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LGHL Buckeye Heroes: Joe Germaine stole Jake the Snake’s storybook ending in 1997 Rose Bowl
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Buckeye Heroes: Joe Germaine stole Jake the Snake’s storybook ending in 1997 Rose Bowl
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Jake Plummer had the heroic reputation, but Joe Germaine willed his team to a late victory in ‘The Granddaddy of them All.’
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 Ohio State heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history, or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.
The Arizona State Sun Devils were undefeated and ranked second in the country — with aspirations of a possible national title — when they arrived in Pasadena ahead of the 1997 Rose Bowl. Behind charismatic quarterback Jake ‘The Snake’ Plummer, who could make plays with both his feet and his arm, the Sun Devils were 11-0 and had scored a metric ton of points in breezing through the conference then known as the Pac-10.
Averaging about 43 points per game, the Sun Devils were rarely tested during the 1996 season. Washington had played them closely in the opener, a 45-42 thriller, and they needed two overtimes to slip past USC, but aside from that it was smooth sailing. Arizona State started the season ranked No. 20, but jumped into the Top 10 with a 19-0 win over top-ranked Nebraska and slowly worked its way to No. 2 by the end of the regular season.
By winning the Pac-10, the Sun Devils booked their tickets to Pasadena. A win, coupled with a Florida win over Florida State, would likely have given Arizona State an unlikely (when the season began) national title, whether split or outright. Bruce Snyder’s team had a lot to play for in the game known as “The Granddaddy of Them All.”
The Sun Devils’ opponents were an Ohio State team that had been the previous No. 2 team in the country before stumbling hard at home in a 13-9 loss to a three-loss Michigan team at the Horseshoe. The Buckeyes — one of John Cooper’s best squads — felt they still had an outside shot at a national championship if they could topple Arizona State convincingly and the Gators could narrowly upset the Seminoles, but that always seemed unlikely.
Still, it was the Rose Bowl, and in those days, the Rose Bowl was everything in Big Ten country. Ohio State hadn’t won that game in a while, somehow letting a victory slip through its fingers numerous times. However, the Buckeyes hadn’t even managed to reach the Rose Bowl in more than a decade.
The last OSU appearance in the Rose Bowl had been a heartbreaking 20-17 loss to USC in 1985. The Buckeyes had also lost to USC in 1980 by a single point. The last OSU win in the Rose Bowl had come in the 1974 iteration of the game.
The teams threw haymakers in the first half, with each team scoring on long touchdown drives in a game that swung back and forth. Stanley Jackson, part of Cooper’s two-man quarterback platoon — something I hated at the time — put Ohio State on top with a scrambling, 9-yard touchdown pass to David Boston. Ricky Boyer made a circus catch to tie the game on a 25-yard pass by Plummer.
The teams went to the locker room tied at 7-7. Arizona State took the lead for the first time in the third quarter on a 37-yard field goal. The Buckeyes responded with a 72-yard catch-and-run by Dimitrious Stanley from Joe Germaine, Ohio State’s “other” quarterback.
The transfer from Scottsdale Community College was short in stature but played with intelligence and a big heart. I didn’t think he was the better athlete, but I did see him as the better quarterback for that team. Still, it was Stanley who broke open against one-on-one coverage, caught the pass, and blazed down the field to the end zone to put Ohio State back on top. It was Ohio State’s longest bowl game pass play ever.
A big run by Pepe Pearson helped the Buckeyes get in field goal range, but disaster struck when Josh Jackson’s attempt was blocked by Brent Burnstein. A lateral to Derrick Rodgers appeared to give Arizona State the lead, but the pitch traveled forward, and the ball was brought back due to the penalty. Still, the Sun Devils had momentum and just a four-point deficit to overcome in the final five minutes.
Plummer worked the ball down the field, converting a third down, and then hitting a big pass play down the left sideline on a fourth down play. He then lived up to his name, scrambling through the OSU defense to score a rushing touchdown from 11 yards out with just 1:40 on the clock.
Enter Joe Germaine, Buckeye Hero.
With only one timeout, the Buckeyes took over on their 35-yard line, down 17-14. Germaine went to work on one of the biggest drives in Ohio State bowl history. After a couple near-misses to his tight end, Germaine converted a huge third down, hitting Stanley on a curl route. Three plays later, there as another third-and-long situation, and again Germaine hit Stanley down the middle. He hit Stanley again on an out route to move into field goal range and stop the clock.
