Looking back at the 2020 Ohio State recruiting class: The Departures
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Joshua A. Bickel/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Part one of this series is focused on the players who transferred from Ohio State.

On Dec. 18, 2019, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day welcomed in a new recruiting class that would eventually number 25 players. Even though Day was involved in the 2019 recruiting class, this class was truly a result of the efforts of his staff and himself, as this cycle was also impacted by the retirement of Urban Meyer. At the press conference to announce the 24 players who signed (Cameron Martinez eventually signed on Feb. 5; Martinez will be mentioned more in part three of this series), Ryan Day stated,

We think it’s an unbelievable class. As this coaching staff’s inaugural class, there’s a lot of people that had to make this happen, and the thing that I want to make sure I do first off publicly is thank the families. There’s a lot of families here that jumped on board here before we won a game at all this year, and they believed in what we were talking to these families about and the philosophies and what was going to go on...I just want to say thank you publicly to all the families out there and the recruits who believed in us from the beginning, and this is going to be one heck of a class. We have eight guys from Ohio, we have 13 states represented, and 14 of these guys are coming in at mid year, which is the highest we’ve ever had here, so we’re excited to get these guys in here and get to work.

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My personal history when it comes to analyzing Ohio State recruiting classes goes back to 2005, when the new Buckeyes included the likes of James Laurinaitis, Brian Hartline, and Malcolm Jenkins. That class was relatively small at just 18 players and was not highly regarded by recruiting analysts, but the coaching staff only lost three from that class due to transfer or academic issues, resulting in 15 who either started or contributed to Ohio State during their careers. This 83 percent success rate is an exceptional result in the unofficial “Rule of Thirds” concept that is applied to recruiting classes.

“The Rule of Thirds” is pretty simple — within any class, there will be approximately a third who will develop into starters as the coaching staff hoped and recruited, a third will be contributors in some fashion, and a third will not work out, leaving due to transfer, injuries. or possibly disciplinary reasons.

Part one of this series will look at the few players who eventually left the Ohio State program. I will address each player, why they left, and where they are currently in order of when that particular player verbally committed to the Buckeyes.

1. Jack Miller — Quarterback

Hailing from Scottsdale, Arizona, Miller was among the first players to verbally commit to Ohio State back in July of 2018. Miller played sparingly in the abbreviated 2020 season and 2021, before he decided to transfer to Florida. Miller started at quarterback in the 2022 Las Vegas Bowl, completing 13 passes on 22 attempts for 180 yards versus Oregon State. Miller is competing for the starting quarterback position this season.

2. Lejond Cavazos — Cornerback

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Cavazos redshirted in 2020, and was in the defensive back rotation during the 2021 season. Cavazos played in 11 games in 2021 and tallied eight tackles and two pass breakups as a redshirt freshman. Cavazos transferred to North Carolina in 2022, and started the last three games for the Tar Heels.

3. Jake Siebert — Kicker

A Cincinnati native, Seibert was 16-of-16 on extra point attempts across three games in 2020, and made a 23-yard field goal in the national championship game against Alabama. After a lackluster performance in the 2021 Ohio State Spring Game, the Buckeyes brought in Noah Ruggles to handle the placekicking, and Seibert did not see any game action in 2021 or 2022. Seibert transferred to Northern Illinois after the 2023 spring game.

4. Grant Toutant — Offensive Tackle

An offensive lineman from Warren, Michigan, Toutant redshirted in 2020, and played sparingly in 2021 and 2022. Toutant was recently announced by Ryan Day as having to medically retire from the program.

5. Darrion Henry-Young — Defensive Line

A defensive lineman from Cincinnati Princeton, Henry-Young redshirted in 2020, and was able to get two tackles, a sack and a tackle for loss in the two games that he played. In 2021, Henry-Young played in two games, but did not make any defensive statistics. After the 2021 season, Henry-Young transferred to Kentucky. In 2022, Henry-Young played in five games for the Wildcats.

6. Mookie Cooper — Wide Receiver

Cooper redshirted in 2020, and was among the first to leave the program at the end of the 2020 season. Transferring back home to Missouri, Cooper has caught 42 passes for 477 yards and a touchdown over the last two seasons.

7. Jacolbe Cowan — Defensive Line

Cowan redshirted in 2020, and played in five games in the 2021 season, credited with three tackles. After Ohio State finished their spring practices in 2022, Cowan transferred back home to North Carolina, where he played in 12 games and was credited with six tackles and a sack.

