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LGHL Syracuse transfer Ja’Had Carter brings much-needed experience, versatility to Ohio State secondary
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Syracuse transfer Ja’Had Carter brings much-needed experience, versatility to Ohio State secondary
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images
Carter excelled for three seasons in Upstate New York, but will now be looking to make a significant impact in Columbus.
Shortly after a tough (tough, tough) loss to Georgia in the College Football Playoff, Ohio State received its first BOOOOM of 2023. Ja’Had Carter, formerly of Syracuse, announced his commitment to OSU on Jan. 3, giving the Buckeyes an experienced vet at a position of significant need.
Prior to joining the Scarlet and Gray, Carter had been widely regarded as one of the top safeties available in the transfer portal, thanks to three years of starting experience and a Freshman All-American nod in 2020. His impending arrival in Columbus was a welcome announcement to or for those who watched a lost and confused (OSU) secondary get absolutely flambéed by the likes of TTUN and UGA.
At Syracuse, Carter was a bit of a chess piece for the Orange, moving all over the field in their 3-3-5 system (three safeties) which is not dissimilar from Jim Knowles’ preferred scheme. The versatile safety lined up deep, as well as in the slot and in the box, showing a willingness and ability to cover, tackle, and disrupt. Carter’s last season in central New York saw him spend significant time in the slot, so it made sense that upon choosing Ohio State, he was mentioned as a candidate to replace Tanner McCalister in the Buckeyes’ nickel safety role.
Nickel/slot safety was still Carter’s presumed assignment when he arrived in Columbus, however, a poorly timed injury suffered during spring practice(s) all but eliminated his early acclimation period. The injury also eliminated or significantly reduced the time OSU coaches got to observe their first ‘impact’ transfer of the offseason — on the field, at least. But due to Carter’s experience and coachability, he was still able to look, listen, and learn, setting him up to battle for a gig come August.
This is exactly what Carter has done, only not in the position he was expected to play. The fourth-year player and former three-star recruit out of Richmond, VA has taken most of his fall reps at free safety or what Knowles refers to as his ‘adjuster’ – as opposed to the nickel spot. Instead, Sonny Styles has taken over that nickel role, as it appears that the Buckeyes are keen on using their stud sophomore in a hybrid manner. The switch leaves Carter in a familiar position, even if it is not the one Ohio State fans envisioned.
Regardless of where Carter is lining up, he seems to be fitting in quite seamlessly with the Scarlet and Gray. He has given props to teammates for aiding his transfer transition and comes across as someone who is eager to help the team in any way possible. On the field, that is and will (hopefully) be accomplished by providing steady play, being in the right place(s) at the right time, and potentially even directing others.
The latter might sound strange or out of place coming from a new addition, but Carter is somewhat of an anomaly. His experience and versatility make him a valuable asset, even if he never becomes an All-Big Ten and/or All-American performer.
That being said, I (like many) expect Carter to play well for OSU. Because a proven track record of solid performance certainly exists. In three seasons prior to joining the Buckeyes, he totaled 138 tackles, 12 PBU, and 5 INT for Syracuse, helping the Orange finish as a top-25 defense – in both total yards and passing yards allowed (26th in 2021 but gimme a break) – each of the last two seasons.
And because Carter has also flashed one-on-one coverage skill(s), he could, in theory, be viewed as an emergency option at cornerback. Hopefully, it does not come to that for Ohio State, but the ability to occasionally blanket opposing pass catchers is yet another feather in Carter’s cap, of which he has many.
It is obviously TBD whether Carter can replicate his ACC success or even hold onto a starting gig in Columbus. The Buckeyes have several hungry players in the secondary, including (other) experienced vets Josh Proctor and Cam Martinez, both of whom have been in the OSU program and Knowles’ defense longer than Carter. In Proctor’s case, nearly a decade longer (I kid, I kid). But there will be plenty of competition for snaps and reps, so the Syracuse transfer would be wise not to rest on his laurels.
However, complacency should not be an issue with Carter. He is too experienced and presumably too hungry himself – otherwise, why transfer? – to let this opportunity pass. Buckeye Nation should be excited to see what he can and will do for Ohio State, making him a new player to watch.
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images
Carter excelled for three seasons in Upstate New York, but will now be looking to make a significant impact in Columbus.
Shortly after a tough (tough, tough) loss to Georgia in the College Football Playoff, Ohio State received its first BOOOOM of 2023. Ja’Had Carter, formerly of Syracuse, announced his commitment to OSU on Jan. 3, giving the Buckeyes an experienced vet at a position of significant need.
Prior to joining the Scarlet and Gray, Carter had been widely regarded as one of the top safeties available in the transfer portal, thanks to three years of starting experience and a Freshman All-American nod in 2020. His impending arrival in Columbus was a welcome announcement to or for those who watched a lost and confused (OSU) secondary get absolutely flambéed by the likes of TTUN and UGA.
At Syracuse, Carter was a bit of a chess piece for the Orange, moving all over the field in their 3-3-5 system (three safeties) which is not dissimilar from Jim Knowles’ preferred scheme. The versatile safety lined up deep, as well as in the slot and in the box, showing a willingness and ability to cover, tackle, and disrupt. Carter’s last season in central New York saw him spend significant time in the slot, so it made sense that upon choosing Ohio State, he was mentioned as a candidate to replace Tanner McCalister in the Buckeyes’ nickel safety role.
Nickel/slot safety was still Carter’s presumed assignment when he arrived in Columbus, however, a poorly timed injury suffered during spring practice(s) all but eliminated his early acclimation period. The injury also eliminated or significantly reduced the time OSU coaches got to observe their first ‘impact’ transfer of the offseason — on the field, at least. But due to Carter’s experience and coachability, he was still able to look, listen, and learn, setting him up to battle for a gig come August.
This is exactly what Carter has done, only not in the position he was expected to play. The fourth-year player and former three-star recruit out of Richmond, VA has taken most of his fall reps at free safety or what Knowles refers to as his ‘adjuster’ – as opposed to the nickel spot. Instead, Sonny Styles has taken over that nickel role, as it appears that the Buckeyes are keen on using their stud sophomore in a hybrid manner. The switch leaves Carter in a familiar position, even if it is not the one Ohio State fans envisioned.
Regardless of where Carter is lining up, he seems to be fitting in quite seamlessly with the Scarlet and Gray. He has given props to teammates for aiding his transfer transition and comes across as someone who is eager to help the team in any way possible. On the field, that is and will (hopefully) be accomplished by providing steady play, being in the right place(s) at the right time, and potentially even directing others.
The latter might sound strange or out of place coming from a new addition, but Carter is somewhat of an anomaly. His experience and versatility make him a valuable asset, even if he never becomes an All-Big Ten and/or All-American performer.
That being said, I (like many) expect Carter to play well for OSU. Because a proven track record of solid performance certainly exists. In three seasons prior to joining the Buckeyes, he totaled 138 tackles, 12 PBU, and 5 INT for Syracuse, helping the Orange finish as a top-25 defense – in both total yards and passing yards allowed (26th in 2021 but gimme a break) – each of the last two seasons.
And because Carter has also flashed one-on-one coverage skill(s), he could, in theory, be viewed as an emergency option at cornerback. Hopefully, it does not come to that for Ohio State, but the ability to occasionally blanket opposing pass catchers is yet another feather in Carter’s cap, of which he has many.
It is obviously TBD whether Carter can replicate his ACC success or even hold onto a starting gig in Columbus. The Buckeyes have several hungry players in the secondary, including (other) experienced vets Josh Proctor and Cam Martinez, both of whom have been in the OSU program and Knowles’ defense longer than Carter. In Proctor’s case, nearly a decade longer (I kid, I kid). But there will be plenty of competition for snaps and reps, so the Syracuse transfer would be wise not to rest on his laurels.
However, complacency should not be an issue with Carter. He is too experienced and presumably too hungry himself – otherwise, why transfer? – to let this opportunity pass. Buckeye Nation should be excited to see what he can and will do for Ohio State, making him a new player to watch.
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LGHL These are the top 5 Ohio State players you need to know this college football season
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These are the top 5 Ohio State players you need to know this college football 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
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ok, we cheated and went with 10!
The No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes finally open their 2023 football season on Saturday, Sept. 3 in Bloomington, Ind. as they take on the Indiana Hoosiers at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
On Tuesday, Ryan Day named the third-year Buckeye as the team’s starting quarterback for Saturday’s season opener against Indiana. However, newly minted backup Devin Brown will also play in the game while the competition will continue into the season; presumably wrapping up officially before Ohio State heads to South Bend to take on No. 13 Notre Dame.
Listen to Ryan Day’s Tuesday press conference announcing McCord as the team’s starter:
McCord has started one game in his career, spelling first-year starter C.J. Stroud in 2021 when he was nursing a bum shoulder. McCord came to Ohio State as the No. 28 prospect in the 2021 recruiting class, the No. 6 quarterback in the country. Despite the prominent recruiting status, he has not had much in-game experience during his first two years in Columbus.
He has played in 12 games, going 41 for 58 for 606 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, but as the coaches discussed the decision to start McCord, both Day and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles described him as calm and consistent and alluded to the fact that he made the right decisions and generally avoided mistakes.
You expect a level of steadiness from a third-year player, and with the embarrassment of riches that Ohio State has in terms of offensive firepower, making the basic — but perhaps not extraordinary — plays isn’t the worst possible outcome.
However, perhaps the biggest plus in McCord’s column is the fact that he has a long history with the next guy on this list, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. The two played together at St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia (although McCord is technically a New Jersey native), so they have years of reps and chemistry built up that can’t be overlooked for a new starter.
What can be said about Marvin Harrison Jr. that hasn’t already been said? He is the best receiver in college football; if not the best player in college football. He is one of the top preseason Heisman candidates. He is a slam-dunk first-round NFL Draft pick. He might just be an alien.
Last season was supposed to be about Jaxon Smith-Njigba capitalizing on his breakout sophomore season in 2021 to become Ohio State’s definitive No. 1 wide receiver. However, injuries derailed that plan, opening up an avenue for Harrison to assert himself as arguably the best skill position player in the entire country.
In 2022, Marv had 77 receptions for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns and went from a Pro Football Hall of Famer’s son to a guy who many started talking about as a future Hall of Famer in his own right. Harrison Jr.’s size, precision, work ethic, and otherworldly physical gifts have made him the most dangerous weapon in college football. While there is no doubt that defensive coordinators will scheme to try and stop him from dominating games, thanks to the ridiculous collection of weapons that Ohio State has on offense, that won’t always be possible; and even when it is, I’m not even sure if there are three players in the country that could collectively slow down Marvin Harrison Jr.
