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LGHL Ohio State Football Countdown: 28
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Ohio State Football Countdown: 28
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 Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via 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 28 days remaining.
Last year’s matchup against Penn State was very frustrating at times, but definitely not during this seven-minute stretch where J.T. Tuimoloau turned into prime Chase Young and the Ohio State offense got things rolling as the Buckeyes went from trailing 21-16 to leading 44-24 before you could blink. Two rushing touchdowns for TreVeyon Henderson, an impressive long score by Cade Stover and a pick-six by Tuimoloau helped Ryan Day’s group escape Happy Valley with a win following a dominant fourth quarter of action.
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 Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via 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 28 days remaining.
Play of the Day: OSU scores 28 points in 7 minutes vs. Penn State (2022)
Last year’s matchup against Penn State was very frustrating at times, but definitely not during this seven-minute stretch where J.T. Tuimoloau turned into prime Chase Young and the Ohio State offense got things rolling as the Buckeyes went from trailing 21-16 to leading 44-24 before you could blink. Two rushing touchdowns for TreVeyon Henderson, an impressive long score by Cade Stover and a pick-six by Tuimoloau helped Ryan Day’s group escape Happy Valley with a win following a dominant fourth quarter of action.
Players to Wear the #28 (since 2010):
- Ron Tanner (2011-12)
- Warren Ball (2012-15)
- Michael Cibene (2014-16)
- Joshua Norwood (2016)
- Jordan Leasure (2016)
- Amari McMahon (2017-19)
- Miyan Williams (2020-21) - changed to No. 3
- Reid Carrico (2021-present)
- TC Caffey (2022-present)
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LGHL Player to Watch: Is it Julian Fleming’s turn in the spotlight?
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Player to Watch: Is it Julian Fleming’s turn in the spotlight?
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
With Harrison Jr. and Egbuka taking the attention, can Julian Fleming break out this season?
While all eyes will be on Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka this season, there is another receiver for the Buckeyes that can make some noise nationally: Julian Fleming.
Fleming is a name Ohio State fans were excited about when he got to Columbus along with Jaxon Smith-Njigba. However, he has been hampered by multiple injuries throughout his career and, with these injuries, saw other Ohio State receivers replace him on the depth chart.
It was a while ago, but it is hard to believe where Fleming landed on the recruiting pages coming into Ohio State. Of all the talented and NFL-ready receivers that have come through Columbus over the past five years, Fleming was the highest-rated out of all of them.
The 6-foot-2, 200 pound receiver from Southern Columbia High School in Catawissa, Pennsylvania, held a perfect 100 rating and was a five-star prospect. He was the No. 4 overall player in the 2020 class, the No. 1 receiver, and the No. 1 player in the state of Pennsylvania.
In the 2020 class, the only players ranked higher than Fleming were Quarterbacks Bryce Young and DJ Uiagalelei and Defensive End Bryan Bresee.
Also, there were four Ohio State players ranked in the top 30 in the 2020 class, according to 247Sports. Fleming was No. 4, Paris Johnson Jr. was No. 8, Jaxon Smith-Njigba was No. 15, and CJ Stroud was No. 29. Johnson Jr., Smith-Njigba, and Stroud were all first-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
This is what the recruiting experts were saying about Fleming when he came to Columbus.
“A terrific combination of size, strength, and leaping ability,” 247 Sports Director of Football Recruiting Steve Wiltfong said at the time of Fleming’s recruitment. “Easily separates. His speed and physicality make him elite after the catch, and ball skills are exceptional. A game-changer on special teams as well with another gear once he sees the seam or daylight to the end zone. A difference-maker in the red zone. There may be a few receivers faster, but nobody nationally with the tool bag Fleming has at the position. Also, a standout basketball player, a scoring machine playing above the rim who also dominates on the glass. An elite long jumper in track. An instant impact player and projected future first-round draft pick.”
The comparison Wiltfong gave was Julio Jones.
Obviously, the main cause for concern is health, but also, with Harrison Jr. and Egbuka returning as arguably the top two receivers in football and Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss stepping onto campus seemingly ready to play day one, Fleming could live in an interesting middle ground that hurts his opportunities.
However, he is a more proven entity than any freshman, so he will come in as one of the top three receivers on the team and will have his chances early on in the season. Whether it is Kyle McCord or Devin Brown that is ultimately the starting quarterback, Fleming will likely be a large part of the offensive plan as a trustworthy weapon as the new quarterback gets settled in.
In his three seasons thus far, Fleming has a total of 53 catches for 693 yards and seven touchdowns. He averages 13.1 yards per catch. His best season was by far last year, where he recorded 34 catches for 533 yards and six touchdowns. He started off the season strong but slowed down and struggled a little bit towards the end of the season.
The Buckeyes have another explosive offense with many mouths to feed. Not only do they have six receivers who could play Week 1, they also have five running backs and two tight ends, so Fleming will have to show early that he is still the talent they expected him to be when he is healthy.
