-
New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.
LGHL How the NET rankings work, and why Ohio State men’s basketball is lagging behind in it
- News
- 0 Replies
How the NET rankings work, and why Ohio State men’s basketball is lagging behind in it
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes sit outside the top-30 in the NCAA’s NET rankings despite an 11-2 record.
In 2018, the NCAA replaced the RPI rankings with the NET rankings, which, in essence, value both the quality of opponent and location the game is played over anything else. That year, Ohio State debuted as the No. 1 team in the first-ever NET rankings. This year, despite an 11-2 record, the Buckeyes sit at No. 33 in the NET.
The NET is not the only thing the NCAA Selecton Committee uses to create the NCAA Tournament field each year. Strength of schedule, record, and “other qualitative and quantitative factors” are considered as well. Additionally, we may never know to what extent the NET is considered — is it half of the argument? The main factor? Simply one of several things considered on an even plane? Who knows.
What we do know, however, is that the NET places a heavy emphasis on home/road splits, as well as the ranking of your opponent. The NET does not take any consideration to the venue games are played at, which means playing a game at Mackey Arena or Assembly Hall is looked at the same as a road game played at Penn State, all other things held constant.
To (mostly) no fault of their own, the Ohio State men’s basketball team is not flying high in the 2023-2024 NET rankings. The Buckeyes currently sit at No. 33 with an 11-2 record, with noteworthy non-conference wins over West Virginia, UCLA, Alabama, and Santa Clara. Ohio State has a reasonable loss to Texas A&M on the resume, and an inexcusable road loss to Penn State on the docket as well.
The NET divides all games in four quadrants, or “quads.” Each quad has a specific range based on your opponent’s NET ranking and where the game was played. Once you know what those ranges are, the quad system is pretty easy to follow. To save you a google, here are the four quads:
As you can see, beating a team on the road means more than beating a team at home. If you beat the team ranked No. 98 in the NET at home, that’s a Quad-3 win. If you beat No. 98 on the road, that’s a Quad-2 win. If you want to make your NCAA Tournament resume more impressive, go rack up some Quad-1 and Quad-2 wins.
The only problem with that: the Big Ten doesn’t have a ton of those to offer right now.
The Big Ten hasn’t had a strong start to the season in the eyes of the NET. There are only four teams in the top-30 of the NET rankings, which coincidentally means that if you want to pick up a Quad-1 home win, it would have to be over Purdue, Illinois, Wisconsin, or Michigan State. Any other home win in the Big Ten would be Quad-2 or lower.
The Big Ten has suffered a few embarassing non-conference losses — Long Beach over Michigan, Chicago State over Northwestern, San Francisco over Minnesota, UAB over Maryland, Bucknell over Penn State, etc. On top of that, there are a few teams whose non-conference slates were loaded with Quad-3 and Quad-4 games. While they may have won those games and have a solid record (looking at you, Ohio State and Indiana), the NET does not give those teams credit for not challenging themselves in the non-conference.
Is that the team’s fault? Not always. Do you think Chris Holtmann thought that West Virginia and UCLA would have a combined record of 10-10 when the Buckeyes faced them in December? Heck no — Ohio State scheduled what it thought would be two quality opponents. That’s just not how it’s worked out.
They sure can!
So far, Ohio State is a combined 1-2 in Quad 1 and Quad 2 games, with its lone Quad-1 win being over Alabama and the Quad-2 losses being its losses to Texas A&M and Penn State. The Buckeyes are 10-0 in Quad 3 and Quad 4 games so far, which is good if you’re looking at it from the, “thank goodness we didn’t step on any of these landmines” perspective, but not great that they’ve had so many “insignificant” games so far.
Here is how Ohio State’s Big Ten schedule looks right now, with each game’s classification in parentheses. Quad-1 games are bolded.
These rankings will change as the season rolls on — for example, Ohio State’s loss to Penn State was a Quad-3 loss when it happened, but the Nittany Lions NET ranking went up, and it is now a Quad-2 loss.
Home against Rutgers (January 3) - Quad 3
At Indiana (January 6) - Quad 2
Home against Wisconsin (January 10) - Quad 1
At Michigan (January 15) - Quad 2
Home against Penn State (January 20) - Quad 3
At Nebraska (January 23) - Quad 1
At Northwestern (January 27) - Quad 1
Home against Illinois (January 30) - Quad 1
At Iowa (February 2) - Quad 1
Home against Indiana (Feburary 6) - Quad 3
Home aginst Maryland (February 10) - Quad 3
At Wisconsin (February 13) - Quad 1
Home against Purdue (February 18) - Quad 1
At Minnesota (February 22) - Quad 2
At Michigan State (February 25) - Quad 1
Home against Nebraska (February 29) - Quad 2
Home against Michigan (March 3) - Quad 3
At Rutgers (March 10) - Quad 2
That stretch from late January to early February is going to be big for Ohio State — three road games out of four from Jan. 23 to Feb. 2, and all four of them are Quad-1 opportunities.
How UCLA and West Virginia fare as the season progresses should also be noteworthy to Ohio State. Both of those games are Quad-3 wins right now, with UCLA sitting at No. 144 and West Virginia No. 172 in the NET. But if either of those teams can sneak up into the top-100, it would become a Quad-2 win.
Clear as mud? Clear as mud.
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
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes sit outside the top-30 in the NCAA’s NET rankings despite an 11-2 record.
In 2018, the NCAA replaced the RPI rankings with the NET rankings, which, in essence, value both the quality of opponent and location the game is played over anything else. That year, Ohio State debuted as the No. 1 team in the first-ever NET rankings. This year, despite an 11-2 record, the Buckeyes sit at No. 33 in the NET.
What is the NET, anyway?
The NET is not the only thing the NCAA Selecton Committee uses to create the NCAA Tournament field each year. Strength of schedule, record, and “other qualitative and quantitative factors” are considered as well. Additionally, we may never know to what extent the NET is considered — is it half of the argument? The main factor? Simply one of several things considered on an even plane? Who knows.
What we do know, however, is that the NET places a heavy emphasis on home/road splits, as well as the ranking of your opponent. The NET does not take any consideration to the venue games are played at, which means playing a game at Mackey Arena or Assembly Hall is looked at the same as a road game played at Penn State, all other things held constant.
To (mostly) no fault of their own, the Ohio State men’s basketball team is not flying high in the 2023-2024 NET rankings. The Buckeyes currently sit at No. 33 with an 11-2 record, with noteworthy non-conference wins over West Virginia, UCLA, Alabama, and Santa Clara. Ohio State has a reasonable loss to Texas A&M on the resume, and an inexcusable road loss to Penn State on the docket as well.
