-
New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.
LGHL Uncut Podcast: Thornton, Key, Holtmann discuss Ohio State’s road loss to Indiana
- News
- 0 Replies
Uncut Podcast: Thornton, Key, Holtmann discuss Ohio State’s road loss to Indiana
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State led for over 20 minutes of the Big Ten bout, but gave in to a late Indiana push.
Throughout the season, Land-Grant will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
After Ohio State’s 71-65 road loss to the Indiana Hoosiers, we spoke with Bruce Thornton, Zed Key, and Chris Holtmann down in the bowels of Assembly Hall.
Thornton said that this loss stung because they know how much winning on the road means in the Big Ten, and they felt they had an opportunity to roll into Assembly Hall and pick up a win. Key said Ohio State got a lot of good, open looks and second-chance opportunities, but the shots that fall all the time for them were not falling on Saturday night.
Holtmann said one of Ohio State’s biggest struggles was getting clean, unobstructed looks below the basket. Even on second-chance opportunities, Malik Reneau and Kel’el Ware made it really tough to finish. He also said that, despite going 3-for-17, he does not think Roddy Gayle was “pressing.”
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State led for over 20 minutes of the Big Ten bout, but gave in to a late Indiana push.
Throughout the season, Land-Grant will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
After Ohio State’s 71-65 road loss to the Indiana Hoosiers, we spoke with Bruce Thornton, Zed Key, and Chris Holtmann down in the bowels of Assembly Hall.
Thornton said that this loss stung because they know how much winning on the road means in the Big Ten, and they felt they had an opportunity to roll into Assembly Hall and pick up a win. Key said Ohio State got a lot of good, open looks and second-chance opportunities, but the shots that fall all the time for them were not falling on Saturday night.
Holtmann said one of Ohio State’s biggest struggles was getting clean, unobstructed looks below the basket. Even on second-chance opportunities, Malik Reneau and Kel’el Ware made it really tough to finish. He also said that, despite going 3-for-17, he does not think Roddy Gayle was “pressing.”
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
LGHL BOOOOM! Ohio State lands star transfer RB Quinshon Judkins
- News
- 0 Replies
BOOOOM! Ohio State lands star transfer RB Quinshon Judkins
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes added one of the nation’s best running backs to the roster.
Ohio State has had a string of recent success on the recruiting trail since the start of 2024.
This past weekend, the Buckeyes landed one of the nation’s top cornerbacks in five-star 2025 prospect Devin Sanchez, and then on Monday Ohio State earned Crystal Ball predictions for both 2025 defensive end Zahir Mathis (No. 5 EDGE, No. 37 nationally) and 2026 quarterback Jared Curtis (No. 2 QB, No. 20 nationally).
The positive recruiting news has not just come on the traditional trail, as the Buckeyes have seemingly ramped up efforts in the transfer portal as well.
On Thursday, the Buckeyes added Kansas State transfer quarterback Will Howard. A player with lots of experience and a dual-threat ability, Howard will add an interesting dynamic to Ryan Day’s offense as the presumed starter in 2024. On Saturday, Ohio State landed Alabama transfer center Seth McLaughlin, the No. 1 IOL and No. 5 offensive lineman overall in the portal per 247Sports, who will start at either center or guard next season.
Then, on Monday night, when famously nothing else was happening around the college football landscape, Ohio State struck gold. That latest BOOOOOM was former Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins announcing he would be taking his talents to Columbus.
Judkins has been one of the best running backs in the country since he began his career at Ole Miss in 2022. The Alabama native rushed for 1,567 yards and 16 touchdowns as a freshman, and followed it up with 1,158 yards and 15 TDs this season as a sophomore. He has also showcased an ability to catch passes out of the backfield, hauling in 37 receptions for 281 yards and three scores in his two years with the Rebels. Finishing first in the SEC in rushing touchdowns in 2023, Judkins also ranked first in the conference in missed tackles (78) runs of 10-plus yards (22) among RBs with at least 100 carries.
Ohio State is getting a true star in Judkins, but this move doesn’t necessarily rule out TreVeyon Henderson returning to Columbus next season.
With the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 teams, that means at least one or two more games will be played in the quest to win a national title. For guys like Henderson and Judkins, who are proven commodities and definite NFL guys already, splitting carries in an extended season and keeping some tread off the tires for the next level could do both players some good — if, in fact, Henderson decides to run it back with the Buckeyes.
On top of all the counting stats and highlight plays, the tailback has also never missed a game in his collegiate career, playing in all 13 contests for Ole Miss in each of his two seasons on campus. With how banged up Henderson has been during that same timeframe, having a guy like Judkins there to take some of the load off his shoulders will be beneficial for both the team and their playing careers. If Henderson is not in the mix, then Judkins can certainly be a guy that you can rely on week in and week out to take 20-plus carries.
Judkins is Ohio State’s biggest addition in the transfer portal since Justin Fields. The 5-foot-11, 240-pound ball-carrier was the No. 1 RB and the No. 4 player overall in the portal, per 247Sports. Whether he is part of college football’s best backfield tandem in 2024 alongside Henderson or the Buckeyes’ lead back, the two-time All-SEC stud becomes the third player from Ole Miss to transfer to Ohio State in the last two years, joining corner Davison Igbinosun and defensive tackle Tywone Malone.
There are still lots of moves to be made for Day and his crew, both in terms of roster management and among the coaching staff, but the addition of Judkins cannot be understated for Ohio State. To get a better feel for the Buckeyes’ newest star, check out Judkins’ highlight reel from 2023 season at Ole Miss:
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
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes added one of the nation’s best running backs to the roster.
Ohio State has had a string of recent success on the recruiting trail since the start of 2024.
This past weekend, the Buckeyes landed one of the nation’s top cornerbacks in five-star 2025 prospect Devin Sanchez, and then on Monday Ohio State earned Crystal Ball predictions for both 2025 defensive end Zahir Mathis (No. 5 EDGE, No. 37 nationally) and 2026 quarterback Jared Curtis (No. 2 QB, No. 20 nationally).