After an Arizona State penalty moved the ball to the ASU 20. The Sun Devils started to panic in pass coverage, grabbing OSU receivers. The first wasn’t called, but the second was, as Boston was held on a post route, giving the Buckeyes a fresh set of downs.
Germaine made the most of it, dropping back, checking off his first option, and finding Boston in the flat on the right. The freshman wide receiver walked in, and Ohio State led with just seconds remaining. You’ve seen that play in highlight videos over the years. Here’s the entire drive:
It was a 65-yard, big-boy drive engineered by Germaine.
The defense held on for the final seconds and Ohio State had its first Rose Bowl victory in 23 years. In a one-bedroom apartment somewhere in Amarillo, Texas, a 30-year-old version of me wept tears of joy at finally seeing the Buckeyes win a Rose Bowl game for the first time since I was a small child.
Ohio State did not win the national championship when Florida beat Florida State. The Gators won easily and became the national champions. The Buckeyes had to settle for a No. 2 finish.
There were other heroes in that Rose Bowl. Stanley was one of them, as were all-world tackle Orlando Pace, linebacker Greg Bellisari, safety Damon Moore, cornerbacks Shawn Springs and Antoine Winfield, and Pearson. But Germaine was the game’s MVP. He deserved it.
He was a Buckeye hero.
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
Jake Plummer had the heroic reputation, but Joe Germaine willed his team to a late victory in ‘The Granddaddy of them All.’
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 Ohio State heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history, or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.
The Arizona State Sun Devils were undefeated and ranked second in the country — with aspirations of a possible national title — when they arrived in Pasadena ahead of the 1997 Rose Bowl. Behind charismatic quarterback Jake ‘The Snake’ Plummer, who could make plays with both his feet and his arm, the Sun Devils were 11-0 and had scored a metric ton of points in breezing through the conference then known as the Pac-10.
Averaging about 43 points per game, the Sun Devils were rarely tested during the 1996 season. Washington had played them closely in the opener, a 45-42 thriller, and they needed two overtimes to slip past USC, but aside from that it was smooth sailing. Arizona State started the season ranked No. 20, but jumped into the Top 10 with a 19-0 win over top-ranked Nebraska and slowly worked its way to No. 2 by the end of the regular season.
By winning the Pac-10, the Sun Devils booked their tickets to Pasadena. A win, coupled with a Florida win over Florida State, would likely have given Arizona State an unlikely (when the season began) national title, whether split or outright. Bruce Snyder’s team had a lot to play for in the game known as “The Granddaddy of Them All.”
The Sun Devils’ opponents were an Ohio State team that had been the previous No. 2 team in the country before stumbling hard at home in a 13-9 loss to a three-loss Michigan team at the Horseshoe. The Buckeyes — one of John Cooper’s best squads — felt they still had an outside shot at a national championship if they could topple Arizona State convincingly and the Gators could narrowly upset the Seminoles, but that always seemed unlikely.
Still, it was the Rose Bowl, and in those days, the Rose Bowl was everything in Big Ten country. Ohio State hadn’t won that game in a while, somehow letting a victory slip through its fingers numerous times. However, the Buckeyes hadn’t even managed to reach the Rose Bowl in more than a decade.
The last OSU appearance in the Rose Bowl had been a heartbreaking 20-17 loss to USC in 1985. The Buckeyes had also lost to USC in 1980 by a single point. The last OSU win in the Rose Bowl had come in the 1974 iteration of the game.
The teams threw haymakers in the first half, with each team scoring on long touchdown drives in a game that swung back and forth. Stanley Jackson, part of Cooper’s two-man quarterback platoon — something I hated at the time — put Ohio State on top with a scrambling, 9-yard touchdown pass to David Boston. Ricky Boyer made a circus catch to tie the game on a 25-yard pass by Plummer.
The teams went to the locker room tied at 7-7. Arizona State took the lead for the first time in the third quarter on a 37-yard field goal. The Buckeyes responded with a 72-yard catch-and-run by Dimitrious Stanley from Joe Germaine, Ohio State’s “other” quarterback.
The transfer from Scottsdale Community College was short in stature but played with intelligence and a big heart. I didn’t think he was the better athlete, but I did see him as the better quarterback for that team. Still, it was Stanley who broke open against one-on-one coverage, caught the pass, and blazed down the field to the end zone to put Ohio State back on top. It was Ohio State’s longest bowl game pass play ever.
