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LGHL One month away from decision day for Ohio State’s top remaining target
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One month away from decision day for Ohio State’s top remaining target
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Plus, the Buckeyes are likely set to add another 2025 commitment on Thursday.
It’s a little bit of a slow period for Ohio State recruiting. The staff not as active on the trail and the headlines decreasing the last week or two, it correlates with the season getting closer to being here. Recruiting, while always important, does take a bit of a back seat in comparison to the current on-field development.
Still, Crystal Ball predictions have been submitted in Ohio State’s favor this week, and though July is a bit of a slower month compared to June, there’s still big-time players out there getting closer to decisions of their own. Fortunately, the Buckeyes are very much in the mix for multiple of those top targets.
The coming weeks should give Ohio State some good news for their top-ranked class, and with Alabama right on their heels, regaining that infamous No. 1 class ranking depends on these remaining uncommitted players.
Arguably the most important player in the 2025 class and certainly the top remaining target on Ohio State’s board, five-star offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. is now just a month away from making his commitment to the school of his choice.
The No. 2 player nationally and top offensive tackle in the class per the 247Sports Composite, Sanders Jr. is slated for an Aug. 17 decision date between the likes of Ohio State, Tennessee, Georgia, and Nebraska. Of the four programs, the Buckeyes and Tennessee are thought to be the two in the lead for his services, but watching his next steps in terms of visit plans will shed light towards where his mind is at.
The Buckeyes have done any and everything they can to appeal to Sanders Jr., and with an inside track to early playing time atop of the list, Ohio State is in the thick of this recruitment for a reason. Knowing how well the rest of the staff has recruited and the need for offensive linemen in a hurry, all eyes have been on Justin Frye during this recruitment. The question of whether or not he can pull his own weight almost resides with the coming announcement.
The Buckeyes will continue pulling out all of the stops for this one, and that definitely includes current members of the current 2025 class as quarterback commit, Tavien St. Clair isn’t shy about sharing his thoughts via social media. We’re just a month away, but this recruitment will be watched closer than any other knowing how critical he would be to an already loaded group of commits.
Not an Ohio State target down the stretch, five-star cornerback DJ Pickett surprised some people on Wednesday when he chose LSU over the likes of Miami and Oregon.
The Florida native’s commitment to the Tigers doesn’t hurt Ohio State by any means, who boast the nation’s top two players at the position, but Pickett’s decision does have at least some impact on the Buckeyes, as Oregon was thought to potentially be the landing spot up until he made it public.
Specifically, Ohio State now avoids having to face DJ in conference play, but maybe more closely related, the previous commitment by Dorian Brew to Oregon may be further cemented, as he had feelings of choosing elsewhere due to the fact that Ohio State did have two elite guys already in the fold.
Brew being so closely linked to the Buckeyes made it tough to see him choose the Ducks, and thoughts of Pickett heading to Oregon may have given Ohio State a puncher’s chance at flipping him down the stretch. With Pickett now committed to LSU, it certainly decreases that likelihood — at least for now.
Ohio State is in prime position right now with Devin Sanchez and Na’eem Offord as two huge parts of the 2025 class, but keeping them locked in is the goal until pen hits paper.
Going as far as to say the Buckeyes are the top school on his list right now, Larry Johnson continues to impress in North Carolina. There’s a ton of time before the 2026 class enters decision mode, but leading early for a top player at a position of importance is always great to see.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Plus, the Buckeyes are likely set to add another 2025 commitment on Thursday.
It’s a little bit of a slow period for Ohio State recruiting. The staff not as active on the trail and the headlines decreasing the last week or two, it correlates with the season getting closer to being here. Recruiting, while always important, does take a bit of a back seat in comparison to the current on-field development.
Still, Crystal Ball predictions have been submitted in Ohio State’s favor this week, and though July is a bit of a slower month compared to June, there’s still big-time players out there getting closer to decisions of their own. Fortunately, the Buckeyes are very much in the mix for multiple of those top targets.
The coming weeks should give Ohio State some good news for their top-ranked class, and with Alabama right on their heels, regaining that infamous No. 1 class ranking depends on these remaining uncommitted players.
