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LGHL Five-star cornerback to visit Ohio State, while four-star DE cancels trip to Columbus
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Five-star cornerback to visit Ohio State, while four-star DE cancels trip to Columbus
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 five-star cornerback Devin Sanchez via @Devin2416 on Twitter
Ohio State is following up a big recruiting weekend by playing host to a 2025 five-star CB.
Ohio State’s football team had a busy weekend. The Buckeyes played host to a handful of blue-chip prospects last weekend, and as a result the team now finds itself in a great situation to land a pair of elite-level defensive prospects. While it would be understandable for things to slow down, things are far from the opposite for the Buckeyes. Ohio State is set to play host to even more recruits this summer, including a five-star cornerback.
Ohio State is set to have a busy Tuesday, playing host to another handful of prospects — albeit a smaller group than last weekend. The group visiting today may not be as large, but the impact it could have on the Buckeyes recruiting success is much closer to equal.
The big name planning to visit with Ohio State today is 2025 five-star CB Devin Sanchez (Houston, TX / North Shore), who is taking an unofficial visit with the Buckeyes.
The visit today will not be the first to Columbus for Sanchez, who was offered by Ohio State back in January. Sanchez participated in a spring camp at Ohio State back in April, and in his own words, he “had a great time”.
Ohio State has made cornerback a priority in the 2025 recruiting class, offering more than a dozen prospects at the position already. However, none have the pedigree that Sanchez holds. Sanchez is viewed as one of, if not the best cornerback in next year’s class by many recruiting websites.
With such pedigree, the Buckeyes are not alone in pursuing Sanchez. He holds more than a reported 30 scholarship offers, and has already taken summer visits with Alabama and Texas after making spring visits with Oklahoma and LSU. Sanchez has not yet released a top schools list, but it can be safe to assume all of the aforementioned schools, as well as Ohio State, are high on it.
The Buckeyes have seen a lot of success in all of the recruits they have hosted in recent weeks, and all expectations are this will continue. Ohio State will need to put a lot of work in recruiting Sanchez if it is going to steal him from Texas and the other southern schools that present the biggest threat to Ohio State.
Sanchez is the No. 1 CB and is the No. 6 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings for the 2025 class. He is also the No. 1 recruit from the talent-rich state of Texas.
However, if he has a good showing at today’s camp, an offer could soon follow. Hulak is the No. 33 athlete in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and is the No. 359 overall prospect.
The news is definitely not good for the Buckeyes, but Ohio State is sitting in good shape for multiple other defensive line prospects in this class such as Marquise Lightfoot, Booker Pickett Jr., Justin Scott, Eddrick Houston, Dominick McKinley and others.
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 five-star cornerback Devin Sanchez via @Devin2416 on Twitter
Ohio State is following up a big recruiting weekend by playing host to a 2025 five-star CB.
Ohio State’s football team had a busy weekend. The Buckeyes played host to a handful of blue-chip prospects last weekend, and as a result the team now finds itself in a great situation to land a pair of elite-level defensive prospects. While it would be understandable for things to slow down, things are far from the opposite for the Buckeyes. Ohio State is set to play host to even more recruits this summer, including a five-star cornerback.
Five-star CB to visit Ohio State today
Ohio State is set to have a busy Tuesday, playing host to another handful of prospects — albeit a smaller group than last weekend. The group visiting today may not be as large, but the impact it could have on the Buckeyes recruiting success is much closer to equal.
The big name planning to visit with Ohio State today is 2025 five-star CB Devin Sanchez (Houston, TX / North Shore), who is taking an unofficial visit with the Buckeyes.
The visit today will not be the first to Columbus for Sanchez, who was offered by Ohio State back in January. Sanchez participated in a spring camp at Ohio State back in April, and in his own words, he “had a great time”.
Ohio State has made cornerback a priority in the 2025 recruiting class, offering more than a dozen prospects at the position already. However, none have the pedigree that Sanchez holds. Sanchez is viewed as one of, if not the best cornerback in next year’s class by many recruiting websites.
With such pedigree, the Buckeyes are not alone in pursuing Sanchez. He holds more than a reported 30 scholarship offers, and has already taken summer visits with Alabama and Texas after making spring visits with Oklahoma and LSU. Sanchez has not yet released a top schools list, but it can be safe to assume all of the aforementioned schools, as well as Ohio State, are high on it.
The Buckeyes have seen a lot of success in all of the recruits they have hosted in recent weeks, and all expectations are this will continue. Ohio State will need to put a lot of work in recruiting Sanchez if it is going to steal him from Texas and the other southern schools that present the biggest threat to Ohio State.
Sanchez is the No. 1 CB and is the No. 6 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings for the 2025 class. He is also the No. 1 recruit from the talent-rich state of Texas.
Quick Hits
- Sanchez will not be alone today for his visit to Ohio State. 2025 three-star athlete Dominik Hulak (Elmhurst, IL / Immaculate Conception) also announced on Monday that he will be visiting Ohio State today. Hulak has received offers from the likes of Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Purdue, Purdue, etc. but he is still awaiting one from the Buckeyes.
However, if he has a good showing at today’s camp, an offer could soon follow. Hulak is the No. 33 athlete in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and is the No. 359 overall prospect.
- Monday didn’t only bring positive recruiting news for the Buckeyes, however, as 2024 four-star defensive end prospect Elias Rudolph (Deerfield Beach, FL / Deerfield Beach) announced that he will no longer be taking an official visit to Ohio State this month. Rudolph also announced a final three schools of Michigan, Florida and Pitt.
The news is definitely not good for the Buckeyes, but Ohio State is sitting in good shape for multiple other defensive line prospects in this class such as Marquise Lightfoot, Booker Pickett Jr., Justin Scott, Eddrick Houston, Dominick McKinley and others.
Continue reading...
LGHL ‘Burning Questions’: What is the best lineup on Ohio State’s offensive line?