The NET divides all games in four quadrants, or “quads.” Each quad has a specific range based on your opponent’s NET ranking and where the game was played. Once you know what those ranges are, the quad system is pretty easy to follow. To save you a google, here are the four quads:
- Quadrant 1: Home 1-30, Neutral 1-50, Away 1-75
- Quadrant 2: Home 31-75, Neutral 51-100, Away 76-135
- Quadrant 3: Home 76-160, Neutral 101-200, Away 135-240
- Quadrant 4: Home 161-353, Neutral 201-353, Away 241-353
As you can see, beating a team on the road means more than beating a team at home. If you beat the team ranked No. 98 in the NET at home, that’s a Quad-3 win. If you beat No. 98 on the road, that’s a Quad-2 win. If you want to make your NCAA Tournament resume more impressive, go rack up some Quad-1 and Quad-2 wins.
The only problem with that: the Big Ten doesn’t have a ton of those to offer right now.
The Big Ten is a NET wasteland so far this year
The Big Ten hasn’t had a strong start to the season in the eyes of the NET. There are only four teams in the top-30 of the NET rankings, which coincidentally means that if you want to pick up a Quad-1 home win, it would have to be over Purdue, Illinois, Wisconsin, or Michigan State. Any other home win in the Big Ten would be Quad-2 or lower.
The Big Ten has suffered a few embarassing non-conference losses — Long Beach over Michigan, Chicago State over Northwestern, San Francisco over Minnesota, UAB over Maryland, Bucknell over Penn State, etc. On top of that, there are a few teams whose non-conference slates were loaded with Quad-3 and Quad-4 games. While they may have won those games and have a solid record (looking at you, Ohio State and Indiana), the NET does not give those teams credit for not challenging themselves in the non-conference.
Is that the team’s fault? Not always. Do you think Chris Holtmann thought that West Virginia and UCLA would have a combined record of 10-10 when the Buckeyes faced them in December? Heck no — Ohio State scheduled what it thought would be two quality opponents. That’s just not how it’s worked out.
Can Ohio State pick up some good wins moving forward, even though the Big Ten has been kind of stinky?
They sure can!
So far, Ohio State is a combined 1-2 in Quad 1 and Quad 2 games, with its lone Quad-1 win being over Alabama and the Quad-2 losses being its losses to Texas A&M and Penn State. The Buckeyes are 10-0 in Quad 3 and Quad 4 games so far, which is good if you’re looking at it from the, “thank goodness we didn’t step on any of these landmines” perspective, but not great that they’ve had so many “insignificant” games so far.
Here is how Ohio State’s Big Ten schedule looks right now, with each game’s classification in parentheses. Quad-1 games are bolded.
These rankings will change as the season rolls on — for example, Ohio State’s loss to Penn State was a Quad-3 loss when it happened, but the Nittany Lions NET ranking went up, and it is now a Quad-2 loss.
Home against Rutgers (January 3) - Quad 3
At Indiana (January 6) - Quad 2
Home against Wisconsin (January 10) - Quad 1
At Michigan (January 15) - Quad 2
Home against Penn State (January 20) - Quad 3
At Nebraska (January 23) - Quad 1
At Northwestern (January 27) - Quad 1
Home against Illinois (January 30) - Quad 1
At Iowa (February 2) - Quad 1
Home against Indiana (Feburary 6) - Quad 3
Home aginst Maryland (February 10) - Quad 3
At Wisconsin (February 13) - Quad 1
Home against Purdue (February 18) - Quad 1
At Minnesota (February 22) - Quad 2
At Michigan State (February 25) - Quad 1
Home against Nebraska (February 29) - Quad 2
Home against Michigan (March 3) - Quad 3
At Rutgers (March 10) - Quad 2
That stretch from late January to early February is going to be big for Ohio State — three road games out of four from Jan. 23 to Feb. 2, and all four of them are Quad-1 opportunities.
How UCLA and West Virginia fare as the season progresses should also be noteworthy to Ohio State. Both of those games are Quad-3 wins right now, with UCLA sitting at No. 144 and West Virginia No. 172 in the NET. But if either of those teams can sneak up into the top-100, it would become a Quad-2 win.
Clear as mud? Clear as mud.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: Bold predictions for Ohio State’s 2024 recruiting class
- News
- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: Bold predictions for Ohio State’s 2024 recruiting class
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2024 five-star WR Jeremiah Smith | Andrew Ivins, 247Sports
Way-too-early predictions about how the Buckeyes’ incoming freshmen will fare.
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.
With the Cotton Bowl and 2023 football season now officially in the rearview, at least for Ohio State, the Buckeyes and their fans can begin looking ahead to the 2024 season. While this year did not deliver the desired on-field results, there is plenty of reason for optimism moving forward. And with that in mind, Gene and I have decided to focus on OSU’s incoming recruiting class for this New Year’s Day edition of You’re Nuts.
When my partner first pitched this general topic or idea for YN, I hit him with a sarcastic response. Being the jaded curmudgeon that I am, I asked Gene if he wanted to predict which member of Ohio State’s 2024 class would enter the transfer portal first after not earning immediate playing time as a true freshman. But alas, we’re focused on turning over a new, positive leaf this year, so we settled on a more optimistic approach.
Gene and I are doing/giving bold predictions for the Buckeyes’ newest recruiting class, with no restrictions. So if I want to predict that incoming defensive lineman Eddrick Houston will break the OSU sack record, I am well within my rights to do so.
Instead, I settled on a prediction that I believe has a much higher likelihood of coming to fruition. Which is that quarterback Air Noland will become the most productive and successful left-handed QB in Ohio State history, clearing the bar set by Steve Bellisari.
Bellisari donned the Scarlet and Gray from 1998-2001 and achieved middling individual and team success (at best). His tenure as the Buckeyes’ starting QB ultimately led to the demise of John Cooper’s coaching career. But if we’re being honest, the former had plenty of help in achieving suboptimal results. A defensive back “by trade”, Bellisari somehow became OSU’s best option at QB in 1999. He was then thrust into a role he clearly wasn’t suited for and struggled with both accuracy and decision making. In three seasons as Ohio State’s primary starter, Bellisari totaled 5,558 yards through the air, with 33 touchdowns and 28 interceptions.
So yeah, the high-water mark for Noland isn’t so high after all. But he’s not even enrolled in Columbus yet. He could leave OSU after a year like Quinn Ewers or turn out to be a total bust. We have no idea what Noland’s ceiling (or floor) is, making my prediction pretty darn bold... If you ask me.