The positive recruiting news has not just come on the traditional trail, as the Buckeyes have seemingly ramped up efforts in the transfer portal as well.
On Thursday, the Buckeyes added Kansas State transfer quarterback Will Howard. A player with lots of experience and a dual-threat ability, Howard will add an interesting dynamic to Ryan Day’s offense as the presumed starter in 2024. On Saturday, Ohio State landed Alabama transfer center Seth McLaughlin, the No. 1 IOL and No. 5 offensive lineman overall in the portal per 247Sports, who will start at either center or guard next season.
Then, on Monday night, when famously nothing else was happening around the college football landscape, Ohio State struck gold. That latest BOOOOOM was former Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins announcing he would be taking his talents to Columbus.
Judkins has been one of the best running backs in the country since he began his career at Ole Miss in 2022. The Alabama native rushed for 1,567 yards and 16 touchdowns as a freshman, and followed it up with 1,158 yards and 15 TDs this season as a sophomore. He has also showcased an ability to catch passes out of the backfield, hauling in 37 receptions for 281 yards and three scores in his two years with the Rebels. Finishing first in the SEC in rushing touchdowns in 2023, Judkins also ranked first in the conference in missed tackles (78) runs of 10-plus yards (22) among RBs with at least 100 carries.
Ohio State is getting a true star in Judkins, but this move doesn’t necessarily rule out TreVeyon Henderson returning to Columbus next season.
With the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 teams, that means at least one or two more games will be played in the quest to win a national title. For guys like Henderson and Judkins, who are proven commodities and definite NFL guys already, splitting carries in an extended season and keeping some tread off the tires for the next level could do both players some good — if, in fact, Henderson decides to run it back with the Buckeyes.
On top of all the counting stats and highlight plays, the tailback has also never missed a game in his collegiate career, playing in all 13 contests for Ole Miss in each of his two seasons on campus. With how banged up Henderson has been during that same timeframe, having a guy like Judkins there to take some of the load off his shoulders will be beneficial for both the team and their playing careers. If Henderson is not in the mix, then Judkins can certainly be a guy that you can rely on week in and week out to take 20-plus carries.
Judkins is Ohio State’s biggest addition in the transfer portal since Justin Fields. The 5-foot-11, 240-pound ball-carrier was the No. 1 RB and the No. 4 player overall in the portal, per 247Sports. Whether he is part of college football’s best backfield tandem in 2024 alongside Henderson or the Buckeyes’ lead back, the two-time All-SEC stud becomes the third player from Ole Miss to transfer to Ohio State in the last two years, joining corner Davison Igbinosun and defensive tackle Tywone Malone.
There are still lots of moves to be made for Day and his crew, both in terms of roster management and among the coaching staff, but the addition of Judkins cannot be understated for Ohio State. To get a better feel for the Buckeyes’ newest star, check out Judkins’ highlight reel from 2023 season at Ole Miss:
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State is trending for top talents in the 2025, 2026 classes
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State is trending for top talents in the 2025, 2026 classes
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 four-star defensive end Zahir Mathis via Steve Helwagen, 247Sports
The Buckeyes continued its trend of good news as it is now trending for a 2025 four-star DE and a 2026 five-star QB.
The Buckeyes are coming off a successful recruiting weekend, which saw them earn a commitment from 2025 five-star cornerback Devin Sanchez. The news didn’t stop there as the team also earned a commitment from former Alabama center Seth McLaughlin transfer to the Buckeyes from the transfer portal. Ohio State has also made headlines for bringing back multiple talents from this past season’s team, that could have left to test NFL waters.
The positive news surrounding Ohio State continued Monday, as the Buckeyes learned they are trending in the right direction for a couple of blue-chip prospects in both the 2025 and 2026 recruiting classes.
First, 2025 four-star defensive end Zahir Mathis (Philadelphia, PA / Imhotep Institute) announced Monday that he will be committing this Wednesday, in what looks to be good news for the Buckeyes.
Ohio State has long been recruiting Mathis, and he attended a summer recruiting camp with the Buckeyes in June. The Buckeyes were not alone though, as he also visited with multiple other programs like Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Clemson and South Carolina. However, there had been no real updates in his recruitment since the summer.
That all changed Monday, when multiple 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions were submitted for Mathis favoring Ohio State. These predictions are not guarantees, but they do provide a great insight into what a recruit is currently feeling in his recruitment. Additionally, the two predictions were submitted by 247Sports Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong and 247Sports National Recruiting Analyst Brian Dohn. When these two are on the same page, the smoke typically leads to fire — especially considering Mathis’ commitment announcement.
Mathis is the No. 5 DE prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and is the No. 37 overall prospect. He is also the No. 1 recruit out of Pennsylvania.
Ohio State is not only trending for Mathis though, as the Buckeyes also received a 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction for 2026 five-star quarterback Jared Curtis (Nashville, TN / Nashville Christian School). The prediction was cast by Tom Loy, and it is the second prediction favoring the Buckeyes for Curtis, joining Steve Wiltfong who cast his on Dec. 23.
That same day Wiltfong cast his prediction, Curtis cut his list of suitors to six from 10. Ohio State was one of the schools to make the cut, joined by Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Florida State and Texas A&M.
Curtis has not yet indicated publicly that there is a leading school, nor has he hinted at a commitment date. Despite this, the Buckeyes have to love where they sit with him. Curtis is the No. 2 QB in the 247Sports Composite Rankings, and is the No. 20 overall prospect. He is also the No. 1 recruit out of Tennessee.
Continue reading...
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 four-star defensive end Zahir Mathis via Steve Helwagen, 247Sports
The Buckeyes continued its trend of good news as it is now trending for a 2025 four-star DE and a 2026 five-star QB.
The Buckeyes are coming off a successful recruiting weekend, which saw them earn a commitment from 2025 five-star cornerback Devin Sanchez. The news didn’t stop there as the team also earned a commitment from former Alabama center Seth McLaughlin transfer to the Buckeyes from the transfer portal. Ohio State has also made headlines for bringing back multiple talents from this past season’s team, that could have left to test NFL waters.
