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LGHL Unreasonable Expectations: Jeremiah Smith will sniff 1,000 yards as a true freshman
- News
- 0 Replies
Unreasonable Expectations: Jeremiah Smith will sniff 1,000 yards as a true freshman
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 Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Smith has the potential to break records and do something special in Columbus... But C.J. Stroud ain’t walking through that proverbial door, folks.
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 our Unreasonable Expectations. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Unreasonable Expectations here.
All-world talent and freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is quite possibly the most hyped newcomer to ever suit up for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Like, ever, in any sport. And it’s pretty easy to see why, right?
The top overall recruit in the 2024 class. 6-foot-3, 215 or so pounds at 18 years old. Big. Fast. Powerful. Frightening? Runs routes like a seasoned vet, with the body control of a ballerina and hands that resemble a bench vise. The kid is an absolute freak, in the best way possible. Even calling him a kid seems disrespectful to his otherworldly potential.
So I apologize to OSU’s extraterrestrial being in the No. 4 jersey.
But as freaky and talented as this particular alien is, he can only be in one place at any given time. He can only catch what is thrown his way. He can’t throw passes to himself. Oh, and he will be sharing the football field with at least a few other players (Buckeyes) who may tap further into their own freakish abilities under the tutelage of both Ryan Day AND Chip Kelly.
So where exactly am I going with all of this? I’m glad you asked.
This week at LGHL, our content theme is Unreasonable Expectations. To me, this means expectations that some or many people have, that are not (remotely?) likely to happen. Expectations that we have been tricked into believing, despite the absence of any evidence or reason... Hence, unreasonable expectations.
Cutting to the chase, the Unreasonable Expectation that I want to warn people about pertains specifically to Jeremiah Smith. I am here to tell you that it is completely unreasonable for you, me, or anybody else to expect him to even sniff 1,000 receiving (or scrimmage) yards as a true freshman. It just ain’t happening, folks. And it has nothing to do with how special Smith is or eventually will be.
There are actually several reasons why such high expectations are completely unreasonable. The list of such starts with Will Howard... And/or Emeka Egbuka. And/or TreVeyon Henderson. And/or Quinshon Judkins. And/or a host of other Ohio State skill players.
There are simply too many mouths to feed in Columbus and only one football to go around.
Howard will likely be the one distributing said football, and when he is not handing it off to the best running back duo in the country or running the rock himself, he will be tasked with getting it to not only Egbuka and Smith but also Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss, and others.
It’s a great problem to have, but OSU just has too many talented players and pass catchers. Which is why I don’t see one – a true freshman WR no less – dominating touches and/or targets.
And when the ball does get put in the air, let’s face it: Howard is not exactly C.J. Stroud. Not to say the former can’t be a very, very, very effective QB for the Scarlet and Gray, but he (Howard) owns a 59% career completion percentage and has thrown for roughly 5,800 yards in 34 collegiate games. Stroud, on the other hand, completed 69% of his passes and put up 8,100 yards in 25 games as a Buckeye...
So unless Howard takes a giant leap forward or Smith absolutely dominates in target share, I don’t see a path to huge yardage totals for the freshman wideout.
Sticking with target share for a minute, I would be shocked if Smith sees more targets than Egbuka and mildly surprised if he sees more than Tate. I think some people forget how damn good a healthy Egbuka is and can be, and Tate is a special player in his own right.
Beyond those two, keep an eye on Henderson and whoever starts at tight end. Not to say a RB or TE will receive more total targets than Smith, but it’s worth pointing out that at Kansas State last season, Howard’s primary target was TE Ben Sinnott, and his top two RB combined to reel in 46 total receptions.
Now admittedly, Howard has never had access to a plethora of four and five-star playmakers like he does in Columbus. But he has also never shown the ability to string together multiple 300-yard games at seemingly any level. So I don’t think Ohio State fans should expect aerial fireworks on a consistent basis — and that’s ok. Because if Howard resembles something between a poor man’s Josh Allen and a current-day Josh Allen, then the Buckeyes will be very, very successful this season.
Also working against Smith is a little thing called history. In the great and storied history of OSU football, no freshman WR has even surpassed 500 receiving yards... 500. And there are people out there who think that Smith might approach 1,000!? Again, it just ain’t happening folks. It’s unreasonable to put those expectations on the uber-talented freshman. But none of this means that Smith – and the Buckeyes – can’t and/or won’t be awesome in 2024 and beyond!
And that’s all that matters, right? We just want Ohio State to steamroll opponents. So throw expectations out the window and enjoy the show; something that Smith is very likely to put on.
