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LGHL Ohio State picks up big Crystal Ball, makes top schools for pair of top-100 linebackers
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Ohio State picks up big Crystal Ball, makes top schools for pair of top-100 linebackers
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 RB Bo Jackson | via @nolimitbo__ (Bo Jackson) on Instagram
The Buckeyes are coming off a massive recruiting weekend that saw them pick up momentum with some big names.
Ohio State kicked off the month of June with its biggest recruiting weekend since the spring game, with double-digit players on campus between Saturday and Sunday on official visits. Among those in attendance were some of the biggest names on the Buckeyes’ recruiting board on both sides of the football.
Before we jump into all that, Ohio State also got some positive news on Sunday from a prospect who was not in town for the all the festivities, as four-star 2025 linebacker Gavin Nix listed the program among his final six schools.
Nix isn’t a player we’ve heard a ton in regards to the Buckeyes, having been offered by position coach James Laurinaitis just this January. The No. 11 LB and No. 88 overall prospect nationally per 247Sports’ rankings, Nix is another big name out of IMG Academy in Florida, but is a native of the Sunshine State as well. While the in-state schools in Florida State and Miami seem to be atop his list, the 6-foot, 225-pound defender is prioritizing opportunity over location.
“Location isn’t a big deal for me,” Nix told On3’s Chad Simmons. “The main things for me are, what a school can do for me as a person outside of football and where I can be best developed. It is about the fit, not about the location. I just want to excel as a man on and off the field.”
If Laurinaitis and the Buckeyes really want to have a chance in this one, they will need to get Nix on campus for an official visit. The linebacker currently has OV’s scheduled for Miami (June 7), Oregon (June 14) and Florida State (June 21), but does not yet have plans to make the trip up to Columbus.
Moving onto the guys that were on campus these past few days — but sticking with the theme of top-100 linebackers putting Ohio State among their top schools — one of the biggest names in town this weekend was high four-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn. On Saturday, during his three-day official visit with Ohio State, Pettijohn trimmed his top schools list down to four, with the Buckeyes making the cut alongside Texas, Texas A&M and USC.
While it feels like an uphill climb to lure Pettijohn away from the in-state Longhorns, Ohio State, led by Laurinaitis, cornerbacks coach Tim Walton and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, rolled out the red carpet for the No. 4 LB and No. 31 overall player in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite. Having already visited Columbus a few months ago, the Buckeyes getting an official visit a few months later — one that seeming went as well as possible — seems to have them in real contention.
“The atmosphere in Columbus was pretty exciting and we enjoyed spending time getting to know the coaches and getting a feel for the program as a whole,” Pettijohn’s father Duke told On3 after their visit in March. “I think what excited Riley most about Ohio State is the competitive business-like approach the players have and the tradition of excellence there.”
Ohio State currently has a pair of linebackers committed in its 2025 class in Tarvos Alford and Eli Lee. Alford, also a top-100 prospect the No. 8 LB in the cycle, was on hand for his official visit this weekend as well, and appeared to be locked in on Pettijohn and putting on his best peer recruiting cap to try and add another big time talent to the room.
Ohio State is looking to add at least one more linebacker in this cycle, and while Nix remains an intriguing option, Pettijohn is without a doubt at the top of the big board at the position.
Moving to the other side of the football, perhaps one of the biggest headlines to come out of this big recruiting weekend for the Buckeyes was a pair of new Crystal Balls being cast in their favor. Courtesy of On3’s Vice President of Recruiting, Steve Wiltfong, and OSU insider Alex Gleitman, two predictions were logged for 2025 running back Bo Jackson to Ohio State.
If you follow Ohio State recruiting even a little bit, then you’ve likely heard Jackson’s name a bunch. The Cleveland native checks in as the No. 5 RB as well as the No. 81 overall player and No. 5 prospect in Ohio in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite. Hailing from within state lines, Jackson is one of — if not the — most important players for the Buckeyes at running back in this cycle.
Here is some of what 247Sports national analyst Hudson Standish has to say of Jackson’s abilities:
Ohio State now owns all three predictions for Jackson, with a 247Sports Crystal Ball cast in favor of the Buckeyes by OSU insider Bill Kurelic back in January as well. If they are able to land Jackson, it would give them commitments from three of the top five players in Ohio in 2025, with the other two also strong possibilities to end up in Columbus — one of which was also on campus this weekend...
That would be linebacker/edge rusher Justin Hill, another massive priority target for the Buckeyes, who made his official visit with Ohio State beginning on Friday.
Listed as the No. 7 EDGE and No. 72 player nationally per the 247Sports Composite, Laurinaitis and Ohio State are recruiting Hill as a Jack — a position we are still waiting to see fully unveiled by Knowles and the Buckeyes’ defense. The Winton Woods product is a superb athlete with a track background, and would be able to play either as a 3-4 outside linebacker or a hybrid 4-3 edge (AKA, the Jack) at the next level. His speed, versatility and him being an in-state prospect put him right near the top of the program’s big board.