8. Ryan Watts — Cornerback

Watts played in seven games for the Buckeyes in 2020, and was credited with four tackles. In 2021, Watts played in 12 games, and even started the season opener at Minnesota. Watts transferred back home to Texas after the 2021 season, and is a starter for the Longhorns. Watts was an Honorable Mention All-Big 12 selection by the Big 12 coaches after the 2022 season.

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Out of 25 players signed, eight left the program, or 32%. Very close to the “Rule Of Thirds” when evaluating recruiting classes. In part two of the series, we will look at the players who have emerged as contributors to the program.

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Buckeyes in the NFL: 2023 Fantasy Football Preview — Chris Olave
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Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Olave hit the ground running and put NFL defenses on notice as a rookie. Now in Year 2, he will be looking to establish himself as a WR1 in both real-life and fantasy.

When the New Orleans Saints traded up in the 2022 NFL Draft to select Chris Olave, there were plenty of ‘experts’ who questioned the move. Those same experts cited cost (to trade), other needs on the roster, and even Olave’s perceived skill/talent/upside as reasons not to move up and burn additional draft assets on a player who finished third on his college team in both receptions and receiving yards as a senior (their words, not mine).

And while this former Buckeye certainly did not change the direction of the Saints’ franchise in one year, he was able to make the NFL transition look easy and establish himself as the team’s No. 1 pass catcher. Not bad for a rookie.

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

While Olave’s real-life draft value can and likely will be debated for years to come, there is no questioning the fact that he made (and currently does make) New Orleans a better team. He quickly developed into their most reliable playmaker, and by the end of his rookie campaign, was the only consistent performer on an otherwise putrid offense. And I do mean putrid.


Because the Saints’ second-leading rusher last season was Taysom Hill, a former college quarterback who is currently listed as a tight end. Their second-leading receiver (yardage) was Juwan Johnson, a former college wide receiver who is currently listed as... a tight end! This team essentially just rolled out 11 guys who claimed to have experience somewhere on offense and hoped for the best. But Olave was the lone bright spot. And now he will need to be prioritized. Featured. Force fed, even.

New Orleans was also missing Michael Thomas for most of the 2022 season, a player who would have acted as an on-field mentor to Olave. The two share more than a few things in common – high school in California, played at Ohio State, drafted by the Saints, etc. – so if the former is finally healthy, I would expect the latter to get even more help and advice from his older Buckeye brethren.

However, Thomas is not the only other Buckeye in New Orleans. The two receivers are joined by Marshon Lattimore, Bradley Roby, Nick Vannett, Pete Werner, and Jerron Cage, creating Ohio State South or the OSU Louisiana campus. With the added benefit of extreme familiarity, Olave should feel more comfortable than most as he grows into a starring role. Speaking of, let’s talk fantasy football.

What round are you drafting Chris Olave? pic.twitter.com/QlckgzB9h5

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) July 10, 2023

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Even in a below-average NFL offense, Olave will still be required to earn and fight for touches in 2023. Because in addition to Thomas at WR and the versatile duo of Hill and Johnson at TE, New Orleans also has one of the best dual-threat running backs in the NFL. Prior to 2021, Alvin Kamara averaged 80+ receptions per season out of the backfield. His production has dipped considerably since, but he is still just 28 years old. And new Saints QB Derek Carr will check down if necessary.

If Kamara (who is also facing a possible suspension) falls off in a major way, New Orleans has plenty of backfield reinforcements. Jamaal Williams was signed to form a ‘thunder and lightning’ duo with Kamara, but is more than capable of shouldering an entire load. All he did last season was score 17 TD, good for second in the entire league. Rookie RB Kendre Miller should also be involved, fresh off a college career that saw him rush for 2,410 yards and 26 TD on only 361 carries.

Why then, with added competition, do I expect Olave to be even more productive in 2023? And become a potential top-10 WR, in both real life and fantasy football? Well, I could probably give you a dozen reasons. But other than the fact that I am an Ohio State homer, let’s just go over a few.

First and foremost, Thomas and Kamara are likely on the back nine of their respective primes, if not completely past it/them. Those two, along with retired QB Drew Brees, used to be the engine that made this Saints offense go. But Thomas might be a shell of his former self after three straight seasons marred by injury. He has barely played since setting multiple NFL receiving records in 2019.