The positive news surrounding Ohio State continued Monday, as the Buckeyes learned they are trending in the right direction for a couple of blue-chip prospects in both the 2025 and 2026 recruiting classes.
First, 2025 four-star defensive end Zahir Mathis (Philadelphia, PA / Imhotep Institute) announced Monday that he will be committing this Wednesday, in what looks to be good news for the Buckeyes.
Ohio State has long been recruiting Mathis, and he attended a summer recruiting camp with the Buckeyes in June. The Buckeyes were not alone though, as he also visited with multiple other programs like Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Clemson and South Carolina. However, there had been no real updates in his recruitment since the summer.
That all changed Monday, when multiple 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions were submitted for Mathis favoring Ohio State. These predictions are not guarantees, but they do provide a great insight into what a recruit is currently feeling in his recruitment. Additionally, the two predictions were submitted by 247Sports Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong and 247Sports National Recruiting Analyst Brian Dohn. When these two are on the same page, the smoke typically leads to fire — especially considering Mathis’ commitment announcement.
Mathis is the No. 5 DE prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and is the No. 37 overall prospect. He is also the No. 1 recruit out of Pennsylvania.
Ohio State is not only trending for Mathis though, as the Buckeyes also received a 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction for 2026 five-star quarterback Jared Curtis (Nashville, TN / Nashville Christian School). The prediction was cast by Tom Loy, and it is the second prediction favoring the Buckeyes for Curtis, joining Steve Wiltfong who cast his on Dec. 23.
That same day Wiltfong cast his prediction, Curtis cut his list of suitors to six from 10. Ohio State was one of the schools to make the cut, joined by Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Florida State and Texas A&M.
Curtis has not yet indicated publicly that there is a leading school, nor has he hinted at a commitment date. Despite this, the Buckeyes have to love where they sit with him. Curtis is the No. 2 QB in the 247Sports Composite Rankings, and is the No. 20 overall prospect. He is also the No. 1 recruit out of Tennessee.
Quick Hits
- Ohio State made the cut for 2025 three-star running back over the weekend when Jeff Overton (Woodbridge, VA / Freedom) announced his top 10 schools. Alongside Ohio State, Overton included Duke, Wake Forest, NV State, Maryland, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Pitt, West Virginia and Stanford.
Let’s Turn it up a notch @CoachOvertonJ @OvertonCoach @336Edits @RivalsFriedman @On3Recruits @TerpsFootball @DukeFOOTBALL @WVUfootball @FootballNCState @OhioStateFB @Commit2Cuse @Pitt_FB @UVAFootball @HokiesFB @WakeFB pic.twitter.com/OMSryb7LNr
— Jeffrey Overton Jr (@JeffreyOverton1) January 8, 2024
- The Ohio State football team is not the only program hitting the recruiting trail headfirst, as Chris Holtmann and the Ohio State men’s basketball team also made the cut for a top prospect on Monday. 2025 four-star shooting guard Dorian Jones (Cleveland, OH / Richmond Heights) announced his 10 schools and Ohio State was on the list. Alongside the Buckeyes, Jones included USC, Cincinnati, Arkansas, Rutgers, Missouri, Alabama, Oklahoma, Illinois and Houston.
Continue reading...
2024 College Football Polls
- By ScriptOhio
- 2024 Football Season Capsule
- 178 Replies
Here's the first "way too early" 2024 Poll (and obviously a lot could change between now and the start of the 2024 season):
www.espn.com
College football's Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2024: Reloaded Georgia back on top
The 2023 college football season may have just ended, but Mark Schlabach already has a top 25 for next year.
2024 Way-Too-Early college football Top 25
1. Georgia Bulldogs
2. Texas Longhorns
3. Oregon Ducks
4. Alabama Crimson Tide
5. Ohio State Buckeyes
2024 outlook: Ryan Day has done solid work as Ohio State's coach since taking over for Urban Meyer in 2019. The Buckeyes are 53-8 the past five seasons, winning two Big Ten titles and reaching the CFP three times. But after a third consecutive defeat to rival Michigan, followed by a listless 14-3 loss to Missouri in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, the pressure is building. McCord transferred to Syracuse, and Day went into the portal to land former Kansas State starting quarterback Howard, who threw for 48 touchdowns and 5,786 yards over four seasons with the Wildcats. Noland, from Fairburn, Georgia, was the No. 2 pocket passer in the 2024 ESPN 300. Improving the offensive line is also a priority. Ohio State's schedule in 2024 includes home games against Iowa and Michigan and road contests at Oregon and Penn State.6. Michigan Wolverines
7. Ole Miss Rebels
8. Missouri Tigers
9. Arizona Wildcats
10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
11. Washington Huskies
12. Penn State Nittany Lions
13. Utah Utes
14. LSU Tigers
15. Oklahoma Sooners
16. Florida State Seminoles
17. Tennessee Volunteers
18. Oklahoma State Cowboys
19. Clemson Tigers
20. NC State Wolfpack
21. Kansas State Wildcats
22. Louisville Cardinals
23. Kansas Jayhawks
24. SMU Mustangs
25. Iowa Hawkeyes
2024 tOSU Offense Discussion
- By ScriptOhio
- Buckeye Football
- 332 Replies
An Ohio State backfield of Henderson, Judkins would be the best in the country
Nothing is official, but it’s pretty exciting to imagine what OSU could do if both Henderson and Judkins were Buckeyes next fall.
www.landgrantholyland.com
An Ohio State backfield of Henderson, Judkins would be the best in the country
Nothing is official, but it’s pretty exciting to imagine what OSU could do if both Henderson and Judkins were Buckeyes next fall.:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73034371/treveyon_henderson_quinshon_judkins_ohio_state.0.jpg)
I know that there has been a ton of consternation surrounding the Ohio State Buckeyes’ football team over the past month and a half, and things seemed to hit something approaching rock bottom at the Cotton Bowl in what would generously be considered an embarrassing performance by the team and especially the coaches. There were rumors of squandered practices and a coaching staff asleep at the wheel, but, my fellow Buckeye fans, in the immortal words of Dr. Victor Frankenstein, “It’s alive... It’s ALIIIIIIIIIIVE!”