Ohio State appears to be in the driver’s seat for Hill at this current juncture, but he does have three more official visits coming up with USC (June 7), Alabama (June 14) and Oregon (June 21). It sounds like a big part of the Buckeyes’ plans with Hill this weekend included them selling the idea of him as their priority target to play at the Jack, and all reports indicate that the visit went incredibly well. Laurinaitis and the rest of the staff will find out how well it actually went when Hill announces his commitment on July 3.
These weren’t the only big names on campus this weekend, as a handful of other four and five-star prospects were also involved in this flurry of visitors. All players are in the 2025 class and all were on official visits unless otherwise indicated:
“Ohio State is an incredible program but especially for quarterbacks.” Bell told On3. “I’ve always been a Buckeye fan and looked up to some of their quarterbacks. Coach Day and the program are always competing for a National Championship and I think that Coach Kelly is going to be a great addition to their offense!”
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 RB Bo Jackson | via @nolimitbo__ (Bo Jackson) on Instagram
The Buckeyes are coming off a massive recruiting weekend that saw them pick up momentum with some big names.
Ohio State kicked off the month of June with its biggest recruiting weekend since the spring game, with double-digit players on campus between Saturday and Sunday on official visits. Among those in attendance were some of the biggest names on the Buckeyes’ recruiting board on both sides of the football.
Before we jump into all that, Ohio State also got some positive news on Sunday from a prospect who was not in town for the all the festivities, as four-star 2025 linebacker Gavin Nix listed the program among his final six schools.
NEWS: Four-Star LB Gavin Nix is down toSchools, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’0 225 LB from Bradenton, FL is ranked as a Top 160 Recruit in the ‘25 Class (per On3 Industry)
Where Should He Go? https://t.co/eJzjpOXLkJ pic.twitter.com/r7UmZ2eMJn
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 2, 2024
Nix isn’t a player we’ve heard a ton in regards to the Buckeyes, having been offered by position coach James Laurinaitis just this January. The No. 11 LB and No. 88 overall prospect nationally per 247Sports’ rankings, Nix is another big name out of IMG Academy in Florida, but is a native of the Sunshine State as well. While the in-state schools in Florida State and Miami seem to be atop his list, the 6-foot, 225-pound defender is prioritizing opportunity over location.
“Location isn’t a big deal for me,” Nix told On3’s Chad Simmons. “The main things for me are, what a school can do for me as a person outside of football and where I can be best developed. It is about the fit, not about the location. I just want to excel as a man on and off the field.”
If Laurinaitis and the Buckeyes really want to have a chance in this one, they will need to get Nix on campus for an official visit. The linebacker currently has OV’s scheduled for Miami (June 7), Oregon (June 14) and Florida State (June 21), but does not yet have plans to make the trip up to Columbus.
Moving onto the guys that were on campus these past few days — but sticking with the theme of top-100 linebackers putting Ohio State among their top schools — one of the biggest names in town this weekend was high four-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn. On Saturday, during his three-day official visit with Ohio State, Pettijohn trimmed his top schools list down to four, with the Buckeyes making the cut alongside Texas, Texas A&M and USC.
NEWS: Elite 2025 LB Riley Pettijohn is down toSchools, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’3 215 LB from McKinney, TX is ranked as the No. 2 LB in the ‘25 Class (per On3)
Where Should He Go? https://t.co/EdtV50nx72 pic.twitter.com/NCul9gF1wv
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 1, 2024
While it feels like an uphill climb to lure Pettijohn away from the in-state Longhorns, Ohio State, led by Laurinaitis, cornerbacks coach Tim Walton and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, rolled out the red carpet for the No. 4 LB and No. 31 overall player in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite. Having already visited Columbus a few months ago, the Buckeyes getting an official visit a few months later — one that seeming went as well as possible — seems to have them in real contention.
“The atmosphere in Columbus was pretty exciting and we enjoyed spending time getting to know the coaches and getting a feel for the program as a whole,” Pettijohn’s father Duke told On3 after their visit in March. “I think what excited Riley most about Ohio State is the competitive business-like approach the players have and the tradition of excellence there.”
Ohio State currently has a pair of linebackers committed in its 2025 class in Tarvos Alford and Eli Lee. Alford, also a top-100 prospect the No. 8 LB in the cycle, was on hand for his official visit this weekend as well, and appeared to be locked in on Pettijohn and putting on his best peer recruiting cap to try and add another big time talent to the room.
Ohio State is looking to add at least one more linebacker in this cycle, and while Nix remains an intriguing option, Pettijohn is without a doubt at the top of the big board at the position.
Moving to the other side of the football, perhaps one of the biggest headlines to come out of this big recruiting weekend for the Buckeyes was a pair of new Crystal Balls being cast in their favor. Courtesy of On3’s Vice President of Recruiting, Steve Wiltfong, and OSU insider Alex Gleitman, two predictions were logged for 2025 running back Bo Jackson to Ohio State.
If you follow Ohio State recruiting even a little bit, then you’ve likely heard Jackson’s name a bunch. The Cleveland native checks in as the No. 5 RB as well as the No. 81 overall player and No. 5 prospect in Ohio in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite. Hailing from within state lines, Jackson is one of — if not the — most important players for the Buckeyes at running back in this cycle.
