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LGHL July was a crazy month for former Ohio State baseball player Dominic Canzone
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July was a crazy month for former Ohio State baseball player Dominic Canzone
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
After making his MLB debut early in July with Arizona, Canzone was traded to Seattle at the end of the month.
2023 has been quite a year for former Ohio State outfielder Dominic Canzone. Not only did Canzone make his MLB debut with Arizona last month, but earlier this week he was traded to the Seattle Mariners a day prior to the trade deadline. Now the former Buckeye will get to line up in the outfield next to one of baseball’s young stars, Julio Rodríguez.
Canzone attended Walsh Jesuit High School in the Akron area, where he earned All-Ohio honorable mention honors as a senior. After going undrafted in the 2016 MLB Draft, Canzone came to Ohio State, where he hit .343 and drove in 36 runs in 49 games as a freshman in 2017, resulting in Canzone being an unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten freshman team.
Following a strong freshman season, Canzone saw even more time on the field as a sophomore, playing in 60 games and getting over 100 more plate appearances than he did in his first year with the Buckeyes. Even though Canzone’s average was a little lower and his home run and RBI numbers were nearly identical in his second season at Ohio State, the biggest increase came with the 18 doubles he recorded.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24826726/965622312.jpg "NCAA BASEBALL: JUN 01 South Carolina v Ohio State")
Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The 2019 season is where Canzone really broke out. Not only was Canzone named a team captain prior to the season, he went on to be named first team All-Big Ten after leading the conference in hits, runs scored, slugging percentage, and total bases. For the season, Canzone hit .345 with 16 home runs and 43 RBIs in 63 games. Canzone broke a school record by reaching base in 59 consecutive games.
Following his outstanding career at Ohio State, Canzone was drafted in the eighth round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the 242nd overall pick. The outfielder would sign for $170,000, and shortly thereafter would make his professional debut in rookie ball with Missoula in the Pioneer League. In 25 games with the Osprey, Canzone hit five homers and drove in 26 runs, earning him a promotion to the Hillsboro, Arizona’s A-ball affiliate in the Northwest League. Canzone would close out 2019 with a .261 average in 21 games.
Then 2020 happened. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an abbreviated MLB season, and no minor league baseball. Even though minor leaguers were able to get back on the field in 2021, Canzone only appeared in 79 games due to injuries. While he had trouble staying on the field at times, Canzone made the most of his at-bats when he was healthy, hitting .302 with 14 homers and 52 RBIs. 44 of those games in 2021 came at Hillsboro before he was promoted to Arizona’s AA affiliate in Amarillo.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24826723/1412896906.jpg "Corpus Christi Hooks v Amarillo Sod Poodles")
Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images
Canzone started the 2022 season with Amarillo, but it didn’t take the outfielder long to move one step closer to the majors, as Arizona promoted him to AAA Reno after just a handful of games in the Texas League last year. Had it not been for an injury he suffered in June with the Aces, Canzone’s MLB debut might have come last season instead of this year. In 103 combined games with Amarillo and Reno, Canzone hit .301 with 22 home runs and 88 RBIs.
The 2023 season started with more of the same for Canzone, as he tore up AAA with a .354 average, 16 home runs and 71 RBIs in 71 games for Reno. On July 7, Canzone was promoted to the majors, and would make his debut the following day against Pittsburgh, going hitless in four at-bats. Even though he would have to wait for his first hit in the majors, Canzone did score the game-tying run in the 10th inning after starting the inning on second base.
The first hit of Canzone’s MLB career came on July 18 against the Atlanta Braves in a wild 16-13 win for the Diamondbacks. Canzone’s hit came in the eighth inning when Arizona was trailing 13-12. The line drive single to right field by Canzone drove in Christian Walker. The Diamondbacks would go on to score three more runs the next inning to secure the win.
After notching his first hit, it didn’t take Canzone long to hit his first big fly in the majors. Two days later, Canzone hit a three-run home run off NL Cy Young candidate Spencer Strider to give Arizona a 3-1 lead in the seventh inning. Even though the Diamondbacks would end up losing to the Braves, the performance showed that Canzone has the skills to hang with the best hurlers in the big leagues.
Just as Canzone was getting comfortable with the Diamondbacks, the outfielder was dealt to Seattle on Monday. Arizona was looking to upgrade their closer, resulting in the team dealing Canzone and Josh Rojas to the Mariners for Paul Sewald. In his first game with Seattle on August 1 against Boston, Canzone ripped a double for his first hit with the team.
Unlike Arizona, who had a plethora of talented outfielders in the big leagues, as well as in the minors, Seattle doesn’t have quite the same depth. After making the playoffs last year, it is looking unlikely the Mariners will make the postseason this year, unless they are able to go on a run in the last two months of the season. This will allow them to take a long look at Canzone to see where the talented prospect stands with the organization heading into next season, and also determine where he might best help the team on the field.
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
After making his MLB debut early in July with Arizona, Canzone was traded to Seattle at the end of the month.
