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LGHL You’re Nuts: Player you’re most excited to see after another Ohio State scrimmage
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You’re Nuts: Player you’re most excited to see after another Ohio State scrimmage
Josh Dooley 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
Which Buckeyes are creating the most buzz in practice?
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
This week’s topic: Player you’re most excited to see after another Ohio State scrimmage
Ohio State football is going through the program’s annual “spring swing”, getting the 2023 team together for their first live practices, opening up scrimmage activities, and hosting recruits by the dozen. Late March/Early April seems to be going well for OSU thus far, as the Buckeyes have landed verbal commitments and crystal ball predictions on the recruiting trail, and seen a number of players step up during these afore mentioned scrimmages.
The latter is what Gene and I wanted to break down today, as we look at early standouts and try not to overreact. But really, what fun would that be? If we can’t hype up true freshman and/or backups who may never see the field – based on a couple of glorified practices – then what are we even doing here, Gene!? Let’s get reckless and talk about which player is really grabbing our attention this spring and already has us eyeing their plot of land in Buckeye Grove.
The player who has stood out to me through a handful of practices and a few, let’s face it, sort of inconsequential scrimmages, is sophomore defensive end Kenyatta Jackson. His frequent trips to the backfield have me reminiscing about Chase Young, while also sweating bullets over the Buckeyes’ offensive line. But that is a different conversation for a different day.
Jackson committed to Ohio State as a top-60 player in the 2022 recruiting class and seemed like a guy who could make early contributions as a rotational pass rusher. At 6-foot-5, 240ish pounds with long arms and plenty of bend, I honestly expected him to see the field before Caden Curry. Then, as the season went along and OSU struggled to get pressure, I said to myself: “Please, for the love of Vernon Gholston, give me somebody in this rotation with a little juice.” And I thought Jackson could be that somebody, but he never got an opportunity.
Then came the offseason transfer rumors, which were admittedly never given legs by Jackson or Ohio State. But they did exist, and I was a bit worried. Fortunately, all appears to be well on the Jackson front, and he is now making some serious noise for Larry Johnson, Jim Knowles, and the Buckeyes’ defense in general.
Helping matters is the fact that Jackson is simply around for spring activities. He was not an early enrollee last year, which put him a bit behind the 8-ball... just by enrolling at OSU when a “normal” student would. Crazy, but true. He has also added 15 or so pounds to his long frame, with the program now listing him at 6-foot-5, 252 pounds — closer to the Chase Young zone.
I don’t want to put too much on a young, unproven player, but not only does Jackson have a build similar to that of the 2020 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, he is also playing like the latter in these spring scrimmages. Nearly two weeks ago, when the Buckeyes held their first official team-on-team battle, Jackson was credited with back-to-back sacks against Devin Brown.
This past weekend, during Ohio State’s student appreciation day, the sophomore DE was credited with a strip sack and seemingly set up residence in the backfield. So did every other defensive lineman apparently, but again, we’re focusing on the positives and the potential breakout players.
Jackson has also earned glowing reviews from Johnson, Knowles, and Ryan Day this spring, and appears poised to earn some real playing time in 2023. These recent scrimmages only add(ed) to the confidence I have in saying as much. And while Gene and I both know scrimmages and things of that nature are not always indicative of future game performance, I was already bullish on Jackson’s potential.
Now I have reason to plant my flag on Jackson Island and watch opposing quarterbacks run for their lives.
I was going to pick a defensive end as well after the group really seemed to steal the show at the last spring practice. Jack Sawyer was going to be my choice, as I am excited to see what he is capable off with a full year as a normal defensive end and not some stand-up hybrid that takes away from his natural ability to get to the quarterback. Josh’s pick of Jackson is a good one though, so I will set my sights elsewhere.
I’ll stick with the defense, though, as I and many others are keeping a close eye on transfer corner back Davison Igbinosun.
Ohio State cornerbacks struggled mightily pretty much across the board last season. As Chris discussed in his column on Monday, it is kind of a ‘chicken or the egg’ discussion when it comes to the shortcomings of the secondary in tandem with the defensive line, but from expected top corner Denzel Burke down to Cam Brown, JK Johnson, Jordan Hancock and others, there was zero consistency from the guys expected to defend the pass in 2022.
Johnson and Brown are now gone, and in comes Igbinosun. A former freshman All-American at Ole Miss, the 6-foot-2 corner transferred to Ohio State because he expected to play, and it is looking like there is every reason to believe that he will be a starter opposite Burke to begin the year. He has continued to create buzz throughout the Buckeyes’ spring practices, and made the only interception of the day during 7-on-7 drills during Student Appreciation Day. Playing with the ones, Igbinosun also broke up a pass intended for Carnell Tate during the full 11-on-11 portion of practice.
Ohio State made some additions to the roster this season in attempt to bolster what was a lackluster secondary last year. While big pieces like Burke and Lathan Ransom return, guys like Igbinosun and transfer safety Ja’Had Carter are here to make a splash. In addition to likely starting at their respective positions, they also bring with them some veteran leadership that was lacking on last year’s group, as well as forcing everyone around them to step up and play better if they want to see the field.
I still have my gripes with the way Ohio State is distributing its reps in practice. There is no reason a guy like Sonny Styles should be taking a backseat to Cam Martinez, and C.J. Hicks should be every bit cemented the No. 3 guy at linebacker and a significant rotational piece behind Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers. However, with the way a guy like Igbinosun has come in and immediately made an impact, I remain very excited for what year two for the Buckeye defense under Jim Knowles can look like.
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
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Which Buckeyes are creating the most buzz in practice?
