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LGHL Most Telling Stat: Ohio State’s red zone defense was pivotal in national title run
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Most Telling Stat: Ohio State’s red zone defense was pivotal in national title run
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 Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Getting stops in the red zone was critical in Ohio State’s 2024 national championship season.
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 the numbers that will be most important for the Buckeyes this college football season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all our “Most Telling Stat” articles here.
Of all the statistical areas in which the 2024 Ohio State Buckeyes excelled last season, perhaps the most critical was opponents’ red zone conversion rate.
The Silver Bullets held opponents to scoring points on just 60.53% of their trips into the red zone, per CFBStats.com. That was second best nationally to Army’s 60%, and Ohio State’s stops were against much better offensive competition — especially in the postseason.
The Buckeyes allowed opponents to get into the red zone 38 times in 2024, which was tied for 24th nationally — not terrible, but not elite. However, once OSU’s opposition got into scoring position, the Buckeyes stepped up and got the job done. The Buckeyes allowed 23 total scores in those 38 situations, which is tied with Mississippi for the fewest, with Ole Miss having faced 32 such situations, giving Ohio State the better percentage of stops.
Additionally, Ohio State permitted just 16 touchdowns out of those 23 scores, forcing seven field goals and getting 15 stops. So, opponents got into the end zone in less than half of their trips into the red zone against the Buckeyes.
Those 16 touchdowns surrendered against the opposition in the red zone were the fewest among FBS teams, tied with Ole Miss and Northern Illinois.
Where the Buckeyes excelled was in getting stops at the goal line, which is one of the most difficult asks of any defense. The most shining example of the Buckeyes’ prowess with their backs against their own goal line came in the Cotton Bowl, when Ohio State fended off the Texas Longhorns partly on execution and partly on reputation.
That decisive stand began with 3:56 to play, with a Texas first-and-goal situation at the OSU 1-yard line in a one-touchdown game.
That was the most high-profile goal-line stand of the season, but it wasn’t the only one.
Ohio State stopped one such red zone trip in the regular season meeting with Oregon and held the Ducks to field goals on two others. The Buckeyes held Nebraska without a point on another goal-line stand, and did the same twice to Penn State, with the second of those coming late in the game — after which the Buckeyes squeezed the clock dry with the run game.
Ohio State also had stops at the goal line against Purdue and Northwestern. Against Michigan, the Buckeyes held one such foray into the red zone to a field goal and stopped two others — one on fourth down, and one on a Sawyer interception.
The Silver Bullets did it again in the fourth quarter of the College Football Playoff title game against Notre Dame.
The Irish trailed by 16 points and drove just inside the OSU 10-yard line to the 8 for a first down. Ohio State’s Kenyatta Jackson Jr. stopped Riley Leonard for a 1-yard loss on first down. Leonard threw incomplete on second and third downs. Marcus Freeman decided to kick a field goal despite trailing by 16 with 9:31 to play, and Mitch Jeter missed the 27-yard attempt.
While Ohio State might have been able to win the national championship without such a stout red-zone defense, the Buckeyes would have had to do it a different way, which would have put more pressure on quarterback Will Howard and the offense in tighter games.
The Buckeyes would have had a much more difficult time beating Penn State, and that in turn would have at least forced the Buckeyes to go on the road in the CFP if they made it at all.
That’s why I find the team’s opponent red-zone conversion percentage the most telling stat of the 2024 season.
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 Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Getting stops in the red zone was critical in Ohio State’s 2024 national championship season.
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 the numbers that will be most important for the Buckeyes this college football season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all our “Most Telling Stat” articles here.
Of all the statistical areas in which the 2024 Ohio State Buckeyes excelled last season, perhaps the most critical was opponents’ red zone conversion rate.
The Silver Bullets held opponents to scoring points on just 60.53% of their trips into the red zone, per CFBStats.com. That was second best nationally to Army’s 60%, and Ohio State’s stops were against much better offensive competition — especially in the postseason.