The 2022 season did not go as planned for TreVeyon Henderson. After an incredible true freshman year, the running back was supposed to be a bell cow for Ohio State and a potential Heisman contender. However, injuries derailed Henderson’s potential almost from the jump, and nearly never throughout the season did he look like the player who showed so much promise the year before.
This led to the emergence of Miyan Williams as not only a change-of-pace back, but as a legitimate contender to the role of RB1 for the Buckeyes, but he also was regularly beset with injuries, which allowed Dallan Hayden and Chip Trayanum to also have moments to shine in 2022.
Henderson and his family have been vocal about how disappointed they were with how Ohio State handled his injury last year, both in terms of the internal medical decisions made by the program and how it was discussed publicly, and they are right. However, he has since put that — and thoughts of transferring — behind him and is healthy for the start of the new season.
Back at 100% (or as close to it as a running back can ever get) Henderson has the potential to be a legitimate difference-maker for Ohio State this season in the way that a Buckeye back hasn’t been since J.K. Dobbins.
When the Buckeyes landed the services of five-star prospect J.T. Tuimoloau, many assumed that OSU had found the successor to the Bosa brothers and Chase Young. At 6-foot-4, 270 pounds, it felt like the next great Buckeye sack artist had arrived in Columbus. To his point, that has not proven to be true, even though Tuimoloau has shown moments of brilliance — including what I believe is the greatest defensive game in Ohio State history.
But optimism is on the rise that now in his third year as a Buckeye, the Edge rusher will be able to take the next step thanks to not only his continued personal development but that of the rest of the defense as well. With his running mate Jack Sawyer returned to his natural position as a defensive end, the best interior defensive line in the last three years, and a secondary that feels like it might just be back to #BIA standards, opposing offenses shouldn’t be able to focus on Tuimoloau as much as they have in previous seasons, which just might provide him the opportunity to take the long-awaited step to the elite level of Ohio State ends.
I’m not going to lie, when Tommy Eichenberg took over as Ohio State’s starting middle linebacker, I was neither impressed nor excited. Like many, I assumed that he was another incarnation of Tuf Borland, a slow, sub-athletic who achieved something approaching competency due to toughness and intelligence, but could never ascend to the level necessary to live up to the Ohio State linebacker legacy.
But to paraphrase Vivian Kensington in “Legally Blonde: The Musical” (played by Toledo native and former Miss America Kate Shindle), “When I’m wrong, then I say I’m wrong, and I was wrong about Tommy.”
Eichenberg clearly has the toughness (he played with two broken thumbs last season) and intelligence (okay, maybe playing football with two broken thumbs isn’t the smartest thing you can do) that I assumed would be his calling cards, but he has also proven to be far more than the replacement-level MAC talent that I thought he would be.
While he might not yet be at the level of a Spielman, Hawk, Katzenmoyer, Johnson, Shazier, Gradishar, Cousineau, or his coach Laurinaitis, if Eichenberg has the year that many think he is capable of, he could very well approach that level.
But here’s the thing: You already know about all of those guys. There has been endless discussion over the battle between McCord and Brown throughout the offseason and the other four are not just returning starters, but major contributors. So, if you really want to get prepared for the upcoming season, you have to dig a little deeper and get to know these other five players who are positioned to have a major impact for the Buckeyes in their first real expanded opportunities for Ohio State.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24886524/1482445687.jpg "Ohio State Spring Football Game")
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
Under Day and wide receiver coach/new offensive e coordinator Brian Hartline, Ohio State has become the undisputed Wide Receiver U in college football, routinely turning out first-round NFL Draft picks and players who make instant impacts on their teams at the next level.
While the Buckeyes have an embarrassment of riches at wide receiver this season, starting Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and a finally healthy (knocks on wood) Julian Fleming, a true freshman is waiting in the wings to seize whatever opportunities he is presented with.
True freshman Carnell Tate comes to Columbus as Hartline’s latest five-star prospect and has dazzled the coaching staff since arriving in January. Throughout the offseason, Tate has been a topic of conversation, not only because of what he could bring to the team down the road, but what he can do for them this very season.
Last week, Harrison Jr. told the media that he felt like Tate — as a true freshman — was further along in his development than Marv was at this time last year as a sophomore. While everyone’s eyebrows were already raised at the potential for Tate to have an impact this season, a comment like that — from someone who knows the position as well as Harrison — pushed those forehead caterpillars practically to the other side of their heads.
Hear Harrison’s full comments on Tate in the podcast below:
When Day spoke to the media on Monday, Tate was one of the freshmen that he guaranteed would play in the season opener against Indiana. And while there is always the possibility that excited fans and media members will get overexcited about the potential for an electric young talent to make an impact, this feels like more than that; this feels like the next great Buckeye receiver is here and can’t be kept off of the field.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24886796/1438279271.jpg "Ohio State v Penn State")
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
The hype was always going to be there for Sonny Styles. The son of a great Buckeye player, a five-star prospect from the Columbus suburbs who reclassified to get to college a year early, the anticipation of what he could do has been at the forefront of fans’ minds for quite a while now. Despite not turning 19 years old until the day before this November’s game against Michigan, the younger of two Styles brothers on Ohio State’s roster appears primed to make a huge impact on the OSU defense this fall.
At 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, Styles is an unbelievably gifted physical athlete, and while his father Lorenzo played linebacker for the Buckeyes, Sonny has found himself with the versatility to play a number of different positions on the field, something that has made second-year defensive coordinator Jim Knowles excited about the possibilities.
Knowles has confirmed that Sonny will start at the Nickle safety position, but probably won’t come off of the field when offenses dictate a different defensive scheme. While Sonny could move to another safety position in those circumstances, he also has the size and ability to move up into a traditional linebacker spot to attack the run and/or rush the passer.
Nearly everyone associated with Ohio State has raved about Sonny’s development from 2022 until now, which has only amplified Buckeye fans’ excitement to finally see him on the field. After the secondary was a major liability last season, adding the athleticism of the younger Styles into the mix can only help get the OSU defense back to its Silver Bullet legacy.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24886800/1243184739.jpg "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 10 Idaho State at San Diego State")
Photo by Justin Fine/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Josh Simmons (No. 77) at San Diego State
Ohio State tends to be far more hesitant to dive into the transfer portal than many of its blue-blood brethren. While the Buckeyes have brought in transfers over the years, rarely has it been for a big-name player expected to make an instant impact.
However, OSU is hoping that its latest addition bears similar results to when Jonah Jackson left Rutgers to come to Columbus for the 2019 season. Although he had been an All-Big Ten performer, he wasn’t expected to be nearly the impact player that he turned out to be, becoming a first-team All-Conference selection, third-round draft pick, and eventual Pro Bowler.
While the expectations are not nearly as high for San Diego State transfer Josh Simmons, Day and offensive line coach Justin Frye are hoping that they were able to find a diamond in the rough to solidify an otherwise suspect offensive line. With the departures of Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones, there were two open tackle positions that had to be filled.
The next man up from last year’s line was Josh Fryar, who started one game at right tackle last year. The assumption going into fall camp was that he would make the move to the presumably more important left tackle spot when Simmons, Tegra Tshabola, Luke Montgomery, and Zen Michalski competing for the other.
However, after the first week or so of practices, Day confirmed that Fryar had moved back to the right side and that Simmons was holding down the left tackle position. While it took the head coach a few more weeks to officially confirm that the former Aztec would be starting, the line has seemingly solidified with Simmons and Fryar occupying the outsides.
With a first-time starter at quarterback, offensive line play is going to be a huge factor in how McCord (or eventually Brown) performs this season. If Simmons is able to quickly acclimate to the step up in competition, that should bode well for the Buckeye offense. The season opener against Indiana should tell us a lot as IU head coach Tom Allen will undoubtedly throw everything imaginable at the reconfigured Buckeye o-line.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24886807/usa_today_18103012.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Kenyatta Jackson played a total of 24 snaps on defense in 2022 and half of those came in Week 2 against Arkansas State. The Edge rusher did not play after Week 5 in the Buckeyes’ 49-10 blowout win over Rutgers, preserving his redshirt.
However, that has not stopped the hype for the former five-star recruit coming into his second season in Columbus. While Tuimoloau and Sawyer are firmly entrenched at the defensive end spots, the more that Knowles and defensive line coach Larry Johnson talk, the more it sounds like Jackson will not only be a rotational piece up front, but will be integral to the team’s plans.
Johnson has long been known for his philosophy of rotating players across the d-line, so much so that there might be a bit of a feud going on between LJ and Knowles about just how much rotation is good to keep guys fresh and how much is excessive. However, neither guy seems to have an issue with the idea of having Jackson in the game far more than he was in 2022.
At 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, Jackson has shown a unique athletic ability to move coming off of the ball. While you always want your Edge rushers to be able to physically overwhelm their blockers with strength and speed, something that many of the best have is the ability to get low and move around tackles and tight ends, essentially avoiding the bulk of their blocks. Jackson apparently has that.
The hype is high for Jackson, with some even wondering if he should supplant Sawyer in the DE rotation. While that seems premature, especially with Sawyer finally getting to be back at end for the first time in far too long, if Jackson is able to make it impossible to keep him off the field, that would mean that the OSU defensive might just be capable of wrecking games for the first time since 2019.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24886842/1251856354.jpg "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: APR 15 Ohio State Spring Game")
Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Malik Hartford (No. 25) breaks up a pass in the 2023 Spring Game.
We are now less than two days away from the start of Ohio State’s football season, and we still don’t know who the third starting safety will be. Styles is set as the Nickle and Lathan Ransom is firmly entrenched as the strong safety/Bandit. However, on Tuesday Knowles said that veteran Josh Proctor, transfer Ja’Had Carter, and true freshman Malik Hartford were all still in the mix and capable of playing.
When fall camp started, I had assumed that former Syracuse safety Carter would claim the spot, and he might have, had he not had to deal with some injury concerns during camp. But while the coaching staff praised Proctor coming out of camp, he was benched halfway through the season opener against Notre Dame last year, so you have to wonder how much confidence Knowles and safeties coach Perry Eliano actually have in him.
So, there is a distinct possibility that Hartford will start on Saturday against Indiana, but even if he doesn’t, it seems clear that the Lakota West product will be integral in the defense’s plans for the secondary, not only this year, but in the future as well.
While some might be concerned with the prospect of starting two young, unproven players at safety like Styles and Hartford, if Carter isn't 100%, that is the way that I would go. Athleticism is something that can’t be taught and these two youngsters have it in spades. While the Buckeyes do open up against a conference opponent, I can’t imagine that IU is going to seriously test Ohio State, so getting Hartford serious reps in the first four games of the season will only help him for when the Buckeyes travel to South Bend before starting the Big Ten season.
