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LGHL You’re Nuts: Which Big Ten junior will have the biggest impact this season?
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- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: Which Big Ten junior will have the biggest impact this season?
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
These upperclassmen are poised to take a big step forward during their third year of college basketball.
Keeping with our theme of talking about certain classes in the Big Ten, we are now on the juniors in the Big Ten.
Last week, we discussed which Big Ten sophomore will have the biggest impact on his team this season. Connor talked about Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton, and Justin talked about Purdue’s Braden Smith.
After the votes were tallied, Connor and Thornton won with 87 percent of the vote. Was he pandering to a certain fanbase? We may never know.
Here are the updated standings:
Connor- 49
And here is this week’s discussion.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24872381/1248584321.jpg "NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament - Second Round - Birmingham")
Photo by Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Juniors playing college basketball are an interesting group. They’ve played two years and weren’t quite good enough to get drafted, so they’ve returned for a third (and most likely fourth) year of college. But unlike the senior class above them, the junior class hasn’t necessarily scratched the surface of their potential. There’s still plenty of room for growth, improvement, and even a few breakout candidates. But the fact remains that the players with the most raw talent leave after one or two years and head to the league. This leaves a group of grindy, gritty juniors who are most likely destined for a full four years of college basketball, followed by a career overseas or in something other than basketball.
There’s an interesting batch of juniors in the Big Ten, but the one who I think could wind up having the biggest year is Maryland center Julian Reese. The younger brother of Angel Reese, who won the national championship at LSU this year on the women’s side, Julian was still a bit raw last season but was uber-efficient for Kevin Willard’s first team at Maryland. The Terrapins won 22 games, got as high as 13 in the AP Poll, and made the NCAA Tournament as well — and Reese was a big reason why.
The 6-foot-9, 230-pound center from Baltimore averaged 11.4 points per game and pulled down 7.2 rebounds per contest. He played just under 27 minutes per game and also averaged 3.3 fouls per game in those 27 minutes. The kicker with Reese is his efficiency — he shot 63.2% from the floor last year, which was the third-highest in the Big Ten, even higher than Zach Edey.
As Reese learns to play without fouling and earns more minutes, I think that both his point and rebound totals will increase this year. And unlike some of the other incoming juniors in the Big Ten, I think Reese could be the leading scorer/go-to guy on his team this year. I expect the Terrapins to be in the top third of the Big Ten this season. The Terrapins were No. 36 nationally in offensive efficiency last season, but were 10th in the Big Ten in field goal percentage, at 44.8%. Perhaps if Maryland gives more shots to Reese and his 63% shooting percentage and fewer to Jahmir Young (41.5%) and Donta Scott (39.1%), Maryland will improve their offensive efficiency.
Simply put, if the Maryland Terrapins want to take a step forward this year, it means more of a featured role for Reese. And if that happens, he’ll certainly be the best junior in the Big Ten this season.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24872546/usa_today_20247833.jpg "NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament First Round-Auburn vs Iowa")
Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
I am going a little out of the box with this one, but to people who have paid attention to the Big Ten know what Sandfort is capable of. And on a now-depleted Iowa team, they may need Sandfort to be really, really good.
Sandfort was the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year last season and really was able to find his stride throughout the conference season.
He averaged 10.3 points per game and 4.1 rebounds per game last season as a sophomore for the Hawkeyes. With Kris Murray, Connor McCaffery, and Filip Rebraca taking on the brunt of the scoring load, Sandfort was a nice spark off the bench and surprised some teams with his ability to score on multiple levels.
Now, along with Patrick McCaffery and Tony Perkins, Sandfort will be relied on to be one of the leading scorers for the Hawkeyes.
Iowa has a lot of new faces (including Payton’s younger brother, Pryce who is an incoming freshman), so Sandfort will have to be one of the familiar faces that Fran McCaffery and the coaching staff rely on.
The 6’7 forward can pose multiple challenges for defenses since he is a knockdown shooter and can put the ball on the floor and create for himself. He will have to do that this season as one of the focal points.
Continue reading...
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
These upperclassmen are poised to take a big step forward during their third year of college basketball.
Keeping with our theme of talking about certain classes in the Big Ten, we are now on the juniors in the Big Ten.