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‘Burning Questions’: What is the best lineup on Ohio State’s offensive line?
Chris Renne 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
Who are the best five the Buckeyes can put up front?
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the most important questions yet unanswered for the season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our “Burning Questions” articles here.
Ohio State’s recent run of offensive lines has been a mixed bag when it comes to personnel groupings. Under coach Greg Studrawa, there was always a combination of highly ranked recruits and long-term developmental prospects. As his tenure went on, the number of elite prospects dwindled, leaving the Buckeyes in a suspect place going into year two under new offensive line coach Justin Frye.
Frye inherited Studrawa’s last two blue chippers in Donovan Jackson, who he’ll have for another year, and Paris Johnson Jr., who ended up being a top-10 pick in this past NFL Draft. This year, the offensive line is going to have a different look with three new starters, and limited options to bridge the gap between the end of Studrawa and the beginning of Frye. Looking at the roster, there is a list of options to take on the open roles, but no obvious NFL-level players outside of Jackson.
The two returnees are the aforementioned Donovan Jackson and multi-year contributor Matt Jones, who played opposite Jackson at right guard. Jones brings a lot of experience and is one of the oldest players on the roster going into his sixth season at Ohio State. He was recruited as a center but found playing time last season at guard. He was solid but will need to take a step forward to get to the lynchpin status needed to create stability on the line. Frye worked the portal, bringing in Joshua Simmons and Victor Cutler to the fold to provide depth as well as additional competition.
There are a handful of guys competing for the three remaining jobs. Josh Fryar is the presumed left tackle. His experience is as a right tackle and an additional lineman in heavy packages. Across at right tackle is a battle between Zen Michalski, who is entering his fourth year in the program, and redshirt freshman Tegra Tshabola, who was a top-100 recruit. They’ll be trying to hold off transfer Joshua Simmons who Frye recruited himself out of high school. The last spot is the center position, which is being battled for by Jakub James, who was out the spring, and former highly-ranked prospect Carson Hinzman entering his second year.
This leaves the Buckeyes in a peculiar place, and leaves the burning question — what is the best lineup for Ohio State on the offensive line? The Buckeyes will have to decide between leaning on older bodies or diving into the young talent Frye recently recruited.
Physical development along the offensive line is arguably the most important aspect of the position in college football. There are rare instances where freshmen come in and contribute immediately, but most of the time offensive linemen need at least two years on campus before they are expected to contribute. Even recent first-round draft pick Paris Johnson Jr. didn’t contribute until his sophomore season.
It takes a special talent on the offensive line to start their first or second year in the program. That to me may lead to Ohio State finding a way to get their most seasoned offensive line onto the field. With Hinzman and Tshabola in their second years, there are still some elder statesmen they need to outperform to get into the starting lineup.
There’s no question Donovan Jackson and Matt Jones are in the starting lineup. The experience puts them in this category. Looking at the vacant center position, Jakub James was out this spring. He has been in the system for longer than Hinzman. This may not mean James has more upside at the position, but even after missing spring that knowledge from the time in the program is incredibly valuable at center.
At tackle, Michalski has managed to contribute sparingly over the past two seasons. He has the game time to show he belongs at the DI level. He may not be the flashiest option, but the former four-star recruit gives Ohio State a proven body for the position. The left tackle position is basically settled, but Josh Fryar still fits into this profile.
To me this group, the in-program time takes precedent, meaning the transfers in Joshua Simmons and Victor Cutler are at least a year from really competing for jobs. Having the players with the most experience in the program and time together could translate to a more immediate synergy between the players. At a position group that values experience, going with the older players at least gives the Buckeyes a group that knows the system, which should translate to fewer mistakes.
With a first-year quarterback, that will incredibly valuable, even if the group is not special.
This is the way many fans would prefer. There is nothing better than when a highly touted recruit immediately begins to contribute to the Buckeyes. This is also the complete opposite of the way of the old guard. By going young, that would mean Ohio State’s younger players not only showed they can physically handle the role, but also gave the coaching staff confidence they understand the system well enough to play.
Looking at last year, Donovan Jackson more than lived up to his recruiting ranking to give the Buckeyes a solid battery on the left side. Even with the success, there were still growing pains, which were most evident against Iowa. That being said, even with the growing pains Jackson was by far the best option. He also grew into the role incredibly well as the year went on.
Seeing how the coaching staff has talked about Hinzman and Tshabola, there is a real chance the Buckeyes have an incredibly young offensive line. With the experience at right guard in Jones and left guard in Jackson, having a young center might be more okay than most years.
At the right tackle position, there definitely can be an argument made that the more athletic, higher-upside player should be the option. This was the same question that was asked when Branden Bowen won the job going into the 2019 season. Ohio State had to choose between him and Nicholas Petit-Frere, a redshirt freshman. They went with experience and Ohio State had success, but could the offensive line have been better if Petit-Frere was allowed to grow into the role?
There are also the the transfer additions to think about in this section. Joshua Simmons started at San Diego State as a 2021 recruit, which would give the Buckeyes a game-ready option, albeit at a lower level. They also have Victor Cutler, who I see as a more developmental piece, but could contribute at guard. There’s just a huge learning curve, and especially in Simmons case being a spring transfer, that would be a serious uphill battle.
Going young will lead to some growing pains, which may want to be avoided given the first-year starter at quarterback. The argument could be made though that having those growing pains with players who could bring multiple years to the table would be the better investment. If they can get through the early tests, a young group could be a higher upside option by the end of the year.
This is the most complicated way to field an offensive line, and it definitely does not always work out. Ohio State’s last best available offensive line drew the ire of fans any time the Buckeyes needed a first down. The lauded all-tackle offensive line was an experimental disaster whose incredible pass protection was counteracted by their inability to create leverage in the run game. This year, the best available would be significantly different. It may also include some players not mentioned previously.