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
This week’s topic: Player you’re most excited to see after another Ohio State scrimmage
Josh’s Take
Ohio State football is going through the program’s annual “spring swing”, getting the 2023 team together for their first live practices, opening up scrimmage activities, and hosting recruits by the dozen. Late March/Early April seems to be going well for OSU thus far, as the Buckeyes have landed verbal commitments and crystal ball predictions on the recruiting trail, and seen a number of players step up during these afore mentioned scrimmages.
The latter is what Gene and I wanted to break down today, as we look at early standouts and try not to overreact. But really, what fun would that be? If we can’t hype up true freshman and/or backups who may never see the field – based on a couple of glorified practices – then what are we even doing here, Gene!? Let’s get reckless and talk about which player is really grabbing our attention this spring and already has us eyeing their plot of land in Buckeye Grove.
The player who has stood out to me through a handful of practices and a few, let’s face it, sort of inconsequential scrimmages, is sophomore defensive end Kenyatta Jackson. His frequent trips to the backfield have me reminiscing about Chase Young, while also sweating bullets over the Buckeyes’ offensive line. But that is a different conversation for a different day.
Jackson committed to Ohio State as a top-60 player in the 2022 recruiting class and seemed like a guy who could make early contributions as a rotational pass rusher. At 6-foot-5, 240ish pounds with long arms and plenty of bend, I honestly expected him to see the field before Caden Curry. Then, as the season went along and OSU struggled to get pressure, I said to myself: “Please, for the love of Vernon Gholston, give me somebody in this rotation with a little juice.” And I thought Jackson could be that somebody, but he never got an opportunity.
Then came the offseason transfer rumors, which were admittedly never given legs by Jackson or Ohio State. But they did exist, and I was a bit worried. Fortunately, all appears to be well on the Jackson front, and he is now making some serious noise for Larry Johnson, Jim Knowles, and the Buckeyes’ defense in general.
Helping matters is the fact that Jackson is simply around for spring activities. He was not an early enrollee last year, which put him a bit behind the 8-ball... just by enrolling at OSU when a “normal” student would. Crazy, but true. He has also added 15 or so pounds to his long frame, with the program now listing him at 6-foot-5, 252 pounds — closer to the Chase Young zone.
I don’t want to put too much on a young, unproven player, but not only does Jackson have a build similar to that of the 2020 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, he is also playing like the latter in these spring scrimmages. Nearly two weeks ago, when the Buckeyes held their first official team-on-team battle, Jackson was credited with back-to-back sacks against Devin Brown.
This past weekend, during Ohio State’s student appreciation day, the sophomore DE was credited with a strip sack and seemingly set up residence in the backfield. So did every other defensive lineman apparently, but again, we’re focusing on the positives and the potential breakout players.
Jackson has also earned glowing reviews from Johnson, Knowles, and Ryan Day this spring, and appears poised to earn some real playing time in 2023. These recent scrimmages only add(ed) to the confidence I have in saying as much. And while Gene and I both know scrimmages and things of that nature are not always indicative of future game performance, I was already bullish on Jackson’s potential.
Now I have reason to plant my flag on Jackson Island and watch opposing quarterbacks run for their lives.
Gene’s Take
I was going to pick a defensive end as well after the group really seemed to steal the show at the last spring practice. Jack Sawyer was going to be my choice, as I am excited to see what he is capable off with a full year as a normal defensive end and not some stand-up hybrid that takes away from his natural ability to get to the quarterback. Josh’s pick of Jackson is a good one though, so I will set my sights elsewhere.
I’ll stick with the defense, though, as I and many others are keeping a close eye on transfer corner back Davison Igbinosun.
Ohio State cornerbacks struggled mightily pretty much across the board last season. As Chris discussed in his column on Monday, it is kind of a ‘chicken or the egg’ discussion when it comes to the shortcomings of the secondary in tandem with the defensive line, but from expected top corner Denzel Burke down to Cam Brown, JK Johnson, Jordan Hancock and others, there was zero consistency from the guys expected to defend the pass in 2022.
Johnson and Brown are now gone, and in comes Igbinosun. A former freshman All-American at Ole Miss, the 6-foot-2 corner transferred to Ohio State because he expected to play, and it is looking like there is every reason to believe that he will be a starter opposite Burke to begin the year. He has continued to create buzz throughout the Buckeyes’ spring practices, and made the only interception of the day during 7-on-7 drills during Student Appreciation Day. Playing with the ones, Igbinosun also broke up a pass intended for Carnell Tate during the full 11-on-11 portion of practice.
Ohio State made some additions to the roster this season in attempt to bolster what was a lackluster secondary last year. While big pieces like Burke and Lathan Ransom return, guys like Igbinosun and transfer safety Ja’Had Carter are here to make a splash. In addition to likely starting at their respective positions, they also bring with them some veteran leadership that was lacking on last year’s group, as well as forcing everyone around them to step up and play better if they want to see the field.
I still have my gripes with the way Ohio State is distributing its reps in practice. There is no reason a guy like Sonny Styles should be taking a backseat to Cam Martinez, and C.J. Hicks should be every bit cemented the No. 3 guy at linebacker and a significant rotational piece behind Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers. However, with the way a guy like Igbinosun has come in and immediately made an impact, I remain very excited for what year two for the Buckeye defense under Jim Knowles can look like.
Continue reading...
B1G Basketball Tournament(s)
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- Buckeye Basketball
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The college basketball season comes to an end tonight as UConn faces San Diego State in the national championship game in Houston. (Check it out on CBS at 9 p.m. Eastern time.)
Once again, the city of Columbus was an important stop on the way to the NCAA Final Four. Columbus hosted first weekend match-ups in both the men’s and women’s tournaments with the men downtown at Nationwide Arena and the women at OSU’s Value City Arena.
The Big Ten tournament began with the 1997-98 season and has been predominantly held in Chicago and Indianapolis. The United Center in Chicago held it each of the first four years and has hosted it 11 times, including this season. Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis – under various names – has hosted it 12 times. Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis also hosted it in the Covid-impacted 2020-21 season.