A big run by Pepe Pearson helped the Buckeyes get in field goal range, but disaster struck when Josh Jackson’s attempt was blocked by Brent Burnstein. A lateral to Derrick Rodgers appeared to give Arizona State the lead, but the pitch traveled forward, and the ball was brought back due to the penalty. Still, the Sun Devils had momentum and just a four-point deficit to overcome in the final five minutes.
Plummer worked the ball down the field, converting a third down, and then hitting a big pass play down the left sideline on a fourth down play. He then lived up to his name, scrambling through the OSU defense to score a rushing touchdown from 11 yards out with just 1:40 on the clock.
Enter Joe Germaine, Buckeye Hero.
With only one timeout, the Buckeyes took over on their 35-yard line, down 17-14. Germaine went to work on one of the biggest drives in Ohio State bowl history. After a couple near-misses to his tight end, Germaine converted a huge third down, hitting Stanley on a curl route. Three plays later, there as another third-and-long situation, and again Germaine hit Stanley down the middle. He hit Stanley again on an out route to move into field goal range and stop the clock.
After an Arizona State penalty moved the ball to the ASU 20. The Sun Devils started to panic in pass coverage, grabbing OSU receivers. The first wasn’t called, but the second was, as Boston was held on a post route, giving the Buckeyes a fresh set of downs.
Germaine made the most of it, dropping back, checking off his first option, and finding Boston in the flat on the right. The freshman wide receiver walked in, and Ohio State led with just seconds remaining. You’ve seen that play in highlight videos over the years. Here’s the entire drive:
It was a 65-yard, big-boy drive engineered by Germaine.
The defense held on for the final seconds and Ohio State had its first Rose Bowl victory in 23 years. In a one-bedroom apartment somewhere in Amarillo, Texas, a 30-year-old version of me wept tears of joy at finally seeing the Buckeyes win a Rose Bowl game for the first time since I was a small child.
Ohio State did not win the national championship when Florida beat Florida State. The Gators won easily and became the national champions. The Buckeyes had to settle for a No. 2 finish.
There were other heroes in that Rose Bowl. Stanley was one of them, as were all-world tackle Orlando Pace, linebacker Greg Bellisari, safety Damon Moore, cornerbacks Shawn Springs and Antoine Winfield, and Pearson. But Germaine was the game’s MVP. He deserved it.
He was a Buckeye hero.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: Buckeye Heroes - Who will be the unsung hero of the 2024 Buckeyes?
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You’re Nuts: Buckeye Heroes - Who will be the unsung hero of the 2024 Buckeyes?
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 Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Predicting an under-the-radar player that will have a big impact this season for Ohio State.
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 Ohio State heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history, or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.
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 is all about heroes here at LGHL, and no, I am not referring to the Marvel variety. If I was, I would be arguing that Gambit is clearly and obviously the best of the bunch... But enough about X-Men and/or the failed Channing Tatum spin-off.
Back to the point, this week is specifically about Buckeye Heroes. And rather than debating Archie Griffin versus Eddie George, A.J. Hawk versus James Laurinaitis, or Kyle McCord versus... Just kidding... Gene and I decided to look into our respective crystal balls and at least attempt to predict the future. As in future, 2024-25 Buckeye Heroes.
But even that wasn’t quite good enough or specific enough for Gene. Ever the alternative thinker, he was not content to just say “I believe that Emeka Egbuka or Denzel Burke will be a hero on the gridiron this season.” So he suggested going the “unsung” route, which is right up my alley. Because, ya know, I did spend two consecutive summers writing about Forgotten Buckeyes.
Without further ado, I have a hunch that Josh Simmons is going to be one of Ohio State football’s unsung heroes this season. Which might sound crazy given the way last season ended, but hear me out:
Not only is Simmons seemingly cemented (barring injury, knock on wood) as OSU’s starting left tackle and blindside protector, but he might also be the team’s only offensive lineman capable of playing the position at even a respectable level. I mean, seriously, we haven’t seen another Buckeye take a meaningful snap at LT since the former San Diego State Aztec stepped on campus, which makes Simmons a very important piece of this season’s puzzle.
However, availability alone does not make one heroic. So it’s good – for the sake of my argument – that Simmons also played much better during the second half of last season. Sure, there was the Missouri game and the occasional penalty here or there, but for the most part, he was solid down the stretch. In fact, Simmons finished with the highest pass blocking grade among Ohio State’s OL starters, and he did not allow a single sack during the regular season. That ain’t nothin’, folks.