I do think there is logic behind the idea that Fleming could see more opportunities because teams are going to have to work so hard taking Harrison Jr. and Egbuka out of the game plan. And he has already shown that when given the chance he can make big time plays. He has a unique combination of speed, athleticism and strength that makes him incredibly dangerous, no matter where he lines up on the line of scrimmage.
The first few games will be important. They will blow out everyone up to the Notre Dame game and blowouts mean padded stats. If Fleming can have a solid start to the year, he can gain the trust of new play caller Brian Hartline and the new quarterback and ride that momentum the rest of the season.
Continue reading...
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
With Harrison Jr. and Egbuka taking the attention, can Julian Fleming break out this season?
While all eyes will be on Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka this season, there is another receiver for the Buckeyes that can make some noise nationally: Julian Fleming.
Fleming is a name Ohio State fans were excited about when he got to Columbus along with Jaxon Smith-Njigba. However, he has been hampered by multiple injuries throughout his career and, with these injuries, saw other Ohio State receivers replace him on the depth chart.
It was a while ago, but it is hard to believe where Fleming landed on the recruiting pages coming into Ohio State. Of all the talented and NFL-ready receivers that have come through Columbus over the past five years, Fleming was the highest-rated out of all of them.
The 6-foot-2, 200 pound receiver from Southern Columbia High School in Catawissa, Pennsylvania, held a perfect 100 rating and was a five-star prospect. He was the No. 4 overall player in the 2020 class, the No. 1 receiver, and the No. 1 player in the state of Pennsylvania.
In the 2020 class, the only players ranked higher than Fleming were Quarterbacks Bryce Young and DJ Uiagalelei and Defensive End Bryan Bresee.
Also, there were four Ohio State players ranked in the top 30 in the 2020 class, according to 247Sports. Fleming was No. 4, Paris Johnson Jr. was No. 8, Jaxon Smith-Njigba was No. 15, and CJ Stroud was No. 29. Johnson Jr., Smith-Njigba, and Stroud were all first-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
This is what the recruiting experts were saying about Fleming when he came to Columbus.
“A terrific combination of size, strength, and leaping ability,” 247 Sports Director of Football Recruiting Steve Wiltfong said at the time of Fleming’s recruitment. “Easily separates. His speed and physicality make him elite after the catch, and ball skills are exceptional. A game-changer on special teams as well with another gear once he sees the seam or daylight to the end zone. A difference-maker in the red zone. There may be a few receivers faster, but nobody nationally with the tool bag Fleming has at the position. Also, a standout basketball player, a scoring machine playing above the rim who also dominates on the glass. An elite long jumper in track. An instant impact player and projected future first-round draft pick.”
The comparison Wiltfong gave was Julio Jones.
Obviously, the main cause for concern is health, but also, with Harrison Jr. and Egbuka returning as arguably the top two receivers in football and Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss stepping onto campus seemingly ready to play day one, Fleming could live in an interesting middle ground that hurts his opportunities.
However, he is a more proven entity than any freshman, so he will come in as one of the top three receivers on the team and will have his chances early on in the season. Whether it is Kyle McCord or Devin Brown that is ultimately the starting quarterback, Fleming will likely be a large part of the offensive plan as a trustworthy weapon as the new quarterback gets settled in.
In his three seasons thus far, Fleming has a total of 53 catches for 693 yards and seven touchdowns. He averages 13.1 yards per catch. His best season was by far last year, where he recorded 34 catches for 533 yards and six touchdowns. He started off the season strong but slowed down and struggled a little bit towards the end of the season.
The Buckeyes have another explosive offense with many mouths to feed. Not only do they have six receivers who could play Week 1, they also have five running backs and two tight ends, so Fleming will have to show early that he is still the talent they expected him to be when he is healthy.
I do think there is logic behind the idea that Fleming could see more opportunities because teams are going to have to work so hard taking Harrison Jr. and Egbuka out of the game plan. And he has already shown that when given the chance he can make big time plays. He has a unique combination of speed, athleticism and strength that makes him incredibly dangerous, no matter where he lines up on the line of scrimmage.
The first few games will be important. They will blow out everyone up to the Notre Dame game and blowouts mean padded stats. If Fleming can have a solid start to the year, he can gain the trust of new play caller Brian Hartline and the new quarterback and ride that momentum the rest of the season.
Continue reading...
LGHL Which Pac-12 program would be the best addition for Big Ten men’s basketball?
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Which Pac-12 program would be the best addition for Big Ten men’s basketball?
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Not USC or UCLA, for obvious reasons.
We are living in a world of expansion. Conference expansion and realignment are all the rage right now. USC and UCLA are soon joining the Big Ten, making for some interesting road games for Maryland and Rutgers.