But all the “stuff” is there with Noland. He is a smooth lefty with a quick release and above average wheels. He started 42 games in high school and threw 55 TDs in 2022, besting the HS marks (in Georgia) of Trevor Lawrence and Deshaun Watson. And above all else, coaches rave about Noland’s approach, leadership, and mentality. So I would be shocked if he becomes a bust of any kind.
That being said, if Noland is to become Ohio State’s most productive lefty, he will – in all likelihood – need to start 20+ games for the Buckeyes, while also producing at a high level. And I predict that he will. I’m putting the over/under at 26 starts for Noland. Meaning he would need to average 230 passing yards and just over 2 TD per game to surpass Bellisari’s totals.
Adding an extra layer to my bold prediction, I also prognosticate that Noland redshirts in 2024, before taking over the reins of the OSU QB position in both 2025 and 2026. He will fight off stiff competition along the way, but ultimately hold onto the gig because he A) plays well and B) throws lefty. And lefties look cool(er) doing everything.
So there ya have it, Gene. My bold prediction is that Air Noland becomes “Air Buckeye” and the most productive lefty in Ohio State QB history. Now I wonder if you might come up with a bold prediction that is somehow related to Noland’s hypothetical success... Puzzled emoji...
My bold prediction is short, sweet and to the point, and is the main reason why I suggested this topic to Josh in the first place. I really just wanted an excuse to write about how good wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is, and with that being said, my bold prediction for the 2024 class is that Smith will break both the career receiving yards and career receptions records at Ohio State.
This prediction is two-fold, because while I think Smith can achieve these records on pure talent alone, I also think he will be a three-year starter in Columbus — including as a freshman in 2024.
Ohio State’s current record-holder for career receptions is K.J. Hill, who amassed 201 catches for 2,332 yards from 2016-19. Hill played sparingly as a redshirt freshman, but totaled at least 56 catches apiece over his final three seasons, including a career-high 70 receptions in 2018 as a junior. Somewhat surprisingly, the record for career receiving yards — even with all the talent that the Buckeyes have had at wideout over the past decade — was set all the way back in 2000-03 by Michael Jenkins at 2,898. Jenkins averaged a little over 915 yards per year, with his lone 1,000-yard season coming in 2002.
Of course, with how supremely talented Ohio State’s wide receivers have been as of late, most guys have redshirted their first year and only really seen the field for two seasons before going off the to NFL. Chris Olave was the closest to breaking the yardage record in this century, collecting 2,711 yards over four seasons, and he is also the third-highest on the receptions list at 176. Guys like Marvin Harrison Jr., Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Garett Wilson all only had two full years as starters, and as a result fell short of the record books despite being elite players.
That is where Jeremiah Smith will differ. The No. 1 wide receiver and No. 1 overall player in the country in 2024 class, Smith is going to be a day-one starter at Ohio State. Even if Emeka Egbuka returns and with former five-star talents like Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss already on the roster, Smith is far too talented a player to not get significant snaps right from the jump. At 6-foot-3, 198 pounds, Smith already processes the raw athleticism to compete at this level, and with a scouting comparison to Julio Jones, it is clear that he is built different than even the first-round talents Brian Hartline has had in his room for the last several years.
In his last three seasons on the varsity team at Chaminade-Madonna Prep, Smith has racked up an eye-popping 179 receptions for 3,043 yards and 45 touchdowns over 35 games, according to MaxPreps. As a senior, he hauled in 90 catches for 1,389 yards and 19 TDs, helping the Lions to a third-straight state title and a 14-0 season. He is also a track star, earning gold in both the 110 and 400-meter hurdles at Florida’s 1A state track meet as a junior.
If he starts for three seasons at Ohio State, he would need to average at least 67 catches per season and 966 yards per season to break both school records— neither of which seem like all that big of stretch. If the Buckeyes play at least 13 games per season, which barring complete program collapse will be the bare minimum, that averages out to a little over five catches and just over 74 yards per game. Through in a few 150-plus yard games with eight or more catches, which I would be stunned if Smith doesn’t have more than a few of in his collegiate career, and the numbers become even easier to hit.
Ohio State’s wide receiver room has been one of the best in the country for the last several years, and even with all of the five-star talent Hartline has been accumulating in his room, it is hard to keep up the standard that has been set by the Harrison Jr.’s, Smith-Njigba’s, Olave’s and Wilson’s of the world. That being said, I think Smith has a legitimate chance to be even better than all of those guys, and with a chance to be at minimum WR2 from the first day he steps on campus with WR1 not too far away, I think he will see his name atop the program record books when his time in Columbus comes to an end.
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
2024 five-star WR Jeremiah Smith | Andrew Ivins, 247Sports
Way-too-early predictions about how the Buckeyes’ incoming freshmen will fare.
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: Bold predictions for Ohio State’s 2024 recruiting class.
Josh’s Take
With the Cotton Bowl and 2023 football season now officially in the rearview, at least for Ohio State, the Buckeyes and their fans can begin looking ahead to the 2024 season. While this year did not deliver the desired on-field results, there is plenty of reason for optimism moving forward. And with that in mind, Gene and I have decided to focus on OSU’s incoming recruiting class for this New Year’s Day edition of You’re Nuts.
When my partner first pitched this general topic or idea for YN, I hit him with a sarcastic response. Being the jaded curmudgeon that I am, I asked Gene if he wanted to predict which member of Ohio State’s 2024 class would enter the transfer portal first after not earning immediate playing time as a true freshman. But alas, we’re focused on turning over a new, positive leaf this year, so we settled on a more optimistic approach.
Gene and I are doing/giving bold predictions for the Buckeyes’ newest recruiting class, with no restrictions. So if I want to predict that incoming defensive lineman Eddrick Houston will break the OSU sack record, I am well within my rights to do so.
Instead, I settled on a prediction that I believe has a much higher likelihood of coming to fruition. Which is that quarterback Air Noland will become the most productive and successful left-handed QB in Ohio State history, clearing the bar set by Steve Bellisari.
Bellisari donned the Scarlet and Gray from 1998-2001 and achieved middling individual and team success (at best). His tenure as the Buckeyes’ starting QB ultimately led to the demise of John Cooper’s coaching career. But if we’re being honest, the former had plenty of help in achieving suboptimal results. A defensive back “by trade”, Bellisari somehow became OSU’s best option at QB in 1999. He was then thrust into a role he clearly wasn’t suited for and struggled with both accuracy and decision making. In three seasons as Ohio State’s primary starter, Bellisari totaled 5,558 yards through the air, with 33 touchdowns and 28 interceptions.
So yeah, the high-water mark for Noland isn’t so high after all. But he’s not even enrolled in Columbus yet. He could leave OSU after a year like Quinn Ewers or turn out to be a total bust. We have no idea what Noland’s ceiling (or floor) is, making my prediction pretty darn bold... If you ask me.