So now we’re talking about a player with experience, who got better and became more valuable as last season progressed. And I think Simmons will only continue that upward trajectory in 2024. Because remember, he was a summer transfer prior to last season. He got to Columbus in May and was immediately asked to change positions.
Simmons’ first start at OSU was his first collegiate start at left tackle. He was then forced to learn on the fly, against the likes of Notre Dame, Penn State, and Wisconsin... No easy task! But once Simmons settled in and November arrived, he began playing at a much higher level.
Now, am I predicting an All-American season for/from Simmons? No, not quite. I’m not willing to go that far. But I do think that he will become a steadying presence and a solid performer for the Buckeyes, as well as an All-Big Ten candidate. If Simmons does all of those things – and avoids the disaster moments – then I would/will feel comfortable calling him an unsung hero at season’s end.
My choice may not be as ‘unsung’ as it is unheralded or under-appreciated, but since this topic was my idea I can make my own rules! Along that vein, my choice for this exercise is cornerback Davison Igbinosun.
Much of the hype this offseason surrounding Ohio State’s defense has been about its loaded secondary. The addition of Caleb Downs was certainly an unexpected splash, and returning stars like Denzel Burke, Jordan Hancock and Lathan Ransom make this group one of if not the best in the country. However, the guy that gets lost in the shuffle a bit is Igbinosun, and his performance this season is going to be pivotal to the success of the defense as a whole.
Igbinosun was an iron man for the Buckeyes in 2023, playing by far the most snaps of any player in the secondary at 769, the second-most being Josh Proctor (627) followed by Burke (616). He finished the season third on the team with 59 tackles to go along with 1.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups and two fumble recoveries. Per PFF, he allowed 36 receptions on 70 targets as the most targeted DB on the team, allowing less than 10 yards per catch and five touchdowns.
Life as a cornerback is tough, especially if you're opposite stars like Burke and Hancock. Add Downs to the mix and a healthy Ransom, and we’re likely to see a ton of targets come Igbinosun’s way. I believe Igbinosun got a bit of a bad rap last year as a guy who is penalty-prone and lacking in coverage, and while he will have to cut down on the flags this season, I really like his physical style of play. His willingness to get down and dirty is what made him one of the team’s best open field tacklers, and I want to see that continue.
We know what we are getting from the other guys in this room, but for Ohio State’s secondary to truly be the elite of the elite, it will need a big year from Igbinosun — one that I think he can deliver. With another year of development with Tim Walton under his belt, the former freshman All-American at Ole Miss is only going to get better heading into his junior campaign. Igbinosun will also be able to take some chances this year if he wants to with the talented group of safeties behind him, whether that be to blitz the quarterback or to make a play on the ball.
Igbinosun is going to give up some yardage and probably a few scores, as even the best corners do on occasion, but he isn’t just going to be the “safe” option for opposing quarterbacks to look toward. He likely won’t lead the team in interceptions or be the star player of any given matchup, but Igbinosun is going to be the unsung hero for an Ohio State secondary that is going to fully embody its ‘BIA’ monicker.
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 Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Predicting an under-the-radar player that will have a big impact this season for Ohio State.
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 Ohio State heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history, or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.
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: Who will be the unsung hero of the 2024 Buckeyes?
Josh’s Take
This week is all about heroes here at LGHL, and no, I am not referring to the Marvel variety. If I was, I would be arguing that Gambit is clearly and obviously the best of the bunch... But enough about X-Men and/or the failed Channing Tatum spin-off.
Back to the point, this week is specifically about Buckeye Heroes. And rather than debating Archie Griffin versus Eddie George, A.J. Hawk versus James Laurinaitis, or Kyle McCord versus... Just kidding... Gene and I decided to look into our respective crystal balls and at least attempt to predict the future. As in future, 2024-25 Buckeye Heroes.
But even that wasn’t quite good enough or specific enough for Gene. Ever the alternative thinker, he was not content to just say “I believe that Emeka Egbuka or Denzel Burke will be a hero on the gridiron this season.” So he suggested going the “unsung” route, which is right up my alley. Because, ya know, I did spend two consecutive summers writing about Forgotten Buckeyes.