With Maryland and Rutgers added to the Big Ten for the 2014-15 school year, the tournament was held in Washington, D.C., in 2017 and at New York City’s Madison Square Garden in 2018.
This past year, the Big Ten announced it would branch out to a new frontier as it contracted with the city of Minneapolis and the Target Center – home of the NBA’s Minneapolis Timberwolves – to host the women’s tournament this year and the men’s tournament in March 2024.
Accordingly, that announcement has given rise to speculation and maybe some hope that some of the Big Ten’s other “old line” major cities could also be considered to host these tournaments in future years. These potential host sites could include Detroit, Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Columbus.
As it stands, the 2024 Big Ten men’s and women’s tournaments will both be held at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The conference will be calling for bids on those tournaments for future years.
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.
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Fans packed Nationwide Arena for NCAA men's opening round action in March (Photo: 247Sports)
Nationwide Arena opened in downtown Columbus in 2000 as the home of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets. It has hosted first weekend NCAA men’s tournament games on six occasions, beginning in 2004 and continuing through the games earlier this month. Each of those tournaments brought eight college teams and their fanbases to Columbus.
Nationwide Arena also hosted the NCAA women’s basketball Final Four in April 2018. It is estimated that Final Four generated nearly $22 million in visitor spending in the city in 2018. Columbus has already been tapped to host the women’s Final Four again in 2027.
According to Columbus Business First, Columbus sold the most tickets of all of the NCAA men’s first weekend sites for the 2023 tournament. Nationwide Arena was sold out for the two Friday sessions and one on Sunday, with nearly 60,000 tickets sold — roughly 19,564 tickets per session.
"We're just excited and blessed that everyone in the city, as well as all the markets that are close by, came to Columbus to enjoy some great basketball," Nationwide Arena general manager Mike Gatto told Columbus Business First.
"I say it sometimes tongue-in-cheek, but I do mean it, the vision for Columbus Arena Sports and Entertainment — that's our group that oversees both Nationwide and the (Schottenstein Center), as well as Ohio Stadium — is for Columbus to be the sports and entertainment capital of the Midwest, and I really feel like we're on our way there."
Just sayin': Yeah, it would be great to see a future B1G Basketball Tournament in Columbus.
With Big Ten tournament going to Minneapolis, could Columbus or other cities host in future?
The college basketball season comes to an end tonight as UConn faces San Diego State in the national championship game in Houston. (Check it out on CBS at 9 p.m. Eastern time.)
Once again, the city of Columbus was an important stop on the way to the NCAA Final Four. Columbus hosted first weekend match-ups in both the men’s and women’s tournaments with the men downtown at Nationwide Arena and the women at OSU’s Value City Arena.
The Big Ten tournament began with the 1997-98 season and has been predominantly held in Chicago and Indianapolis. The United Center in Chicago held it each of the first four years and has hosted it 11 times, including this season. Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis – under various names – has hosted it 12 times. Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis also hosted it in the Covid-impacted 2020-21 season.
With Maryland and Rutgers added to the Big Ten for the 2014-15 school year, the tournament was held in Washington, D.C., in 2017 and at New York City’s Madison Square Garden in 2018.
This past year, the Big Ten announced it would branch out to a new frontier as it contracted with the city of Minneapolis and the Target Center – home of the NBA’s Minneapolis Timberwolves – to host the women’s tournament this year and the men’s tournament in March 2024.
Accordingly, that announcement has given rise to speculation and maybe some hope that some of the Big Ten’s other “old line” major cities could also be considered to host these tournaments in future years. These potential host sites could include Detroit, Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Columbus.
As it stands, the 2024 Big Ten men’s and women’s tournaments will both be held at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The conference will be calling for bids on those tournaments for future years.
.
.
.
THE CASE FOR COLUMBUS
Fans packed Nationwide Arena for NCAA men's opening round action in March (Photo: 247Sports)
Nationwide Arena opened in downtown Columbus in 2000 as the home of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets. It has hosted first weekend NCAA men’s tournament games on six occasions, beginning in 2004 and continuing through the games earlier this month. Each of those tournaments brought eight college teams and their fanbases to Columbus.
Nationwide Arena also hosted the NCAA women’s basketball Final Four in April 2018. It is estimated that Final Four generated nearly $22 million in visitor spending in the city in 2018. Columbus has already been tapped to host the women’s Final Four again in 2027.
According to Columbus Business First, Columbus sold the most tickets of all of the NCAA men’s first weekend sites for the 2023 tournament. Nationwide Arena was sold out for the two Friday sessions and one on Sunday, with nearly 60,000 tickets sold — roughly 19,564 tickets per session.
"We're just excited and blessed that everyone in the city, as well as all the markets that are close by, came to Columbus to enjoy some great basketball," Nationwide Arena general manager Mike Gatto told Columbus Business First.
"I say it sometimes tongue-in-cheek, but I do mean it, the vision for Columbus Arena Sports and Entertainment — that's our group that oversees both Nationwide and the (Schottenstein Center), as well as Ohio Stadium — is for Columbus to be the sports and entertainment capital of the Midwest, and I really feel like we're on our way there."
Just sayin': Yeah, it would be great to see a future B1G Basketball Tournament in Columbus.
LGHL Ohio State makes cut for two four-star WR’s
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Ohio State makes cut for two four-star WR’s
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2024 four-star WR Jeremiah McClellan | Tom Loy - @TomLoy247, 247Sports
The Buckeyes made the cut for two four-star wide receivers in the 2024 class amid a busy month for recruiting.
Ohio State’s football team is busy. With the changing of the weather, Ohio State’s football team welcomes spring practices. However, the Ohio State coaching staff and current roster are not alone in these practices as the Buckeyes are playing host to dozens of recruits every week.