But all the “stuff” is there with Noland. He is a smooth lefty with a quick release and above average wheels. He started 42 games in high school and threw 55 TDs in 2022, besting the HS marks (in Georgia) of Trevor Lawrence and Deshaun Watson. And above all else, coaches rave about Noland’s approach, leadership, and mentality. So I would be shocked if he becomes a bust of any kind.
That being said, if Noland is to become Ohio State’s most productive lefty, he will – in all likelihood – need to start 20+ games for the Buckeyes, while also producing at a high level. And I predict that he will. I’m putting the over/under at 26 starts for Noland. Meaning he would need to average 230 passing yards and just over 2 TD per game to surpass Bellisari’s totals.
Adding an extra layer to my bold prediction, I also prognosticate that Noland redshirts in 2024, before taking over the reins of the OSU QB position in both 2025 and 2026. He will fight off stiff competition along the way, but ultimately hold onto the gig because he A) plays well and B) throws lefty. And lefties look cool(er) doing everything.
So there ya have it, Gene. My bold prediction is that Air Noland becomes “Air Buckeye” and the most productive lefty in Ohio State QB history. Now I wonder if you might come up with a bold prediction that is somehow related to Noland’s hypothetical success... Puzzled emoji...
Gene’s Take
My bold prediction is short, sweet and to the point, and is the main reason why I suggested this topic to Josh in the first place. I really just wanted an excuse to write about how good wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is, and with that being said, my bold prediction for the 2024 class is that Smith will break both the career receiving yards and career receptions records at Ohio State.
This prediction is two-fold, because while I think Smith can achieve these records on pure talent alone, I also think he will be a three-year starter in Columbus — including as a freshman in 2024.
Ohio State’s current record-holder for career receptions is K.J. Hill, who amassed 201 catches for 2,332 yards from 2016-19. Hill played sparingly as a redshirt freshman, but totaled at least 56 catches apiece over his final three seasons, including a career-high 70 receptions in 2018 as a junior. Somewhat surprisingly, the record for career receiving yards — even with all the talent that the Buckeyes have had at wideout over the past decade — was set all the way back in 2000-03 by Michael Jenkins at 2,898. Jenkins averaged a little over 915 yards per year, with his lone 1,000-yard season coming in 2002.
Of course, with how supremely talented Ohio State’s wide receivers have been as of late, most guys have redshirted their first year and only really seen the field for two seasons before going off the to NFL. Chris Olave was the closest to breaking the yardage record in this century, collecting 2,711 yards over four seasons, and he is also the third-highest on the receptions list at 176. Guys like Marvin Harrison Jr., Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Garett Wilson all only had two full years as starters, and as a result fell short of the record books despite being elite players.
That is where Jeremiah Smith will differ. The No. 1 wide receiver and No. 1 overall player in the country in 2024 class, Smith is going to be a day-one starter at Ohio State. Even if Emeka Egbuka returns and with former five-star talents like Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss already on the roster, Smith is far too talented a player to not get significant snaps right from the jump. At 6-foot-3, 198 pounds, Smith already processes the raw athleticism to compete at this level, and with a scouting comparison to Julio Jones, it is clear that he is built different than even the first-round talents Brian Hartline has had in his room for the last several years.
In his last three seasons on the varsity team at Chaminade-Madonna Prep, Smith has racked up an eye-popping 179 receptions for 3,043 yards and 45 touchdowns over 35 games, according to MaxPreps. As a senior, he hauled in 90 catches for 1,389 yards and 19 TDs, helping the Lions to a third-straight state title and a 14-0 season. He is also a track star, earning gold in both the 110 and 400-meter hurdles at Florida’s 1A state track meet as a junior.
If he starts for three seasons at Ohio State, he would need to average at least 67 catches per season and 966 yards per season to break both school records— neither of which seem like all that big of stretch. If the Buckeyes play at least 13 games per season, which barring complete program collapse will be the bare minimum, that averages out to a little over five catches and just over 74 yards per game. Through in a few 150-plus yard games with eight or more catches, which I would be stunned if Smith doesn’t have more than a few of in his collegiate career, and the numbers become even easier to hit.
Ohio State’s wide receiver room has been one of the best in the country for the last several years, and even with all of the five-star talent Hartline has been accumulating in his room, it is hard to keep up the standard that has been set by the Harrison Jr.’s, Smith-Njigba’s, Olave’s and Wilson’s of the world. That being said, I think Smith has a legitimate chance to be even better than all of those guys, and with a chance to be at minimum WR2 from the first day he steps on campus with WR1 not too far away, I think he will see his name atop the program record books when his time in Columbus comes to an end.
Continue reading...
LGHL Uncut: McGuff on shooting and turnovers that sunk Ohio State women’s basketball
- News
- 0 Replies
Uncut: McGuff on shooting and turnovers that sunk Ohio State women’s basketball
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Coach is joined by guards Rikki Harris and Celeste Taylor to break down the rivalry defeat.
Throughout the year, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
The Ohio State women’s basketball team started the first of 17 Big Ten conference games up north against the Michigan Wolverines. In a game where each team had respective runs, the Buckeyes didn’t have enough to overcome a strong home environment and the maize and blue. After the 69-60 defeat, head coach Kevin McGuff and guards Rikki Harris and Celeste Taylor spoke with Land-Grant Holy Land, who was live in Ann Arbor.
Coach McGuff discussed what did the Buckeyes in that day: Rebounding, turnovers and poor shooting from deep. Plus, his thoughts on the recent form of sophomore Cotie McMahon, who’s in a scoring slump over the last four games.
Harris and Taylor talk about the crowd noise of 8,000 in attendance, and that it didn’t impact their play in the defeat. Harris talks specifically about what the team needs to work on next and her own increased presence for the team of late, sharing her nickname of “bench starter.” Taylor talks playing against Michigan for the first time in her career, and her first time in the storied rivalry between the two teams.
That and more on the latest Land-Grant Uncut.
Connect with Thomas:
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Coach is joined by guards Rikki Harris and Celeste Taylor to break down the rivalry defeat.
Throughout the year, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
The Ohio State women’s basketball team started the first of 17 Big Ten conference games up north against the Michigan Wolverines. In a game where each team had respective runs, the Buckeyes didn’t have enough to overcome a strong home environment and the maize and blue. After the 69-60 defeat, head coach Kevin McGuff and guards Rikki Harris and Celeste Taylor spoke with Land-Grant Holy Land, who was live in Ann Arbor.
Coach McGuff discussed what did the Buckeyes in that day: Rebounding, turnovers and poor shooting from deep. Plus, his thoughts on the recent form of sophomore Cotie McMahon, who’s in a scoring slump over the last four games.
