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DB Sonny Gordon (1986 captain, R.I.P.)
- By Jake
- Buckeye Alumni
- 4 Replies
Didn't find a thread about Sonny but after learning he had passed I wanted to recognize him. Sonny played DB during my time at OSU. His biggest moment was blocking a punt for a safety in the Shoe as the Bucks upset #1 Iowa, 22-13 in 1985.
He spent a few years in the CFL after one year with the Bucs. He died last week after a three-year battle with ALS. Sonny Gordon was 57 years old.
He spent a few years in the CFL after one year with the Bucs. He died last week after a three-year battle with ALS. Sonny Gordon was 57 years old.
LGHL Draft Report Cards: Grading the fits of every Ohio State NFL draftee and UDFA signings so far
- News
- 0 Replies
Draft Report Cards: Grading the fits of every Ohio State NFL draftee and UDFA signings so far
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
The 2023 NFL Draft is concluded and the Buckeyes have six players looking to make their new respective fanbases excited to have them.
Ohio State had six players selected in the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City, and have extended their lead in total first round draft picks. This year, Georgia and Alabama led the way in total draft picks, but the Buckeyes will have their fair share added to rosters via undrafted free agency.
The event started for the Buckeyes with C.J. Stroud going No. 2 overall to the Texans in the draft despite rumors about a poor performance on the S2 cognition test. He was quickly followed by Paris Johnson Jr., who was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals after they traded down from their original pick and back up to pick No. 7. The last first round pick was Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who went to the Seattle Seahawks to join an already explosive offense.
For Ohio State and Cleveland Browns fans this was also a huge day, as the Browns picked Dawand Jones and Luke Wypler with their final two picks of the day. Jones had a slide, but the Browns need a tackle, and the Wypler addition bolsters a very thin interior front. Zach Harrison was the other Buckeye drafted, and he went in the third round to the Falcons who are in dire need of an all-around end.
Ohio State fans have another group of players to root for as they head to the league, and once again the Buckeyes will be looking to make an immediate impact on the franchises that took them. Looking at each fit, they might not all be perfect, but the newest Buckeyes in the NFL have their future homes.
Ohio State only had one defensive player drafted this year once again following a disappointing draft last year as well that had one defender picked. The Buckeyes had their fifth consecutive center drafted, which shows the consistent development of the position. Ohio State also had their 10th straight year of five or more draft picks taken. The final notable stat from a position stand point is Ohio State just had their third consecutive quarterback drafted in the first round with their highest drafted quarterback in school history.
Ohio State is still in third in all-time draft picks, but chipped away again this year, getting them to 486 picks in total. The Buckeyes are still the best school at producing first round picks, being the first program to have 90 players taken in round one. With all the data out of the way, starting with Stroud, we will take a look at the fit of every player taken or signed. The way the fit will be graded is based on the current make-up of the roster, player fit in scheme, and the likelihood of the player succeeding in the situation.
There was a lot of noise surrounding Stroud and where he might end up, as mentioned there was a lot of noise about a cognition test. Despite all the nonsense, the Texans made the right choice in taking Stroud No. 2, which was made more emphatic by them trading up to the third pick to add Will Anderson Jr. as well. The Texans have Robert Woods, a veteran receiver, signed Laremy Tunsil to a long term deal to protect their future quarterback, and have a first year coach whose success will weigh greatly on how Stroud performs.
The reason this fit is exciting for Stroud is new Texans head coach Demeco Ryans hired his offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik from the Kyle Shanahan offensive coaching tree. This means that decision making, timing, and accuracy take precedent in the ideal quarterback to make the offense successful. Stroud fits into that offensive style perfectly given his natural feel working through progressions, and his athletic ability gives the offense some flexibility with the boot-actions that are a staple to this offensive system.
This fit would be an A if scheme was the only aspect of the grade, but they are thin at receiver and have a brand new coaching staff. At least Texans were smart enough to make a the right decision in the quarterback they wanted, and they deserve credit for showing how useless draft discourse in the weeks prior to the draft.
Fit Grade: B-
Johnson Jr. ended up being the first tackle taken in the draft, which aligns with how even the earliest big boards were projecting last year. Around the NFL, many believe that the Arizona Cardinals have the worst roster in the NFL, which is saying a lot given the fact they have Kyler Murray and Deandre Hopkins. To begin bolstering their roster they traded down to gain more picks, and once they acquired the picks they moved back in front of the other teams that needed tackles.
In my eyes, the Cardinals need a lot, and as much as Paris Johnson Jr. is a pro-ready left tackle, he only has 13 starts at the position under his belt. Adding this to the fact this was seen as one of the “weaker” tackle classes in recent years this doesn’t guarantee success for Johnson Jr. He is getting drafted to team that needs a lot of help all over the place. He should slot in as the starting left tackle immediately and move D.J. Humphries – the 30th ranked offensive tackle according to PFF — over to the right side or left guard.
The fit here is that the Cardinals needed him badly, but I just don’t know how successful this pick will allow him to be.
Fit Grade: C+ (The Cardinals are bad)
This was my favorite pick of the first round. After the Seahawks made the most Pete Carroll of picks taking Devon Witherspoon with their first pick in the draft, they bolstered an already talented receiving corps with JSN. Smith-Njigba adds a dynamic slot weapon to pair with two different types of vertical threats in D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
Additionally, Smith-Njigba fills a role that Lockett split time between, and a group of five receivers who underwhelmed at the end of the day. The Seahawks have explosiveness and Smith-Njigba will take this offense to another level with his versatility, separation, and after the catch ability. Geno Smith had been signed to a medium-term contract, and with three weapons now at his disposal can continue to solidify his place in Seattle.