Donovan Jackson is the best available lineman. He will be the left guard in all scenarios. The first curveball would be to move Matt Jones back to his recruited position at center. The 69th-ranked recruit nationally gives Ohio State an experienced option snapping the ball. He has been seen as the emergency center for years and is more talented than James while having more experience than Hinzman.
At left tackle, Josh Fryar fills that role next to Jackson. He was trusted into the Bison package as the extra lineman. He showed the athleticism needed in the run game, and in the spring game, he held his own against Ohio State’s first-team pass rush. That test will not be replicated until at least the Notre Dame game, and if not then, not until Penn State — which is in October.
Left guard is an interesting position here. Tshabola trained at guard as a depth piece his freshman season last year. There is also the experience of Enokk Vimahi, who started against Michigan last year and has played in 27 games in his career. Tshabola could get on the field early at this position, but if he is focused on left tackle Vimahi could potentially be the best option. Michalski winning the battle would signify that he is a step above, but I think right tackle is a position you can gamble on youth early.
Simmons was brought in as a transfer. That could signal that Michalski and Tshabola have not done enough. With his game time experience, there is no question about him playing at the D-1 level, it is more a question of how he can transition to the Big Ten level versus the Mountain West.
In this look, you get a ton of experience in the program at four of the positions. This gives an opportunity to bet on the upside at the right tackle position. Having a line of Fryar, Jackson, Jones, Vimahi, and Tshabola might maximize getting the most talent on the field. There are other ways to reorder this group, but this to me would be a potential best available line option.
To close this out, my prediction for the offensive line this season is the best available option. There are talented players coming into the program, but youth is an incredibly risky gamble given what the expectations are for Ohio State every year — not only in physical maturity, but understanding the system, which should take precedence with a first-year quarterback.
As great of a story as Hinzman starting in year two would be, given both Josh Myers and Luke Wypler started in year two as well, having a true sophomore at center on an already inexperienced offensive line seems risky. Moving Matt Jones back to center would give the Buckeyes an older, system-experienced trio in the middle, which given a first-year quarterback is ideal.
At left tackle, there really is no other option at this time than Josh Fryar. He has taken the time cutting his teeth and even earned a specialized role last season. There is no other player on the roster who the coaching staff seems to be considering. On the other side at right tackle, I think Michalski deserves every chance to compete, but Tshabola has a higher upside given how far he has already come. He played well in the spring game, and if you give him an experienced right guard next to him, his athleticism can be valuable. Looking at the other options, maybe Simmons can slide into right tackle, moving one of the two other right tackles to guard.
The left guard position could end up being the loser of the right tackle battle, but more than likely if it’s not Matt Jones, it is going to be Enokk Vimahi. Earlier we talked about his experience. He has been on the field and trusted to start already. The same could not be said for the other players competing for jobs in Hinzman, James, Tshabola, and Michalski. Opening the door to Vimahi really only leaves one position left with no real game experience.
The answer to the burning questions on the offensive line is not simple. There is a reason Frye had to bring in transfers to compete for roles, but even they end up being depth pieces there is still serious questions up front. The implications of the decision can be the difference between a solid season or a national title. For me, playing the players who have played in real game action creates an offensive line that limits risk with a first-year starter at QB. Maximizing the experience and potential at each position is the goal, and that is what Justin Fyre needs to get right.
There are a ton of names that have been thrown around, but my answer to this burning question is a small reshuffle to maximize the best of both worlds between talent and experience. Make this year a bridge year with more experience, and when the quarterback has a year under his belt, let him help the offensive line. The question will burn throughout the season, but with Frye in charge, I’m sure he’ll maximize whoever ends up in the starting lineup.
Continue reading...
Chris Renne 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
Who are the best five the Buckeyes can put up front?
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the most important questions yet unanswered for the season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our “Burning Questions” articles here.
Ohio State’s recent run of offensive lines has been a mixed bag when it comes to personnel groupings. Under coach Greg Studrawa, there was always a combination of highly ranked recruits and long-term developmental prospects. As his tenure went on, the number of elite prospects dwindled, leaving the Buckeyes in a suspect place going into year two under new offensive line coach Justin Frye.
Frye inherited Studrawa’s last two blue chippers in Donovan Jackson, who he’ll have for another year, and Paris Johnson Jr., who ended up being a top-10 pick in this past NFL Draft. This year, the offensive line is going to have a different look with three new starters, and limited options to bridge the gap between the end of Studrawa and the beginning of Frye. Looking at the roster, there is a list of options to take on the open roles, but no obvious NFL-level players outside of Jackson.
The two returnees are the aforementioned Donovan Jackson and multi-year contributor Matt Jones, who played opposite Jackson at right guard. Jones brings a lot of experience and is one of the oldest players on the roster going into his sixth season at Ohio State. He was recruited as a center but found playing time last season at guard. He was solid but will need to take a step forward to get to the lynchpin status needed to create stability on the line. Frye worked the portal, bringing in Joshua Simmons and Victor Cutler to the fold to provide depth as well as additional competition.
There are a handful of guys competing for the three remaining jobs. Josh Fryar is the presumed left tackle. His experience is as a right tackle and an additional lineman in heavy packages. Across at right tackle is a battle between Zen Michalski, who is entering his fourth year in the program, and redshirt freshman Tegra Tshabola, who was a top-100 recruit. They’ll be trying to hold off transfer Joshua Simmons who Frye recruited himself out of high school. The last spot is the center position, which is being battled for by Jakub James, who was out the spring, and former highly-ranked prospect Carson Hinzman entering his second year.
This leaves the Buckeyes in a peculiar place, and leaves the burning question — what is the best lineup for Ohio State on the offensive line? The Buckeyes will have to decide between leaning on older bodies or diving into the young talent Frye recently recruited.
