to get a full spring’s worth of practices in.

Ohio State did not do anything overly complex in the spring game, which is normal. What we saw from the corners was a commitment to playing up in press coverage and in the faces of receivers. Behind them at safety, the group was tested in both man coverage and over-the-top support in the varying zone coverages the Buckeyes play. Ohio State obviously played a lot of depth in the spring game, and the first two groups defensively held their own, not giving up a touchdown until late in the second quarter.

In the first play below, Ohio State is in a Cover-3 after showing a two-high look. The middle safety takes the deep middle drop and the Bandit on the short side replaces in the middle hole. By showing a different coverage, the receiver predetermined his route, which allowed the safety towards the boundary to sneak across to make the pass breakup. On this play the coverage was solid, the disguise worked, and there were no windows to throw the ball.


This next play shows the technique Ohio State is playing in zone coverage, but Denzel Burke is in single coverage making his responsibility more like man coverage. Burke does a great job of recognizing where his threats are, and he keeps his eyes on the quarterback. Once he realizes the quarterback was taking a three-step drop, he breaks toward the receiver, making a play on the ball.

Looking at this play is not necessarily the most telling, but what is exciting is Burke didn’t let the coverage dictate his reaction. Once he saw the play develop, he reacted. That is not something we saw a lot last year from any of the OSU DBs.


On this play, the offense runs a hard play-action. Marvin Harrison Jr. is playing out of the slot to the field, and the play-action brings the safety down hard. After the safety realizes the play is a pass, he retreats back to his zone, leaving a lot of space for Harrison Jr. to go. With the one safety crashing on the play fake, the impression was they were following Harrison Jr., with the safeties on the other side getting vertical because of the immediate threats.

This is a great play design on offense, but the miscommunications on the back end led to a big play. There were other bigger plays, but this to me highlighted that there are still going to be some areas of growth needed in this group.

Breaking down the safeties and what they need to do​


The safeties are bringing back a shortlist of significant contributors and talented youth. Lathan Ransom leads the veterans who are returning, and Josh Proctor is also returning in the group with a small faction of fans still waiting for him to reach his massive potential. At the nickel, Cam Martinez showed in spring practice that he has come a long way and should be in the rotation. It was an especially important spring for Martinez given Carter's arrival from the transfer portal.

The experienced depth will only be bolstered by the young guys. Kye Stokes likely won’t play a significant role in the long-term plans of the season, but he should feature quite a bit early on to gain some experience. Sonny Styles is the other young guy, and he will have a role on the defense. On the podcast feed, I have time and time again compared him to LeBron James due to his physical maturity at 18 years old. This is by no means committing to saying he’ll be one of the greatest athletes of all time, but as a 17-year-old, Styles got real reps against Georgia in the Peach Bowl.

With the mixture of experience and the incredibly talented youth, there is no reason this safety group should take a step back. Even with the losses of Tanner McCalister and Ronnie Hickman, the Buckeyes return a ton of snaps. This means there will not be an inch given by fans for any form of regression.

For the safeties to return to the elite class, they don’t need three Malik Hookers on the back end of the defense. The best safety group in recent memory was Jordan Fuller, Shaun Wade, and Josh Proctor with a few other players in the mix. That is not a group that would be highlighted in a list of all-time greats at Ohio State, but they got the job done time and time again. These Buckeyes were singularly focused on excelling at their jobs and their responsibilities.

The defensive coordinator at the time, Jeff Hafley, kept it incredibly simple. That is not Knowles’ M.O., but he has said that at times he overthought in 2022. This year, a little bit of simplicity could go a long way. The biggest plays against the safeties last season can be attributed to Ransom being asked to do something he’s not great at, and miscommunications when groups who weren’t used to playing together ended up on the field at the same time.

These are both fixable and if they can limit putting players in spots they aren’t the most equipped to handle while keeping the communication simple, they can get to the elite group by just doing their job every play.

Breaking down the corners and what they need to do​


One of the most notable players in the transfer portal this offseason was Ole Miss transfer Davison Igbinosun. Ohio State landed him, and he immediately came in and made a statement. This proved to bring the competition in the room to the highest level and also gave the Buckeyes a talented player who will be in the rotation.

The spring game showed that Denzel Burke was back to playing with confidence, it showed Jordan Hancock’s size and speed combination, and it showed the physicality Igbinosun is bringing to the room. Behind them will be Jyaire Brown and Ryan Turner, who showed that if called upon they can be serviceable corners. With all the injuries last season, the depth brought in and the experience gained are two benefits that will hopefully pay off this season.