The Buckeyes allowed opponents to get into the red zone 38 times in 2024, which was tied for 24th nationally — not terrible, but not elite. However, once OSU’s opposition got into scoring position, the Buckeyes stepped up and got the job done. The Buckeyes allowed 23 total scores in those 38 situations, which is tied with Mississippi for the fewest, with Ole Miss having faced 32 such situations, giving Ohio State the better percentage of stops.
Additionally, Ohio State permitted just 16 touchdowns out of those 23 scores, forcing seven field goals and getting 15 stops. So, opponents got into the end zone in less than half of their trips into the red zone against the Buckeyes.
Those 16 touchdowns surrendered against the opposition in the red zone were the fewest among FBS teams, tied with Ole Miss and Northern Illinois.
Where the Buckeyes excelled was in getting stops at the goal line, which is one of the most difficult asks of any defense. The most shining example of the Buckeyes’ prowess with their backs against their own goal line came in the Cotton Bowl, when Ohio State fended off the Texas Longhorns partly on execution and partly on reputation.
That decisive stand began with 3:56 to play, with a Texas first-and-goal situation at the OSU 1-yard line in a one-touchdown game.
- First Down: Jerrick Gibson ran up the middle for no gain, stopped by J.T. Tuimoloau and Arvelle Reese.
- Second Down: Having failed up the middle, and possibly swayed by Ohio State’s success up the gut in short yardage all season, Texas went with a toss play left on second and goal. Quintrevion Wismer was slowed in the backfield by Caleb Downs and dropped for a 7-yard loss by Lathan Ransom.
- Third Down: Forced into a passing situation, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian called a pass play on third-and-goal from the 8-yard line, with Jack Sawyer’s loop inside creating pressure and an incomplete pass.
- Fourth Down: Sawyer sacked Quinn Ewers, forced a fumble, recovered it, and ran it back 83 yards for a touchdown to ice the game.
That was the most high-profile goal-line stand of the season, but it wasn’t the only one.
Ohio State stopped one such red zone trip in the regular season meeting with Oregon and held the Ducks to field goals on two others. The Buckeyes held Nebraska without a point on another goal-line stand, and did the same twice to Penn State, with the second of those coming late in the game — after which the Buckeyes squeezed the clock dry with the run game.
Ohio State also had stops at the goal line against Purdue and Northwestern. Against Michigan, the Buckeyes held one such foray into the red zone to a field goal and stopped two others — one on fourth down, and one on a Sawyer interception.
The Silver Bullets did it again in the fourth quarter of the College Football Playoff title game against Notre Dame.
The Irish trailed by 16 points and drove just inside the OSU 10-yard line to the 8 for a first down. Ohio State’s Kenyatta Jackson Jr. stopped Riley Leonard for a 1-yard loss on first down. Leonard threw incomplete on second and third downs. Marcus Freeman decided to kick a field goal despite trailing by 16 with 9:31 to play, and Mitch Jeter missed the 27-yard attempt.
While Ohio State might have been able to win the national championship without such a stout red-zone defense, the Buckeyes would have had to do it a different way, which would have put more pressure on quarterback Will Howard and the offense in tighter games.
The Buckeyes would have had a much more difficult time beating Penn State, and that in turn would have at least forced the Buckeyes to go on the road in the CFP if they made it at all.
That’s why I find the team’s opponent red-zone conversion percentage the most telling stat of the 2024 season.
Continue reading...
LGHL The Buckeyes added an in-state running back who has the potential to make a massive impact
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The Buckeyes added an in-state running back who has the potential to make a massive impact
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
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!
