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LGHL The biggest concern holding back Ohio State women’s basketball from the next level
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The biggest concern holding back Ohio State women’s basketball from the next level
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
It’s not a new issue but if its addressed it could push the Buckeyes to an even higher level
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about our Biggest Concerns. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Biggest Concerns here.
This week, Land-Grant Holy Land begins a series of theme weeks, running through August. Kicking things off for week one is identifying the biggest concerns for the Scarlet & Gray. Now sure, this whole theme week idea is focused around football but I’m historically somebody who doesn’t like being told what to do. Let’s talk Ohio State women’s basketball and a continuing lack of strength in the post.
Big Ten women’s basketball, historically known as a type of basketball that’s methodical and wears opponents down has changed dramatically. Now it’s a conference of high scoring with three sides, the Buckeyes, Iowa Hawkeyes, and Indiana Hoosiers, all in the top 10 in the NCAA in scoring offense.
Each team arrived at that buzzsaw-like offense in different ways. For the Iowa Hawkeyes, there’s an underrated guard named Caitlin Clark who you may or may not have heard of. Clark was second this season in scoring and led all college basketball (men and women) with five triple-doubles.
Part of that dominance is Clark’s country-leading 8.6 assists per game. Who are those assists going to the most? Forward Monika Czinano famously scored 20 points against the Georgia Bulldogs in the NCAA tournament without dribbling the ball once.
Below the Hawkeyes in scoring was the Indiana Hoosiers. While Czinano’s scoring figures benefit heavily from the play of Clark and the Hawkeyes, forward Mackenzie Holmes is the backbone of Indiana’s offense.
If it wasn’t for Clark, Holmes would be the player crowned Big Ten Player of the Year season after season.
Ohio State is still in that top 10, at one point leading the country in points per game. The Buckeyes do it their own way though, scoring off forced turnovers and relying on a group of skilled players like now WNBA guard Taylor Mikesell and 22-23 B1G Freshman of the Year, forward Cotie McMahon.
This season, the Buckeyes struggled defensively against both Czinano and Holmes. In two games against the Hawkeyes, Czinano put up 22 and 26 points in a regular season game and Big Ten Tournament final respectively. With Holmes, the Hoosier scored 33 and 26 against Ohio State in two regular season games.
To put it simply, there was no answer for their movement and scoring in the paint. In one game, the Buckeyes had more success against Holmes, holding the forward to 12 points in the conference tournament semifinal.
In the historic 24-point comeback, McMahon clogged passing lanes and made Holmes ineffective, but later it came out that Holmes was injured in the game, not returning to action until the second round of the NCAA Tournament, in an upset defeat to the Miami Hurricanes.
Now, the Buckeyes don’t need to have someone like Holmes or Czinano to compete. It’s clear that those players are at a different level and the Scarlet & Gray doesn’t have to change how they play, which earned them a spot in the Elite Eight. Ohio State needs someone who can slow dominant bigs down.
During the 22-23 season, that job went to forwards Rebeka Mikulasikova and Eboni Walker. Each had moments of success like Mikulasikova getting Tennessee Volunteers’ center Tamari Key in foul trouble early and effectively taking her out of the first game of the season.
In the NCAA Tournament, Walker put up a strong performance against the North Carolina Tar Heels to earn the Buckeyes a trip to Seattle.
Also, guard Taylor Thierry, who slides into the five position frequently throughout the season, was a rebounding presence and consistent scorer on second-chance buckets and passes into the paint.
However, the size, leaping ability, and speed of players like Holmes and Illinois’ Kendall Bostic need consistent defensive attention. Through recruiting, Ohio State’s landed one forward/center: Graduating high school senior Faith Carson.
Carson, a 6-foot-4 center, averaged 20.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5.8 blocks per game in her senior season with Division III Buchanan High School, winning D3 Player of the Year honors.
With Carson finishing her senior season, and not enrolling early at Ohio State, it’s hard to tell how the center adjusts to the college game. Also, outside of someone like McMahon who came in with Team USA experience, head coach Kevin McGuff hasn’t leveraged as many underclassmen in their freshman seasons.