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 Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Smith has the potential to break records and do something special in Columbus... But C.J. Stroud ain’t walking through that proverbial door, folks.
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 our Unreasonable Expectations. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Unreasonable Expectations here.
All-world talent and freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is quite possibly the most hyped newcomer to ever suit up for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Like, ever, in any sport. And it’s pretty easy to see why, right?
The top overall recruit in the 2024 class. 6-foot-3, 215 or so pounds at 18 years old. Big. Fast. Powerful. Frightening? Runs routes like a seasoned vet, with the body control of a ballerina and hands that resemble a bench vise. The kid is an absolute freak, in the best way possible. Even calling him a kid seems disrespectful to his otherworldly potential.
So I apologize to OSU’s extraterrestrial being in the No. 4 jersey.
But as freaky and talented as this particular alien is, he can only be in one place at any given time. He can only catch what is thrown his way. He can’t throw passes to himself. Oh, and he will be sharing the football field with at least a few other players (Buckeyes) who may tap further into their own freakish abilities under the tutelage of both Ryan Day AND Chip Kelly.
So where exactly am I going with all of this? I’m glad you asked.
This week at LGHL, our content theme is Unreasonable Expectations. To me, this means expectations that some or many people have, that are not (remotely?) likely to happen. Expectations that we have been tricked into believing, despite the absence of any evidence or reason... Hence, unreasonable expectations.
Cutting to the chase, the Unreasonable Expectation that I want to warn people about pertains specifically to Jeremiah Smith. I am here to tell you that it is completely unreasonable for you, me, or anybody else to expect him to even sniff 1,000 receiving (or scrimmage) yards as a true freshman. It just ain’t happening, folks. And it has nothing to do with how special Smith is or eventually will be.
There are actually several reasons why such high expectations are completely unreasonable. The list of such starts with Will Howard... And/or Emeka Egbuka. And/or TreVeyon Henderson. And/or Quinshon Judkins. And/or a host of other Ohio State skill players.
There are simply too many mouths to feed in Columbus and only one football to go around.
Top 10 College Football Running Back Units per @JesseReSimonton
Do you agree?https://t.co/kzuzhqYD2Y pic.twitter.com/eLZsmXQnYV
— On3 (@On3sports) May 3, 2024
Howard will likely be the one distributing said football, and when he is not handing it off to the best running back duo in the country or running the rock himself, he will be tasked with getting it to not only Egbuka and Smith but also Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss, and others.
It’s a great problem to have, but OSU just has too many talented players and pass catchers. Which is why I don’t see one – a true freshman WR no less – dominating touches and/or targets.
And when the ball does get put in the air, let’s face it: Howard is not exactly C.J. Stroud. Not to say the former can’t be a very, very, very effective QB for the Scarlet and Gray, but he (Howard) owns a 59% career completion percentage and has thrown for roughly 5,800 yards in 34 collegiate games. Stroud, on the other hand, completed 69% of his passes and put up 8,100 yards in 25 games as a Buckeye...
So unless Howard takes a giant leap forward or Smith absolutely dominates in target share, I don’t see a path to huge yardage totals for the freshman wideout.
Sticking with target share for a minute, I would be shocked if Smith sees more targets than Egbuka and mildly surprised if he sees more than Tate. I think some people forget how damn good a healthy Egbuka is and can be, and Tate is a special player in his own right.
Beyond those two, keep an eye on Henderson and whoever starts at tight end. Not to say a RB or TE will receive more total targets than Smith, but it’s worth pointing out that at Kansas State last season, Howard’s primary target was TE Ben Sinnott, and his top two RB combined to reel in 46 total receptions.
Top 10 College Football Wide Receiver Units per @JesseReSimonton️
Do you agree?
— On3 (@On3sports) May 8, 2024
Now admittedly, Howard has never had access to a plethora of four and five-star playmakers like he does in Columbus. But he has also never shown the ability to string together multiple 300-yard games at seemingly any level. So I don’t think Ohio State fans should expect aerial fireworks on a consistent basis — and that’s ok. Because if Howard resembles something between a poor man’s Josh Allen and a current-day Josh Allen, then the Buckeyes will be very, very successful this season.
Also working against Smith is a little thing called history. In the great and storied history of OSU football, no freshman WR has even surpassed 500 receiving yards... 500. And there are people out there who think that Smith might approach 1,000!? Again, it just ain’t happening folks. It’s unreasonable to put those expectations on the uber-talented freshman. But none of this means that Smith – and the Buckeyes – can’t and/or won’t be awesome in 2024 and beyond!