And Kamara, forced to do much of the heavy lifting in Thomas and Brees’ absence(s), has taken a beating as the focal point of opposing defenses. He also faces potential discipline from the league for an off-field incident that occurred way back in 2021. Olave was brought in to supplement Thomas and Kamara, but has already sped right past them to become the top skill guy in New Orleans.

So the Saints do have other weapons besides Olave. But those weapons are not nearly as potent as they once were. Additionally, the QB play is not what it once was. Some might like the theoretical upside of Carr, but he is not Drew Brees. He is, however, an upgrade over Jameis Winston and/or Andy Dalton, the QBs who were throwing to Olave last season. Say what you will about Carr’s game, but we’re talking about a four-time Pro Bowler with over 35,000 career passing yards.

That ain’t nothin’, if you know what I mean. Olave should benefit from playing with a guy who has not been passed around the league like a hot potato.

The Saints' offense just hasn't been the same without Sean Payton or Drew Brees.

Will Derek Carr change things?@LarryHolder examines how Carr could impact the fantasy stock of New Orleans' skill players, headlined by Chris Olave.https://t.co/4zRgeLBnaf

— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) July 10, 2023

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As for the all-time receiving TD leader at Ohio State, he boasts all the tools necessary to become an elite NFL wideout, in both real life and fantasy football. Olave had arguably the best footwork and separation skills of any receiver in the 2021 draft, and those skills absolutely translated to the next level. He was able to create space consistently as a rookie, despite being the focus of opposing defenses.

Olave also showed off high-end NFL speed, which was unfortunately negated by Dalton’s inability to throw deep (28.2 deep ball completion percentage). And while drops are bound to happen with any wideout, the former Buckeye kept them to a minimum in 2022.

According to several metrics, Olave was a top-15 player at his position as a rookie, but he ranked just 64th out of 97 qualified WRs in passer rating on balls thrown his way. This is a fancy way of saying that he performed like a borderline elite WR but was saddled with poor QB play. And he still finished with over 1,000 yards (!), becoming 1 of only 11 rookie WRs to do so since 2011. While he did not find the end zone very often, Olave’s four TD should be considered an anomaly for the volume he saw, leaving plenty of room for positive (TD) regression in 2023.

Olave’s current ADP is right around No. 30, and he is projected as a top-15, top-20 player at his position. That ADP sounds right to me, but I think his value takes a bit of a hit in PPR formats. However, an increase in TD should make up for any volume lost to teammates. So if the Saints’ primary weapon is available in the third round, I would still suggest pouncing on him before it’s too late. Olave is bound to find the endzone more often, and his efficiency should improve with better QB play.

If he simply matches last year’s target volume, he will finish as a strong WR1. Pick up the OSU record-breaker with confidence, and watch what he and his fellow Buckeyes can do in The Big Easy.

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Ohio National Guard Bucks for Buckeyes Program - Ohio National Guard
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Ohio National Guard Bucks for Buckeyes Program Ohio National Guard

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Ohio State Football Countdown: 29
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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 29 days remaining.

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Play of the Day: Chris Olave’s TD vs. Northwestern in B1G Title (2018)​

The 2018 Big Ten title was a weird game, and although Chris Olave is a household name these days, he was not yet a fixture of the Buckeye offense when he caught this important 29-yard touchdown in Indianapolis. This came a week after Olave burst onto the scene against Michigan with a pair of TDs and a blocked punt, and it was the last score for Olave in the 2018 campaign. Ohio State went on to win this game 45-24, but the conference title was not enough to overcome a loss to Purdue as the Buckeyes missed out on the CFP.

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Players to Wear the #29 (since 2010): ​

• Taylor Rice (2010-12)
• Mike Maduko (2014-15)
• Rodjay Burns (2016)
• Alex Craft (2016)
• Zach Hoover (2017-20)
• Marcus Hooker (2018-19)
• Darryl Sinclair (2019-20)
• Ryan Turner (2022)
• Jesse Mirco (2021-present)

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I-80 Football Show: 2023 season preview - hot seat tiers Pt. II
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In part two of the hot seat tier preview, the guys finish with Nebraska and discuss conference realignment.

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 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.

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In the first of four episodes previewing all ‘16’ teams in the Big Ten, Dante and Jordan start with the hot seat tier. The hot seat tier consists of four teams whose coaches are on the hot seat entering the season, will be on the hot seat at the end, or are first-year coaches whose programs will be pretty bad. There isn’t much to look forward to for these programs besides hoping the grass is greener on the other side of the coaching carousel.