It feels more likely that Carson takes a route like Thierry. The Cleveland, Ohio guard/forward joined the Buckeyes last season, played limited minutes, but worked in the gym and made the most of limited time on the court to earn a starting spot she never relinquished in the 22-23 season.
Transfer portal-wise, Ohio State hasn’t added any forwards to fill the hole. All the top-ranked centers/forwards, outside of Aneesah Morrow who’s already shared her top three schools that don’t include the Buckeyes, are out of the portal. It’s feeling more likely that a starting-caliber forward, ready to compete in a Power Five conference, isn’t happening in Columbus.
The answer might be in the roster already.
The three likeliest names to step into that more dominant defensive role in the paint are Walker and Thierry. Last season, Walker came into the Buckeyes’ program after almost two years of not playing or practicing consistently and towards the end of the season stepped in to start and had moments of energy and intensity in the paint.
For Thierry, the forward made a leap that’s as impressive as her own leaping ability last season. Should that growth continue into Thierry’s junior season, the 6-foot forward could slide into that role when needed to make an impact.
However, the portal hasn’t been completely silent. As of publishing, Ohio State hasn’t lost any starters to transfer and added National Defensive Player of the Year finalist in guard Celeste Taylor. That boost of defense in a team already heralded for scary full-court pressure will make it harder for those dominant post presences to get the ball in the first place.
In addition, McMahon's success against Holmes was practiced for the first time on the day of the game against Indiana. If Coach McGuff explores that set more, could athleticism be the key to matching a player like-for-like?
It’ll be six months before anyone knows for sure.
Continue reading...
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
It’s not a new issue but if its addressed it could push the Buckeyes to an even higher level
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about our Biggest Concerns. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Biggest Concerns here.
This week, Land-Grant Holy Land begins a series of theme weeks, running through August. Kicking things off for week one is identifying the biggest concerns for the Scarlet & Gray. Now sure, this whole theme week idea is focused around football but I’m historically somebody who doesn’t like being told what to do. Let’s talk Ohio State women’s basketball and a continuing lack of strength in the post.
Big Ten women’s basketball, historically known as a type of basketball that’s methodical and wears opponents down has changed dramatically. Now it’s a conference of high scoring with three sides, the Buckeyes, Iowa Hawkeyes, and Indiana Hoosiers, all in the top 10 in the NCAA in scoring offense.
Each team arrived at that buzzsaw-like offense in different ways. For the Iowa Hawkeyes, there’s an underrated guard named Caitlin Clark who you may or may not have heard of. Clark was second this season in scoring and led all college basketball (men and women) with five triple-doubles.
Part of that dominance is Clark’s country-leading 8.6 assists per game. Who are those assists going to the most? Forward Monika Czinano famously scored 20 points against the Georgia Bulldogs in the NCAA tournament without dribbling the ball once.
Below the Hawkeyes in scoring was the Indiana Hoosiers. While Czinano’s scoring figures benefit heavily from the play of Clark and the Hawkeyes, forward Mackenzie Holmes is the backbone of Indiana’s offense.
If it wasn’t for Clark, Holmes would be the player crowned Big Ten Player of the Year season after season.
Ohio State is still in that top 10, at one point leading the country in points per game. The Buckeyes do it their own way though, scoring off forced turnovers and relying on a group of skilled players like now WNBA guard Taylor Mikesell and 22-23 B1G Freshman of the Year, forward Cotie McMahon.
This season, the Buckeyes struggled defensively against both Czinano and Holmes. In two games against the Hawkeyes, Czinano put up 22 and 26 points in a regular season game and Big Ten Tournament final respectively. With Holmes, the Hoosier scored 33 and 26 against Ohio State in two regular season games.
To put it simply, there was no answer for their movement and scoring in the paint. In one game, the Buckeyes had more success against Holmes, holding the forward to 12 points in the conference tournament semifinal.
In the historic 24-point comeback, McMahon clogged passing lanes and made Holmes ineffective, but later it came out that Holmes was injured in the game, not returning to action until the second round of the NCAA Tournament, in an upset defeat to the Miami Hurricanes.
Now, the Buckeyes don’t need to have someone like Holmes or Czinano to compete. It’s clear that those players are at a different level and the Scarlet & Gray doesn’t have to change how they play, which earned them a spot in the Elite Eight. Ohio State needs someone who can slow dominant bigs down.