And that’s all that matters, right? We just want Ohio State to steamroll opponents. So throw expectations out the window and enjoy the show; something that Smith is very likely to put on.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State women’s basketball repeating as Big Ten champs is an unreasonable expectation
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- 0 Replies
Ohio State women’s basketball repeating as Big Ten champs is an unreasonable expectation
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images
The Buckeyes have a talented team, but not enough to eclipse newcomers and retooled existing teams
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 our Unreasonable Expectations. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Unreasonable Expectations here.
Ohio State women’s basketball looked like a team on the rocks following the end of the 2023-24 season. The team’s strong veteran foundation left, players transferred out and the three-year run including two conference titles and deep NCAA Tournament runs felt like it was drifting further into the rearview mirror. The Buckeyes responded in a big way, but it's unreasonable to expect the program to repeat that kind of conference success.
Last season, the Buckeyes had momentum to spare in the second half of the year. After winning its first 14 games in 2024, the Scarlet and Gray defeated bitter rivals in the Michigan Wolverines to secure an outright Big Ten regular season championship. Then things changed.
Head coach Kevin McGuff’s side lost three of the following four games, which isn’t great to do in the postseason. It began with an overwhelming defeat to the Maryland Terrapins, the first time a McGuff-led Ohio State side lost its first game of the tournament when it entered as a No. 1 seed, an 82-61 defeat where the Terps dominated on the boards.
After defeating the Maine Black Bears in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Ohio State squandered a double-digit lead in the second quarter to lose to the No. 7 ranked Duke Blue Devils 75-63.
With that defeat, the careers of three Buckeye starters came to an end. Guards Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor, along with forward Rebeka Mikulasikova, all bid farewell to Columbus, Ohio. Joining them was forward Taiyier Parks, who came in off the bench for paint presence in her lone season playing for McGuff.
In the portal, guards Diana Collins, Emma Shumate, and Rikki Harris all left. Hurting the most for Buckeye fans was Harris, who played four seasons in scarlet and gray, joining the college ranks with Sheldon and Mikulasikova. Plus, the potential of Shumate and Harris to fill in for the lost experience vanished, leaving fans wondering what was next for the program.
Then McGuff swapped his coaching hat for his general manager hat.
To say the Buckeyes restocked is an understatement. Ohio State was an early winner of the transfer portal, nationally. McGuff added two Power Five Conference players who brought game-changing impacts to their previous schools.
Guard Chance Gray swapped Oregon Duck green for Buckeyes scarlet and gray. The sophomore started all but one game for the Ducks in her first two NCAA seasons. A few days later, it was 6-foot-3 forward Ajae Petty joining out of the Kentucky Wildcats’ program. Petty averaged 14.2 points and 10.6 rebounds for a struggling Kentucky side in her lone season as a starter.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25451070/2043245948.jpg "Oregon v Colorado")
Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images
They joined a top 10 ranked 2024 freshman recruiting class, headlined by point guard Jaloni Cambridge, fresh off a National Championship performance where it was Cambridge providing the spark for Montverde Academy.
Overall, five recruits enter Ohio State this fall. Of those, three fall in ESPN’s top 100 recruits in the nation. Cambridge, the No. 2 overall recruit, stands alongside guard Ava Watson and forward Ella Hobbs on that list. Plus, forward Seini Hicks and center Elsa Lemmila.
Add all that to a returning core group including forwards Cotie McMahon, Taylor Thierry, and guard Madison Greene and it doesn’t feel much like a rebuild.
Ohio State isn’t going to miss repeating as the conference champions because of a lack of talent, it is going to be because the other teams around it have a hefty advantage in chemistry and familiarity.
Look no further than the new Big Ten teams from out west. The UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans join the conference to not only stretch the B1G from coast to coast but to move the strength of the conference’s women’s basketball teams into another stratosphere.
USC won the final Pac-12 tournament, upsetting the regular season-winning Stanford Cardinals, then followed it up with a run to the Elite Eight, before falling to the UConn Huskies. Led by freshman Juju Watkins, a star who forced the professional basketball ranks to consider if underclassmen should be allowed to enter the WNBA Draft.
As a freshman, Watkins was a First Team AP All-American, Ann Meyers-Drysdale Award winner and averaged 27.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25451068/1777334153.jpg "USC v Ohio State")
Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images
Then there’s the Bruins, with 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts and a team with only two upperclassmen that went to the Sweet Sixteen, after being ranked in the top 5 much of the season.
Ohio State faced, and lost, to both of those sides last season. To the Buckeyes’ credit, the Trojans were the first game of the season, when nobody had college tape on Watkins; although that might not have changed too much of the final outcome.