There was not a better first round pick in the draft, and I guarantee that JSN will be successful in Seattle, including being in the rookie of the year conversation.
Fit Grade: A+
The Atlanta Falcons hired defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen as their defensive coordinator when they transitioned to Arthur Smith as the head coach. Nielsen was a long tenured defensive line coach for multiple franchises, and one of the most significant players he coached was Cam Jordan with the Saints. The reason I brought up all-pro defensive linemen Cam Jordan is because he has a similar build and athletic skill set as Harrison.
Having a coach who can maximize a player who is a tweener between a bendy edge rusher and bulky athlete on the line is huge for Harrison reaching his potential. Being picked later also takes the pressure off him to be elite in any area at the start of his career. This will be the second year for Atlanta in Nielsen’s scheme, and Harrison will align in a strong side defensive end alignment he was comfortable with in college.
Fit Grade: B
On a value note, the Browns could not have gotten a better player in the fourth round of the NFL Draft than Dawand Jones. The Browns are set at tackle for the 2023 season with Jedrick Wills Jr. under contract until 2024 and Jack Conklin with one year left on his deal. There are no guarantees that any picks after the first round make the roster, so the character concerns do arise when a player has a more expendable contract.
Jones will need to show up and work hard to prove that he is the tackle of the future, and make it so the Browns don’t need to resign Conklin with a much more affordable option at tackle. He will likely train as a swing tackle due to the health issues Wills Jr. has had early on his career, but his future in the NFL is definitely on the right side.
Being a fringe first round pick and getting drafted in the fourth round is a humbling experience. Hopefully Jones is able to make the best out of this opportunity.
Fit Grade: B (Good developmental landing spot)
The last drafted player for the Buckeyes is Luke Wypler, who really has an opportunity to come in and compete for a starting job. They have veteran Ethan Pocic who was a solid player last season, and the starter entering last season Nick Harris is recovering from a serious leg injury.
Cleveland needs a center, and there is definitely not a truly solidified option at the position. There really is not a lot to say. It is unfortunate that Wypler fell to the sixth round, but he really couldn’t have landed on a roster that needs him more than the Browns. His leadership qualities are definitely in line with what is expected from an NFL center, and in his college career he ended up on the field a year early, excelling at the position. The Browns also have an awesome offensive line coach in Bob Wylie, who has developed some talented players.
Fit Grade: A
There are still a few Buckeyes who are not signed, but the few Buckeyes who many thought could potentially end up being drafted are off the board. Despite not being drafted, they will have opportunities to prove that they belong at the NFL level as undrafted free agents.
McAlister is the first of two Ohio State safeties the Browns signed, and he will likely compete for snaps behind Greg Newsome II in the slot or at the free safety slot behind Juan Thornhill. The depth the Browns have at safety is not necessarily... good. There is ample opportunity for McAlister to show out as a special teamer and his experience in college playing five seasons under Jim Knowles gives him a versatile skill set.
There is not a natural position fit for him, which could lead to some challenges, but the Browns wouldn’t have signed him without a plan.
Fit Grade: C+
Where McAlister does not have a natural position fit, Ronnie Hickman does and could provide immediate depth for the Browns at strong safety. Hickman played in strong safety role under Kerry Coombs at Ohio State, and his time at adjuster prepared him well to play in the Browns two high shell defensive look. Grant Delpit – the current strong safety for the Browns – has significantly different skill set and by adding Hickman he can move to a more natural free safety position.
Like Wypler, the Browns need depth at the position Hickman excels at meaning he has a great chance of making the roster.
Fit Grade: B
Brown goes to a pass defense that was one of the worst in the NFL, the Chargers did little to address that in the draft. They have Asante Samuel Jr. who had three interceptions in the first half against the Jaguars, but we saw the real Chargers secondary in the second half. Brown battled injuries his entire career at Ohio State, so if he keeps his health he can make some noise in the Chargers organization.
This grade is a pass/fail, and the Chargers pass because they need a corner, and Brown is a Buckeye.
Fit Grade: P
When we look back at these arbitrary grades a year from now, there might be dissenting opinions on how this turned out. The real story is these players all have an opportunity to live out their dreams. There is always conversation about fits and schemes players are drafted into, but Brian Hartline had a really solid take on the matter of draft fits.
There are 32 teams in the NFL and limited jobs available with a lot of people want them. When asked about Terry McLaurin going to the Washington Football Team, he said the team that drafted him deserved the success for being the team that believed in him enough to draft him. Each team that took an Ohio State Buckeye decided that by making the player they drafted’s dream come true, they believe that those same players will keep them employed for the long haul.
Regardless of feelings, all the grades on fit should be an A from that perspective, but we all know that is now how it works. Now that they’re drafted, it is time for them to prove themselves, and it doesn’t matter where they were drafted once the contract is signed. They all have to earn everything again from here on out, and even if we don’t support all those teams, we’ll be checking in on their stats on a weekly basis hoping to see them having success at the next level.
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
The 2023 NFL Draft is concluded and the Buckeyes have six players looking to make their new respective fanbases excited to have them.