So, we are going to talk about which team we think would be the most interesting or fun to join the Big Ten from the “conference of champions” (Bill Walton cannot be chosen, but he is the answer). Obviously, this discussion does not include USC or UCLA since they are already locked in to join.
Last week, we did the Ohio State Athletics Department a favor and told them how they could fix the game day atmosphere at the Schottenstein Center, “AKA The Schott.” Connor said to extend the student section around the court similar to the Izzone, and Justin said to simply schedule better non-conference home games.
86 percent of the audience agreed with Connor, and 14 percent agreed with Justin, so Connor won in a nail-biter.
Here are the updated standings:
Connor- 48
And here is the prompt for this week.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24829443/usa_today_20186597.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Pac-12 Conference Tournament Quarterfinals - Arizona vs Stanford")
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
As a stark opponent of conference re-alignment, my actual preference would be to send USC, UCLA, and any other non-midwestern school right back to the land from which they came. Conferences in college sports were meant to organize and pit regionally-relevant schools against each other. Now in 2023, we’ve gotten to a point where USC could take on Ohio State on a Tuesday night in the Big Ten and Creighton (located in Nebraska) could face St. John’s the following night.
But I’ll hop off the old man soapbox for a minute. Here’s why Stanford would be the best addition to the Big Ten out of the schools still remaining in the PAC-12 — they’re bad.
The Big Ten is already a brutal conference that’s miserably difficult to win outright. Ohio State’s last title came in 2012, and by adding to the Big Ten, it’s only going to get more difficult. The two teams that defected from the PAC-12 recently — USC and UCLA — not only have respectable football programs, but they also have better-than-average basketball programs.
USC has consistently been making the NCAA Tournament for the last several years, and with the implementation of NIL, its recruiting has improved drastically. UCLA is one of the historic blue blood programs in the country and made a Final Four as recently as 2021.
The Buckeyes haven’t won a league title in over a decade, and it got a lot harder by adding those two PAC-12 programs. To counter this, why not add a program that fits the Big Ten mold academically while also becoming the next candidate to be a conference doormat?
Jerrod Haase has gone 112-109 in his seven seasons leading the Stanford men’s basketball season, including a 14-19 record last season. Stanford has not made the NCAA Tournament in his seven seasons, although they had a good chance to make it in 2020 when they won 20 games, and then the postseason was canceled due to a global pandemic.
If he was at a more prestigious program where expectations were a bit higher, Haase probably wouldn’t have a job now. But even in the PAC-12, Stanford is annually predicted to be one of the bottom teams. Adding the Cardinal to the Big Ten would keep the stuffy, midwestern academic vibe consistent, and also wouldn’t (shouldn’t) make things harder on the Buckeyes to win the league title, as a team that is in a slightly better spot than Stanford right now.
I guess if we’re being forced to add a team, I vote for adding a team that would impact Ohio State the least, while also blending in with Northwestern and the Purdue’s of the world, academics-wise.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24829371/usa_today_20173779.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Pac-12 Conference Tournament First Round - Washington vs Colorado")
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
At this point, I am just rooting for chaos. Outside of USC and UCLA, there really isn’t any team, in my opinion, that really makes true waves. Arizona and Oregon are probably the best in terms of programs and talent, but they aren’t as fun or chaotic as Washington.
Washington has had some great players over the past decade. Markelle Fultz, Dejounte Murray and Matisse Thybulle have made it to the NBA and have had longevity in their careers there. So that would be fun to add that talent. Plus, if we are going to make Rutgers and Maryland travel to the West Coast, might as well add Washington to the list.
In addition, think about some of the uniform matchups. Washington’s uniforms are pretty cool and a nice contrast to those of Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State, amongst others.
Washington also lives in the happy medium that sometimes they are good, and sometimes they really aren't. So they wouldn't come to the Big Ten and be a powerhouse the whole time or a doormat, which I feel makes them a good addition.
Plus, Huskies.
Continue reading...
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Not USC or UCLA, for obvious reasons.
We are living in a world of expansion. Conference expansion and realignment are all the rage right now. USC and UCLA are soon joining the Big Ten, making for some interesting road games for Maryland and Rutgers.
So, we are going to talk about which team we think would be the most interesting or fun to join the Big Ten from the “conference of champions” (Bill Walton cannot be chosen, but he is the answer). Obviously, this discussion does not include USC or UCLA since they are already locked in to join.
Last week, we did the Ohio State Athletics Department a favor and told them how they could fix the game day atmosphere at the Schottenstein Center, “AKA The Schott.” Connor said to extend the student section around the court similar to the Izzone, and Justin said to simply schedule better non-conference home games.
86 percent of the audience agreed with Connor, and 14 percent agreed with Justin, so Connor won in a nail-biter.
Here are the updated standings:
After 111 weeks:
Connor- 48
Justin- 47
Other- 12
(There have been four ties)
And here is the prompt for this week.