I firmly believe in the value of experience, schematic knowledge, and time in a college football strength and conditioning program, but if veteran players aren’t capable of clearly and firmly grabbing onto a starting spot and keeping younger players at bay, then I think the philosophy at a place like Ohio State — where young talent is never in short supply — should be to err on the side of youth and athleticism.
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
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ok, we cheated and went with 10!
The No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes finally open their 2023 football season on Saturday, Sept. 3 in Bloomington, Ind. as they take on the Indiana Hoosiers at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
Who are the top 5 Ohio State players you should know for the 2023 season?
Kyle McCord | Quarterback
On Tuesday, Ryan Day named the third-year Buckeye as the team’s starting quarterback for Saturday’s season opener against Indiana. However, newly minted backup Devin Brown will also play in the game while the competition will continue into the season; presumably wrapping up officially before Ohio State heads to South Bend to take on No. 13 Notre Dame.
Listen to Ryan Day’s Tuesday press conference announcing McCord as the team’s starter:
McCord has started one game in his career, spelling first-year starter C.J. Stroud in 2021 when he was nursing a bum shoulder. McCord came to Ohio State as the No. 28 prospect in the 2021 recruiting class, the No. 6 quarterback in the country. Despite the prominent recruiting status, he has not had much in-game experience during his first two years in Columbus.
He has played in 12 games, going 41 for 58 for 606 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, but as the coaches discussed the decision to start McCord, both Day and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles described him as calm and consistent and alluded to the fact that he made the right decisions and generally avoided mistakes.
You expect a level of steadiness from a third-year player, and with the embarrassment of riches that Ohio State has in terms of offensive firepower, making the basic — but perhaps not extraordinary — plays isn’t the worst possible outcome.
However, perhaps the biggest plus in McCord’s column is the fact that he has a long history with the next guy on this list, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. The two played together at St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia (although McCord is technically a New Jersey native), so they have years of reps and chemistry built up that can’t be overlooked for a new starter.
Marvin Harrison Jr. | Wide Receiver
What can be said about Marvin Harrison Jr. that hasn’t already been said? He is the best receiver in college football; if not the best player in college football. He is one of the top preseason Heisman candidates. He is a slam-dunk first-round NFL Draft pick. He might just be an alien.
Last season was supposed to be about Jaxon Smith-Njigba capitalizing on his breakout sophomore season in 2021 to become Ohio State’s definitive No. 1 wide receiver. However, injuries derailed that plan, opening up an avenue for Harrison to assert himself as arguably the best skill position player in the entire country.
In 2022, Marv had 77 receptions for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns and went from a Pro Football Hall of Famer’s son to a guy who many started talking about as a future Hall of Famer in his own right. Harrison Jr.’s size, precision, work ethic, and otherworldly physical gifts have made him the most dangerous weapon in college football. While there is no doubt that defensive coordinators will scheme to try and stop him from dominating games, thanks to the ridiculous collection of weapons that Ohio State has on offense, that won’t always be possible; and even when it is, I’m not even sure if there are three players in the country that could collectively slow down Marvin Harrison Jr.
TreVeyon Henderson | Running Back
The 2022 season did not go as planned for TreVeyon Henderson. After an incredible true freshman year, the running back was supposed to be a bell cow for Ohio State and a potential Heisman contender. However, injuries derailed Henderson’s potential almost from the jump, and nearly never throughout the season did he look like the player who showed so much promise the year before.
This led to the emergence of Miyan Williams as not only a change-of-pace back, but as a legitimate contender to the role of RB1 for the Buckeyes, but he also was regularly beset with injuries, which allowed Dallan Hayden and Chip Trayanum to also have moments to shine in 2022.
Henderson and his family have been vocal about how disappointed they were with how Ohio State handled his injury last year, both in terms of the internal medical decisions made by the program and how it was discussed publicly, and they are right. However, he has since put that — and thoughts of transferring — behind him and is healthy for the start of the new season.
Back at 100% (or as close to it as a running back can ever get) Henderson has the potential to be a legitimate difference-maker for Ohio State this season in the way that a Buckeye back hasn’t been since J.K. Dobbins.
J.T. Tuimoloau | Defensive End
When the Buckeyes landed the services of five-star prospect J.T. Tuimoloau, many assumed that OSU had found the successor to the Bosa brothers and Chase Young. At 6-foot-4, 270 pounds, it felt like the next great Buckeye sack artist had arrived in Columbus. To his point, that has not proven to be true, even though Tuimoloau has shown moments of brilliance — including what I believe is the greatest defensive game in Ohio State history.
But optimism is on the rise that now in his third year as a Buckeye, the Edge rusher will be able to take the next step thanks to not only his continued personal development but that of the rest of the defense as well. With his running mate Jack Sawyer returned to his natural position as a defensive end, the best interior defensive line in the last three years, and a secondary that feels like it might just be back to #BIA standards, opposing offenses shouldn’t be able to focus on Tuimoloau as much as they have in previous seasons, which just might provide him the opportunity to take the long-awaited step to the elite level of Ohio State ends.
Tommy Eichenberg | Linebacker
I’m not going to lie, when Tommy Eichenberg took over as Ohio State’s starting middle linebacker, I was neither impressed nor excited. Like many, I assumed that he was another incarnation of Tuf Borland, a slow, sub-athletic who achieved something approaching competency due to toughness and intelligence, but could never ascend to the level necessary to live up to the Ohio State linebacker legacy.
But to paraphrase Vivian Kensington in “Legally Blonde: The Musical” (played by Toledo native and former Miss America Kate Shindle), “When I’m wrong, then I say I’m wrong, and I was wrong about Tommy.”
Eichenberg clearly has the toughness (he played with two broken thumbs last season) and intelligence (okay, maybe playing football with two broken thumbs isn’t the smartest thing you can do) that I assumed would be his calling cards, but he has also proven to be far more than the replacement-level MAC talent that I thought he would be.
While he might not yet be at the level of a Spielman, Hawk, Katzenmoyer, Johnson, Shazier, Gradishar, Cousineau, or his coach Laurinaitis, if Eichenberg has the year that many think he is capable of, he could very well approach that level.
But here’s the thing: You already know about all of those guys. There has been endless discussion over the battle between McCord and Brown throughout the offseason and the other four are not just returning starters, but major contributors. So, if you really want to get prepared for the upcoming season, you have to dig a little deeper and get to know these other five players who are positioned to have a major impact for the Buckeyes in their first real expanded opportunities for Ohio State.
Who are the top 5 Ohio State breakout players you should know?
Carnell Tate | Wide Receiver
Under Day and wide receiver coach/new offensive e coordinator Brian Hartline, Ohio State has become the undisputed Wide Receiver U in college football, routinely turning out first-round NFL Draft picks and players who make instant impacts on their teams at the next level.
While the Buckeyes have an embarrassment of riches at wide receiver this season, starting Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and a finally healthy (knocks on wood) Julian Fleming, a true freshman is waiting in the wings to seize whatever opportunities he is presented with.
True freshman Carnell Tate comes to Columbus as Hartline’s latest five-star prospect and has dazzled the coaching staff since arriving in January. Throughout the offseason, Tate has been a topic of conversation, not only because of what he could bring to the team down the road, but what he can do for them this very season.
Last week, Harrison Jr. told the media that he felt like Tate — as a true freshman — was further along in his development than Marv was at this time last year as a sophomore. While everyone’s eyebrows were already raised at the potential for Tate to have an impact this season, a comment like that — from someone who knows the position as well as Harrison — pushed those forehead caterpillars practically to the other side of their heads.
Hear Harrison’s full comments on Tate in the podcast below:
When Day spoke to the media on Monday, Tate was one of the freshmen that he guaranteed would play in the season opener against Indiana. And while there is always the possibility that excited fans and media members will get overexcited about the potential for an electric young talent to make an impact, this feels like more than that; this feels like the next great Buckeye receiver is here and can’t be kept off of the field.
Sonny Styles | Safety
The hype was always going to be there for Sonny Styles. The son of a great Buckeye player, a five-star prospect from the Columbus suburbs who reclassified to get to college a year early, the anticipation of what he could do has been at the forefront of fans’ minds for quite a while now. Despite not turning 19 years old until the day before this November’s game against Michigan, the younger of two Styles brothers on Ohio State’s roster appears primed to make a huge impact on the OSU defense this fall.
At 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, Styles is an unbelievably gifted physical athlete, and while his father Lorenzo played linebacker for the Buckeyes, Sonny has found himself with the versatility to play a number of different positions on the field, something that has made second-year defensive coordinator Jim Knowles excited about the possibilities.
Knowles has confirmed that Sonny will start at the Nickle safety position, but probably won’t come off of the field when offenses dictate a different defensive scheme. While Sonny could move to another safety position in those circumstances, he also has the size and ability to move up into a traditional linebacker spot to attack the run and/or rush the passer.
Nearly everyone associated with Ohio State has raved about Sonny’s development from 2022 until now, which has only amplified Buckeye fans’ excitement to finally see him on the field. After the secondary was a major liability last season, adding the athleticism of the younger Styles into the mix can only help get the OSU defense back to its Silver Bullet legacy.
Josh Simmons | Left Tackle
Josh Simmons (No. 77) at San Diego State
Ohio State tends to be far more hesitant to dive into the transfer portal than many of its blue-blood brethren. While the Buckeyes have brought in transfers over the years, rarely has it been for a big-name player expected to make an instant impact.
However, OSU is hoping that its latest addition bears similar results to when Jonah Jackson left Rutgers to come to Columbus for the 2019 season. Although he had been an All-Big Ten performer, he wasn’t expected to be nearly the impact player that he turned out to be, becoming a first-team All-Conference selection, third-round draft pick, and eventual Pro Bowler.
While the expectations are not nearly as high for San Diego State transfer Josh Simmons, Day and offensive line coach Justin Frye are hoping that they were able to find a diamond in the rough to solidify an otherwise suspect offensive line. With the departures of Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones, there were two open tackle positions that had to be filled.
The next man up from last year’s line was Josh Fryar, who started one game at right tackle last year. The assumption going into fall camp was that he would make the move to the presumably more important left tackle spot when Simmons, Tegra Tshabola, Luke Montgomery, and Zen Michalski competing for the other.
However, after the first week or so of practices, Day confirmed that Fryar had moved back to the right side and that Simmons was holding down the left tackle position. While it took the head coach a few more weeks to officially confirm that the former Aztec would be starting, the line has seemingly solidified with Simmons and Fryar occupying the outsides.