Without further ado, I have a hunch that Josh Simmons is going to be one of Ohio State football’s unsung heroes this season. Which might sound crazy given the way last season ended, but hear me out:
Not only is Simmons seemingly cemented (barring injury, knock on wood) as OSU’s starting left tackle and blindside protector, but he might also be the team’s only offensive lineman capable of playing the position at even a respectable level. I mean, seriously, we haven’t seen another Buckeye take a meaningful snap at LT since the former San Diego State Aztec stepped on campus, which makes Simmons a very important piece of this season’s puzzle.
However, availability alone does not make one heroic. So it’s good – for the sake of my argument – that Simmons also played much better during the second half of last season. Sure, there was the Missouri game and the occasional penalty here or there, but for the most part, he was solid down the stretch. In fact, Simmons finished with the highest pass blocking grade among Ohio State’s OL starters, and he did not allow a single sack during the regular season. That ain’t nothin’, folks.
So now we’re talking about a player with experience, who got better and became more valuable as last season progressed. And I think Simmons will only continue that upward trajectory in 2024. Because remember, he was a summer transfer prior to last season. He got to Columbus in May and was immediately asked to change positions.
Simmons’ first start at OSU was his first collegiate start at left tackle. He was then forced to learn on the fly, against the likes of Notre Dame, Penn State, and Wisconsin... No easy task! But once Simmons settled in and November arrived, he began playing at a much higher level.
Now, am I predicting an All-American season for/from Simmons? No, not quite. I’m not willing to go that far. But I do think that he will become a steadying presence and a solid performer for the Buckeyes, as well as an All-Big Ten candidate. If Simmons does all of those things – and avoids the disaster moments – then I would/will feel comfortable calling him an unsung hero at season’s end.
Gene’s Take
My choice may not be as ‘unsung’ as it is unheralded or under-appreciated, but since this topic was my idea I can make my own rules! Along that vein, my choice for this exercise is cornerback Davison Igbinosun.
Much of the hype this offseason surrounding Ohio State’s defense has been about its loaded secondary. The addition of Caleb Downs was certainly an unexpected splash, and returning stars like Denzel Burke, Jordan Hancock and Lathan Ransom make this group one of if not the best in the country. However, the guy that gets lost in the shuffle a bit is Igbinosun, and his performance this season is going to be pivotal to the success of the defense as a whole.
Igbinosun was an iron man for the Buckeyes in 2023, playing by far the most snaps of any player in the secondary at 769, the second-most being Josh Proctor (627) followed by Burke (616). He finished the season third on the team with 59 tackles to go along with 1.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups and two fumble recoveries. Per PFF, he allowed 36 receptions on 70 targets as the most targeted DB on the team, allowing less than 10 yards per catch and five touchdowns.
Life as a cornerback is tough, especially if you're opposite stars like Burke and Hancock. Add Downs to the mix and a healthy Ransom, and we’re likely to see a ton of targets come Igbinosun’s way. I believe Igbinosun got a bit of a bad rap last year as a guy who is penalty-prone and lacking in coverage, and while he will have to cut down on the flags this season, I really like his physical style of play. His willingness to get down and dirty is what made him one of the team’s best open field tacklers, and I want to see that continue.
We know what we are getting from the other guys in this room, but for Ohio State’s secondary to truly be the elite of the elite, it will need a big year from Igbinosun — one that I think he can deliver. With another year of development with Tim Walton under his belt, the former freshman All-American at Ole Miss is only going to get better heading into his junior campaign. Igbinosun will also be able to take some chances this year if he wants to with the talented group of safeties behind him, whether that be to blitz the quarterback or to make a play on the ball.
Igbinosun is going to give up some yardage and probably a few scores, as even the best corners do on occasion, but he isn’t just going to be the “safe” option for opposing quarterbacks to look toward. He likely won’t lead the team in interceptions or be the star player of any given matchup, but Igbinosun is going to be the unsung hero for an Ohio State secondary that is going to fully embody its ‘BIA’ monicker.
Continue reading...
The Ryder Cup
- By ScriptOhio
- Open Discussion (Work-safe)
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Bethpage Black hosts the 2025 Ryder Cup
Sept. 22-28, 2025 Bethpage Black Course, Farmingdale, NYIn September 2025, Bethpage Black will join Oak Hill Country Club as the only New York courses to host a Ryder Cup.