From landing the All-Big 12 second-team quarterback in Kansas State’s Will Howard to picking up a pair of future starters in Alabama center Seth McLaughlin and Ohio tight end Will Kacmarek, things appear to be picking up. The Buckeyes also secured the commitment of the No. 1 cornerback and No. 4 player in the country in Devin Sanchez. And with rumors swirling about a bit of a staff overhaul, it seems like head coach Ryan Day is approaching this month as one that could make or break his tenure at Ohio State.
Well, over the weekend, it at least seems like the Buckeyes took one more step to reestablish their offense as a multi-faceted attack complete with top-line depth at every skill position. While nothing has been confirmed as of this writing, it appears that former Ole Miss Rebel and two-time first-team All-SEC running back Quinshon Judkins is set to transfer to Ohio State; that announcement could come at any time.
Naturally, that raises questions about the Buckeyes’ incumbent back TreVeyon Henderson, who has yet to make an announcement about whether or not he will be returning for a fourth season in Columbus, or if he will opt for the NFL Draft instead. However, Henderson had long been believed to be one of the Buckeyes planning to run it back; so, does Judkins' impending commitment mean that Henderson is on his way to the pros? Or is there a chance that Ohio State could be on the verge of securing the best backfield in the country as they head into the first season of the expanded College Football Playoff?
.
.
.
continued
Quinshon Judkins commits to Ohio State after Michigan wins College Football Playoff National Championship
The former Ole Miss star and top portal running back didn't let Ohio State's top rival enjoy the moment
www.cbssports.com
Quinshon Judkins commits to Ohio State after Michigan wins College Football Playoff National Championship
The former Ole Miss star and top portal running back didn't let Ohio State's top rival enjoy the moment
Former Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins is transferring to Ohio State, he revealed via social media Monday evening just moments after Michigan -- the Buckeyes' top rival -- capped its 2023 season with a 34-13 win against Washington in the College Football Playoff National Championship. Judkins even took aim at the Wolverines in his announcement."I'm looking forward to being a part of a winning culture and helping do my part to beat the TUN (Michigan) bring a Big 10 Championship and National Championship to Columbus," Judkins wrote. "The RB brotherhood at Ohio State is incredibly special and I am grateful to have an opportunity to be a part of that."
Judkins, the No. 1 running back and No. 4 overall prospect in 247Sports' transfer rankings, is a big get at a position of need for Ohio State. A rising junior, he is fresh off his second straight 1,000-yard season with the Rebels, finishing the 2023 campaign with 271 carries for 1,158 yards and SEC-best 15 touchdowns. Judkins leaves Oxford, Mississippi, with more than 3,000 all-purpose yards and 34 total touchdowns.
By comparison, Ohio State hasn't had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2021. On top of that, the Buckeyes will have plenty of snaps available in their running back room moving forward. No. 2 rusher Chip Trayanum entered the transfer portal and veteran Miyan Williams, who led OSU in rushing in 2022, already declared for the NFL Draft.
That leaves the Buckeyes with one proven option in the talented but oft-injured TreVeyon Henderson, who has yet to make a public decision on his future. If he leaves, Ohio State will have just one running back with at least 15 career carries left on its roster, pending the addition of Judkins.
Judkins could unlock Henderson
If Henderson elects to return, he and Judkins would form one of the nation's best running back duos. It could be an ideal situation for Henderson, who would no longer have to play as a bellcow back but should still get plenty of opportunity to shine.In the two years since his breakout freshman season, in which he rushed for 1,248 yards and 15 touchdowns, Henderson has missed a total of eight games while dealing with various injuries. That particularly hampered Ohio State in 2023, when it lacked the depth and a clear No. 2 to replace him.
Despite his high volume over the past two years, Judkins has yet to miss a game and he's used to sharing the backfield with another standout rusher. Former SMU transfer Ulysses Bentley IV actually led Ole Miss in yards per carry in 2023 with 5.7 while finishing with 540 yards on 95 carries. The split between Henderson and Judkins would be a lot closer to 50-50, but it would allow Ohio State to maximize both options without wearing either out -- a key dynamic given Henderson's past and a potential selling point for his return as he looks to boost his NFL stock.
.
.
.
continued
LGHL I-80 Football Show: Previewing two Big Ten teams in the College Football Playoff national title game
- News
- 0 Replies
I-80 Football Show: Previewing two Big Ten teams in the College Football Playoff national title game
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images
The Big Ten is well represented in the Michigan vs. Washington national championship game
Welcome to a new episode of Fans First Football Network’s I-80 Football Show. On this show, we travel down I-80 to talk all things Big Ten Football. This is the only Big Ten Podcast that’ll cover all 18 teams. After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.
In this episode, we break down the national semi-final games as Michigan beat Alabama in overtime and Washington outlasted Texas to set up a game against future Big Ten conference members. Michigan has faced a team similar to Washington in Ohio State and has been able to beat them for the past three years, does that give them a leg up in this game? Washington has passed every test this season behind a major season from Michael Penix Jr. and Rome Odunze. We’re in for an instant classic.
In other news, is this Jim Harbaugh’s final season at Michigan? He has flirted with the NFL for the past few seasons but with Michigan finally, in the National Championship game he has the Wolverines at the ceiling and there are most likely sanctions coming down this offseason. In their weekly pitstops, Dante laments that the Lakers are terrible again after winning the In-Season Tournament. Jordan believes the Bears “decision” around Justin Fields is easy. Keep him, trade the pick, and draft a stud wide receiver and offensive tackle to build around.
Follow the show on YouTube: @JordanW330
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @I80FootballShow
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and Dante: @DanteM10216
Continue reading...