Today’s Question: Which Pac-12 program would be the best addition for B1G men’s basketball?
Connor: Stanford
As a stark opponent of conference re-alignment, my actual preference would be to send USC, UCLA, and any other non-midwestern school right back to the land from which they came. Conferences in college sports were meant to organize and pit regionally-relevant schools against each other. Now in 2023, we’ve gotten to a point where USC could take on Ohio State on a Tuesday night in the Big Ten and Creighton (located in Nebraska) could face St. John’s the following night.
But I’ll hop off the old man soapbox for a minute. Here’s why Stanford would be the best addition to the Big Ten out of the schools still remaining in the PAC-12 — they’re bad.
The Big Ten is already a brutal conference that’s miserably difficult to win outright. Ohio State’s last title came in 2012, and by adding to the Big Ten, it’s only going to get more difficult. The two teams that defected from the PAC-12 recently — USC and UCLA — not only have respectable football programs, but they also have better-than-average basketball programs.
USC has consistently been making the NCAA Tournament for the last several years, and with the implementation of NIL, its recruiting has improved drastically. UCLA is one of the historic blue blood programs in the country and made a Final Four as recently as 2021.
The Buckeyes haven’t won a league title in over a decade, and it got a lot harder by adding those two PAC-12 programs. To counter this, why not add a program that fits the Big Ten mold academically while also becoming the next candidate to be a conference doormat?
Jerrod Haase has gone 112-109 in his seven seasons leading the Stanford men’s basketball season, including a 14-19 record last season. Stanford has not made the NCAA Tournament in his seven seasons, although they had a good chance to make it in 2020 when they won 20 games, and then the postseason was canceled due to a global pandemic.
If he was at a more prestigious program where expectations were a bit higher, Haase probably wouldn’t have a job now. But even in the PAC-12, Stanford is annually predicted to be one of the bottom teams. Adding the Cardinal to the Big Ten would keep the stuffy, midwestern academic vibe consistent, and also wouldn’t (shouldn’t) make things harder on the Buckeyes to win the league title, as a team that is in a slightly better spot than Stanford right now.
I guess if we’re being forced to add a team, I vote for adding a team that would impact Ohio State the least, while also blending in with Northwestern and the Purdue’s of the world, academics-wise.
Justin: Washington
At this point, I am just rooting for chaos. Outside of USC and UCLA, there really isn’t any team, in my opinion, that really makes true waves. Arizona and Oregon are probably the best in terms of programs and talent, but they aren’t as fun or chaotic as Washington.
Washington has had some great players over the past decade. Markelle Fultz, Dejounte Murray and Matisse Thybulle have made it to the NBA and have had longevity in their careers there. So that would be fun to add that talent. Plus, if we are going to make Rutgers and Maryland travel to the West Coast, might as well add Washington to the list.
In addition, think about some of the uniform matchups. Washington’s uniforms are pretty cool and a nice contrast to those of Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State, amongst others.
Washington also lives in the happy medium that sometimes they are good, and sometimes they really aren't. So they wouldn't come to the Big Ten and be a powerhouse the whole time or a doormat, which I feel makes them a good addition.
Plus, Huskies.
Continue reading...
LGHL Looking back at the 2020 Ohio State recruiting class: The Departures
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Looking back at the 2020 Ohio State recruiting class: The Departures
CMinnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joshua A. Bickel/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Part one of this series is focused on the players who transferred from Ohio State.
On Dec. 18, 2019, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day welcomed in a new recruiting class that would eventually number 25 players. Even though Day was involved in the 2019 recruiting class, this class was truly a result of the efforts of his staff and himself, as this cycle was also impacted by the retirement of Urban Meyer. At the press conference to announce the 24 players who signed (Cameron Martinez eventually signed on Feb. 5; Martinez will be mentioned more in part three of this series), Ryan Day stated,
My personal history when it comes to analyzing Ohio State recruiting classes goes back to 2005, when the new Buckeyes included the likes of James Laurinaitis, Brian Hartline, and Malcolm Jenkins. That class was relatively small at just 18 players and was not highly regarded by recruiting analysts, but the coaching staff only lost three from that class due to transfer or academic issues, resulting in 15 who either started or contributed to Ohio State during their careers. This 83 percent success rate is an exceptional result in the unofficial “Rule of Thirds” concept that is applied to recruiting classes.
“The Rule of Thirds” is pretty simple — within any class, there will be approximately a third who will develop into starters as the coaching staff hoped and recruited, a third will be contributors in some fashion, and a third will not work out, leaving due to transfer, injuries. or possibly disciplinary reasons.
Part one of this series will look at the few players who eventually left the Ohio State program. I will address each player, why they left, and where they are currently in order of when that particular player verbally committed to the Buckeyes.