Here is some of what 247Sports national analyst Hudson Standish has to say of Jackson’s abilities:
Ohio State now owns all three predictions for Jackson, with a 247Sports Crystal Ball cast in favor of the Buckeyes by OSU insider Bill Kurelic back in January as well. If they are able to land Jackson, it would give them commitments from three of the top five players in Ohio in 2025, with the other two also strong possibilities to end up in Columbus — one of which was also on campus this weekend...
That would be linebacker/edge rusher Justin Hill, another massive priority target for the Buckeyes, who made his official visit with Ohio State beginning on Friday.
Listed as the No. 7 EDGE and No. 72 player nationally per the 247Sports Composite, Laurinaitis and Ohio State are recruiting Hill as a Jack — a position we are still waiting to see fully unveiled by Knowles and the Buckeyes’ defense. The Winton Woods product is a superb athlete with a track background, and would be able to play either as a 3-4 outside linebacker or a hybrid 4-3 edge (AKA, the Jack) at the next level. His speed, versatility and him being an in-state prospect put him right near the top of the program’s big board.
Ohio State appears to be in the driver’s seat for Hill at this current juncture, but he does have three more official visits coming up with USC (June 7), Alabama (June 14) and Oregon (June 21). It sounds like a big part of the Buckeyes’ plans with Hill this weekend included them selling the idea of him as their priority target to play at the Jack, and all reports indicate that the visit went incredibly well. Laurinaitis and the rest of the staff will find out how well it actually went when Hill announces his commitment on July 3.
These weren’t the only big names on campus this weekend, as a handful of other four and five-star prospects were also involved in this flurry of visitors. All players are in the 2025 class and all were on official visits unless otherwise indicated:
- Five-star wide receiver Dakorien Moore (No. 1 WR, No. 3 Natl. | Duncanville, TX).
Five-Star Plus+ WR Dakorien Moore on his official visit to Ohio State this weekend
OSU, LSU, Texas and Oregon make up his top 4 schoolshttps://t.co/QIAIQ9kLe7 pic.twitter.com/OZErFZlXJ1
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) June 2, 2024
- Four-star wide receiver Daylan McCutcheon (No. 12 WR, 94 Natl. | Lucas, TX).
- Four-star wide receiver Vernell Brown III (No. 6 WR, No. 39 Natl. | Orlando, FL).
(@VB3_9) - Four-star safety DeShawn Stewart (No. 26 S, No. 295 Natl. | Wayne, NJ) — OSU commit.
- Four-star running back Anthony Rogers (No. 7 RB, No. 104 Natl. | Montgomery, AL) — Unofficial visit, Alabama commit.
- Three-star OL Kaden Strayhorn (No. 27 IOL, No. 432 Natl. | Bradenton, FL).
- Three-star OL Henry Fenuku (No. 26 IOL, No. 427 Natl. | Fort Worth, TX).
Quick Hits
- Ohio State will receive one of three June visits for elite 2026 quarterback Dia Bell. The No. 3 QB and No. 10 prospect nationally in the next cycle, the Florida native will be visiting Florida State (June 9), Ohio State (June 11) and LSU (June 13) in the next few weeks.
“Ohio State is an incredible program but especially for quarterbacks.” Bell told On3. “I’ve always been a Buckeye fan and looked up to some of their quarterbacks. Coach Day and the program are always competing for a National Championship and I think that Coach Kelly is going to be a great addition to their offense!”
Elite 2026 4-star QB Dia Bell will take visits to Florida State, Ohio State and LSU this month, he tells @SWiltfong_
Bell is the No. 12 overall prospect in the 2026 class️
Read: https://t.co/B6p8WWRU8R pic.twitter.com/pwuuHBgDQ2
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) June 2, 2024
- Ohio State will also be getting a visit in June from one of the nation’s top edge rushers in the 2026 class. Zion Elee, the No. 4 EDGE and No. 35 player overall in the cycle per the 247Sports Composite, will make the trip to Columbus on June 17. It will be Elee’s first trip to campus since picking up his offer from the Buckeyes on May 8.
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LGHL Player To Watch: Devin Royal primed for sophomore breakout
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Player To Watch: Devin Royal primed for sophomore breakout
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Royal averaged 8.7 points per game over the final nine games of the 2023-2024 season.
When Dale Bonner’s three-point prayer settled into the bottom the net in East Lansing with less than one second remaining on Feb. 25, Ohio State picked up its first win at Breslin since the 2011-2012 season. While Bonner’s shot was the individual play that delivered the win, the Buckeyes would not have been in a position to win the game that day without the contributions of then-freshman Devin Royal.
In reality, Bonner only got the ball because Royal found a way to inbound the ball between three Michigan State defenders six seconds earlier. After Tyson Walker split a pair of free throws to tie the game with six seconds left, then-interim head coach Jake Diebler trusted the freshman to inbound the basketball, knowing that a turnover would give the Spartans the ball back under their own basket.
Royal pump faked to Bruce Thornton’s right, forcing Michigan State’s Tre Holloman to take a step to his left. Thornton and Royal were on the same wavelength, as the freshman immediately dotted the pass to the opposite side of Thornton, with Holloman leaning the wrong way. The pass snuck in between Holloman and two other Spartan defenders. Thornton took three dribbles up the sideline, passed ahead to Bonner, and the rest is history.