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images
The Big Ten is well represented in the Michigan vs. Washington national championship game
Welcome to a new episode of Fans First Football Network’s I-80 Football Show. On this show, we travel down I-80 to talk all things Big Ten Football. This is the only Big Ten Podcast that’ll cover all 18 teams. After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
In this episode, we break down the national semi-final games as Michigan beat Alabama in overtime and Washington outlasted Texas to set up a game against future Big Ten conference members. Michigan has faced a team similar to Washington in Ohio State and has been able to beat them for the past three years, does that give them a leg up in this game? Washington has passed every test this season behind a major season from Michael Penix Jr. and Rome Odunze. We’re in for an instant classic.
In other news, is this Jim Harbaugh’s final season at Michigan? He has flirted with the NFL for the past few seasons but with Michigan finally, in the National Championship game he has the Wolverines at the ceiling and there are most likely sanctions coming down this offseason. In their weekly pitstops, Dante laments that the Lakers are terrible again after winning the In-Season Tournament. Jordan believes the Bears “decision” around Justin Fields is easy. Keep him, trade the pick, and draft a stud wide receiver and offensive tackle to build around.
Follow the show on YouTube: @JordanW330
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @I80FootballShow
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and Dante: @DanteM10216
Continue reading...
LGHL Uncut Podcast: Ohio State women’s basketball on impressive night for Walker, responding to a loss
- News
- 0 Replies
Uncut Podcast: Ohio State women’s basketball on impressive night for Walker, responding to a loss
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State University athletic department
Head coach Kevin McGuff, forward Eboni Walker and guard Diana Collins discuss Friday night victory at Northwestern
Throughout the year, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
It was a difficult end to the 2023 calendar, as the Ohio State women’s basketball team fell to the Michigan Wolverines in a lackluster display. Friday night, the Buckeyes turned the calendar to 2024, and left the bad form with the discarded 2023 pages, defeating the Northwestern Wildcats 90-60.
Following the 30-point victory, head coach Kevin McGuff, forward Eboni Walker and guard Diana Collins spoke with the media.
Up first was Coach McGuff, discussing what went right for Ohio State, namely taking care of the ball and limiting turnovers. Plus, the late illness scratch for starting forward Rebeka Mikulášiková forced a lineup change for the first time this season, with Walker taking the Slovakian’s place. McGuff talks about the key performance for Walker who scored 11 points, grabbed six rebounds and created six assists. Plus, no turnovers.
After McGuff was the duo of Walker and Collins. Walker talked about her mentality of doing whatever it is the team needs in a game, stepping in the lineup when necessary. Also, the improved performance after the defeat to the Wolverines. Collins, who played limited minutes as a second half substitution, talked about her 10 points in only 13 minutes on the court.
That and more on the latest Land-Grant Uncut.
Connect with Thomas:
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State University athletic department
Head coach Kevin McGuff, forward Eboni Walker and guard Diana Collins discuss Friday night victory at Northwestern
Throughout the year, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
It was a difficult end to the 2023 calendar, as the Ohio State women’s basketball team fell to the Michigan Wolverines in a lackluster display. Friday night, the Buckeyes turned the calendar to 2024, and left the bad form with the discarded 2023 pages, defeating the Northwestern Wildcats 90-60.
Following the 30-point victory, head coach Kevin McGuff, forward Eboni Walker and guard Diana Collins spoke with the media.
Up first was Coach McGuff, discussing what went right for Ohio State, namely taking care of the ball and limiting turnovers. Plus, the late illness scratch for starting forward Rebeka Mikulášiková forced a lineup change for the first time this season, with Walker taking the Slovakian’s place. McGuff talks about the key performance for Walker who scored 11 points, grabbed six rebounds and created six assists. Plus, no turnovers.
After McGuff was the duo of Walker and Collins. Walker talked about her mentality of doing whatever it is the team needs in a game, stepping in the lineup when necessary. Also, the improved performance after the defeat to the Wolverines. Collins, who played limited minutes as a second half substitution, talked about her 10 points in only 13 minutes on the court.
That and more on the latest Land-Grant Uncut.
Connect with Thomas:
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
LGHL What will Ohio State’s offense look like with Will Howard at quarterback?
- News
- 0 Replies
What will Ohio State’s offense look like with Will Howard at quarterback?
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Here’s what I envision a Howard-led Ohio State offense will look like.
Now that the dust has settled from the fallout of Kyle McCord’s decision to leave Columbus, thoughts turn to the upcoming season and what the offense might look like given the current quarterback room. Clearly Will Howard would not have committed to Ohio State out of the transfer portal without a good feeling about starting in 2024, as the former Kansas State Wildcat has only one season of eligibility remaining.
Howard will battle with Devin Brown, Lincoln Kienholz, and incoming freshman Air Noland for the right to lead the Buckeyes on offense. He’ll likely arrive with plenty of confidence. After all, he has a lot more snaps of live game action under his belt than the entirety of his competition. He attempted 357 passes last season alone, which is 307 more than Brown and Kienholz combined for in their careers, and of course Noland has yet to take a collegiate snap.
While Howard’s 2023 numbers don’t compare favorably to McCord’s, the two signal callers were pretty close and McCord was surrounded with far more riches on offense than Howard was. It’s not unreasonable to assume the passing game won’t look too much different for Ohio State in 2024. The Buckeyes will still take their shots downfield and run both inside and outside routes to keep the defense off balance. There will still likely be plenty of maddeningly ineffective wide receiver screens, too.
The big difference in what Day calls on offense will be that Howard will likely be asked to use his legs. That’ll mean more run-pass options and zone reads to utilize Howard’s ability to run. He’s not only a big kid at 6-foot-5 and just a tick over 240 pounds, but he can also move. I figure Howard and Brown are universal fits in the same kind of offense, while Kienholz is more of a pocket passer type of quarterback.
Howard will have more designed runs or options to run than McCord, but he’ll also be more likely to scramble if the play breaks down than McCord was, and he’ll have the green light to do that. Day will want him to keep his eyes downfield as long as possible, but Howard will be able to keep plays alive with his legs and also won’t be afraid to tuck and run — and he’s got the experience to know when to do that.