BOOOOM!! Four-star 2026 RB Favour Akih commits to Ohio State
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State lands commitment from Delaware four-star RB Favour Akih
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
RB Favour Akih commits to Ohio State
Bill Kurelic, Bucknuts
Four-star running back Favour Akih commits to Ohio State over Miami, USC and others
Jeremy Birmingham, Buckeye Huddle
Four-star 2026 Ohio Running Back Favour Akih Commits to Ohio State
Garrick Hodge, Eleven Warriors
Four-star RB Favour Akih staying home at Ohio State
Greg Smith, Rivals
On3’s Charles Power breaks down recent Ohio State commit Favour Akih
Mick Walker, Lettermen Row
Social media react after RB Favour Akih committed to Ohio State
Bill Kurelic, Bucknuts
Press Coverage: New Running Back Commitment Favour Akih Can Make a Profound Impact at Ohio State
Garrick Hodge and Chase Brown, Eleven Warriors
Players to Watch: Brandon Inniss is poised for a breakout season
Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State fans are excited to see what these two new starters can do this season
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
You’re Nuts: Which Ohio State true freshman are you most excited to watch this season
Matt Tamanini and Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land
You’re Nuts: Which Ohio State freshman in history were you most excited to watch?
Brett Ludwiczak and Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
You’re Nuts: Did Ohio State men’s basketball do enough in the transfer portal?
Connor Lemons and Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land
Players to Watch: Christoph Tilly gives Ohio State basketball a presence in the paint
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land
Softball: Ohio State Earns NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year Honors
Ohio State Athletics
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
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!
Business is BOOOOOMing...
BOOOOM!! Four-star 2026 RB Favour Akih commits to Ohio State
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State lands commitment from Delaware four-star RB Favour Akih
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
RB Favour Akih commits to Ohio State
Bill Kurelic, Bucknuts
Four-star running back Favour Akih commits to Ohio State over Miami, USC and others
Jeremy Birmingham, Buckeye Huddle
Four-star 2026 Ohio Running Back Favour Akih Commits to Ohio State
Garrick Hodge, Eleven Warriors
Four-star RB Favour Akih staying home at Ohio State
Greg Smith, Rivals
On3’s Charles Power breaks down recent Ohio State commit Favour Akih
Mick Walker, Lettermen Row
Social media react after RB Favour Akih committed to Ohio State
Bill Kurelic, Bucknuts
Press Coverage: New Running Back Commitment Favour Akih Can Make a Profound Impact at Ohio State
Garrick Hodge and Chase Brown, Eleven Warriors
Wrapping up Players to Watch Week
Players to Watch: Brandon Inniss is poised for a breakout season
Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State fans are excited to see what these two new starters can do this season
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
You’re Nuts: Which Ohio State true freshman are you most excited to watch this season
Matt Tamanini and Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land
You’re Nuts: Which Ohio State freshman in history were you most excited to watch?
Brett Ludwiczak and Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
On the Hardwood
You’re Nuts: Did Ohio State men’s basketball do enough in the transfer portal?
Connor Lemons and Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land
Players to Watch: Christoph Tilly gives Ohio State basketball a presence in the paint
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land
Outside the Shoe and Schott
Softball: Ohio State Earns NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year Honors
Ohio State Athletics
And now for something completely different...
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2027 LA TE Ahmad Hudson (Verbal Offer)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 1 Replies
247
Rivals
Twitter
HudL
Class: 2027
Position: TE
School: Ruston (LA) Ruston
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 230lbs
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Rivals
HudL
Class: 2027
Position: TE
School: Ruston (LA) Ruston
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 230lbs
Login to view embedded media
LGHL BOOOOM!! Four-star 2026 RB Favour Akih commits to Ohio State
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BOOOOM!! Four-star 2026 RB Favour Akih commits to Ohio State
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2026 four-star RB Favour Akih | via @FavourAkih on Twitter
Carlos Locklyn picks up his first commitment in the 2026 class.
With another big weekend of visits on tap, it was only a matter of time before Ohio State added to its 2026 recruiting class. The adage goes that the best in Ohio stay in Ohio, and that remained true as the Buckeyes hauled in one of the top prospects from their own backyard.
