-
Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
LGHL Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams ready to ‘make more memories’ with the Buckeyes in 2024
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams ready to ‘make more memories’ with the Buckeyes in 2024
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Lawrence Iles/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The defensive tackle’s surprise return for his fourth season was like getting an additional five-star recruit for one year.
Every day from now until the start of the season, Land-Grant Holy Land is highlighting Ohio State football players that you should be watching this season. Check out all of our ”Player to Watch” articles to get ready for the season opener against Akron.
Of the several Buckeyes who announced they would return for one more year in 2024 instead of entering the NFL Draft, one of the most surprising players to make that decision was defensive tackle Tyleik Williams.
The 6-foot-3 native of Manassas, Virginia was rated as high as third among NFL tackles coming out of college (if he’d come out), and could have had a nice payday as perhaps a Day 2 pick. But Williams decided he wasn’t done being a college football player, announcing on social media Jan. 3 that he was going to return for another season in Columbus.
The announcement made it sound like he was saying goodbye... until he didn’t.
Williams is coming off a season in which he tied Jack Sawyer for the team lead in tackles for loss (10), finished sixth among all Buckeyes and first among defensive linemen in tackles (53 — 20 solo and 33 assists), and was third on the team in sacks (3). He also broke up five passes and recorded one quarterback hurry. It was a big season for the big guy, and he capped it by earning all-Big Ten second team honors as chosen by the media.
As a freshman in 2021, Williams was an impact depth player, playing in 12 games and finishing the season with five sacks in his first college season. Of his 16 tackles (10 solo, 6 assists) as a freshman, 6.5 were for loss. He also broke up two passes, recorded two quarterback hurries, and forced a fumble. Those impact plays tantalized Buckeye fans as Williams was an all-Big Ten honorable mention and was named a Freshman All-American by ESPN, 247Sports, and Pro Football Focus.
Williams played in all 13 games in his sophomore season, but his numbers were not as strong in his second year at Ohio State. He managed a few more tackles (21 — 10 solo, 11 assists), but recorded only one sack and 2.5 tackles for loss while defending two passes. He was again named an all-Big Ten honorable mention.
However, Williams’ resurgence in 2023 was impressive. Williams was part of the nation’s third-rated team in total defense.
Entering his senior season, Williams has some big expectations to live up to. He enters the season with 90 career tackles to lead all active Buckeyes, and he was named to the 2024 Walter Camp Preseason All-America second team.
What would a successful season for Williams look like? As a defensive tackle, it’s difficult to put up big numbers. One thing Williams will want to help Ohio State improve upon is the team’s No. 29 ranking in rushing defense from last year. A more stout run defense would go a long way toward getting the Buckeyes closer to their goals for the season.
In 2023, the Buckeyes allowed 119.46 yards per game on the ground. That was decent, if not spectacular, nationally, but Ohio State still finished fifth in the Big Ten in that category. If the new teams had joined the conference a year earlier, the Buckeyes would have sunk to seventh, finishing behind UCLA and Oregon in addition to Penn State, Michigan, Nebraska, and Iowa in rushing defense.
On the flip side, Williams will want to maintain Ohio State’s status as the national leader in passing defense. With quick defensive tackles getting push up the middle, guys like Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau on the edges, and a good corps of defensive backs, the Buckeyes allowed just 145.9 yards per game through the air in 2023. The team was also excellent in keeping the opposition from scoring, finishing second nationally in scoring defense by allowing just 11.2 points per game.
With players like Williams back in 2024, there’s no reason to think Jim Knowles’ defense can’t finish around where it did last year in the areas where it excelled, while improving on the rushing defense.
Whether Williams returned to improve his draft stock, beat Michigan, win a national championship, or simply because he wants to enjoy one more year in Columbus, the Buckeyes are fortunate to have him back. Now it’s up to him to make those memories and help his teammates do the same.
Continue reading...
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Lawrence Iles/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The defensive tackle’s surprise return for his fourth season was like getting an additional five-star recruit for one year.
Every day from now until the start of the season, Land-Grant Holy Land is highlighting Ohio State football players that you should be watching this season. Check out all of our ”Player to Watch” articles to get ready for the season opener against Akron.
Of the several Buckeyes who announced they would return for one more year in 2024 instead of entering the NFL Draft, one of the most surprising players to make that decision was defensive tackle Tyleik Williams.
The 6-foot-3 native of Manassas, Virginia was rated as high as third among NFL tackles coming out of college (if he’d come out), and could have had a nice payday as perhaps a Day 2 pick. But Williams decided he wasn’t done being a college football player, announcing on social media Jan. 3 that he was going to return for another season in Columbus.