With a first-time starter at quarterback, offensive line play is going to be a huge factor in how McCord (or eventually Brown) performs this season. If Simmons is able to quickly acclimate to the step up in competition, that should bode well for the Buckeye offense. The season opener against Indiana should tell us a lot as IU head coach Tom Allen will undoubtedly throw everything imaginable at the reconfigured Buckeye o-line.
Kenyatta Jackson | Defensive End
Kenyatta Jackson played a total of 24 snaps on defense in 2022 and half of those came in Week 2 against Arkansas State. The Edge rusher did not play after Week 5 in the Buckeyes’ 49-10 blowout win over Rutgers, preserving his redshirt.
However, that has not stopped the hype for the former five-star recruit coming into his second season in Columbus. While Tuimoloau and Sawyer are firmly entrenched at the defensive end spots, the more that Knowles and defensive line coach Larry Johnson talk, the more it sounds like Jackson will not only be a rotational piece up front, but will be integral to the team’s plans.
Johnson has long been known for his philosophy of rotating players across the d-line, so much so that there might be a bit of a feud going on between LJ and Knowles about just how much rotation is good to keep guys fresh and how much is excessive. However, neither guy seems to have an issue with the idea of having Jackson in the game far more than he was in 2022.
At 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, Jackson has shown a unique athletic ability to move coming off of the ball. While you always want your Edge rushers to be able to physically overwhelm their blockers with strength and speed, something that many of the best have is the ability to get low and move around tackles and tight ends, essentially avoiding the bulk of their blocks. Jackson apparently has that.
The hype is high for Jackson, with some even wondering if he should supplant Sawyer in the DE rotation. While that seems premature, especially with Sawyer finally getting to be back at end for the first time in far too long, if Jackson is able to make it impossible to keep him off the field, that would mean that the OSU defensive might just be capable of wrecking games for the first time since 2019.
Malik Hartford | Safety
Malik Hartford (No. 25) breaks up a pass in the 2023 Spring Game.
We are now less than two days away from the start of Ohio State’s football season, and we still don’t know who the third starting safety will be. Styles is set as the Nickle and Lathan Ransom is firmly entrenched as the strong safety/Bandit. However, on Tuesday Knowles said that veteran Josh Proctor, transfer Ja’Had Carter, and true freshman Malik Hartford were all still in the mix and capable of playing.
When fall camp started, I had assumed that former Syracuse safety Carter would claim the spot, and he might have, had he not had to deal with some injury concerns during camp. But while the coaching staff praised Proctor coming out of camp, he was benched halfway through the season opener against Notre Dame last year, so you have to wonder how much confidence Knowles and safeties coach Perry Eliano actually have in him.
So, there is a distinct possibility that Hartford will start on Saturday against Indiana, but even if he doesn’t, it seems clear that the Lakota West product will be integral in the defense’s plans for the secondary, not only this year, but in the future as well.
While some might be concerned with the prospect of starting two young, unproven players at safety like Styles and Hartford, if Carter isn't 100%, that is the way that I would go. Athleticism is something that can’t be taught and these two youngsters have it in spades. While the Buckeyes do open up against a conference opponent, I can’t imagine that IU is going to seriously test Ohio State, so getting Hartford serious reps in the first four games of the season will only help him for when the Buckeyes travel to South Bend before starting the Big Ten season.
I firmly believe in the value of experience, schematic knowledge, and time in a college football strength and conditioning program, but if veteran players aren’t capable of clearly and firmly grabbing onto a starting spot and keeping younger players at bay, then I think the philosophy at a place like Ohio State — where young talent is never in short supply — should be to err on the side of youth and athleticism.
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LGHL Ohio State Football Countdown: 2
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Ohio State Football Countdown: 2
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
One play or big moment per day as we count down to the start of Ohio State’s 2023 football season.
As we count down to the start of the 2023 season, we will be looking back at one play or big moment in Ohio State history over the past decade or so that corresponds to the remaining days left until Buckeyes take the field against Indiana on Sept. 2. There are 2 days remaining.
Yes, this countdown has comprised exclusively of highlight plays from the last decade-plus of Ohio State football, but with two days remaining until the Buckeyes take the field, it is hard to imagine using any other moment for the No. 2 other than Archie Griffin, who to this day remains the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner in college football history. A College Football Hall of Famer, Griffin won the award as both a junior and senior, rushing for 1,620 yards in 1974 and 1,357 yards in 1975. In addition to his Heismans, Griffin was twice named a consensus All-American, twice the Walter Camp Player of the Year and also took home the Maxwell Award in 1975.
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Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
One play or big moment per day as we count down to the start of Ohio State’s 2023 football season.
As we count down to the start of the 2023 season, we will be looking back at one play or big moment in Ohio State history over the past decade or so that corresponds to the remaining days left until Buckeyes take the field against Indiana on Sept. 2. There are 2 days remaining.
Play of the Day: Archie Griffin remains lone two-time Heisman winner
Yes, this countdown has comprised exclusively of highlight plays from the last decade-plus of Ohio State football, but with two days remaining until the Buckeyes take the field, it is hard to imagine using any other moment for the No. 2 other than Archie Griffin, who to this day remains the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner in college football history. A College Football Hall of Famer, Griffin won the award as both a junior and senior, rushing for 1,620 yards in 1974 and 1,357 yards in 1975. In addition to his Heismans, Griffin was twice named a consensus All-American, twice the Walter Camp Player of the Year and also took home the Maxwell Award in 1975.
Players to Wear the #2 (since 2010):
- Christian Bryant (2010-13)
- Rod Smith (2011-13)
- Ryan Shazier (2013)
- Dontre Wilson (2014-16)
- Marshon Lattimore (2014-16)
- J.K. Dobbins (2017-19)
- Chase Young (2017-19)
- Chris Olave (2020-21)
- Kourt Williams (2021-present)
- Emeka Egbuka (2022-present)
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LGHL Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for August 31, 2023
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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for August 31, 2023
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Ohio State Football Countdown: 2
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land
Top-three Buckeyes cornerbacks expected to rotate against Hoosiers (paywall)
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Everything Tom Allen, Indiana’s coordinators said about Ohio State before the season-opening game
Jared Kelly, Rivals
Analyzing quarterback decision, plan as Buckeyes prep for opener
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes
Cover Six: Ohio State will have a top-five defense, more 2023 predictions
Jordan Williams, Land-Grant Holy Land
Football: Knowles Continues to ‘Evolve’ Defensive Line
Jayla Vanhorn, The Lantern
If the coaches can just get everything figured out, there’s no reason the Buckeyes couldn’t be lifting the CFP trophy:
Close Encounters of the Athletic Kind: Is Marvin Harrison Jr. an alien?
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State: 40 thoughts on 40 scholarship defensive players for 2023
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes
47 Players from Ohio State Make Initial NFL 53-Man Rosters for 2023 Season
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
B1G Thoughts: Michigan will lose two games, other potentially wild preseason predictions
Jordan Williams, Land-Grant Holy Land
You’re Nuts: What football movie should you watch this week to get hyped for the season
Matt Tamanini and JamiJurich, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State wrestling coach Ryan ‘angry’ after Sasso shooting
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch
Women’s Soccer: Gavin MacLeod Promoted to Associate Head Coach
Ohio State Athletics
This is very, very cool. Congrats, Huskers.
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
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
For your Earholes...
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Countdown to Kickoff
Ohio State Football Countdown: 2
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land
On the Gridiron
Top-three Buckeyes cornerbacks expected to rotate against Hoosiers (paywall)
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Everything Tom Allen, Indiana’s coordinators said about Ohio State before the season-opening game
Jared Kelly, Rivals
Analyzing quarterback decision, plan as Buckeyes prep for opener
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes
Cover Six: Ohio State will have a top-five defense, more 2023 predictions
Jordan Williams, Land-Grant Holy Land
Football: Knowles Continues to ‘Evolve’ Defensive Line
Jayla Vanhorn, The Lantern
If the coaches can just get everything figured out, there’s no reason the Buckeyes couldn’t be lifting the CFP trophy:
Close Encounters of the Athletic Kind: Is Marvin Harrison Jr. an alien?
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State: 40 thoughts on 40 scholarship defensive players for 2023
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes
47 Players from Ohio State Make Initial NFL 53-Man Rosters for 2023 Season
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
B1G Thoughts: Michigan will lose two games, other potentially wild preseason predictions
Jordan Williams, Land-Grant Holy Land
You’re Nuts: What football movie should you watch this week to get hyped for the season
Matt Tamanini and JamiJurich, Land-Grant Holy Land
Outside the Shoe and Schott
Ohio State wrestling coach Ryan ‘angry’ after Sasso shooting
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch
Women’s Soccer: Gavin MacLeod Promoted to Associate Head Coach
Ohio State Athletics
And now for something completely different...
This is very, very cool. Congrats, Huskers.
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LGHL Five-star may go the distance with his recruitment, 2025 in-state target on commitment watch
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Five-star may go the distance with his recruitment, 2025 in-state target on commitment watch
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
A five-star corner breaks down his top schools and a timeline on his decision.
Ohio State boasts an incredible 2024 class at the cornerback position. In-state talents Bryce West and Aaron Scott are the two that the staff had to get in this cycle, but Arizona native Miles Lockhart is no slouch of his own, and was certainly on the leaderboard as Tim Walton gave his best efforts. Overall, the three are more than you could ask for, but if a fourth at the position wanted in, certainly Ohio State would accept the commitment of another. The options however are very limited this late in the game.
Without hesitation, the target Ohio State would accept in a second is Texas native, Kobe Black. The five-star is currently the No. 25 player nationally and the third best player at his position per the 247Sports Composite for the 2024 class. Black is down to just five schools, and has made official visits to already a couple of those finalists with Ohio State included in the mix. With upcoming trips to LSU and Texas A&M planned, Kobe is still weighing his options, and in his latest interview with 247Sports analyst Mike Roach, his recruiting timeline was a topic of discussion.
This recruitment could very well go the distance for the 6-foot, 190 pound athlete. Knowing his visit plans for the fall, it’s clear that Black is not yet ready to make a call. Narrowing it down to his final five schools in early August was a major step, but the remaining amount of visits still to be taken prove that he’s trying to see which program is the best fit for his services.
For Ohio State, this recruitment doesn’t seem to be in their favor right now, even with them being in his final five. The safe bet here reading where the intel is at and according to the 247Sports Crystal Ball points toward Texas winning out in the end. That said, in recruiting things can change in a hurry, so it’s smart to follow the visits. Where Black is spending his time down the stretch should shed some light on where his thoughts are, and if the Buckeyes are able to get him back to campus on his own dime, then certainly they’re a serious contender.
For now, there looks like some time before this recruitment is over.