Hailing from Scottsdale, Arizona, Miller was among the first players to verbally commit to Ohio State back in July of 2018. Miller played sparingly in the abbreviated 2020 season and 2021, before he decided to transfer to Florida. Miller started at quarterback in the 2022 Las Vegas Bowl, completing 13 passes on 22 attempts for 180 yards versus Oregon State. Miller is competing for the starting quarterback position this season.
2. Lejond Cavazos — Cornerback
A native of San Antonio, Texas, Cavazos redshirted in 2020, and was in the defensive back rotation during the 2021 season. Cavazos played in 11 games in 2021 and tallied eight tackles and two pass breakups as a redshirt freshman. Cavazos transferred to North Carolina in 2022, and started the last three games for the Tar Heels.
3. Jake Siebert — Kicker
A Cincinnati native, Seibert was 16-of-16 on extra point attempts across three games in 2020, and made a 23-yard field goal in the national championship game against Alabama. After a lackluster performance in the 2021 Ohio State Spring Game, the Buckeyes brought in Noah Ruggles to handle the placekicking, and Seibert did not see any game action in 2021 or 2022. Seibert transferred to Northern Illinois after the 2023 spring game.
4. Grant Toutant — Offensive Tackle
An offensive lineman from Warren, Michigan, Toutant redshirted in 2020, and played sparingly in 2021 and 2022. Toutant was recently announced by Ryan Day as having to medically retire from the program.
5. Darrion Henry-Young — Defensive Line
A defensive lineman from Cincinnati Princeton, Henry-Young redshirted in 2020, and was able to get two tackles, a sack and a tackle for loss in the two games that he played. In 2021, Henry-Young played in two games, but did not make any defensive statistics. After the 2021 season, Henry-Young transferred to Kentucky. In 2022, Henry-Young played in five games for the Wildcats.
6. Mookie Cooper — Wide Receiver
Cooper redshirted in 2020, and was among the first to leave the program at the end of the 2020 season. Transferring back home to Missouri, Cooper has caught 42 passes for 477 yards and a touchdown over the last two seasons.
7. Jacolbe Cowan — Defensive Line
Cowan redshirted in 2020, and played in five games in the 2021 season, credited with three tackles. After Ohio State finished their spring practices in 2022, Cowan transferred back home to North Carolina, where he played in 12 games and was credited with six tackles and a sack.
8. Ryan Watts — Cornerback
Watts played in seven games for the Buckeyes in 2020, and was credited with four tackles. In 2021, Watts played in 12 games, and even started the season opener at Minnesota. Watts transferred back home to Texas after the 2021 season, and is a starter for the Longhorns. Watts was an Honorable Mention All-Big 12 selection by the Big 12 coaches after the 2022 season.
Out of 25 players signed, eight left the program, or 32%. Very close to the “Rule Of Thirds” when evaluating recruiting classes. In part two of the series, we will look at the players who have emerged as contributors to the program.
Continue reading...
CMinnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joshua A. Bickel/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Part one of this series is focused on the players who transferred from Ohio State.
On Dec. 18, 2019, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day welcomed in a new recruiting class that would eventually number 25 players. Even though Day was involved in the 2019 recruiting class, this class was truly a result of the efforts of his staff and himself, as this cycle was also impacted by the retirement of Urban Meyer. At the press conference to announce the 24 players who signed (Cameron Martinez eventually signed on Feb. 5; Martinez will be mentioned more in part three of this series), Ryan Day stated,
My personal history when it comes to analyzing Ohio State recruiting classes goes back to 2005, when the new Buckeyes included the likes of James Laurinaitis, Brian Hartline, and Malcolm Jenkins. That class was relatively small at just 18 players and was not highly regarded by recruiting analysts, but the coaching staff only lost three from that class due to transfer or academic issues, resulting in 15 who either started or contributed to Ohio State during their careers. This 83 percent success rate is an exceptional result in the unofficial “Rule of Thirds” concept that is applied to recruiting classes.
“The Rule of Thirds” is pretty simple — within any class, there will be approximately a third who will develop into starters as the coaching staff hoped and recruited, a third will be contributors in some fashion, and a third will not work out, leaving due to transfer, injuries. or possibly disciplinary reasons.
Part one of this series will look at the few players who eventually left the Ohio State program. I will address each player, why they left, and where they are currently in order of when that particular player verbally committed to the Buckeyes.
- Jack Miller — Quarterback
Hailing from Scottsdale, Arizona, Miller was among the first players to verbally commit to Ohio State back in July of 2018. Miller played sparingly in the abbreviated 2020 season and 2021, before he decided to transfer to Florida. Miller started at quarterback in the 2022 Las Vegas Bowl, completing 13 passes on 22 attempts for 180 yards versus Oregon State. Miller is competing for the starting quarterback position this season.
2. Lejond Cavazos — Cornerback
A native of San Antonio, Texas, Cavazos redshirted in 2020, and was in the defensive back rotation during the 2021 season. Cavazos played in 11 games in 2021 and tallied eight tackles and two pass breakups as a redshirt freshman. Cavazos transferred to North Carolina in 2022, and started the last three games for the Tar Heels.