The Old Guard
Physical development along the offensive line is arguably the most important aspect of the position in college football. There are rare instances where freshmen come in and contribute immediately, but most of the time offensive linemen need at least two years on campus before they are expected to contribute. Even recent first-round draft pick Paris Johnson Jr. didn’t contribute until his sophomore season.
It takes a special talent on the offensive line to start their first or second year in the program. That to me may lead to Ohio State finding a way to get their most seasoned offensive line onto the field. With Hinzman and Tshabola in their second years, there are still some elder statesmen they need to outperform to get into the starting lineup.
There’s no question Donovan Jackson and Matt Jones are in the starting lineup. The experience puts them in this category. Looking at the vacant center position, Jakub James was out this spring. He has been in the system for longer than Hinzman. This may not mean James has more upside at the position, but even after missing spring that knowledge from the time in the program is incredibly valuable at center.
At tackle, Michalski has managed to contribute sparingly over the past two seasons. He has the game time to show he belongs at the DI level. He may not be the flashiest option, but the former four-star recruit gives Ohio State a proven body for the position. The left tackle position is basically settled, but Josh Fryar still fits into this profile.
To me this group, the in-program time takes precedent, meaning the transfers in Joshua Simmons and Victor Cutler are at least a year from really competing for jobs. Having the players with the most experience in the program and time together could translate to a more immediate synergy between the players. At a position group that values experience, going with the older players at least gives the Buckeyes a group that knows the system, which should translate to fewer mistakes.
With a first-year quarterback, that will incredibly valuable, even if the group is not special.
The Future
This is the way many fans would prefer. There is nothing better than when a highly touted recruit immediately begins to contribute to the Buckeyes. This is also the complete opposite of the way of the old guard. By going young, that would mean Ohio State’s younger players not only showed they can physically handle the role, but also gave the coaching staff confidence they understand the system well enough to play.
Looking at last year, Donovan Jackson more than lived up to his recruiting ranking to give the Buckeyes a solid battery on the left side. Even with the success, there were still growing pains, which were most evident against Iowa. That being said, even with the growing pains Jackson was by far the best option. He also grew into the role incredibly well as the year went on.
Seeing how the coaching staff has talked about Hinzman and Tshabola, there is a real chance the Buckeyes have an incredibly young offensive line. With the experience at right guard in Jones and left guard in Jackson, having a young center might be more okay than most years.
At the right tackle position, there definitely can be an argument made that the more athletic, higher-upside player should be the option. This was the same question that was asked when Branden Bowen won the job going into the 2019 season. Ohio State had to choose between him and Nicholas Petit-Frere, a redshirt freshman. They went with experience and Ohio State had success, but could the offensive line have been better if Petit-Frere was allowed to grow into the role?
There are also the the transfer additions to think about in this section. Joshua Simmons started at San Diego State as a 2021 recruit, which would give the Buckeyes a game-ready option, albeit at a lower level. They also have Victor Cutler, who I see as a more developmental piece, but could contribute at guard. There’s just a huge learning curve, and especially in Simmons case being a spring transfer, that would be a serious uphill battle.
Going young will lead to some growing pains, which may want to be avoided given the first-year starter at quarterback. The argument could be made though that having those growing pains with players who could bring multiple years to the table would be the better investment. If they can get through the early tests, a young group could be a higher upside option by the end of the year.
The Best Available
This is the most complicated way to field an offensive line, and it definitely does not always work out. Ohio State’s last best available offensive line drew the ire of fans any time the Buckeyes needed a first down. The lauded all-tackle offensive line was an experimental disaster whose incredible pass protection was counteracted by their inability to create leverage in the run game. This year, the best available would be significantly different. It may also include some players not mentioned previously.
Donovan Jackson is the best available lineman. He will be the left guard in all scenarios. The first curveball would be to move Matt Jones back to his recruited position at center. The 69th-ranked recruit nationally gives Ohio State an experienced option snapping the ball. He has been seen as the emergency center for years and is more talented than James while having more experience than Hinzman.
At left tackle, Josh Fryar fills that role next to Jackson. He was trusted into the Bison package as the extra lineman. He showed the athleticism needed in the run game, and in the spring game, he held his own against Ohio State’s first-team pass rush. That test will not be replicated until at least the Notre Dame game, and if not then, not until Penn State — which is in October.
Left guard is an interesting position here. Tshabola trained at guard as a depth piece his freshman season last year. There is also the experience of Enokk Vimahi, who started against Michigan last year and has played in 27 games in his career. Tshabola could get on the field early at this position, but if he is focused on left tackle Vimahi could potentially be the best option. Michalski winning the battle would signify that he is a step above, but I think right tackle is a position you can gamble on youth early.
Simmons was brought in as a transfer. That could signal that Michalski and Tshabola have not done enough. With his game time experience, there is no question about him playing at the D-1 level, it is more a question of how he can transition to the Big Ten level versus the Mountain West.
In this look, you get a ton of experience in the program at four of the positions. This gives an opportunity to bet on the upside at the right tackle position. Having a line of Fryar, Jackson, Jones, Vimahi, and Tshabola might maximize getting the most talent on the field. There are other ways to reorder this group, but this to me would be a potential best available line option.
My Prediction for the offensive line
To close this out, my prediction for the offensive line this season is the best available option. There are talented players coming into the program, but youth is an incredibly risky gamble given what the expectations are for Ohio State every year — not only in physical maturity, but understanding the system, which should take precedence with a first-year quarterback.
As great of a story as Hinzman starting in year two would be, given both Josh Myers and Luke Wypler started in year two as well, having a true sophomore at center on an already inexperienced offensive line seems risky. Moving Matt Jones back to center would give the Buckeyes an older, system-experienced trio in the middle, which given a first-year quarterback is ideal.