Those two sides are favorites to win the Big Ten in its first seasons out of the Pac-12. For the reasons listed above, and more, it makes all the sense in the world.
Plus, existing Big Ten teams like the Maryland Terrapins and Indiana Hoosiers lost players but made up for it in the portal. Head coach Brenda Frese added seven transfers to the Terps. Including former Rutgers Scarlet Knight standout Kaylene Smikle, who won Second Team All-Big Ten honors as a freshman. Plus the Atlantic-10 Player of the Year, two former UConn recruits, and the Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year.
All that on a team that Frese always has in the conversation around the postseason.
For the Buckeyes to compete with other teams at the top of the conference, it’ll have to get on the same page quickly. If it's February and Ohio State is still figuring itself out, it’ll be a tough road to a strong postseason.
Something that will help is a lighter non-conference schedule. Facing the Trojans, UCLA Bruins and Tennessee Volunteers before the Big Ten calendar made sense last year, because on paper the Buckeyes were stronger than its been since before the pandemic. Avoiding some of those marquee matchups, like the Buckeyes did in the 2021-22 season, gives a new group time to find itself.
The sooner the Scarlet and Gray put the pieces together, the higher the likelihood that Ohio State puts the conference on warning.
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images
The Buckeyes have a talented team, but not enough to eclipse newcomers and retooled existing teams
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 our Unreasonable Expectations. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Unreasonable Expectations here.
Ohio State women’s basketball looked like a team on the rocks following the end of the 2023-24 season. The team’s strong veteran foundation left, players transferred out and the three-year run including two conference titles and deep NCAA Tournament runs felt like it was drifting further into the rearview mirror. The Buckeyes responded in a big way, but it's unreasonable to expect the program to repeat that kind of conference success.
Last season, the Buckeyes had momentum to spare in the second half of the year. After winning its first 14 games in 2024, the Scarlet and Gray defeated bitter rivals in the Michigan Wolverines to secure an outright Big Ten regular season championship. Then things changed.
Head coach Kevin McGuff’s side lost three of the following four games, which isn’t great to do in the postseason. It began with an overwhelming defeat to the Maryland Terrapins, the first time a McGuff-led Ohio State side lost its first game of the tournament when it entered as a No. 1 seed, an 82-61 defeat where the Terps dominated on the boards.
After defeating the Maine Black Bears in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Ohio State squandered a double-digit lead in the second quarter to lose to the No. 7 ranked Duke Blue Devils 75-63.
With that defeat, the careers of three Buckeye starters came to an end. Guards Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor, along with forward Rebeka Mikulasikova, all bid farewell to Columbus, Ohio. Joining them was forward Taiyier Parks, who came in off the bench for paint presence in her lone season playing for McGuff.
In the portal, guards Diana Collins, Emma Shumate, and Rikki Harris all left. Hurting the most for Buckeye fans was Harris, who played four seasons in scarlet and gray, joining the college ranks with Sheldon and Mikulasikova. Plus, the potential of Shumate and Harris to fill in for the lost experience vanished, leaving fans wondering what was next for the program.
Then McGuff swapped his coaching hat for his general manager hat.
To say the Buckeyes restocked is an understatement. Ohio State was an early winner of the transfer portal, nationally. McGuff added two Power Five Conference players who brought game-changing impacts to their previous schools.
Guard Chance Gray swapped Oregon Duck green for Buckeyes scarlet and gray. The sophomore started all but one game for the Ducks in her first two NCAA seasons. A few days later, it was 6-foot-3 forward Ajae Petty joining out of the Kentucky Wildcats’ program. Petty averaged 14.2 points and 10.6 rebounds for a struggling Kentucky side in her lone season as a starter.
They joined a top 10 ranked 2024 freshman recruiting class, headlined by point guard Jaloni Cambridge, fresh off a National Championship performance where it was Cambridge providing the spark for Montverde Academy.
Overall, five recruits enter Ohio State this fall. Of those, three fall in ESPN’s top 100 recruits in the nation. Cambridge, the No. 2 overall recruit, stands alongside guard Ava Watson and forward Ella Hobbs on that list. Plus, forward Seini Hicks and center Elsa Lemmila.
Add all that to a returning core group including forwards Cotie McMahon, Taylor Thierry, and guard Madison Greene and it doesn’t feel much like a rebuild.
Ohio State isn’t going to miss repeating as the conference champions because of a lack of talent, it is going to be because the other teams around it have a hefty advantage in chemistry and familiarity.