During the 22-23 season, that job went to forwards Rebeka Mikulasikova and Eboni Walker. Each had moments of success like Mikulasikova getting Tennessee Volunteers’ center Tamari Key in foul trouble early and effectively taking her out of the first game of the season.
In the NCAA Tournament, Walker put up a strong performance against the North Carolina Tar Heels to earn the Buckeyes a trip to Seattle.
Also, guard Taylor Thierry, who slides into the five position frequently throughout the season, was a rebounding presence and consistent scorer on second-chance buckets and passes into the paint.
However, the size, leaping ability, and speed of players like Holmes and Illinois’ Kendall Bostic need consistent defensive attention. Through recruiting, Ohio State’s landed one forward/center: Graduating high school senior Faith Carson.
Carson, a 6-foot-4 center, averaged 20.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5.8 blocks per game in her senior season with Division III Buchanan High School, winning D3 Player of the Year honors.
With Carson finishing her senior season, and not enrolling early at Ohio State, it’s hard to tell how the center adjusts to the college game. Also, outside of someone like McMahon who came in with Team USA experience, head coach Kevin McGuff hasn’t leveraged as many underclassmen in their freshman seasons.
It feels more likely that Carson takes a route like Thierry. The Cleveland, Ohio guard/forward joined the Buckeyes last season, played limited minutes, but worked in the gym and made the most of limited time on the court to earn a starting spot she never relinquished in the 22-23 season.
Transfer portal-wise, Ohio State hasn’t added any forwards to fill the hole. All the top-ranked centers/forwards, outside of Aneesah Morrow who’s already shared her top three schools that don’t include the Buckeyes, are out of the portal. It’s feeling more likely that a starting-caliber forward, ready to compete in a Power Five conference, isn’t happening in Columbus.
The answer might be in the roster already.
The three likeliest names to step into that more dominant defensive role in the paint are Walker and Thierry. Last season, Walker came into the Buckeyes’ program after almost two years of not playing or practicing consistently and towards the end of the season stepped in to start and had moments of energy and intensity in the paint.
For Thierry, the forward made a leap that’s as impressive as her own leaping ability last season. Should that growth continue into Thierry’s junior season, the 6-foot forward could slide into that role when needed to make an impact.
However, the portal hasn’t been completely silent. As of publishing, Ohio State hasn’t lost any starters to transfer and added National Defensive Player of the Year finalist in guard Celeste Taylor. That boost of defense in a team already heralded for scary full-court pressure will make it harder for those dominant post presences to get the ball in the first place.
In addition, McMahon's success against Holmes was practiced for the first time on the day of the game against Indiana. If Coach McGuff explores that set more, could athleticism be the key to matching a player like-for-like?
It’ll be six months before anyone knows for sure.
Continue reading...
LGHL Biggest Concern: Will Ohio State suffer a significant drop-off at quarterback?
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Biggest Concern: Will Ohio State suffer a significant drop-off at quarterback?
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Can Kyle McCord or Devin Brown get the job done in a way that meets Ohio State’s tough standards?
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about our Biggest Concerns. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Biggest Concerns here.
My biggest concern for this 2023 Buckeye football team is about the most important position on the field: quarterback. This is the first true quarterback battle that Ohio State has had in years, and while it seems like Kyle McCord is the frontrunner, there has been no true hint as to who will be named the starter. Whoever it is, can they maintain the precedent that Buckeye quarterbacks have set for the past decade?
The quarterback position has not been a problem in years, especially since Ryan Day took over as head coach. The last true QB battle was between Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett in 2015, following the 2014 National Championship. Both players ended up splitting reps during the season. However, after them, it has been a steady stream of superstars — Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud. Now, it is time for a new star.
Obviously, it is hard to say right now, at the beginning of May, as to whether there will be a drop off at QB. The team has yet to start summer practices and the starter hasn’t even been named yet. While a battle hasn’t happened since 2015, the situation really hasn’t changed. A four or five-star recruit, highly touted, sitting behind the star quarterback for a year or two before getting his shot to take over the team.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24626658/503377692.jpg "Ohio State University vs University of Hawaii")
Set Number: X159934 TK1
Haskins was a four-star recruit who sat for two seasons before balling out for his single season as a starter. Fields was a five-star recruit who transferred from Georgia after a year. Stroud was a five-star recruit who sat behind Fields for a year. Now, McCord is a five-star recruit who sat behind Stroud for two years, and redshirt-freshman Devin Brown is a five-star recruit who sat behind Stroud for one year.