3. Jake Siebert — Kicker
A Cincinnati native, Seibert was 16-of-16 on extra point attempts across three games in 2020, and made a 23-yard field goal in the national championship game against Alabama. After a lackluster performance in the 2021 Ohio State Spring Game, the Buckeyes brought in Noah Ruggles to handle the placekicking, and Seibert did not see any game action in 2021 or 2022. Seibert transferred to Northern Illinois after the 2023 spring game.
4. Grant Toutant — Offensive Tackle
An offensive lineman from Warren, Michigan, Toutant redshirted in 2020, and played sparingly in 2021 and 2022. Toutant was recently announced by Ryan Day as having to medically retire from the program.
5. Darrion Henry-Young — Defensive Line
A defensive lineman from Cincinnati Princeton, Henry-Young redshirted in 2020, and was able to get two tackles, a sack and a tackle for loss in the two games that he played. In 2021, Henry-Young played in two games, but did not make any defensive statistics. After the 2021 season, Henry-Young transferred to Kentucky. In 2022, Henry-Young played in five games for the Wildcats.
6. Mookie Cooper — Wide Receiver
Cooper redshirted in 2020, and was among the first to leave the program at the end of the 2020 season. Transferring back home to Missouri, Cooper has caught 42 passes for 477 yards and a touchdown over the last two seasons.
7. Jacolbe Cowan — Defensive Line
Cowan redshirted in 2020, and played in five games in the 2021 season, credited with three tackles. After Ohio State finished their spring practices in 2022, Cowan transferred back home to North Carolina, where he played in 12 games and was credited with six tackles and a sack.
8. Ryan Watts — Cornerback
Watts played in seven games for the Buckeyes in 2020, and was credited with four tackles. In 2021, Watts played in 12 games, and even started the season opener at Minnesota. Watts transferred back home to Texas after the 2021 season, and is a starter for the Longhorns. Watts was an Honorable Mention All-Big 12 selection by the Big 12 coaches after the 2022 season.
Out of 25 players signed, eight left the program, or 32%. Very close to the “Rule Of Thirds” when evaluating recruiting classes. In part two of the series, we will look at the players who have emerged as contributors to the program.
Continue reading...
LGHL Buckeyes in the NFL: 2023 Fantasy Football Preview — Chris Olave
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- 0 Replies
Buckeyes in the NFL: 2023 Fantasy Football Preview — Chris Olave
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Olave hit the ground running and put NFL defenses on notice as a rookie. Now in Year 2, he will be looking to establish himself as a WR1 in both real-life and fantasy.
When the New Orleans Saints traded up in the 2022 NFL Draft to select Chris Olave, there were plenty of ‘experts’ who questioned the move. Those same experts cited cost (to trade), other needs on the roster, and even Olave’s perceived skill/talent/upside as reasons not to move up and burn additional draft assets on a player who finished third on his college team in both receptions and receiving yards as a senior (their words, not mine).
And while this former Buckeye certainly did not change the direction of the Saints’ franchise in one year, he was able to make the NFL transition look easy and establish himself as the team’s No. 1 pass catcher. Not bad for a rookie.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24780525/1245403337.jpg)
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
While Olave’s real-life draft value can and likely will be debated for years to come, there is no questioning the fact that he made (and currently does make) New Orleans a better team. He quickly developed into their most reliable playmaker, and by the end of his rookie campaign, was the only consistent performer on an otherwise putrid offense. And I do mean putrid.
Because the Saints’ second-leading rusher last season was Taysom Hill, a former college quarterback who is currently listed as a tight end. Their second-leading receiver (yardage) was Juwan Johnson, a former college wide receiver who is currently listed as... a tight end! This team essentially just rolled out 11 guys who claimed to have experience somewhere on offense and hoped for the best. But Olave was the lone bright spot. And now he will need to be prioritized. Featured. Force fed, even.
New Orleans was also missing Michael Thomas for most of the 2022 season, a player who would have acted as an on-field mentor to Olave. The two share more than a few things in common – high school in California, played at Ohio State, drafted by the Saints, etc. – so if the former is finally healthy, I would expect the latter to get even more help and advice from his older Buckeye brethren.
However, Thomas is not the only other Buckeye in New Orleans. The two receivers are joined by Marshon Lattimore, Bradley Roby, Nick Vannett, Pete Werner, and Jerron Cage, creating Ohio State South or the OSU Louisiana campus. With the added benefit of extreme familiarity, Olave should feel more comfortable than most as he grows into a starring role. Speaking of, let’s talk fantasy football.