One month from decision day
Arguably the most important player in the 2025 class and certainly the top remaining target on Ohio State’s board, five-star offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. is now just a month away from making his commitment to the school of his choice.
The No. 2 player nationally and top offensive tackle in the class per the 247Sports Composite, Sanders Jr. is slated for an Aug. 17 decision date between the likes of Ohio State, Tennessee, Georgia, and Nebraska. Of the four programs, the Buckeyes and Tennessee are thought to be the two in the lead for his services, but watching his next steps in terms of visit plans will shed light towards where his mind is at.
The Buckeyes have done any and everything they can to appeal to Sanders Jr., and with an inside track to early playing time atop of the list, Ohio State is in the thick of this recruitment for a reason. Knowing how well the rest of the staff has recruited and the need for offensive linemen in a hurry, all eyes have been on Justin Frye during this recruitment. The question of whether or not he can pull his own weight almost resides with the coming announcement.
The Buckeyes will continue pulling out all of the stops for this one, and that definitely includes current members of the current 2025 class as quarterback commit, Tavien St. Clair isn’t shy about sharing his thoughts via social media. We’re just a month away, but this recruitment will be watched closer than any other knowing how critical he would be to an already loaded group of commits.
Buckeyes impacted by a player committed elsewhere?
Not an Ohio State target down the stretch, five-star cornerback DJ Pickett surprised some people on Wednesday when he chose LSU over the likes of Miami and Oregon.
The Florida native’s commitment to the Tigers doesn’t hurt Ohio State by any means, who boast the nation’s top two players at the position, but Pickett’s decision does have at least some impact on the Buckeyes, as Oregon was thought to potentially be the landing spot up until he made it public.
Specifically, Ohio State now avoids having to face DJ in conference play, but maybe more closely related, the previous commitment by Dorian Brew to Oregon may be further cemented, as he had feelings of choosing elsewhere due to the fact that Ohio State did have two elite guys already in the fold.
Brew being so closely linked to the Buckeyes made it tough to see him choose the Ducks, and thoughts of Pickett heading to Oregon may have given Ohio State a puncher’s chance at flipping him down the stretch. With Pickett now committed to LSU, it certainly decreases that likelihood — at least for now.
Ohio State is in prime position right now with Devin Sanchez and Na’eem Offord as two huge parts of the 2025 class, but keeping them locked in is the goal until pen hits paper.
Quick Hits
- Ohio State will have a chance to add to its 2025 class on Thursday, when four-star defensive lineman Jarquez Carter is set to announce his commitment. The Newberry, Florida native is the No. 42 DL and a top-400 player nationally, and is set to choose between a top five of Florida, Miami, Penn State, UCF and Ohio State. Notably, the Buckeyes have landed a swarm of Crystal Balls in their favor for Carter over the past week, and so this recruitment appears to be trending towards Columbus.
- Ohio State is currently in the lead for 2026 defensive lineman, Zavion Griffin-Haynes. A 6-foot-6, 220 pound edge rusher out of North Carolina, Griffin-Haynes is the No. 127 player nationally and 11th best edge rusher in the 2026 class per the 247Sports Composite.
Going as far as to say the Buckeyes are the top school on his list right now, Larry Johnson continues to impress in North Carolina. There’s a ton of time before the 2026 class enters decision mode, but leading early for a top player at a position of importance is always great to see.
“Ohio State is definitely No.on my list right now.”
Four-star EDGE Zavion Griffin-Haynes is high on Ohio State after working with Larry Johnson at camp last month️
READ: https://t.co/qsLa1OoVcA pic.twitter.com/zjaZuh7ywy
— Mick Walker (@mickdwalker) July 17, 2024
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LGHL Behind Enemy Lines: Which Big Ten team will surpass preseason expectations?
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Behind Enemy Lines: Which Big Ten team will surpass preseason expectations?
Jami Jurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
One Big Ten team has just enough talent to really mess things up for their opponents, despite what preseason rankings predict.
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’s opponents. From looking at the Big Ten Conference to individual opponents to specific players, we will bring it all to you. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Behind Enemy Lines” articles here.