Harris and Taylor talk about the crowd noise of 8,000 in attendance, and that it didn’t impact their play in the defeat. Harris talks specifically about what the team needs to work on next and her own increased presence for the team of late, sharing her nickname of “bench starter.” Taylor talks playing against Michigan for the first time in her career, and her first time in the storied rivalry between the two teams.
That and more on the latest Land-Grant Uncut.
Connect with Thomas:
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
LGHL The ‘bittersweet’ return of Kennedy and Jaloni Cambridge with Ohio State women’s basketball
- News
- 0 Replies
The ‘bittersweet’ return of Kennedy and Jaloni Cambridge with Ohio State women’s basketball
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Jaloni Cambridge (left) and Kennedy Cambridge (right) | Kennedy Cambridge on Twitter | @Kencambridge_
Kennedy shares more about the elementary school dream come true in scarlet and gray
Friday, the future of Ohio State women’s basketball received a boost. It came in the form of the verbal commitment of 2024’s No. 1 point guard, and overall No. 3 player, Jaloni Cambridge. The announcement sent waves through college basketball, with Cambridge choosing head coach Kevin McGuff’s side over recent national champions in the LSU Tigers and South Carolina Gamecocks, plus other noteworthy teams like the Louisville Cardinals and Baylor Bears.
The biggest impact of the decision wasn’t with a team, coach, or NIL deal though. It struck close to home with Jaloni’s sister: Buckeyes guard Kennedy Cambridge.
On Instagram, Kennedy shared her feelings with her followers in an outpouring of love, sharing a small glimpse into the connection between the sisters. When it comes to that connection’s place on the court, Friday’s decision is the next chapter, following many previous sibling stories.
“I played with her my entire life,” said Kennedy, talking with Land-Grant Holy Land. “Like when I was in the fourth grade, she was playing up and she was in the second grade.”
While the two haven’t always played alongside each other since those early days of being eight and 10 years old, they played together in high school for the Ensworth Tigers, and they were pretty good.
In three seasons playing together at Ensworth, with Jaloni starting on the high school varsity team as an eighth grader, the Cambridge sisters led the Tigers to two state championships. The final was a bittersweet moment for the tightly-knit Cambridge family.
Following a dominant 70-46 victory, where Kennedy had 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks, while Jaloni added 19 points and seven rebounds, emotions were high.
“I remember our last game together,” said Kennedy. “We both just broke down in tears because we couldn’t believe it was over.”
The “it was over” doesn’t look like it will last.
When Kennedy left high school for the bluegrass of the University of Kentucky, the idea of them playing together again received a boost when she entered the transfer portal in the summer of 2023. As everyone now knows, Kennedy chose the Buckeyes, a school that hosted Jaloni in a visit in the fall of 2022.
However, it wasn’t guaranteed that the two Cambridges would reunite. After all, the list of schools trying their best to entice Jaloni was strong. A final group consisting of six combined national championships. Plus the idea of playing with the likes of LSU star forward Angel Reese or being part of the growing legend of South Carolina coach Dawn Staley.
After the decision, speaking with various media outlets following Jaloni’s commitment to Ohio State, Kennedy shared that Friday’s announcement was a surprise. Which is true, kinda. It’s more of the “when” that needs clarifying.
“It was not a surprise to me,” said Kennedy. “I was lying to the media, but I knew for like a week or two, officially. But we had talked about it since we got out of high school playing again.”
A small stretch of the truth by an excited sister who gets to reunite and bring an actual family member into the non-blood family of the Ohio State women’s basketball team. A team that’s losing some members of the day-to-day family in the spring.
Jaloni will join Ohio State after two graduate senior guards Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor end their NCAA eligibility. Behind them are two other guards who still have one year of eligibility, if they choose to use it, in Rikki Harris and Madison Greene. Should they both return, the ability of Jaloni creates tough decisions for coach McGuff on the court.
On Kennedy’s side of being a Buckeye, the guard hasn’t played due to injury. The return date for Cambridge is unknown, but next season, alongside Jaloni, the excitement surrounding the program is palpable. A plan coming to fruition.
“We had talked about it since we got out of high school, playing again,” said Kennedy. “And we just had to make some pieces fall together and then I ended up here and boom.”
It was a game of chess, played perfectly by the pair of Cambridge sisters, all in an effort to create another bittersweet moment. A phrase used by their dad, Desmond Cambridge. The father of nine used it when posting about watching two of his daughters play together in that final championship game at Ensworth.
The feeling isn’t hard for a parent to imagine. Seeing the excitement of two high-achieving athletic sisters playing together for years comes to an abrupt end. Starting next year, it looks like it’s starting all over again.
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Jaloni Cambridge (left) and Kennedy Cambridge (right) | Kennedy Cambridge on Twitter | @Kencambridge_
Kennedy shares more about the elementary school dream come true in scarlet and gray
Friday, the future of Ohio State women’s basketball received a boost. It came in the form of the verbal commitment of 2024’s No. 1 point guard, and overall No. 3 player, Jaloni Cambridge. The announcement sent waves through college basketball, with Cambridge choosing head coach Kevin McGuff’s side over recent national champions in the LSU Tigers and South Carolina Gamecocks, plus other noteworthy teams like the Louisville Cardinals and Baylor Bears.
The biggest impact of the decision wasn’t with a team, coach, or NIL deal though. It struck close to home with Jaloni’s sister: Buckeyes guard Kennedy Cambridge.
On Instagram, Kennedy shared her feelings with her followers in an outpouring of love, sharing a small glimpse into the connection between the sisters. When it comes to that connection’s place on the court, Friday’s decision is the next chapter, following many previous sibling stories.
“I played with her my entire life,” said Kennedy, talking with Land-Grant Holy Land. “Like when I was in the fourth grade, she was playing up and she was in the second grade.”
While the two haven’t always played alongside each other since those early days of being eight and 10 years old, they played together in high school for the Ensworth Tigers, and they were pretty good.
In three seasons playing together at Ensworth, with Jaloni starting on the high school varsity team as an eighth grader, the Cambridge sisters led the Tigers to two state championships. The final was a bittersweet moment for the tightly-knit Cambridge family.
Following a dominant 70-46 victory, where Kennedy had 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks, while Jaloni added 19 points and seven rebounds, emotions were high.
“I remember our last game together,” said Kennedy. “We both just broke down in tears because we couldn’t believe it was over.”
The “it was over” doesn’t look like it will last.
When Kennedy left high school for the bluegrass of the University of Kentucky, the idea of them playing together again received a boost when she entered the transfer portal in the summer of 2023. As everyone now knows, Kennedy chose the Buckeyes, a school that hosted Jaloni in a visit in the fall of 2022.