Even in a below-average NFL offense, Olave will still be required to earn and fight for touches in 2023. Because in addition to Thomas at WR and the versatile duo of Hill and Johnson at TE, New Orleans also has one of the best dual-threat running backs in the NFL. Prior to 2021, Alvin Kamara averaged 80+ receptions per season out of the backfield. His production has dipped considerably since, but he is still just 28 years old. And new Saints QB Derek Carr will check down if necessary.
If Kamara (who is also facing a possible suspension) falls off in a major way, New Orleans has plenty of backfield reinforcements. Jamaal Williams was signed to form a ‘thunder and lightning’ duo with Kamara, but is more than capable of shouldering an entire load. All he did last season was score 17 TD, good for second in the entire league. Rookie RB Kendre Miller should also be involved, fresh off a college career that saw him rush for 2,410 yards and 26 TD on only 361 carries.
Why then, with added competition, do I expect Olave to be even more productive in 2023? And become a potential top-10 WR, in both real life and fantasy football? Well, I could probably give you a dozen reasons. But other than the fact that I am an Ohio State homer, let’s just go over a few.
First and foremost, Thomas and Kamara are likely on the back nine of their respective primes, if not completely past it/them. Those two, along with retired QB Drew Brees, used to be the engine that made this Saints offense go. But Thomas might be a shell of his former self after three straight seasons marred by injury. He has barely played since setting multiple NFL receiving records in 2019.
And Kamara, forced to do much of the heavy lifting in Thomas and Brees’ absence(s), has taken a beating as the focal point of opposing defenses. He also faces potential discipline from the league for an off-field incident that occurred way back in 2021. Olave was brought in to supplement Thomas and Kamara, but has already sped right past them to become the top skill guy in New Orleans.
So the Saints do have other weapons besides Olave. But those weapons are not nearly as potent as they once were. Additionally, the QB play is not what it once was. Some might like the theoretical upside of Carr, but he is not Drew Brees. He is, however, an upgrade over Jameis Winston and/or Andy Dalton, the QBs who were throwing to Olave last season. Say what you will about Carr’s game, but we’re talking about a four-time Pro Bowler with over 35,000 career passing yards.
That ain’t nothin’, if you know what I mean. Olave should benefit from playing with a guy who has not been passed around the league like a hot potato.
As for the all-time receiving TD leader at Ohio State, he boasts all the tools necessary to become an elite NFL wideout, in both real life and fantasy football. Olave had arguably the best footwork and separation skills of any receiver in the 2021 draft, and those skills absolutely translated to the next level. He was able to create space consistently as a rookie, despite being the focus of opposing defenses.
Olave also showed off high-end NFL speed, which was unfortunately negated by Dalton’s inability to throw deep (28.2 deep ball completion percentage). And while drops are bound to happen with any wideout, the former Buckeye kept them to a minimum in 2022.
According to several metrics, Olave was a top-15 player at his position as a rookie, but he ranked just 64th out of 97 qualified WRs in passer rating on balls thrown his way. This is a fancy way of saying that he performed like a borderline elite WR but was saddled with poor QB play. And he still finished with over 1,000 yards (!), becoming 1 of only 11 rookie WRs to do so since 2011. While he did not find the end zone very often, Olave’s four TD should be considered an anomaly for the volume he saw, leaving plenty of room for positive (TD) regression in 2023.
Olave’s current ADP is right around No. 30, and he is projected as a top-15, top-20 player at his position. That ADP sounds right to me, but I think his value takes a bit of a hit in PPR formats. However, an increase in TD should make up for any volume lost to teammates. So if the Saints’ primary weapon is available in the third round, I would still suggest pouncing on him before it’s too late. Olave is bound to find the endzone more often, and his efficiency should improve with better QB play.
If he simply matches last year’s target volume, he will finish as a strong WR1. Pick up the OSU record-breaker with confidence, and watch what he and his fellow Buckeyes can do in The Big Easy.
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Olave hit the ground running and put NFL defenses on notice as a rookie. Now in Year 2, he will be looking to establish himself as a WR1 in both real-life and fantasy.
When the New Orleans Saints traded up in the 2022 NFL Draft to select Chris Olave, there were plenty of ‘experts’ who questioned the move. Those same experts cited cost (to trade), other needs on the roster, and even Olave’s perceived skill/talent/upside as reasons not to move up and burn additional draft assets on a player who finished third on his college team in both receptions and receiving yards as a senior (their words, not mine).
And while this former Buckeye certainly did not change the direction of the Saints’ franchise in one year, he was able to make the NFL transition look easy and establish himself as the team’s No. 1 pass catcher. Not bad for a rookie.
While Olave’s real-life draft value can and likely will be debated for years to come, there is no questioning the fact that he made (and currently does make) New Orleans a better team. He quickly developed into their most reliable playmaker, and by the end of his rookie campaign, was the only consistent performer on an otherwise putrid offense. And I do mean putrid.