At left tackle, there really is no other option at this time than Josh Fryar. He has taken the time cutting his teeth and even earned a specialized role last season. There is no other player on the roster who the coaching staff seems to be considering. On the other side at right tackle, I think Michalski deserves every chance to compete, but Tshabola has a higher upside given how far he has already come. He played well in the spring game, and if you give him an experienced right guard next to him, his athleticism can be valuable. Looking at the other options, maybe Simmons can slide into right tackle, moving one of the two other right tackles to guard.
The left guard position could end up being the loser of the right tackle battle, but more than likely if it’s not Matt Jones, it is going to be Enokk Vimahi. Earlier we talked about his experience. He has been on the field and trusted to start already. The same could not be said for the other players competing for jobs in Hinzman, James, Tshabola, and Michalski. Opening the door to Vimahi really only leaves one position left with no real game experience.
The answer to the burning questions on the offensive line is not simple. There is a reason Frye had to bring in transfers to compete for roles, but even they end up being depth pieces there is still serious questions up front. The implications of the decision can be the difference between a solid season or a national title. For me, playing the players who have played in real game action creates an offensive line that limits risk with a first-year starter at QB. Maximizing the experience and potential at each position is the goal, and that is what Justin Fyre needs to get right.
There are a ton of names that have been thrown around, but my answer to this burning question is a small reshuffle to maximize the best of both worlds between talent and experience. Make this year a bridge year with more experience, and when the quarterback has a year under his belt, let him help the offensive line. The question will burn throughout the season, but with Frye in charge, I’m sure he’ll maximize whoever ends up in the starting lineup.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: ‘Burning Questions’ - Which transfer addition will have the biggest impact in 2023?
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You’re Nuts: ‘Burning Questions’ - Which transfer addition will have the biggest impact in 2023?
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Buckeyes added a handful of potential immediate impacts through the portal this offseason.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the most important questions yet unanswered for the season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our “Burning Questions” articles here.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
This week’s topic: Which Ohio State transfer addition will have the biggest impact?
You feel that, Gene? A tickle... a tingle... a burning sensation, perhaps? That of course means it is Burning Questions week here at LGHL! As the slow summer months without Ohio State football (and every other sport for that matter) drag on, we embrace weekly themes, and this is definitely one of my favorites. Because nobody can be proven wrong... yet.
After careful consideration and deliberation, my former podcast co-host and I decided that we wanted to answer a burning question regarding new faces within the OSU football program. We landed on this topic or subject because many (new faces) are expected to make significant contributions for the Buckeyes during this upcoming 2023 season.
But we’re not talking ‘new’ as in new to a role. So no Kyle McCord/Devin Brown, Josh Fryar, Cam Martinez, etc. Instead, we mean new to Columbus. But not ‘new to Columbus’ as in ALL new arrivals. You know what, Gene and I want to talk transfers, okay? That’s what I’m getting at, and I thought I could tease it intelligently, but the wordplay became too much. So I’ll just pose the question: Which transfer will have the biggest (positive) impact for the Buckeyes in 2023?
There is only one correct answer here, in my opinion, and that is Davison Igbinosun. The tall, rangy cornerback transferred to Ohio State in January, giving Tim Walton, Perry Eliano and the Buckeyes a young but experienced cover guy — which is something they desperately needed. He was ranked by 247Sports as the No. 17 most impactful transfer, and by March it was easy to see why.
Igbinosun performed very well in all of OSU’s spring competitions, while also infusing some much-needed nastiness into the secondary. His attitude and approach seemed to not only influence or rub off on fellow corners, but also motivate them to compete harder. Motivation and/or incentive should never be necessary in Columbus, however Igbinonsun’s arrival seemed to light a fire under the likes of Denzel Burke, Jordan Hancock, and others. All should continue to grind and push each other into the fall, hopefully resulting in a well-prepared and battle-ready CB room for the Buckeyes.
While nothing is currently decided, it appears that Igbinosun and Hancock are competing for the CB2 role opposite Burke. And based on what have seen (or haven’t seen) from the latter, I expect Igbinosun to eventually win out. Not that Hancock can’t or won’t contribute – or lacks talent – but he has just dealt with a ton of injuries, and it seems like those injuries have really hindered his development. Igbinosun, on the other hand, hit the ground running at Ole Miss and was voted a Freshman All-American while playing in the SEC. Gene, meet proof of concept.
Igbinosun’s appeal extends beyond just playing in games and playing well. Listed at 6-foot-2, 200 or so pounds, he is a physical presence unlike any other Ohio State corner. Burke, Hancock, Jyaire Brown, and others are all great athletes, but none of them look like a slightly sawed-off Richard Sherman out there. I mean, you could easily convince me that Igbinosun is 6-foot-3, 215. Regardless, he gives the Buckeyes a corner with extreme size, who should be able to match up with just about anybody. Which is good, because I seem to remember jump balls being an issue for the boys last season.
Who knows if Igbinosun will become an All-Big Ten player or even a full-time starter in Columbus. His experience, while more significant than that of all OSU CB not named Denzel Burke, is still only a dozen or so games. And we saw with the guy I just mentioned (Burke) that sophomore regression is very possible. But I like the cut of Igbinosun’s jib. I think he is going to play big and physical, and add a special dimension to the Buckeyes’ secondary. Out of all the transfers Ohio State added, I am most confident in Igbinosun making a tangible and significant impact this season.
Josh took likely the most highly anticipated Ohio State transfer off the board here, so while I consider Igbinosun in a tier of his own at the top, there are a few guys in tier two that are worthy adversaries and players I consider to be crucial to the Buckeyes’ success this season.
Ryan Day and his staff added seven fresh faces through the portal this offseason, a handful of which are purely depth pieces. Guys like quarterback Tristan Gebbia and offensive lineman Victor Cutler, while nice to have on the roster, will likely not play a down for Ohio State this season unless things have gone very very bad in the injury department. There's also those like Tywone Malone, who will be an important rotational piece on the interior of the defensive line, and Lorenzo Styles, who will likely need a year to adjust to a new position on the other side of the football.