Look no further than the new Big Ten teams from out west. The UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans join the conference to not only stretch the B1G from coast to coast but to move the strength of the conference’s women’s basketball teams into another stratosphere.
USC won the final Pac-12 tournament, upsetting the regular season-winning Stanford Cardinals, then followed it up with a run to the Elite Eight, before falling to the UConn Huskies. Led by freshman Juju Watkins, a star who forced the professional basketball ranks to consider if underclassmen should be allowed to enter the WNBA Draft.
As a freshman, Watkins was a First Team AP All-American, Ann Meyers-Drysdale Award winner and averaged 27.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
Then there’s the Bruins, with 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts and a team with only two upperclassmen that went to the Sweet Sixteen, after being ranked in the top 5 much of the season.
Ohio State faced, and lost, to both of those sides last season. To the Buckeyes’ credit, the Trojans were the first game of the season, when nobody had college tape on Watkins; although that might not have changed too much of the final outcome.
Those two sides are favorites to win the Big Ten in its first seasons out of the Pac-12. For the reasons listed above, and more, it makes all the sense in the world.
Plus, existing Big Ten teams like the Maryland Terrapins and Indiana Hoosiers lost players but made up for it in the portal. Head coach Brenda Frese added seven transfers to the Terps. Including former Rutgers Scarlet Knight standout Kaylene Smikle, who won Second Team All-Big Ten honors as a freshman. Plus the Atlantic-10 Player of the Year, two former UConn recruits, and the Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year.
All that on a team that Frese always has in the conversation around the postseason.
For the Buckeyes to compete with other teams at the top of the conference, it’ll have to get on the same page quickly. If it's February and Ohio State is still figuring itself out, it’ll be a tough road to a strong postseason.
Something that will help is a lighter non-conference schedule. Facing the Trojans, UCLA Bruins and Tennessee Volunteers before the Big Ten calendar made sense last year, because on paper the Buckeyes were stronger than its been since before the pandemic. Avoiding some of those marquee matchups, like the Buckeyes did in the 2021-22 season, gives a new group time to find itself.
The sooner the Scarlet and Gray put the pieces together, the higher the likelihood that Ohio State puts the conference on warning.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ironton High School: A program to watch as Ohio State recruits in-state prospects
- News
- 0 Replies
Ironton High School: A program to watch as Ohio State recruits in-state prospects
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ironton is continuing to produce some P4 prospects that should catch Ohio State’s attention.
When it comes to recruiting, regardless of year, Ohio State is going to contend for many of the nation’s best players no matter where they are from. A perk of the brand, the Buckeyes bring in top players for many reasons, but their contention for a national title every year and the ability to develop NFL talent keeps them atop of the college football landscape when it comes to bringing in top-five recruiting classes.
Despite their national reach, one tried-and-true hallmark of OSU recruiting has always been keeping the best in-state players at home. Making a point to recruit their own backyard, the coaching staff knows the importance of building a secure border around the Ohio state lines. Most of the time, the program sees the top-ranked in-state players picking the Buckeyes in the end.
The staff can’t sign everyone in Ohio, but these coaches have a strategic plan for who they go after. Many times, as a result of their national success, the Buckeyes only have room for a select few guys in a given class. Sure, some years are going to have deeper classes in Ohio with talent, causing the staff to take more commitments from their own in-state players, but even if there’s more of a nation-wide feel to a certain recruiting class, Ohio will always be a priority.
Every high school in Ohio is being looked at, and there’s not a stone that’s left unturned by this coaching staff and by Mark Pantoni. Though some more than others produce Division I and P4 talent, you can bet this group of coaches know where to look for their next top in-state kid.
Prep powers such as Cincinnati Moeller, Akron Hoban, Cleveland Glenville, Lakewood St. Edward, Huber Heights Wayne and several others may highlight the list of Ohio high schools that produce the most talent each year, but there’s a ton of programs in-state that have great track records of players making it to the next level. In this case, there’s one high school that seems to be increasing their production...
It wasn’t all that long ago that the Buckeyes were able to land the commitment of Ironton, Ohio product Reid Carrico. The class of 2021 linebacker was a top-five player in Ohio, and though it never worked out for him in Columbus with playing time, it’s still a player that the staff was able to bring in from a program that has in-state DI-caliber talent.
Looking at the program now, Ironton boasts multiple players with DI offers, and leads to the notion that Ohio State is likely paying close attention already — rightfully so, as this high school looks to be on the rise when it comes to producing top talent each year.