It’s no secret that Ohio State’s staff in every recruiting cycle has a priority to keep their in-state kids at home. Knowing how critical it is to build a wall around the border of Ohio, the Buckeyes have been successful in every cycle, and with 2025’s loaded class of talent, the coaches know once again their mission starts and ends at home. With 10 players in Ohio ranked in the top 300, the work has already begun.
Cleveland Heights product Brandon Caesar is already being linked to the Buckeyes, as earlier this week he was pegged by Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts to end up at Ohio State via the 247Sports Crystal Ball.
A 6-foot-4, 250 pound athlete, Caesar currently holds over 20 offers to his name and is the No. 409 player nationally as well as the 39th best player at his defensive line position per the 247Sports Composite. After receiving his Ohio State offer this week, it hasn’t taken long for those in the know to see him as a viable option for the Buckeyes in the 2025 class. While he may not have the highest ranking, it’s safe to say the staff has seen all that they need. With offers from Alabama, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Michigan, USC, and several others, this is a guy worth having.
It’s not a done deal yet by any means, but you have to like the momentum here when a prediction from Kurelic is slotted and especially when it’s for an in-state native. It could just be a matter of when and not if.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
A five-star corner breaks down his top schools and a timeline on his decision.
Ohio State boasts an incredible 2024 class at the cornerback position. In-state talents Bryce West and Aaron Scott are the two that the staff had to get in this cycle, but Arizona native Miles Lockhart is no slouch of his own, and was certainly on the leaderboard as Tim Walton gave his best efforts. Overall, the three are more than you could ask for, but if a fourth at the position wanted in, certainly Ohio State would accept the commitment of another. The options however are very limited this late in the game.
Without hesitation, the target Ohio State would accept in a second is Texas native, Kobe Black. The five-star is currently the No. 25 player nationally and the third best player at his position per the 247Sports Composite for the 2024 class. Black is down to just five schools, and has made official visits to already a couple of those finalists with Ohio State included in the mix. With upcoming trips to LSU and Texas A&M planned, Kobe is still weighing his options, and in his latest interview with 247Sports analyst Mike Roach, his recruiting timeline was a topic of discussion.
This recruitment could very well go the distance for the 6-foot, 190 pound athlete. Knowing his visit plans for the fall, it’s clear that Black is not yet ready to make a call. Narrowing it down to his final five schools in early August was a major step, but the remaining amount of visits still to be taken prove that he’s trying to see which program is the best fit for his services.
For Ohio State, this recruitment doesn’t seem to be in their favor right now, even with them being in his final five. The safe bet here reading where the intel is at and according to the 247Sports Crystal Ball points toward Texas winning out in the end. That said, in recruiting things can change in a hurry, so it’s smart to follow the visits. Where Black is spending his time down the stretch should shed some light on where his thoughts are, and if the Buckeyes are able to get him back to campus on his own dime, then certainly they’re a serious contender.
For now, there looks like some time before this recruitment is over.
In-state 2025 target pegged to pick Ohio State
It’s no secret that Ohio State’s staff in every recruiting cycle has a priority to keep their in-state kids at home. Knowing how critical it is to build a wall around the border of Ohio, the Buckeyes have been successful in every cycle, and with 2025’s loaded class of talent, the coaches know once again their mission starts and ends at home. With 10 players in Ohio ranked in the top 300, the work has already begun.
Cleveland Heights product Brandon Caesar is already being linked to the Buckeyes, as earlier this week he was pegged by Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts to end up at Ohio State via the 247Sports Crystal Ball.
A 6-foot-4, 250 pound athlete, Caesar currently holds over 20 offers to his name and is the No. 409 player nationally as well as the 39th best player at his defensive line position per the 247Sports Composite. After receiving his Ohio State offer this week, it hasn’t taken long for those in the know to see him as a viable option for the Buckeyes in the 2025 class. While he may not have the highest ranking, it’s safe to say the staff has seen all that they need. With offers from Alabama, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Michigan, USC, and several others, this is a guy worth having.
It’s not a done deal yet by any means, but you have to like the momentum here when a prediction from Kurelic is slotted and especially when it’s for an in-state native. It could just be a matter of when and not if.
Continue reading...
LGHL Bucketheads Podcast: Two-time guest Chris Holtmann talks Big Ten expansion, Taylor Swift, and more
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Bucketheads Podcast: Two-time guest Chris Holtmann talks Big Ten expansion, Taylor Swift, and more
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images
The Buckeyes’ head coach spoke to us exclusively about his point guard, his California trip to see the Eras tour, and the ever-growing Big Ten.
“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. Every episode they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in the college hoops world.
For Episode 83, the guys welcomed back Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann to the podcast. He now joins an exclusive group of two-time guests that also includes Joe Gemma, Adam Jardy, Kevin Sweeney, and others.
The three of us discuss a wide range of basketball and non-basketball-related topics, including the transfer portal, Big Ten expansion, Taylor Swift, and what his go-to food was last season after any loss.
Holtmann described what it’s like navigating the transfer portal from a coach’s point of view — from the moment a player enters his name until the point where you get a commitment. How do you get that player’s contact information? Do you also contact their former coach? How quickly does the process move? It’s a perspective you won’t hear anywhere other than this show.
We also discussed the Big Ten with Holtmann — the 18-team version. Listen on to hear his thoughts on how it will impact all of the non-football athletes in the conference, and what concerns he has for student-athletes once the league expands.
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images
The Buckeyes’ head coach spoke to us exclusively about his point guard, his California trip to see the Eras tour, and the ever-growing Big Ten.
“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. Every episode they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in the college hoops world.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
For Episode 83, the guys welcomed back Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann to the podcast. He now joins an exclusive group of two-time guests that also includes Joe Gemma, Adam Jardy, Kevin Sweeney, and others.
The three of us discuss a wide range of basketball and non-basketball-related topics, including the transfer portal, Big Ten expansion, Taylor Swift, and what his go-to food was last season after any loss.
Holtmann described what it’s like navigating the transfer portal from a coach’s point of view — from the moment a player enters his name until the point where you get a commitment. How do you get that player’s contact information? Do you also contact their former coach? How quickly does the process move? It’s a perspective you won’t hear anywhere other than this show.
We also discussed the Big Ten with Holtmann — the 18-team version. Listen on to hear his thoughts on how it will impact all of the non-football athletes in the conference, and what concerns he has for student-athletes once the league expands.
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State Football Countdown: 3
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Ohio State Football Countdown: 3
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
One play or big moment per day as we count down to the start of Ohio State’s 2023 football season.
As we count down to the start of the 2023 season, we will be looking back at one play or big moment in Ohio State history over the past decade or so that corresponds to the remaining days left until Buckeyes take the field against Indiana on Sept. 2. There are 3 days remaining.
There is no player in college football that I am personally more excited to watch play in 2023 than Marvin Harrison Jr., the nation’s far and away best wide receiver. Does that make me a homer? Probably, but this is the consensus No. 1 WR in the 2023 NFL Draft we are talking about, so surely there are a good number of people outside of Buckeye Nation that are also looking forward to the 6-foot-3 son of a Hall of Famer making plays this season. Here he is putting up three touchdowns against Michigan State last year, including a really impressive grab around a defender for his third and final score.
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
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
One play or big moment per day as we count down to the start of Ohio State’s 2023 football season.
As we count down to the start of the 2023 season, we will be looking back at one play or big moment in Ohio State history over the past decade or so that corresponds to the remaining days left until Buckeyes take the field against Indiana on Sept. 2. There are 3 days remaining.
Play of the Day: Marvin Harrison Jr.’s 3 TDs vs. Michigan State (2022)
There is no player in college football that I am personally more excited to watch play in 2023 than Marvin Harrison Jr., the nation’s far and away best wide receiver. Does that make me a homer? Probably, but this is the consensus No. 1 WR in the 2023 NFL Draft we are talking about, so surely there are a good number of people outside of Buckeye Nation that are also looking forward to the 6-foot-3 son of a Hall of Famer making plays this season. Here he is putting up three touchdowns against Michigan State last year, including a really impressive grab around a defender for his third and final score.
Players to Wear the #3 (since 2010):
- Corey Brown (2010-13)
- Khaleed Franklin (2014)
- Michael Thomas (2014-15)
- Damon Webb (2015)
- Damon Arnette (2016-19)
- Demario McCall (2020)
- Teradja Mitchell (2018-22)
- Miyan Williams (2022-present)
- Cameron Martinez (present)
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LGHL Uncut Podcast: Ohio State finally has a starting quarterback, but competition is not over
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Uncut Podcast: Ohio State finally has a starting quarterback, but competition is not over
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeye coaches also confirmed starters on the offensive line and at kicker.
Throughout the year, the Land-Grant Podcast Network will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On today’s episode of “Land-Grant Uncut,” we are bringing you unedited audio from Ohio State football coach Ryan Day and defensive coordinator Jim Knowle’s Tuesday, Aug. 29 press conference. Just four days ahead of the 2023 season opener, Day finally announced that Kyle McCord will be the team’s starter when it takes to the field on Saturday against, but that backup Devin Brown will be a part of the gameplan and the head coach is hoping to get him meaningful minutes against the IU first team.
Day also confirmed who will be starting at center and who will handle the kicking duties. Conversely, Knowles declined to name a third starting safety, only to say that he has three options that can all play.
Watch the full press conference here: Login to view embedded media
Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt
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
The Buckeye coaches also confirmed starters on the offensive line and at kicker.
Throughout the year, the Land-Grant Podcast Network will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On today’s episode of “Land-Grant Uncut,” we are bringing you unedited audio from Ohio State football coach Ryan Day and defensive coordinator Jim Knowle’s Tuesday, Aug. 29 press conference. Just four days ahead of the 2023 season opener, Day finally announced that Kyle McCord will be the team’s starter when it takes to the field on Saturday against, but that backup Devin Brown will be a part of the gameplan and the head coach is hoping to get him meaningful minutes against the IU first team.
Day also confirmed who will be starting at center and who will handle the kicking duties. Conversely, Knowles declined to name a third starting safety, only to say that he has three options that can all play.
Watch the full press conference here: Login to view embedded media
Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt
Music by: www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
LGHL B1G Thoughts: Michigan will lose two games, other potentially wild preseason predictions
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- 0 Replies
B1G Thoughts: Michigan will lose two games, other potentially wild preseason predictions
JordanW330 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
College football is back! In the first Big Thoughts of the season, Jordan gives 10 predictions for the 2023 season.
Every week after the Big Ten slate of games, I will bring you some B1G thoughts on everything that happened! This will include analysis, stats, key players, moments, and maybe a joke. With the Big Ten expanding from 14 teams to 18 teams in 2024, will also include the newest members — Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington.