Last week, we discussed which Big Ten sophomore will have the biggest impact on his team this season. Connor talked about Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton, and Justin talked about Purdue’s Braden Smith.
After the votes were tallied, Connor and Thornton won with 87 percent of the vote. Was he pandering to a certain fanbase? We may never know.
Here are the updated standings:
After 114 weeks:
Connor- 49
Justin- 48
Other- 13
(There have been four ties)
And here is this week’s discussion.
Today’s Question: Which Big Ten junior will have the biggest impact this season?
Connor: Julian Reese
Juniors playing college basketball are an interesting group. They’ve played two years and weren’t quite good enough to get drafted, so they’ve returned for a third (and most likely fourth) year of college. But unlike the senior class above them, the junior class hasn’t necessarily scratched the surface of their potential. There’s still plenty of room for growth, improvement, and even a few breakout candidates. But the fact remains that the players with the most raw talent leave after one or two years and head to the league. This leaves a group of grindy, gritty juniors who are most likely destined for a full four years of college basketball, followed by a career overseas or in something other than basketball.
There’s an interesting batch of juniors in the Big Ten, but the one who I think could wind up having the biggest year is Maryland center Julian Reese. The younger brother of Angel Reese, who won the national championship at LSU this year on the women’s side, Julian was still a bit raw last season but was uber-efficient for Kevin Willard’s first team at Maryland. The Terrapins won 22 games, got as high as 13 in the AP Poll, and made the NCAA Tournament as well — and Reese was a big reason why.
The 6-foot-9, 230-pound center from Baltimore averaged 11.4 points per game and pulled down 7.2 rebounds per contest. He played just under 27 minutes per game and also averaged 3.3 fouls per game in those 27 minutes. The kicker with Reese is his efficiency — he shot 63.2% from the floor last year, which was the third-highest in the Big Ten, even higher than Zach Edey.
As Reese learns to play without fouling and earns more minutes, I think that both his point and rebound totals will increase this year. And unlike some of the other incoming juniors in the Big Ten, I think Reese could be the leading scorer/go-to guy on his team this year. I expect the Terrapins to be in the top third of the Big Ten this season. The Terrapins were No. 36 nationally in offensive efficiency last season, but were 10th in the Big Ten in field goal percentage, at 44.8%. Perhaps if Maryland gives more shots to Reese and his 63% shooting percentage and fewer to Jahmir Young (41.5%) and Donta Scott (39.1%), Maryland will improve their offensive efficiency.
Simply put, if the Maryland Terrapins want to take a step forward this year, it means more of a featured role for Reese. And if that happens, he’ll certainly be the best junior in the Big Ten this season.
Justin: Payton Sandfort
I am going a little out of the box with this one, but to people who have paid attention to the Big Ten know what Sandfort is capable of. And on a now-depleted Iowa team, they may need Sandfort to be really, really good.
Sandfort was the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year last season and really was able to find his stride throughout the conference season.
He averaged 10.3 points per game and 4.1 rebounds per game last season as a sophomore for the Hawkeyes. With Kris Murray, Connor McCaffery, and Filip Rebraca taking on the brunt of the scoring load, Sandfort was a nice spark off the bench and surprised some teams with his ability to score on multiple levels.
Now, along with Patrick McCaffery and Tony Perkins, Sandfort will be relied on to be one of the leading scorers for the Hawkeyes.
Iowa has a lot of new faces (including Payton’s younger brother, Pryce who is an incoming freshman), so Sandfort will have to be one of the familiar faces that Fran McCaffery and the coaching staff rely on.
The 6’7 forward can pose multiple challenges for defenses since he is a knockdown shooter and can put the ball on the floor and create for himself. He will have to do that this season as one of the focal points.
Continue reading...
LGHL 2023 Ohio State recruiting class: The summer arrivals
- News
- 0 Replies
2023 Ohio State recruiting class: The summer arrivals
Chip.Minnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Lori Schmidt/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Several players arrived on campus this summer and are making positive impressions.
Every day from now until the start of the season, Land-Grant Holy Land is highlighting Ohio State football players that you should be watching this season. Check out all of our ”Player to Watch” articles to get ready for the season opener against Indiana.