The offense shouldn’t look drastically different with Howard at the helm, assuming he beats out the competition in camp for the job. There will merely be more yards there on the ground for the quarterback. That’s a good thing, as it should make for more positive results when plays break down, but also it will help keep defenses a bit more off balance. To account for quarterback runs, it could open up more deep throws, and the Buckeyes can lean on the run with a bit more variety if teams keep their safeties deep.
The most interesting thing will be to see what kind of routes get called repeatedly, as that’ll be an indicator of what Howard is most comfortable throwing, especially on critical downs.
There were other quarterbacks in the portal that many Ohio State fans wanted more than Howard, but his skill set might be what the Buckeyes need. Here’s a look at what he can do:
Continue reading...
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Here’s what I envision a Howard-led Ohio State offense will look like.
Now that the dust has settled from the fallout of Kyle McCord’s decision to leave Columbus, thoughts turn to the upcoming season and what the offense might look like given the current quarterback room. Clearly Will Howard would not have committed to Ohio State out of the transfer portal without a good feeling about starting in 2024, as the former Kansas State Wildcat has only one season of eligibility remaining.
Howard will battle with Devin Brown, Lincoln Kienholz, and incoming freshman Air Noland for the right to lead the Buckeyes on offense. He’ll likely arrive with plenty of confidence. After all, he has a lot more snaps of live game action under his belt than the entirety of his competition. He attempted 357 passes last season alone, which is 307 more than Brown and Kienholz combined for in their careers, and of course Noland has yet to take a collegiate snap.
While Howard’s 2023 numbers don’t compare favorably to McCord’s, the two signal callers were pretty close and McCord was surrounded with far more riches on offense than Howard was. It’s not unreasonable to assume the passing game won’t look too much different for Ohio State in 2024. The Buckeyes will still take their shots downfield and run both inside and outside routes to keep the defense off balance. There will still likely be plenty of maddeningly ineffective wide receiver screens, too.
The big difference in what Day calls on offense will be that Howard will likely be asked to use his legs. That’ll mean more run-pass options and zone reads to utilize Howard’s ability to run. He’s not only a big kid at 6-foot-5 and just a tick over 240 pounds, but he can also move. I figure Howard and Brown are universal fits in the same kind of offense, while Kienholz is more of a pocket passer type of quarterback.
Howard will have more designed runs or options to run than McCord, but he’ll also be more likely to scramble if the play breaks down than McCord was, and he’ll have the green light to do that. Day will want him to keep his eyes downfield as long as possible, but Howard will be able to keep plays alive with his legs and also won’t be afraid to tuck and run — and he’s got the experience to know when to do that.
The offense shouldn’t look drastically different with Howard at the helm, assuming he beats out the competition in camp for the job. There will merely be more yards there on the ground for the quarterback. That’s a good thing, as it should make for more positive results when plays break down, but also it will help keep defenses a bit more off balance. To account for quarterback runs, it could open up more deep throws, and the Buckeyes can lean on the run with a bit more variety if teams keep their safeties deep.
The most interesting thing will be to see what kind of routes get called repeatedly, as that’ll be an indicator of what Howard is most comfortable throwing, especially on critical downs.
There were other quarterbacks in the portal that many Ohio State fans wanted more than Howard, but his skill set might be what the Buckeyes need. Here’s a look at what he can do:
Continue reading...
LGHL An Ohio State backfield of Henderson, Judkins would be the best in the country
- News
- 0 Replies
An Ohio State backfield of Henderson, Judkins would be the best in the country
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports | Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Nothing is official, but it’s pretty exciting to imagine what OSU could do if both Henderson and Judkins were Buckeyes next fall.
I know that there has been a ton of consternation surrounding the Ohio State Buckeyes’ football team over the past month and a half, and things seemed to hit something approaching rock bottom at the Cotton Bowl in what would generously be considered an embarrassing performance by the team and especially the coaches. There were rumors of squandered practices and a coaching staff asleep at the wheel, but, my fellow Buckeye fans, in the immortal words of Dr. Victor Frankenstein, “It’s alive... It’s ALIIIIIIIIIIVE!”
From landing the All-Big 12 second-team quarterback in Kansas State’s Will Howard to picking up a pair of future starters in Alabama center Seth McLaughlin and Ohio tight end Will Kacmarek, things appear to be picking up. The Buckeyes also secured the commitment of the No. 1 cornerback and No. 4 player in the country in Devin Sanchez. And with rumors swirling about a bit of a staff overhaul, it seems like head coach Ryan Day is approaching this month as one that could make or break his tenure at Ohio State.
Well, over the weekend, it at least seems like the Buckeyes took one more step to reestablish their offense as a multi-faceted attack complete with top-line depth at every skill position. While nothing has been confirmed as of this writing, it appears that former Ole Miss Rebel and two-time first-team All-SEC running back Quinshon Judkins is set to transfer to Ohio State; that announcement could come at any time.
Naturally, that raises questions about the Buckeyes’ incumbent back TreVeyon Henderson, who has yet to make an announcement about whether or not he will be returning for a fourth season in Columbus, or if he will opt for the NFL Draft instead. However, Henderson had long been believed to be one of the Buckeyes planning to run it back; so, does Judkins' impending commitment mean that Henderson is on his way to the pros? Or is there a chance that Ohio State could be on the verge of securing the best backfield in the country as they head into the first season of the expanded College Football Playoff?
Now, I know that many of you think that this blog is overly hard against Day, and while I would contend that we are appropriately hard on a coach who has failed to live up to any of his own publicly stated goals for the past three seasons, we actually really like Ohio State’s head coach and think he is capable of getting the Buckeyes to the top of the college football mountain. But, if you are a parent, you understand what it’s like to love someone and think that they are capable of incredible things, but also be disappointed in their performance. That’s where we have been with Day over the last few years, but he sure seems to be attempting to remedy many of our concerns.
