2027 OH ATH Brayton Feister
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 58 Replies
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LGHL Ohio State golfers Neal Shipley and Maxwell Moldovan tee it up at the 124th U.S. Open
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Ohio State golfers Neal Shipley and Maxwell Moldovan tee it up at the 124th U.S. Open
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
The Buckeyes will be looking to try and solve Pinehurst, No. 2 course this week.
The 124th U.S. Open kicks off on Thursday, and two Buckeyes will be part of the field at Pinehurst, No. 2 in North Carolina.
Maxwell Moldovan and Neal Shipley will be looking to win the annual open national championship of golf in the United States. The total prize fund for this year’s U.S. Open will be $21.5 million, with $4.3 million going to the winner of this year’s event.
This is the third of golf’s four major championships. Scottie Scheffler won the Masters back in April in Georgia, followed by Xander Schauffele notching his first major victory last month at the PGA Championship in Louisville.
Shipley’s spot in the field was sewn up a long time ago when he finished second in the 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship, falling to Alabama’s Nick Dunlap 4 & 3 in the final. This will be the second major championship of the year for Shipley, who finished as the low amateur at the Masters. Shipley played the final round of the tournament with Tiger Woods.
The Buckeye shot a 73 on Sunday, finishing his round four shots better than the legendary golfer.
Even though Shipley has exhausted his college eligibility and will start playing next week on the North American Swing of PGA Tour Americas, he will have to compete in the U.S. Open as an amateur, which is a requirement since he earned his spot in the field because of his finish in the 2023 U.S. Amateur.
Joining Shipley on the PGA’s third-tier tour will be Moldovan and former Buckeye Caleb Ramirez. The North American Swing of PGA Tour Americas will provide golfers opportunities to qualify for the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Q-School.
The other Buckeye teeing it up at this year’s U.S. Open is Maxwell Moldovan, who will be making his third appearance in the major. After missing the cut in 2022 at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, Moldovan was an alternate in last year’s field and made the most of his opportunity, finishing in 65th place at the Los Angeles Country Club. It’s a bit of deja vu for Moldovan this year, as he was an alternate following qualifying before learning he would be included in this year’s field.
It has been a busy last few weeks for Moldovan. After Ohio State made a run to the NCAA Championship semifinals at the end of May, Moldovan was a player marker for the first two rounds of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club on Thursday and Friday. Because the tournament had an odd number of players in the field, Moldovan played with Davis Thompson in the first two rounds.
Following his duties at the Memorial, Moldovan went to Springfield, Ohio for the U.S. Open qualifier, where he narrowly missed out on earning his spot before making the field as an alternate.
Shipley will be paired with Nico Echavarria and Robert Rock, with the trio teeing off at the first hole at 8:24 a.m. ET on Thursday, followed by a 2:09 p.m. tee time at the 10th hole on Friday. Moldovan will tee off at the first hole with Taisei Shimizu and amateur Gunnar Broin Thursday afternoon at 2:31 p.m. Their second round tee time at the 10th hole on Friday will be at 8:46 a.m. ET.
All the golfers in this week’s field will be looking to try and beat Scheffler, who is the hottest golfer on the planet right now. Not only did Scheffler win the Masters back in April, he is coming off a win at last week’s Memorial Tournament in Dublin, marking his fifth win of the season. The defending champion of the U.S. Open is Wyndham Clark, who earned his first major championship victory last year in Los Angeles.
This year’s U.S. Open will be played at Pinehurst, No.2 course, which is a Par 70. This marks the fourth time the tournament will be held at the Donald J. Ross designed course. Martin Kaymer won by eight strokes in 2014 over Erik Compton and Rickie Fowler, while Michael Campbell won in 2005 and the late Payne Stewart won his second U.S. Open in 1999.
While many U.S. Open courses are famous for their extremely difficult rough, Pinehurst will throw a challenge at players since many of their greens are crowned. Years ago, Johnny Miller said trying to land a shot on a green at Pinehurst is like, “trying to hit a ball on top of a VW Beetle”.
Coverage for Thursday’s first round can be found on USA and Peacock, followed by NBC and Peacock providing second round coverage on Friday. USA will open coverage on Saturday and Sunday morning before NBC has the conclusion of rounds three and four starting at noon.
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
The Buckeyes will be looking to try and solve Pinehurst, No. 2 course this week.
The 124th U.S. Open kicks off on Thursday, and two Buckeyes will be part of the field at Pinehurst, No. 2 in North Carolina.
Maxwell Moldovan and Neal Shipley will be looking to win the annual open national championship of golf in the United States. The total prize fund for this year’s U.S. Open will be $21.5 million, with $4.3 million going to the winner of this year’s event.