Ohio State had six players selected in the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City, and have extended their lead in total first round draft picks. This year, Georgia and Alabama led the way in total draft picks, but the Buckeyes will have their fair share added to rosters via undrafted free agency.
The event started for the Buckeyes with C.J. Stroud going No. 2 overall to the Texans in the draft despite rumors about a poor performance on the S2 cognition test. He was quickly followed by Paris Johnson Jr., who was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals after they traded down from their original pick and back up to pick No. 7. The last first round pick was Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who went to the Seattle Seahawks to join an already explosive offense.
For Ohio State and Cleveland Browns fans this was also a huge day, as the Browns picked Dawand Jones and Luke Wypler with their final two picks of the day. Jones had a slide, but the Browns need a tackle, and the Wypler addition bolsters a very thin interior front. Zach Harrison was the other Buckeye drafted, and he went in the third round to the Falcons who are in dire need of an all-around end.
Ohio State fans have another group of players to root for as they head to the league, and once again the Buckeyes will be looking to make an immediate impact on the franchises that took them. Looking at each fit, they might not all be perfect, but the newest Buckeyes in the NFL have their future homes.
Draft Picks
Ohio State only had one defensive player drafted this year once again following a disappointing draft last year as well that had one defender picked. The Buckeyes had their fifth consecutive center drafted, which shows the consistent development of the position. Ohio State also had their 10th straight year of five or more draft picks taken. The final notable stat from a position stand point is Ohio State just had their third consecutive quarterback drafted in the first round with their highest drafted quarterback in school history.
Ohio State is still in third in all-time draft picks, but chipped away again this year, getting them to 486 picks in total. The Buckeyes are still the best school at producing first round picks, being the first program to have 90 players taken in round one. With all the data out of the way, starting with Stroud, we will take a look at the fit of every player taken or signed. The way the fit will be graded is based on the current make-up of the roster, player fit in scheme, and the likelihood of the player succeeding in the situation.
C.J. Stroud (Houston Texans - Round 1, Pick 2)
There was a lot of noise surrounding Stroud and where he might end up, as mentioned there was a lot of noise about a cognition test. Despite all the nonsense, the Texans made the right choice in taking Stroud No. 2, which was made more emphatic by them trading up to the third pick to add Will Anderson Jr. as well. The Texans have Robert Woods, a veteran receiver, signed Laremy Tunsil to a long term deal to protect their future quarterback, and have a first year coach whose success will weigh greatly on how Stroud performs.
The reason this fit is exciting for Stroud is new Texans head coach Demeco Ryans hired his offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik from the Kyle Shanahan offensive coaching tree. This means that decision making, timing, and accuracy take precedent in the ideal quarterback to make the offense successful. Stroud fits into that offensive style perfectly given his natural feel working through progressions, and his athletic ability gives the offense some flexibility with the boot-actions that are a staple to this offensive system.
This fit would be an A if scheme was the only aspect of the grade, but they are thin at receiver and have a brand new coaching staff. At least Texans were smart enough to make a the right decision in the quarterback they wanted, and they deserve credit for showing how useless draft discourse in the weeks prior to the draft.
Fit Grade: B-
Paris Johnson Jr. (Arizona Cardinals - Round 1, No. 7)
Johnson Jr. ended up being the first tackle taken in the draft, which aligns with how even the earliest big boards were projecting last year. Around the NFL, many believe that the Arizona Cardinals have the worst roster in the NFL, which is saying a lot given the fact they have Kyler Murray and Deandre Hopkins. To begin bolstering their roster they traded down to gain more picks, and once they acquired the picks they moved back in front of the other teams that needed tackles.
In my eyes, the Cardinals need a lot, and as much as Paris Johnson Jr. is a pro-ready left tackle, he only has 13 starts at the position under his belt. Adding this to the fact this was seen as one of the “weaker” tackle classes in recent years this doesn’t guarantee success for Johnson Jr. He is getting drafted to team that needs a lot of help all over the place. He should slot in as the starting left tackle immediately and move D.J. Humphries – the 30th ranked offensive tackle according to PFF — over to the right side or left guard.
The fit here is that the Cardinals needed him badly, but I just don’t know how successful this pick will allow him to be.
Fit Grade: C+ (The Cardinals are bad)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seattle Seahawks - Round 1, No. 20)
This was my favorite pick of the first round. After the Seahawks made the most Pete Carroll of picks taking Devon Witherspoon with their first pick in the draft, they bolstered an already talented receiving corps with JSN. Smith-Njigba adds a dynamic slot weapon to pair with two different types of vertical threats in D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
Additionally, Smith-Njigba fills a role that Lockett split time between, and a group of five receivers who underwhelmed at the end of the day. The Seahawks have explosiveness and Smith-Njigba will take this offense to another level with his versatility, separation, and after the catch ability. Geno Smith had been signed to a medium-term contract, and with three weapons now at his disposal can continue to solidify his place in Seattle.
There was not a better first round pick in the draft, and I guarantee that JSN will be successful in Seattle, including being in the rookie of the year conversation.
Fit Grade: A+
Zach Harrison (Atlanta Falcons - Round 3, No. 75)
The Atlanta Falcons hired defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen as their defensive coordinator when they transitioned to Arthur Smith as the head coach. Nielsen was a long tenured defensive line coach for multiple franchises, and one of the most significant players he coached was Cam Jordan with the Saints. The reason I brought up all-pro defensive linemen Cam Jordan is because he has a similar build and athletic skill set as Harrison.