However, it wasn’t guaranteed that the two Cambridges would reunite. After all, the list of schools trying their best to entice Jaloni was strong. A final group consisting of six combined national championships. Plus the idea of playing with the likes of LSU star forward Angel Reese or being part of the growing legend of South Carolina coach Dawn Staley.
After the decision, speaking with various media outlets following Jaloni’s commitment to Ohio State, Kennedy shared that Friday’s announcement was a surprise. Which is true, kinda. It’s more of the “when” that needs clarifying.
“It was not a surprise to me,” said Kennedy. “I was lying to the media, but I knew for like a week or two, officially. But we had talked about it since we got out of high school playing again.”
A small stretch of the truth by an excited sister who gets to reunite and bring an actual family member into the non-blood family of the Ohio State women’s basketball team. A team that’s losing some members of the day-to-day family in the spring.
Jaloni will join Ohio State after two graduate senior guards Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor end their NCAA eligibility. Behind them are two other guards who still have one year of eligibility, if they choose to use it, in Rikki Harris and Madison Greene. Should they both return, the ability of Jaloni creates tough decisions for coach McGuff on the court.
On Kennedy’s side of being a Buckeye, the guard hasn’t played due to injury. The return date for Cambridge is unknown, but next season, alongside Jaloni, the excitement surrounding the program is palpable. A plan coming to fruition.
“We had talked about it since we got out of high school, playing again,” said Kennedy. “And we just had to make some pieces fall together and then I ended up here and boom.”
It was a game of chess, played perfectly by the pair of Cambridge sisters, all in an effort to create another bittersweet moment. A phrase used by their dad, Desmond Cambridge. The father of nine used it when posting about watching two of his daughters play together in that final championship game at Ensworth.
The feeling isn’t hard for a parent to imagine. Seeing the excitement of two high-achieving athletic sisters playing together for years comes to an abrupt end. Starting next year, it looks like it’s starting all over again.
Continue reading...
LGHL Tiering Big Ten Men’s Basketball teams heading into 2024
- News
- 0 Replies
Tiering Big Ten Men’s Basketball teams heading into 2024
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Is Purdue on a tier of its own? How many NCAA tournament bids does the Big Ten have
As we enter 2024 and the conference basketball season, it is time to take an elevated look at the Big Ten conference as a whole and where we stand through two months.
Who is elite? Are there any national title contenders? What is Maryland? Time to answer all of those questions.
Here are the current Big Ten tiers.
This reflects all results through Jan. 1, 2024.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25198426/usa_today_22191332.jpg "Syndication: Journal-Courier")
Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK
We came into the season thinking Purdue would be the top team in the conference, and two months into the season, Purdue is the top team in the conference.
They have been one of the best teams in the conference, and even though they lost to Northwestern to open up conference play, they followed that up by beating Iowa 87-68 and getting right back on track. As we enter conference play, Purdue is not only the best team in the Big Ten, they are ranked No. 1 in the country.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25198465/usa_today_22165449.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Chicago State at Wisconsin")
Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports
Illinois was a team that we knew was talented coming into the season, but we weren’t sure how it would look. So far this season, it has looked like a national contender. The Fighting Illini defeated Florida Atlantic behind 30-point performances from Terrence Shannon and Marcus Domask. Domask, the Southern Illinois transfer, has been outstanding so far, and Coleman Hawkins has done a good job as the Swiss Army knife for Illinois. However, with the unknown status of Terrance Shannon right now, they have to go into tier two.
If there was a 1.5 tier, that is where Wisconsin would be. They got on a hot streak, beating Marquette and Michigan State, but they lost by 25 to Arizona, and that is lingering. They are incredibly talented and, right now, look like a top team in the conference.
Ohio State is a tough team to pin down because they are 11-2 with wins over Alabama, Santa Clara, and UCLA, but all of those teams have struggled since, and the loss to Penn State still weighs heavy. Due to the guard play, they are in the second tier, but they will need to prove their spot early on in conference play.
Indiana missed a great opportunity to beat Kansas and pick up a huge non-conference win, but they didn’t, and they lack a quality win heading into conference play. Xavier Johnson needs to come back soon for the Hoosiers. They are in tier two but could be tier three soon if he doesn’t.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25198462/usa_today_22196827.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Indiana State at Michigan State")
Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports
Northwestern is a tough one to figure out because they beat Purdue. And that’s it. But trust in Boo Buie and the pieces around him have been good so far. The Wildcats need someone to step up and take some of the load off Buie, or they could slip up in conference play.
Michigan State is a weird one because they are still 0-2 in confidence, but recent wins over Baylor, Oakland, and Indiana State have us to believe they are getting where we thought they would be.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25198461/usa_today_22191192.jpg "NCAA Basketball: McNeese State at Michigan")
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Michigan started strong, and one loss to Long Beach State seemed to really derail their season. They are moving towards tier five, but I will keep them in tier four for now because of Dug McDaniel.
Nebraska is 11-2, and they beat Michigan State, but I have to see a little more from them to move them into the third tier and into possible tournament contention. Rutgers just beat 2013 Stonehill by one point, and they do not have an offense right now. Iowa and Maryland both have significant weaknesses that they need to clear up before I can move any of these teams into possible tournament territory.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25198458/usa_today_22030208.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Minnesota at Ohio State")
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Dawson Garcia is the only thing that separates Minnesota from Penn State, but he is not good enough to propel them into the next tier. Minnesota and Penn State are not awful teams, and Penn State has a quality win over Ohio State, but as it stands in the conference, they just have not shown enough to warrant being in tier four.
Continue reading...
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Is Purdue on a tier of its own? How many NCAA tournament bids does the Big Ten have
As we enter 2024 and the conference basketball season, it is time to take an elevated look at the Big Ten conference as a whole and where we stand through two months.
Who is elite? Are there any national title contenders? What is Maryland? Time to answer all of those questions.
Here are the current Big Ten tiers.
This reflects all results through Jan. 1, 2024.
Tier 1: Purdue
We came into the season thinking Purdue would be the top team in the conference, and two months into the season, Purdue is the top team in the conference.
They have been one of the best teams in the conference, and even though they lost to Northwestern to open up conference play, they followed that up by beating Iowa 87-68 and getting right back on track. As we enter conference play, Purdue is not only the best team in the Big Ten, they are ranked No. 1 in the country.
Tier 2: Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Indiana
Illinois was a team that we knew was talented coming into the season, but we weren’t sure how it would look. So far this season, it has looked like a national contender. The Fighting Illini defeated Florida Atlantic behind 30-point performances from Terrence Shannon and Marcus Domask. Domask, the Southern Illinois transfer, has been outstanding so far, and Coleman Hawkins has done a good job as the Swiss Army knife for Illinois. However, with the unknown status of Terrance Shannon right now, they have to go into tier two.