Four-star running back Favour Akih officially committed to Ohio State on Sunday. The 6-foot, 190-pound ball-carrier out of Rutherford B. Hayes is the No. 14 RB in the country and the No. 8 player in Ohio in this cycle, per the 247Sports Composite, in addition to being a top-170 player overall.
“Blessed to be in this position, dreams to reality!” Akih said on Twitter. “First and foremost, I want to thank God for the countless blessings and guidance throughout this journey. I’m beyond grateful for the Delaware community, my coaches, the entire staff, my family, and especially my teammates, past and present who’ve supported and pushed me every step of the way. I can’t wait to fight for the scarlet and gray, GO BUCKS.”
Akih, who grew up rooting for Ohio State, visited Columbus multiple times — including for the team’s national title celebration in January — before finally earning a scholarship offer on March 17 during spring practice. It wasn’t too long after that Akih narrowed his list of more than two dozen offers down to a final three of Ohio State, Miami and USC.
With his official visit with the Buckeyes starting on Friday, the running back saw enough to pull the trigger with his commitment on Sunday.
“For me it was the development and the competition!” Akih told On3. “Coach Lock tells all the guys in the room that they should be as smart as the QB, he breaks football down for you in a way that the game feels slow and you can play as fast as possible.”
Akih is coming off a massive junior season for Rutherford B. Hayes, racking up 1,653 yards rushing (7.0 yards per carry) with 15 touchdowns, averaging more than 150 yards per game on the ground while adding another nine catches for 142 yards and three scores through the air. A multi-sport athlete, also competing in track and field, Akih set personal bests with a 10.90 in the 100m and 22.03 in the 200m dash in the spring of 2025.
Ohio State’s fourth-ranked 2026 class is now up to 14 total members, and the Buckeyes’ 93.08 average player rating is second only to LSU (nine commits). For position coach Carlos Locklyn, Akih becomes his first commitment in the 2026 class. Locklyn remains in heavy pursuit of a handful of other top prospects at the position, including No. 1 RB Savion Hiter out of Virginia.
While Akih was the only player to officially commit to Ohio State this weekend, he was far from the only big name in attendance. The Buckeyes also played host to several priority linemen over the past few days, including four-star OT Drew Evers.
Evers, the No. 13 IOL and No. 209 overall prospect nationally per the 247Sports Composite, came away super impressed by his trip to Columbus. The Texas native is high up on the list for position coach Tyler Bowen, who is looking to add to his trio of offensive line commits in this class. Evers has another pair of official visits coming up to Penn State and Texas A&M, having previously taken trips to SMU and LSU.
On the other side of the ball, Ohio State also appears to have made a positive impact on four-star DL Emanuel Ruffin coming off his visit.
The Buckeyes are looking to carry over some momentum in Alabama from the 2025 class, with Ruffin the No. 9 player in the state in addition to being the No. 117 overall prospect nationally per 247Sports’ rankings. It will be tough to pull the 6-foot-4, 290-pound lineman out of SEC country, but Ohio State does appear to be a real player in this recruitment alongside Alabama and LSU.
Elsewhere, the Buckeyes also extended a pair of new offers over the weekend, the first being to four-star 2027 CB, Xavier Hasan.
Hasan is the No. 8 CB and No. 45 player nationally per 247Sports’ rankings, as well as the No. 2 prospect in his home state of North Carolina. The 6-foot, 180-pound defensive back holds over 30 offers to his name, including the likes of Florida State, Georgia, Notre Dame, Penn State, Tennessee and many others.
Ohio State also got into the mix with one of the nation’s top tight ends, extending an offer to 2027 five-star TE Ahmad Hudson.
The 6-foot-6.5, 230-pound Louisiana native is the No. 1 TE and No. 12 overall player in the class, per the 247Sports Composite. Hudson is one of the most highly sought after players early on in the cycle, with around two dozen offers to his name thus far including your usual heavy hitters among the likes of Alabama, LSU, Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M and many others.