In part two, the guys finish up the hot seat tier discussing what a successful season would look like for Nebraska and how long it will take for Matt Rhule to turn the Cornhuskers around like he did Baylor and Temple. Jordan thinks the turnaround will be faster but the ceiling is lower due to the Big Ten being a tougher conference.

The guys also talk about realignment as things have changed since they last recorded. Colorado is officially heading to the Big 12, and the PAC-12 is close to collapsing. It’s rumored that Arizona could be following Colorado, and without a signed grant of rights there is always the chance that Arizona State, Utah, Oregon, or Washington get antsy and make the move as well. It’s time for the PAC-12 to put up or shut up or risk folding as a conference.

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Follow the show on YouTube:

Jordan: @JordanW330

Land Grant Podcast Network: @LandGrantPods

Connect with us on Twitter:

Jordan: @JordanW330

Dante: @DanteM10216

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Ohio State makes top schools list for 2025 five-star corner
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Devin Sanchez | 247Sports

The Buckeyes made the cut for one of the nation’s top DBs in the next cycle.

With camp underway, the Buckeyes have finally started their 2023 season as they gear up to play Indiana in just a few short weeks. With plenty of work to get done over the next several practices, Ohio State’s coaching staff will be primarily focused on the tasks at hand, but recruiting is never far from their minds.

This week saw high school juniors being contacted by colleges all over the country, and the Buckeyes were definitely in the mix early and often. While recruiting will die down at least a little bit with games that matter just around the corner, Thursday proved that even on the slower days, Ohio State is still on the trail.

2025 five-star DB names top-10 schools​

In the current 2024 cycle, the Buckeyes have an incredible trio of cornerback commits thanks to Bryce West, Miles Lockhart, and Aaron Scott. Three guys isn’t the end all to this class, as a fourth would certainly be taken if the right guy wants in. Looking ahead to the 2025 class though, Ohio State has already offered multiple players at the position and would love nothing more than to get an early start on focusing in on their top guys.

Tim Walton has really turned it on as of late, and some credit is due here as he’s been a major part as to why the Buckeyes are currently sitting with arguably the nation’s best cornerback haul in the 2024 class. Wanting to keep his momentum into the next year, Walton already has a list of guys this staff is targeting. On Thursday, one kept the Buckeyes in the mix as he narrowed down his offers down to a top ten schools list.

The No. 7 ranked nationally and the second-best cornerback in the country per the 247Sports Composite, Devin Sanchez (Houston, Texas/North Shore) took to Twitter to release the latest update in his recruitment by trimming his list to just 10 remaining programs vying for his services. The five-star athlete currently holds over 30 offers to his name, so narrowing it down this early on in the process with two full prep seasons to play proves he’s serious about getting down to the heavy favorites. Fortunately, Ohio State is still in the mix.

Also making the cut included Michigan, Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas, USC, Florida State, Oregon, and Texas A&M. A 6-foot-2, 175 pound corner, Sanchez has all of the talent in the world on top of the desired lengthy frame. In addition, playing at one of the top prep programs in the country, he’s battle tested and has shown what he’s made of against some of the tougher competition in high school football.

It’s never easy landing a talent of this level, but Ohio State has struck gold in Texas several times and at the cornerback spot for sure. They’ll continue shooting their best shot here with Devin and use their track record of cornerback development to their advantage.

BREAKING: Five-Star CB Devin Sanchez (2025) is down to Schools!

The 6’2 180 CB from Houston, TX is ranked as the No. 7 Player in the ‘25 Class (No. 2 CB)

Where Should He Go? https://t.co/oTUHXHIX8y pic.twitter.com/Jn9nIEJAsu

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) August 3, 2023

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Quick Hits​

• Nowadays the majority of recruiting done outside of in-person visits is digital. Whether it be text, calls, or via social media there’s always something in the works for the top college programs, and that remains true with the Buckeyes. It’s still a timeless truth though that receiving physical mail just hits a little different, and this week has seen Ohio State’s postage rates jump a bit.

With several players taking to their social media accounts to share their latest letters, here’s a quick list of just a couple who have heard from the Buckeye coaches this week.

Grant Houser - Wapakoneta, Ohio: a 6-foot-5, 230 pound tight-end, Houser is a player I have been able to see in person and he is every bit the size he measures in at. An unranked prospect on his 247Sports profile, the in-state Ohio native still holds two offers from MAC Schools, Central Michigan and Bowling Green. A strong junior campaign however could have the Buckeyes interested.