Welcome to the 2023 football season! After a long offseason college football is back, and we’re in for a roller coaster. 2023 is the last season of relative normalcy, as the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, potentially the ACC, and the College Football Playoff all expand in 2024. There will be new television partnerships, new rivalries, the death of old rivalries, and the demise of the PAC-12.
Buckle up! 2023 is going to be a wild ride. With the start of the season here, I have 10 predictions for the new campaign...
Depending on who you ask, Michigan is the clear favorite to win the Big Ten and make the CFP for the third season in a row. Many national pundits have them essentially walking through the conference, as they are believed to have their most talented team of the Jim Harbaugh era. I do not believe this is their most talented team.
Most of that hinges on JJ McCarthy taking a large leap into being a top-10 pick in the NFL Draft. Despite this, Michigan will still be excellent, but Ohio State is on a mission after two losses in a row, and Penn State has one of its most talented teams in a long time. I can’t say I feel good about this prediction, as the Big Ten East is going to be a bloodbath and it may be more likely that Penn State, Michigan, and Ohio State all beat each other and end the season 11-1 in a three-way tie.
Despite that likelihood, I’m on the record that I think Michigan loses to Penn State and Ohio State this year.
This may be less a prediction and more an acknowledgment of history. Every season Ohio State has to break in a new quarterback, the media jumps on the opportunity to say that this will be the season the Buckeyes have a bad quarterback and will lose multiple games for the first time since 2011.
Since 2003, Ohio State has only lost more than two games twice, and an Ohio State quarterback has won the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Award every year since 2018. It’s fun to imagine Ohio State with a bad quarterback, but Kyle McCord and Devin Brown were both former blue-chip recruits, and Ryan Day is the best quarterback developer in the country. The offseason is a time to dream, but the reality that Ohio State still has the best quarterback in the conference will soon be realized by all the doubters.
The Big Ten is FULL of amazing running backs. I’m not sure there is a better running back room in the country than what you’ll see in this conference. It’s expected that Blake Corum will run away with this award — pun intended — but I think that a healthy TreVeyon Henderson will compete in the end.
I think two things will be true: Ohio State will have the best quarterback in the conference, and they will also be more reliant on the running game than in previous years. This is a long shot because Ohio State will never run the ball as much as Michigan, but the Wolverines will need to work Donovan Edwards in more than they have previously. If Tre can return to his 2021 form, I think there is a real chance he will win this award as the first Ohio State running back to earn the accolade since Ezekiel Elliott in 2015.
Mike Locksley is doing everything in his power to change the narrative around him and his program. After being bottom-feeders in the B1G East for the first few seasons of his tenure, Maryland has gotten better each of the past two seasons, culminating in this year.
Maryland is firmly the fourth-best team in the East and would benefit from not having to play Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan this season, but they’re a year early for that. I expect Maryland to win every non-OSU, PSU, and Michigan game this season. If they stumble and end the year with eight wins, they’ll likely win their bowl game. A 10-win season including the bowl is not out of the question for the Maryland Terrapins.
Don’t be surprised when they’re one of the better teams in the country and end the season ranked in the Top 25.
Indiana enters 2023 with no positive momentum and under the weight of a horrible contract, they gave head coach Tom Allen after the 2020 football season.
Since going 6-2 in 2020, the Hoosiers are a combined 6-18 in the past two seasons. The way Allen’s contract is structured, if he is fired before Dec. 1, 2024, Indiana will owe him the remaining balance of his contract, which after the 2023 season would be around $20 million. $20 million would be one of the highest buyouts ever paid, but with the new influx of money from their TV contract and the 12-team playoff, Indiana has the money to not be stagnant and fall further behind their conference mates.
Indiana may never be at the top of the conference, but with Oregon, Washington, UCLA, and USC joining, it’s imperative they try or they will be stuck at the bottom for the foreseeable future. If Indiana doesn’t make a bowl game, and it is unlikely they will, Tom Allen will be fired by the end of this season.
Oddly, there is some optimism around Iowa’s offense this year, and much of it revolves around their transfer pickup of QB Cade McNamara from Michigan. My problem with this is McNamara was barely an average quarterback for the Wolverines when they had the best offensive line and the best running back duo in the country.
Iowa does have talent in their tight end room, but their offensive line is a question, and running back Kaleb Johnson doesn’t compare to Blake Corum, Hassan Haskins, or Donovan Edwards. Brian Ferentz is objectively not a good offensive coordinator, and Iowa, despite being more talented, is not going to suddenly have a competent offense. Also, their defense should take a small step back, and while defensive touchdowns count toward the 325 total, I don’t expect the defense to score as many touchdowns as they did last season.
Iowa will always win eight or nine games, but this offense won’t be good enough to continue employing Brian Ferentz.
Marvin Harrison Jr. is the best player in the country, and the Heisman Trust refuses to award another two-time Heisman. Despite the wealth of running back talent in the country, the trust has refused to crown a running back the Heisman winner, but they will occasionally take a break from quarterback to give it to a wide receiver. Marv’s biggest competition is probably Caleb Williams, Michael Penix Jr., and Drake Maye.
All three quarterbacks may have one too many losses to win the award. If Harrison Jr. has a special season and leads Ohio State past Michigan for the first time in his career, he could take home this year’s Heisman Trophy.
Washington is a Big Ten team effective 2024, but for this column and all of my work, they’re already a member. The four teams vying for the Pac-12 championship will all be in the Big Ten in 2024, and I believe Washington will end the year on top.
They have arguably the second-best quarterback in the conference and the second-best wide receiver group in the country. USC will be a formidable challenge, but they still have an anemic defense and Washington should be able to take advantage of that. Washington’s biggest challenger might be Utah, but I expect to see the Utes and Huskies in the final Pac-12 Championship Game.
The West is going to be interesting this year. Iowa is Iowa and may have a better offense than years previous. Wisconsin has a new coach Luke Fickell and should contend for the division immediately. The team everyone seems to forget about is Illinois, who was the best team in the division in 2022 but stumbled in a few games while learning how to win.
Bret Bielema is a great coach, and Illinois returns one of the best defensive lines in the conference; plus Aaron Henry was retained, so their secondary should be strong despite losing Devin Witherspoon. In a wide-open West, Illinois should be a contender, and in my mind, they’re the favorites.
Ohio State has heard the noise and has seen the doubters. I believe they’ll shut everyone up and take their place back at the top of the conference.
In year two under Jim Knowles, they should have a much-improved defense that should fix some of their issues from 2022. They have the deepest defensive line in the conference, an All-American linebacker, and should finally be healthy in the secondary after dealing with injuries all last season. They have questions at quarterback and offensive line, but they have the best wide receivers in the country, and as long as they receive above-average play on the offensive line, Ryan Day will have the quarterback ready to play.
It won’t be easy for the Buckeyes, as they have to play Notre Dame, Penn State, and Michigan in 2023, but I believe this is the year Ryan Day slays his demons and takes Ohio State back to the mountaintop.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Connect with me on Twitter: @JordanW330
Follow The I-80 Football Show on YouTube: @JordanW330
Follow I-80 Football Show on Instagram: @I80FootballShow
Follow the Power Two Podcast on Instagram: @PowerTwoPodcast
Subscribe to the podcast: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Continue reading...
JordanW330 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
College football is back! In the first Big Thoughts of the season, Jordan gives 10 predictions for the 2023 season.
Every week after the Big Ten slate of games, I will bring you some B1G thoughts on everything that happened! This will include analysis, stats, key players, moments, and maybe a joke. With the Big Ten expanding from 14 teams to 18 teams in 2024, will also include the newest members — Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington.
Welcome to the 2023 football season! After a long offseason college football is back, and we’re in for a roller coaster. 2023 is the last season of relative normalcy, as the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, potentially the ACC, and the College Football Playoff all expand in 2024. There will be new television partnerships, new rivalries, the death of old rivalries, and the demise of the PAC-12.
Buckle up! 2023 is going to be a wild ride. With the start of the season here, I have 10 predictions for the new campaign...
Michigan will lose two games and finish third in the Big Ten East
Depending on who you ask, Michigan is the clear favorite to win the Big Ten and make the CFP for the third season in a row. Many national pundits have them essentially walking through the conference, as they are believed to have their most talented team of the Jim Harbaugh era. I do not believe this is their most talented team.
Most of that hinges on JJ McCarthy taking a large leap into being a top-10 pick in the NFL Draft. Despite this, Michigan will still be excellent, but Ohio State is on a mission after two losses in a row, and Penn State has one of its most talented teams in a long time. I can’t say I feel good about this prediction, as the Big Ten East is going to be a bloodbath and it may be more likely that Penn State, Michigan, and Ohio State all beat each other and end the season 11-1 in a three-way tie.
Despite that likelihood, I’m on the record that I think Michigan loses to Penn State and Ohio State this year.
[Insert Ohio State Quarterback] will win the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Award
This may be less a prediction and more an acknowledgment of history. Every season Ohio State has to break in a new quarterback, the media jumps on the opportunity to say that this will be the season the Buckeyes have a bad quarterback and will lose multiple games for the first time since 2011.
Since 2003, Ohio State has only lost more than two games twice, and an Ohio State quarterback has won the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Award every year since 2018. It’s fun to imagine Ohio State with a bad quarterback, but Kyle McCord and Devin Brown were both former blue-chip recruits, and Ryan Day is the best quarterback developer in the country. The offseason is a time to dream, but the reality that Ohio State still has the best quarterback in the conference will soon be realized by all the doubters.
TreVeyon Henderson will win the Big Ten Running Back of the Year Award
The Big Ten is FULL of amazing running backs. I’m not sure there is a better running back room in the country than what you’ll see in this conference. It’s expected that Blake Corum will run away with this award — pun intended — but I think that a healthy TreVeyon Henderson will compete in the end.
I think two things will be true: Ohio State will have the best quarterback in the conference, and they will also be more reliant on the running game than in previous years. This is a long shot because Ohio State will never run the ball as much as Michigan, but the Wolverines will need to work Donovan Edwards in more than they have previously. If Tre can return to his 2021 form, I think there is a real chance he will win this award as the first Ohio State running back to earn the accolade since Ezekiel Elliott in 2015.
Maryland will win nine games including their bowl game
Mike Locksley is doing everything in his power to change the narrative around him and his program. After being bottom-feeders in the B1G East for the first few seasons of his tenure, Maryland has gotten better each of the past two seasons, culminating in this year.
Maryland is firmly the fourth-best team in the East and would benefit from not having to play Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan this season, but they’re a year early for that. I expect Maryland to win every non-OSU, PSU, and Michigan game this season. If they stumble and end the year with eight wins, they’ll likely win their bowl game. A 10-win season including the bowl is not out of the question for the Maryland Terrapins.