This is the third of golf’s four major championships. Scottie Scheffler won the Masters back in April in Georgia, followed by Xander Schauffele notching his first major victory last month at the PGA Championship in Louisville.
Shipley’s spot in the field was sewn up a long time ago when he finished second in the 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship, falling to Alabama’s Nick Dunlap 4 & 3 in the final. This will be the second major championship of the year for Shipley, who finished as the low amateur at the Masters. Shipley played the final round of the tournament with Tiger Woods.
The Buckeye shot a 73 on Sunday, finishing his round four shots better than the legendary golfer.
Even though Shipley has exhausted his college eligibility and will start playing next week on the North American Swing of PGA Tour Americas, he will have to compete in the U.S. Open as an amateur, which is a requirement since he earned his spot in the field because of his finish in the 2023 U.S. Amateur.
Joining Shipley on the PGA’s third-tier tour will be Moldovan and former Buckeye Caleb Ramirez. The North American Swing of PGA Tour Americas will provide golfers opportunities to qualify for the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Q-School.
The other Buckeye teeing it up at this year’s U.S. Open is Maxwell Moldovan, who will be making his third appearance in the major. After missing the cut in 2022 at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, Moldovan was an alternate in last year’s field and made the most of his opportunity, finishing in 65th place at the Los Angeles Country Club. It’s a bit of deja vu for Moldovan this year, as he was an alternate following qualifying before learning he would be included in this year’s field.
It has been a busy last few weeks for Moldovan. After Ohio State made a run to the NCAA Championship semifinals at the end of May, Moldovan was a player marker for the first two rounds of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club on Thursday and Friday. Because the tournament had an odd number of players in the field, Moldovan played with Davis Thompson in the first two rounds.
Following his duties at the Memorial, Moldovan went to Springfield, Ohio for the U.S. Open qualifier, where he narrowly missed out on earning his spot before making the field as an alternate.
Shipley will be paired with Nico Echavarria and Robert Rock, with the trio teeing off at the first hole at 8:24 a.m. ET on Thursday, followed by a 2:09 p.m. tee time at the 10th hole on Friday. Moldovan will tee off at the first hole with Taisei Shimizu and amateur Gunnar Broin Thursday afternoon at 2:31 p.m. Their second round tee time at the 10th hole on Friday will be at 8:46 a.m. ET.
All the golfers in this week’s field will be looking to try and beat Scheffler, who is the hottest golfer on the planet right now. Not only did Scheffler win the Masters back in April, he is coming off a win at last week’s Memorial Tournament in Dublin, marking his fifth win of the season. The defending champion of the U.S. Open is Wyndham Clark, who earned his first major championship victory last year in Los Angeles.
This year’s U.S. Open will be played at Pinehurst, No.2 course, which is a Par 70. This marks the fourth time the tournament will be held at the Donald J. Ross designed course. Martin Kaymer won by eight strokes in 2014 over Erik Compton and Rickie Fowler, while Michael Campbell won in 2005 and the late Payne Stewart won his second U.S. Open in 1999.
While many U.S. Open courses are famous for their extremely difficult rough, Pinehurst will throw a challenge at players since many of their greens are crowned. Years ago, Johnny Miller said trying to land a shot on a green at Pinehurst is like, “trying to hit a ball on top of a VW Beetle”.
Coverage for Thursday’s first round can be found on USA and Peacock, followed by NBC and Peacock providing second round coverage on Friday. USA will open coverage on Saturday and Sunday morning before NBC has the conclusion of rounds three and four starting at noon.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State offers four-star OT, set to host more recruits
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Ohio State offers four-star OT, set to host more recruits
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2026 four-star OT Keenyi Pepe via Andrew Ivins, 247Sports
Ohio State offered a top 100 OT in the 2026 class on Monday, and the Buckeyes will look to host even more recruits on campus this week.
Ohio State had a busy recruiting weekend. The Buckeyes played host to numerous recruits on official visits, and the work paid off as the team earned a commitment from 2025 four-star safety Faheem Delane. The commitment moved Ohio State ahead of Notre Dame into the top spot in the 247Sports Class Rankings, despite the Irish having seven more commitments than the Buckeyes.
Ryan Day and the Ohio State coaching staff will not rest on their laurels, and are set to welcome even more recruits this week. With the Buckeyes back as hosts this week, the coaching staff also hit the recruiting road and offered one of the top offensive tackles in the 2026 class.
Four-star OT Keenyi Pepe (Bradenton, FL / IMG Academy) took to X Monday afternoon to announce his Ohio State offer.