Appreciate the love from @OhioStateFB! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/bBqCMtn63I

— Grant Houser (@GHouser85) August 3, 2023

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Nate Gregory - Lakewood, Ohio: Another in-state native, Gregory is not a stranger to Ohio State as he’s already made the short trek south to see the Buckeyes earlier this summer. The St. Eds linebacker is unranked right now, but does hold four offers to his name with Illinois being the major one as of now.

Seeing Ohio State keep in communication with Gregory shows they are interested, and like the aforementioned Houser, a strong junior season could force the Buckeyes to pay closer attention to him.

Very Grateful for interest from Ohio state!! pic.twitter.com/8TsKLH4jCr

— Nate Gregory (@Nate_Gregory32) August 3, 2023

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Rutgers Scarlet Knights Defensive Players To Watch vs. Ohio State - Sports Illustrated
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Rutgers Scarlet Knights Defensive Players To Watch vs. Ohio State Sports Illustrated

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Buckeyes' 2023 Schedule Set - Ohio State University
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Buckeyes' 2023 Schedule Set Ohio State University

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Kyle McCord, Devin Brown Ready for Intense QB Competition ... - KGW.com
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Kyle McCord, Devin Brown Ready for Intense QB Competition ... KGW.com

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Buckeyes Offensive Fall Camp Two-Deep Depth Chart Projection - Sports Illustrated
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Buckeyes Offensive Fall Camp Two-Deep Depth Chart Projection Sports Illustrated

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Buckeyes to play even more games on West Coast? - WJW FOX 8 News Cleveland
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Buckeyes to play even more games on West Coast? WJW FOX 8 News Cleveland

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New Ohio State Buckeyes Nike Pegasus 40 sneakers released: Buy them here - cleveland.com
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New Ohio State Buckeyes Nike Pegasus 40 sneakers released: Buy them here cleveland.com

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Ohio State Buckeyes' Ryan Day Focused On Having 'Best' QB Room - Sports Illustrated
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Ohio State Buckeyes' Ryan Day Focused On Having 'Best' QB Room Sports Illustrated

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Listen: Buckeyes' defense to be much improved this year? Why or why not? (Biddle on The Fan) - 247Sports
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Listen: Buckeyes' defense to be much improved this year? Why or why not? (Biddle on The Fan) 247Sports

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Ohio State Releases Updated Roster For Start of Preseason Camp | Eleven Warriors - Eleven Warriors
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Ohio State Releases Updated Roster For Start of Preseason Camp | Eleven Warriors Eleven Warriors

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Homegrown Talent - Ohio State - Ohio State University
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Homegrown Talent - Ohio State Ohio State University

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Ryan Day gives latest on Ohio State's quarterback competition - On3.com
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Ryan Day gives latest on Ohio State's quarterback competition On3.com

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Eight Buckeyes Set to Compete at the 2023 Core Hydration Classic ... - Ohio State University
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Eight Buckeyes Set to Compete at the 2023 Core Hydration Classic ... Ohio State University

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How the Legend of ‘Gas Tank Gary’ Came to Be - Ohio State University
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How the Legend of ‘Gas Tank Gary’ Came to Be Ohio State University

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Ohio State’s projected two-deep following the first day of 2023 fall football camp
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Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Sonny Styles can, should, and will be a starter for the season opener.

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.

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It wasn’t that long ago that the Ohio State football program would actually publish depth charts to make it easier for the media and fans to understand what was happening with the team. Not only that, but the Buckeyes actually did it on a weekly basis, giving interested onlookers an insight into the roster before every game.

Gone are those more carefree days of yore as head coach Ryan Day has closed ranks around his program, instead of open and honest transparency opting for secrecy and surreptitiousness. While wanting to keep proprietary information out of the hands of opponents certainly makes sense, unfortunately, it makes it more difficult for fans to know what’s going on with the team that they love, and it can end up causing headaches for OSU players and coaches as well.


So, short of an actual two-deep release, I am going to read the tea leaves from what we saw in the spring, heard throughout the summer, and witnessed from the first day of fall camp on Thursday to try and predict what will happen at every position by the time the season opener against Indiana rolls around.

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Offense​

Backfield​

This one seems pretty much set in stone at this point. While the athleticism of Devin Brown is intriguing, I think the writing on the wall is pretty clear at this point that Kyle McCord will be the Buckeyes' Day 1 starter. In the middle of last season, I actually had talked myself into thinking that Brown would be the 2023 starter because Day seemed so hesitant to let McCord do practically anything in games. But, that now appears to have been more about trying to get as much Heisman love for C.J. Stroud as anything else. So, I think the veteran will be the starter for the Buckeyes this fall before probably turning into a first-round NFL Draft pick next spring.