Shaun Terry, a 5-foot-10, 170 pound athlete is currently committed to Notre Dame, and has been since February. A three-star, Terry is the No. 637 player nationally and the 105th best receiver in the class per the 247Sports Composite. On top of his national ranking, being the No. 21 player in Ohio is one worth watching.
An offer list that is near 30 schools, and from the likes of Auburn, Kentucky, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, USC, and others is impressive, but the glaring aspect of his recruitment: no Ohio State offer.
Terry is a player that visited the Buckeyes and heard from the staff, but Hartline tends to get who he wants each cycle at the position, and for whatever the reason the offer has yet to be extended. The staff expects to land multiple of their top targets as they tend to do, but it is very possible an offer is extended if Ohio State starts to re-evaluate and its their mind. The question then, however, would be whether or not it’s too late.
Elsewhere, Joshua Johnson is another class of 2025 Ironton product that is seeing DI interest from several P4 schools. A 6-foot-3, 185 pound safety, Johnson is also a three-star prospect and the No. 909 player nationally as well as the 76th best safety in the class, per the 247Sports Composite.
A situation similar to Terry, the Buckeyes expect to round out their class with their top target safeties, which of course depending on outlet features the No. 1 and No. 2 players in the country at that spot — one of which is also an Ohio native. All that said, that likely points to the reason the staff hasn’t offered, but Iowa, Michigan State, Penn State, Tennessee, and several more are happy to oblige.
Ironton is a prep program worth watching. It may not be a powerhouse when it comes to producing elite talent every year like other national powers such as the Mater Dei’s of the world, but there’s enough players getting to the next level that shows this program needs to be evaluated both now and in the future.
Sure, Ohio State may land guys at the same positions that are higher-ranked players, but with talent in-state being produced at this program consistently more now than maybe ever, this is a school that should see the Buckeyes sniffing around often.
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
Ironton is continuing to produce some P4 prospects that should catch Ohio State’s attention.
When it comes to recruiting, regardless of year, Ohio State is going to contend for many of the nation’s best players no matter where they are from. A perk of the brand, the Buckeyes bring in top players for many reasons, but their contention for a national title every year and the ability to develop NFL talent keeps them atop of the college football landscape when it comes to bringing in top-five recruiting classes.
Despite their national reach, one tried-and-true hallmark of OSU recruiting has always been keeping the best in-state players at home. Making a point to recruit their own backyard, the coaching staff knows the importance of building a secure border around the Ohio state lines. Most of the time, the program sees the top-ranked in-state players picking the Buckeyes in the end.
The staff can’t sign everyone in Ohio, but these coaches have a strategic plan for who they go after. Many times, as a result of their national success, the Buckeyes only have room for a select few guys in a given class. Sure, some years are going to have deeper classes in Ohio with talent, causing the staff to take more commitments from their own in-state players, but even if there’s more of a nation-wide feel to a certain recruiting class, Ohio will always be a priority.
Every high school in Ohio is being looked at, and there’s not a stone that’s left unturned by this coaching staff and by Mark Pantoni. Though some more than others produce Division I and P4 talent, you can bet this group of coaches know where to look for their next top in-state kid.
Prep powers such as Cincinnati Moeller, Akron Hoban, Cleveland Glenville, Lakewood St. Edward, Huber Heights Wayne and several others may highlight the list of Ohio high schools that produce the most talent each year, but there’s a ton of programs in-state that have great track records of players making it to the next level. In this case, there’s one high school that seems to be increasing their production...
Ironton High School
It wasn’t all that long ago that the Buckeyes were able to land the commitment of Ironton, Ohio product Reid Carrico. The class of 2021 linebacker was a top-five player in Ohio, and though it never worked out for him in Columbus with playing time, it’s still a player that the staff was able to bring in from a program that has in-state DI-caliber talent.
Looking at the program now, Ironton boasts multiple players with DI offers, and leads to the notion that Ohio State is likely paying close attention already — rightfully so, as this high school looks to be on the rise when it comes to producing top talent each year.
Shaun Terry, a 5-foot-10, 170 pound athlete is currently committed to Notre Dame, and has been since February. A three-star, Terry is the No. 637 player nationally and the 105th best receiver in the class per the 247Sports Composite. On top of his national ranking, being the No. 21 player in Ohio is one worth watching.
An offer list that is near 30 schools, and from the likes of Auburn, Kentucky, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, USC, and others is impressive, but the glaring aspect of his recruitment: no Ohio State offer.