The hard work is already paying off as the team earned a commitment Sunday from 2024 four-star running back James Peoples. The Buckeyes picked up where they left off Monday, making even more college football recruiting headlines.
Ohio State’s 2024 recruiting class is quickly coming together. The Buckeyes have earned a total of seven verbal commitments already, which is good for the No. 5 class in the 247Sports Class Rankings. But the Buckeyes are far from done and good news may soon be coming at a position Ohio State has become known for the last half-decade.
2024 four-star wide receivers Jeremiah McClellan and Terrance Moore both included Ohio State in their top schools Monday, and McClellan especially appears to be trending towards the Buckeyes.
Both McClellan and Moore are four-star prospects, with McClellan ranked as the No. 26 WR and the No. 177 overall prospect. Moore is not far behind McClellan, as he is ranked the No. 36 WR and the No. 240 overall prospect.
The high pedigree means Ohio State has some tough competition for both receivers. McClellan included LSU, Missouri, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Georgia, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, Notre Dame and Florida alongside the Buckeyes in his top 12 schools. Moore narrowed his list of schools down to 13 schools including Georgia, Clemson, Texas A&M, LSU, Florida, Auburn, Penn State, Colorado, Tennessee, USC, Miami and Pitt alongside Ohio State.
Ohio State has to like where it is sitting with both of these WR’s, but the coaching staff must especially be excited for where they sit with McClellan. Not only did he include the Buckeyes in his top schools, but Ohio State also received a Crystal Ball Prediction from 247Sports’ Director of Football Recruiting, Steve Wiltfong, on Monday. These predictions are far from guarantees, but if Wiltfong is confident enough to make a prediction, there is usually reason.
McClellan also spoke with Clint Cosgrove of Rivals.com after the release of his top schools and had was short but sweet with his words on Ohio State:
Both McClellan and Moore would make for excellent additions in Ohio State’s class. The Buckeyes already hold a commitment from the No. 1 WR in the class in five-star Jeremiah Smith. Pairing either McClellan and/or Moore with Smith would make for another incredible haul at the position for the Buckeyes.
Continue reading...
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2024 four-star WR Jeremiah McClellan | Tom Loy - @TomLoy247, 247Sports
The Buckeyes made the cut for two four-star wide receivers in the 2024 class amid a busy month for recruiting.
Ohio State’s football team is busy. With the changing of the weather, Ohio State’s football team welcomes spring practices. However, the Ohio State coaching staff and current roster are not alone in these practices as the Buckeyes are playing host to dozens of recruits every week.
The hard work is already paying off as the team earned a commitment Sunday from 2024 four-star running back James Peoples. The Buckeyes picked up where they left off Monday, making even more college football recruiting headlines.
Pair of 2024 WR’s have OSU in top Schools
Ohio State’s 2024 recruiting class is quickly coming together. The Buckeyes have earned a total of seven verbal commitments already, which is good for the No. 5 class in the 247Sports Class Rankings. But the Buckeyes are far from done and good news may soon be coming at a position Ohio State has become known for the last half-decade.
2024 four-star wide receivers Jeremiah McClellan and Terrance Moore both included Ohio State in their top schools Monday, and McClellan especially appears to be trending towards the Buckeyes.
Where should I go @Hayesfawcett3 @Rivals_Clint @ChadSimmons_ @AllenTrieu @SWiltfong247 pic.twitter.com/mDLjLMNdY9
— Jeremiah Mcclellan (@jay_mac2481) April 3, 2023
Both McClellan and Moore are four-star prospects, with McClellan ranked as the No. 26 WR and the No. 177 overall prospect. Moore is not far behind McClellan, as he is ranked the No. 36 WR and the No. 240 overall prospect.
The high pedigree means Ohio State has some tough competition for both receivers. McClellan included LSU, Missouri, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Georgia, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, Notre Dame and Florida alongside the Buckeyes in his top 12 schools. Moore narrowed his list of schools down to 13 schools including Georgia, Clemson, Texas A&M, LSU, Florida, Auburn, Penn State, Colorado, Tennessee, USC, Miami and Pitt alongside Ohio State.
Ohio State has to like where it is sitting with both of these WR’s, but the coaching staff must especially be excited for where they sit with McClellan. Not only did he include the Buckeyes in his top schools, but Ohio State also received a Crystal Ball Prediction from 247Sports’ Director of Football Recruiting, Steve Wiltfong, on Monday. These predictions are far from guarantees, but if Wiltfong is confident enough to make a prediction, there is usually reason.
McClellan also spoke with Clint Cosgrove of Rivals.com after the release of his top schools and had was short but sweet with his words on Ohio State:
Both McClellan and Moore would make for excellent additions in Ohio State’s class. The Buckeyes already hold a commitment from the No. 1 WR in the class in five-star Jeremiah Smith. Pairing either McClellan and/or Moore with Smith would make for another incredible haul at the position for the Buckeyes.
Quick Hits
- Ohio State recently played host to 2024 four-star quarterback Air Noland this weekend and the visit went very well. Ohio State picked up momentum following the visit, and Noland is scheduled to make announce his commitment April 8. However, Ohio State was not Noland’s final visit as he made his way to Alabama on Monday.
- As was mentioned above, Ohio State is playing host to dozens of recruits weekly. Below are just a few more reactions from some of the recruits to visit this weekend, as well as some recruits scheduled to visit in the near future.
Lights camera action ️️ #ohio #ohiostate pic.twitter.com/xJzCpvtOGD
— Khalief Canty Jr ️ (@kjcapn) April 3, 2023
Continue reading...