The 6-foot-7, 295-pound lineman has already impressed in camp cycles, which has not gone unnoticed. He is already regarded as one of the top prospects at his position, and he has the offer sheet to prove this. Pepe holds more than 30 offers from some of the nation’s top football programs including but not limited to Alabama, Auburn, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, USC, etc.
Pepe’s recruitment really took off in the spring, and the Buckeyes obviously have some strong competition. No school has yet to separate themselves from the pack, but after attending the Oregon spring game, the Ducks may be the early favorite. Regardless, the Buckeyes are getting involved early enough to become real contenders for Pepe.
Pepe is the No. 7 OT in the 247Sports Composite, and is the No. 45 overall prospect in the 2026 class. He is also the No. 5 recruit out of the talent-rich state of Florida.
As was previously mentioned, Ohio State is going to play host to even more recruits this week following a weekend which saw the Buckeyes’ coaching staff host numerous recruits on campus for official visits. While this week’s visitor list already includes multiple big-name recruits, even more will likely add their names by the end of the week.
Below are just some of the recruits who plan to make the trek to Columbus in the coming days:
Class: 2026
Class: 2026
Class: 2026
The Buckeyes had a very successful weekend hosting official and unofficial visits. Reactions from the weekend continued to roll through X on Monday. Below are just some of those reactions:
Continue reading...
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2026 four-star OT Keenyi Pepe via Andrew Ivins, 247Sports
Ohio State offered a top 100 OT in the 2026 class on Monday, and the Buckeyes will look to host even more recruits on campus this week.
Ohio State had a busy recruiting weekend. The Buckeyes played host to numerous recruits on official visits, and the work paid off as the team earned a commitment from 2025 four-star safety Faheem Delane. The commitment moved Ohio State ahead of Notre Dame into the top spot in the 247Sports Class Rankings, despite the Irish having seven more commitments than the Buckeyes.
Ryan Day and the Ohio State coaching staff will not rest on their laurels, and are set to welcome even more recruits this week. With the Buckeyes back as hosts this week, the coaching staff also hit the recruiting road and offered one of the top offensive tackles in the 2026 class.
Four-star OT Keenyi Pepe (Bradenton, FL / IMG Academy) took to X Monday afternoon to announce his Ohio State offer.
The 6-foot-7, 295-pound lineman has already impressed in camp cycles, which has not gone unnoticed. He is already regarded as one of the top prospects at his position, and he has the offer sheet to prove this. Pepe holds more than 30 offers from some of the nation’s top football programs including but not limited to Alabama, Auburn, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, USC, etc.
Pepe’s recruitment really took off in the spring, and the Buckeyes obviously have some strong competition. No school has yet to separate themselves from the pack, but after attending the Oregon spring game, the Ducks may be the early favorite. Regardless, the Buckeyes are getting involved early enough to become real contenders for Pepe.
Pepe is the No. 7 OT in the 247Sports Composite, and is the No. 45 overall prospect in the 2026 class. He is also the No. 5 recruit out of the talent-rich state of Florida.
Ohio State to host more recruits this week
As was previously mentioned, Ohio State is going to play host to even more recruits this week following a weekend which saw the Buckeyes’ coaching staff host numerous recruits on campus for official visits. While this week’s visitor list already includes multiple big-name recruits, even more will likely add their names by the end of the week.
Below are just some of the recruits who plan to make the trek to Columbus in the coming days:
Four-star WR Brody Keefe
Class: 2026
Hometown: Charlotte, NC / Myers Park
Size: 6-foot-3 / 185 pounds
O-H@brianhartline @ryandaytime @RyanMayhew_ @parkerwereb8 @N_Murph @myersparkfball @coachjames29 @mauriceharris03 @QBC_Charlotte @roepro_athletes pic.twitter.com/KCqqbl9ZTO
— Brody Keefe (@BrodyHKeefe) June 10, 2024
Three-star QB Brady Palmer
Class: 2026
Hometown: San Diego, CA / Cathedral Catholic
Size: 6-foot-3 / 195 pounds
OT Hunter Caudill
Class: 2026
Hometown: Grapevine, TX / Grapevine
Size: 6-foot-3 / 265 pounds
More reactions from last weekend
The Buckeyes had a very successful weekend hosting official and unofficial visits. Reactions from the weekend continued to roll through X on Monday. Below are just some of those reactions:
2025 four-star WR Quincy Porter
Thank you Ohio State for the awesome visit!!!@ryandaytime @brianhartline @bccoachvito @BCBROTHERHOOD @CoachJordan82 pic.twitter.com/7JVq0Lg9q6
— Quincy Porter (@QuincyPorter18) June 10, 2024
2025 three-star OT Andrew Stargel
I had a great time on my OV in Columbus ! @ryandaytime @CoachJFrye @CoachSollenne pic.twitter.com/Xqw2Q46jIU
— Andrew Stargel 3️ (@astargel34) June 10, 2024
2025 four-star ATH commit Cody Haddad
2026 four-star safety Simeon Caldwell
Had an awesome time at camp and visiting Ohio State this weekend!!!️#BIA pic.twitter.com/bm5YcuKBu3
— Simeon Caldwell (@Sim_C24) June 10, 2024
Continue reading...