Which brings us to Igbinosun and the other two names that are in position battles to start immediately in Columbus: Josh Simmons and Ja’Had Carter. I could really go either way here, as I do think both will ultimately start for the Buckeyes this season. Simmons will almost definitely line up at right tackle for Justin Frye’s group in 2023, and Carter will compete for the nickel safety spot against Cameron Martinez — a job I’d like to see him win. With so much attention on the offensive line this offseason, I’m going to take Carter, as I feel his addition has flown a bit under the radar.
Ohio State’s defense was much improved in 2022 from 2021, albeit not the highest bar to beat. Still, the secondary was less than stellar, and it is the reason why guys like Igbinosun and Carter were brought in to shore things up this year. The issues in the defensive backfield really reared their ugly head against Michigan, when the Buckeye safeties were torched time and time again by a good but not great quarterback in J.J. McCarthy. This years group, however, should be much improved.
The 6-foot-2 Carter comes to Columbus by way of Syracuse, where he started 10 games as a freshman and earned Freshman All-American honors. Named an All-ACC Honorable Mention in 2022, the Richmond, VA native led the Orange with three interceptions, and also had a fumble recovery he returned for a touchdown. Carter finished his three-year stint at ‘Cuse with 136 total tackles, five picks and seven pass breakups, and will now be looking to continue his success on a bigger stage at Ohio State.
In my opinion, Carter would already have one of the starting safety positions locked up if not for an injury sustained during spring practice. With Tanner McAlister off to the NFL, the Buckeyes could use an experienced and consistent presence at the nickel. Martinez is a tremendous athlete, but was exposed big time against the Wolverines and hasn’t exactly inspired a ton of confidence when given the opportunity to make plays. Carter had been a stalwart of the Syracuse defense for several years, and if health isn’t an issue, he should be the day one starter at the nickel in 2023.
I’m all for letting the fresh faces play if the guys in front of them have not quite earned it themselves, whether that be a transfer like Carter or young guys like Sonny Styles. Martinez and Proctor are both fine players, but they have also both had ample opportunities and not ran away with the job. If the three starting safeties for Perry Eliano this season are Carter, Ransom and Styles, I think that gives the Buckeyes its highest possible ceiling at the back end of the defense.
Carter has a chance to be in the difference in an OSU secondary that lacked experience a year ago.
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Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Buckeyes added a handful of potential immediate impacts through the portal this offseason.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the most important questions yet unanswered for the season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our “Burning Questions” articles here.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
This week’s topic: Which Ohio State transfer addition will have the biggest impact?
Josh’s Take
You feel that, Gene? A tickle... a tingle... a burning sensation, perhaps? That of course means it is Burning Questions week here at LGHL! As the slow summer months without Ohio State football (and every other sport for that matter) drag on, we embrace weekly themes, and this is definitely one of my favorites. Because nobody can be proven wrong... yet.
After careful consideration and deliberation, my former podcast co-host and I decided that we wanted to answer a burning question regarding new faces within the OSU football program. We landed on this topic or subject because many (new faces) are expected to make significant contributions for the Buckeyes during this upcoming 2023 season.
But we’re not talking ‘new’ as in new to a role. So no Kyle McCord/Devin Brown, Josh Fryar, Cam Martinez, etc. Instead, we mean new to Columbus. But not ‘new to Columbus’ as in ALL new arrivals. You know what, Gene and I want to talk transfers, okay? That’s what I’m getting at, and I thought I could tease it intelligently, but the wordplay became too much. So I’ll just pose the question: Which transfer will have the biggest (positive) impact for the Buckeyes in 2023?
There is only one correct answer here, in my opinion, and that is Davison Igbinosun. The tall, rangy cornerback transferred to Ohio State in January, giving Tim Walton, Perry Eliano and the Buckeyes a young but experienced cover guy — which is something they desperately needed. He was ranked by 247Sports as the No. 17 most impactful transfer, and by March it was easy to see why.
Igbinosun performed very well in all of OSU’s spring competitions, while also infusing some much-needed nastiness into the secondary. His attitude and approach seemed to not only influence or rub off on fellow corners, but also motivate them to compete harder. Motivation and/or incentive should never be necessary in Columbus, however Igbinonsun’s arrival seemed to light a fire under the likes of Denzel Burke, Jordan Hancock, and others. All should continue to grind and push each other into the fall, hopefully resulting in a well-prepared and battle-ready CB room for the Buckeyes.
While nothing is currently decided, it appears that Igbinosun and Hancock are competing for the CB2 role opposite Burke. And based on what have seen (or haven’t seen) from the latter, I expect Igbinosun to eventually win out. Not that Hancock can’t or won’t contribute – or lacks talent – but he has just dealt with a ton of injuries, and it seems like those injuries have really hindered his development. Igbinosun, on the other hand, hit the ground running at Ole Miss and was voted a Freshman All-American while playing in the SEC. Gene, meet proof of concept.
Igbinosun’s appeal extends beyond just playing in games and playing well. Listed at 6-foot-2, 200 or so pounds, he is a physical presence unlike any other Ohio State corner. Burke, Hancock, Jyaire Brown, and others are all great athletes, but none of them look like a slightly sawed-off Richard Sherman out there. I mean, you could easily convince me that Igbinosun is 6-foot-3, 215. Regardless, he gives the Buckeyes a corner with extreme size, who should be able to match up with just about anybody. Which is good, because I seem to remember jump balls being an issue for the boys last season.
Who knows if Igbinosun will become an All-Big Ten player or even a full-time starter in Columbus. His experience, while more significant than that of all OSU CB not named Denzel Burke, is still only a dozen or so games. And we saw with the guy I just mentioned (Burke) that sophomore regression is very possible. But I like the cut of Igbinosun’s jib. I think he is going to play big and physical, and add a special dimension to the Buckeyes’ secondary. Out of all the transfers Ohio State added, I am most confident in Igbinosun making a tangible and significant impact this season.