Having a coach who can maximize a player who is a tweener between a bendy edge rusher and bulky athlete on the line is huge for Harrison reaching his potential. Being picked later also takes the pressure off him to be elite in any area at the start of his career. This will be the second year for Atlanta in Nielsen’s scheme, and Harrison will align in a strong side defensive end alignment he was comfortable with in college.
Fit Grade: B
Dawand Jones (Cleveland Browns - Round 4, No. 111)
On a value note, the Browns could not have gotten a better player in the fourth round of the NFL Draft than Dawand Jones. The Browns are set at tackle for the 2023 season with Jedrick Wills Jr. under contract until 2024 and Jack Conklin with one year left on his deal. There are no guarantees that any picks after the first round make the roster, so the character concerns do arise when a player has a more expendable contract.
Jones will need to show up and work hard to prove that he is the tackle of the future, and make it so the Browns don’t need to resign Conklin with a much more affordable option at tackle. He will likely train as a swing tackle due to the health issues Wills Jr. has had early on his career, but his future in the NFL is definitely on the right side.
Being a fringe first round pick and getting drafted in the fourth round is a humbling experience. Hopefully Jones is able to make the best out of this opportunity.
Fit Grade: B (Good developmental landing spot)
Luke Wypler (Cleveland Browns - Round 6, No. 190)
The last drafted player for the Buckeyes is Luke Wypler, who really has an opportunity to come in and compete for a starting job. They have veteran Ethan Pocic who was a solid player last season, and the starter entering last season Nick Harris is recovering from a serious leg injury.
Cleveland needs a center, and there is definitely not a truly solidified option at the position. There really is not a lot to say. It is unfortunate that Wypler fell to the sixth round, but he really couldn’t have landed on a roster that needs him more than the Browns. His leadership qualities are definitely in line with what is expected from an NFL center, and in his college career he ended up on the field a year early, excelling at the position. The Browns also have an awesome offensive line coach in Bob Wylie, who has developed some talented players.
Fit Grade: A
UDFA Signings
There are still a few Buckeyes who are not signed, but the few Buckeyes who many thought could potentially end up being drafted are off the board. Despite not being drafted, they will have opportunities to prove that they belong at the NFL level as undrafted free agents.
Tanner McAlister (Cleveland Browns)
McAlister is the first of two Ohio State safeties the Browns signed, and he will likely compete for snaps behind Greg Newsome II in the slot or at the free safety slot behind Juan Thornhill. The depth the Browns have at safety is not necessarily... good. There is ample opportunity for McAlister to show out as a special teamer and his experience in college playing five seasons under Jim Knowles gives him a versatile skill set.
There is not a natural position fit for him, which could lead to some challenges, but the Browns wouldn’t have signed him without a plan.
Fit Grade: C+
Ronnie Hickman (Cleveland Browns)
Where McAlister does not have a natural position fit, Ronnie Hickman does and could provide immediate depth for the Browns at strong safety. Hickman played in strong safety role under Kerry Coombs at Ohio State, and his time at adjuster prepared him well to play in the Browns two high shell defensive look. Grant Delpit – the current strong safety for the Browns – has significantly different skill set and by adding Hickman he can move to a more natural free safety position.
Like Wypler, the Browns need depth at the position Hickman excels at meaning he has a great chance of making the roster.
Fit Grade: B
Cam Brown (Los Angeles Chargers)
Brown goes to a pass defense that was one of the worst in the NFL, the Chargers did little to address that in the draft. They have Asante Samuel Jr. who had three interceptions in the first half against the Jaguars, but we saw the real Chargers secondary in the second half. Brown battled injuries his entire career at Ohio State, so if he keeps his health he can make some noise in the Chargers organization.
This grade is a pass/fail, and the Chargers pass because they need a corner, and Brown is a Buckeye.
Fit Grade: P
When we look back at these arbitrary grades a year from now, there might be dissenting opinions on how this turned out. The real story is these players all have an opportunity to live out their dreams. There is always conversation about fits and schemes players are drafted into, but Brian Hartline had a really solid take on the matter of draft fits.
There are 32 teams in the NFL and limited jobs available with a lot of people want them. When asked about Terry McLaurin going to the Washington Football Team, he said the team that drafted him deserved the success for being the team that believed in him enough to draft him. Each team that took an Ohio State Buckeye decided that by making the player they drafted’s dream come true, they believe that those same players will keep them employed for the long haul.
Regardless of feelings, all the grades on fit should be an A from that perspective, but we all know that is now how it works. Now that they’re drafted, it is time for them to prove themselves, and it doesn’t matter where they were drafted once the contract is signed. They all have to earn everything again from here on out, and even if we don’t support all those teams, we’ll be checking in on their stats on a weekly basis hoping to see them having success at the next level.
Continue reading...
LGHL Wypler, Smith-Njigba show opposite ends of Draft spectrum
- News
- 0 Replies
Wypler, Smith-Njigba show opposite ends of Draft spectrum
Michael Citro 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
Players who declare early tend to get picked where expected, while others may have been better served to stay for another year of college ball.
The 2023 NFL Draft served as both affirmation and cautionary tale for prospective professional players looking to make an early leap to Sunday ball. While Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the first wide receiver off the board and a top-20 pick, college teammate Luke Wypler — and, to a lesser extent, fellow Buckeye Dawand Jones — perhaps would have been better served to spend another season in Columbus.