If there was a 1.5 tier, that is where Wisconsin would be. They got on a hot streak, beating Marquette and Michigan State, but they lost by 25 to Arizona, and that is lingering. They are incredibly talented and, right now, look like a top team in the conference.
Ohio State is a tough team to pin down because they are 11-2 with wins over Alabama, Santa Clara, and UCLA, but all of those teams have struggled since, and the loss to Penn State still weighs heavy. Due to the guard play, they are in the second tier, but they will need to prove their spot early on in conference play.
Indiana missed a great opportunity to beat Kansas and pick up a huge non-conference win, but they didn’t, and they lack a quality win heading into conference play. Xavier Johnson needs to come back soon for the Hoosiers. They are in tier two but could be tier three soon if he doesn’t.
Tier 3: Michigan State, Northwestern
Northwestern is a tough one to figure out because they beat Purdue. And that’s it. But trust in Boo Buie and the pieces around him have been good so far. The Wildcats need someone to step up and take some of the load off Buie, or they could slip up in conference play.
Michigan State is a weird one because they are still 0-2 in confidence, but recent wins over Baylor, Oakland, and Indiana State have us to believe they are getting where we thought they would be.
Tier 4: Michigan, Rutgers, Nebraska, Iowa, Maryland
Michigan started strong, and one loss to Long Beach State seemed to really derail their season. They are moving towards tier five, but I will keep them in tier four for now because of Dug McDaniel.
Nebraska is 11-2, and they beat Michigan State, but I have to see a little more from them to move them into the third tier and into possible tournament contention. Rutgers just beat 2013 Stonehill by one point, and they do not have an offense right now. Iowa and Maryland both have significant weaknesses that they need to clear up before I can move any of these teams into possible tournament territory.
Tier 5: Minnesota, Penn State
Dawson Garcia is the only thing that separates Minnesota from Penn State, but he is not good enough to propel them into the next tier. Minnesota and Penn State are not awful teams, and Penn State has a quality win over Ohio State, but as it stands in the conference, they just have not shown enough to warrant being in tier four.
Continue reading...
LGHL Silver Bullets Podcast: Missouri rewind, portal and NFL decisions, and where Ohio State’s coaching staff stands
- News
- 0 Replies
Silver Bullets Podcast: Missouri rewind, portal and NFL decisions, and where Ohio State’s coaching staff stands
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images
After a bad loss to the Tigers, there are a lot of major questions surrounding Ohio State this off-season.
Happy New Year to all of our Silver Bullets Podcast listeners. We hope 2024 is better for you than 2023 was, particularly when it comes to the performance of The Ohio State football team.
The Ohio State football season ended with a thud in Arlington, Texas on Friday night as the Buckeyes were basically inept on offense behind second and third-string quarterbacks, who the offensive line did no favors for. The Missouri Tigers won it 14-3, and with any semblance of even a merely “meh” offense it would have been an easy victory the way the defense played.
We look back on an embarrassingly bad offensive performance, a mostly great defensive effort, and where Ohio State goes from here. We also check in with our score predictions and our picks to click to see how well we foresaw the Cotton Bowl matchup.
Following our game rewind we discussed the transfer portal declarations (including a starter) that took place between the Cotton Bowl and New Year’s Day, an NFL declaration from a key defensive lineman, and an arrival to Columbus via the portal as well.
Finally, we walk through the entire Ohio State coaching staff and talk about which of those coaches have earned our trust for another season and which ones Ryan Day should be replacing or at least seriously considering replacing. Some of those decisions should be easy ones and some are a bit more up in the air, so it will be interesting to see what Day’s staff looks like by the OSU Spring Game or if he sticks with the status quo.
We’ll be coming at you monthly in the college football offseason, with plans to return to our weekly schedule in August 2024. We’d love to hear from you, so please reach out with your feedback and questions below in the comments section or send us an email.
Be sure to subscribe, rate, review, share, and follow the show over on Twitter at @SilvrBulletsPod.
As always, thanks for listening!
Continue reading...
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images
After a bad loss to the Tigers, there are a lot of major questions surrounding Ohio State this off-season.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Happy New Year to all of our Silver Bullets Podcast listeners. We hope 2024 is better for you than 2023 was, particularly when it comes to the performance of The Ohio State football team.
The Ohio State football season ended with a thud in Arlington, Texas on Friday night as the Buckeyes were basically inept on offense behind second and third-string quarterbacks, who the offensive line did no favors for. The Missouri Tigers won it 14-3, and with any semblance of even a merely “meh” offense it would have been an easy victory the way the defense played.
We look back on an embarrassingly bad offensive performance, a mostly great defensive effort, and where Ohio State goes from here. We also check in with our score predictions and our picks to click to see how well we foresaw the Cotton Bowl matchup.
Following our game rewind we discussed the transfer portal declarations (including a starter) that took place between the Cotton Bowl and New Year’s Day, an NFL declaration from a key defensive lineman, and an arrival to Columbus via the portal as well.
Finally, we walk through the entire Ohio State coaching staff and talk about which of those coaches have earned our trust for another season and which ones Ryan Day should be replacing or at least seriously considering replacing. Some of those decisions should be easy ones and some are a bit more up in the air, so it will be interesting to see what Day’s staff looks like by the OSU Spring Game or if he sticks with the status quo.
We’ll be coming at you monthly in the college football offseason, with plans to return to our weekly schedule in August 2024. We’d love to hear from you, so please reach out with your feedback and questions below in the comments section or send us an email.
Be sure to subscribe, rate, review, share, and follow the show over on Twitter at @SilvrBulletsPod.
As always, thanks for listening!
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State makes the cut for multiple 2025 targets
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State makes the cut for multiple 2025 targets
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 four-star DE Justin Hill via USA TODAY/247Sports
The Buckeyes also saw two of the top QB transfer prospects go elsewhere.
Ohio State finished the year 11-2 after falling to Missouri 14-3 in the Cotton Bowl. With the beginning of the offseason now official, focus will be on what Ryan Day and the Buckeyes can improve on heading into next season. A major area of this will be on recruiting, both in the traditional sense and regarding to the transfer portal.
While many of the headlines surrounding Ohio State last weekend were centered on the bowl game, you may have missed the Buckeyes making the recruiting headlines. If so, Land-Grant Holy Land has you covered.
Ohio State’s 2024 recruiting class is mainly wrapped up. The Buckeyes saw 20 of the nation’s top prospects sign with the team during the early signing period, good enough for the No. 6 class in the 247Sports Class Rankings.
