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LGHL 7 Cent Drafts: The best Buckeye values from each round of the NFL Draft - 3rd Round
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7 Cent Drafts: The best Buckeye values from each round of the NFL Draft - 3rd Round
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 Jason Hanna/Getty Images
These Scarlet and Gray legends produced the highest ROI relative to when they were selected in the NFL Draft.
Since 1936, the first year in which an official pro football draft took place, 481 Ohio State Buckeyes have been selected in the NFL Draft. Two players – Russ Thomas and Bob Meyers – were actually drafted into the NFL twice, in back-to-back (but separate) years. And 14 of those 481 former Buckeyes were also taken in the AFL Draft, including the legendary Hall of Fame wideout Paul Warfield. That makes 497 total draft picks for OSU since Gomer Jones was selected by the NFL’s Chicago Cardinals nearly a century ago.
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Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Warfield counts for two
Of the nearly 500 Buckeyes taken, hundreds have enjoyed successful pro careers, while others flamed out and/or never playing a snap after their time in Columbus. The Ohio State football program has produced NFL Hall of Famers, Pro Bowlers, Players and Rookies of the Year, ten-year tackling dummies, one-and-doners, monumental busts, and everything in between.
All of these former OSU football players share one thing in common, which is their affiliation with THE greatest university on the planet. Conversely, one thing that sets them all apart is their varying degrees of success (or lack thereof) in the NFL.
Another way to look at it is in terms of value. Each of these players produced value – positive or negative – for the team which drafted them. And that is what I am going to look at in the weeks leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft. I am going to attempt to identify the seven best Scarlet and Gray values, picking only one player from each round (length of the modern draft, and going in reverse order).
Before we get started, “best” and “most” must be sorted out. Best value is not the same as most valuable. And most valuable is not same as best value. Warfield, Eddie George, Orlando Pace, Jack Tatum, or Jim Parker would inarguably be among the most valuable (former) Buckeyes at the professional level. All became team captains, Pro Bowlers, eventual Hall of Famers, you name it. But they were also taken within the first 20 picks of their respective drafts, whereas Dick LeBeau made the NFL Half of Fame as a fifth-rounder.
I might argue that LeBeau was the better overall value because of where/when he was drafted. But going round by round means I do not have to choose between Pace or LeBeau, which is a good thing because there are already plenty of difficult decisions ahead... Without further ado, let’s go bargain shopping.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24509506/82900215.jpg)
Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images
Similar to his predecessors (Dick LeBeau and Cris Carter) on this particular list, Vrabel became a household name while playing for his second NFL franchise. But unlike LeBeau and Carter (and many Ohio State legends who entered the league before him) Vrabel also became synonymous with winning... a lot.
Vrabel was the first former Buckeye to win three Super Bowls as a player, all with the New England Patriots. And he has since taken quite well to coaching, racking up 50 wins in his first five seasons as the Tennessee Titans’ head coach — A nice run for the former third-rounder, with plenty of presumably fruitful years still ahead of him.
A homegrown Buckeye out of Akron, Ohio, Vrabel played for OSU from 1993-1996 and set a number of TFL and sack-related records. He was a two-time All-American, two-time B1G Defensive Lineman of the Year, and arguably the program’s most consistently dominant DL ever. But because he tested poorly – “slow”, couldn’t jump over a sheet of paper – Vrabel fell to the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft, where the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him with pick No. 91.
During four seasons in the Steel City, Ohio State’s record-setting sack artist was deployed merely as a backup and rotational piece. Vrabel never started a game for the Steelers and totaled just seven sacks in 51 games played. When it came time to test free agency, he sought opportunity elsewhere, and the rest is history.
Vrabel signed with the New England Patriots prior to the 2001 season and became an immediate contributor. Praised for his work ethic, football IQ, and versatility, the former Buckeye was (eventually) utilized in a number of ways, including as a tight end. He started 12 of 16 games as an outside linebacker during that first (‘01) season, establishing himself as a player NE coach Bill Bellichick would come to count on and trust in the not-so-distant future.