Terry is a player that visited the Buckeyes and heard from the staff, but Hartline tends to get who he wants each cycle at the position, and for whatever the reason the offer has yet to be extended. The staff expects to land multiple of their top targets as they tend to do, but it is very possible an offer is extended if Ohio State starts to re-evaluate and its their mind. The question then, however, would be whether or not it’s too late.
Elsewhere, Joshua Johnson is another class of 2025 Ironton product that is seeing DI interest from several P4 schools. A 6-foot-3, 185 pound safety, Johnson is also a three-star prospect and the No. 909 player nationally as well as the 76th best safety in the class, per the 247Sports Composite.
A situation similar to Terry, the Buckeyes expect to round out their class with their top target safeties, which of course depending on outlet features the No. 1 and No. 2 players in the country at that spot — one of which is also an Ohio native. All that said, that likely points to the reason the staff hasn’t offered, but Iowa, Michigan State, Penn State, Tennessee, and several more are happy to oblige.
Ironton is a prep program worth watching. It may not be a powerhouse when it comes to producing elite talent every year like other national powers such as the Mater Dei’s of the world, but there’s enough players getting to the next level that shows this program needs to be evaluated both now and in the future.
Sure, Ohio State may land guys at the same positions that are higher-ranked players, but with talent in-state being produced at this program consistently more now than maybe ever, this is a school that should see the Buckeyes sniffing around often.
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2026 AL LB Anthony Jones(Verbal Offer)
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Class: 2026
School: Mobile(AL) St. Paul's Episcopal
Position: LB
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 240lbs
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Class: 2026
School: Mobile(AL) St. Paul's Episcopal
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Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 240lbs
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2026 FL WR Naeem Burroughs(Verbal Offer)
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Class: 2026
Position: WR
School: Jacksonville(FL) Bolles
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 165lbs
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Weight: 165lbs
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2025 FL OL Ziyare Addison(Verbal Offer)
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Class: 2025
School: Riverview(FL) Sumner
Position: OT
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 280lbs
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LGHL Ohio State offers 2026 Texas LB, lock in official visit date with top 2025 RB target
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Ohio State offers 2026 Texas LB, lock in official visit date with top 2025 RB target
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kosi Okpala | 247Sports
The Buckeyes’ latest offer was sent out to a 2026 linebacker.
Ohio State’s coaching staff has been all over the country in full evaluation mode looking for the next commit, and Wednesday was no different for the Buckeyes.
Offering its latest player in the 2026 class, Ohio State made headlines in Houston, Texas by getting in the mix for linebacker prospect, Kosi Okpala. Position coach James Laurinaitis made the trek south and offered in-person, and the 6-foot-2, 215-pound athlete came away pretty excited to have the Buckeyes now on his list of nearly 20 offers to his name.
The No. 157 player nationally and 14th best linebacker in the class per the 247Sports Composite, Okpala has schools such as Alabama, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, USC, and several others already calling, but this Ohio State offer isn’t just another one on the list. The goal of course is now to get him to Columbus to really show him all that they have to offer, especially with Laurinaitis firmly at the helm of his group.
A busy past few weeks for Okpala, a majority of these offers are recent, and Ohio State getting in the mix shows why many others are following suit. With the recent success in Houston, specifically in the 2025 class, it doesn’t hurt the Buckeyes either as they try and land another player from the talent-rich area. The program’s overall track record of developing players from the Lone Star State should speak for itself too.
Mater Dei product Jordon Davison continues to be Ohio State’s top running back target in the 2025 class. The No. 95 player nationally and seventh-best running back per the 247Sports Composite, Davison along with Ohio native Bo Jackson are the two priorities, but as it’s been seen on the Crystal Ball, Ohio State does have other prospects starting to gain some tread.
At any rate, while the staff continues to pursue Davison, his summer plans include Ohio State getting the RB’s last scheduled official visit. Set to see Alabama, Michigan, Oregon, and then the Buckeyes, in that order, getting the California native back to Columbus is of course a major win. Not only will he get to see the program once again, but also to have the opportunity to stay freshly in his mind as he concludes his visits.
With those four programs, it’s Ohio State and Oregon who are the top two suitors, and with Carlos Locklyn now with the Buckeyes, certainly this is a major reason as to why the scarlet and gray are keeping right atop of the list as a leader for his services.
Needing at least two at the position for this 2025 haul, it’s getting closer to decision time for Ohio State’s top targets, and this summer may very well be what puts their efforts over the top.
Spending time at Gaffney High School, Frye was able to check in with the coaches and likely to hear about 2025 prospect Shedrick Sarratt Jr. A 6-foot-4, 290 pound offensive tackle, Sarratt Jr. is the No. 382 player nationally and the 33rd best tackle per the 247Sports Composite.