2028 OH LB Brydon Feister
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 16 Replies
2026 TX OL Drew Evers (SMU Verbal)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 20 Replies
247
Rivals
Twitter
HudL
Class: 2026
Position: OT
School: Flower Mound(TX) Flower Mound
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 296lbs
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Rivals
HudL
Class: 2026
Position: OT
School: Flower Mound(TX) Flower Mound
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 296lbs
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2026 TX DL Jamarion Carlton (Baylor Verbal)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 2 Replies
247
Rivals
Twitter
HudL
Class: 2026
Position: DE
School: Temple(TX) Temple
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 230lbs
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Rivals
HudL
Class: 2026
Position: DE
School: Temple(TX) Temple
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 230lbs
Login to view embedded media
LGHL Michigan can’t stop stealing; Second Ohio State staffer heads up north
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Michigan can’t stop stealing; Second Ohio State staffer heads up north
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
X (formerly Twitter) @e_dunston
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 | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Ohio State Recruiting Staffer Erin Dunston Leaving for Michigan
Chase Brown, Eleven Warriors
Ohio State’s new hires paying off with big recruiting wins
Caleb Houser, Land-Grant Holy Land
Former Ohio State LB Steele Chambers signs with the New England Patriots
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Ohio State coach Jake Diebler confident Buckeyes have 3-point shooters
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Buckeyes to finish Texas A&M series, potentially start another home-and-home in 2024-25
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup Standings: Ohio State 7th; 1st Big Ten
Ohio State Athletics
Ohio State men’s, women’s hockey to play games at Wrigley Field, per report
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State Track & Field carries the spring sports season across the finish line
Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land
Christopher Reeve is, was, and always will be the right answer.
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
X (formerly Twitter) @e_dunston
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 | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On the Gridiron
Ohio State Recruiting Staffer Erin Dunston Leaving for Michigan
Chase Brown, Eleven Warriors
️ Ohio State’s new hires paying off with big recruiting wins
Caleb Houser, Land-Grant Holy Land
Former Ohio State LB Steele Chambers signs with the New England Patriots
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
On the Hardwood
Ohio State coach Jake Diebler confident Buckeyes have 3-point shooters
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Buckeyes to finish Texas A&M series, potentially start another home-and-home in 2024-25
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Outside the Shoe and Schott
LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup Standings: Ohio State 7th; 1st Big Ten
Ohio State Athletics
Ohio State men’s, women’s hockey to play games at Wrigley Field, per report
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State Track & Field carries the spring sports season across the finish line
Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land
And now for something completely different...
Christopher Reeve is, was, and always will be the right answer.
Continue reading...
LGHL What If: Nick Saban hadn’t retired following the 2023 season?
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What If: Nick Saban hadn’t retired following the 2023 season?
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Rob Schumacher / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State already benefitted immensely from the former Alabama coach’s retirement.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about our imagination. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our What If columns here.
On Jan. 10 of this year, just days removed from Alabama’s loss in the Rose Bowl to Michigan, longtime Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban surprised many by announcing his retirement. After 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa and 28 total as a college head coach, the living legend and GOAT decided to hang it up rather than witness(ing) the slow, painful death of the game he had grown to love and dominate.
Ok, so maybe he didn’t say the last part out loud, but it was certainly implied. And frankly, I couldn’t and wouldn’t have blamed him if he did point to the current state of the game as his primary reason for getting out.
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Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images
Regardless of why Saban walked away, the fact that he did set off a chain reaction of events or happenings that would and will shape CFB for at least the next few years. One of the many falling dominoes attributed to Saban’s exit was a mass exodus of Alabama players, led by star safety Caleb Downs and incoming freshman quarterback Julian Sayin, both of whom ended up at Ohio State. Joining them was center Seth McLaughlin, forming a trio of Bama players that accounted for half of OSU’s winter transfer portal additions.