As preseason power rankings and updates continue to roll in, there are a few teams I’m surprised to see consistently toward the bottom of the Big Ten lists. Of course, conference expansion pushes a few teams down to make way for powerhouses like Oregon and Washington, particularly as more power teams means tougher schedules.
Take Rutgers for example—they went bowling last year after a 6-6 season in which I believe they were more talented than their final wins and losses would lead you to believe. But they enter 2024 with an absolutely brutal schedule in which they face Virginia Tech, Washington, Nebraska, Wisconsin, UCLA, and USC back to back.
That would take a lot out of any team.
But you’re telling me Maryland—another sleeper team last season, not quite strong enough to be considered on the same level as Michigan, Ohio State or Penn State but certainly strong enough to pose a threat to any of these three teams on an off day—won’t even finish in the top 50 percent of the Big Ten?
Most power rankings have Rutgers somewhere around the mid-way point. I’ve seen them as high as eight and as low as 15. Maryland, however, falls below Rutgers in most rankings, coming in somewhere around 12 or 13 on average but falling as low as 16 out of 18 on some.
ESPN, for reference, has Rutgers at 11 and Maryland at 12 currently.
Now, power rankings are largely meaningless in terms of the actual numbers—that is to say, any of the top four teams could easily finish in the No. 1 spot in actual rankings (or fall out of them altogether, replaced by an unexpected foe depending on how some of the more challenging schedules play out). These rankings are more helpful in terms of gauging expectations.
So in looking at the aggregate data across various power rankings from late spring through the present, the takeaway is that Maryland is expected to fall somewhere in the mid-to-bottom half of the Big Ten this season.
I was born at night, but not last night. I understand that the Big Ten became even more competitive this year, almost overnight thanks to the expansion. With the addition of Oregon, Washington, USC, and UCLA, the mid-level teams are going to have to fight a lot harder to maintain their status. We added two, possibly three playoff-caliber teams to a conference that already had two dominant teams in Ohio State and Michigan and one fighting hard to join them in Penn State.
Still, that ranking feels low for Maryland in a conference with so many teams who are just kind of there. You’re telling me Indiana is going to be better than the Terrapins (and some power rankings do have Indiana ranked higher)? Indiana. A team that won just one conference game last season, going 3-9 on the year? I just don’t buy it. (In all fairness, ESPN has Indiana at the bottom of the conference, while other rankings have them as high as 13).
I mean no disrespect to Indiana—the program has made extremely smart moves in the offseason, with the hiring of new head coach Curt Cignetti and the addition of Kurtis Rourke at quarterback (the standout transferred to Indiana from Ohio). Six wins are not out of the realm of possibility for them this year, and it would be fun to see them do well as a spoil.
But Maryland is coming off a season in which they won their bowl game against Auburn and gave the Big Ten power teams good scares.
Maryland was tied, 10-all, with Ohio State at the half in 2023, and while Ohio State came up big in the fourth quarter, they held a narrow three-point lead at the end of the third. They finished within just one touchdown against the reigning National Champions in a November matchup.
And though they will certainly have an uphill battle in replacing their star quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, the rest of their roster remains full of talent, particularly defensively where they are fairly intact. While M.J. Morris (a transfer from NC State) and Billy Edwards Jr. duke it out for the starting role, the Terrapins will be able to rely on running back Roman Hemby and wide receivers Tai Felton and Kaden Prather to support their QB.
The Terrapins also have the benefit of a fairly easy schedule. They’ll have a tough home matchup against USC, with road games at Oregon and Penn State, but they’ve managed to escape Michigan and OSU, and nine wins is not out of the realm of possibility for them this season.
Of all the teams that seem poised to surpass their preseason expectations, look to the Terrapins to continue surprising people for the fourth season in a row. They won’t have to face the Buckeyes or the Wolverines this season, but there’s still plenty of opportunity for them to throw a wrench in people’s expected outcomes and keep things interesting in this newly expanded Big Ten.
Continue reading...
Jami Jurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
One Big Ten team has just enough talent to really mess things up for their opponents, despite what preseason rankings predict.