From The Bleacher Report:
Report: Tiger Woods Declined Offer to Be Team USA Captain for 2025 Ryder Cup
Tiger Woods reportedly turned down the opportunity to captain the US team through the 2025 Ryder Cup, according to The Telegraph.The PGA of America is expected to announce the 2025 Ryder Cup captain on Tuesday. Sports Illustrated's Bob Harig reported that 2011 PGA Championship winner
Keegan Bradley is now expected to earn the captaincy.
GolfDigest's Stephen Hennessey reported in April that the captaincy was "Woods' position to take if he wants it," but Woods said in May he was not sure if he could dedicate enough time to the role.
The Ryder Cup is set to take place at Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York next year from Sept. 25 to 28.
Bradley, who has appeared at two prior Ryder Cups in 2012 and 2014, could potentially choose to ask Woods to serve an "advisory role," Yahoo Sports' Jay Busbee noted.
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continued
LGHL BOOOOOM! Five-star 2025 LB Riley Pettijohn commits to Ohio State
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BOOOOOM! Five-star 2025 LB Riley Pettijohn 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 State commits Tarvos Alford (left) and Riley Pettijohn (right) with James Laurinaitis (center). | @r_pettijohn on Twitter
James Laurinaitis has put together an insane linebacker class in his first offseason as full-time position coach.
This offseason, Ohio State finally promoted James Laurinaitis to a full-time assistant, allowing the three-time All-American to coach the position he starred at as a player for the Buckeyes. In addition to an increased role on the practice field and on game day, it also meant Laurinaitis could now get out on the recruiting trail.
That move has already paid dividends, with Ohio State securing commitments from high four-star Florida linebacker Tarvos Alford as well as Eli Lee, the No. 2 in-state linebacker in the 2025 class. With two exceptional players already in the fold, it allowed the Buckeyes to aim high in its search for a third member of the group, and Laurinaitis was able to do that and more.
On Saturday, five-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn announced his commitment to Ohio State. The Texas native is the No. 4 LB and No. 31 overall prospect nationally per the 247Sports Composite.
Pettijohn chose the Buckeyes over Texas, Texas A&M and USC — his finalists out of 30-plus offers. The 6-foot-1.5, 215-pound linebacker took an official visit to Ohio State on May 31, where Laurinaitis, Jim Knowles and the rest of the defensive staff laid out their plan for his development. For a while it seemed as though the in-state programs were the frontrunners to land Pettijohn, but a late surge for the Buckeyes swayed the McKinney star to Columbus.
“We really enjoyed our trip back to Columbus,” Pettijohn’s father told On3 after the visit. “The biggest takeaway we had was just the consistency and transparency in everything about the program. Ohio State is an elite institution that is poised to remain for a long time and we like that.”
Pettijohn is an impressive athlete, competing in track and field in both the 100-meter dash and the long jump. After finishing his sophomore football season with 42 tackles, five tackles for loss and three sacks, Pettijohn really broke out as a junior. He registered 125 tackles, eight TFLs, three sacks and an interception in 2023, adding four QB hurries and a blocked field goal. Pettijohn comes from an athletic family as well, as his father Duke Pettijohn was a two-time All-Big East selection at Syracuse in 1997-2000 as a defensive end.
Here is some of what 247Sports scouting analyst Gabe Brooks had to say of the new Ohio State commit:
As previously mentioned, Pettijohn becomes the third linebacker in this class for Ohio State, with Laurinaitis landing two of the top five players in the country (composite ranking) at the position between he and Alford. Pettijohn is the highest-rated linebacker to commit to the Buckeyes since C.J. Hicks in 2022, and is the fourth composite five-star in this cycle for Ohio State, joining Devin Sanchez, Na’eem Offord and Tavien St. Clair.
Ryan Day’s 2025 group now features 11 top-100 players, maintaining its lead as the No. 1 class in the country. At 310.47 points, Ohio State has already surpassed each of its previous three recruiting classes (not including transfers) with still more work to be done. The Buckeyes currently hold 23 total commits, but will likely wind up signing closer to 28-30 players with this new era of the transfer portal requiring larger classes.
Sanders, the No. 1 OT and No. 2 overall player in the country per the 247Sports Composite, was once viewed as a Clemson lean, but since then Ohio State and Tennessee have surged to the top. The North Carolina native has played his recruitment very close to the vest, and it is unclear at this current moment who exactly is the favorite to land the nation’s best offensive lineman.
If Ohio State wants to finish this cycle with the No. 1 overall class, Sanders is a necessary piece of the puzzle. It would also obviously be a huge addition for position coach Justin Frye, whose recruiting chops and development have come into question lately.
