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LGHL Buckeyes’ BOOMing weekend also involved an insightful scrimmage

Buckeyes’ BOOMing weekend also involved an insightful scrimmage
Matt Tamanini
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

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!


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On the Gridiron


Ohio State has BOOOOMing weekend, picks up four commitments in three days
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land


B⭕⭕⭕⭕⭕⭕⭕⭕⭕⭕️M pic.twitter.com/FGEJ2uEKKR

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) March 30, 2024

Oregon running backs coach Carlos Locklyn expected to leave for Ohio State, per reports
James Crepea, The Oregonian

Recruiting thoughts and stuff from huge Ohio State spring weekend (paywall)
Jeremy Birmingham, Dotting the Eyes

Recruits react and buzz from huge recruiting weekend that included Student Appreciation Day scrimmage
Bill Kurelic, Bucknuts

Ohio State diary: What we saw during spring practice No. 8 (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes

Ryan Day Excited About Ohio State’s Depth at Running Back
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors


Julian Sayin dime pic.twitter.com/eQlq8YYsBX

— The Scarlet and Gray Podcast (@TheSG_Podcast) March 30, 2024

Unpacking observations from Student Appreciation Day (paywall)
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row

QB Brown sharp: 5 takeaways from Ohio State’s open spring practice
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch

Jeremiah Smith, C.J. Hicks and Quinshon Judkins Among Top Standouts at Ohio State Student Appreciation Day
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors

Projecting Buckeyes offensive depth chart midway through spring (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Projecting Buckeyes defensive depth chart midway through spring (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row


Ohio State having 7 defensive commitments and 2 offensive commitments is unusual for the Buckeyes but ... there's some real momentum building on the offensive side of the ball.

Keep your head on a swivel, folks.

— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) March 30, 2024

Turning heads | Ohio State freshman WR Smith making push to become a starter
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch

Suspended for a year, Bennett Christian worked hard to improve in 2023: ‘I grew a lot during the season’
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts


On the Hardwood


Which transfers have been linked with Ohio State? Here’s a list
Adam Jardy: The Columbus Dispatch


Ohio State has received a Crystal Ball prediction to land South Carolina transfer Meechie Johnson!

Johnson played 2 seasons at Ohio State before going to SC, where he led the Gamecocks in scoring this season. pic.twitter.com/eYUfuD4D7c

— The Silver Bulletin (@tSilverBulletin) March 31, 2024

Ohio State women’s basketball guard Diana Collins enters transfer portal
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land

You’re Nuts: Offseason priorities for Ohio State men’s basketball
Justin Golba and Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land


Outside the Shoe and Schott


Men’s Tennis: No. 1 Buckeyes Blank Hoosiers 7-0
Ohio State Athletics

Men’s Swim & Dive: Ohio State Places 13th at 2024 NCAA Championships
Ohio State Athletics

Women’s Tennis: No. 12 Buckeyes Shut Out Rutgers, 4-0
Ohio State Athletics

Softball: Buckeyes Earn 6-0 Shutout Win Over Northwestern In Series Finale
Ohio State Athletics

Baseball: Ohio State Falls to Purdue, 7-1, in Series Finale
Ohio State Athletics


And now for something completely different...


lolz...


Luka Doncic playing horse in a live game... This season Luka Doncic is Unstoppable! #lukadoncic #nba #mvp pic.twitter.com/6Kr0RkGtBZ

— D. Juranovic D`Knock (@DarkoJuranovic) April 1, 2024

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LGHL Ohio State has BOOOOMing weekend, picks up four commitments in three days

Ohio State has BOOOOMing weekend, picks up four commitments in three days
Gene Ross
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


GJxaQzWWsAMmxwd.0.jpeg

Four-star 2025 DL London Merritt | @merritt_london on Twitter

The Buckeyes have added four members to their 2025 class since Friday.

Ohio State knew coming into the weekend that a massive recruiting opportunity was on its hands. On Saturday, the Buckeyes hosted Student Appreciation Day, opening up practice and allowing for those in attendance at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center to take in the team’s scrimmage. With many top recruits on hand for the event as well, Ryan Day and his staff fully cashed in, landing four big commitments in just a three-day span.

The first new addition to the 2025 class made things official before the festivities even really kicked off, as four-star defensive lineman London Merritt announced his commitment to Ohio State on Friday afternoon.


The Commitment #Greatness #GoBuckeyes @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/y9xpHgWvga

— London Merritt (@merritt_london) March 29, 2024

Originally from Georgia, the 6-foot-2, 255-pound edge rusher currently plays his prep ball at IMG Academy in Florida. Ranked as the No. 10 DL and the No. 101 player nationally per the 247Sports Composite, Merritt was first offered by Ohio State back in January of 2023. This latest trip to Columbus was his fourth time in town, and he is set to return to campus in June for his official visit.

“I wanted to choose a program that mirrors my hunger and pursuit for greatness and Ohio State is the perfect place for me,” Merritt told On3. “At the end of the day, [Larry Johnson] wants me to be the best player, best person and best man I can be.”

Here is some of what 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins had to say of Merritt in his scouting report of the young defensive lineman:

“Jolts offensive tackles and tight ends with a formidable punch and can pick up quick wins by sliding and dipping his way around blockers, although the sack total doesn’t always show for it. Flashes some instincts as a run defender and uses impressive short-area quickness to make stops in pursuit as he changes course and keeps the legs pumping.”