As the legend of the 2000s Patriots began to grow, so too did that of Vrabel. No longer a one-trick pony, he continued to excel on the defensive side of the ball while also being used as a secret weapon on offense. Over the next handful of years, Vrabel caught 10 TD passes for the Pats, with two of them coming in back-to-back Super Bowls (both NE wins). His second SB TD made him only the 17th player ever to catch two or more TD in the big game.
And oh by the way, Vrabel became a foundational piece and a leader for Bellichick’s consistently elite defense(s). From 2001-2008, he averaged 76 tackles and 6 sacks per season, in addition to picking off 11 passes. Vrabel’s best season came in 2007, when he racked up 77 total tackles and 12.5 sacks, to go with 4 forced fumbles. He earned his first and only Pro Bowl nod that season, as well as five AP Defensive Player of the Year votes... As a 32 year-old playing his 11th professional season.
Vrabel’s production began to taper off near the end of the decade, during which he was traded to and played for the Kansas City Chiefs. He totaled just two sacks in 2009 and 2010 combined, despite starting all 30 games for which he was available. He was 35 by the end of his KC run and called it a (playing) career after 14 seasons.
Now a successful coach, Vrabel will never be remembered as the greatest Buckeye turned professional baller, but he will go down as one of the winningest. A third-round pick who was forced to wait his turn, Ohio State’s all-time sack leader took the ball and ran with it once given an opportunity. He made a real, tangible impact for three Super Bowl-winning teams, matching the round in which he was drafted. Not too many second and third-day draftees can say the same.
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 Jason Hanna/Getty Images
These Scarlet and Gray legends produced the highest ROI relative to when they were selected in the NFL Draft.
Since 1936, the first year in which an official pro football draft took place, 481 Ohio State Buckeyes have been selected in the NFL Draft. Two players – Russ Thomas and Bob Meyers – were actually drafted into the NFL twice, in back-to-back (but separate) years. And 14 of those 481 former Buckeyes were also taken in the AFL Draft, including the legendary Hall of Fame wideout Paul Warfield. That makes 497 total draft picks for OSU since Gomer Jones was selected by the NFL’s Chicago Cardinals nearly a century ago.
Warfield counts for two
Of the nearly 500 Buckeyes taken, hundreds have enjoyed successful pro careers, while others flamed out and/or never playing a snap after their time in Columbus. The Ohio State football program has produced NFL Hall of Famers, Pro Bowlers, Players and Rookies of the Year, ten-year tackling dummies, one-and-doners, monumental busts, and everything in between.
All of these former OSU football players share one thing in common, which is their affiliation with THE greatest university on the planet. Conversely, one thing that sets them all apart is their varying degrees of success (or lack thereof) in the NFL.
Another way to look at it is in terms of value. Each of these players produced value – positive or negative – for the team which drafted them. And that is what I am going to look at in the weeks leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft. I am going to attempt to identify the seven best Scarlet and Gray values, picking only one player from each round (length of the modern draft, and going in reverse order).
Before we get started, “best” and “most” must be sorted out. Best value is not the same as most valuable. And most valuable is not same as best value. Warfield, Eddie George, Orlando Pace, Jack Tatum, or Jim Parker would inarguably be among the most valuable (former) Buckeyes at the professional level. All became team captains, Pro Bowlers, eventual Hall of Famers, you name it. But they were also taken within the first 20 picks of their respective drafts, whereas Dick LeBeau made the NFL Half of Fame as a fifth-rounder.
I might argue that LeBeau was the better overall value because of where/when he was drafted. But going round by round means I do not have to choose between Pace or LeBeau, which is a good thing because there are already plenty of difficult decisions ahead... Without further ado, let’s go bargain shopping.
Round 3: Mike Vrabel - Defensive end / Linebacker
Similar to his predecessors (Dick LeBeau and Cris Carter) on this particular list, Vrabel became a household name while playing for his second NFL franchise. But unlike LeBeau and Carter (and many Ohio State legends who entered the league before him) Vrabel also became synonymous with winning... a lot.