Not surprisingly, said trio has acclimated quite well to Columbus. Downs is virtually guaranteed to start and star for the Scarlet and Gray, while McLaughlin is a safe bet to do the same, and Sayin has pockets of Buckeye Nation already referring to him as Ohio State’s next star quarterback. Whether or not the latter comes to fruition, who knows? However, one thing that has already been proven with certainty is that OSU benefitted immensely from Saban’s retirement.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25485155/2060765665.jpg)
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
But what if the GOAT had chosen to continue as head coach of the Crimson Tide? How different would Ryan Day’s team look, this year and beyond? What would the long-term impact have been on Ohio State, if any? Or what... What if Saban stuck around just long enough to beat Day and the Buckeyes in the 2024-25 national championship game!?
The obvious truth is that we will never know. But it sure is fun to speculate and/or wonder. Which is the point of this week’s LGHL theme: What If?
So with that being said, I thought that it would be both fun and interesting to run through the above Saban scenario(s) in my head. And then attempt to recap my fantastical findings coherently. Here’s what I came up with:
For starters, Ohio State would never have landed Downs and/or Sayin. It just wasn’t going to happen with Saban still at the crimson helm. And while this may not have been a huge blow to OSU’s QB situation in 2024, it most definitely would have had an adverse effect on the Buckeyes’ secondary.
Had Saban and Downs both remained in Tuscaloosa, Tim Walton and Matt Guerrieri might have ended up with a safety depth chart consisting of Lathan Ransom and “some guys”. And that’s no shot at Malik Hartford, Jayden Bonsu, (possibly) Ja’had Carter, or anybody else. It’s just that Ohio State’s other safeties are seriously lacking in the experience department.
Now who knows, maybe OSU could or would have ended up with Jardin Gilbert or Andrew Mukuba instead, the No. 2 and No. 3-ranked transfer safeties, respectively. But let’s be honest, those guys are a notch or two (or three) below Downs in terms of talent, potential, production, etc. The latter not only filled a position of need for the Buckeyes, but he also has three years of eligibility remaining, whereas Gilbert and Mukuba only have one or two each. I’ll have more on that later.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25485159/usa_today_22696186.jpg)
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
As for Saban’s retirement having an impact on Ohio State’s QB situation – in 2024 specifically – well... I guess I just don’t think there’s much of one (an impact). I certainly don’t wish to downplay Sayin’s talent or minimize his potential long-term impact in any way, but at the same time, I also don’t anticipate the latter leading the Buckeyes to a natty this season.
Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely, unequivocally, 100% believe that Sayin will eventually be a special college player. And I guess I wouldn’t be shocked if he supplants Will Howard as OSU’s starter at some point during the upcoming season. But earning a starting gig and becoming a difference maker or freshman Heisman Trophy contender are very different outcomes.
Even if Sayin were to be named Ryan Day’s starter at any point in 2024, I just don’t think that he (or Howard) will be the reason Ohio State wins. If the Buckeyes win – and win a lot – I believe that it will be because of the team’s defense, running game, playmakers, and coaching. This means that Saban’s decision to retire will likely have minimal impact on OSU’s QB situation. This year.
But in the slightly more distant future? Like 2025 and beyond? Well, now we’re talking about something completely different. Something beyond the impact and/or influence of Downs and Sayin. Because while Downs is already that good and Sayin that talented (and McLaughlin that experienced), those players are likely not determining championships on their own.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25485162/usa_today_22402814.jpg)
Doral Chenoweth/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Conversely, one individual who has seemingly determined championships on their own is Saban. I mean, he’s the GOAT for a reason, right? So if he had chosen to continue as Alabama’s head coach, he definitely would have kept Downs and Sayin in Tuscaloosa while also robbing Ohio State of a few key pieces. And then there’s the whole recruiting, Kalen DeBoer, Jedd Fisch, etc. angle. But let’s keep this OSU-centric. Here is my best guess as to how Saban’s presence would have impacted the Buckeyes in general and the CFB world as a whole in 2024, 2025, and beyond.
Even without Downs and Sayin, and possibly McLaughlin, Ohio State still kicks serious ass in ‘24 so much so that they earn a spot in the CFP final... against Alabama! Then, in the championship game, Jalen Milroe can’t hit the broad side of a barn against OSU’s stingy defense, leading to calls for Sayin from the Bama faithful.
But unlike (in) 2017, Saban is hesitant to pull the trigger. He leaves Milroe in to throw three interceptions, one of which is picked off by Malik Hartford, Ohio State’s ball-hawking All-American safety. The Buckeyes defeat the Crimson Tide 31-6, and Saban announces his retirement from the losing locker room.
Upon his former coach’s retirement, Downs transfers to OSU in January 2025. As does Sayin, who was very upset about not playing in the CFP. Downs and Sayin then convince Keon Keeley to join them in Columbus, where Ryan Day is king.