Ohio State essentially concluded their 2023 recruiting class on Dec. 22, 2022, when safety Jayden Bonsu was added to the class that was announced to the media and fans (More on Bonsu below). I wrote the term “essentially”, as you will see this freshman group was recently augmented, and has shown signs of contributions for the upcoming 2023 season, as well as seasons to come.
Back in January, I wrote an article about how 11 of the 20 players had already enrolled at Ohio State to participate in spring football drills. This article is going to focus upon those remaining players who made the move to Columbus at the beginning of June, and where things stand with them on the depth chart as we get ever so closer to game week. We will also look into the circumstances of a player who did not sign with Ohio State, but has since been added to the roster for the 2023 season.
Below are a listing of these 10 players from when they gave Ohio State their respective verbal commitments, and try to gauge what impact they may have this upcoming season.
Hawkins gave his verbal commitment to Ohio State on Jan. 1, 2022. I find that somewhat noteworthy, as Hawkins was verbally committing to a staff that was about to undergo dramatic changes on the defensive side of the ball after the 2022 Rose Bowl with the departures of Kerry Coombs and Matt Barnes and the arrivals of Jim Knowles, Tim Walton, and Perry Eliano, and kept his commitment steady until signing day.
Hawkins is wearing No. 26, and could be making his first impressions on the special teams units this upcoming season.
2. Brandon Inniss - Wide Receiver
Inniss gave his verbal commitment to Ohio State on June 21, 2022, and was ranked as the top player in Ohio State’s 2023 recruiting class. Wearing a notable No. 11 jersey that other prominent Ohio State wide receivers have worn throughout their careers, such as Anthony Gonzalez, Austin Mack, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Inniss had his black stripe removed from his helmet on Aug. 21.
It is certainly questionable as to how much Inniss will play in 2023 with such a stacked wide receiver room, but it will not be surprising to see Inniss get playing time this season. Inniss ranks as one of my “Players To Watch” for 2023.
3. Calvin Simpson-Hunt - Cornerback
Simpson-Hunt was originally committed to Texas Tech, but switched his commitment to Ohio State on June 30, 2022. Simpson-Hunt was a stellar track performer, having been timed at 10.97 in the 100 meters and a 22.00 in the 200 meters. Like his classmater Cedrick Hawkins, Simpson-Hunt may wind up contributing on special teams initially, especially with that tremendous speed. Simpson-Hunt is wearing No. 15.
4. Jason Moore - Defensive Line
Signed out of powerhouse DeMatha Catholic, Moore gave his verbal commitment to Ohio State on July 10, 2022. Ohio State lists Moore at 6-foot-6 and 295 pounds, and he is wearing the No. 94 jersey this season, the same number popularized by other prominent Ohio State defensive linemen such as Mike Vrabel and Rodney Bailey. Moore could be a redshirt candidate this upcoming season.
5. Arvell Reese - Defensive End
Signed out of Cleveland Glenville, Reese gave his verbal commitment to Ohio State on Aug. 6, 2022. Traditionally, Glenville players who eventually signed with Ohio State have waited until later in the process to give their verbal commitments. Regardless of when it took place, Ohio State coaches were naturally ecstatic to get a player of Reese’s caliber on the roster.
Although recruited as a linebacker, Reese made the move to defensive end in fall camp, and had his black stripe removed on August 22. Reese will be wearing No. 20 this upcoming season.
6. Jayden Bonsu - Safety
Bonsu gave his verbal commitment to Ohio State on Aug. 14, 2022. Drama ensued on the first day of the early signing period when Bonsu had not sent in his letter of intent, which caused a great deal of angst that Bonsu was reconsidering his commitment. Fortunately for Ohio State, Bonsu signed with Ohio State, and he arrived on campus this summer for conditioning and fall camp after a stellar high school career at St. Peter’s Prep in New Jersey.
Bonsu is wearing No. 21 for the upcoming season, and could see his initial contributions on the special teams units, with a possible redshirt year.