This guys aren’t nobodies. They were at the top of their draft classes and were recruited across the nation. Yet, they chose Ohio State. Has the QB pipeline into the NFL been the strongest? No. But has each of the last three quarterbacks been named a Heisman finalist and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year? Yep. Quarterbacks at Ohio State are successful.
Therefore, I don’t think it would be acceptable for the standard to be lowered for whoever the QB is this year. It doesn’t hurt that whoever the starter is, they’re walking into a situation where they are just absolutely surrounded by weapons. The best receiving room in the nation is at their disposal, and they have a handful of great running backs behind them.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24626659/1247874170.jpg "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: MAR 07 Ohio State Spring Practice")
Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The offensive line will be new and may impact them, but I just want to focus solely on the talent of whoever is under center. Truly, I think McCord or Brown will have the same success as previous year’s quarterbacks. I’m sure it will be a shaky start and take a couple games to adjust, but remember Stroud’s first game against Minnesota? He did not look great, but look at the resume he complied for himself, and now he just got drafted No. 2 overall. Not to be cliche, but it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish!
I’m guessing McCord is going to be the starter, and if he is, he is in a great position. He has two years of learning the system under his belt, sitting behind one of the best QB’s in the nation and has the country’s best receivers to throw to. While it may be his first time being the starter, he is not a newbie to this program. He’s played in front of 100,000 screaming fans at The Shoe. He is ready for this.
And if it’s Brown? The same can be said for him, except he has one less year in the system. Ryan Day will not be a QB on the field who is not prepared and is not ready to lead this team to a National Championship. Whoever the starter may be, I expect no drop off.
Continue reading...
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Can Kyle McCord or Devin Brown get the job done in a way that meets Ohio State’s tough standards?
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about our Biggest Concerns. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Biggest Concerns here.
My biggest concern for this 2023 Buckeye football team is about the most important position on the field: quarterback. This is the first true quarterback battle that Ohio State has had in years, and while it seems like Kyle McCord is the frontrunner, there has been no true hint as to who will be named the starter. Whoever it is, can they maintain the precedent that Buckeye quarterbacks have set for the past decade?
The quarterback position has not been a problem in years, especially since Ryan Day took over as head coach. The last true QB battle was between Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett in 2015, following the 2014 National Championship. Both players ended up splitting reps during the season. However, after them, it has been a steady stream of superstars — Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud. Now, it is time for a new star.
Obviously, it is hard to say right now, at the beginning of May, as to whether there will be a drop off at QB. The team has yet to start summer practices and the starter hasn’t even been named yet. While a battle hasn’t happened since 2015, the situation really hasn’t changed. A four or five-star recruit, highly touted, sitting behind the star quarterback for a year or two before getting his shot to take over the team.
Haskins was a four-star recruit who sat for two seasons before balling out for his single season as a starter. Fields was a five-star recruit who transferred from Georgia after a year. Stroud was a five-star recruit who sat behind Fields for a year. Now, McCord is a five-star recruit who sat behind Stroud for two years, and redshirt-freshman Devin Brown is a five-star recruit who sat behind Stroud for one year.
This guys aren’t nobodies. They were at the top of their draft classes and were recruited across the nation. Yet, they chose Ohio State. Has the QB pipeline into the NFL been the strongest? No. But has each of the last three quarterbacks been named a Heisman finalist and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year? Yep. Quarterbacks at Ohio State are successful.
Therefore, I don’t think it would be acceptable for the standard to be lowered for whoever the QB is this year. It doesn’t hurt that whoever the starter is, they’re walking into a situation where they are just absolutely surrounded by weapons. The best receiving room in the nation is at their disposal, and they have a handful of great running backs behind them.
The offensive line will be new and may impact them, but I just want to focus solely on the talent of whoever is under center. Truly, I think McCord or Brown will have the same success as previous year’s quarterbacks. I’m sure it will be a shaky start and take a couple games to adjust, but remember Stroud’s first game against Minnesota? He did not look great, but look at the resume he complied for himself, and now he just got drafted No. 2 overall. Not to be cliche, but it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish!