Vrabel was the first former Buckeye to win three Super Bowls as a player, all with the New England Patriots. And he has since taken quite well to coaching, racking up 50 wins in his first five seasons as the Tennessee Titans’ head coach — A nice run for the former third-rounder, with plenty of presumably fruitful years still ahead of him.
A homegrown Buckeye out of Akron, Ohio, Vrabel played for OSU from 1993-1996 and set a number of TFL and sack-related records. He was a two-time All-American, two-time B1G Defensive Lineman of the Year, and arguably the program’s most consistently dominant DL ever. But because he tested poorly – “slow”, couldn’t jump over a sheet of paper – Vrabel fell to the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft, where the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him with pick No. 91.
During four seasons in the Steel City, Ohio State’s record-setting sack artist was deployed merely as a backup and rotational piece. Vrabel never started a game for the Steelers and totaled just seven sacks in 51 games played. When it came time to test free agency, he sought opportunity elsewhere, and the rest is history.
Vrabel signed with the New England Patriots prior to the 2001 season and became an immediate contributor. Praised for his work ethic, football IQ, and versatility, the former Buckeye was (eventually) utilized in a number of ways, including as a tight end. He started 12 of 16 games as an outside linebacker during that first (‘01) season, establishing himself as a player NE coach Bill Bellichick would come to count on and trust in the not-so-distant future.
As the legend of the 2000s Patriots began to grow, so too did that of Vrabel. No longer a one-trick pony, he continued to excel on the defensive side of the ball while also being used as a secret weapon on offense. Over the next handful of years, Vrabel caught 10 TD passes for the Pats, with two of them coming in back-to-back Super Bowls (both NE wins). His second SB TD made him only the 17th player ever to catch two or more TD in the big game.
And oh by the way, Vrabel became a foundational piece and a leader for Bellichick’s consistently elite defense(s). From 2001-2008, he averaged 76 tackles and 6 sacks per season, in addition to picking off 11 passes. Vrabel’s best season came in 2007, when he racked up 77 total tackles and 12.5 sacks, to go with 4 forced fumbles. He earned his first and only Pro Bowl nod that season, as well as five AP Defensive Player of the Year votes... As a 32 year-old playing his 11th professional season.
Vrabel’s production began to taper off near the end of the decade, during which he was traded to and played for the Kansas City Chiefs. He totaled just two sacks in 2009 and 2010 combined, despite starting all 30 games for which he was available. He was 35 by the end of his KC run and called it a (playing) career after 14 seasons.
Now a successful coach, Vrabel will never be remembered as the greatest Buckeye turned professional baller, but he will go down as one of the winningest. A third-round pick who was forced to wait his turn, Ohio State’s all-time sack leader took the ball and ran with it once given an opportunity. He made a real, tangible impact for three Super Bowl-winning teams, matching the round in which he was drafted. Not too many second and third-day draftees can say the same.
Continue reading...
LGHL Another linebacker in the 2025 class grabs an Ohio State offer, California lineman makes plans to be in Columbus this weekend
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Another linebacker in the 2025 class grabs an Ohio State offer, California lineman makes plans to be in Columbus this weekend
Caleb Houser 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
Ohio State continues to focus on the linebacker position in the 2025 class by offering their second player at the spot in as many days.
It’s a busy weekend for Ohio State’s football program, and the coaching staff especially. Kicking off the coaches clinic on Thursday, the Buckeyes will be hosting mainly high school coaches from all over the country tonight as well and into Saturday morning. However, the main event is this weekend’s annual spring game to cap off the last few weeks of practice, and that will have all of the staff’s attention for more than just a few reasons for sure.
Staying healthy in the scrimmage will be atop of the list, but getting in good work as they continue developing for the 2023 season is right there as well among the more important aspects to Saturday. In addition, recruiting will be at the forefront of the coaching staff’s minds after the game, as the amount of high-profile talent making visits to see the program is almost too many to count.
It’s been one heck of a spring, and Saturday should be no different.