7. Kayden McDonald - Defensive Line
McDonald gave his verbal commitment to Ohio State on Halloween, Oct. 31. It would be accurate to say that it was more of a treat than a trick to get a defensive lineman rated as one of the premier players out of the state of Georgia. Even though McDonald arrived on campus this summer, he demonstrated to his teammates and coaches that he is a player that can be counted upon in a game, as illustrated by being the first of the summer enrollees to have his black stripe removed on Aug. 19.
Wearing No. 56, it will bear watching to see what kind of playing time McDonald earns along the defensive line this coming season.
8. Lincoln Kienholz - Quarterback
Originally committed to Washington, Kienholz flipped his verbal commitment to Ohio State on Dec. 14, 2022. Hailing from T.F. Riggs in Pierre, South Dakota, Kienholz also competed on the basketball and baseball teams. While speculation swirls about the 2023 starting quarterback, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day was effusive in his praise for Kienholz as a scout team quarterback in 2023. Kienholz will wear No. 12 and will likely redshirt in 2023.
9. Joshua Mickens - Defensive End
Mickens was originally verballed to LSU, but reopened his commitment and decided to sign with Ohio State on Dec. 21, 2022. Considered the top player in the state of Indiana, Mickens is listed at 6-foot-5, 236 pounds. Mickens could see limited playing time in 2023, and will wear No. 52 for the Buckeyes.
10. Nigel Glover - Linebacker
Glover originally signed with Northwestern, but entered the transfer portal and signed with Ohio State as the Buckeyes were beginning fall camp. A safety in high school from Clayton, Ohio, Glover will play linebacker for Ohio State in the coming seasons. Special teams units seem to be a likely place where Glover will contribute in 2023. Glover will wear No. 37 for the Buckeyes.
Continue reading...
Chip.Minnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Lori Schmidt/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Several players arrived on campus this summer and are making positive impressions.
Every day from now until the start of the season, Land-Grant Holy Land is highlighting Ohio State football players that you should be watching this season. Check out all of our ”Player to Watch” articles to get ready for the season opener against Indiana.
Ohio State essentially concluded their 2023 recruiting class on Dec. 22, 2022, when safety Jayden Bonsu was added to the class that was announced to the media and fans (More on Bonsu below). I wrote the term “essentially”, as you will see this freshman group was recently augmented, and has shown signs of contributions for the upcoming 2023 season, as well as seasons to come.
Back in January, I wrote an article about how 11 of the 20 players had already enrolled at Ohio State to participate in spring football drills. This article is going to focus upon those remaining players who made the move to Columbus at the beginning of June, and where things stand with them on the depth chart as we get ever so closer to game week. We will also look into the circumstances of a player who did not sign with Ohio State, but has since been added to the roster for the 2023 season.
Below are a listing of these 10 players from when they gave Ohio State their respective verbal commitments, and try to gauge what impact they may have this upcoming season.
- Cedrick Hawkins - Safety
Hawkins gave his verbal commitment to Ohio State on Jan. 1, 2022. I find that somewhat noteworthy, as Hawkins was verbally committing to a staff that was about to undergo dramatic changes on the defensive side of the ball after the 2022 Rose Bowl with the departures of Kerry Coombs and Matt Barnes and the arrivals of Jim Knowles, Tim Walton, and Perry Eliano, and kept his commitment steady until signing day.
Hawkins is wearing No. 26, and could be making his first impressions on the special teams units this upcoming season.
2. Brandon Inniss - Wide Receiver
Inniss gave his verbal commitment to Ohio State on June 21, 2022, and was ranked as the top player in Ohio State’s 2023 recruiting class. Wearing a notable No. 11 jersey that other prominent Ohio State wide receivers have worn throughout their careers, such as Anthony Gonzalez, Austin Mack, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Inniss had his black stripe removed from his helmet on Aug. 21.
It is certainly questionable as to how much Inniss will play in 2023 with such a stacked wide receiver room, but it will not be surprising to see Inniss get playing time this season. Inniss ranks as one of my “Players To Watch” for 2023.
3. Calvin Simpson-Hunt - Cornerback
Simpson-Hunt was originally committed to Texas Tech, but switched his commitment to Ohio State on June 30, 2022. Simpson-Hunt was a stellar track performer, having been timed at 10.97 in the 100 meters and a 22.00 in the 200 meters. Like his classmater Cedrick Hawkins, Simpson-Hunt may wind up contributing on special teams initially, especially with that tremendous speed. Simpson-Hunt is wearing No. 15.