I’m guessing McCord is going to be the starter, and if he is, he is in a great position. He has two years of learning the system under his belt, sitting behind one of the best QB’s in the nation and has the country’s best receivers to throw to. While it may be his first time being the starter, he is not a newbie to this program. He’s played in front of 100,000 screaming fans at The Shoe. He is ready for this.
And if it’s Brown? The same can be said for him, except he has one less year in the system. Ryan Day will not be a QB on the field who is not prepared and is not ready to lead this team to a National Championship. Whoever the starter may be, I expect no drop off.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State makes cut for four-star OT
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- 0 Replies
Ohio State makes cut for four-star OT
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2024 four-star OT Jameson Riggs via Rusty Mansell, 247Sports
The Buckeyes recently made the cut for a 2024 four-star offensive tackle and a fast-rising former UAB safety transfer target.
Ohio State’s football team had a successful weekend, as six former Buckeyes were drafted to continue their football careers at the highest level. Several other Buckeyes also signed after the NFL Draft as undrafted free agents.
The NFL Draft has been kind to Ohio State as of late, and the program’s success at developing talent was once again on full display. This exposure is a great recruiting tool for the Buckeyes, and it is one they will certainly tout.
Ohio State also made headlines this weekend as the team earned multiple commitments, who hope to have the same success in Columbus as the six former Buckeyes now moving on to the NFL. However, the headlines didn’t stop there as Ohio State also saw progress made for prospects they are actively recruiting.
With spring practice over for Ohio State and the college football landscape, we enter the time of the year where recruits are able to start narrowing down their list of suitors to schools they are most interested in. Ohio State seemingly is included on one of these lists daily, and this held true on Sunday as 2024 four-star offensive tackle Jameson Riggs (Hiram, GA / Hiram) included the Buckeyes on his newest top schools list.
Narrowing down a list of more than 30 scholarship offers, Riggs recently released a top-10 list consisting of Ohio State, Georgia Tech, Clemson, LSU, Auburn, Duke, USC, Tennessee, Penn State and Vanderbilt.
Riggs visited with Ohio State this spring after receiving a scholarship offer from the Buckeyes in January. If the interest remains mutual between Riggs and Ohio State, expect the Buckeyes to try and get him back on campus this summer when the team begins summer camps.
Ohio State’s 2024 class has been offensively driven to date, with the Buckeyes already holding commitments from four offensive linemen. The Buckeyes will certainly look to add a high-level prospect to finish off this haul, but they will also be looking for more depth up front after losing multiple starters on the line this off-season. Because of this, Riggs would make for an excellent addition to this class.
Riggs is viewed as a four-star prospect by 247Sports and they have him as the No. 20 OT. They also see him as the No. 32 prospect out of Georgia.
Ohio State has earned commitments from three transfers at defensive back this offseason. However, the team could be looking to make that four. Former UAB safety Jaylen Key released a top six on Sunday and included the Buckeyes.
Alongside Ohio State, Key included Florida State, UNC, Alabama, Oregon and Ole Miss in his top six schools.
Ohio State is relatively new players in Key’s transfer recruitment, and he has not yet been able to visit. There are talks of Key making a trip to Columbus in the coming weeks and this will be necessary for Ohio State if they are going to earn his commitment. Key has already made visits with Alabama and Ole Miss and has visits scheduled for Florida State and Oregon.
Key played in 13 games last season as a redshirt junior and racked up 60 total tackles (4.5 for loss), one sack, three interceptions and two forced fumbles. He has received interest from plenty of power five teams and would immediately fight for playing time this year if he were to choose the Buckeyes.
Ohio state also dished out multiple scholarship offers this weekend. Below are the recruits that Ohio State presented with an official scholarship offer:
Class: 2025
Hometown: Katy, TX / Paetow
Size: 5-foot-10, 165 pounds
Class: 2025
Hometown: DeSoto, TX / DeSoto
Size: 5-foot-10, 190 pounds
Class: 2025
Hometown: Rabun Gap, GA / Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School
Size: 6-foot-2, 170 pounds
Class: 2026
Hometown: Orange, CA / Orange Lutheran
Size: 6-foot-3, 215 pounds
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
2024 four-star OT Jameson Riggs via Rusty Mansell, 247Sports
The Buckeyes recently made the cut for a 2024 four-star offensive tackle and a fast-rising former UAB safety transfer target.