Fitzpatrick is the No. 3 CB and No. 47 player nationally per the 247Sports Composite. He is the younger brother of three-time NFL All-Pro safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick.
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
2026 four-star RB Favour Akih | via @FavourAkih on Twitter
Carlos Locklyn picks up his first commitment in the 2026 class.
With another big weekend of visits on tap, it was only a matter of time before Ohio State added to its 2026 recruiting class. The adage goes that the best in Ohio stay in Ohio, and that remained true as the Buckeyes hauled in one of the top prospects from their own backyard.
Four-star running back Favour Akih officially committed to Ohio State on Sunday. The 6-foot, 190-pound ball-carrier out of Rutherford B. Hayes is the No. 14 RB in the country and the No. 8 player in Ohio in this cycle, per the 247Sports Composite, in addition to being a top-170 player overall.
“Blessed to be in this position, dreams to reality!” Akih said on Twitter. “First and foremost, I want to thank God for the countless blessings and guidance throughout this journey. I’m beyond grateful for the Delaware community, my coaches, the entire staff, my family, and especially my teammates, past and present who’ve supported and pushed me every step of the way. I can’t wait to fight for the scarlet and gray, GO BUCKS.”
Akih, who grew up rooting for Ohio State, visited Columbus multiple times — including for the team’s national title celebration in January — before finally earning a scholarship offer on March 17 during spring practice. It wasn’t too long after that Akih narrowed his list of more than two dozen offers down to a final three of Ohio State, Miami and USC.
With his official visit with the Buckeyes starting on Friday, the running back saw enough to pull the trigger with his commitment on Sunday.
“For me it was the development and the competition!” Akih told On3. “Coach Lock tells all the guys in the room that they should be as smart as the QB, he breaks football down for you in a way that the game feels slow and you can play as fast as possible.”
Akih is coming off a massive junior season for Rutherford B. Hayes, racking up 1,653 yards rushing (7.0 yards per carry) with 15 touchdowns, averaging more than 150 yards per game on the ground while adding another nine catches for 142 yards and three scores through the air. A multi-sport athlete, also competing in track and field, Akih set personal bests with a 10.90 in the 100m and 22.03 in the 200m dash in the spring of 2025.
Ohio State’s fourth-ranked 2026 class is now up to 14 total members, and the Buckeyes’ 93.08 average player rating is second only to LSU (nine commits). For position coach Carlos Locklyn, Akih becomes his first commitment in the 2026 class. Locklyn remains in heavy pursuit of a handful of other top prospects at the position, including No. 1 RB Savion Hiter out of Virginia.
More visits, more offers, more plans...
While Akih was the only player to officially commit to Ohio State this weekend, he was far from the only big name in attendance. The Buckeyes also played host to several priority linemen over the past few days, including four-star OT Drew Evers.
@OhioStateFB just hit different!
Really appreciate @ryandaytime @brianhartline @TylerBowen @Coach_Dickey @mjohnson7672 & staff for spending so much time with me & my family! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/L309BjdVCS
— Drew Evers (@TheDrewEvers) June 8, 2025
Evers, the No. 13 IOL and No. 209 overall prospect nationally per the 247Sports Composite, came away super impressed by his trip to Columbus. The Texas native is high up on the list for position coach Tyler Bowen, who is looking to add to his trio of offensive line commits in this class. Evers has another pair of official visits coming up to Penn State and Texas A&M, having previously taken trips to SMU and LSU.
On the other side of the ball, Ohio State also appears to have made a positive impact on four-star DL Emanuel Ruffin coming off his visit.
Had An Great Official Visit at @OhioStateFB They definitely made a statement️ pic.twitter.com/3yiBIjeX6J
— Emanuel Ruffin 4️ (@emanuel_ruffin) June 8, 2025
The Buckeyes are looking to carry over some momentum in Alabama from the 2025 class, with Ruffin the No. 9 player in the state in addition to being the No. 117 overall prospect nationally per 247Sports’ rankings. It will be tough to pull the 6-foot-4, 290-pound lineman out of SEC country, but Ohio State does appear to be a real player in this recruitment alongside Alabama and LSU.