Ohio State is staying busy with linebacker recruiting. Like Wednesday of this week, the Buckeyes were active once again on Thursday with another new offer out to an LB in the 2025 class. Clearly emphasizing the need to really reload the stables in the next couple of cycles, both Jim Knowles and James Laurinaitis seem to be in full evaluation mode, so the offers may continue to keep coming. Fortunately, the momentum surrounding the position has been nothing but positive, and that’s in large part because of the time spent here.
On the receiving end, Virginia native Brett Clatterbaugh took to Twitter to share the news that he now owns an Ohio State offer. A 6-foot-2, 220 pound athlete, Clatterbaugh currently does not hold a 247Sports ranking, but with double-digit offers this soon into his recruiting process, it’s easy to see why the Buckeyes were the next in line and felt the need to pull the trigger.
Ohio State being one of the bigger offers on his list, the Buckeyes are also joined by the likes of Wisconsin, Penn State, Virginia, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, among others. Knowing full well how successful Laurinaitis has been when it comes to recruiting players on campus, it’s now going to be a goal for the staff to get Clatterbaugh to Columbus to see not only the inside of the program, but of course to also see what the chatter is all about when it comes to being recruited by a former Ohio State great at the position.
It’s been impressive to see the loaded guest lists for the past few weekends at Ohio State. The last two weeks have been nothing but kind to the Buckeyes’ 2024 class, and this weekend marks the last big opportunity before the summer months to play host to many of their top targets.
Big time players in the current and future cycles will be in attendance to see Ohio Statetake the field, and while the spring game is more of just a glorified touch football scrimmage, the environment and everything this weekend entails should mean more positive vibes.
Taking a look at all of the names that popped up this week that have shared their visit plans, there’s another addition that was added Thursday.
2025 offensive lineman and California native Maki Stewart will be on hand to take in this weekend’s festivities. A 6-foot-6, 290 pound offensive tackle prospect, Stewart currently holds nine offers from the likes of Florida State, Utah, South Carolina, Arizona, and a handful of others. Without an Ohio State offer to date, this weekend could be a step in that direction, as Stewart coming that far on his own dime certainly shows his interest in all the Buckeyes have to offer.
Offensive line in the 2024 class is shaping up fairly well, with only a couple of spots up for grabs, but 2025 will be like every other recruiting cycle where the trenches stay as a top priority for the Buckeyes to reach their ultimate goal. Building these relationships early and often with young players only bodes well for decisions down the road.
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
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State continues to focus on the linebacker position in the 2025 class by offering their second player at the spot in as many days.
It’s a busy weekend for Ohio State’s football program, and the coaching staff especially. Kicking off the coaches clinic on Thursday, the Buckeyes will be hosting mainly high school coaches from all over the country tonight as well and into Saturday morning. However, the main event is this weekend’s annual spring game to cap off the last few weeks of practice, and that will have all of the staff’s attention for more than just a few reasons for sure.
Staying healthy in the scrimmage will be atop of the list, but getting in good work as they continue developing for the 2023 season is right there as well among the more important aspects to Saturday. In addition, recruiting will be at the forefront of the coaching staff’s minds after the game, as the amount of high-profile talent making visits to see the program is almost too many to count.
It’s been one heck of a spring, and Saturday should be no different.
Buckeyes stay after the linebacker position in 2025
Ohio State is staying busy with linebacker recruiting. Like Wednesday of this week, the Buckeyes were active once again on Thursday with another new offer out to an LB in the 2025 class. Clearly emphasizing the need to really reload the stables in the next couple of cycles, both Jim Knowles and James Laurinaitis seem to be in full evaluation mode, so the offers may continue to keep coming. Fortunately, the momentum surrounding the position has been nothing but positive, and that’s in large part because of the time spent here.
On the receiving end, Virginia native Brett Clatterbaugh took to Twitter to share the news that he now owns an Ohio State offer. A 6-foot-2, 220 pound athlete, Clatterbaugh currently does not hold a 247Sports ranking, but with double-digit offers this soon into his recruiting process, it’s easy to see why the Buckeyes were the next in line and felt the need to pull the trigger.