But that decision isn’t mine to make, and it isn’t yours.
I want to make it clear that the purpose of this column is not to criticize players for their decisions. There are many reasons for a young athlete to make the jump to the NFL with eligibility remaining. They have to weigh what they feel is best for them, and without knowing all of the personal variables they’re considering, it makes no sense for anyone outside their immediate circle to criticize them for making whatever decision they choose.
With the benefit of hindsight, it can seem easy to make a judgment about whether or not a player made a “mistake” by declaring for the NFL Draft early, but that doesn’t mean it’s the wrong decision for them. My aim here is merely to show how things can work out and how this year’s crop of NFL-bound Buckeyes shows both ends of that spectrum.
My staff “bold prediction” for the 2022 Ohio State season here at LGHL was that wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba would win the Heisman Trophy. That might not have been the boldest prediction of the bunch, given the talent and productivity he’d previously shown, but quarterbacks tend to dominate that particular award, so it was far from a lock.
Smith-Njigba would have been a first-round pick if he’d been in the previous draft, so despite an injury-plagued final season at Ohio State, he was still always likely to get snapped up with some team’s No. 1 selection. That is what came to pass, as Smith-Njigba went at No. 20 overall to the Seattle Seahawks. He was the first receiver off the board and started a run of four in a row to the Seahawks, Chargers, Ravens, and Vikings.
While it’s possible another full year of stellar productivity at the college level might have made his availability irresistable to some of the teams who picked higher, or to those teams picking high next year, it’s impossible to say. What is fair to say is that Smith-Njigba could have improved his stock by only so much if he had played another year with the Buckeyes. There were only 19 better possible outcomes for him.
Center Luke Wypler’s decision is on the other end of that scale. Although he may have a long, productive, and lucrative career in the NFL, it’s not hard to imagine that a season of building on his performance against Georgia in the Peach Bowl could have brought him significant financial gains. There’s a big difference between being a second or third-round pick and going No. 190 overall in Round 6. Wypler had 189 potentially better outcomes, although realistically fewer than that as a center.
That’s not to say Wypler made the “wrong” decision, because his reasons are his own. Regardless of those reasons, a major injury could have kept him from being drafted at all further down the road. Life has risks in all phases, after all. But had he been able to improve on technique and production over the course of another season of college football, a jump of three or even four rounds seems reasonable (or at least possible), and aside from the financial difference, that can also affect the trajectory of a professional football career.
It’s more common for teams to keep a second or third-round player on the roster than a sixth-rounder, even if that player had a mediocre camp and preseason. It’s also an easier decision to stash a sixth-round pick on a practice squad than a higher pick and that can have an impact on development and how that player is perceived.
Wypler’s performance in rookie camp and preseason leaves a much smaller margin for error based on where he was selected than if he’d improved his draft stock and gone in, say, Round 3. Being picked in Round 6 (or even not being drafted at all) is not a deal breaker. It just makes the hill to climb a bit steeper.
In the end, the NFL Draft can confirm whether a player made a well-timed decision, an informed decision, an uninformed decision, or a hopeful decision. It cannot confirm whether that player made the “correct” decision — at least for them. But what this year’s draft showed is that sometimes it works out the way a player thinks it will and sometimes... not so much.
Continue reading...
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Players who declare early tend to get picked where expected, while others may have been better served to stay for another year of college ball.
The 2023 NFL Draft served as both affirmation and cautionary tale for prospective professional players looking to make an early leap to Sunday ball. While Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the first wide receiver off the board and a top-20 pick, college teammate Luke Wypler — and, to a lesser extent, fellow Buckeye Dawand Jones — perhaps would have been better served to spend another season in Columbus.
But that decision isn’t mine to make, and it isn’t yours.
I want to make it clear that the purpose of this column is not to criticize players for their decisions. There are many reasons for a young athlete to make the jump to the NFL with eligibility remaining. They have to weigh what they feel is best for them, and without knowing all of the personal variables they’re considering, it makes no sense for anyone outside their immediate circle to criticize them for making whatever decision they choose.
With the benefit of hindsight, it can seem easy to make a judgment about whether or not a player made a “mistake” by declaring for the NFL Draft early, but that doesn’t mean it’s the wrong decision for them. My aim here is merely to show how things can work out and how this year’s crop of NFL-bound Buckeyes shows both ends of that spectrum.
My staff “bold prediction” for the 2022 Ohio State season here at LGHL was that wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba would win the Heisman Trophy. That might not have been the boldest prediction of the bunch, given the talent and productivity he’d previously shown, but quarterbacks tend to dominate that particular award, so it was far from a lock.
Smith-Njigba would have been a first-round pick if he’d been in the previous draft, so despite an injury-plagued final season at Ohio State, he was still always likely to get snapped up with some team’s No. 1 selection. That is what came to pass, as Smith-Njigba went at No. 20 overall to the Seattle Seahawks. He was the first receiver off the board and started a run of four in a row to the Seahawks, Chargers, Ravens, and Vikings.
While it’s possible another full year of stellar productivity at the college level might have made his availability irresistable to some of the teams who picked higher, or to those teams picking high next year, it’s impossible to say. What is fair to say is that Smith-Njigba could have improved his stock by only so much if he had played another year with the Buckeyes. There were only 19 better possible outcomes for him.