4. Jason Moore - Defensive Line
Signed out of powerhouse DeMatha Catholic, Moore gave his verbal commitment to Ohio State on July 10, 2022. Ohio State lists Moore at 6-foot-6 and 295 pounds, and he is wearing the No. 94 jersey this season, the same number popularized by other prominent Ohio State defensive linemen such as Mike Vrabel and Rodney Bailey. Moore could be a redshirt candidate this upcoming season.
5. Arvell Reese - Defensive End
Signed out of Cleveland Glenville, Reese gave his verbal commitment to Ohio State on Aug. 6, 2022. Traditionally, Glenville players who eventually signed with Ohio State have waited until later in the process to give their verbal commitments. Regardless of when it took place, Ohio State coaches were naturally ecstatic to get a player of Reese’s caliber on the roster.
Although recruited as a linebacker, Reese made the move to defensive end in fall camp, and had his black stripe removed on August 22. Reese will be wearing No. 20 this upcoming season.
6. Jayden Bonsu - Safety
Bonsu gave his verbal commitment to Ohio State on Aug. 14, 2022. Drama ensued on the first day of the early signing period when Bonsu had not sent in his letter of intent, which caused a great deal of angst that Bonsu was reconsidering his commitment. Fortunately for Ohio State, Bonsu signed with Ohio State, and he arrived on campus this summer for conditioning and fall camp after a stellar high school career at St. Peter’s Prep in New Jersey.
Bonsu is wearing No. 21 for the upcoming season, and could see his initial contributions on the special teams units, with a possible redshirt year.
7. Kayden McDonald - Defensive Line
McDonald gave his verbal commitment to Ohio State on Halloween, Oct. 31. It would be accurate to say that it was more of a treat than a trick to get a defensive lineman rated as one of the premier players out of the state of Georgia. Even though McDonald arrived on campus this summer, he demonstrated to his teammates and coaches that he is a player that can be counted upon in a game, as illustrated by being the first of the summer enrollees to have his black stripe removed on Aug. 19.
Wearing No. 56, it will bear watching to see what kind of playing time McDonald earns along the defensive line this coming season.
8. Lincoln Kienholz - Quarterback
Originally committed to Washington, Kienholz flipped his verbal commitment to Ohio State on Dec. 14, 2022. Hailing from T.F. Riggs in Pierre, South Dakota, Kienholz also competed on the basketball and baseball teams. While speculation swirls about the 2023 starting quarterback, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day was effusive in his praise for Kienholz as a scout team quarterback in 2023. Kienholz will wear No. 12 and will likely redshirt in 2023.
9. Joshua Mickens - Defensive End
Mickens was originally verballed to LSU, but reopened his commitment and decided to sign with Ohio State on Dec. 21, 2022. Considered the top player in the state of Indiana, Mickens is listed at 6-foot-5, 236 pounds. Mickens could see limited playing time in 2023, and will wear No. 52 for the Buckeyes.
10. Nigel Glover - Linebacker
Glover originally signed with Northwestern, but entered the transfer portal and signed with Ohio State as the Buckeyes were beginning fall camp. A safety in high school from Clayton, Ohio, Glover will play linebacker for Ohio State in the coming seasons. Special teams units seem to be a likely place where Glover will contribute in 2023. Glover will wear No. 37 for the Buckeyes.
Continue reading...
LGHL I-80 Football Show: USC’s defense is still a liability and Penn State is overhyped
- News
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I-80 Football Show: USC’s defense is still a liability and Penn State is overhyped
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
It’s time for the championship tier of the 2023 preview and Dante and Jordan are talking about USC and Penn State
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s I-80 Football Show. On this show, we talk about all things Big Ten football and basketball from New Jersey to California. With four new teams joining the conference in 2024, we’ll integrate them in the show, getting a head start on the 18-team conference.
After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Welcome to a new episode of Fans First Football Network’s I-80 Football Show. On this show, we talk about all things Big Ten football and basketball from New Jersey to California. With USC and UCLA joining the conference in 2024 we’ll integrate them in the show getting a head start on the 16-team conference. After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.