Don’t be surprised when they’re one of the better teams in the country and end the season ranked in the Top 25.
Indiana head coach Tom Allen will get fired
Indiana enters 2023 with no positive momentum and under the weight of a horrible contract, they gave head coach Tom Allen after the 2020 football season.
Since going 6-2 in 2020, the Hoosiers are a combined 6-18 in the past two seasons. The way Allen’s contract is structured, if he is fired before Dec. 1, 2024, Indiana will owe him the remaining balance of his contract, which after the 2023 season would be around $20 million. $20 million would be one of the highest buyouts ever paid, but with the new influx of money from their TV contract and the 12-team playoff, Indiana has the money to not be stagnant and fall further behind their conference mates.
Indiana may never be at the top of the conference, but with Oregon, Washington, UCLA, and USC joining, it’s imperative they try or they will be stuck at the bottom for the foreseeable future. If Indiana doesn’t make a bowl game, and it is unlikely they will, Tom Allen will be fired by the end of this season.
Brian Ferentz will not score 325 points and will get fired; Kirk Ferentz will retire
Oddly, there is some optimism around Iowa’s offense this year, and much of it revolves around their transfer pickup of QB Cade McNamara from Michigan. My problem with this is McNamara was barely an average quarterback for the Wolverines when they had the best offensive line and the best running back duo in the country.
Iowa does have talent in their tight end room, but their offensive line is a question, and running back Kaleb Johnson doesn’t compare to Blake Corum, Hassan Haskins, or Donovan Edwards. Brian Ferentz is objectively not a good offensive coordinator, and Iowa, despite being more talented, is not going to suddenly have a competent offense. Also, their defense should take a small step back, and while defensive touchdowns count toward the 325 total, I don’t expect the defense to score as many touchdowns as they did last season.
Iowa will always win eight or nine games, but this offense won’t be good enough to continue employing Brian Ferentz.
Marvin Harrison Jr. will win the Heisman trophy
Marvin Harrison Jr. is the best player in the country, and the Heisman Trust refuses to award another two-time Heisman. Despite the wealth of running back talent in the country, the trust has refused to crown a running back the Heisman winner, but they will occasionally take a break from quarterback to give it to a wide receiver. Marv’s biggest competition is probably Caleb Williams, Michael Penix Jr., and Drake Maye.
All three quarterbacks may have one too many losses to win the award. If Harrison Jr. has a special season and leads Ohio State past Michigan for the first time in his career, he could take home this year’s Heisman Trophy.
Washington will win the Pac-12 in its final year of existence
Washington is a Big Ten team effective 2024, but for this column and all of my work, they’re already a member. The four teams vying for the Pac-12 championship will all be in the Big Ten in 2024, and I believe Washington will end the year on top.
They have arguably the second-best quarterback in the conference and the second-best wide receiver group in the country. USC will be a formidable challenge, but they still have an anemic defense and Washington should be able to take advantage of that. Washington’s biggest challenger might be Utah, but I expect to see the Utes and Huskies in the final Pac-12 Championship Game.
Illinois will win the B1G West
The West is going to be interesting this year. Iowa is Iowa and may have a better offense than years previous. Wisconsin has a new coach Luke Fickell and should contend for the division immediately. The team everyone seems to forget about is Illinois, who was the best team in the division in 2022 but stumbled in a few games while learning how to win.
Bret Bielema is a great coach, and Illinois returns one of the best defensive lines in the conference; plus Aaron Henry was retained, so their secondary should be strong despite losing Devin Witherspoon. In a wide-open West, Illinois should be a contender, and in my mind, they’re the favorites.
Ohio State will return to the top and win the conference
Ohio State has heard the noise and has seen the doubters. I believe they’ll shut everyone up and take their place back at the top of the conference.
In year two under Jim Knowles, they should have a much-improved defense that should fix some of their issues from 2022. They have the deepest defensive line in the conference, an All-American linebacker, and should finally be healthy in the secondary after dealing with injuries all last season. They have questions at quarterback and offensive line, but they have the best wide receivers in the country, and as long as they receive above-average play on the offensive line, Ryan Day will have the quarterback ready to play.
It won’t be easy for the Buckeyes, as they have to play Notre Dame, Penn State, and Michigan in 2023, but I believe this is the year Ryan Day slays his demons and takes Ohio State back to the mountaintop.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Connect with me on Twitter: @JordanW330
Follow The I-80 Football Show on YouTube: @JordanW330
Follow I-80 Football Show on Instagram: @I80FootballShow
Follow the Power Two Podcast on Instagram: @PowerTwoPodcast
Subscribe to the podcast: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Continue reading...
LGHL Close Encounters of the Athletic Kind: Is Marvin Harrison Jr. an alien?
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Close Encounters of the Athletic Kind: Is Marvin Harrison Jr. an alien?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
I asked ChatGPT to help determine whether or not Marv is actually from this world or not.
So, I’m going to guess that at this point, you’ve heard the story about The Columbus Dispatch and other Gannett-owned local newspapers using Artificial Intelligence to cobble together articles about high school football games. An article about Aug. 18’s matchup between Worthington Christian and Westerville Central sparked quite the online discussion because of its — at least what I believe to be — genuinely creative turn of phrase “close encounter of the athletic kind.”
So, since it won’t be long until we are all overtaken by our robot overlords, this whole saga got me wondering if the proximity of this high school game to the Ohio State campus got LedeAI, the program that the Gannett papers used to generate the gamers, confused. While the company has ceased using AI to write these articles — undoubtedly to the relief of The Dispatch’s talented (and likely embarrassed) human staff — I was curious whether or not the presence of purported alien Marvin Harrison Jr. in the Central Ohio area led to the algorithmic confusion.
For those of you who weren’t around in the 1980s, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” is a movie written and directed by Steven Spielberg that starred Richard Dreyfuss and Teri Garr. The film has to do with the discovery of an alien ship and the efforts to communicate with the creatures from outer space.
Since numerous outlets have compared Marv to a being from another world, including LGHL, I wanted to turn to our good friend ChatGPT to see if we could discover the truth of whether or not Marvin Harrison Jr. is, in fact, an alien or not.
What follows is the unedited conclusion provided by ChatGPT.
In the realm of college football, the spotlight often shines brightest on those athletes who seem to possess an otherworldly level of talent. But what if we told you that there’s one player who’s not just playing the game at an elite level, but might actually be from a galaxy far, far away? Buckle up, sports fans, because we’re about to dive into the extraterrestrial excellence of none other than Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.!
When it comes to the gridiron, Harrison Jr. has consistently defied the laws of physics and gravity, leaving spectators and opponents alike scratching their heads in bewilderment. But what if his mind-bending athleticism isn’t just the result of hard work and natural talent? What if, in fact, he’s been channeling his inner E.T. all along?
Rumors have been swirling that Harrison Jr. isn’t just a star receiver, but an actual alien in disguise. And honestly, it’s hard to argue against this out-of-this-world theory when you consider his jaw-dropping feats on the field. From acrobatic catches that seem to defy the limits of human anatomy to lightning-fast sprints that leave defenders in the dust, he’s shown a consistent pattern of “close encounters of the athletic kind.”
Think about it: only an extraterrestrial being could possess the coordination to twist, turn, and contort his body in ways that make Gumby look like a stiff board. And have you seen his hands? It’s almost as if they were engineered by some higher life form specifically for snatching footballs out of thin air. In fact, sources say that the Roswell crash site was actually just Harrison Jr. dropping in for a quick visit to perfect his one-handed catch technique.
But it’s not just his physical abilities that make us raise our eyebrows in delightful suspicion. Harrison Jr.’s football IQ and ability to read defenses are eerily advanced. Could it be that he’s tapping into a cosmic playbook that us mere mortals can’t even fathom? Are there Xs and Os etched into the stars, spelling out plays that transcend our earthly understanding?
And let’s not forget about his speed. It’s as if he’s tapping into some kind of warp drive, leaving defenders in a different time zone as he sprints past them. Sure, scientists might try to explain it away with terms like “acceleration” and “muscle fiber composition,” but we know the truth: he’s simply engaging his interstellar hyperdrive.
As for his end zone celebrations, they’re not just the stuff of touchdown folklore – they’re coded messages to his fellow beings across the cosmos. Those intricate handshakes and intricate dances? They’re alien communication protocols that ensure he’s still in contact with his home planet.
So, is Marvin Harrison Jr. an alien? Well, we can’t say for certain, but the evidence is certainly compelling. And let’s be honest, if there’s one thing Earth needs right now, it’s an otherworldly athlete who can bring a little cosmic flair to the football field. So here’s to you, Marvin Harrison Jr., whether you’re from Ohio or Orion’s Belt – your unearthly excellence has us all starry-eyed.
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
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
I asked ChatGPT to help determine whether or not Marv is actually from this world or not.
So, I’m going to guess that at this point, you’ve heard the story about The Columbus Dispatch and other Gannett-owned local newspapers using Artificial Intelligence to cobble together articles about high school football games. An article about Aug. 18’s matchup between Worthington Christian and Westerville Central sparked quite the online discussion because of its — at least what I believe to be — genuinely creative turn of phrase “close encounter of the athletic kind.”
So, since it won’t be long until we are all overtaken by our robot overlords, this whole saga got me wondering if the proximity of this high school game to the Ohio State campus got LedeAI, the program that the Gannett papers used to generate the gamers, confused. While the company has ceased using AI to write these articles — undoubtedly to the relief of The Dispatch’s talented (and likely embarrassed) human staff — I was curious whether or not the presence of purported alien Marvin Harrison Jr. in the Central Ohio area led to the algorithmic confusion.
For those of you who weren’t around in the 1980s, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” is a movie written and directed by Steven Spielberg that starred Richard Dreyfuss and Teri Garr. The film has to do with the discovery of an alien ship and the efforts to communicate with the creatures from outer space.
Since numerous outlets have compared Marv to a being from another world, including LGHL, I wanted to turn to our good friend ChatGPT to see if we could discover the truth of whether or not Marvin Harrison Jr. is, in fact, an alien or not.
What follows is the unedited conclusion provided by ChatGPT.
In the realm of college football, the spotlight often shines brightest on those athletes who seem to possess an otherworldly level of talent. But what if we told you that there’s one player who’s not just playing the game at an elite level, but might actually be from a galaxy far, far away? Buckle up, sports fans, because we’re about to dive into the extraterrestrial excellence of none other than Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.!