Below is a screenshot of the play as Royal is passing to Thornton, with both Buckeyes circled in yellow. Royal fits the pass into the smallest of windows between three defenders, right into Thornton’s hands after the pump fake created space.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25475362/Screenshot_2024_06_02_at_10.55.23_PM.png)
Aside from the crucial inbounds pass at the end, Royal also led the Buckeyes in scoring for the first time in his career with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting in 18 minutes. He also had two steals. 10 of those 14 points came in the second half, as Ohio State stormed back from a 12-point second-half deficit on the road.
It was noteworthy that Royal’s best performance of the season came against the Spartans, as Tom Izzo and Michigan State appeared to be the biggest competitor to land Royal out of Pickerington Central High School two years ago. Instead, Royal opted to play locally for the Buckeyes, and was a massive thorn in Izzo’s side the very first time he faced the Spartans.
While the legendary Michigan State head coach wasn’t going to sit around and heap praise on an opposing player after a loss, he did mention Royal after the game during the post-game press conference.
“I mean, you look at their stats, those aren’t very good numbers other than Royal,” he said. “They shoot 37% (overall) and 17% (from three) and we lost the game.”
Royal’s performance against the Spartans shows the promise the rising sophomore has. On a day where second-leading scorer and starting forward Jamison Battle was ruled out with an injury, Royal still only played 18 minutes due to foul trouble. He picked up his second foul 10:19 into the game, which limited his ability to be aggressive and impact the game for the rest of the first half. Coincidentally, the Buckeyes were outscored 19-10 for the rest of the first half after Royal picked up that second foul.
With the foul concerns temporarily cast aside, Royal played much more freely in the second half, scoring 10 points and bullying the Spartans around the basket. Royal never misses a turnaround jumper (or so it seems), and he just kept beating Michigan State with the same move over and over in the second half. His three-point shot hasn’t quite developed yet, but Royal was money on most everything in the 6-to-10 foot range his freshman season.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25475368/2031357555.jpg "COLLEGE BASKETBALL: FEB 25 Ohio State at Michigan State")
Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
So, what happens in this game if Royal doesn’t get into early foul trouble? He’s certainly not held to 18 minutes, and his career-high of 14 points probably winds up being something much higher. Hell, Dale Bonner’s game-winner might not have even been necessary to grab the win in East Lansing.
That’s a big reason why so many people are bullish on Royal and his prospects for a big sophomore season. Royal played 10 or more minutes 19 times this past season, and in 12 of those games he picked up at least three fouls. He only fouled out once, but as we see all the time in college basketball, early foul trouble can completely change the script for not just the individual player, but his team too if he’s pulled out of the game after early fouls. If Royal can put a few of those fouls in his pocket and stay on the floor for longer stretches, he’s shown that he can be an extremely efficient scorer.
Additionally, Royal saw his minutes and opportunities expand almost instantaneously when Chris Holtmann was fired and Diebler took over. Over the first 22 games of the season, Royal averaged just over eight minutes per game and scored 3.2 points per game. He played 10+ minutes in eight of those 22 games.
Holtmann was fired after Ohio State’s loss to Wisconsin — the Buckeyes’ 22nd game of the year. Over the final 11 games under Diebler, Royal’s playing time basically doubled, as he averaged 16:31 per game until the end of the season. He averaged 7.6 points per game with Diebler as head coach, and played at least 12 minutes in every single game. His per-40 averages under Diebler? 18.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.
While it’s true that Royal improved as the season went on, and probably wasn’t as reliable of an option against Texas A&M in November as he was against Michigan State three months later, it’s also true that Diebler trusted Royal to make the right play more than Holtmann did.
We’ll never know for sure, but it’s hard to believe that Holtmann would’ve put Royal on the on the baseline to inbound the ball against Michigan State. Diebler did. Holtmann did not give Royal the opportunities to prove himself during the first two-thirds of the season. Once Diebler took over, Royal immediately became an integral part of the rotation.
Part of the allure of hiring Diebler — a first-time head coach — was the hope that he could keep the team’s young core together. That didn’t exactly happen, but as his primary recruiter, Diebler was able to keep Devin Royal in Columbus. If the now-sophomore Royal can limit the mental mistakes that lead to unnecessary fouls, he should take a major leap forward this upcoming season as a crucial piece of Jake Diebler’s first Ohio State team.
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Royal averaged 8.7 points per game over the final nine games of the 2023-2024 season.
When Dale Bonner’s three-point prayer settled into the bottom the net in East Lansing with less than one second remaining on Feb. 25, Ohio State picked up its first win at Breslin since the 2011-2012 season. While Bonner’s shot was the individual play that delivered the win, the Buckeyes would not have been in a position to win the game that day without the contributions of then-freshman Devin Royal.
In reality, Bonner only got the ball because Royal found a way to inbound the ball between three Michigan State defenders six seconds earlier. After Tyson Walker split a pair of free throws to tie the game with six seconds left, then-interim head coach Jake Diebler trusted the freshman to inbound the basketball, knowing that a turnover would give the Spartans the ball back under their own basket.