2023 has been quite a year for former Ohio State outfielder Dominic Canzone. Not only did Canzone make his MLB debut with Arizona last month, but earlier this week he was traded to the Seattle Mariners a day prior to the trade deadline. Now the former Buckeye will get to line up in the outfield next to one of baseball’s young stars, Julio Rodríguez.
Canzone attended Walsh Jesuit High School in the Akron area, where he earned All-Ohio honorable mention honors as a senior. After going undrafted in the 2016 MLB Draft, Canzone came to Ohio State, where he hit .343 and drove in 36 runs in 49 games as a freshman in 2017, resulting in Canzone being an unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten freshman team.
Following a strong freshman season, Canzone saw even more time on the field as a sophomore, playing in 60 games and getting over 100 more plate appearances than he did in his first year with the Buckeyes. Even though Canzone’s average was a little lower and his home run and RBI numbers were nearly identical in his second season at Ohio State, the biggest increase came with the 18 doubles he recorded.
The 2019 season is where Canzone really broke out. Not only was Canzone named a team captain prior to the season, he went on to be named first team All-Big Ten after leading the conference in hits, runs scored, slugging percentage, and total bases. For the season, Canzone hit .345 with 16 home runs and 43 RBIs in 63 games. Canzone broke a school record by reaching base in 59 consecutive games.
Following his outstanding career at Ohio State, Canzone was drafted in the eighth round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the 242nd overall pick. The outfielder would sign for $170,000, and shortly thereafter would make his professional debut in rookie ball with Missoula in the Pioneer League. In 25 games with the Osprey, Canzone hit five homers and drove in 26 runs, earning him a promotion to the Hillsboro, Arizona’s A-ball affiliate in the Northwest League. Canzone would close out 2019 with a .261 average in 21 games.
Then 2020 happened. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an abbreviated MLB season, and no minor league baseball. Even though minor leaguers were able to get back on the field in 2021, Canzone only appeared in 79 games due to injuries. While he had trouble staying on the field at times, Canzone made the most of his at-bats when he was healthy, hitting .302 with 14 homers and 52 RBIs. 44 of those games in 2021 came at Hillsboro before he was promoted to Arizona’s AA affiliate in Amarillo.
Canzone started the 2022 season with Amarillo, but it didn’t take the outfielder long to move one step closer to the majors, as Arizona promoted him to AAA Reno after just a handful of games in the Texas League last year. Had it not been for an injury he suffered in June with the Aces, Canzone’s MLB debut might have come last season instead of this year. In 103 combined games with Amarillo and Reno, Canzone hit .301 with 22 home runs and 88 RBIs.
The 2023 season started with more of the same for Canzone, as he tore up AAA with a .354 average, 16 home runs and 71 RBIs in 71 games for Reno. On July 7, Canzone was promoted to the majors, and would make his debut the following day against Pittsburgh, going hitless in four at-bats. Even though he would have to wait for his first hit in the majors, Canzone did score the game-tying run in the 10th inning after starting the inning on second base.
The first hit of Canzone’s MLB career came on July 18 against the Atlanta Braves in a wild 16-13 win for the Diamondbacks. Canzone’s hit came in the eighth inning when Arizona was trailing 13-12. The line drive single to right field by Canzone drove in Christian Walker. The Diamondbacks would go on to score three more runs the next inning to secure the win.
After notching his first hit, it didn’t take Canzone long to hit his first big fly in the majors. Two days later, Canzone hit a three-run home run off NL Cy Young candidate Spencer Strider to give Arizona a 3-1 lead in the seventh inning. Even though the Diamondbacks would end up losing to the Braves, the performance showed that Canzone has the skills to hang with the best hurlers in the big leagues.
Just as Canzone was getting comfortable with the Diamondbacks, the outfielder was dealt to Seattle on Monday. Arizona was looking to upgrade their closer, resulting in the team dealing Canzone and Josh Rojas to the Mariners for Paul Sewald. In his first game with Seattle on August 1 against Boston, Canzone ripped a double for his first hit with the team.
Unlike Arizona, who had a plethora of talented outfielders in the big leagues, as well as in the minors, Seattle doesn’t have quite the same depth. After making the playoffs last year, it is looking unlikely the Mariners will make the postseason this year, unless they are able to go on a run in the last two months of the season. This will allow them to take a long look at Canzone to see where the talented prospect stands with the organization heading into next season, and also determine where he might best help the team on the field.
Continue reading...
LGHL Bucketheads: How will two Ohio five-star prospects impact the Buckeyes’ 2024 recruiting?
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Bucketheads: How will two Ohio five-star prospects impact the Buckeyes’ 2024 recruiting?
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo courtesy of 247Sports
The state of Ohio will soon have a pot of in-state talent we haven’t seen in over a decade.
“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. Every episode they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in the college hoops world.
During Episode 81, Connor and Justin discuss Carmen’s Crew’s run to the Sweet 16 of The Basketball Tournament this month, as well as what roster tweaks need to happen for the Ohio State alumni team to go further next year.