Ohio State completes a back-to-back in ’25, and the rest is history. Day establishes himself as the best coach in CFB, while Saban flourishes as a Little Debbie spokesperson.
And that, folks, is the answer to “What if Nick Saban never retired following the 2023 season?” Argue if you like, but it seems pretty obvious to yours truly.
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
Rob Schumacher / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State already benefitted immensely from the former Alabama coach’s retirement.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about our imagination. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our What If columns here.
On Jan. 10 of this year, just days removed from Alabama’s loss in the Rose Bowl to Michigan, longtime Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban surprised many by announcing his retirement. After 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa and 28 total as a college head coach, the living legend and GOAT decided to hang it up rather than witness(ing) the slow, painful death of the game he had grown to love and dominate.
Ok, so maybe he didn’t say the last part out loud, but it was certainly implied. And frankly, I couldn’t and wouldn’t have blamed him if he did point to the current state of the game as his primary reason for getting out.
Regardless of why Saban walked away, the fact that he did set off a chain reaction of events or happenings that would and will shape CFB for at least the next few years. One of the many falling dominoes attributed to Saban’s exit was a mass exodus of Alabama players, led by star safety Caleb Downs and incoming freshman quarterback Julian Sayin, both of whom ended up at Ohio State. Joining them was center Seth McLaughlin, forming a trio of Bama players that accounted for half of OSU’s winter transfer portal additions.
Not surprisingly, said trio has acclimated quite well to Columbus. Downs is virtually guaranteed to start and star for the Scarlet and Gray, while McLaughlin is a safe bet to do the same, and Sayin has pockets of Buckeye Nation already referring to him as Ohio State’s next star quarterback. Whether or not the latter comes to fruition, who knows? However, one thing that has already been proven with certainty is that OSU benefitted immensely from Saban’s retirement.
But what if the GOAT had chosen to continue as head coach of the Crimson Tide? How different would Ryan Day’s team look, this year and beyond? What would the long-term impact have been on Ohio State, if any? Or what... What if Saban stuck around just long enough to beat Day and the Buckeyes in the 2024-25 national championship game!?
The obvious truth is that we will never know. But it sure is fun to speculate and/or wonder. Which is the point of this week’s LGHL theme: What If?
So with that being said, I thought that it would be both fun and interesting to run through the above Saban scenario(s) in my head. And then attempt to recap my fantastical findings coherently. Here’s what I came up with:
For starters, Ohio State would never have landed Downs and/or Sayin. It just wasn’t going to happen with Saban still at the crimson helm. And while this may not have been a huge blow to OSU’s QB situation in 2024, it most definitely would have had an adverse effect on the Buckeyes’ secondary.
Had Saban and Downs both remained in Tuscaloosa, Tim Walton and Matt Guerrieri might have ended up with a safety depth chart consisting of Lathan Ransom and “some guys”. And that’s no shot at Malik Hartford, Jayden Bonsu, (possibly) Ja’had Carter, or anybody else. It’s just that Ohio State’s other safeties are seriously lacking in the experience department.
Now who knows, maybe OSU could or would have ended up with Jardin Gilbert or Andrew Mukuba instead, the No. 2 and No. 3-ranked transfer safeties, respectively. But let’s be honest, those guys are a notch or two (or three) below Downs in terms of talent, potential, production, etc. The latter not only filled a position of need for the Buckeyes, but he also has three years of eligibility remaining, whereas Gilbert and Mukuba only have one or two each. I’ll have more on that later.
As for Saban’s retirement having an impact on Ohio State’s QB situation – in 2024 specifically – well... I guess I just don’t think there’s much of one (an impact). I certainly don’t wish to downplay Sayin’s talent or minimize his potential long-term impact in any way, but at the same time, I also don’t anticipate the latter leading the Buckeyes to a natty this season.
Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely, unequivocally, 100% believe that Sayin will eventually be a special college player. And I guess I wouldn’t be shocked if he supplants Will Howard as OSU’s starter at some point during the upcoming season. But earning a starting gig and becoming a difference maker or freshman Heisman Trophy contender are very different outcomes.
Even if Sayin were to be named Ryan Day’s starter at any point in 2024, I just don’t think that he (or Howard) will be the reason Ohio State wins. If the Buckeyes win – and win a lot – I believe that it will be because of the team’s defense, running game, playmakers, and coaching. This means that Saban’s decision to retire will likely have minimal impact on OSU’s QB situation. This year.
But in the slightly more distant future? Like 2025 and beyond? Well, now we’re talking about something completely different. Something beyond the impact and/or influence of Downs and Sayin. Because while Downs is already that good and Sayin that talented (and McLaughlin that experienced), those players are likely not determining championships on their own.