In terms of running back, I don’t think it really matters who starts between these two, because I think they will both have a substantial, and fairly equal, role in the offense this year. However, coming off of a really frustrating sophomore season, it seems like TreVeyon Henderson is healthy and ready to prove that his freshman campaign was no fluke; so I am looking for him to prove that he is once again one of the best backs in the country.

Pass Catchers​

Rinse, repeat; Ohio State has the best receiving corps in the country. They will continue to just funnel top-line talent into the pros with no speed bumps for the foreseeable future ad infinitum, in perpetuity, forever and ever, amen.

Offensive Line​

Here’s the one area that I am going to venture at least a little bit off of the conventional wisdom and what we saw at Thursday’s first open practice. Apparently, Zen Michalski was getting the first team reps at right tackle, which is all well and good, but I do believe that San Diego State transfer Josh Simmons will eventually be the starter at the open tackle position.

However, since he came over following spring practice, today was his first official practice as a Buckeye. So, once he gets acclimated to the program, I do think that his experience will carry him to a starting spot and will likely push Zen to the left side where he can be the backup to Josh Fryar.

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Defense​

Defensive Line​

The one little bit of news that we got about the defensive line coming out of Thursday was that Tyliek Williams went down with a bit of an injury. While he remained on the field for the rest of practice, he did not participate. So, that is likely all precautionary, but I do think it plays into the fact that he will almost certainly be the third man in the d-line rotation this year behind Mike Hall and Ty Hamilton.

Day said on Wednesday that the coaches’ plan is to rotate less up front on defense, so how deep they actually go is yet to be seen, but Williams is a pretty scary presence to have as a backup for that unit.

Linebacker​

The two-deep at linebacker seems to be pretty cut and dry, but on Thursday we learned that oft-injured safety Kourt Williams had made the transition to linebacker and will be playing exclusively there this season.

“Kourt is a guy we always felt would be better off closer to the line of scrimmage,” defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said. “We had debated that move for a while and thought it was the right time to move him down fully. He’ll still play sam linebacker in our 4-3 defense, he’s a first-class young man and it’s great to have him at linebacker.”

I have been excited to see what Wiliams could do since he got to campus and he was touted as the perfect fit for the Bullet position that never actually manifested on the field. So, after having three shoulder surgeries late in the 2022 season, let’s hope that he is ready to go as a LB this fall.

Secondary​

Ok, here’s where things get interesting. I think that the corners are more or less set with Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock locked in as starters with Ole Miss transfer Davison Igbinosun the next man up, but when we move to safety, that’s where things get weird.

All spring, the OSU coaches were talking up how great Josh Proctor had played, making many to assume that he had reclaimed the starting free safety spot that he lost after one half of football last fall. However, when the first practice got underway on Thursday, it was Syracuse transfer Ja’Had Carter at the Adjuster position.

While that was a surprise in itself, perhaps the bigger shock was that 18-year-old sophomore Sonny Styles was running with the 1s at the Nickel position. The accepted wisdom had been that veteran Cam Martinez would occupy that spot, but coaches had been increasingly talking about trying to get the uber-athletic Styles on the field all offseason, and it looks like this is how they do it.

I appreciate that Proctor and Martinez could have theoretically left after disappointing 2022 campaigns — especially Proctor who shocked practically everyone in returning — but Styles needs to be on the field. You win with athletes in this sport, and if the gap between veterans and youngsters is small, I always side with the youngsters because they have more room for growth and improvement.

Similarly, after being a modest three-star recruit coming out of high school, Carter has improved to the point that he was the No. 1 safety in the portal this offseason. If the Buckeyes want a defense that can hang with Michigan, Georgia, Alabama, USC, and the like, you need studs, and while Proctor and Martinez have proven to be solid contributors, they have yet to seize the opportunities that have been given to them, so it’s time to let some other guys have a chance.

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You’re Nuts: Which college football game in August are you most looking forward to watching?
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Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.

Our annual national nightmare is almost over! We have finally reached the point of the year where we can say “college football starts this month!”. With the recent introduction of “Week 0”, now we are assured of college football games being played in the month of August, while in years before the soft opening weekend, there were years in which the first college football games of the season were played in September.