Royal pump faked to Bruce Thornton’s right, forcing Michigan State’s Tre Holloman to take a step to his left. Thornton and Royal were on the same wavelength, as the freshman immediately dotted the pass to the opposite side of Thornton, with Holloman leaning the wrong way. The pass snuck in between Holloman and two other Spartan defenders. Thornton took three dribbles up the sideline, passed ahead to Bonner, and the rest is history.
Below is a screenshot of the play as Royal is passing to Thornton, with both Buckeyes circled in yellow. Royal fits the pass into the smallest of windows between three defenders, right into Thornton’s hands after the pump fake created space.
Aside from the crucial inbounds pass at the end, Royal also led the Buckeyes in scoring for the first time in his career with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting in 18 minutes. He also had two steals. 10 of those 14 points came in the second half, as Ohio State stormed back from a 12-point second-half deficit on the road.
It was noteworthy that Royal’s best performance of the season came against the Spartans, as Tom Izzo and Michigan State appeared to be the biggest competitor to land Royal out of Pickerington Central High School two years ago. Instead, Royal opted to play locally for the Buckeyes, and was a massive thorn in Izzo’s side the very first time he faced the Spartans.
While the legendary Michigan State head coach wasn’t going to sit around and heap praise on an opposing player after a loss, he did mention Royal after the game during the post-game press conference.
“I mean, you look at their stats, those aren’t very good numbers other than Royal,” he said. “They shoot 37% (overall) and 17% (from three) and we lost the game.”
Royal’s performance against the Spartans shows the promise the rising sophomore has. On a day where second-leading scorer and starting forward Jamison Battle was ruled out with an injury, Royal still only played 18 minutes due to foul trouble. He picked up his second foul 10:19 into the game, which limited his ability to be aggressive and impact the game for the rest of the first half. Coincidentally, the Buckeyes were outscored 19-10 for the rest of the first half after Royal picked up that second foul.
With the foul concerns temporarily cast aside, Royal played much more freely in the second half, scoring 10 points and bullying the Spartans around the basket. Royal never misses a turnaround jumper (or so it seems), and he just kept beating Michigan State with the same move over and over in the second half. His three-point shot hasn’t quite developed yet, but Royal was money on most everything in the 6-to-10 foot range his freshman season.
So, what happens in this game if Royal doesn’t get into early foul trouble? He’s certainly not held to 18 minutes, and his career-high of 14 points probably winds up being something much higher. Hell, Dale Bonner’s game-winner might not have even been necessary to grab the win in East Lansing.
That’s a big reason why so many people are bullish on Royal and his prospects for a big sophomore season. Royal played 10 or more minutes 19 times this past season, and in 12 of those games he picked up at least three fouls. He only fouled out once, but as we see all the time in college basketball, early foul trouble can completely change the script for not just the individual player, but his team too if he’s pulled out of the game after early fouls. If Royal can put a few of those fouls in his pocket and stay on the floor for longer stretches, he’s shown that he can be an extremely efficient scorer.
Additionally, Royal saw his minutes and opportunities expand almost instantaneously when Chris Holtmann was fired and Diebler took over. Over the first 22 games of the season, Royal averaged just over eight minutes per game and scored 3.2 points per game. He played 10+ minutes in eight of those 22 games.
Holtmann was fired after Ohio State’s loss to Wisconsin — the Buckeyes’ 22nd game of the year. Over the final 11 games under Diebler, Royal’s playing time basically doubled, as he averaged 16:31 per game until the end of the season. He averaged 7.6 points per game with Diebler as head coach, and played at least 12 minutes in every single game. His per-40 averages under Diebler? 18.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.
While it’s true that Royal improved as the season went on, and probably wasn’t as reliable of an option against Texas A&M in November as he was against Michigan State three months later, it’s also true that Diebler trusted Royal to make the right play more than Holtmann did.
We’ll never know for sure, but it’s hard to believe that Holtmann would’ve put Royal on the on the baseline to inbound the ball against Michigan State. Diebler did. Holtmann did not give Royal the opportunities to prove himself during the first two-thirds of the season. Once Diebler took over, Royal immediately became an integral part of the rotation.
Part of the allure of hiring Diebler — a first-time head coach — was the hope that he could keep the team’s young core together. That didn’t exactly happen, but as his primary recruiter, Diebler was able to keep Devin Royal in Columbus. If the now-sophomore Royal can limit the mental mistakes that lead to unnecessary fouls, he should take a major leap forward this upcoming season as a crucial piece of Jake Diebler’s first Ohio State team.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: What is your most unpopular opinion about college athletics?
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You’re Nuts: What is your most unpopular opinion about college athletics?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
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 unpopular opinions. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all our “Unpopular Opinion” articles here.
Not only is the temperature rising outside as we are heading towards summer, here at LGHL we figured we would turn up the heat with some of our most unpopular opinions that might make people blow a gasket. Besides, since there isn’t much going on with Ohio State sports right now, we have to find some way to have a little fun as we pass the time before preseason practices for the Buckeyes begin in August.
Today we are going to tackle college athletics as a whole. Maybe there is something in a certain sport that you have a take about that gets others in a tizzy. Whether it be the football field, hardwood, the diamond, or it could encompass all collegiate sports, we want to hear your spiciest opinion. The one thing we ask is that you don’t attack anybody personally in a hugely negative way. While it’s ok to agree with some of the decisions of someone like Ryan Day or how much you might hate players from That Team Up North, we are hoping that Buckeye Nation can keep things civil when revealing their unpopular opinions.