Then, the guys discuss Ohio State’s roster for the 2023 season and beyond. With nine freshmen and sophomores on the team this season, there will be a squeeze on both the 2024 and 2025 recruiting classes, barring unforeseen roster turnover. How will Chris Holtmann and his staff manage the few openings that they have, knowing the 2025 class is one of the best Ohio has had in years?
They spend some time discussing Jerry Easter — the No. 24 player in the 2025 class and a Toledo kid — and Darryn Peterson — the No. 3 player in the 2025 class and a Cleveland kid. Which of the two will Ohio State prioritize? Which of the two will be easier to land, and what have the two said about Ohio State recently?
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo courtesy of 247Sports
The state of Ohio will soon have a pot of in-state talent we haven’t seen in over a decade.
“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. Every episode they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in the college hoops world.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
During Episode 81, Connor and Justin discuss Carmen’s Crew’s run to the Sweet 16 of The Basketball Tournament this month, as well as what roster tweaks need to happen for the Ohio State alumni team to go further next year.
Then, the guys discuss Ohio State’s roster for the 2023 season and beyond. With nine freshmen and sophomores on the team this season, there will be a squeeze on both the 2024 and 2025 recruiting classes, barring unforeseen roster turnover. How will Chris Holtmann and his staff manage the few openings that they have, knowing the 2025 class is one of the best Ohio has had in years?
They spend some time discussing Jerry Easter — the No. 24 player in the 2025 class and a Toledo kid — and Darryn Peterson — the No. 3 player in the 2025 class and a Cleveland kid. Which of the two will Ohio State prioritize? Which of the two will be easier to land, and what have the two said about Ohio State recently?
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...
LGHL Buckeyes targeting in-state RB, 2024 DL ready to narrow down final schools
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Buckeyes targeting in-state RB, 2024 DL ready to narrow down final schools
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State is wasting no time as they’re allowed to contact high school junior targets in the 2025 class.
This week the calendar flipped to August, and that of course meant college coaches around the country could finally contact prospects who are starting their junior year of high school this fall. The Buckeyes took full advantage of the opportunity to express their interests, and did so with guys both in-state and nationally.
The idea in every class is to lock down the state of Ohio first and continue their national brand. With that in mind, Ryan Day and crew have plenty of work to finish in the current cycle, but there’s no time to be wasted as the future classes also are off and running.
One prospect that heard from the Buckeyes bright and early Tuesday morning was in-state running back Bo Jackson, per Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts. A name worth recruiting by itself, Jackson is a 6-foot-1, 190 pound athlete already with double-digit offers to his name. The Cleveland, Ohio product earned his Ohio State offer over a year ago now, but in the past couple of weeks he has really started to get serious with his recruitment by visiting multiple programs such as Rutgers and Maryland.
Excited that Day and Tony Alford made him a priority, it’s safe to say the Buckeyes are clearly all in on making him a serious target in the 2025 class. The No. 120 player nationally, Jackson is the 10th best running back and third best player in Ohio per the 247Sports Composite. With other big time offers from the likes of Michigan, Penn State, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and a host of others, Ohio State will have to put in some work to land this commitment.
As it’s been seen lately, the best players in Ohio tend to stay in Ohio. Here’s to hoping that stays the same.
This week has seen some serious highs and lows on the defensive recruiting efforts. Landing the commitments of Aaron Scott and Nigel Glover is huge, but also soured when you see a top target in Dylan Stewart commit elsewhere, showing once again the Buckeyes and Larry Johnson need to be better with their closings.
At any rate, all is not lost considering the staff still is in great shape for some other top players at the position. On Wednesday, one target the Buckeyes are high on decided to take the next step in his recruitment by sharing his plans to narrow it down.
Taking to Twitter to hint at some sort of update, it was just moments later that Florida product Booker Pickett Jr. shared he was ready to name a list of top schools on Aug. 4. The No. 190 player nationally, Pickett is the 13th best edge rusher in the class per the 247Sports Composite, and holds nearly 40 offers to his name from every major program.
The nephew to former Buckeye Ryan Pickett, Booker has quite an impressive lineage, with his father also playing college football at Miami. Knowing how critical this position is for Ohio State in this current class, the staff should be all over this one and will likely see their names in the final schools list as Florida State, Georgia, and Miami are the other schools listed as “warm” on his 247Sports profile.
Still, if they want to win out in the end it’s going to take some serious effort and likely a different approach near the end.
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
Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State is wasting no time as they’re allowed to contact high school junior targets in the 2025 class.
This week the calendar flipped to August, and that of course meant college coaches around the country could finally contact prospects who are starting their junior year of high school this fall. The Buckeyes took full advantage of the opportunity to express their interests, and did so with guys both in-state and nationally.
The idea in every class is to lock down the state of Ohio first and continue their national brand. With that in mind, Ryan Day and crew have plenty of work to finish in the current cycle, but there’s no time to be wasted as the future classes also are off and running.