College Football is officially back! Dante and Jordan prepare for week 0 action talking about what they’re most excited about with football season back! Dante is looking forward to watching all the new quarterbacks across the sport. Jordan can’t wait to see how the PAC-12s final season plays out.
USC and star quarterback Caleb Williams are hoping to win the PAC 12 in its final season and make the playoffs but they may be held back by a porous Alex Grinch defense… again. The guys question if Caleb Williams will be the second person to win two Heisman trophies but Jordan thinks the Heisman Trust is actively rooting against another two-time Heisman winner.
Penn State is one of the most hyped programs in the country with Drew Allar at the helm. Despite being a first-time college starter the Drew Allar expectations are high. Coupled with a dynamic running back duo and multiple freak athletes on defense many believe that this is the year that Penn State breaks through winning the Big Ten and making the playoffs. The guys may not be buying the hype.
Follow the show on YouTube: @JordanW330 and @LandGrantPods
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and Dante: @DanteM10216
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Continue reading...
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
It’s time for the championship tier of the 2023 preview and Dante and Jordan are talking about USC and Penn State
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s I-80 Football Show. On this show, we talk about all things Big Ten football and basketball from New Jersey to California. With four new teams joining the conference in 2024, we’ll integrate them in the show, getting a head start on the 18-team conference.
After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Welcome to a new episode of Fans First Football Network’s I-80 Football Show. On this show, we talk about all things Big Ten football and basketball from New Jersey to California. With USC and UCLA joining the conference in 2024 we’ll integrate them in the show getting a head start on the 16-team conference. After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.
College Football is officially back! Dante and Jordan prepare for week 0 action talking about what they’re most excited about with football season back! Dante is looking forward to watching all the new quarterbacks across the sport. Jordan can’t wait to see how the PAC-12s final season plays out.
USC and star quarterback Caleb Williams are hoping to win the PAC 12 in its final season and make the playoffs but they may be held back by a porous Alex Grinch defense… again. The guys question if Caleb Williams will be the second person to win two Heisman trophies but Jordan thinks the Heisman Trust is actively rooting against another two-time Heisman winner.
Penn State is one of the most hyped programs in the country with Drew Allar at the helm. Despite being a first-time college starter the Drew Allar expectations are high. Coupled with a dynamic running back duo and multiple freak athletes on defense many believe that this is the year that Penn State breaks through winning the Big Ten and making the playoffs. The guys may not be buying the hype.
Follow the show on YouTube: @JordanW330 and @LandGrantPods
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and Dante: @DanteM10216
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Continue reading...
LGHL Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for August 25, 2023
- News
- 0 Replies
Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for August 25, 2023
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Ohio State Football Countdown: 8
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land
Key takeaways from Keenan Bailey, deeper Ohio State tight end room
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes
Buckeyes special teams notebook: new long snapper, returning punter, ongoing kicking battle (paywall)
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Jim Knowles Feels Ohio State’s Defensive Ends Are “As Good As Anyone in the Country” Entering 2023
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Offensive lineman Tegra Tshabola may not have won the job, but he’s a future star
Jordan Williams, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State’s defensive line wants to ‘run in a pack’ as part of a unit-first approach for more success
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Ohio State football camp concludes: 5 things we know, 3 things we don’t about the Buckeyes (paywall)
Cameron Teague Robinson, The Athletic
Ohio State’s preseason Heisman Trophy favorites
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land
How Ryan Day has built a vast support staff to compete for titles
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State’s Kyle McCord inks NIL deal with Rhoback, Buckeye fans get special offer
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Tom Snyder To Be the Voice of Ohio Stadium in 2023
Ohio State Athletics
MC&J: College football’s Week 0 kicks off in Ireland with Navy-Notre Dame
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land
Why Mia Tuman chose Ohio State volleyball after growing up in a Michigan family
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch
Men’s Soccer: Ohio State Starts Season With a 1-all Draw vs. CSUN
Ohio State Athletics
This is certainly something...
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
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
For your Earholes...