Don’t get me wrong, I still love March Madness, it just doesn’t feel the same these days. The transfer portal and players either leaving for the NBA Draft after one season or finding other avenues so they can avoid college basketball altogether are just a couple of reasons why the tournament has been lacking in intrigue lately. Also, it doesn’t help that Ohio State has not only struggled to make the tournament, they haven’t made the second weekend of the dance in more than a decade.
Then there is also the talk of expanding the tournament field. There is absolutely no reason to do so since the tournament is already a tough watch to begin with. Not that there aren’t some fun games along the way and upsets that captivate the college basketball world. For some reason, it doesn’t feel nearly as magical as it used to. Then again, maybe I’m just becoming even more of a curmudgeon than I used to be.
When you look at the numbers, it’s not just me. The ratings for the NCAA Tournament are down and there isn’t nearly the talk about it as there felt like there was 10-15 years ago. Back then everybody filled out a bracket, while these days it feels like more and more people aren’t. Some of it can be blamed on the transfer portal, which sometimes makes it hard to know who is playing for what schools. In a way, I miss the days when you had college basketball teams with a core of players that stayed in school for three to four years. Maybe NIL fixes some of that, but I’m not holding my breath since the best players are going to head to the NBA as soon as they can.
The same can’t be said for the women’s tournament, which has captivated the nation over the last few years. Even though Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and a number of other high-profile players are now playing in the WNBA, the rise in viewership and intrigue for the women’s tournament doesn’t feel like it is going to slow down any time soon because now viewers are familiar with other star players that will be returning to college next season. As hot as the women’s tournament has been in terms of ratings and just overall excitement, the men’s tournament is trending in the opposite direction.
I know that this is almost certainly a product of my age, but I get the excitement around the return of the EA Sports college football video game — I played the game for years in my teens and early twenties — but I just can’t get myself hyped up for its return in 2024. Admittedly, I have never been much of a gamer, so I am not exactly the target audience for this game, but the amount of ink (and perhaps some other fluids) spilled about every single little morsel of news is mind-boggling to me.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not here to yuck anyone’s yums; if you are geeked for this, I am happy for you, and I want you to enjoy every single nuance of the game and its rollout... it’s just not for me. The last legit gaming system I had was a PS2, and while I have “Galaga” and “Pac-Man” cabinets and some cheap old knock-off vintage systems that I almost never play, video games have never been a major part of my life.
And now that I watch my nephew play EA’s “FIFA” game and “NBA 2K,” it has become clear to me that the college football game that I played is a relic of the past. With microtransactions and opening cards and franchise development, that is not the same game that I once enjoyed (but wasn’t very good at). In all honesty, I might be more interested in the roster management portion of this new version than I am in the actual gameplay. But, truth be told, I will probably never find out, because not only do not have a compatible gaming system, the chances of me getting one are next to zero.
Of course, I am excited about what this means for the players and the younger fans who have never had the opportunity to play a college football game at all, let alone one that actually is able to take advantage of the players’ names, images, and likenesses. But, for me, a middle-aged dude in his early 40s, I have been honestly surprised by the fervor that people in my general demographic have displayed for the release of a video game... even one that millions have been waiting for over a decade.
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
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 unpopular opinions. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all our “Unpopular Opinion” articles here.
Not only is the temperature rising outside as we are heading towards summer, here at LGHL we figured we would turn up the heat with some of our most unpopular opinions that might make people blow a gasket. Besides, since there isn’t much going on with Ohio State sports right now, we have to find some way to have a little fun as we pass the time before preseason practices for the Buckeyes begin in August.
Today we are going to tackle college athletics as a whole. Maybe there is something in a certain sport that you have a take about that gets others in a tizzy. Whether it be the football field, hardwood, the diamond, or it could encompass all collegiate sports, we want to hear your spiciest opinion. The one thing we ask is that you don’t attack anybody personally in a hugely negative way. While it’s ok to agree with some of the decisions of someone like Ryan Day or how much you might hate players from That Team Up North, we are hoping that Buckeye Nation can keep things civil when revealing their unpopular opinions.
Today’s question: What is your most unpopular opinion about college athletics?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: The men’s college basketball NCAA Tournament is losing its juice
Don’t get me wrong, I still love March Madness, it just doesn’t feel the same these days. The transfer portal and players either leaving for the NBA Draft after one season or finding other avenues so they can avoid college basketball altogether are just a couple of reasons why the tournament has been lacking in intrigue lately. Also, it doesn’t help that Ohio State has not only struggled to make the tournament, they haven’t made the second weekend of the dance in more than a decade.
Then there is also the talk of expanding the tournament field. There is absolutely no reason to do so since the tournament is already a tough watch to begin with. Not that there aren’t some fun games along the way and upsets that captivate the college basketball world. For some reason, it doesn’t feel nearly as magical as it used to. Then again, maybe I’m just becoming even more of a curmudgeon than I used to be.