The announcement made it sound like he was saying goodbye... until he didn’t.
RELOAD THAT MF CLIP#FREE91 pic.twitter.com/lxTeScUi9F
— Tyleik Williams € (@tyleikk) January 3, 2024
Williams is coming off a season in which he tied Jack Sawyer for the team lead in tackles for loss (10), finished sixth among all Buckeyes and first among defensive linemen in tackles (53 — 20 solo and 33 assists), and was third on the team in sacks (3). He also broke up five passes and recorded one quarterback hurry. It was a big season for the big guy, and he capped it by earning all-Big Ten second team honors as chosen by the media.
As a freshman in 2021, Williams was an impact depth player, playing in 12 games and finishing the season with five sacks in his first college season. Of his 16 tackles (10 solo, 6 assists) as a freshman, 6.5 were for loss. He also broke up two passes, recorded two quarterback hurries, and forced a fumble. Those impact plays tantalized Buckeye fans as Williams was an all-Big Ten honorable mention and was named a Freshman All-American by ESPN, 247Sports, and Pro Football Focus.
Williams played in all 13 games in his sophomore season, but his numbers were not as strong in his second year at Ohio State. He managed a few more tackles (21 — 10 solo, 11 assists), but recorded only one sack and 2.5 tackles for loss while defending two passes. He was again named an all-Big Ten honorable mention.
However, Williams’ resurgence in 2023 was impressive. Williams was part of the nation’s third-rated team in total defense.
Entering his senior season, Williams has some big expectations to live up to. He enters the season with 90 career tackles to lead all active Buckeyes, and he was named to the 2024 Walter Camp Preseason All-America second team.
What would a successful season for Williams look like? As a defensive tackle, it’s difficult to put up big numbers. One thing Williams will want to help Ohio State improve upon is the team’s No. 29 ranking in rushing defense from last year. A more stout run defense would go a long way toward getting the Buckeyes closer to their goals for the season.
In 2023, the Buckeyes allowed 119.46 yards per game on the ground. That was decent, if not spectacular, nationally, but Ohio State still finished fifth in the Big Ten in that category. If the new teams had joined the conference a year earlier, the Buckeyes would have sunk to seventh, finishing behind UCLA and Oregon in addition to Penn State, Michigan, Nebraska, and Iowa in rushing defense.
On the flip side, Williams will want to maintain Ohio State’s status as the national leader in passing defense. With quick defensive tackles getting push up the middle, guys like Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau on the edges, and a good corps of defensive backs, the Buckeyes allowed just 145.9 yards per game through the air in 2023. The team was also excellent in keeping the opposition from scoring, finishing second nationally in scoring defense by allowing just 11.2 points per game.
With players like Williams back in 2024, there’s no reason to think Jim Knowles’ defense can’t finish around where it did last year in the areas where it excelled, while improving on the rushing defense.
Whether Williams returned to improve his draft stock, beat Michigan, win a national championship, or simply because he wants to enjoy one more year in Columbus, the Buckeyes are fortunate to have him back. Now it’s up to him to make those memories and help his teammates do the same.
Continue reading...
LGHL Football Buckeyes had a big scrimmage this weekend, get all of details here
- News
- 0 Replies
Football Buckeyes had a big scrimmage this weekend, get all of details here
Matt Tamanini 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/Getty Images
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
Subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network for all of your Ohio State needs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
Cody Simon embracing leadership role at linebacker for Ohio State
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land
Jermaine Mathews Jr. may be the most important ‘non-starter’ on Ohio State’s depth chart in 2024
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Landy Land
Julian Sayin is one of the most impressive freshman QBs we’ve seen in a while
Megan Husslein, Land-Grant Holy Land
Practice Observations as Buckeyes prepare for pivotal scrimmage (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes
Gleitman’s Goods: Buzz from Ohio State’s first scrimmage (paywall)
Alex Gleitman, Lettermen Row
Quick Hits: Hartline & the Receivers
Chase Brown, Dan Hope, Garrick Hodge and Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Quick Hits: Walton & the Cornerbacks
Chase Brown, Dan Hope, Garrick Hodge and Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Jeremiah Smith endorses Will Howard amid Ohio State QB competition
Grant Hughes, 247Sports
Ohio State QB Will Howard gains prominent endorsement from CB Denzel Burke for starting job
Cody Nagel, 247Sports
Buckeye Nation is anxiously awaiting Ryan Day announcing a starting quarterback
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Not the only home runs he’s gonna be hitting for Pittsburgh this year:
Key Takeaways as Buckeyes build more depth, swagger at corner (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the eyes
Hartline leaning on Egbuka as he brings young wide receivers along
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
You’re Nuts: Which Buckeye veteran do you think will surprise people this season?