Ohio State’s football team had a successful weekend, as six former Buckeyes were drafted to continue their football careers at the highest level. Several other Buckeyes also signed after the NFL Draft as undrafted free agents.
The NFL Draft has been kind to Ohio State as of late, and the program’s success at developing talent was once again on full display. This exposure is a great recruiting tool for the Buckeyes, and it is one they will certainly tout.
Ohio State also made headlines this weekend as the team earned multiple commitments, who hope to have the same success in Columbus as the six former Buckeyes now moving on to the NFL. However, the headlines didn’t stop there as Ohio State also saw progress made for prospects they are actively recruiting.
2024 four-star OT has Ohio State as a top school
With spring practice over for Ohio State and the college football landscape, we enter the time of the year where recruits are able to start narrowing down their list of suitors to schools they are most interested in. Ohio State seemingly is included on one of these lists daily, and this held true on Sunday as 2024 four-star offensive tackle Jameson Riggs (Hiram, GA / Hiram) included the Buckeyes on his newest top schools list.
Narrowing down a list of more than 30 scholarship offers, Riggs recently released a top-10 list consisting of Ohio State, Georgia Tech, Clemson, LSU, Auburn, Duke, USC, Tennessee, Penn State and Vanderbilt.
Riggs visited with Ohio State this spring after receiving a scholarship offer from the Buckeyes in January. If the interest remains mutual between Riggs and Ohio State, expect the Buckeyes to try and get him back on campus this summer when the team begins summer camps.
Ohio State’s 2024 class has been offensively driven to date, with the Buckeyes already holding commitments from four offensive linemen. The Buckeyes will certainly look to add a high-level prospect to finish off this haul, but they will also be looking for more depth up front after losing multiple starters on the line this off-season. Because of this, Riggs would make for an excellent addition to this class.
Riggs is viewed as a four-star prospect by 247Sports and they have him as the No. 20 OT. They also see him as the No. 32 prospect out of Georgia.
Transfer safety target has OSU as top school
Ohio State has earned commitments from three transfers at defensive back this offseason. However, the team could be looking to make that four. Former UAB safety Jaylen Key released a top six on Sunday and included the Buckeyes.
Alongside Ohio State, Key included Florida State, UNC, Alabama, Oregon and Ole Miss in his top six schools.
Ohio State is relatively new players in Key’s transfer recruitment, and he has not yet been able to visit. There are talks of Key making a trip to Columbus in the coming weeks and this will be necessary for Ohio State if they are going to earn his commitment. Key has already made visits with Alabama and Ole Miss and has visits scheduled for Florida State and Oregon.
Key played in 13 games last season as a redshirt junior and racked up 60 total tackles (4.5 for loss), one sack, three interceptions and two forced fumbles. He has received interest from plenty of power five teams and would immediately fight for playing time this year if he were to choose the Buckeyes.
Ohio State dishes out four scholarship offers
Ohio state also dished out multiple scholarship offers this weekend. Below are the recruits that Ohio State presented with an official scholarship offer:
Four-star CB Deyjhon Pettaway
Class: 2025
Hometown: Katy, TX / Paetow
Size: 5-foot-10, 165 pounds
#AGTG Extremely Blessed to receive an offer from Ohio state
— Deyjhon Pettaway (@DeyjhonPettaway) April 29, 2023
Four-star RB Deondrae Riden
Class: 2025
Hometown: DeSoto, TX / DeSoto
Size: 5-foot-10, 190 pounds
I Am Honored And Blessed To Receive An Offer From Ohio State University
— Tiger Riden (@riden_jr) April 30, 2023
Four-star CB Onis Konanbanny
Class: 2025
Hometown: Rabun Gap, GA / Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School
Size: 6-foot-2, 170 pounds
LB Talanoa Ili
Class: 2026
Hometown: Orange, CA / Orange Lutheran
Size: 6-foot-3, 215 pounds
Continue reading...