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Countdown to Kickoff
Ohio State Football Countdown: 8
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land
On the Gridiron
Key takeaways from Keenan Bailey, deeper Ohio State tight end room
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes
Buckeyes special teams notebook: new long snapper, returning punter, ongoing kicking battle (paywall)
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Jim Knowles Feels Ohio State’s Defensive Ends Are “As Good As Anyone in the Country” Entering 2023
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Offensive lineman Tegra Tshabola may not have won the job, but he’s a future star
Jordan Williams, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State’s defensive line wants to ‘run in a pack’ as part of a unit-first approach for more success
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
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Introducing the new voice of Ohio Stadium ️
Tom Snyder Fans will soon be getting used to hearing Snyder's voice on Football Saturdays
Join us in giving Tom a warm welcome https://t.co/g3i8VVU9Xv
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) August 24, 2023
Tom Snyder To Be the Voice of Ohio Stadium in 2023
Ohio State Athletics
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Ohio State Athletics
And now for something completely different...
This is certainly something...
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LGHL 2024 defensive target breaks down final schools, 2025 DB gets endorsed by OSU staffer
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2024 defensive target breaks down final schools, 2025 DB gets endorsed by OSU staffer
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Recruiting grinds never stop in Columbus with this Ohio State coaching staff.
In just over a week the Buckeyes will take the field versus Indiana to kick off the 2023 campaign. A long offseason, Ohio State has yet to name a starting quarterback, and the questions surrounding the battle give way to one of the more intriguing openers in recent memory.
With a defense that looks to be highly improved and an offensive line that seems to be coming together, the anticipation for how this team will look in just eight days is pretty exciting. Though there’s little time before the official season, recruiting is always in the forefront of this staff, and this week has shown that to be true in multiple ways.
Even with 22 commits and the nation’s second-ranked recruiting class, Ohio State feels like they have work still left to do in the 2024 cycle. With only a few spots left up for grabs, the Buckeyes are looking to fill the needs of certain positions and have some key targets in mind for doing just that.
Looking specifically at the defensive line, it’s been a topic of discussion rather often as of late but for good reason. Landing another five-star in Eddrick Houston this week shows Larry Johnson is still able to reign in the top talents, and the pair of he and Justin Scott anchors what any school in the country would love to have for their defensive line haul in the 2024 recruiting class. That said, at least one and maybe two guys are still desired for this position group, and work won’t stop until that becomes the case.
Earlier this week, four-star defensive lineman Dominick McKinley broke down his final schools with On3 Sports before his coming commitment taking place on Sept. 1. A 6-foot-5, 290 pound athlete, McKinley is currently down to LSU, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Texas, and Texas A&M. The No. 38 player nationally, Dominick checks in as the seventh best player at his position and the top player from Louisiana for the 2024 class per the 247Sports Composite.
As it stands right now, Texas owns the lone crystal ball prediction on his 247Sports profile, and while the Buckeyes have had some positive reviews from McKinley himself, it doesn’t look great for Ohio State to land his commitment. Still, if this is a guy the staff wants bad enough, they’ll make every effort possible and will continue to fight even if his decision day goes away from Columbus. Either way, this recruitment will be updated in just the coming week.
Yesterday, Director of Player Personnel Mark Pantoni on his Twitter account shared a Tweet posted by 2025 safety, Faheem Delane. The No. 47 player nationally, Delane is the fifth best safety, and the top player in Maryland per the 247Sports Composite.
With nearly 30 offers to his name already, it’s easy to see why Delane is coveted by so many programs and as noted, when an Ohio State staffer and specifically the head of recruiting is willing to endorse a target, certainly it means the Buckeyes will be all over this recruitment.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Recruiting grinds never stop in Columbus with this Ohio State coaching staff.
In just over a week the Buckeyes will take the field versus Indiana to kick off the 2023 campaign. A long offseason, Ohio State has yet to name a starting quarterback, and the questions surrounding the battle give way to one of the more intriguing openers in recent memory.
With a defense that looks to be highly improved and an offensive line that seems to be coming together, the anticipation for how this team will look in just eight days is pretty exciting. Though there’s little time before the official season, recruiting is always in the forefront of this staff, and this week has shown that to be true in multiple ways.