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
Ohio State commits Tarvos Alford (left) and Riley Pettijohn (right) with James Laurinaitis (center). | @r_pettijohn on Twitter
James Laurinaitis has put together an insane linebacker class in his first offseason as full-time position coach.
This offseason, Ohio State finally promoted James Laurinaitis to a full-time assistant, allowing the three-time All-American to coach the position he starred at as a player for the Buckeyes. In addition to an increased role on the practice field and on game day, it also meant Laurinaitis could now get out on the recruiting trail.
That move has already paid dividends, with Ohio State securing commitments from high four-star Florida linebacker Tarvos Alford as well as Eli Lee, the No. 2 in-state linebacker in the 2025 class. With two exceptional players already in the fold, it allowed the Buckeyes to aim high in its search for a third member of the group, and Laurinaitis was able to do that and more.
On Saturday, five-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn announced his commitment to Ohio State. The Texas native is the No. 4 LB and No. 31 overall prospect nationally per the 247Sports Composite.
Pettijohn chose the Buckeyes over Texas, Texas A&M and USC — his finalists out of 30-plus offers. The 6-foot-1.5, 215-pound linebacker took an official visit to Ohio State on May 31, where Laurinaitis, Jim Knowles and the rest of the defensive staff laid out their plan for his development. For a while it seemed as though the in-state programs were the frontrunners to land Pettijohn, but a late surge for the Buckeyes swayed the McKinney star to Columbus.
“We really enjoyed our trip back to Columbus,” Pettijohn’s father told On3 after the visit. “The biggest takeaway we had was just the consistency and transparency in everything about the program. Ohio State is an elite institution that is poised to remain for a long time and we like that.”
Pettijohn is an impressive athlete, competing in track and field in both the 100-meter dash and the long jump. After finishing his sophomore football season with 42 tackles, five tackles for loss and three sacks, Pettijohn really broke out as a junior. He registered 125 tackles, eight TFLs, three sacks and an interception in 2023, adding four QB hurries and a blocked field goal. Pettijohn comes from an athletic family as well, as his father Duke Pettijohn was a two-time All-Big East selection at Syracuse in 1997-2000 as a defensive end.
Here is some of what 247Sports scouting analyst Gabe Brooks had to say of the new Ohio State commit:
As previously mentioned, Pettijohn becomes the third linebacker in this class for Ohio State, with Laurinaitis landing two of the top five players in the country (composite ranking) at the position between he and Alford. Pettijohn is the highest-rated linebacker to commit to the Buckeyes since C.J. Hicks in 2022, and is the fourth composite five-star in this cycle for Ohio State, joining Devin Sanchez, Na’eem Offord and Tavien St. Clair.
Ryan Day’s 2025 group now features 11 top-100 players, maintaining its lead as the No. 1 class in the country. At 310.47 points, Ohio State has already surpassed each of its previous three recruiting classes (not including transfers) with still more work to be done. The Buckeyes currently hold 23 total commits, but will likely wind up signing closer to 28-30 players with this new era of the transfer portal requiring larger classes.
Quick Hits
- There is now a set commitment date for Ohio State’s biggest remaining target it the 2025 class. Five-star offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. has scheduled his decision date for Aug. 17, with a final four schools that includes the Buckeyes alongside Georgia, Nebraska and Tennessee.
Sanders, the No. 1 OT and No. 2 overall player in the country per the 247Sports Composite, was once viewed as a Clemson lean, but since then Ohio State and Tennessee have surged to the top. The North Carolina native has played his recruitment very close to the vest, and it is unclear at this current moment who exactly is the favorite to land the nation’s best offensive lineman.
If Ohio State wants to finish this cycle with the No. 1 overall class, Sanders is a necessary piece of the puzzle. It would also obviously be a huge addition for position coach Justin Frye, whose recruiting chops and development have come into question lately.
WHERE’S HOME 
- According to Steve Wiltfong, Ohio State is in good position to try and flip defensive tackle Malik Autry from Auburn. The 6-foot-5.5 lineman out of Opelika, Alabama has been committed to the Tigers since February 2023, but took an official visit to Columbus at the end of June and is close friends with OSU commit Zion Grady. While there is likely much more work to be done, the Buckeyes have to like where they stand for the No. 4 DL and No. 29 overall player per 247Sports’ rankings.
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