With the cycle being nearly complete, focus will shift towards next year’s class. Ohio State currently holds verbal commitments from four recruits, and is actively working on adding to it. One of the positions quickly turning into a priority for the Buckeyes in next year’s class is the defensive line.
The Buckeyes have yet to earn a commitment on the line in 2025, but have offered nearly 20 prospects already. Over the holiday weekend, the Buckeyes learned they moved one step closer in securing one of their top defensive end prospects, when four-star edge rusher Justin Hill (Cincinnati, Ohio / Winton Woods) included the Buckeyes in his top 10 schools.
Alongside Ohio State, Hill included Penn State, Oregon, Miami, Cincinnati, USC, Michigan, Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky in his top schools.
Ryan Day and Ohio State have made recruiting in-state talent a priority. Keeping Hill in Ohio would be a massive win for Ohio State. While no school has yet to separate themselves from the pack, Ohio State seems to have the early lead. The Buckeyes, if not by proximity alone, were able to get him on campus multiple times last year, but Kentucky, Alabama, Cincinnati and Michigan have also been recruiting Hill heavily.
Hill doesn’t seem to be close to committing, but he has narrowed down his list of suitors to 10. Expect him to continue to visit the above schools and further narrow down his list of schools during the coming year.
Hill is the No. 13 DE and is the No. 138 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is also the No. 6 recruit out of Ohio.
The aforementioned Hill was not the only recruit to include the Buckeyes in their top schools over the holiday weekend. Ohio State also made the cut for 2025 four-star cornerback Onis Konanbanny (Columbia, SC / Heathwood Hall Episcopal School) when he included the program in his top 10 schools.
Alongside Ohio State, Konanbanny included Florida State, Tennessee, Penn State, LSU, Oklahoma, Michigan, Oregon, North Carolina and USC in his top schools.
Konanbanny has been able to visit with Ohio State, North Carolina, Florida State, Tennessee and Michigan already, but will likely try to make trips to visit with some of the other schools in his list. He will also look to lock in some official visits in the spring and fall, and will likely wait until next summer to make a commitment at the earliest.
Konanbanny is the No. 28 CB and is the No. 253 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is also the No. 2 recruit out of South Carolina.
Peterson currently plays in West Virginia, but is from Cuayahoga Falls, Ohio. Because Ohio State is the hometown school, the Buckeyes will likely be in the mix until the end, but Kansas is also making a heavy push for him.
Continue reading...
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 four-star DE Justin Hill via USA TODAY/247Sports
The Buckeyes also saw two of the top QB transfer prospects go elsewhere.
Ohio State finished the year 11-2 after falling to Missouri 14-3 in the Cotton Bowl. With the beginning of the offseason now official, focus will be on what Ryan Day and the Buckeyes can improve on heading into next season. A major area of this will be on recruiting, both in the traditional sense and regarding to the transfer portal.
While many of the headlines surrounding Ohio State last weekend were centered on the bowl game, you may have missed the Buckeyes making the recruiting headlines. If so, Land-Grant Holy Land has you covered.
2025 four-star DE has Ohio State in top schools
Ohio State’s 2024 recruiting class is mainly wrapped up. The Buckeyes saw 20 of the nation’s top prospects sign with the team during the early signing period, good enough for the No. 6 class in the 247Sports Class Rankings.
With the cycle being nearly complete, focus will shift towards next year’s class. Ohio State currently holds verbal commitments from four recruits, and is actively working on adding to it. One of the positions quickly turning into a priority for the Buckeyes in next year’s class is the defensive line.
The Buckeyes have yet to earn a commitment on the line in 2025, but have offered nearly 20 prospects already. Over the holiday weekend, the Buckeyes learned they moved one step closer in securing one of their top defensive end prospects, when four-star edge rusher Justin Hill (Cincinnati, Ohio / Winton Woods) included the Buckeyes in his top 10 schools.
Alongside Ohio State, Hill included Penn State, Oregon, Miami, Cincinnati, USC, Michigan, Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky in his top schools.
Ryan Day and Ohio State have made recruiting in-state talent a priority. Keeping Hill in Ohio would be a massive win for Ohio State. While no school has yet to separate themselves from the pack, Ohio State seems to have the early lead. The Buckeyes, if not by proximity alone, were able to get him on campus multiple times last year, but Kentucky, Alabama, Cincinnati and Michigan have also been recruiting Hill heavily.
Hill doesn’t seem to be close to committing, but he has narrowed down his list of suitors to 10. Expect him to continue to visit the above schools and further narrow down his list of schools during the coming year.
Hill is the No. 13 DE and is the No. 138 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is also the No. 6 recruit out of Ohio.
2025 four-star CB has Ohio State in top schools
The aforementioned Hill was not the only recruit to include the Buckeyes in their top schools over the holiday weekend. Ohio State also made the cut for 2025 four-star cornerback Onis Konanbanny (Columbia, SC / Heathwood Hall Episcopal School) when he included the program in his top 10 schools.
WhereWeGoinnnnnn #AGTG #THEpic.twitter.com/2Smcd3UE8E
— ᴏɴɪs " " ᴋᴏɴᴀɴʙᴀɴɴʏ'25 (@KonanbannyOnis) January 1, 2024
Alongside Ohio State, Konanbanny included Florida State, Tennessee, Penn State, LSU, Oklahoma, Michigan, Oregon, North Carolina and USC in his top schools.
Konanbanny has been able to visit with Ohio State, North Carolina, Florida State, Tennessee and Michigan already, but will likely try to make trips to visit with some of the other schools in his list. He will also look to lock in some official visits in the spring and fall, and will likely wait until next summer to make a commitment at the earliest.
Konanbanny is the No. 28 CB and is the No. 253 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is also the No. 2 recruit out of South Carolina.
Quick Hits
- The Ohio State football team is not the only program making recruiting headlines in Columbus. The men’s basketball team, led by Chris Holtmann, also made some noise over the holiday weekend, making the cut for one of the nation’s top prospects. 2025 five-star point guard Darryn Peterson (Huntington, West Virginia / Huntington Prep) included the Buckeyes in his top eight schools alongside North Carolina, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Arkansas, Kansas and Baylor.
Peterson currently plays in West Virginia, but is from Cuayahoga Falls, Ohio. Because Ohio State is the hometown school, the Buckeyes will likely be in the mix until the end, but Kansas is also making a heavy push for him.
- On Monday, two of the top quarterbacks in the transfer portal announced their decisions. Former Washington State QB Cam Ward announced he will be foregoing his senior season and instead will enter for the NFL Draft. Additionally, former Oregon State QB DJ Uiagalelei announced that he will be transferring to Florida State.
Continue reading...