Elsewhere, the Buckeyes also extended a pair of new offers over the weekend, the first being to four-star 2027 CB, Xavier Hasan.
After a great conversation with @OGWalt_ I am beyond BLESSED to receive an offer from THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY!!!@OhioStateFB
@ryandaytime #GoBucks @DrStevenWright @CoachDrew__ @BillLiedy @football_cghsnc pic.twitter.com/MkLrXONktE
— Xavier (Zay) Hasan 4
Hasan is the No. 8 CB and No. 45 player nationally per 247Sports’ rankings, as well as the No. 2 prospect in his home state of North Carolina. The 6-foot, 180-pound defensive back holds over 30 offers to his name, including the likes of Florida State, Georgia, Notre Dame, Penn State, Tennessee and many others.
Ohio State also got into the mix with one of the nation’s top tight ends, extending an offer to 2027 five-star TE Ahmad Hudson.
The 6-foot-6.5, 230-pound Louisiana native is the No. 1 TE and No. 12 overall player in the class, per the 247Sports Composite. Hudson is one of the most highly sought after players early on in the cycle, with around two dozen offers to his name thus far including your usual heavy hitters among the likes of Alabama, LSU, Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M and many others.
Quick Hits
- Just because a player commits elsewhere doesn’t mean Ohio State is going to stop swinging. On Sunday the Buckeyes learned they will be getting a visit this upcoming weekend from 2026 CB Justice Fitzpatrick. The Florida native committed to Georgia this past Tuesday, and would obviously be a massive flip could Tim Walton and company pull it off.
Fitzpatrick is the No. 3 CB and No. 47 player nationally per the 247Sports Composite. He is the younger brother of three-time NFL All-Pro safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Continue reading...
2027 NC CB Xavier Hasan (Verbal Offer)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 0 Replies
247
Rivals
Twitter
HudL
Class: 2027
Position: CB
School: Durham(NC) Cardinal Gibbons
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 185lbs
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Rivals
HudL
Class: 2027
Position: CB
School: Durham(NC) Cardinal Gibbons
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 185lbs
Login to view embedded media
LGHL You’re Nuts: Which Ohio State true freshman are you most excited to watch this season?
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You’re Nuts: Which Ohio State true freshman are you most excited to watch this season?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the Buckeyes we expect to excel this season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all our “Players to Watch” articles here.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
There’s a new kid on the block at “Wide Receiver U,” and if spring practice was any indication, you should make note of the name Quincy Porter.
At 6-4, 205 pounds, Porter joins the ranks of Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, and more in Brian Hartline’s stacked receiver room, and if spring practice is any indication, Porter can hold his own even as a freshman.
Last season, as a high school senior at Bergen Catholic in Oradell, New Jersey, Porter averaged 17.0 yards per carry, amassing 969 yards and 11 touchdowns on 57 passes, helping to lead his team to a state title. He amassed an identical number of yards in his junior season, on 16 fewer passes and with five additional touchdowns. A multi-sport athlete, Porter also ran track and field in high school.
His impressive football stats made him a five-star prospect, with 247Sports ranking him as the No. 23 player in the country and the No. 5 wide receiver in the 2025 class. 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins even predicted Porter would be a future first-round NFL Draft pick, saying there is “no shortage of potential.”
Porter hit the ground running in spring practice, becoming the only freshman to shed his black stripe, a tradition started by Urban Meyer meant to signify that a newcomer has proven themselves to be a true Buckeye ready to play for the team. It took him just 11 practices.
Wide receivers coach Brian Hartline cited Porter’s consistency and ability to make big plays as a driving force for the removal of the black stripe—and mentioned that Porter’s peers had started to demand that the stripe be removed.