LGHL I-70 Football Show: A Record-breaking women’s championship game
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I-70 Football Show: A Record-breaking women’s championship game
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Zach Boyden-Holmes / USA TODAY NETWORK
Angel Reese and LSU top Iowa for their first championship in school history!
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s I-70 podcast. On this show, we talk about all things Big Ten football and basketball. After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
The Big Ten and college football as a whole has quiet all month, giving room to March Madness as the sole focus of the college sporting world. We are still waiting for the conference to decide on its new scheduling format, release updated information on the 2023 television schedule, and search for the new commissioner, as Kevin Warren will be heading to the Chicago Bears soon.
Instead of boring you with the lack of news, Dante and Jordan focus on the Women’s final four and national championship game. The Big Ten had a nice run in the NCAA Tournament, with Iowa, Maryland, and Ohio State making it to the elite eight and Iowa upsetting reigning national champion South Carolina for a spot in the national championship.
Iowa star Caitlin Clark was the best college player in the country, including men and women, for the whole season but went supernova in the tournament, breaking the record for most points scored in a single tournament in NCAA history. She also became the first player to score 40 points in back-to-back games in the tournament. Unfortunately, she was not able to bring home a championship to Iowa and the Big Ten, losing to Angel Reese and the LSU Tigers.
LSU, led by Reese, dominated Iowa almost wire to wire, maintaining a double-digit lead for most of the game aside from a brief stretch in the third quarter when Clark got hot. Other than the third quarter, LSU was comfortable all game behind Reese’s record-breaking 34th double-double this season and a brilliant performance off the bench from Jasmine Collins, who put up 22 points and made 5-of-6 three-pointers.
The guys discuss the game in-depth, including whether this is the best national championship game in recent history and the unfortunate media narrative and double standard around celebrating and taunting in women’s sports.
Connect with us on Twitter:
Jordan: @JordanW330
Dante: @DanteM10216
Continue reading...
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Zach Boyden-Holmes / USA TODAY NETWORK
Angel Reese and LSU top Iowa for their first championship in school history!
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s I-70 podcast. On this show, we talk about all things Big Ten football and basketball. After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
The Big Ten and college football as a whole has quiet all month, giving room to March Madness as the sole focus of the college sporting world. We are still waiting for the conference to decide on its new scheduling format, release updated information on the 2023 television schedule, and search for the new commissioner, as Kevin Warren will be heading to the Chicago Bears soon.
Instead of boring you with the lack of news, Dante and Jordan focus on the Women’s final four and national championship game. The Big Ten had a nice run in the NCAA Tournament, with Iowa, Maryland, and Ohio State making it to the elite eight and Iowa upsetting reigning national champion South Carolina for a spot in the national championship.
Iowa star Caitlin Clark was the best college player in the country, including men and women, for the whole season but went supernova in the tournament, breaking the record for most points scored in a single tournament in NCAA history. She also became the first player to score 40 points in back-to-back games in the tournament. Unfortunately, she was not able to bring home a championship to Iowa and the Big Ten, losing to Angel Reese and the LSU Tigers.
LSU, led by Reese, dominated Iowa almost wire to wire, maintaining a double-digit lead for most of the game aside from a brief stretch in the third quarter when Clark got hot. Other than the third quarter, LSU was comfortable all game behind Reese’s record-breaking 34th double-double this season and a brilliant performance off the bench from Jasmine Collins, who put up 22 points and made 5-of-6 three-pointers.
The guys discuss the game in-depth, including whether this is the best national championship game in recent history and the unfortunate media narrative and double standard around celebrating and taunting in women’s sports.
Connect with us on Twitter:
Jordan: @JordanW330
Dante: @DanteM10216
Continue reading...
LGHL BOOOOM! Four-star RB James Peoples commits to Ohio State
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BOOOOM! Four-star RB James Peoples commits to Ohio State
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio Stadium
Plus, the Buckeyes enter the mix for a top QB.
It seems like only yesterday Ohio State’s recruiting was dead and buried because it lost an in-state running back to its rival up North. The Wolverines pillaging an Ohio back had social media in a frenzy, and dooming OSU to lose the rivalry for the next 10 years. As it would turn out, that is not quite the case, as this weekend saw the Buckeyes land an even higher-rated player at the position — one who was at the very top of their board.
The player in question, of course, is none other than four-star running back James Peoples. The 5-foot-10, 192-pound ball-carrier out of San Antonio, Texas is the No. 5 RB and No. 69 player overall in the 2024 class, according to the 247Sports Composite. He is also the No. 15 player out of the Lone Star State. Peoples is scheduled to take an official visit to Columbus on June 23, but seems to have liked what he saw enough on his unofficial trip this weekend to pull the trigger now.
Peoples had around 30 offers to his name, but had cut things down to a top five of Alabama, Oklahoma, Oregon, TCU, Texas and OSU. Ohio State had offered the talented tailback back in October of 2022, but the Buckeyes really began surging for Peoples these last few weeks. Already viewed as the leader in the race, this last visit was enough to push them to the finish line.
“I like the people, the coaching staff, the family focus, the environment, it’s like a family,” Peoples said. “When they say family they really mean it. Ohio State is a very successful program with one of the top offenses in the country. They already have four offensive line commitments so they have the people up front. And I like the rivalry with the team up north. It’s the biggest rivalry in college football.”
While in Columbus, Peoples spent time with two fellow Ohio State commits in Deontae and Devantae Armstrong, who joined the Buckeyes’ class just last week. The group got lunch and spent a bunch of time together, as a big reason for the return trip for the twin offensive linemen was to help recruit Peoples to OSU. That seems to have gone about as well as planned, as all three are now members of this 2024 group for Ohio State that currently ranks No. 5 in the country.