Much like last year’s season that started with Nebraska/Northwestern over in Dublin, the first game of the season will again be played over in Ireland, except this year we’ll see Notre Dame and Navy square off inside Aviva Stadium. Later on that day, fans of the Ohio Bobcats will see their team travel to San Diego State to take on the Aztecs. The highest-ranked team in action on the first day of the season will be the USC Trojans, who host San Jose State. That game will be on Pac-12 Network, so the seven people in the country who get that channel will be able to see how the Trojans look as they have their eyes on a CFP spot.

The start to Week 1 of the college football season will take place on Thursday, Aug. 31. FOX will feature the first Big Ten game of the season, as Minnesota hosts Nebraska. Also kicking off at the same time will be a rematch of the thrilling contest from the opening weekend of last year’s college football season, as Florida heads out west to take on Utah in a battle of former employers of Urban Meyer. UCF’s first game as a member of the Big Ten will be a non-conference matchup against Kent State, and the other game between FBS schools on the final day of the month will see NC State take on UConn.

Since by the time the end of the month rolls around and we’ll have already been doing our best to get our fix for football off the snicklefritz that is NFL preseason action, we’ll all certainly be jonesing to watch football where the results actually count for something. What we want to know today is what college football game in the month of August are you most looking forward to watching. Even though there are just two days in the month when college football games are being played, there are enough quality options to make this an interesting question.

Today’s question: Which college football game in August are you most looking forward to watching?​

We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.​

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Brett’s answer: Florida vs. No. 10 Utah​

Last year’s season opener between these two teams in Gainesville was bonkers, with Florida upsetting the Utes 29-26 in head coach Billy Napier’s first game as head coach of the Gators. Anthony Richardson was massive for Florida, with the quarterback doing a lot of work on the ground, rushing for three touchdowns, including the game-winner with 1:25 left in the fourth quarter. The teams went in opposite directions the rest of the season with Utah reaching the Rose Bowl for the second straight season, while Florida was rolled in the Las Vegas Bowl by Oregon State to finish the season 6-7.

Even though Anthony Richardson was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, there is still an interesting quarterback matchup in this game. Utah will have Cam Rising returning for another season as the starter, while Florida brought in Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz. Backing up Mertz will be former Ohio State quarterback Jack Miller, who started the Las Vegas Bowl loss to Oregon State.

While expectations aren’t very high for Florida this year, the same can’t be said for Utah, who will likely be a factor in the Pac-12 title race. The Utes have won the last two conference championship games, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them in Las Vegas defending their crown in December. With USC, Oregon, and Washington all looking like they have teams capable of making the College Football Playoff, it should be a fun year to watch some Pac-12 football before USC and UCLA depart the conference for the Big Ten after this season.

If the game ends up being a laugher, at least we will likely get some enjoyment from hearing stories about Florida fans in Salt Lake City. It is refreshing to see the Gators take a trip outside of the South for a non-conference game in a hostile environment. We have seen Florida play a neutral-site game in Dallas against Michigan and bowl games in Glendale and Las Vegas, but I can’t remember the last time they took on a non-conference opponent on the road outside the South. Hopefully, this becomes more of a normal occurrence for the Gators, as well as other teams that don’t travel outside their comfort zone very often.

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Matt’s answer: Navy vs. No. 13 Notre Dame​

Now, I know, technically, Brett is operating inside the rules of our prompt for today, but he kind of took the easy way out opting for a Week 1 game played on Thursday night, while I am stuck with Week 0 games. So while Utah and Florida is the most big=picture intriguing, there is a Week 0 game that is worth paying attention to, even if it isn’t played on United States soil.

The first FBS game of the season will be played on Saturday, Aug. 26 at 3:30 p.m. ET and broadcast on NBC and Peacock as the Navy Midshipmen prepare for a war abroad with the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. I have pulled for Navy ever since I read John Feinstein’s book “A Civil War: Army vs. Navy” nearly two decades ago, so I am predisposed to root for them, but if you put them against one of my least favorite programs in college football, and I am especially geeked up. But when you factor in that Ohio State will be squaring off against the Golden Domers in Week 3, that just makes the game even more appointment television.

It also doesn’t hurt that we will get to see a little bit more of what NBC has in terms of its broadcast plans and capabilities for the season since Big Ten games will be airing on the network and streaming on Peacock for the first time this season. While obviously NBC has long been ND’s broadcast partner and has been doing NFL “Sunday Night Football” for years, now that the Buckeyes are going to play at least two games (Notre Dame and Michigan State have already been designated for the network) on NBC this season.