Day added that Porter, who has been compared to the likes of Marvin Harrison Jr., was making “a lot of contested catches,” ones that stood out even at the team’s most competitive practices.
He looked great in the spring game as well, netting 50 yards on 4 catches.
While losing your black stripe or playing well in the spring game aren’t always the best indicators of someone’s success as a freshman, especially as a member of a receiver room with this much power, in Porter’s case, he takes his job seriously. This bodes well for him this season and throughout his career.
It remains to be seen how much playing time we can expect from him, since Smith now has a year of experience under his belt, with a talent that seems even more freakish by the minute. But Porter was in the two-deep for most of spring practice and still managed to establish himself as someone who can contribute to the team in a meaningful way.
Will he see regular playing time once the season kicks off in earnest? Most likely, no. But it’s not stopping him from setting lofty goals for himself, and it doesn’t mean he won’t find ways to establish himself as a star-in-the-making. He’s willing to block, he’s able to move the chains, and he’s hungry to make a name for himself.
With all of this in mind, all signs point to a strong freshman season from a player we should be paying attention to. I, for one, am excited to sit back and watch.
Look, I get it, going for the true freshman quarterback is the basest level of college football commentary, I know. But, guys, what if he is the greatest QB of all time? I know that as Buckeye fans, we have a tendency to get overexcited and put waaaaaaay too much pressure on young players before they’ve even really begun their collegiate careers. But it’s an endearing kind of pressure, right?
Tavien St. Clair comes to Columbus as the No. 7 player in 247Sports Composite rankings and the No. 3 quarterback in the country for the 2025 recruiting cycle. He is 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, and while he needs to get accustomed to more complex offenses than what he ran at Bellefontaine High School, scouts already believe that he has the tools to be a multi-year starter for the Buckeyes and an NFL Draft pick.
But here’s the real reason that I am curious about St. Clair. As an Ohio kid, he committed to the Buckeyes in June 2023. At that point, Julian Sayin was still an Alabama commit, but by the time that St. Clair and the rest of the 2025 class signed their letters of intent, he knew that the No. 6 player and No. 1 quarterback from the 2024 class was already in the fold. And yet, St. Clair stayed true to his pledge to the team he grew up rooting for.
Of course, it is always nice to have multiple elite-level quarterbacks on the roster, but ideally, you would like them to be spaced out by a couple of years, so that you can get two years of starting time from them before they go pro after their third season. There’s no reason to presume that, barring injury, anyone other than Sayin is going to start behind center this fall as a true sophomore. So, he would be the presumed starter heading into the 2026 season as well, and St. Clair would have one year of experience as a backup.
The question then becomes if that is for there to be a legitimate competition between the two a year from now. Will St. Clair have grown enough to erase the year of experience that Sayin has on him? Or, will Sayin lead the team to another national title, guaranteeing him the starting spot for one more year?
Obviously, we don’t yet have the answers to those questions, but the cornucopia of talent in the OSU QB room is exciting, and whether it’s one year, two years, or, heck, even three years, I’m excited to get a first glimpse at what future Ohio State starter Tavien St. Clair looks like on the field.
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Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the Buckeyes we expect to excel this season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all our “Players to Watch” articles here.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
Today’s Question: Which Ohio State true freshman are you most excited to watch this season?
Jami’s Take: Quincy Porter
There’s a new kid on the block at “Wide Receiver U,” and if spring practice was any indication, you should make note of the name Quincy Porter.
At 6-4, 205 pounds, Porter joins the ranks of Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, and more in Brian Hartline’s stacked receiver room, and if spring practice is any indication, Porter can hold his own even as a freshman.
Last season, as a high school senior at Bergen Catholic in Oradell, New Jersey, Porter averaged 17.0 yards per carry, amassing 969 yards and 11 touchdowns on 57 passes, helping to lead his team to a state title. He amassed an identical number of yards in his junior season, on 16 fewer passes and with five additional touchdowns. A multi-sport athlete, Porter also ran track and field in high school.