Center Luke Wypler’s decision is on the other end of that scale. Although he may have a long, productive, and lucrative career in the NFL, it’s not hard to imagine that a season of building on his performance against Georgia in the Peach Bowl could have brought him significant financial gains. There’s a big difference between being a second or third-round pick and going No. 190 overall in Round 6. Wypler had 189 potentially better outcomes, although realistically fewer than that as a center.
That’s not to say Wypler made the “wrong” decision, because his reasons are his own. Regardless of those reasons, a major injury could have kept him from being drafted at all further down the road. Life has risks in all phases, after all. But had he been able to improve on technique and production over the course of another season of college football, a jump of three or even four rounds seems reasonable (or at least possible), and aside from the financial difference, that can also affect the trajectory of a professional football career.
It’s more common for teams to keep a second or third-round player on the roster than a sixth-rounder, even if that player had a mediocre camp and preseason. It’s also an easier decision to stash a sixth-round pick on a practice squad than a higher pick and that can have an impact on development and how that player is perceived.
Wypler’s performance in rookie camp and preseason leaves a much smaller margin for error based on where he was selected than if he’d improved his draft stock and gone in, say, Round 3. Being picked in Round 6 (or even not being drafted at all) is not a deal breaker. It just makes the hill to climb a bit steeper.
In the end, the NFL Draft can confirm whether a player made a well-timed decision, an informed decision, an uninformed decision, or a hopeful decision. It cannot confirm whether that player made the “correct” decision — at least for them. But what this year’s draft showed is that sometimes it works out the way a player thinks it will and sometimes... not so much.
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OT Josh “Jimmy” Simmons (Official Thread)
- By brodybuck21
- Buckeye Football
- 86 Replies
DottingTheEyes - Analyzing the impact as Ohio State lands transfer OL Josh Simmons
Simmons brings a full season of starting experience at San Diego State and has three years of eligibility remaining.
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LGHL Biggest Concerns Week: From offensive line to quarterback, LGHL to tackle football team issues
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Biggest Concerns Week: From offensive line to quarterback, LGHL to tackle football team issues
Matt Tamanini 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
What are your biggest concerns for the football team as we embark on the next three months of the 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 our Biggest Concerns. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Biggest Concerns here.
As you might have been able to tell by the glut of Justin Timberlake memes (or if you travel in the same social media circles that I do, Elphaba memes), the calendar has officially flipped to May, so that means here at Land-Grant Holy Land, we are continuing — and expanding — a “summer” tradition: Theme Weeks.
Starting today and running through July, we will have a different theme for every week of the offseason to give us a little bit of structure as we work our way to the start of preseason camp in August. Not every article that we write here at LGHL will be on the theme, but throughout the course of the week, different writers will give their perspectives and unique takes on that week’s focus.
Since it is a long offseason, and we are generally a pretty homerific group, we decided to start this off with some of the things that have us worried about the season in order to get those out of the way so that we can focus on the positives the rest of the way. So, this week’s theme is “Biggest Concerns.”
On Sunday, the Ohio State football team addressed (but obviously did not solve) one of its biggest concerns when it added former San Diego State starting offensive tackle Josh Simmons. While that will almost certainly not fix all of the issues on the offensive line that the Buckeyes find themselves having to deal with, having another body in the mix — and one that has started double-digit games — is a net positive.
But there is no doubt that OSU has to find some solutions on the offensive line over the next four months if they want to reach the goals that the team has undoubtedly set for itself.
Another significant concern on the offensive side of the ball that needs to be figured out in the coming months is what is going to happen at the quarterback position. I think that most people who have paid attention agree that former five-star prospect Kyle McCord is likely to be the starting QB when the Buckeyes take to the field in the season-opener against Indiana, but my question is less about who is behind center, and is he good enough to keep the offense humming at, or at least near, where it has been operating since Ryan Day came to Columbus.
I know that C.J. Stroud and Justin Fields didn’t exactly light the world on fire at their first spring games, so McCord’s middling performance last month does not necessarily mean that he is incapable of running the offense, but it does make one wonder if he is going to be able to take full advantage of the insane amount of talent at his disposal this season. Fortunately, I feel fairly confident that McCord will be able to figure it out come fall, especially if Justin Frye is able to cobble together some sort of solution on the offensive line.
There are obviously plenty of other concerns to have heading into the season, like how difficult the schedule is shaping up to be, whether or not the secondary will be able to keep up with the best offenses that OSU will face this season, whether or not the defensive line will finally return to the game-wrecking form that its collective talent has been teasing for years, and much more.
We will be writing about many of those issues this week here at LGHL, so if you have a concern that you want to see us dive into, let us know in the comments below.
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
What are your biggest concerns for the football team as we embark on the next three months of the 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 our Biggest Concerns. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Biggest Concerns here.
As you might have been able to tell by the glut of Justin Timberlake memes (or if you travel in the same social media circles that I do, Elphaba memes), the calendar has officially flipped to May, so that means here at Land-Grant Holy Land, we are continuing — and expanding — a “summer” tradition: Theme Weeks.
Starting today and running through July, we will have a different theme for every week of the offseason to give us a little bit of structure as we work our way to the start of preseason camp in August. Not every article that we write here at LGHL will be on the theme, but throughout the course of the week, different writers will give their perspectives and unique takes on that week’s focus.