While we don’t yet know the 2024 plans for players like Denzel Burke, Emeka Egbuka, Ty Hamilton, Jordan Hancock, Donovan Jackson, J.T. Tuimoloau, or Henderson, there seems to be varying levels of optimism around each returning for another year in scarlet and gray. The Buckeyes are still efforting to add offensive and defensive linemen, and perhaps other players via the portal, but the potential pledge of Judkins ahead of the spring semester starting on Monday is exciting for a number of reasons.
Obviously, landing arguably the best running back in the SEC is always going to be exciting. In his two collegiate seasons, Judkins has rushed for 2,7,25 yards and 31 touchdowns, while also catching three TDs as well. Admittedly, Judkins did see a fairly significant decline in efficiency from his freshman to sophomore seasons, going from averaging 5.7 to 4.3 yards per carry, but with 271 carries in 2023 (sixth most in FBS) and 274 in 2022 (eighth most) you can understand how those numbers could be impacted by the wear and tear sustained by a back. But to me, that’s the reason that I am increasingly optimistic about both Judkins and Henderson being on the Buckeyes’ roster in the fall.
Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin primarily used Judkins on inside zone plays, with counters and power runs in the mix as well. This past season, 740 of his 1,158 rushing yards came between the tackles, while Henderson on the other hand, picked up 660 of his 926 yards outside of the tackles. So, it would seem that their specific skill sets and usages would complement each other, thus potentially lessening the load on each before they both could be headed to the NFL in 2025.
There are plenty of legitimate reasons to believe that Judkins coming to Columbus means that Henderson has already made his plans to move on known to the coaching staff, but if that’s the case, it is curious that he hasn’t made those plans public. Perhaps it is my perpetually optimistic nature and the scarlet and gray colored glasses permanently affixed to my head, but I think that this backfield pairing makes a lot of sense for both guys.
Judkins has played two collegiate seasons and has wracked up over 582 touches in that time. Henderson, who just completed his third year in Columbus, has not played a full season since his freshman campaign, playing in eight games in 2022 and 10 in 2023.
While Henderson had an impressive four-game run from late-October to mid-November that saw him accumulate 499 yards, he could be concerned about NFL teams not viewing him as durable enough to draft as highly as he would like. So, returning to college for another season where he doesn’t have to be the only bell cow could be attractive.
Similarly, Judkins has worn a lot of tread on his proverbial tires in just two seasons and might be concerned that next spring, NFL franchises could think that his body has already taken too much of a beating to spend an early-round pick on.
In both cases, teaming up with another potential All-American level back could prove beneficial. Of course, this would be something of a risk for both, and honestly, a bit of an experiment for the team. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong, but in this new era of the transfer portal, I can’t recall a back of Judkins’ caliber choosing to join a team that also featured a player like Henderson; but 2024 would be the perfect time to give it a try.
As we all know, tonight marks the final game of the four-team College Football Playoff, so starting next season, it is possible for the Buckeyes to play 16 games and for a team that has to grind it out against Big Ten defenses — including the two featured in the national championship game tonight — having two top-line backs could make a huge difference; not to mention Dallan Hayden, who I believe could be a dynamic back in the Buckeye offense if given the opportunity. However, if both Henderson and Judkins are on the roster in 2024, I could see Hayden entering the portal following spring practice.
College football fans have seen both Judkins and Henderson at their best. When they are healthy, they are two of the top backs in the country and could contend for the Heisman Trophy. But the days of a single running back leading a team to a national title are mostly behind us. With the potential for four postseason games looming, it makes sense for a team like Ohio State who is trying to rediscover its offensive identity, to look to bring in as many elite weapons as possible.
And with the devaluation of running backs from the NFL’s perspective, it would also make sense for both Henderson and Judkins to find a situation where they could have moments to shine on a team that would invariably play on the biggest stages in the sport without having to carry the entire load.
Personally, if I were Henderson, I think I would be opting to start my NFL career now, coming off of a strong back half of the season. While you could potentially move up even higher on NFL draft boards, as a Day 2 pick, you are still going to get a contract worth up to $6 million, and it gets you closer to signing your second NFL contract, which is where the real money is made.
Nonetheless, I would certainly not be disappointed if he opted to return. I think that pairing a between-the-tackles back like Judkins with a running QB threat like Howard could go a long way to fixing OSU’s red zone issues — although the offensive line is still the biggest culprit in that crime as far as I’m concerned — but I also think that Howard’s willingness to keep it on designed QB runs would open things up outside for Henderson as well.
As almost all football coaches do, Day has always preached wanting to be balanced between the run and the pass. And while the number of attempts have been relatively equal during his tenure, there is no denying that OSU’s offense has always been pass-first. However, if they do end up with Judkins and Henderson (and Hayden and true freshman James Peoples) on the roster next year, this could be the first time under Day that the running attack could be as potentially explosive as the passing game and I, for one, am ready to see how that would work out.
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
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports | Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Nothing is official, but it’s pretty exciting to imagine what OSU could do if both Henderson and Judkins were Buckeyes next fall.
I know that there has been a ton of consternation surrounding the Ohio State Buckeyes’ football team over the past month and a half, and things seemed to hit something approaching rock bottom at the Cotton Bowl in what would generously be considered an embarrassing performance by the team and especially the coaches. There were rumors of squandered practices and a coaching staff asleep at the wheel, but, my fellow Buckeye fans, in the immortal words of Dr. Victor Frankenstein, “It’s alive... It’s ALIIIIIIIIIIVE!”
From landing the All-Big 12 second-team quarterback in Kansas State’s Will Howard to picking up a pair of future starters in Alabama center Seth McLaughlin and Ohio tight end Will Kacmarek, things appear to be picking up. The Buckeyes also secured the commitment of the No. 1 cornerback and No. 4 player in the country in Devin Sanchez. And with rumors swirling about a bit of a staff overhaul, it seems like head coach Ryan Day is approaching this month as one that could make or break his tenure at Ohio State.
Well, over the weekend, it at least seems like the Buckeyes took one more step to reestablish their offense as a multi-faceted attack complete with top-line depth at every skill position. While nothing has been confirmed as of this writing, it appears that former Ole Miss Rebel and two-time first-team All-SEC running back Quinshon Judkins is set to transfer to Ohio State; that announcement could come at any time.