One prospect that heard from the Buckeyes bright and early Tuesday morning was in-state running back Bo Jackson, per Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts. A name worth recruiting by itself, Jackson is a 6-foot-1, 190 pound athlete already with double-digit offers to his name. The Cleveland, Ohio product earned his Ohio State offer over a year ago now, but in the past couple of weeks he has really started to get serious with his recruitment by visiting multiple programs such as Rutgers and Maryland.
Excited that Day and Tony Alford made him a priority, it’s safe to say the Buckeyes are clearly all in on making him a serious target in the 2025 class. The No. 120 player nationally, Jackson is the 10th best running back and third best player in Ohio per the 247Sports Composite. With other big time offers from the likes of Michigan, Penn State, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and a host of others, Ohio State will have to put in some work to land this commitment.
As it’s been seen lately, the best players in Ohio tend to stay in Ohio. Here’s to hoping that stays the same.
Edge rusher ready to narrow it down
This week has seen some serious highs and lows on the defensive recruiting efforts. Landing the commitments of Aaron Scott and Nigel Glover is huge, but also soured when you see a top target in Dylan Stewart commit elsewhere, showing once again the Buckeyes and Larry Johnson need to be better with their closings.
At any rate, all is not lost considering the staff still is in great shape for some other top players at the position. On Wednesday, one target the Buckeyes are high on decided to take the next step in his recruitment by sharing his plans to narrow it down.
Taking to Twitter to hint at some sort of update, it was just moments later that Florida product Booker Pickett Jr. shared he was ready to name a list of top schools on Aug. 4. The No. 190 player nationally, Pickett is the 13th best edge rusher in the class per the 247Sports Composite, and holds nearly 40 offers to his name from every major program.
The nephew to former Buckeye Ryan Pickett, Booker has quite an impressive lineage, with his father also playing college football at Miami. Knowing how critical this position is for Ohio State in this current class, the staff should be all over this one and will likely see their names in the final schools list as Florida State, Georgia, and Miami are the other schools listed as “warm” on his 247Sports profile.
Still, if they want to win out in the end it’s going to take some serious effort and likely a different approach near the end.
Continue reading...
LGHL Uncut Podcast: Ryan Day details quarterback competition timeline on the eve of fall camp
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Uncut Podcast: Ryan Day details quarterback competition timeline on the eve of fall camp
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The head coach also expects the defensive line rotation to be cut down.
Throughout the year, the Land-Grant Podcast Network will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
On today’s episode, we are bringing you uncut audio from Ohio State head football coach Ryan Day’s press conference on Wednesday, Aug. 2 as his team prepares to start its 2023 fall camp the following day. In the media availability, Day discussed a whole host of topics from his plans to determine a starting quarterback to paring back the number of defensive linemen rotating with the 1s, the improvement of the OSU secondary, and much more.
You can watch the full press conference on the official Ohio State athletics website.
Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt
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
The head coach also expects the defensive line rotation to be cut down.
Throughout the year, the Land-Grant Podcast Network will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On today’s episode, we are bringing you uncut audio from Ohio State head football coach Ryan Day’s press conference on Wednesday, Aug. 2 as his team prepares to start its 2023 fall camp the following day. In the media availability, Day discussed a whole host of topics from his plans to determine a starting quarterback to paring back the number of defensive linemen rotating with the 1s, the improvement of the OSU secondary, and much more.
You can watch the full press conference on the official Ohio State athletics website.
Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt
Music by: www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
LGHL Players to Watch: Jayden Ballard is looking to break out and join his peers on the national stage
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Players to Watch: Jayden Ballard is looking to break out and join his peers on the national stage
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ballard was a high four-star recruit in the 2021 class but has seemingly become Ohio State’s ‘forgotten’ wide receiver.
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.
Coming out of famed Massillon Washington High School (OH), as part of the 2021 (football) recruiting class, Jayden Ballard was a certified blue-chipper. He was the No. 55 overall player and No. 4 wide receiver, ranked well ahead of many players who have long since accomplished great things at the college level — including one current teammate who we will get to shortly. A long-striding burner with great body control and ‘Mossing’ ability, he committed to Ohio State as part of their loaded ’21 class that also included fellow WR Emeka Egbuka (WR1), Quinn Ewers (QB1), J.T. Tuimoloau (DL1), Jack Sawyer, Donovan Jackson, and TreVeyon Henderson, among others... Yeah, it was a good one.
Also in the Buckeyes’ 2021 class was a fella named Marvin Harrison Jr. MHJ was a highly coveted recruit as well but finished more than 100 spots behind or below Ballard in the ’21 rankings. This could lead one to believe that recruiting rankings are incredibly flawed, because well, they are. But my point in bringing up MHJ is to circle back around to the perceived talent and upside of Ballard.
The latter was not just some local throw-in, added to supplement or back up the incredible duo of Egbuka and MHJ. No, he was a player specifically targeted by Brian Hartline, who only attempts to bring in the brightest receiving stars. Simply put: Ballard was — and presumably still is — a legitimate talent.