Because the Saints’ second-leading rusher last season was Taysom Hill, a former college quarterback who is currently listed as a tight end. Their second-leading receiver (yardage) was Juwan Johnson, a former college wide receiver who is currently listed as... a tight end! This team essentially just rolled out 11 guys who claimed to have experience somewhere on offense and hoped for the best. But Olave was the lone bright spot. And now he will need to be prioritized. Featured. Force fed, even.
New Orleans was also missing Michael Thomas for most of the 2022 season, a player who would have acted as an on-field mentor to Olave. The two share more than a few things in common – high school in California, played at Ohio State, drafted by the Saints, etc. – so if the former is finally healthy, I would expect the latter to get even more help and advice from his older Buckeye brethren.
However, Thomas is not the only other Buckeye in New Orleans. The two receivers are joined by Marshon Lattimore, Bradley Roby, Nick Vannett, Pete Werner, and Jerron Cage, creating Ohio State South or the OSU Louisiana campus. With the added benefit of extreme familiarity, Olave should feel more comfortable than most as he grows into a starring role. Speaking of, let’s talk fantasy football.
Even in a below-average NFL offense, Olave will still be required to earn and fight for touches in 2023. Because in addition to Thomas at WR and the versatile duo of Hill and Johnson at TE, New Orleans also has one of the best dual-threat running backs in the NFL. Prior to 2021, Alvin Kamara averaged 80+ receptions per season out of the backfield. His production has dipped considerably since, but he is still just 28 years old. And new Saints QB Derek Carr will check down if necessary.
If Kamara (who is also facing a possible suspension) falls off in a major way, New Orleans has plenty of backfield reinforcements. Jamaal Williams was signed to form a ‘thunder and lightning’ duo with Kamara, but is more than capable of shouldering an entire load. All he did last season was score 17 TD, good for second in the entire league. Rookie RB Kendre Miller should also be involved, fresh off a college career that saw him rush for 2,410 yards and 26 TD on only 361 carries.
Why then, with added competition, do I expect Olave to be even more productive in 2023? And become a potential top-10 WR, in both real life and fantasy football? Well, I could probably give you a dozen reasons. But other than the fact that I am an Ohio State homer, let’s just go over a few.
First and foremost, Thomas and Kamara are likely on the back nine of their respective primes, if not completely past it/them. Those two, along with retired QB Drew Brees, used to be the engine that made this Saints offense go. But Thomas might be a shell of his former self after three straight seasons marred by injury. He has barely played since setting multiple NFL receiving records in 2019.
And Kamara, forced to do much of the heavy lifting in Thomas and Brees’ absence(s), has taken a beating as the focal point of opposing defenses. He also faces potential discipline from the league for an off-field incident that occurred way back in 2021. Olave was brought in to supplement Thomas and Kamara, but has already sped right past them to become the top skill guy in New Orleans.
So the Saints do have other weapons besides Olave. But those weapons are not nearly as potent as they once were. Additionally, the QB play is not what it once was. Some might like the theoretical upside of Carr, but he is not Drew Brees. He is, however, an upgrade over Jameis Winston and/or Andy Dalton, the QBs who were throwing to Olave last season. Say what you will about Carr’s game, but we’re talking about a four-time Pro Bowler with over 35,000 career passing yards.
That ain’t nothin’, if you know what I mean. Olave should benefit from playing with a guy who has not been passed around the league like a hot potato.
As for the all-time receiving TD leader at Ohio State, he boasts all the tools necessary to become an elite NFL wideout, in both real life and fantasy football. Olave had arguably the best footwork and separation skills of any receiver in the 2021 draft, and those skills absolutely translated to the next level. He was able to create space consistently as a rookie, despite being the focus of opposing defenses.
Olave also showed off high-end NFL speed, which was unfortunately negated by Dalton’s inability to throw deep (28.2 deep ball completion percentage). And while drops are bound to happen with any wideout, the former Buckeye kept them to a minimum in 2022.
According to several metrics, Olave was a top-15 player at his position as a rookie, but he ranked just 64th out of 97 qualified WRs in passer rating on balls thrown his way. This is a fancy way of saying that he performed like a borderline elite WR but was saddled with poor QB play. And he still finished with over 1,000 yards (!), becoming 1 of only 11 rookie WRs to do so since 2011. While he did not find the end zone very often, Olave’s four TD should be considered an anomaly for the volume he saw, leaving plenty of room for positive (TD) regression in 2023.
Olave’s current ADP is right around No. 30, and he is projected as a top-15, top-20 player at his position. That ADP sounds right to me, but I think his value takes a bit of a hit in PPR formats. However, an increase in TD should make up for any volume lost to teammates. So if the Saints’ primary weapon is available in the third round, I would still suggest pouncing on him before it’s too late. Olave is bound to find the endzone more often, and his efficiency should improve with better QB play.
If he simply matches last year’s target volume, he will finish as a strong WR1. Pick up the OSU record-breaker with confidence, and watch what he and his fellow Buckeyes can do in The Big Easy.
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