Breaking it down before making the call
Even with 22 commits and the nation’s second-ranked recruiting class, Ohio State feels like they have work still left to do in the 2024 cycle. With only a few spots left up for grabs, the Buckeyes are looking to fill the needs of certain positions and have some key targets in mind for doing just that.
Looking specifically at the defensive line, it’s been a topic of discussion rather often as of late but for good reason. Landing another five-star in Eddrick Houston this week shows Larry Johnson is still able to reign in the top talents, and the pair of he and Justin Scott anchors what any school in the country would love to have for their defensive line haul in the 2024 recruiting class. That said, at least one and maybe two guys are still desired for this position group, and work won’t stop until that becomes the case.
Earlier this week, four-star defensive lineman Dominick McKinley broke down his final schools with On3 Sports before his coming commitment taking place on Sept. 1. A 6-foot-5, 290 pound athlete, McKinley is currently down to LSU, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Texas, and Texas A&M. The No. 38 player nationally, Dominick checks in as the seventh best player at his position and the top player from Louisiana for the 2024 class per the 247Sports Composite.
As it stands right now, Texas owns the lone crystal ball prediction on his 247Sports profile, and while the Buckeyes have had some positive reviews from McKinley himself, it doesn’t look great for Ohio State to land his commitment. Still, if this is a guy the staff wants bad enough, they’ll make every effort possible and will continue to fight even if his decision day goes away from Columbus. Either way, this recruitment will be updated in just the coming week.
Quick Hits
- You can tell a lot about a person by what they share on their social media. When it comes to recruiting and Ohio State, there’s plenty of content to see, but when a coach or staff member endorses a certain prospect it tends to mean a little more.
Yesterday, Director of Player Personnel Mark Pantoni on his Twitter account shared a Tweet posted by 2025 safety, Faheem Delane. The No. 47 player nationally, Delane is the fifth best safety, and the top player in Maryland per the 247Sports Composite.
With nearly 30 offers to his name already, it’s easy to see why Delane is coveted by so many programs and as noted, when an Ohio State staffer and specifically the head of recruiting is willing to endorse a target, certainly it means the Buckeyes will be all over this recruitment.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State Football Countdown: 8
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Ohio State Football Countdown: 8
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
One play or big moment per day as we count down to the start of Ohio State’s 2023 football season.
As we count down to the start of the 2023 season, we will be looking back at one play or big moment in Ohio State history over the past decade or so that corresponds to the remaining days left until Buckeyes take the field against Indiana on Sept. 2. There are 8 days remaining.
While there have obviously been numerous plays across this countdown that have been more impactful as far as the situation in-game, none have been more emotional than Kamryn Babb’s touchdown against Indiana in 2021. Sometimes sports brings us some truly feel-good moments, and this was exactly that, as Babb — who had to overcome four different ACL injuries during his Ohio State career — finally got back to the field to catch his first career touchdown. You can tell by his reaction and the reaction of his teammates just how special this moment was for everyone involved. This short documentary on the play is a must-watch.
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Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
One play or big moment per day as we count down to the start of Ohio State’s 2023 football season.
As we count down to the start of the 2023 season, we will be looking back at one play or big moment in Ohio State history over the past decade or so that corresponds to the remaining days left until Buckeyes take the field against Indiana on Sept. 2. There are 8 days remaining.
Play of the Day: Kamryn Babb’s 8-yard TD vs. Indiana (2021)
While there have obviously been numerous plays across this countdown that have been more impactful as far as the situation in-game, none have been more emotional than Kamryn Babb’s touchdown against Indiana in 2021. Sometimes sports brings us some truly feel-good moments, and this was exactly that, as Babb — who had to overcome four different ACL injuries during his Ohio State career — finally got back to the field to catch his first career touchdown. You can tell by his reaction and the reaction of his teammates just how special this moment was for everyone involved. This short documentary on the play is a must-watch.
Players to Wear the #8 (since 2010):
- Dionte Allen (2011)
- Noah Spence (2012-13)
- Jeff Green (2013)
- J.T. Moore (2013)
- Kevin Niehoff (2014)
- Gareon Conley (2015-16)
- Kendall Sheffield (2017-18)
- Javonte Jean-Baptiste (2019-22)
- Trey Sermon (2020)
- Cade Stover (2020-present)
- Lathan Ransom (present)
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