Conversely, one individual who has seemingly determined championships on their own is Saban. I mean, he’s the GOAT for a reason, right? So if he had chosen to continue as Alabama’s head coach, he definitely would have kept Downs and Sayin in Tuscaloosa while also robbing Ohio State of a few key pieces. And then there’s the whole recruiting, Kalen DeBoer, Jedd Fisch, etc. angle. But let’s keep this OSU-centric. Here is my best guess as to how Saban’s presence would have impacted the Buckeyes in general and the CFB world as a whole in 2024, 2025, and beyond.
Even without Downs and Sayin, and possibly McLaughlin, Ohio State still kicks serious ass in ‘24 so much so that they earn a spot in the CFP final... against Alabama! Then, in the championship game, Jalen Milroe can’t hit the broad side of a barn against OSU’s stingy defense, leading to calls for Sayin from the Bama faithful.
But unlike (in) 2017, Saban is hesitant to pull the trigger. He leaves Milroe in to throw three interceptions, one of which is picked off by Malik Hartford, Ohio State’s ball-hawking All-American safety. The Buckeyes defeat the Crimson Tide 31-6, and Saban announces his retirement from the losing locker room.
Upon his former coach’s retirement, Downs transfers to OSU in January 2025. As does Sayin, who was very upset about not playing in the CFP. Downs and Sayin then convince Keon Keeley to join them in Columbus, where Ryan Day is king.
Ohio State completes a back-to-back in ’25, and the rest is history. Day establishes himself as the best coach in CFB, while Saban flourishes as a Little Debbie spokesperson.
And that, folks, is the answer to “What if Nick Saban never retired following the 2023 season?” Argue if you like, but it seems pretty obvious to yours truly.
Continue reading...
LGHL Hangout in the Holy Land: We go through some ‘What If’ scenarios in recent Ohio State history
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Hangout in the Holy Land: We go through some ‘What If’ scenarios in recent Ohio State history
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joshua Bickel-USA TODAY Sports
What if Ohio State beat Clemson in 2019? What if Ohio State men’s hoops beat Oral Roberts in 2021? We may never know, but we will talk about it
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Justin Golba as they discuss Ohio State football, basketball, recruiting, and much more! Come for the hot takes. Stay for the warm ones.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Josh and Justin are back this week for Hangout in the Holy Land, and we are discussing What If scenarios.
This is always an interesting topic, because you can find examples from any season. However, we recently picked out two for football and two for basketball to discuss how, if a couple of things went differently, the history books could look different.
Before that, we discuss the U.S. Open, Dan Hurley staying at UConn, and the BOOM! that Ohio State Football just landed, and why Tim Walton is such a successful recruiter.
Please like, rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast. As always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod:
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley:
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Justin Golba:
Twitter: @justin_golba
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
Joshua Bickel-USA TODAY Sports
What if Ohio State beat Clemson in 2019? What if Ohio State men’s hoops beat Oral Roberts in 2021? We may never know, but we will talk about it
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Justin Golba as they discuss Ohio State football, basketball, recruiting, and much more! Come for the hot takes. Stay for the warm ones.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Josh and Justin are back this week for Hangout in the Holy Land, and we are discussing What If scenarios.
This is always an interesting topic, because you can find examples from any season. However, we recently picked out two for football and two for basketball to discuss how, if a couple of things went differently, the history books could look different.
Before that, we discuss the U.S. Open, Dan Hurley staying at UConn, and the BOOM! that Ohio State Football just landed, and why Tim Walton is such a successful recruiter.
Please like, rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast. As always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod:
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley:
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Justin Golba:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State’s new hires paying off with big recruiting wins
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State’s new hires paying off with big recruiting wins
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Carlos Locklyn & Matt Guerrieri have been upgrades since their arrival.
Ohio State’s has one of the best coaching staffs in the country. A group of coaches that most programs would covet, there’s always room for growth, as even the most elite units will admit.
Over the last couple of seasons, Ohio State has seen a fair share of changes on their coaching staff. Whether it was the program moving on or the opportunity for a larger role elsewhere, this staff hasn’t been a stranger to some transition under Ryan Day.
Specifically speaking, the two newest hires for the Buckeyes include Carlos Locklyn at the running back position and Matt Guerrieri for safeties. Without skipping a beat, both coaches have come in and have already made major impacts in their recruiting efforts.
Ohio State got better by replacing Tony Alford and Perry Eliano. The former running backs and safety coaches are definitely solid staffers in their own right, but also left more to be desired in the recruiting realm. Sure, development is the ultimate goal, but it doesn’t take a lot to see that it’s a lot easier to develop supremely talented players that are ready to go as soon as they’re on campus.