Matt Tamanini and Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land
“You’re Going to Feel No. 1 Out There”: Ohio State Cornerback Davison Igbinosun Developing Reputation for Talking Trash on the Field and Backing It Up
Garrick Hodge, Eleven Warriors
You’re Nuts: Will Ohio State patch up inconsistent defense during Jake Diebler’s first year?
Conor Lemons and Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land
I’m ready for this:
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini 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/Getty Images
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
For your Earholes...
Subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network for all of your Ohio State needs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
Today’s Players to Watch
Cody Simon embracing leadership role at linebacker for Ohio State
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land
Jermaine Mathews Jr. may be the most important ‘non-starter’ on Ohio State’s depth chart in 2024
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Landy Land
Julian Sayin is one of the most impressive freshman QBs we’ve seen in a while
Megan Husslein, Land-Grant Holy Land
On the Gridiron
Practice Observations as Buckeyes prepare for pivotal scrimmage (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes
Gleitman’s Goods: Buzz from Ohio State’s first scrimmage (paywall)
Alex Gleitman, Lettermen Row
Quick Hits: Hartline & the Receivers
Chase Brown, Dan Hope, Garrick Hodge and Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Quick Hits: Walton & the Cornerbacks
Chase Brown, Dan Hope, Garrick Hodge and Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Jeremiah Smith endorses Will Howard amid Ohio State QB competition
Grant Hughes, 247Sports
Ohio State QB Will Howard gains prominent endorsement from CB Denzel Burke for starting job
Cody Nagel, 247Sports
Buckeye Nation is anxiously awaiting Ryan Day announcing a starting quarterback
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Not the only home runs he’s gonna be hitting for Pittsburgh this year:
Key Takeaways as Buckeyes build more depth, swagger at corner (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the eyes
Hartline leaning on Egbuka as he brings young wide receivers along
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
You’re Nuts: Which Buckeye veteran do you think will surprise people this season?
Matt Tamanini and Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land
“You’re Going to Feel No. 1 Out There”: Ohio State Cornerback Davison Igbinosun Developing Reputation for Talking Trash on the Field and Backing It Up
Garrick Hodge, Eleven Warriors
On the Hardwood
You’re Nuts: Will Ohio State patch up inconsistent defense during Jake Diebler’s first year?
Conor Lemons and Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land
And now for something completely different...
I’m ready for this:
Continue reading...
LGHL Power Two Podcast: The New Era of the SEC
- News
- 0 Replies
Power Two Podcast: The New Era of the SEC
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by LSU Athletics/University Images via Getty Images
Is this the last we see of a college football super-team? Or will a new one immediately emerge?
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s Power Two Podcast. On this show, we talk about Big Ten and SEC football…and everyone else. This show is for the die-hard fans and the casual college football fans.
After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the major matchups of the previous weekend and look ahead at the games, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week.
My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host DaNaysia Jones. Lock in as we do a power sweep through the college football landscape.
With the Olympic Games having officially concluded, we take a moment to discuss our favorite moments and athletes from the games.
Today we preview one of our namesake conferences: the SEC. Known for its fierce competition and rabid fanbases, the SEC enters this season with high expectations, several title contenders, and juicy storylines.
The teams to watch this season are clear: Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss, and Texas. But who will rise to the top? Nick Saban’s retirement has presented new opportunities for the top contenders. DJ and Jordan discuss the potential effect this will have this year and his impact on the sport.
Georgia, under the steady leadership of Kirby Smart, is seeking to continue its dominance in the conference and the nation. Alabama, now under the leadership of head coach Kalen DeBoer, remains a force to be reckoned with. Will Texas continue to be successful in this new conference landscape? With new playoff rules and momentum from the previous season, Ole Miss should not be counted out either.
As always, the SEC’s depth means that surprises and upsets are likely throughout the season. The 2024 season is shaping up to be another thrilling year, with intense rivalries, future NFL stars, and the possibility of yet another national champion emerging from the conference. Jordan and DJ offer their thoughts on where this conference will stand as they usher in a new era.
With just two weeks left before kickoff, the excitement for the upcoming season is starting to settle in.
Follow the show on YouTube: @JordanW330
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @PowerTwoPodcast
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and DJ:@dj_danaysia
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
Photo by LSU Athletics/University Images via Getty Images
Is this the last we see of a college football super-team? Or will a new one immediately emerge?