Navy was a pretty bad 4-8 last year, while we all saw the Irish have an up-and-down campaign in the first season under former Buckeye Marcus Freeman. So, I’m not expecting an upset from the Middies, but it will be nice to see what ND is working with before the season starts in earnest the following week.

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Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles embraces the pressure - The Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles embraces the pressure The Columbus Dispatch

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Practice Report: Buckeyes take the field for the first day of camp - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Practice Report: Buckeyes take the field for the first day of camp 247Sports

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Could Garrett Wilson win Offensive Player of the Year?
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

He has a higher chance than you think...

Has the NFL season started yet? No. Has the Hall of Fame game even been played yet? Nope. Does that mean it’s the perfect time to predict who is going to win the end-of-season awards? Obviously!

There are plenty of Buckeyes in the NFL to look forward to watching this season. The player in particular that I will have my eyes on will be Garrett Wilson. I am a Jets fan, so I will be watching him each week anyway, but I am really excited to see how he follows his rookie campaign. Wilson won Offensive Rookie of the Year last season (which I predicted in Week 2 on this site; pretty proud of myself), so there are a lot of expectations on him for this season.

It’s shaping up to be a pretty good football season for me. The Jets should actually be good this year, and Wilson is going to play a major role in their success. Clearly, the main factor here is that New York traded for Aaron Rodgers, a future Hall-of-Famer and the leader this team desperately needed at quarterback.

Wilson’s season in 2022 was even more impressive once you think about who he had throwing to him. Zach Wilson had seven interceptions and six touchdowns, Mike White had four interceptions and three touchdowns and Joe Flacco had five touchdowns and three interceptions. What a dumpster fire at the QB position.

Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images

Despite all of this, Garrett Wilson had 1,103 yards on 83 receptions and four touchdowns. He certainly was the offense’s bright spot, besides fellow rookie Breece Hall, a running back out of Iowa State. So, just imagine what Wilson can do with a competent QB throwing to him —more than competent, one of the all time greats!

Right now, Wilson is tied for the eighth-best odds to take home the OPOY trophy. As of late, it has become a non-quarterback award. In three of the past four years, receivers have won it, and in the year they didn’t it was a running back. A quarterback hasn’t won it since Patrick Mahomes in 2018.

At the top of the list with the best odds is Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase, and last year’s winner, Vikings WR Justin Jefferson. These guys have proven themselves to be some of the top receivers in the league, but Wilson isn’t too far behind them. In fact, Wilson had more receiving yards than Chase last season!

Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images

So, does Wilson really have a shot at winning this award? I think a lot of it depends on how well Rodgers plays this season. He is coming off one of his worst seasons of his career, albeit, he played with a broken thumb, so it will be interesting to see how he bounces back this year, especially with a new team. However, being reunited with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, along with bringing some of his weapons he had in Green Bay with him, definitely shouldn’t hurt.

I anticipate Rodgers having a great year, therefore Wilson should have one too. Rodgers health is a concern, as he is 39 years old, so hopefully he can remain injury-free for the entirety of the season.

So, if this duo can stay healthy and play to their potential, I truly don’t see any reason why Wilson wouldn’t be in the conversation to win OPOY. The hype surrounding the Jets this season I think is deserved, and Wilson is going to have to go out there and prove it. He had no trouble doing so at Ohio State, so I don’t think he is going to start now.

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Ohio State Football Countdown: 30
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 Leon Halip/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 30 days remaining.

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Play of the Day: Justin Fields/Garrett Wilson 30-yard TD vs. Michigan (2019)​

One of my favorite moments in the recent history of The Game. Justin Fields, fresh off what looked like could be a significant knee injury, made his return to the field. On his very first play back, Fields found Garrett Wilson for this gorgeous 30-yard touchdown that effectively shut the door in what would be a 56-27 win for Ohio State. Fields threw for over 300 yards with four TDs in this game, while J.K. Dobbins rushed for another 211 and four scores on the ground. Wilson led the way in the receiving department with 118 yards and this TD.

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Players to Wear the #30 (since 2010): ​

• Devan Bogard (2012-14)
• Tyler Durbin (2015)
• Jared Drake (2015-17)
• Demario McCall (2016-19)
• Kevin Dever (2017-20)
• Corban Cleveland (2022)
• Will Hartson (present)
• Cody Simon (2021-present)

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