For the corners to get to the elite level that has been missing, they need to get back to playing with confidence. Damon Arnette was not the most talented or gifted cornerback to come through Ohio State, but he played with a competitiveness that not many players possess. The current top three corners on the roster have more talent but have to develop that mentality a corner needs to go from being close to the play to making the play.

An elite level for corner includes not having games like the ones where a player like Parker Washington goes off for career-best numbers. Adding to that, being secure tacklers is the floor. The Cam Brown missed tackle is what turned the tide in the matchup against Michigan. If he makes the tackle, the Wolverines are more likely than not to punt the football. The corners playing fundamentally sound first will gain the confidence to become playmakers. Once they gain that confidence, it then just becomes relying on the athleticism and instincts that got them to this level.

Ohio State has the talent in the secondary to be truly great. With good health, I expect this group to be one of the best in the country. In combination with the safeties, I have a feeling they return to the top 10 nationally in the major passing offense categories. This is a prove-it year for the coaches, the players, and this group can set the tone for the entire team. To return to the elite level, it is going to take extreme commitment from the whole unit.

If they have it in them, the sky is the limit for the Ohio State defense.

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Google Better Know a Buckeye: Cedrick Hawkins is a Versatile, Ballhawking Safety Who Could Make Early Impact on Speci - Eleven Warriors

Better Know a Buckeye: Cedrick Hawkins is a Versatile, Ballhawking Safety Who Could Make Early Impact on Speci - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Better Know a Buckeye: Cedrick Hawkins is a Versatile, Ballhawking Safety Who Could Make Early Impact on Speci Eleven Warriors

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LGHL Big Ten unveils home/away opponents for Ohio State women’s basketball

Big Ten unveils home/away opponents for Ohio State women’s basketball
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Buckeyes to face Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes twice in the 23/24 regular season and more from the opponent release

Less than 24 hours after Ohio State women’s basketball announced their first game of the season, the Big Ten shared the list of who the Buckeyes will face in-conference. There’s plenty to talk about in terms of additions to the schedule.


The biggest piece of the slate of games is head coach Kevin McGuff’s side facing the Iowa Hawkeyes twice in the regular season. Last year, the scarlet and gray faced superstar Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes twice, but once came in the Big Ten Tournament title game.

Ohio State was blown out of the title game, 105-72. That’s on top of an 83-72 defeat to Iowa in Columbus on Jan. 23. However, Clark hasn’t always had the Buckeyes’ number. On Jan. 31, 2022, McGuff’s side went to a hostile Iowa environment and beat the two-time Big Ten tournament champions 92-88.

This season, the Buckeyes get two chances before the postseason to show that they can compete with the national runners-up.

Elsewhere on the additions front, the Penn State Nittany Lions and Michigan State Spartans each face Ohio State twice this season. Penn State, like Iowa, hasn’t faced the Buckeyes twice in the regular season for the last two years, and the Spartans only taking one year off from a double match-up.

Each additional game against Penn State and Michigan State comes with storylines.

Penn State started last season looking like a team who could get back to competing in the conference but lost momentum and ended the season 14-17. In the offseason, the Nittany Lions added former Maryland Terrapin and Virginia Tech Hokie guard Ashley Owusu.

While Owusu got injured and then didn’t feature for Virginia Tech upon returning from injury, the guard is the 2021 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award winner for best shooting guard in the nation in 2021. Also, Owusu is a two-time Second Team All-B1G and one-time First Team selection.

The guard joins high scoring guard Makenna Marisa and forward Leilani Kapinus and can make the two games an interesting match-up. Last season, Marisa scored 18 points in the fourth quarter in an eventual Ohio State 67-55 win.

For Michigan State, its gone the other direction. After missing the NCAA Tournament, head coach Suzy Merchant stepped down from coaching duties after coaching Sparty since 2007.

With Merchant’s departure, Michigan State lost star guard Matilda Ekh to the transfer portal, ending up with the Hokies. Ohio State also benefited from Michigan State in the portal, adding forward Taiyier Parks. The new Buckeye will have two chances this season to beat her former team.

With the excitement that comes with additions, the biggest loss on the schedule is against the Indiana Hoosiers. The Buckeyes won’t face the Hoosiers twice, with Indiana coming to Columbus but no return trip to Bloomington, Indiana.

Indiana, like Iowa, has had Ohio State’s number over the past couple years, but the Buckeyes fought back against that narrative in a big way in the conference semifinal. McGuff’s side made history, coming back from a 24-point deficit to defeat the Hoosiers 79-75.

Also, for the third season, the Buckeyes face the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Wisconsin Badgers and Purdue Boilermakers just once in the regular season. None of the three sides have faced Ohio State twice in the regular season since the 19/20 campaign, not including the 20/21 campaign that was heavily impacted by COVID-19.