When it comes to the gridiron, Harrison Jr. has consistently defied the laws of physics and gravity, leaving spectators and opponents alike scratching their heads in bewilderment. But what if his mind-bending athleticism isn’t just the result of hard work and natural talent? What if, in fact, he’s been channeling his inner E.T. all along?
Rumors have been swirling that Harrison Jr. isn’t just a star receiver, but an actual alien in disguise. And honestly, it’s hard to argue against this out-of-this-world theory when you consider his jaw-dropping feats on the field. From acrobatic catches that seem to defy the limits of human anatomy to lightning-fast sprints that leave defenders in the dust, he’s shown a consistent pattern of “close encounters of the athletic kind.”
Think about it: only an extraterrestrial being could possess the coordination to twist, turn, and contort his body in ways that make Gumby look like a stiff board. And have you seen his hands? It’s almost as if they were engineered by some higher life form specifically for snatching footballs out of thin air. In fact, sources say that the Roswell crash site was actually just Harrison Jr. dropping in for a quick visit to perfect his one-handed catch technique.
But it’s not just his physical abilities that make us raise our eyebrows in delightful suspicion. Harrison Jr.’s football IQ and ability to read defenses are eerily advanced. Could it be that he’s tapping into a cosmic playbook that us mere mortals can’t even fathom? Are there Xs and Os etched into the stars, spelling out plays that transcend our earthly understanding?
And let’s not forget about his speed. It’s as if he’s tapping into some kind of warp drive, leaving defenders in a different time zone as he sprints past them. Sure, scientists might try to explain it away with terms like “acceleration” and “muscle fiber composition,” but we know the truth: he’s simply engaging his interstellar hyperdrive.
As for his end zone celebrations, they’re not just the stuff of touchdown folklore – they’re coded messages to his fellow beings across the cosmos. Those intricate handshakes and intricate dances? They’re alien communication protocols that ensure he’s still in contact with his home planet.
So, is Marvin Harrison Jr. an alien? Well, we can’t say for certain, but the evidence is certainly compelling. And let’s be honest, if there’s one thing Earth needs right now, it’s an otherworldly athlete who can bring a little cosmic flair to the football field. So here’s to you, Marvin Harrison Jr., whether you’re from Ohio or Orion’s Belt – your unearthly excellence has us all starry-eyed.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: What football movie should you watch this week to get hyped for the season?
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You’re Nuts: What football movie should you watch this week to get hyped for the 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
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
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.
While it took everything in me not to recommend “80 For Brady” due to its stacked cast of iconic women, I cannot in good conscience kick off football season with a M*chigan-related recommendation.
What I can do is offer up a deep cut as you get ready for the season ahead—the 1952 selection “The Rose Bowl.” If this is a new film to you, it checks all the boxes you could want. In fact, it’s a great one to watch on date night if you are trying (like I am) to convince your significant other that they do, in fact, like sports, because “The Rose Bowl Story” is a sports movie disguised as a romcom.
The film follows the relationship between a college football player who heads to the Rose Bowl game with his team and falls in love with the Rose Queen.
The primary plot portrays the romance between Steve Davis (the team’s quarterback who is apathetic about the game because football does not spark joy for him, played by Marshall Thompson) and his girlfriend Denny Burke (played by Vera Miles).
Along the way, we also see what the Rose Bowl means to Davis’ teammate Bronc Buttram (Keith Larsen). Buttram is ecstatic to be there, fully comprehending the history and importance of the Rowl Bowl title.
Without giving anything away, we also have a young Natalie Wood playing Denny Burke’s younger sister (she is mostly a plot device, but it’s fun to see her in this), and the team’s coach played by Richard Rober.
“The Rose Bowl” is the perfect way to set the scene for football season for a number of reasons. This movie really gets to the heart of the pre-CFP days when the Rose Bowl was a time-honored tradition and the winner earned a full year of bragging rights. It reminds us of the glory Ohio State is seeking this season (a win at the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day this year would advance the Buckeyes to the National Championship).
It is a reminder that playing as a team and capitalizing on intangibles, like heart, can make all the difference at the end of the day.
Ultimately, the rom-com elements of it remind us that there’s actually a lot of romance behind college football, behind wins and losses, heartbreak, and come-from-behind victories. Just like relationships, football takes work, commitment, and resilience.
If the Buckeyes can remember those things and play with heart this season, we might have a love story of our own with this 2023 team.
I honestly have never heard of “The Rose Bowl Story,” so kudos to Jami for going outside the box. I too will go outside the box in terms of picking a football movie to watch to get yourself hyped for the season opener, because I am not picking a movie at all.
Yes, I know that’s cheating, and yes, I know there is an excellent (but ultimately inferior) film adaptation of H. G. Bissinger’s iconic nonfiction look at Texas high school football. But let’s be honest, if you are a football fan who also enjoys the power of a sentimental cry, then this is a must-watch series. It’s like if “Hoosiers” was about football and “Rudy” wasn’t a bunch of Notre Dame propaganda.
The NBC series adaptation of “Friday Night Lights” remains one of the most powerful and eternally rewatchable series in television history, whether you are an avid football fan or not. While there is a decent amount of moderately accurate football content in the show, the series’ strength is instead on how it portrays the deeply felt relationships between its incredible cast of characters.
Led by the indomitable Kyle Chandler as head coach Eric Taylor and Connie Britton as his wife Tami, the show focuses on not only the emotional toll of high-stakes high school football but also of just being a human of any age. Delving into both the lives and relationships of the adults and teenagers in Dillon, Texas, “Friday Night Lights” reaffirms that love, friendship, sacrifice, teamwork, and genuine decency are things that can powerfully and radically transform the lives of those around us... except for one network-mandated subplot in Season 2, but we generally just pretend like that was a fever dream that didn’t actually happen.
What makes “Friday Night Lights” the ideal binge to hype yourself up for another football season is that it reminds us of why we love sports, the excitement, anticipation, and emotions that come from following a team through its ups and downs. It also puts the results of each game and season into perspective. While the wins and losses feel like life and death to the players, coaches, and their loved ones, there are more important things than football (heaven forbid, amirite?).
However, hearing a speech from Coach Taylor will always get you ready to run through a brick wall, and just thinking about the Panthers chanting “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose,” is giving me goosebumps and bringing tears to my eyes. If you want to get absolutely jacked up for the upcoming college football season, dive into “FNL”; there are 76 episodes spread across five seasons, so if you start now and watch without interruption, you should be able to finish (and take a little nap) before Ohio State opens its season against Indiana on Saturday.
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
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
Today’s Question: What football movie should you watch this week to get hyped for the season?
Jami’s Take: ‘The Rose Bowl Story’
While it took everything in me not to recommend “80 For Brady” due to its stacked cast of iconic women, I cannot in good conscience kick off football season with a M*chigan-related recommendation.
What I can do is offer up a deep cut as you get ready for the season ahead—the 1952 selection “The Rose Bowl.” If this is a new film to you, it checks all the boxes you could want. In fact, it’s a great one to watch on date night if you are trying (like I am) to convince your significant other that they do, in fact, like sports, because “The Rose Bowl Story” is a sports movie disguised as a romcom.
The film follows the relationship between a college football player who heads to the Rose Bowl game with his team and falls in love with the Rose Queen.
The primary plot portrays the romance between Steve Davis (the team’s quarterback who is apathetic about the game because football does not spark joy for him, played by Marshall Thompson) and his girlfriend Denny Burke (played by Vera Miles).
Along the way, we also see what the Rose Bowl means to Davis’ teammate Bronc Buttram (Keith Larsen). Buttram is ecstatic to be there, fully comprehending the history and importance of the Rowl Bowl title.
Without giving anything away, we also have a young Natalie Wood playing Denny Burke’s younger sister (she is mostly a plot device, but it’s fun to see her in this), and the team’s coach played by Richard Rober.
“The Rose Bowl” is the perfect way to set the scene for football season for a number of reasons. This movie really gets to the heart of the pre-CFP days when the Rose Bowl was a time-honored tradition and the winner earned a full year of bragging rights. It reminds us of the glory Ohio State is seeking this season (a win at the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day this year would advance the Buckeyes to the National Championship).
It is a reminder that playing as a team and capitalizing on intangibles, like heart, can make all the difference at the end of the day.
Ultimately, the rom-com elements of it remind us that there’s actually a lot of romance behind college football, behind wins and losses, heartbreak, and come-from-behind victories. Just like relationships, football takes work, commitment, and resilience.
If the Buckeyes can remember those things and play with heart this season, we might have a love story of our own with this 2023 team.
Matt’s Take: ‘Friday Night Lights’ (2006)
I honestly have never heard of “The Rose Bowl Story,” so kudos to Jami for going outside the box. I too will go outside the box in terms of picking a football movie to watch to get yourself hyped for the season opener, because I am not picking a movie at all.
Yes, I know that’s cheating, and yes, I know there is an excellent (but ultimately inferior) film adaptation of H. G. Bissinger’s iconic nonfiction look at Texas high school football. But let’s be honest, if you are a football fan who also enjoys the power of a sentimental cry, then this is a must-watch series. It’s like if “Hoosiers” was about football and “Rudy” wasn’t a bunch of Notre Dame propaganda.
The NBC series adaptation of “Friday Night Lights” remains one of the most powerful and eternally rewatchable series in television history, whether you are an avid football fan or not. While there is a decent amount of moderately accurate football content in the show, the series’ strength is instead on how it portrays the deeply felt relationships between its incredible cast of characters.
Led by the indomitable Kyle Chandler as head coach Eric Taylor and Connie Britton as his wife Tami, the show focuses on not only the emotional toll of high-stakes high school football but also of just being a human of any age. Delving into both the lives and relationships of the adults and teenagers in Dillon, Texas, “Friday Night Lights” reaffirms that love, friendship, sacrifice, teamwork, and genuine decency are things that can powerfully and radically transform the lives of those around us... except for one network-mandated subplot in Season 2, but we generally just pretend like that was a fever dream that didn’t actually happen.
What makes “Friday Night Lights” the ideal binge to hype yourself up for another football season is that it reminds us of why we love sports, the excitement, anticipation, and emotions that come from following a team through its ups and downs. It also puts the results of each game and season into perspective. While the wins and losses feel like life and death to the players, coaches, and their loved ones, there are more important things than football (heaven forbid, amirite?).
However, hearing a speech from Coach Taylor will always get you ready to run through a brick wall, and just thinking about the Panthers chanting “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose,” is giving me goosebumps and bringing tears to my eyes. If you want to get absolutely jacked up for the upcoming college football season, dive into “FNL”; there are 76 episodes spread across five seasons, so if you start now and watch without interruption, you should be able to finish (and take a little nap) before Ohio State opens its season against Indiana on Saturday.
Continue reading...