But said talent has not yet begun to translate to on-field results. Ballard has just nine receptions in two seasons as a Buckeye. He has never really ascended past WR4 or WR5 on Ohio State’s depth chart. And he now finds himself in the deepest WR room in the country, with at least half a dozen others fighting just for backup reps. Positional competition is nothing new for the former Massillon Tiger, but it is a major hurdle he has yet to clear. If he fails to do so in 2023, he risks falling out of OSU’s rotation entirely.
That’s the ‘bad’ news. The good news? Well, there is plenty of it. For starters, Ballard is (presumably) still the same talented player he was in high school. He has not suffered any injury setbacks in Columbus, and his understanding of both the game and the WR position has improved, thanks to watching and learning from the likes of Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and others. And do not forget about the coaching and teaching(s) of Brian Hartline. I mean, you want to talk about attending a master class... Ballard could not have asked for better training or a better apprenticeship.
Beyond natural talent and firsthand experience gained, Ballard has also spent two-plus years learning and becoming familiar with the Ohio State offense. This is no small advantage, as we’ve seen a guy like Xavier Johnson rise through the internal Scarlet and Gray ranks primarily because he knows where to be and when to be there. Not saying Weapon X lacks talent, but knowledge is power. Johnson has it, and so does Ballard. At least more so than Carnell Tate or Brandon Inniss, just two of the players vying for reps behind MHJ, Egbuka, and to a lesser extent, Julian Fleming.
So is 2023 going to be the year/season during which Ballard breaks through? Or will he fall further back in the pack, and eventually be forgotten altogether? Ok, so the last part of that previous question was a bit extreme, but you get my point: If not now, then when for Ballard?
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24820770/1251856324.jpg)
Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
I, for one, think that the third-year WR from Northeast Ohio is going to be a difference-maker this season. To what extent, I am not sure yet. But I believe in Ballard’s talent. And I also believe that he could be a great complement to MHJ and Ebguka; perhaps even more so than Fleming, who I have been pounding the table for since he arrived in Columbus.
Why so? Well, while the knock against Ballard has always been his underdeveloped route tree, his ability to go and get the deep ball has never been in question. Like former Buckeye Devin Smith – a fellow Massillon Washington Tiger (!) – Ballard is known as, or at least perceived to be, a home run hitter. Meaning (Devin) Smith-esque, able to take the top off a defense, etc. And this current OSU team could certainly use another player with that skill set.
The above sentence might sound crazy because MHJ is an alien and Egbuka can do just about anything on a football field. Still, the former draws a ton of attention wherever he goes, and the latter is arguably more dangerous as a slot/YAC guy. The Buckeyes do not have another proven WR who is capable of consistently torching teams deep. That is not Fleming’s game, that is certainly not Johnson’s game, and Tate/Inniss/others have yet to even see the field.
Ballard has the potential to be the next Smith. Or perhaps he just develops into a complementary piece who can take advantage of the attention paid to others. Either way, he would not require significant volume to do so... Which is good because MHJ and Egbuka will likely soak up hundreds of targets. But Smith made an impact with his big plays, as evidenced by his 30 TD on 121 career catches, at 20.7 yards per pop. Is Ballard going to score 12 TD on 33 catches like Smith did in 2014? Probably not. But if the former can do a lot with a little (volume), then he could become a tremendous asset for Ohio State.
Lastly, and of greater significance, is that I am not the only one who believes in Ballard. He earned rave reviews during the spring, from both coaches and teammates, cementing himself as a breakout candidate. And those guys, Ballard’s coaches and peers, know a thing or two. So do not be surprised if he proves them right by becoming a household name in 2023.
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ballard was a high four-star recruit in the 2021 class but has seemingly become Ohio State’s ‘forgotten’ wide receiver.
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.
Coming out of famed Massillon Washington High School (OH), as part of the 2021 (football) recruiting class, Jayden Ballard was a certified blue-chipper. He was the No. 55 overall player and No. 4 wide receiver, ranked well ahead of many players who have long since accomplished great things at the college level — including one current teammate who we will get to shortly. A long-striding burner with great body control and ‘Mossing’ ability, he committed to Ohio State as part of their loaded ’21 class that also included fellow WR Emeka Egbuka (WR1), Quinn Ewers (QB1), J.T. Tuimoloau (DL1), Jack Sawyer, Donovan Jackson, and TreVeyon Henderson, among others... Yeah, it was a good one.
Also in the Buckeyes’ 2021 class was a fella named Marvin Harrison Jr. MHJ was a highly coveted recruit as well but finished more than 100 spots behind or below Ballard in the ’21 rankings. This could lead one to believe that recruiting rankings are incredibly flawed, because well, they are. But my point in bringing up MHJ is to circle back around to the perceived talent and upside of Ballard.
The latter was not just some local throw-in, added to supplement or back up the incredible duo of Egbuka and MHJ. No, he was a player specifically targeted by Brian Hartline, who only attempts to bring in the brightest receiving stars. Simply put: Ballard was — and presumably still is — a legitimate talent.