Naturally, that raises questions about the Buckeyes’ incumbent back TreVeyon Henderson, who has yet to make an announcement about whether or not he will be returning for a fourth season in Columbus, or if he will opt for the NFL Draft instead. However, Henderson had long been believed to be one of the Buckeyes planning to run it back; so, does Judkins' impending commitment mean that Henderson is on his way to the pros? Or is there a chance that Ohio State could be on the verge of securing the best backfield in the country as they head into the first season of the expanded College Football Playoff?
Now, I know that many of you think that this blog is overly hard against Day, and while I would contend that we are appropriately hard on a coach who has failed to live up to any of his own publicly stated goals for the past three seasons, we actually really like Ohio State’s head coach and think he is capable of getting the Buckeyes to the top of the college football mountain. But, if you are a parent, you understand what it’s like to love someone and think that they are capable of incredible things, but also be disappointed in their performance. That’s where we have been with Day over the last few years, but he sure seems to be attempting to remedy many of our concerns.
While we don’t yet know the 2024 plans for players like Denzel Burke, Emeka Egbuka, Ty Hamilton, Jordan Hancock, Donovan Jackson, J.T. Tuimoloau, or Henderson, there seems to be varying levels of optimism around each returning for another year in scarlet and gray. The Buckeyes are still efforting to add offensive and defensive linemen, and perhaps other players via the portal, but the potential pledge of Judkins ahead of the spring semester starting on Monday is exciting for a number of reasons.
Obviously, landing arguably the best running back in the SEC is always going to be exciting. In his two collegiate seasons, Judkins has rushed for 2,7,25 yards and 31 touchdowns, while also catching three TDs as well. Admittedly, Judkins did see a fairly significant decline in efficiency from his freshman to sophomore seasons, going from averaging 5.7 to 4.3 yards per carry, but with 271 carries in 2023 (sixth most in FBS) and 274 in 2022 (eighth most) you can understand how those numbers could be impacted by the wear and tear sustained by a back. But to me, that’s the reason that I am increasingly optimistic about both Judkins and Henderson being on the Buckeyes’ roster in the fall.
Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin primarily used Judkins on inside zone plays, with counters and power runs in the mix as well. This past season, 740 of his 1,158 rushing yards came between the tackles, while Henderson on the other hand, picked up 660 of his 926 yards outside of the tackles. So, it would seem that their specific skill sets and usages would complement each other, thus potentially lessening the load on each before they both could be headed to the NFL in 2025.
There are plenty of legitimate reasons to believe that Judkins coming to Columbus means that Henderson has already made his plans to move on known to the coaching staff, but if that’s the case, it is curious that he hasn’t made those plans public. Perhaps it is my perpetually optimistic nature and the scarlet and gray colored glasses permanently affixed to my head, but I think that this backfield pairing makes a lot of sense for both guys.
Judkins has played two collegiate seasons and has wracked up over 582 touches in that time. Henderson, who just completed his third year in Columbus, has not played a full season since his freshman campaign, playing in eight games in 2022 and 10 in 2023.
While Henderson had an impressive four-game run from late-October to mid-November that saw him accumulate 499 yards, he could be concerned about NFL teams not viewing him as durable enough to draft as highly as he would like. So, returning to college for another season where he doesn’t have to be the only bell cow could be attractive.
Similarly, Judkins has worn a lot of tread on his proverbial tires in just two seasons and might be concerned that next spring, NFL franchises could think that his body has already taken too much of a beating to spend an early-round pick on.
In both cases, teaming up with another potential All-American level back could prove beneficial. Of course, this would be something of a risk for both, and honestly, a bit of an experiment for the team. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong, but in this new era of the transfer portal, I can’t recall a back of Judkins’ caliber choosing to join a team that also featured a player like Henderson; but 2024 would be the perfect time to give it a try.
As we all know, tonight marks the final game of the four-team College Football Playoff, so starting next season, it is possible for the Buckeyes to play 16 games and for a team that has to grind it out against Big Ten defenses — including the two featured in the national championship game tonight — having two top-line backs could make a huge difference; not to mention Dallan Hayden, who I believe could be a dynamic back in the Buckeye offense if given the opportunity. However, if both Henderson and Judkins are on the roster in 2024, I could see Hayden entering the portal following spring practice.
College football fans have seen both Judkins and Henderson at their best. When they are healthy, they are two of the top backs in the country and could contend for the Heisman Trophy. But the days of a single running back leading a team to a national title are mostly behind us. With the potential for four postseason games looming, it makes sense for a team like Ohio State who is trying to rediscover its offensive identity, to look to bring in as many elite weapons as possible.
And with the devaluation of running backs from the NFL’s perspective, it would also make sense for both Henderson and Judkins to find a situation where they could have moments to shine on a team that would invariably play on the biggest stages in the sport without having to carry the entire load.
Personally, if I were Henderson, I think I would be opting to start my NFL career now, coming off of a strong back half of the season. While you could potentially move up even higher on NFL draft boards, as a Day 2 pick, you are still going to get a contract worth up to $6 million, and it gets you closer to signing your second NFL contract, which is where the real money is made.
Nonetheless, I would certainly not be disappointed if he opted to return. I think that pairing a between-the-tackles back like Judkins with a running QB threat like Howard could go a long way to fixing OSU’s red zone issues — although the offensive line is still the biggest culprit in that crime as far as I’m concerned — but I also think that Howard’s willingness to keep it on designed QB runs would open things up outside for Henderson as well.
As almost all football coaches do, Day has always preached wanting to be balanced between the run and the pass. And while the number of attempts have been relatively equal during his tenure, there is no denying that OSU’s offense has always been pass-first. However, if they do end up with Judkins and Henderson (and Hayden and true freshman James Peoples) on the roster next year, this could be the first time under Day that the running attack could be as potentially explosive as the passing game and I, for one, am ready to see how that would work out.
Continue reading...