There is still a long way to go in this cycle, but the addition of Peoples is a big one. Ohio State and position coach Tony Alford will be looking to land two running backs in this class, and with Peoples already in the fold, Alford has afforded himself the opportunity to pick and choose who else he’d like to recruit to join him. A pair of names to keep an eye out for are four-star Stacy Gage out of Florida and three-star Sam Williams-Dixon from Ohio.
The other big news of the weekend came in the latest Ohio State offer, with stud quarterback prospect Air Noland on the receiving end. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound lefty currently stands as the No. 7 QB in the country and the No. 55 player overall according to 247Sports’ rankings.
Despite just receiving his offer now, Noland is no stranger to Ohio State. The Buckeyes have long been on the talented QB’s radar, as the Buckeyes were even include among his top seven schools last weekend even before Ryan Day officially entered the mix. Noland’s bond with Ohio State seemingly got even stronger this weekend, as all seemed to go very well during his visit to Columbus.
“Everything you can ask for is at Ohio State, especially from a quarterback standpoint,” Noland told 247Sports.
With a commitment date set for April 8 — a date that was set before the Ohio State offer came in, it is worth mentioning — it will be interesting to see how this one plays out. Noland and the Buckeyes clearly have some mutual interest, but did Day and his staff wait to long to offer that Noland has his heart set elsewhere. Or, does he want to be the next in line to become a first round draft pick at the quarterback spot for the Buckeyes?
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Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio Stadium
Plus, the Buckeyes enter the mix for a top QB.
It seems like only yesterday Ohio State’s recruiting was dead and buried because it lost an in-state running back to its rival up North. The Wolverines pillaging an Ohio back had social media in a frenzy, and dooming OSU to lose the rivalry for the next 10 years. As it would turn out, that is not quite the case, as this weekend saw the Buckeyes land an even higher-rated player at the position — one who was at the very top of their board.
The player in question, of course, is none other than four-star running back James Peoples. The 5-foot-10, 192-pound ball-carrier out of San Antonio, Texas is the No. 5 RB and No. 69 player overall in the 2024 class, according to the 247Sports Composite. He is also the No. 15 player out of the Lone Star State. Peoples is scheduled to take an official visit to Columbus on June 23, but seems to have liked what he saw enough on his unofficial trip this weekend to pull the trigger now.
I Wanted to thank my Family, Coaches, and Friends for supporting me through this entire process. I wanted to also thank all the Universities who have recruited me… With that being said I will be Committing to the University OF ️HIO STATE@OhioStateFB @Bucknuts247 @Birm pic.twitter.com/LvRrNcWoOP
— James (@James_peoples17) April 3, 2023
Peoples had around 30 offers to his name, but had cut things down to a top five of Alabama, Oklahoma, Oregon, TCU, Texas and OSU. Ohio State had offered the talented tailback back in October of 2022, but the Buckeyes really began surging for Peoples these last few weeks. Already viewed as the leader in the race, this last visit was enough to push them to the finish line.
“I like the people, the coaching staff, the family focus, the environment, it’s like a family,” Peoples said. “When they say family they really mean it. Ohio State is a very successful program with one of the top offenses in the country. They already have four offensive line commitments so they have the people up front. And I like the rivalry with the team up north. It’s the biggest rivalry in college football.”
While in Columbus, Peoples spent time with two fellow Ohio State commits in Deontae and Devantae Armstrong, who joined the Buckeyes’ class just last week. The group got lunch and spent a bunch of time together, as a big reason for the return trip for the twin offensive linemen was to help recruit Peoples to OSU. That seems to have gone about as well as planned, as all three are now members of this 2024 group for Ohio State that currently ranks No. 5 in the country.
There is still a long way to go in this cycle, but the addition of Peoples is a big one. Ohio State and position coach Tony Alford will be looking to land two running backs in this class, and with Peoples already in the fold, Alford has afforded himself the opportunity to pick and choose who else he’d like to recruit to join him. A pair of names to keep an eye out for are four-star Stacy Gage out of Florida and three-star Sam Williams-Dixon from Ohio.
Noland finally earns Buckeye offer
The other big news of the weekend came in the latest Ohio State offer, with stud quarterback prospect Air Noland on the receiving end. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound lefty currently stands as the No. 7 QB in the country and the No. 55 player overall according to 247Sports’ rankings.
Despite just receiving his offer now, Noland is no stranger to Ohio State. The Buckeyes have long been on the talented QB’s radar, as the Buckeyes were even include among his top seven schools last weekend even before Ryan Day officially entered the mix. Noland’s bond with Ohio State seemingly got even stronger this weekend, as all seemed to go very well during his visit to Columbus.
“Everything you can ask for is at Ohio State, especially from a quarterback standpoint,” Noland told 247Sports.
With a commitment date set for April 8 — a date that was set before the Ohio State offer came in, it is worth mentioning — it will be interesting to see how this one plays out. Noland and the Buckeyes clearly have some mutual interest, but did Day and his staff wait to long to offer that Noland has his heart set elsewhere. Or, does he want to be the next in line to become a first round draft pick at the quarterback spot for the Buckeyes?
Quick Hits
- Ohio State will soon be welcoming to town five-star wide receiver and their top commit in the 2024 class, Jeremiah Smith. A truly can't-miss prospect at the receiver position, even with all the talent we’ve seen come through Columbus at the spot, Smith is the No. 1 WR and the No. 2 overall player on the 247Sports Composite. Drawing comparisons to NFL receiver Julio Jones as just a high school junior, this is an important talent to keep in the fold.
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LGHL Column: Realistic expectations for Ohio State’s D-line after dominant scrimmage
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Column: Realistic expectations for Ohio State’s D-line after dominant scrimmage
Chris Renne 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’s defense improved immensely in 2022, but the only way that improvement continues is if the defensive line takes another step forward this season.