But said talent has not yet begun to translate to on-field results. Ballard has just nine receptions in two seasons as a Buckeye. He has never really ascended past WR4 or WR5 on Ohio State’s depth chart. And he now finds himself in the deepest WR room in the country, with at least half a dozen others fighting just for backup reps. Positional competition is nothing new for the former Massillon Tiger, but it is a major hurdle he has yet to clear. If he fails to do so in 2023, he risks falling out of OSU’s rotation entirely.
That’s the ‘bad’ news. The good news? Well, there is plenty of it. For starters, Ballard is (presumably) still the same talented player he was in high school. He has not suffered any injury setbacks in Columbus, and his understanding of both the game and the WR position has improved, thanks to watching and learning from the likes of Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and others. And do not forget about the coaching and teaching(s) of Brian Hartline. I mean, you want to talk about attending a master class... Ballard could not have asked for better training or a better apprenticeship.
Beyond natural talent and firsthand experience gained, Ballard has also spent two-plus years learning and becoming familiar with the Ohio State offense. This is no small advantage, as we’ve seen a guy like Xavier Johnson rise through the internal Scarlet and Gray ranks primarily because he knows where to be and when to be there. Not saying Weapon X lacks talent, but knowledge is power. Johnson has it, and so does Ballard. At least more so than Carnell Tate or Brandon Inniss, just two of the players vying for reps behind MHJ, Egbuka, and to a lesser extent, Julian Fleming.
So is 2023 going to be the year/season during which Ballard breaks through? Or will he fall further back in the pack, and eventually be forgotten altogether? Ok, so the last part of that previous question was a bit extreme, but you get my point: If not now, then when for Ballard?
I, for one, think that the third-year WR from Northeast Ohio is going to be a difference-maker this season. To what extent, I am not sure yet. But I believe in Ballard’s talent. And I also believe that he could be a great complement to MHJ and Ebguka; perhaps even more so than Fleming, who I have been pounding the table for since he arrived in Columbus.
Why so? Well, while the knock against Ballard has always been his underdeveloped route tree, his ability to go and get the deep ball has never been in question. Like former Buckeye Devin Smith – a fellow Massillon Washington Tiger (!) – Ballard is known as, or at least perceived to be, a home run hitter. Meaning (Devin) Smith-esque, able to take the top off a defense, etc. And this current OSU team could certainly use another player with that skill set.
The above sentence might sound crazy because MHJ is an alien and Egbuka can do just about anything on a football field. Still, the former draws a ton of attention wherever he goes, and the latter is arguably more dangerous as a slot/YAC guy. The Buckeyes do not have another proven WR who is capable of consistently torching teams deep. That is not Fleming’s game, that is certainly not Johnson’s game, and Tate/Inniss/others have yet to even see the field.
Ballard has the potential to be the next Smith. Or perhaps he just develops into a complementary piece who can take advantage of the attention paid to others. Either way, he would not require significant volume to do so... Which is good because MHJ and Egbuka will likely soak up hundreds of targets. But Smith made an impact with his big plays, as evidenced by his 30 TD on 121 career catches, at 20.7 yards per pop. Is Ballard going to score 12 TD on 33 catches like Smith did in 2014? Probably not. But if the former can do a lot with a little (volume), then he could become a tremendous asset for Ohio State.
Lastly, and of greater significance, is that I am not the only one who believes in Ballard. He earned rave reviews during the spring, from both coaches and teammates, cementing himself as a breakout candidate. And those guys, Ballard’s coaches and peers, know a thing or two. So do not be surprised if he proves them right by becoming a household name in 2023.
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LB Nigel Glover (Transfer to Northwestern)
- By RB07OSU
- Buckeye Alumni
- 11 Replies
247 Profile
Rivals Profile
College: Northwestern
High School: Claymont Northmont, OH
Eligibility: Full (grayshirt)
Position: LB
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 210 lbs
Nigel Glover Commits to Ohio State
We just received a commitment from former 2023 class 4* Ohio LB Nigel Glover, who is a likely LB prospect here but is growing into the position physically. He had a rather stranger path in getting here, as he was set to be at NW this year before the Fitzgerald firing. Additionally, OSU never offered him last year but pursued him after Glover entered the portal (presumably partly due to only having one LB commit in the '23 class).
Due to being at the 85 man limit, Glover will grayshirt this year and go onto scholarship in the second semester. He reportedly chose the grayshirt opportunity here over immediate scholarships at Kentucky and ttun. I believe that arrangement is perfect for both sides, as Glover needs a little time to develop physically and absorb our defensive scheme, and we can stay at the 85 man limit.
Didn't see a thread for him, so I wanted to create one and welcome Nigel back to Ohio.