When you look at the numbers, it’s not just me. The ratings for the NCAA Tournament are down and there isn’t nearly the talk about it as there felt like there was 10-15 years ago. Back then everybody filled out a bracket, while these days it feels like more and more people aren’t. Some of it can be blamed on the transfer portal, which sometimes makes it hard to know who is playing for what schools. In a way, I miss the days when you had college basketball teams with a core of players that stayed in school for three to four years. Maybe NIL fixes some of that, but I’m not holding my breath since the best players are going to head to the NBA as soon as they can.
The same can’t be said for the women’s tournament, which has captivated the nation over the last few years. Even though Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and a number of other high-profile players are now playing in the WNBA, the rise in viewership and intrigue for the women’s tournament doesn’t feel like it is going to slow down any time soon because now viewers are familiar with other star players that will be returning to college next season. As hot as the women’s tournament has been in terms of ratings and just overall excitement, the men’s tournament is trending in the opposite direction.
Matt’s answer: I do not care about the new EA Sports College Football Game
I know that this is almost certainly a product of my age, but I get the excitement around the return of the EA Sports college football video game — I played the game for years in my teens and early twenties — but I just can’t get myself hyped up for its return in 2024. Admittedly, I have never been much of a gamer, so I am not exactly the target audience for this game, but the amount of ink (and perhaps some other fluids) spilled about every single little morsel of news is mind-boggling to me.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not here to yuck anyone’s yums; if you are geeked for this, I am happy for you, and I want you to enjoy every single nuance of the game and its rollout... it’s just not for me. The last legit gaming system I had was a PS2, and while I have “Galaga” and “Pac-Man” cabinets and some cheap old knock-off vintage systems that I almost never play, video games have never been a major part of my life.
And now that I watch my nephew play EA’s “FIFA” game and “NBA 2K,” it has become clear to me that the college football game that I played is a relic of the past. With microtransactions and opening cards and franchise development, that is not the same game that I once enjoyed (but wasn’t very good at). In all honesty, I might be more interested in the roster management portion of this new version than I am in the actual gameplay. But, truth be told, I will probably never find out, because not only do not have a compatible gaming system, the chances of me getting one are next to zero.
Of course, I am excited about what this means for the players and the younger fans who have never had the opportunity to play a college football game at all, let alone one that actually is able to take advantage of the players’ names, images, and likenesses. But, for me, a middle-aged dude in his early 40s, I have been honestly surprised by the fervor that people in my general demographic have displayed for the release of a video game... even one that millions have been waiting for over a decade.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts Unpopular Opinion: What non-Ohio State B1G team would you want to win a CFP title?
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You’re Nuts Unpopular Opinion: What non-Ohio State B1G team would you want to win a CFP title?
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 Bernstein Associates/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
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.
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.
I tend to be a traditionalist where college football is concerned. For as much as I am a proponent of the College Football Playoff practically speaking, I also long for the days when the Rose Bowl was played in a traditional Big Ten versus Pac-10/Pac-12 format, for example. I am against the inevitable superconferences we’re heading toward. I believe we should preserve and respect historic rivalries. What can I say, I’m a nostalgic person, and nostalgia breeds traditionalism.
And while I’m thrilled, as a current Angeleno, that the Buckeyes will play in my backyard more regularly with so many former Pac-12 teams joining the Big Ten starting this fall, I can’t help but feel a pang of longing for what used to be.
This desire to preserve the old way of doing things (coupled with my deep-rooted hatred of Michigan, see aforementioned “Respecting historic rivalries”) led me to cheer for Washington in last year’s national championship so loudly you’d have thought I was a Huskie myself.
“Do it for the Pac-12. End this chapter with a victory! A win for Washington is a win for the conference alignments of old!”
Of course, I didn’t get my wish. But if the Huskies were to win this year instead, the sentiment still stands. And it comes with a healthy dose of revenge since it was ultimately a Big Ten powerhouse that took the title from them last year.
“Do it for the Pac-12, may she rest in peace.” Washington is a Big Ten team now, but it would make a statement for them to win the title in their first year with the conference—they’re here to shake things up. It’s about to get interesting. OSU and Michigan can’t rest on their laurels when there are new kids in town.
To be clear, I’m not saying I want Washington to win over the Buckeyes. Of course, I want Ohio State to take it all. But if the National Championship isn’t in the cards for the Buckeyes this year, then I hope the Huskies take it.
If things are going to change—and it seems like they are whether we like it or not— then we should embrace the change.
Besides, if the Huskies win it all, it means Michigan can’t. And no matter how much change comes to the Big Ten conference, we’ll always have our hatred for Michigan as a constant.
I came at this question from as pragmatic a position as possible. As I scoured the new 18-team conference, I decided that I would pick a team that had a legitimate shot to at least make the College Football Playoff — where’s the “unpopular” part of picking Northwestern when I have a better shot of winning a national title than that program does?
So, if I am only going to pick from the upper echelon of teams in the Big Ten, I have to find the school that has the best chance to pull it off, but won’t immediately become a powerhouse program for years to come with a national title bump.
Therefore, the only school that really seems to fit that profile is Kirk Ferentz’s Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa routinely is found hanging out around the outside of the playoff into November, but has its playoff dreams busted by late-season losses. However, now, with the expanded CFP, it is not out of the realm of possibility for them to sneak in with two — or even three — losses in the Big Ten.