Ohio State football hosted their annual Student Appreciation Day, and with that a full scrimmage for the student supporters who make the program go. The offense battled it out with the defense, and on this day the defense was the group that excelled.
The large group of students were treated to some touchdown passes, a few big runs by the running backs who are healthy, and the first recorded interception of camp in a scrimmage by Davison Igbinosun. One group made a huge impression on everybody in attendance with a dominant day all around from everyone at the position.
That group was the defensive line, led by a healthy Mike Hall and a group of edge rushers who have shown this year is going to be different. With the injuries on the offensive line, the defensive line overmatched their counterparts the majority of the day. For Ohio State’s defense to take another step in year two under Jim Knowles, the defensive line stacking up the dominant practices and doing the work in the offseason is the main point of emphasis.
Expectations are high, but looking at this unit’s performance last year makes even the loftiest expectations feel realistic.
There has always been a causal relationship between sacks and coverage in the secondary. Over the past few seasons, Ohio State’s defensive backs have not lived up to expectations, and the sack numbers have been on a downward trajectory. These two positions have both had inconsistencies in recruiting, which has led to inconsistencies on the field.
That has created a yearly chicken-and-egg argument about whether pressure leads to better coverage or does coverage lead to better pressure. The obvious answer is both, which is why if the defensive backs do not improve, the expectations for the defensive line have to be held in a different light. If the coverage is better, then the pressure is on the defensive line to improve on their recent production.
Hearing that the defensive backs this offseason have been improving and consistently making plays is pleasant talk. Until there is real action and opponents lineup across from the Buckeyes, the secondary will definitely need to prove it. With the new faces in the unit, the second year in the scheme, and newfound health up to this point, Ohio State’s secondary should be in for an improved season.
If that’s the case, then the pass rush should be more dangerous, and the defensive line and secondary will find success, which would take the defense to another level.
Looking at the last two years and the Covid year adjusted to match a full season, the Buckeyes sack total has taken a step back each season. This is not the be-all-end-all to a successful defense, but outside of turnovers, sacks are the most impactful play on the football field.
If the scrimmage was any case for believing that this year might be a big year in the sack department, look no further than the three sacks by J.T. Tuimoloau and Mike Hall’s back-to-back sacks as evidence.
After three-straight years of 40-plus sacks with two incredible single season performances by Chase Young, there was bound to be a step backwards at some point. The issue is there has not been a dominant sack season. Looking at the sack leaders, the individual player total has fallen short as well.
This season is make-or-break for Larry Johnson’s group. Two former top-5 recruits spearhead the edge and a host of top-100 recruits are sprinkled throughout the defensive line. Johnson made it a point to make Jack Sawyer a full-time hand in the ground defensive end, and Tuimoloau showed flashes of pure dominance last season that can be built on. If Mike Hall can stay healthy, Tyliek Williams can find every down consistency, and the young guys can take a step – the sack total should climb.
With the experience and talent level in the room at the highest level in years, the expectation should absolutely be an improved sack total.
Using the line stats from Footballoutsiders gives more context to the success of the group last season. The key numbers for the Buckeyes when looking at defensive line success are sack rate, stuff rate, and power success rate. These three stats give an analytical looks to the three areas the defensive line can make the biggest differences in the game.
Ohio State ranked 30th in total sack rate. It shows that the Buckeyes were not a dominant team rushing the passer in any circumstance. It gets even more evident that Buckeyes weren’t dominant because they ranked 67th in sack rate on passing downs. This gets weirder due to the Buckeyes having the best sack rate on standard downs, meaning that the Buckeyes were more successful when the passing situation wasn’t obvious.
When you look at the other two stats, they are representative to the impact the Buckeyes defensive line has in the run game. Ohio State ranked sixth in power success rate, meaning in short yardage situations the defensive line stepped up. On a down-by-down basis they ranked 26th in stuff rate, meaning teams were getting to the second level. This shows that the consistency was not there for the Buckeyes, and that is the key to really turning into a dominant group and turning Ohio State into a defensive power again.
Ryan Day’s goal last year was to have a top-10 defense. They finished 12th in opponents yards per game and 29th in yards per play, which means they fell short. Improving in the advanced stats and in key situations will be the step forward that gets the Buckeyes through that threshold. Once again, that level of improvement should be the bare minimum expectation.
The expectation for the Buckeye defensive line is taking a step forward in 2023, which means going from having dominant moments to being a dominant group. This starts with the veteran players such as Tuimoloau, Sawyer, Hall, Williams, and Hamilton all setting the tone on a daily basis.
Ryan Day talked about wanting consistency from this group. Every head coach knows to win a national championship you need a defensive line to dominate. That means the expectation is to be a truly dominant group, and that should show up statistically. Hearing that the line was dominant in the most recent scrimmage should not only add to the confidence that a step forward will be taken, but the defense as a whole can be even better.
This is obviously just a practice in spring, but this is where it all starts. The Buckeyes had insane performances from Tuimoloau, Hall, and Sawyer last season that all show the high ceiling the group has. For the defense to reach the expectations Day set, the defensive line will have to reach that ceiling more often. For the defensive line to do that, it starts with stacking elite practices.
Last week, the older Buckeyes showed the room what it was like to work the entire scrimmage, making plays late in the day. This week they showed they can dominate from start to finish – even if the offensive line has its injuries. This dominance was not limited to the ones, with both second year players Caden Curry and Kenyatta Jackson having big days as well. The talented depth should raise expectations.
The defense will go as far as the defensive line takes them, and that starts in practice. Being dominant every day is the only way they will be dominant come the regular season, and a truly elite unit is exactly what should be expected from Larry Johnson’s defensive line.
Continue reading...
Chris Renne 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’s defense improved immensely in 2022, but the only way that improvement continues is if the defensive line takes another step forward this season.