Rivals Profile
College: Northwestern
High School: Claymont Northmont, OH
Eligibility: Full (grayshirt)
Position: LB
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 210 lbs
Nigel Glover Commits to Ohio State
We just received a commitment from former 2023 class 4* Ohio LB Nigel Glover, who is a likely LB prospect here but is growing into the position physically. He had a rather stranger path in getting here, as he was set to be at NW this year before the Fitzgerald firing. Additionally, OSU never offered him last year but pursued him after Glover entered the portal (presumably partly due to only having one LB commit in the '23 class).
Due to being at the 85 man limit, Glover will grayshirt this year and go onto scholarship in the second semester. He reportedly chose the grayshirt opportunity here over immediate scholarships at Kentucky and ttun. I believe that arrangement is perfect for both sides, as Glover needs a little time to develop physically and absorb our defensive scheme, and we can stay at the 85 man limit.
Didn't see a thread for him, so I wanted to create one and welcome Nigel back to Ohio.
LGHL Ohio State loses five-star defensive end, but adds four-star linebacker
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Ohio State loses five-star defensive end, but adds four-star linebacker
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes’ top remaining wide receiver target sets a commitment date.
Woo, what a day! Yesterday’s emotions ran the gamut when it came to Ohio State football recruiting. Tuesday started the residual good feelings from Aaron Scott’s Sunday commitment and Caleb Houser and I were on the podcast discussing whether that cornerback addition would begin a run of highly-ranked defensive commitments. Well, that idea didn’t last long...
The smoke had been billowing out of Columbia, S.C. over the last few weeks, and finally on Tuesday, the fire was officially lit as five-star defensive end Dylan Stewart committed to play his college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks. Following his June official visit to Ohio State, Stewart picked up crystal balls from the best recruiting analysts in the country pegging him as a future Buckeye.
However, the No. 13 player in the country and No. 3 EDGE rusher was not-so-slowly swayed to South Carolina by Shane Beamer and his staff, becoming the latest prospect to spurn the Buckeyes after previously being considered a slam dunk to join the OSU class.
This trend has been especially painful when it comes to the EDGE rusher position as position coach Larry Johnson has made a very nasty habit of taking early leads on high-profile national targets before giving way to other schools down the stretch.
All attention now turns to five-star Eddrick Houston who is scheduled to commit on Aug. 22. The No. 22 player nationally, he is categorized as either an interior defensive lineman or EDGE rusher depending on the recruiting service, but most expectations are that he will play outside in college. He is another player that all analysts have pegged as an eventual Buckeye, but with Johnson’s recent lack of success in closing the deal, and three weeks left until his commitment day, I would count on anything until he pulls an Ohio State jersey out of a Georgia bookbag on the 22nd.
It wasn’t all bad news for the Buckeyes on Tuesday as the team plugged a hole at linebacker that they unexpectedly had following the commitment of Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa to Notre Dame, despite having been another guy the Buckeyes came down to the wire on.
However, this commitment was somewhat of an unusual one as the player in question is a member of the 2023 recruiting class, but is also arrived in Columbus via the transfer portal. A former four-star prospect from Clayton Ohio, Nigel Glover was the highest-rated commit in Northwestern’s class earlier this year, but following the very serious situation in Evanston that led to Pat Fitzgerald’s firing, Glover found himself looking for a new place to play his college football.
Though Ohio State did not initially offer life-long Buckeye fan Glover, having put on considerable muscle since his recruitment, OSU was in early on his re-recruitment, as were Michigan and Kentucky. However, the Ohio native took advantage of his second chance with his dream school and made his commitment official on Tuesday, just two days before the start of fall camp.
Despite receiving numerous scholarship offers, Glover chose the Buckeyes, despite the fact that they are already at the 85-scholarship limit. That means that Glover will greyshirt this semester before going on scholarship in 2024. However, if he got into Northwestern, I bet they can find him some academic scholarship money somewhere.
Glover joins Arvell Reese in the 2023 linebacker class meaning that unless something dramatically changes, Payton Pierce might be the only LB that the Buckeyes take in 2024.
McClellan picked up a pair of crystal balls for Ohio State in April, but the vibe on this one has shifted recently. Many assumed that it would come down to OSU and Oregon for the St. Louis native, but his home=state Missouri Tigers have entered the mix lately, joining Georgia and LSU as finalists. With the Buckeyes offering a top-150 WR earlier this week, the writing seems to be on the wall that McClellan will be going elsewhere.
All of the players that have already committed got their official offers, including Ohio’s No. 1 recruit, cornerback Bryce West. Like many of the Buckeyes’ targets and commits, West took to social media to celebrate the offer.
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Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes’ top remaining wide receiver target sets a commitment date.
Woo, what a day! Yesterday’s emotions ran the gamut when it came to Ohio State football recruiting. Tuesday started the residual good feelings from Aaron Scott’s Sunday commitment and Caleb Houser and I were on the podcast discussing whether that cornerback addition would begin a run of highly-ranked defensive commitments. Well, that idea didn’t last long...