Along with the announcement of opponents, the conference teased that the conference schedule was following soon. In a peculiar tweet, the Big Ten told people to mark their calendars for the full conference schedule, but didn’t share a date to mark. That is unless the default emoji “Jul 17” date also coincides with the conference’s schedule release.

your Calendars!

Coming … the 2023-24 #B1GWBBall schedule announcement! pic.twitter.com/jeiZfu1KpF

— Big Ten Women's Basketball (@B1Gwbball) June 21, 2023
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LGHL BOOOOM! Ohio State lands their 2025 quarterback in Tavien St. Clair

BOOOOM! Ohio State lands their 2025 quarterback in Tavien St. Clair
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

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2025 QB Tavien St. Clair | 247Sports

The Buckeyes picked up a big commitment on Wednesday.

As the month of June comes to a close in just over a week, Ohio State may be done with their camp days, but there’s plenty of visits still planned. The buzz on social media from several 2024 commits has been nothing but positive as they hint to some major news coming, and while we await those headlines, there’s been some major developments to the future cycles in just the last 24 hours.

Buckeyes get their 2025 quarterback​


Ohio State’s coaching staff has been putting in some endless hours when it comes to recruiting the last several weeks, and yesterday proved that work is paying off in a big way when the Buckeyes landed their 2025 quarterback. Announcing via Twitter on Wednesday evening, in-state signal caller Tavien St. Clair made it official not even a month after being offered by Ohio State, giving the Buckeyes their second member of the 2025 class.

The 6-foot-4, 215 pound athlete didn’t need to wait any longer to decide, and both Ryan Day and Corey Dennis were thrilled to receive the news. A Bellfontaine, Ohio product, St. Clair has long been on the Ohio State radar, but it’s been the last couple of months that has really impressed the coaches.

Growing physically, Tavien has always had impressive size, but he’s really filled out as of late and can spin it about as well as anyone in the country. Throwing for the staff in-person multiple times now, the Buckeyes saw all they needed to. After offering St. Clair in late May, it really did feel like it was only a matter of time before he chose to stay at home for his collegiate career, as both he and his family made it known how highly they thought of Ohio State.

The No. 333 player nationally, St. Clair is currently the 25th ranked quarterback in the class and the 10th best player in Ohio per the 247Sports Composite. While the ranking may not be as high as the typical Ohio State quarterback pledge, rest assured, the staff knows Tavien is very much the guy. If rankings were the only measuring stick, he’s due for a major rankings boost as his stock is seeing a steady increase. In fact, it won’t be a surprise at all to see him ranked as a top-10 quarterback in the 2025 class before too long.

All Glory to God! Dreams to reality. It Just means more to be a Buckeye. Buckeye Nation…I’M HOME! 100% Committed…GO BUCKS! ️ @ryandaytime @CoreyDennis_ @brianhartline @OhioStateFB @BHSChieftainFB @strength_bhs @MickWalker247 @SWiltfong247 @Bill_Kurelic @ChadSimmons_ pic.twitter.com/XdqYzpn8n0

— Tavien St. Clair (@TJSaint_1) June 21, 2023
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The big news does raise some questions. Ryan Montgomery was the first quarterback in the 2025 class Ohio State offered. The Findlay, Ohio native is the younger brother of current Buckeye offensive lineman, Luke Montgomery, and by most accounts was the odds-on favorite to be the quarterback in this class. While the Buckeyes are still very much a fan of Ryan, it has been reported multiple times now that the staff gives the nod to St. Clair. Though Ryan was certainly a take, this may have been a who’s first battle, and obviously St. Clair was ready to take that spot.

Montgomery is heavily going through the process still and visiting seemingly every school in the country — which is no problem, but to build a strong class, having a quarterback leader in the fold early is a major advantage. Taking two quarterbacks in the class will almost assuredly be a theme considering Montgomery’s ties to the program, but we’ve seen how two quarterback classes tend to turn out.

It’s not out of the realm of possibilities, but the focal point here is that the Buckeyes have their guy and should be thrilled with this commitment, because this is the one Day gave the edge to, and his track record of evaluations at this position is second to none.

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Google Ohio State football tight end Zak Herbstreit released from hospital - The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State football tight end Zak Herbstreit released from hospital - The Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

  1. Ohio State football tight end Zak Herbstreit released from hospital The Columbus Dispatch
  2. 'Long Journey Ahead': Ohio State TE Zak Herbstreit Updates Health Amidst Hospitalization Sports Illustrated
  3. Ohio State Buckeyes TE Zak Herbstreit Hospitalized Sports Illustrated

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