Ohio State football hosted their annual Student Appreciation Day, and with that a full scrimmage for the student supporters who make the program go. The offense battled it out with the defense, and on this day the defense was the group that excelled.
The large group of students were treated to some touchdown passes, a few big runs by the running backs who are healthy, and the first recorded interception of camp in a scrimmage by Davison Igbinosun. One group made a huge impression on everybody in attendance with a dominant day all around from everyone at the position.
That group was the defensive line, led by a healthy Mike Hall and a group of edge rushers who have shown this year is going to be different. With the injuries on the offensive line, the defensive line overmatched their counterparts the majority of the day. For Ohio State’s defense to take another step in year two under Jim Knowles, the defensive line stacking up the dominant practices and doing the work in the offseason is the main point of emphasis.
Expectations are high, but looking at this unit’s performance last year makes even the loftiest expectations feel realistic.
Secondary-Defensive Line Correlation
There has always been a causal relationship between sacks and coverage in the secondary. Over the past few seasons, Ohio State’s defensive backs have not lived up to expectations, and the sack numbers have been on a downward trajectory. These two positions have both had inconsistencies in recruiting, which has led to inconsistencies on the field.
That has created a yearly chicken-and-egg argument about whether pressure leads to better coverage or does coverage lead to better pressure. The obvious answer is both, which is why if the defensive backs do not improve, the expectations for the defensive line have to be held in a different light. If the coverage is better, then the pressure is on the defensive line to improve on their recent production.
Hearing that the defensive backs this offseason have been improving and consistently making plays is pleasant talk. Until there is real action and opponents lineup across from the Buckeyes, the secondary will definitely need to prove it. With the new faces in the unit, the second year in the scheme, and newfound health up to this point, Ohio State’s secondary should be in for an improved season.
If that’s the case, then the pass rush should be more dangerous, and the defensive line and secondary will find success, which would take the defense to another level.
Improving on the sack total
Looking at the last two years and the Covid year adjusted to match a full season, the Buckeyes sack total has taken a step back each season. This is not the be-all-end-all to a successful defense, but outside of turnovers, sacks are the most impactful play on the football field.
If the scrimmage was any case for believing that this year might be a big year in the sack department, look no further than the three sacks by J.T. Tuimoloau and Mike Hall’s back-to-back sacks as evidence.
After three-straight years of 40-plus sacks with two incredible single season performances by Chase Young, there was bound to be a step backwards at some point. The issue is there has not been a dominant sack season. Looking at the sack leaders, the individual player total has fallen short as well.
This season is make-or-break for Larry Johnson’s group. Two former top-5 recruits spearhead the edge and a host of top-100 recruits are sprinkled throughout the defensive line. Johnson made it a point to make Jack Sawyer a full-time hand in the ground defensive end, and Tuimoloau showed flashes of pure dominance last season that can be built on. If Mike Hall can stay healthy, Tyliek Williams can find every down consistency, and the young guys can take a step – the sack total should climb.
With the experience and talent level in the room at the highest level in years, the expectation should absolutely be an improved sack total.
Advanced stats
Using the line stats from Footballoutsiders gives more context to the success of the group last season. The key numbers for the Buckeyes when looking at defensive line success are sack rate, stuff rate, and power success rate. These three stats give an analytical looks to the three areas the defensive line can make the biggest differences in the game.
Ohio State ranked 30th in total sack rate. It shows that the Buckeyes were not a dominant team rushing the passer in any circumstance. It gets even more evident that Buckeyes weren’t dominant because they ranked 67th in sack rate on passing downs. This gets weirder due to the Buckeyes having the best sack rate on standard downs, meaning that the Buckeyes were more successful when the passing situation wasn’t obvious.
When you look at the other two stats, they are representative to the impact the Buckeyes defensive line has in the run game. Ohio State ranked sixth in power success rate, meaning in short yardage situations the defensive line stepped up. On a down-by-down basis they ranked 26th in stuff rate, meaning teams were getting to the second level. This shows that the consistency was not there for the Buckeyes, and that is the key to really turning into a dominant group and turning Ohio State into a defensive power again.
Ryan Day’s goal last year was to have a top-10 defense. They finished 12th in opponents yards per game and 29th in yards per play, which means they fell short. Improving in the advanced stats and in key situations will be the step forward that gets the Buckeyes through that threshold. Once again, that level of improvement should be the bare minimum expectation.
What should we expect from this group in 2023
The expectation for the Buckeye defensive line is taking a step forward in 2023, which means going from having dominant moments to being a dominant group. This starts with the veteran players such as Tuimoloau, Sawyer, Hall, Williams, and Hamilton all setting the tone on a daily basis.
Ryan Day talked about wanting consistency from this group. Every head coach knows to win a national championship you need a defensive line to dominate. That means the expectation is to be a truly dominant group, and that should show up statistically. Hearing that the line was dominant in the most recent scrimmage should not only add to the confidence that a step forward will be taken, but the defense as a whole can be even better.
This is obviously just a practice in spring, but this is where it all starts. The Buckeyes had insane performances from Tuimoloau, Hall, and Sawyer last season that all show the high ceiling the group has. For the defense to reach the expectations Day set, the defensive line will have to reach that ceiling more often. For the defensive line to do that, it starts with stacking elite practices.
Last week, the older Buckeyes showed the room what it was like to work the entire scrimmage, making plays late in the day. This week they showed they can dominate from start to finish – even if the offensive line has its injuries. This dominance was not limited to the ones, with both second year players Caden Curry and Kenyatta Jackson having big days as well. The talented depth should raise expectations.
The defense will go as far as the defensive line takes them, and that starts in practice. Being dominant every day is the only way they will be dominant come the regular season, and a truly elite unit is exactly what should be expected from Larry Johnson’s defensive line.
Continue reading...