Buckeyes Lose Five-Star EDGE Rusher to Gamecocks
The smoke had been billowing out of Columbia, S.C. over the last few weeks, and finally on Tuesday, the fire was officially lit as five-star defensive end Dylan Stewart committed to play his college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks. Following his June official visit to Ohio State, Stewart picked up crystal balls from the best recruiting analysts in the country pegging him as a future Buckeye.
However, the No. 13 player in the country and No. 3 EDGE rusher was not-so-slowly swayed to South Carolina by Shane Beamer and his staff, becoming the latest prospect to spurn the Buckeyes after previously being considered a slam dunk to join the OSU class.
This trend has been especially painful when it comes to the EDGE rusher position as position coach Larry Johnson has made a very nasty habit of taking early leads on high-profile national targets before giving way to other schools down the stretch.
All attention now turns to five-star Eddrick Houston who is scheduled to commit on Aug. 22. The No. 22 player nationally, he is categorized as either an interior defensive lineman or EDGE rusher depending on the recruiting service, but most expectations are that he will play outside in college. He is another player that all analysts have pegged as an eventual Buckeye, but with Johnson’s recent lack of success in closing the deal, and three weeks left until his commitment day, I would count on anything until he pulls an Ohio State jersey out of a Georgia bookbag on the 22nd.
Ohio State Adds Northwestern Transfer Linebacker
It wasn’t all bad news for the Buckeyes on Tuesday as the team plugged a hole at linebacker that they unexpectedly had following the commitment of Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa to Notre Dame, despite having been another guy the Buckeyes came down to the wire on.
However, this commitment was somewhat of an unusual one as the player in question is a member of the 2023 recruiting class, but is also arrived in Columbus via the transfer portal. A former four-star prospect from Clayton Ohio, Nigel Glover was the highest-rated commit in Northwestern’s class earlier this year, but following the very serious situation in Evanston that led to Pat Fitzgerald’s firing, Glover found himself looking for a new place to play his college football.
Though Ohio State did not initially offer life-long Buckeye fan Glover, having put on considerable muscle since his recruitment, OSU was in early on his re-recruitment, as were Michigan and Kentucky. However, the Ohio native took advantage of his second chance with his dream school and made his commitment official on Tuesday, just two days before the start of fall camp.
Despite receiving numerous scholarship offers, Glover chose the Buckeyes, despite the fact that they are already at the 85-scholarship limit. That means that Glover will greyshirt this semester before going on scholarship in 2024. However, if he got into Northwestern, I bet they can find him some academic scholarship money somewhere.
Glover joins Arvell Reese in the 2023 linebacker class meaning that unless something dramatically changes, Payton Pierce might be the only LB that the Buckeyes take in 2024.
Quick Hits:
- The Buckeyes’ top two players in their 2024 recruiting class are wide receivers Jeremiah Smith (No. 2 nationally) and Mylan Graham (No. 18). However, Bryan Hartline and Ryan Day would like to add a third pass-catcher in the cycle, and their top target has been Jeremiah McClellan for quite some time. The No. 108 player in the country, will make his official commitment on Aug. 13.
McClellan picked up a pair of crystal balls for Ohio State in April, but the vibe on this one has shifted recently. Many assumed that it would come down to OSU and Oregon for the St. Louis native, but his home=state Missouri Tigers have entered the mix lately, joining Georgia and LSU as finalists. With the Buckeyes offering a top-150 WR earlier this week, the writing seems to be on the wall that McClellan will be going elsewhere.
- As yesterday was Aug. 1, it was the first day that the Buckeyes could extend official scholarship offers to players in the 2024 recruiting class, even though those offers had previously been officially unofficially extended.
All of the players that have already committed got their official offers, including Ohio’s No. 1 recruit, cornerback Bryce West. Like many of the Buckeyes’ targets and commits, West took to social media to celebrate the offer.
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LGHL Ohio State Football Countdown: 31
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Ohio State Football Countdown: 31
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 Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via 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 31 days remaining.
There’s been a few highlights from this game, so my apologies, but I think most people would agree that the final outcome of the 2022 Peach Bowl would have been different had Marvin Harrison Jr. not been injured on what should have been ruled an illegal hit. Final score notwithstanding, MHJ racked up 106 yards on five catches with two touchdowns against the vaunted Georgia defense, and comes into the new season as far and away the consensus No. 1 wide receiver in the 2023 NFL Draft — as he should be.
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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 Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via 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 31 days remaining.
Play of the Day: Marvin Harrison Jr.’s 31-yard TD vs. Georgia (2022)
There’s been a few highlights from this game, so my apologies, but I think most people would agree that the final outcome of the 2022 Peach Bowl would have been different had Marvin Harrison Jr. not been injured on what should have been ruled an illegal hit. Final score notwithstanding, MHJ racked up 106 yards on five catches with two touchdowns against the vaunted Georgia defense, and comes into the new season as far and away the consensus No. 1 wide receiver in the 2023 NFL Draft — as he should be.
Players to Wear the #31 (since 2010):
- NONE - Retired in 2018
- Vic Janowicz (1949-50)
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