Next up chronologically, and a recruitment that at one point looked to have been lost to Florida, was the commitment of four-star linebacker Tarvos Alford on Saturday.


BREAKING: Four-Star LB Tarvos Alford II has Committed to Ohio State, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 6’2 215 LB from Port Saint Lucie, FL chose the Buckeyes over Miami, Florida State, & Tennessee

“You come to Ohio State to leave a legacy ”https://t.co/AD7j5B62yQ pic.twitter.com/Cqw6yLa2kB

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) March 30, 2024

A big win for newly minted position coach James Laurinaitis, the 6-foot-2 Alford checks in as the No. 8 LB and No. 63 player overall in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite. Named TC Palms Defensive Player of the Year in 2023, the Florida native racked up 114 tackles to go along with six PBUs, four sacks and a pick, helping Vero Beach reach the regional semifinals of Florida’s 4S playoffs.

Like Merritt, Alford has also been to Columbus a number of times prior to this past weekend, including for a multi-day camp this past June and for the Buckeyes’ 38-3 win over Michigan State in November. Choosing Ohio State over his other finalists in Florida, Florida State, UCF and Tennessee, Alford cited the coaching staff and the tightly knit locker room as leading factors in his decision.

“The brotherhood. The atmosphere is different there.” told Bucknuts. “Coach Laurinaitis is a huge factor. The relationship we have, how we have connected. Coach Day is a huge factor too. I’ve talked to him for a long period of time.”

Just a few hours later, Ohio State added a player on the offensive side of the football when four-star wide receiver De’Zie Jones announced his commitment to the program.


Words cant explain how blessed i am with the opportunity to become a buckeye, with a long talk with coach Hartline and the staff, im so grateful to be apart of the buckeye family #zone6ix @Hayesfawcett3 @brianhartline @OhioStateFB @dpfootball @CoachCamp01 pic.twitter.com/oZfuxLSSJR

— dez jones (@dezjones88) March 30, 2024

After the de-commitment of Jayvan Boggs just last week, Jones becomes the lone receiver commit for Brian Hartline thus far in the 2025 class. The 6-foot New Jersey native currently ranks as the No. 49 WR in the country and the No. 10 player in his home state, per the 247Sports Composite. After setting the record for single-season receiving yards at DePaul Catholic by a sophomore in 2022 with over 1,000, Jones hauled in 52 catches for 851 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games as a junior.

“What stands out to me is how much they develop their receivers and it proves over the years.” Jones told On3. “They produce the best and I want to be next up, so learning from nice players will get me better. Also, they produce tons of DB talent, so going up against them every day will get me better. The culture over there is beautiful, can’t ask for better.”

Jones becomes just the third offensive player in Ohio State’s 2025 class, joining five-star QB Tavien St. Clair and four-star OT Carter Lowe. Of course, Hartline remains in the mix for a number of big names at the wide receiver spot in the cycle, most notably including five-star Jaime Ffrench and five-star LSU commit Dakorien Moore.

Joining Jones on the New Jersey to Ohio pipeline on Sunday was four-star defensive back DeShawn Stewart, who rounded out the quartet of commitments for the program over the weekend.


BREAKING: Four-Star CB DeShawn Stewart has Committed to Ohio State, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 6’1 190 CB from Wayne, NJ chose the Buckeyes over Michigan State, Penn State, & Cincinnati

“Jersey to Columbus let’s be great!”

Ohio State recruiting is on FIRE … pic.twitter.com/JD7JJTCmnb

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) March 31, 2024

A teammate of Jones at DePaul Catholic, the 6-foot-2 Stewart ranks as the No. 24 safety and the No. 8 player out of New Jersey in the 2025 class, per the 247Sports Composite. Stewart did not make the trip to Columbus this past weekend, but did receive a visit from a strong contingent of Ohio State coaches back in January, including position coach Matt Guerrieri alongside Ryan Day, Tim Walton and Brian Hartline. Stewart becomes the first official commitment for Guerrieri in his new role.

“The brotherhood and atmosphere they carry it’s like no other,” Stewart said speaking to Bucknuts about his decision to commit to Ohio State. “That school is going to bring the absolute best out of me mark my words.”

This past season, Stewart totaled 56 tackles and 19 pass breakups for the Spartans, playing mostly at cornerback despite projecting as a safety at the next level.

“I see myself playing anywhere in the back end (in college), cornerback, strong safety or nickel,” Stewart told Eleven Warriors. “But I’d definitely describe myself as a free safety. (My strongest attribute) is my eyes, discipline and knowing where receivers are lining up and how to get leverage. Also reading the quarterback and knowing where the ball is going to go. I’d say I have pretty good tackling skills, too.”

With this latest run of commitments, bringing the Buckeyes’ total to 11, Ohio State now holds the No. 2 class in the country, and is No. 1 in the nation in average player rating at 95.15. This has a chance to be a really special group for Ryan Day and his staff, as Ohio State is still in contention for a good deal of five-star prospects, including the aforementioned Ffrench and Moore as well as offensive tackle David Sanders Jr., cornerback Dorian Brew and safeties Trey McNutt and Faheem Delane, in addition to numerous high four-star guys as well.

The sky is the limit for this Ohio State recruiting class, but this past weekend was another big step forward as the Buckeyes look to keep building momentum ahead of the 2024 season both on the field and on the trail.

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