Ohio State being one of the bigger offers on his list, the Buckeyes are also joined by the likes of Wisconsin, Penn State, Virginia, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, among others. Knowing full well how successful Laurinaitis has been when it comes to recruiting players on campus, it’s now going to be a goal for the staff to get Clatterbaugh to Columbus to see not only the inside of the program, but of course to also see what the chatter is all about when it comes to being recruited by a former Ohio State great at the position.
Spring game = loaded guest list of recruits
It’s been impressive to see the loaded guest lists for the past few weekends at Ohio State. The last two weeks have been nothing but kind to the Buckeyes’ 2024 class, and this weekend marks the last big opportunity before the summer months to play host to many of their top targets.
Big time players in the current and future cycles will be in attendance to see Ohio Statetake the field, and while the spring game is more of just a glorified touch football scrimmage, the environment and everything this weekend entails should mean more positive vibes.
Taking a look at all of the names that popped up this week that have shared their visit plans, there’s another addition that was added Thursday.
2025 offensive lineman and California native Maki Stewart will be on hand to take in this weekend’s festivities. A 6-foot-6, 290 pound offensive tackle prospect, Stewart currently holds nine offers from the likes of Florida State, Utah, South Carolina, Arizona, and a handful of others. Without an Ohio State offer to date, this weekend could be a step in that direction, as Stewart coming that far on his own dime certainly shows his interest in all the Buckeyes have to offer.
Offensive line in the 2024 class is shaping up fairly well, with only a couple of spots up for grabs, but 2025 will be like every other recruiting cycle where the trenches stay as a top priority for the Buckeyes to reach their ultimate goal. Building these relationships early and often with young players only bodes well for decisions down the road.
Ohio state Tomorrow !!!@adamgorney @ChadSimmons_ @GregBiggins pic.twitter.com/Ooi4KqjyDR
— Maki Stewart, 4️OT (@MakiStewart3) April 13, 2023
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LGHL Bucketheads Podcast: Jamison Battle is a Buckeye; what’s up with Tanner Holden?
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- 0 Replies
Bucketheads Podcast: Jamison Battle is a Buckeye; what’s up with Tanner Holden?
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
College basketball free agency is in full swing.
‘Bucketheads’ is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. Every episode they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in the college hoops world.
For episode 73 of Bucketheads, Connor and Justin run down all of the roster changes and moves that have yet to happen for Ohio State. Multiple transfer guards, such as ECU’s Javon Small, are interested in potentially being a Buckeye. The issue is, until we get some clarity from the guys currently on the team, there may not be space.
The guys spent some time discussing Jamison Battle’s inter-conference transfer from Minnesota to Ohio State, and why it looks like a perfect match on the surface. Where is the floor and ceiling for the lefty gunslinger? What can Ohio State fans expect?
They close with a discussion about five-star forward and former (current?) Ohio State recruit Mackenzie Mgbako, who recently re-opened his recruitment. Could it happen? Sure! But is it likely, or reasonable, given who the Buckeyes were trying to add via transfer before Mgbako made the announcement? Not really.
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
College basketball free agency is in full swing.
‘Bucketheads’ is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. Every episode they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in the college hoops world.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
For episode 73 of Bucketheads, Connor and Justin run down all of the roster changes and moves that have yet to happen for Ohio State. Multiple transfer guards, such as ECU’s Javon Small, are interested in potentially being a Buckeye. The issue is, until we get some clarity from the guys currently on the team, there may not be space.
The guys spent some time discussing Jamison Battle’s inter-conference transfer from Minnesota to Ohio State, and why it looks like a perfect match on the surface. Where is the floor and ceiling for the lefty gunslinger? What can Ohio State fans expect?
They close with a discussion about five-star forward and former (current?) Ohio State recruit Mackenzie Mgbako, who recently re-opened his recruitment. Could it happen? Sure! But is it likely, or reasonable, given who the Buckeyes were trying to add via transfer before Mgbako made the announcement? Not really.
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...