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s Power Two Podcast. On this show, we talk about Big Ten and SEC football…and everyone else. This show is for the die-hard fans and the casual college football fans.
After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the major matchups of the previous weekend and look ahead at the games, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week.
My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host DaNaysia Jones. Lock in as we do a power sweep through the college football landscape.
With the Olympic Games having officially concluded, we take a moment to discuss our favorite moments and athletes from the games.
Today we preview one of our namesake conferences: the SEC. Known for its fierce competition and rabid fanbases, the SEC enters this season with high expectations, several title contenders, and juicy storylines.
The teams to watch this season are clear: Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss, and Texas. But who will rise to the top? Nick Saban’s retirement has presented new opportunities for the top contenders. DJ and Jordan discuss the potential effect this will have this year and his impact on the sport.
Georgia, under the steady leadership of Kirby Smart, is seeking to continue its dominance in the conference and the nation. Alabama, now under the leadership of head coach Kalen DeBoer, remains a force to be reckoned with. Will Texas continue to be successful in this new conference landscape? With new playoff rules and momentum from the previous season, Ole Miss should not be counted out either.
As always, the SEC’s depth means that surprises and upsets are likely throughout the season. The 2024 season is shaping up to be another thrilling year, with intense rivalries, future NFL stars, and the possibility of yet another national champion emerging from the conference. Jordan and DJ offer their thoughts on where this conference will stand as they usher in a new era.
With just two weeks left before kickoff, the excitement for the upcoming season is starting to settle in.
Follow the show on YouTube: @JordanW330
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @PowerTwoPodcast
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and DJ:@dj_danaysia
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State misses out on four-star DB, trending poorly for pair of OL
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State misses out on four-star DB, trending poorly for pair of OL
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Four-star 2025 safety Messiah Delhomme | 247Sports
The Buckeyes have had a less than stellar last few weeks on the recruiting trail.
Ohio State still lays claim to the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation in 2025, but the Buckeyes’ chances of holding onto that lead come National Signing Day have become a lot slimmer after a tough few weeks on the trail.
On Saturday, Ohio State missed out on four-star safety Messiah Delhomme, who announced his commitment to Maryland. Delhomme, the No. 16 safety and No. 192 player nationally per the 247Sports Composite, chose the Terrapins out of a final six schools list that also included the Buckeyes alongside Alabama, Syracuse, Virginia and Virginia Tech.
It seemed as though Delhomme would become a much bigger target for Ohio State after in-state safety Trey McNutt announced his commitment Oregon, but it doesn’t sound like any sort of late push took place for the Buckeyes. Instead, position coach Matt Guerrieri will settle on a three-man class at the position that includes Faheem Delane (No. 2 safety), Cody Haddad (No. 20), and Deshawn Stewart (No. 26).
Elsewhere, Ohio State appears headed for bad news in regards to the top two offensive linemen remaining on its board. The big one, of course, being five-star offensive tackle David Sanders. Jr., who is now trending towards Tennessee.
It has long felt like a two-school battle between Ohio State and Tennessee for the nation’s No. 1 OT and No. 2 overall player, but the closer-to-home Volunteers now have all the momentum with just a few days remaining under Sanders’ Aug. 17 commitment date. The lone 247Sports Crystal Ball as well as all four On3 RPM’s sit with Tennessee, and while these predictions aren’t the end-all be-all, they are more often than not a good indication of the final result.
Elsewhere, the Buckeyes had seemingly come on strong of late for fellow five-star offensive lineman Josh Petty, but the Georgia native is now trending heavily towards Georgia Tech.
Petty, the No. 2 OT and No. 14 player overall per 247Sports’ rankings, is set to announce his decision on Monday between a final five of Florida State, Georgia Tech, Ohio State, Stanford and Tennessee. The Yellow Jackets appear to be his most likely destination, as all four Crystal Balls and three RPM’s favorite the in-state program.
As far as things go for Ohio State, this is a pretty disastrous outcome. The Buckeyes had virtually all of their eggs in the Sanders basket, outside of the late push for Petty, and now come away with just two offensive linemen committed in the 2025 class and with few other options still out there. There no other uncommitted offensive tackles with OSU offers outside of Sanders and Petty, and the only interior prospect still on the board is three-star Maryland native Jayvon McFadden.
Even if they are to land McFadden, which is a big ‘if’ at this point with how the rest of the recruiting at this position has gone, a two or three-man class with only one blue chip prospect in four-star Ohio native Carter Lowe is pretty much a nightmare scenario for the Buckeyes, who will almost certainly be losing at least three if not four of the five starters this season to the NFL Draft and graduation.