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’s opponents. From looking at the Big Ten Conference to individual opponents to specific players, we will bring it all to you. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Behind Enemy Lines” articles here.
As preseason power rankings and updates continue to roll in, there are a few teams I’m surprised to see consistently toward the bottom of the Big Ten lists. Of course, conference expansion pushes a few teams down to make way for powerhouses like Oregon and Washington, particularly as more power teams means tougher schedules.
Take Rutgers for example—they went bowling last year after a 6-6 season in which I believe they were more talented than their final wins and losses would lead you to believe. But they enter 2024 with an absolutely brutal schedule in which they face Virginia Tech, Washington, Nebraska, Wisconsin, UCLA, and USC back to back.
That would take a lot out of any team.
But you’re telling me Maryland—another sleeper team last season, not quite strong enough to be considered on the same level as Michigan, Ohio State or Penn State but certainly strong enough to pose a threat to any of these three teams on an off day—won’t even finish in the top 50 percent of the Big Ten?
Most power rankings have Rutgers somewhere around the mid-way point. I’ve seen them as high as eight and as low as 15. Maryland, however, falls below Rutgers in most rankings, coming in somewhere around 12 or 13 on average but falling as low as 16 out of 18 on some.
ESPN, for reference, has Rutgers at 11 and Maryland at 12 currently.
Now, power rankings are largely meaningless in terms of the actual numbers—that is to say, any of the top four teams could easily finish in the No. 1 spot in actual rankings (or fall out of them altogether, replaced by an unexpected foe depending on how some of the more challenging schedules play out). These rankings are more helpful in terms of gauging expectations.
So in looking at the aggregate data across various power rankings from late spring through the present, the takeaway is that Maryland is expected to fall somewhere in the mid-to-bottom half of the Big Ten this season.
I was born at night, but not last night. I understand that the Big Ten became even more competitive this year, almost overnight thanks to the expansion. With the addition of Oregon, Washington, USC, and UCLA, the mid-level teams are going to have to fight a lot harder to maintain their status. We added two, possibly three playoff-caliber teams to a conference that already had two dominant teams in Ohio State and Michigan and one fighting hard to join them in Penn State.
Still, that ranking feels low for Maryland in a conference with so many teams who are just kind of there. You’re telling me Indiana is going to be better than the Terrapins (and some power rankings do have Indiana ranked higher)? Indiana. A team that won just one conference game last season, going 3-9 on the year? I just don’t buy it. (In all fairness, ESPN has Indiana at the bottom of the conference, while other rankings have them as high as 13).
I mean no disrespect to Indiana—the program has made extremely smart moves in the offseason, with the hiring of new head coach Curt Cignetti and the addition of Kurtis Rourke at quarterback (the standout transferred to Indiana from Ohio). Six wins are not out of the realm of possibility for them this year, and it would be fun to see them do well as a spoil.
But Maryland is coming off a season in which they won their bowl game against Auburn and gave the Big Ten power teams good scares.
Maryland was tied, 10-all, with Ohio State at the half in 2023, and while Ohio State came up big in the fourth quarter, they held a narrow three-point lead at the end of the third. They finished within just one touchdown against the reigning National Champions in a November matchup.
And though they will certainly have an uphill battle in replacing their star quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, the rest of their roster remains full of talent, particularly defensively where they are fairly intact. While M.J. Morris (a transfer from NC State) and Billy Edwards Jr. duke it out for the starting role, the Terrapins will be able to rely on running back Roman Hemby and wide receivers Tai Felton and Kaden Prather to support their QB.
The Terrapins also have the benefit of a fairly easy schedule. They’ll have a tough home matchup against USC, with road games at Oregon and Penn State, but they’ve managed to escape Michigan and OSU, and nine wins is not out of the realm of possibility for them this season.
Of all the teams that seem poised to surpass their preseason expectations, look to the Terrapins to continue surprising people for the fourth season in a row. They won’t have to face the Buckeyes or the Wolverines this season, but there’s still plenty of opportunity for them to throw a wrench in people’s expected outcomes and keep things interesting in this newly expanded Big Ten.
Continue reading...