Alford leaving for Michigan was a decision of his own, but you can’t ignore the fact that besides TreVeyon Henderson, the last few years weren’t great at running back recruiting. Losing out on his top targets multiple times for a myriad of reasons, fans were anxious with Alford, and him leaving for the Team Up North wasn’t the end of the world.
With Locklyn’s addition, he’s already landed in-state back Bo Jackson, and that’s music to Ohio State’s ears as it’s a battle that many times Alford would have lost. Funny enough, it’s been rumored that Alford preferred fellow Ohio product Marquise Davis in this current cycle, but even with his time in Ann Arbor, Davis ended up choosing Kentucky over the Wolverines.
On the defensive side of the ball, Eliano’s departure really wasn’t his own decision. Another position group that saw their top targets end up elsewhere more often than not, Day and Jim Knowles bringing in Matt Guerrieri is not only helpful to the schematics and teaching side of the game, but of course in recruiting too.
No slouch of his own, Guerrieri just helped land a top safety target in Faheem Delane, and it is clear he has had a ton to do with that addition to the 2025 class that boasts the best defensive secondary unit in the country.
Simply put, it was time for a change at both of these positions, and it’s looking like Day was able to find the right guys in both accounts. We’ll see the development side of things a little more in depth come fall, but if recruiting is the main goal of the summer, both coaches are crushing it, and proving to be obvious upgrades since their arrivals.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Carlos Locklyn & Matt Guerrieri have been upgrades since their arrival.
Ohio State’s has one of the best coaching staffs in the country. A group of coaches that most programs would covet, there’s always room for growth, as even the most elite units will admit.
Over the last couple of seasons, Ohio State has seen a fair share of changes on their coaching staff. Whether it was the program moving on or the opportunity for a larger role elsewhere, this staff hasn’t been a stranger to some transition under Ryan Day.
Specifically speaking, the two newest hires for the Buckeyes include Carlos Locklyn at the running back position and Matt Guerrieri for safeties. Without skipping a beat, both coaches have come in and have already made major impacts in their recruiting efforts.
Upgrades at multiple spots thanks to Locklyn and Guerrieri
Ohio State got better by replacing Tony Alford and Perry Eliano. The former running backs and safety coaches are definitely solid staffers in their own right, but also left more to be desired in the recruiting realm. Sure, development is the ultimate goal, but it doesn’t take a lot to see that it’s a lot easier to develop supremely talented players that are ready to go as soon as they’re on campus.
Alford leaving for Michigan was a decision of his own, but you can’t ignore the fact that besides TreVeyon Henderson, the last few years weren’t great at running back recruiting. Losing out on his top targets multiple times for a myriad of reasons, fans were anxious with Alford, and him leaving for the Team Up North wasn’t the end of the world.
With Locklyn’s addition, he’s already landed in-state back Bo Jackson, and that’s music to Ohio State’s ears as it’s a battle that many times Alford would have lost. Funny enough, it’s been rumored that Alford preferred fellow Ohio product Marquise Davis in this current cycle, but even with his time in Ann Arbor, Davis ended up choosing Kentucky over the Wolverines.
On the defensive side of the ball, Eliano’s departure really wasn’t his own decision. Another position group that saw their top targets end up elsewhere more often than not, Day and Jim Knowles bringing in Matt Guerrieri is not only helpful to the schematics and teaching side of the game, but of course in recruiting too.
No slouch of his own, Guerrieri just helped land a top safety target in Faheem Delane, and it is clear he has had a ton to do with that addition to the 2025 class that boasts the best defensive secondary unit in the country.
Simply put, it was time for a change at both of these positions, and it’s looking like Day was able to find the right guys in both accounts. We’ll see the development side of things a little more in depth come fall, but if recruiting is the main goal of the summer, both coaches are crushing it, and proving to be obvious upgrades since their arrivals.
Continue reading...
2027 WA LB Liufau Loumoli (Verbal Offer)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 0 Replies
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Class: 2027
Position: LB
School: Sammamish(WA) Eastside Catholic
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 210lbs
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Rivals
HudL
Class: 2027
Position: LB
School: Sammamish(WA) Eastside Catholic
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 210lbs
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2026 NC CB Camdin Portis (Miami, Fla. Verbal)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
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247
Rivals
Twitter
HudL
Class: 2026
Position: CB
School: Charlotte(NC) Myers Park
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 165lbs
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Rivals
HudL
Class: 2026
Position: CB
School: Charlotte(NC) Myers Park
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 165lbs
Login to view embedded media