Since it is a long offseason, and we are generally a pretty homerific group, we decided to start this off with some of the things that have us worried about the season in order to get those out of the way so that we can focus on the positives the rest of the way. So, this week’s theme is “Biggest Concerns.”
On Sunday, the Ohio State football team addressed (but obviously did not solve) one of its biggest concerns when it added former San Diego State starting offensive tackle Josh Simmons. While that will almost certainly not fix all of the issues on the offensive line that the Buckeyes find themselves having to deal with, having another body in the mix — and one that has started double-digit games — is a net positive.
But there is no doubt that OSU has to find some solutions on the offensive line over the next four months if they want to reach the goals that the team has undoubtedly set for itself.
Another significant concern on the offensive side of the ball that needs to be figured out in the coming months is what is going to happen at the quarterback position. I think that most people who have paid attention agree that former five-star prospect Kyle McCord is likely to be the starting QB when the Buckeyes take to the field in the season-opener against Indiana, but my question is less about who is behind center, and is he good enough to keep the offense humming at, or at least near, where it has been operating since Ryan Day came to Columbus.
I know that C.J. Stroud and Justin Fields didn’t exactly light the world on fire at their first spring games, so McCord’s middling performance last month does not necessarily mean that he is incapable of running the offense, but it does make one wonder if he is going to be able to take full advantage of the insane amount of talent at his disposal this season. Fortunately, I feel fairly confident that McCord will be able to figure it out come fall, especially if Justin Frye is able to cobble together some sort of solution on the offensive line.
There are obviously plenty of other concerns to have heading into the season, like how difficult the schedule is shaping up to be, whether or not the secondary will be able to keep up with the best offenses that OSU will face this season, whether or not the defensive line will finally return to the game-wrecking form that its collective talent has been teasing for years, and much more.
We will be writing about many of those issues this week here at LGHL, so if you have a concern that you want to see us dive into, let us know in the comments below.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State lands 2024 RB commit, transfer OT over the weekend
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State lands 2024 RB commit, transfer OT over the weekend
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2024 RB Jordan Lyle | Andrew Ivins, 247Sports
A busy weekend for the Buckeyes results in three new additions.
We were already expecting a busy weekend for the Ohio State football program, as the NFL Draft was yet another showcase of the Buckeyes’ ability to produce top-tier talent. Ohio State became the first program in the country to produce 90 first-round NFL Draft picks after seeing C.J. Stroud, Paris Johnson Jr. and Jaxon Smith-Njigba all selected in the top-20 of this year’s event.
As if the Buckeyes needed another feather in their cap when it comes to a recruiting pitch, prospects across the country are surely taking notice of what kind of future success they could be set up for in Columbus. Whether related or not, a largely positive weekend got even better when Ohio State learned of two new players who play on furthering their playing careers in scarlet and gray.
In a bit of surprising news, four-star running back Jordan Lyle announced his commitment to Ohio State on Saturday. The St. Thomas Aquinas product currently ranks as the No. 27 RB in the country and the No. 320 player overall on the 247Sports Composite. With around 30 offers to his name, Lyle chose the Buckeyes over programs among the likes of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Penn State and others.
With the commitment of Lyle, Ohio State has wrapped up its running back recruiting for the cycle. Tony Alford needed to bring in two guys to a room that could lose both TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams to the NFL Draft at the end of this upcoming season, and has managed to bring in three talented backs as Lyle joins fellow OSU commits James Peoples and Sam Williams-Dixon.
The 6-foot, 180-pound RB makes it six commitments for the Buckeyes in the month of April, with eight guys total joining the class since the last week in March. Lyle’s commitment bumps Ohio State up to the No. 2 class in the country at 238.43 points, just behind Michigan at 240.65. The Buckeyes’ 93.07 player average remains higher than the Wolverines’ 91.67, with OSU at 13 total commits and TTUN at 15.
A more immediate addition to the roster, Ohio State also earned a transfer over the weekend from former Notre Dame receiver-turned-corner Lorenzo Styles. Styles, of course, is the brother of current Buckeye safety Sonny Styles. The former Pickerington, Ohio native was originally recruited by Ohio State to play corner, but chose to play wide receiver for the Irish. Things have now come full-circle.
Styles was the No. 5 prospect in the state of Ohio in the 2021 class, and parlayed that into 54 receptions for 648 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver at Notre Dame. Ironically enough, his career-long catch came against Ohio State in last year’s season opener on a 54-yard catch-and-run. He had already begun the transition to the defensive backfield this spring in South Bend after playing the position in high school.
Styles probably won’t make an immediate impact on the roster, as the Buckeyes do have some top-end talent in their cornerback room led by Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinosun with Jordan Hancock and Jyaire Brown waiting in the wings. However, as we saw last season, you can never have too much depth at defensive back, and with two years of eligibility and a potential redshirt year remaining, we could see both Styles’ roaming the backfield in the future.
Ohio State kept the good news going on Saturday as they made the cut for four-star linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa. A product of St. John Bosco in California, the same prep program that gave the Buckeyes Wyatt Davis and others, Viliamu-Asa is the No. 6 linebacker and No. 69 player overall in the 2024 class according to 247Sports. With both Jim Knowles and James Laurinaitis on his recruitment, the duo will have to outlast his other top schools Notre Dame and USC to land his commitment.