Gene’s Take
Josh took likely the most highly anticipated Ohio State transfer off the board here, so while I consider Igbinosun in a tier of his own at the top, there are a few guys in tier two that are worthy adversaries and players I consider to be crucial to the Buckeyes’ success this season.
Ryan Day and his staff added seven fresh faces through the portal this offseason, a handful of which are purely depth pieces. Guys like quarterback Tristan Gebbia and offensive lineman Victor Cutler, while nice to have on the roster, will likely not play a down for Ohio State this season unless things have gone very very bad in the injury department. There's also those like Tywone Malone, who will be an important rotational piece on the interior of the defensive line, and Lorenzo Styles, who will likely need a year to adjust to a new position on the other side of the football.
Which brings us to Igbinosun and the other two names that are in position battles to start immediately in Columbus: Josh Simmons and Ja’Had Carter. I could really go either way here, as I do think both will ultimately start for the Buckeyes this season. Simmons will almost definitely line up at right tackle for Justin Frye’s group in 2023, and Carter will compete for the nickel safety spot against Cameron Martinez — a job I’d like to see him win. With so much attention on the offensive line this offseason, I’m going to take Carter, as I feel his addition has flown a bit under the radar.
Ohio State’s defense was much improved in 2022 from 2021, albeit not the highest bar to beat. Still, the secondary was less than stellar, and it is the reason why guys like Igbinosun and Carter were brought in to shore things up this year. The issues in the defensive backfield really reared their ugly head against Michigan, when the Buckeye safeties were torched time and time again by a good but not great quarterback in J.J. McCarthy. This years group, however, should be much improved.
The 6-foot-2 Carter comes to Columbus by way of Syracuse, where he started 10 games as a freshman and earned Freshman All-American honors. Named an All-ACC Honorable Mention in 2022, the Richmond, VA native led the Orange with three interceptions, and also had a fumble recovery he returned for a touchdown. Carter finished his three-year stint at ‘Cuse with 136 total tackles, five picks and seven pass breakups, and will now be looking to continue his success on a bigger stage at Ohio State.
In my opinion, Carter would already have one of the starting safety positions locked up if not for an injury sustained during spring practice. With Tanner McAlister off to the NFL, the Buckeyes could use an experienced and consistent presence at the nickel. Martinez is a tremendous athlete, but was exposed big time against the Wolverines and hasn’t exactly inspired a ton of confidence when given the opportunity to make plays. Carter had been a stalwart of the Syracuse defense for several years, and if health isn’t an issue, he should be the day one starter at the nickel in 2023.
I’m all for letting the fresh faces play if the guys in front of them have not quite earned it themselves, whether that be a transfer like Carter or young guys like Sonny Styles. Martinez and Proctor are both fine players, but they have also both had ample opportunities and not ran away with the job. If the three starting safeties for Perry Eliano this season are Carter, Ransom and Styles, I think that gives the Buckeyes its highest possible ceiling at the back end of the defense.
Carter has a chance to be in the difference in an OSU secondary that lacked experience a year ago.
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LGHL Carmen’s Crew roster takes shape ahead of next month’s TBT
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Carmen’s Crew roster takes shape ahead of next month’s TBT
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 John Fisher/Getty Images
The squad, comprised mostly of Ohio State alums, will be looking to win their second TBT title.
After taking 2022 off, Carmen’s Crew will return to The Basketball Tournament this year. While the brackets have yet to be announced, the roster of Ohio State alumni has been revealed.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of TBT, which will feature 64 teams, with the winner of the championship game taking place in Philadelphia in early August. The champions will take home $1 million dollars.
Coaching Carmen’s Crew this year is Jared Sullinger, who played on the team in 2017 and 2018. Sullinger was named to the All-Tournament Team in 2017, when the team was known as Scarlet & Gray. The team made it all the way to the semifinals in 2017 before falling 88-83 in double overtime to Team Challenge ALS. In 2018, Sullinger and company made it to the quarterfinals before Team Fredette ran away from them 100-78 in Atlanta.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24734638/141500228.jpg "NCAA Basketball Tournament - Gonzaga v Ohio State")
Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
This year’s squad will have one playing member from the 2019 team that won it all. Along with winning the 2019 tournament, William Buford was named the tournament MVP. While he never played in the NBA, the guard from Toledo found a lot of success overseas. Most recently, Buford played for Oliver Wurzburg in Germany’s Basketball Bundesliga, averaging 12.1 points per game in the 2021-22 season.
Buford is the one of the few playing members of Carmen’s Crew that played under Thad Matta, as most of the team is made up of Chris Holtmann recruits. The most notable former Buckeyes that will be playing are the Wesson brothers. Kaleb Wesson spent three years at Ohio State before declaring for the 2020 NBA Draft. While he went undrafted, Wesson has spent the last two years playing for Indios de Mayaguez in Puerto Rico.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24734640/1192412573.jpg "COLLEGE BASKETBALL: DEC 21 CBS Sports Classic - Ohio State v Kentucky")
Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The other player on Carmen’s Crew that did play under Thad Matta is Kaleb’s older brother Andre Wesson, who was a freshman during the 2016-17 season, which was Matta’s final year as head coach of the Buckeyes. Wesson has spent the last couple years playing professional basketball in Europe. The 2021-22 season saw Wesson average 16.1 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game for Lapaun Koikobrat in Finland. This year, Wesson played for Nassjo in Sweden.
The most surprising member of this year’s TBT team is Kyle Young, who announced his retirement from professional basketball in 2022. Young always gave tremendous effort while wearing the scarlet and gray, but he was slowed by three concussions over a two-year span. It will be great to see Young back on the court again, especially after he missed out on some time during the latter half of his career with the Buckeyes while he was dealing with those concussion issues.