From there, with Kirk’s always stout defense, anything — theoretically — can happen. While I would never put money on Iowa being able to out-score Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, Alabama, et al., it is possible that the Hawkeyes could catch lightning in a bottle and pull it off.
But even if they do, does anyone really think that would all of a sudden make Iowa City a major recruiting destination? Is Kirk Ferentz going to start signing five-star quarterbacks and wide receivers? Would a title really push them from an annoying conference opponent with a stellar defense to a well-rounded perennial national champion favorite?
I don’t think so. I believe it would be looked at similarly to how Michigan’s 2023 title will be in five years: the culmination of a multi-year strategy that defied the odds (and in TTUN’s case, NCAA rules), but ultimately is seen as an aberration.
I don’t think that the same would be said for the likes of the aforementioned Corn and Blue, Penn State, Washington, Oregon, or USC. I think CFP titles for any of those schools would automatically move them up the ladder of the B1G hierarchy, potentially jeopardizing Ohio State’s status in the conference.
So, if someone other than the Buckeyes has to win the College Football Playoff title, I want it to be someone who is unlikely to rise above its station anytime in the near future, so, Iowa Hawkeyes, you get the call.
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 Bernstein Associates/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
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.
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.
Today’s Question: What B1G team would you want to win the national title other than Ohio State?
Jami’s Take: Washington Huskies
I tend to be a traditionalist where college football is concerned. For as much as I am a proponent of the College Football Playoff practically speaking, I also long for the days when the Rose Bowl was played in a traditional Big Ten versus Pac-10/Pac-12 format, for example. I am against the inevitable superconferences we’re heading toward. I believe we should preserve and respect historic rivalries. What can I say, I’m a nostalgic person, and nostalgia breeds traditionalism.
And while I’m thrilled, as a current Angeleno, that the Buckeyes will play in my backyard more regularly with so many former Pac-12 teams joining the Big Ten starting this fall, I can’t help but feel a pang of longing for what used to be.
This desire to preserve the old way of doing things (coupled with my deep-rooted hatred of Michigan, see aforementioned “Respecting historic rivalries”) led me to cheer for Washington in last year’s national championship so loudly you’d have thought I was a Huskie myself.
“Do it for the Pac-12. End this chapter with a victory! A win for Washington is a win for the conference alignments of old!”
Of course, I didn’t get my wish. But if the Huskies were to win this year instead, the sentiment still stands. And it comes with a healthy dose of revenge since it was ultimately a Big Ten powerhouse that took the title from them last year.
“Do it for the Pac-12, may she rest in peace.” Washington is a Big Ten team now, but it would make a statement for them to win the title in their first year with the conference—they’re here to shake things up. It’s about to get interesting. OSU and Michigan can’t rest on their laurels when there are new kids in town.
To be clear, I’m not saying I want Washington to win over the Buckeyes. Of course, I want Ohio State to take it all. But if the National Championship isn’t in the cards for the Buckeyes this year, then I hope the Huskies take it.
If things are going to change—and it seems like they are whether we like it or not— then we should embrace the change.
Besides, if the Huskies win it all, it means Michigan can’t. And no matter how much change comes to the Big Ten conference, we’ll always have our hatred for Michigan as a constant.
Matt’s Take: Iowa Hawkeyes
I came at this question from as pragmatic a position as possible. As I scoured the new 18-team conference, I decided that I would pick a team that had a legitimate shot to at least make the College Football Playoff — where’s the “unpopular” part of picking Northwestern when I have a better shot of winning a national title than that program does?
So, if I am only going to pick from the upper echelon of teams in the Big Ten, I have to find the school that has the best chance to pull it off, but won’t immediately become a powerhouse program for years to come with a national title bump.
Therefore, the only school that really seems to fit that profile is Kirk Ferentz’s Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa routinely is found hanging out around the outside of the playoff into November, but has its playoff dreams busted by late-season losses. However, now, with the expanded CFP, it is not out of the realm of possibility for them to sneak in with two — or even three — losses in the Big Ten.
From there, with Kirk’s always stout defense, anything — theoretically — can happen. While I would never put money on Iowa being able to out-score Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, Alabama, et al., it is possible that the Hawkeyes could catch lightning in a bottle and pull it off.
But even if they do, does anyone really think that would all of a sudden make Iowa City a major recruiting destination? Is Kirk Ferentz going to start signing five-star quarterbacks and wide receivers? Would a title really push them from an annoying conference opponent with a stellar defense to a well-rounded perennial national champion favorite?
I don’t think so. I believe it would be looked at similarly to how Michigan’s 2023 title will be in five years: the culmination of a multi-year strategy that defied the odds (and in TTUN’s case, NCAA rules), but ultimately is seen as an aberration.
I don’t think that the same would be said for the likes of the aforementioned Corn and Blue, Penn State, Washington, Oregon, or USC. I think CFP titles for any of those schools would automatically move them up the ladder of the B1G hierarchy, potentially jeopardizing Ohio State’s status in the conference.
So, if someone other than the Buckeyes has to win the College Football Playoff title, I want it to be someone who is unlikely to rise above its station anytime in the near future, so, Iowa Hawkeyes, you get the call.
Let us know who you are agreeing with:
Continue reading...