Viliamu-Asa had the following to say about Ohio State:
“I’ve been to Ohio State four times and have a really good comfort level there. They offered me as a freshman and have been recruiting me hard ever since. On my last visit I was able to talk with James Laurinaitis, the new LB coach and he was actually recruiting me when he was at Notre Dame. He’s a legend at Ohio State and someone I think would be not just a great coach but a mentor. I like coach Day a lot too and respect the program he has built there.”
Frye had previously recruited Simmons when he was the offensive line coach at UCLA, and the two will now get to rekindle their relationship in Columbus.
“Me and Coach Frye had some sessions of going over me and my film and he was picking out every little detail as to what happened in that rep, and it was mind-blowing,” Simmons told Dotting the Eyes. “It was crazy, almost like we didn’t skip a beat. He was back to tweaking my game and giving great coaching points.”
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2024 RB Jordan Lyle | Andrew Ivins, 247Sports
A busy weekend for the Buckeyes results in three new additions.
We were already expecting a busy weekend for the Ohio State football program, as the NFL Draft was yet another showcase of the Buckeyes’ ability to produce top-tier talent. Ohio State became the first program in the country to produce 90 first-round NFL Draft picks after seeing C.J. Stroud, Paris Johnson Jr. and Jaxon Smith-Njigba all selected in the top-20 of this year’s event.
As if the Buckeyes needed another feather in their cap when it comes to a recruiting pitch, prospects across the country are surely taking notice of what kind of future success they could be set up for in Columbus. Whether related or not, a largely positive weekend got even better when Ohio State learned of two new players who play on furthering their playing careers in scarlet and gray.
Four-star RB Jordan Lyle commits to Ohio State
In a bit of surprising news, four-star running back Jordan Lyle announced his commitment to Ohio State on Saturday. The St. Thomas Aquinas product currently ranks as the No. 27 RB in the country and the No. 320 player overall on the 247Sports Composite. With around 30 offers to his name, Lyle chose the Buckeyes over programs among the likes of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Penn State and others.
With the commitment of Lyle, Ohio State has wrapped up its running back recruiting for the cycle. Tony Alford needed to bring in two guys to a room that could lose both TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams to the NFL Draft at the end of this upcoming season, and has managed to bring in three talented backs as Lyle joins fellow OSU commits James Peoples and Sam Williams-Dixon.
The 6-foot, 180-pound RB makes it six commitments for the Buckeyes in the month of April, with eight guys total joining the class since the last week in March. Lyle’s commitment bumps Ohio State up to the No. 2 class in the country at 238.43 points, just behind Michigan at 240.65. The Buckeyes’ 93.07 player average remains higher than the Wolverines’ 91.67, with OSU at 13 total commits and TTUN at 15.
The Styles brothers reunite in Columbus
A more immediate addition to the roster, Ohio State also earned a transfer over the weekend from former Notre Dame receiver-turned-corner Lorenzo Styles. Styles, of course, is the brother of current Buckeye safety Sonny Styles. The former Pickerington, Ohio native was originally recruited by Ohio State to play corner, but chose to play wide receiver for the Irish. Things have now come full-circle.
Styles was the No. 5 prospect in the state of Ohio in the 2021 class, and parlayed that into 54 receptions for 648 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver at Notre Dame. Ironically enough, his career-long catch came against Ohio State in last year’s season opener on a 54-yard catch-and-run. He had already begun the transition to the defensive backfield this spring in South Bend after playing the position in high school.
Styles probably won’t make an immediate impact on the roster, as the Buckeyes do have some top-end talent in their cornerback room led by Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinosun with Jordan Hancock and Jyaire Brown waiting in the wings. However, as we saw last season, you can never have too much depth at defensive back, and with two years of eligibility and a potential redshirt year remaining, we could see both Styles’ roaming the backfield in the future.
Ohio State makes the cut for elite 2024 LB
Ohio State kept the good news going on Saturday as they made the cut for four-star linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa. A product of St. John Bosco in California, the same prep program that gave the Buckeyes Wyatt Davis and others, Viliamu-Asa is the No. 6 linebacker and No. 69 player overall in the 2024 class according to 247Sports. With both Jim Knowles and James Laurinaitis on his recruitment, the duo will have to outlast his other top schools Notre Dame and USC to land his commitment.
Viliamu-Asa had the following to say about Ohio State:
“I’ve been to Ohio State four times and have a really good comfort level there. They offered me as a freshman and have been recruiting me hard ever since. On my last visit I was able to talk with James Laurinaitis, the new LB coach and he was actually recruiting me when he was at Notre Dame. He’s a legend at Ohio State and someone I think would be not just a great coach but a mentor. I like coach Day a lot too and respect the program he has built there.”
Quick Hits
- Ohio State picked up a huge addition in the transfer portal on Sunday afternoon with the commitment of offensive tackle Josh Simmons. A four-star prospect in the 2021 class, the 6-foot-6 Simmons started 13 games at right tackle for San Diego State last season, and will likely slide into the same position for the Buckeyes as they were desperately looking for help at the spot.
Frye had previously recruited Simmons when he was the offensive line coach at UCLA, and the two will now get to rekindle their relationship in Columbus.
“Me and Coach Frye had some sessions of going over me and my film and he was picking out every little detail as to what happened in that rep, and it was mind-blowing,” Simmons told Dotting the Eyes. “It was crazy, almost like we didn’t skip a beat. He was back to tweaking my game and giving great coaching points.”
Continue reading...