His impressive football stats made him a five-star prospect, with 247Sports ranking him as the No. 23 player in the country and the No. 5 wide receiver in the 2025 class. 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins even predicted Porter would be a future first-round NFL Draft pick, saying there is “no shortage of potential.”
Porter hit the ground running in spring practice, becoming the only freshman to shed his black stripe, a tradition started by Urban Meyer meant to signify that a newcomer has proven themselves to be a true Buckeye ready to play for the team. It took him just 11 practices.
Wide receivers coach Brian Hartline cited Porter’s consistency and ability to make big plays as a driving force for the removal of the black stripe—and mentioned that Porter’s peers had started to demand that the stripe be removed.
Day added that Porter, who has been compared to the likes of Marvin Harrison Jr., was making “a lot of contested catches,” ones that stood out even at the team’s most competitive practices.
He looked great in the spring game as well, netting 50 yards on 4 catches.
While losing your black stripe or playing well in the spring game aren’t always the best indicators of someone’s success as a freshman, especially as a member of a receiver room with this much power, in Porter’s case, he takes his job seriously. This bodes well for him this season and throughout his career.
It remains to be seen how much playing time we can expect from him, since Smith now has a year of experience under his belt, with a talent that seems even more freakish by the minute. But Porter was in the two-deep for most of spring practice and still managed to establish himself as someone who can contribute to the team in a meaningful way.
Will he see regular playing time once the season kicks off in earnest? Most likely, no. But it’s not stopping him from setting lofty goals for himself, and it doesn’t mean he won’t find ways to establish himself as a star-in-the-making. He’s willing to block, he’s able to move the chains, and he’s hungry to make a name for himself.
With all of this in mind, all signs point to a strong freshman season from a player we should be paying attention to. I, for one, am excited to sit back and watch.
Matt’s Take: Tavien St. Clair
Look, I get it, going for the true freshman quarterback is the basest level of college football commentary, I know. But, guys, what if he is the greatest QB of all time? I know that as Buckeye fans, we have a tendency to get overexcited and put waaaaaaay too much pressure on young players before they’ve even really begun their collegiate careers. But it’s an endearing kind of pressure, right?
Tavien St. Clair comes to Columbus as the No. 7 player in 247Sports Composite rankings and the No. 3 quarterback in the country for the 2025 recruiting cycle. He is 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, and while he needs to get accustomed to more complex offenses than what he ran at Bellefontaine High School, scouts already believe that he has the tools to be a multi-year starter for the Buckeyes and an NFL Draft pick.
But here’s the real reason that I am curious about St. Clair. As an Ohio kid, he committed to the Buckeyes in June 2023. At that point, Julian Sayin was still an Alabama commit, but by the time that St. Clair and the rest of the 2025 class signed their letters of intent, he knew that the No. 6 player and No. 1 quarterback from the 2024 class was already in the fold. And yet, St. Clair stayed true to his pledge to the team he grew up rooting for.
Of course, it is always nice to have multiple elite-level quarterbacks on the roster, but ideally, you would like them to be spaced out by a couple of years, so that you can get two years of starting time from them before they go pro after their third season. There’s no reason to presume that, barring injury, anyone other than Sayin is going to start behind center this fall as a true sophomore. So, he would be the presumed starter heading into the 2026 season as well, and St. Clair would have one year of experience as a backup.
The question then becomes if that is for there to be a legitimate competition between the two a year from now. Will St. Clair have grown enough to erase the year of experience that Sayin has on him? Or, will Sayin lead the team to another national title, guaranteeing him the starting spot for one more year?
Obviously, we don’t yet have the answers to those questions, but the cornucopia of talent in the OSU QB room is exciting, and whether it’s one year, two years, or, heck, even three years, I’m excited to get a first glimpse at what future Ohio State starter Tavien St. Clair looks like on the field.
Let us know who you are agreeing with:
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