It is tough to imagine that position coach Justin Frye isn’t on the hot seat, who came in to try and fix the recruiting woes caused by Greg Studrawa, and has instead replicated them. Ohio State is simply not casting a wide enough net when it comes to recruiting offensive linemen, only offering 29 OL in this cycle (19 tackles and 10 IOL), compared to schools like Alabama (37), Georgia (46) and Michigan (44). Whether it's poor process or just plain laziness, that type of effort isn’t going to get the job done at the highest level.
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Four-star 2025 safety Messiah Delhomme | 247Sports
The Buckeyes have had a less than stellar last few weeks on the recruiting trail.
Ohio State still lays claim to the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation in 2025, but the Buckeyes’ chances of holding onto that lead come National Signing Day have become a lot slimmer after a tough few weeks on the trail.
On Saturday, Ohio State missed out on four-star safety Messiah Delhomme, who announced his commitment to Maryland. Delhomme, the No. 16 safety and No. 192 player nationally per the 247Sports Composite, chose the Terrapins out of a final six schools list that also included the Buckeyes alongside Alabama, Syracuse, Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Glad to say I’m part of the terps family@CoachLocks @ZSpavital @Latrell__Scott @Rivals @Coach_D_Moody pic.twitter.com/hWaEjfkEaR
— Messiah Delhomme (@DelhommeMessiah) August 11, 2024
It seemed as though Delhomme would become a much bigger target for Ohio State after in-state safety Trey McNutt announced his commitment Oregon, but it doesn’t sound like any sort of late push took place for the Buckeyes. Instead, position coach Matt Guerrieri will settle on a three-man class at the position that includes Faheem Delane (No. 2 safety), Cody Haddad (No. 20), and Deshawn Stewart (No. 26).
Elsewhere, Ohio State appears headed for bad news in regards to the top two offensive linemen remaining on its board. The big one, of course, being five-star offensive tackle David Sanders. Jr., who is now trending towards Tennessee.
It has long felt like a two-school battle between Ohio State and Tennessee for the nation’s No. 1 OT and No. 2 overall player, but the closer-to-home Volunteers now have all the momentum with just a few days remaining under Sanders’ Aug. 17 commitment date. The lone 247Sports Crystal Ball as well as all four On3 RPM’s sit with Tennessee, and while these predictions aren’t the end-all be-all, they are more often than not a good indication of the final result.
Elsewhere, the Buckeyes had seemingly come on strong of late for fellow five-star offensive lineman Josh Petty, but the Georgia native is now trending heavily towards Georgia Tech.
On3’s @SWiltfong_ and @ChadSimmons_ have logged expert predictions for Georgia Tech to land 5-star IOL Josh Petty
Petty ranks No. 29 NATL. (No. 2 IOL) in the 2025 class
Read: https://t.co/titxn2Mv7Y pic.twitter.com/7DnQnLgUTf
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) August 8, 2024
Petty, the No. 2 OT and No. 14 player overall per 247Sports’ rankings, is set to announce his decision on Monday between a final five of Florida State, Georgia Tech, Ohio State, Stanford and Tennessee. The Yellow Jackets appear to be his most likely destination, as all four Crystal Balls and three RPM’s favorite the in-state program.
As far as things go for Ohio State, this is a pretty disastrous outcome. The Buckeyes had virtually all of their eggs in the Sanders basket, outside of the late push for Petty, and now come away with just two offensive linemen committed in the 2025 class and with few other options still out there. There no other uncommitted offensive tackles with OSU offers outside of Sanders and Petty, and the only interior prospect still on the board is three-star Maryland native Jayvon McFadden.
Even if they are to land McFadden, which is a big ‘if’ at this point with how the rest of the recruiting at this position has gone, a two or three-man class with only one blue chip prospect in four-star Ohio native Carter Lowe is pretty much a nightmare scenario for the Buckeyes, who will almost certainly be losing at least three if not four of the five starters this season to the NFL Draft and graduation.
It is tough to imagine that position coach Justin Frye isn’t on the hot seat, who came in to try and fix the recruiting woes caused by Greg Studrawa, and has instead replicated them. Ohio State is simply not casting a wide enough net when it comes to recruiting offensive linemen, only offering 29 OL in this cycle (19 tackles and 10 IOL), compared to schools like Alabama (37), Georgia (46) and Michigan (44). Whether it's poor process or just plain laziness, that type of effort isn’t going to get the job done at the highest level.
Continue reading...