A trio of players that started their careers elsewhere before finishing at Ohio State will be a part of Carmen’s Crew this year. C.J. Jackson, Keyshawn Woods, and Trevor Thompson have all announced they will be playing for the team this year.
Jackson’s college career began at Eastern Florida State before Thad Matta lured him to Columbus following the 2015-16 season. Jackson would play for the Buckeyes for three seasons. The guard has made a number of stops internationally as a pro, playing in Finland, England, and Vietnam before playing most recently in Sweden.
Before playing at Ohio State in his senior season, Woods made two stops at the college level, starting at Charlotte before transferring to Wake Forest. Much like the other players on this team, Woods has found success internationally. The guard has the most interesting recent accomplishment, as he was named playoffs MVP when Tindastoll won the Icelandic Championship. Woods scored the final three points from the foul line in the 82-81 win in the final game of the championship series.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24734636/579972308.jpg "NCAA BASKETBALL: MAR 10 Big Ten Tournament - Penn State v Ohio State")
Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Thompson started his college career at Virginia Tech before transferring to Ohio State for two seasons. Since then, Thompson spent a year in the NBA G League before heading over to Europe. It might be easier to name the countries on the continent that Thompson hasn’t played in. Thompson started his European tour in France, and since then has played in Belgium, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Croatia, and Italy.
Ohio State alums won’t be the only members of Carmen’s Crew this year. Washington center Malik Dime returns to the squad. The backcourt will include Arkansas guard Jalen Tate, as well as St. Louis and Michigan State’s Javon Bess. The MAC will get a little representation on the team as well, with Bowling Green forward Scott Thomas joining the roster.
Carmen’s Crew’s opponents will be announced in the near future, but they at least know they’ll be starting their quest for the $1 million at the Dayton regional. Stay turned to LGHL this summer, as we’ll have more coverage of the event as it nears.
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 John Fisher/Getty Images
The squad, comprised mostly of Ohio State alums, will be looking to win their second TBT title.
After taking 2022 off, Carmen’s Crew will return to The Basketball Tournament this year. While the brackets have yet to be announced, the roster of Ohio State alumni has been revealed.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of TBT, which will feature 64 teams, with the winner of the championship game taking place in Philadelphia in early August. The champions will take home $1 million dollars.
Coaching Carmen’s Crew this year is Jared Sullinger, who played on the team in 2017 and 2018. Sullinger was named to the All-Tournament Team in 2017, when the team was known as Scarlet & Gray. The team made it all the way to the semifinals in 2017 before falling 88-83 in double overtime to Team Challenge ALS. In 2018, Sullinger and company made it to the quarterfinals before Team Fredette ran away from them 100-78 in Atlanta.
This year’s squad will have one playing member from the 2019 team that won it all. Along with winning the 2019 tournament, William Buford was named the tournament MVP. While he never played in the NBA, the guard from Toledo found a lot of success overseas. Most recently, Buford played for Oliver Wurzburg in Germany’s Basketball Bundesliga, averaging 12.1 points per game in the 2021-22 season.
Buford is the one of the few playing members of Carmen’s Crew that played under Thad Matta, as most of the team is made up of Chris Holtmann recruits. The most notable former Buckeyes that will be playing are the Wesson brothers. Kaleb Wesson spent three years at Ohio State before declaring for the 2020 NBA Draft. While he went undrafted, Wesson has spent the last two years playing for Indios de Mayaguez in Puerto Rico.
The other player on Carmen’s Crew that did play under Thad Matta is Kaleb’s older brother Andre Wesson, who was a freshman during the 2016-17 season, which was Matta’s final year as head coach of the Buckeyes. Wesson has spent the last couple years playing professional basketball in Europe. The 2021-22 season saw Wesson average 16.1 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game for Lapaun Koikobrat in Finland. This year, Wesson played for Nassjo in Sweden.
The most surprising member of this year’s TBT team is Kyle Young, who announced his retirement from professional basketball in 2022. Young always gave tremendous effort while wearing the scarlet and gray, but he was slowed by three concussions over a two-year span. It will be great to see Young back on the court again, especially after he missed out on some time during the latter half of his career with the Buckeyes while he was dealing with those concussion issues.
A trio of players that started their careers elsewhere before finishing at Ohio State will be a part of Carmen’s Crew this year. C.J. Jackson, Keyshawn Woods, and Trevor Thompson have all announced they will be playing for the team this year.
Jackson’s college career began at Eastern Florida State before Thad Matta lured him to Columbus following the 2015-16 season. Jackson would play for the Buckeyes for three seasons. The guard has made a number of stops internationally as a pro, playing in Finland, England, and Vietnam before playing most recently in Sweden.
Before playing at Ohio State in his senior season, Woods made two stops at the college level, starting at Charlotte before transferring to Wake Forest. Much like the other players on this team, Woods has found success internationally. The guard has the most interesting recent accomplishment, as he was named playoffs MVP when Tindastoll won the Icelandic Championship. Woods scored the final three points from the foul line in the 82-81 win in the final game of the championship series.
Thompson started his college career at Virginia Tech before transferring to Ohio State for two seasons. Since then, Thompson spent a year in the NBA G League before heading over to Europe. It might be easier to name the countries on the continent that Thompson hasn’t played in. Thompson started his European tour in France, and since then has played in Belgium, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Croatia, and Italy.
Ohio State alums won’t be the only members of Carmen’s Crew this year. Washington center Malik Dime returns to the squad. The backcourt will include Arkansas guard Jalen Tate, as well as St. Louis and Michigan State’s Javon Bess. The MAC will get a little representation on the team as well, with Bowling Green forward Scott Thomas joining the roster.
Carmen’s Crew’s opponents will be announced in the near future, but they at least know they’ll be starting their quest for the $1 million at the Dayton regional. Stay turned to LGHL this summer, as we’ll have more coverage of the event as it nears.
Continue reading...