Not the only Divison I talent at the prep program, Gaffney also has 2026 lineman Scottland Dover as another top player on their current roster.
Doing his due diligence, Frye is smart to check in on schools that have this caliber of linemen at their disposal. There is still work to be done to land more OL in this current cycle, and the Buckeyes are full-steam ahead.
The No. 290 player nationally and 26th best safety per 247Sports, Stewart is one of two safeties already committed, but this staff is going after two more heavy hitters and won’t rest until they too are ready to decide.
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Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kosi Okpala | 247Sports
The Buckeyes’ latest offer was sent out to a 2026 linebacker.
Ohio State’s coaching staff has been all over the country in full evaluation mode looking for the next commit, and Wednesday was no different for the Buckeyes.
Offering its latest player in the 2026 class, Ohio State made headlines in Houston, Texas by getting in the mix for linebacker prospect, Kosi Okpala. Position coach James Laurinaitis made the trek south and offered in-person, and the 6-foot-2, 215-pound athlete came away pretty excited to have the Buckeyes now on his list of nearly 20 offers to his name.
The No. 157 player nationally and 14th best linebacker in the class per the 247Sports Composite, Okpala has schools such as Alabama, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, USC, and several others already calling, but this Ohio State offer isn’t just another one on the list. The goal of course is now to get him to Columbus to really show him all that they have to offer, especially with Laurinaitis firmly at the helm of his group.
A busy past few weeks for Okpala, a majority of these offers are recent, and Ohio State getting in the mix shows why many others are following suit. With the recent success in Houston, specifically in the 2025 class, it doesn’t hurt the Buckeyes either as they try and land another player from the talent-rich area. The program’s overall track record of developing players from the Lone Star State should speak for itself too.
#AGTG Thanks to @JLaurinaitis55 for visiting and I’m blessed to receive an offer from Ohio State!️#BIA @CoachJensen3 @rashadbobino44 @DonnieBaggs_ @CoachWashMCHS pic.twitter.com/6miID59ibN
— Kos! ‘26 OLB (@Kosi_Okpala) May 15, 2024
Official visits locked in for OSU’s top RB target
Mater Dei product Jordon Davison continues to be Ohio State’s top running back target in the 2025 class. The No. 95 player nationally and seventh-best running back per the 247Sports Composite, Davison along with Ohio native Bo Jackson are the two priorities, but as it’s been seen on the Crystal Ball, Ohio State does have other prospects starting to gain some tread.
At any rate, while the staff continues to pursue Davison, his summer plans include Ohio State getting the RB’s last scheduled official visit. Set to see Alabama, Michigan, Oregon, and then the Buckeyes, in that order, getting the California native back to Columbus is of course a major win. Not only will he get to see the program once again, but also to have the opportunity to stay freshly in his mind as he concludes his visits.
With those four programs, it’s Ohio State and Oregon who are the top two suitors, and with Carlos Locklyn now with the Buckeyes, certainly this is a major reason as to why the scarlet and gray are keeping right atop of the list as a leader for his services.
Needing at least two at the position for this 2025 haul, it’s getting closer to decision time for Ohio State’s top targets, and this summer may very well be what puts their efforts over the top.
Quick Hits
- Ohio State’s defensive staffers weren’t the only ones out of the road on Wednesday, as offensive line coach Justin Frye was also making his rounds, and did so by making a stop in South Carolina.
Spending time at Gaffney High School, Frye was able to check in with the coaches and likely to hear about 2025 prospect Shedrick Sarratt Jr. A 6-foot-4, 290 pound offensive tackle, Sarratt Jr. is the No. 382 player nationally and the 33rd best tackle per the 247Sports Composite.
Not the only Divison I talent at the prep program, Gaffney also has 2026 lineman Scottland Dover as another top player on their current roster.
Doing his due diligence, Frye is smart to check in on schools that have this caliber of linemen at their disposal. There is still work to be done to land more OL in this current cycle, and the Buckeyes are full-steam ahead.
- Current Ohio State 2025 commit DeShawn Stewart has his official visit with his future program locked in, as he plans to get back to Columbus for a weekend stay starting May 31. Sure to be one of the bigger weekends of the summer, Ohio State is set to host a ton of their current commits and top targets in the coming weeks. Having players already in the fold also on campus is sure to be further help, as peer recruiting can’t be overlooked as a major method of reaching other guys.
The No. 290 player nationally and 26th best safety per 247Sports, Stewart is one of two safeties already committed, but this staff is going after two more heavy hitters and won’t rest until they too are ready to decide.
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