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LGHL Bold Predictions: Media darlings that won’t meet expectations
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Bold Predictions: Media darlings that won’t meet expectations
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK
Sorry, but not every team can be successful in this sport.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about making predictions that may or may not be reasonable, in fact, some might say they are bold. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Bold Predictions” articles here.
Fall camp is approaching across the country, and that means fans of all teams are about to get overly ambitious about their chances of success. With all the hype trains getting rolling, there needs to be some warning signs on the track for some of the more zealous fan bases.
There is nothing wrong with a person getting excited about their team’s upcoming season, but there is also nothing wrong with other people have more reasonable expectations. Not every team in the country can win a national championship, and to me there are five at most who could potentially hoist the trophy. As a person who writes about one of those five, there is no shame not being in that list.
Most teams will not reach that level, and that is why there is value in meeting other expectations — like winning a certain amount of games.
Sports books are not the be-all end-all from a prediction standpoint for college football programs winning games, but their win totals do set a marker for teams to meet. To me, there are teams who will absolutely not meet those numbers, but the fan bases – or media — think differently. Using win totals from DraftKings, I will the boldly proclaim which college football teams will be bad by not living up to the hype.
Over the past few seasons Clemson has benefitted from a weaker ACC, and still this year could be much of the same. Florida State is looking to improve under Mike Norvell, North Carolina has the 1B NFL quarterback prospect, and they have to go to South Carolina to try to win back the bragging rights in that series.
For the Tigers, they are looking for a reset on offense after hiring Garrett Riley, and are still finding their footing defensively after losing Brent Venables to Oklahoma. All eyes will be on quarterback Cade Klubnik, but my question here is who is going to help him? For those who might have seen his excellent performance against North Carolina, there was an equally as bad performance against Tennessee where Clemson only mustered 14 points against a “vaunted” Volunteer defense.
Riley will be tasked with fixing the offense, but they will still be young at receiver with Antonio Williams leading the room as a sophomore. A dire need for run game improvement is exactly what you’ll get from an air raid coach, and to me that doesn’t bold well for Will Shipley reaching his potential. The defense underperformed last year as well though, and there really wasn’t much done to address that.
We’re taking the under on this one, as the streak of double-digit wins ends at 12 seasons for Clemson.
On the other side of last year’s Orange Bowl was the Tennessee Volunteers in their first 11-win season since 2001. In some ways, Josh Heupel caught lightning in a bottle with the emergence of Hendon Hooker and Jalin Hyatt to go with the already well-established Cedric Tillman. With the wide open passing game, the Volunteers wowed the college football world, and even beat Alabama.
Now it is up to Joe Milton to maintain the new standard that the Vols faithful expects. He will have Bru McCoy stepping into the No. 1 receiver spot and a guy who goes by Squirrel operating out of the slot – but don’t underestimate Squirrel White. This isn’t to say these players have not proven to be solid college football players, but what it does say is Tennessee is replacing multiple record setters at the positions that define Heupel’s scheme. They are also replacing an offensive coordinator, which hurts less given the simplicity of the scheme, but will provide a challenge nonetheless.
Defensively they return 69 percent of their production, but that group produced a defense that ranked 127th in passing yards allowed and ranked 92nd in total defense. Is that bad? It’s definitely not good, and this is where the game gets scary for them. They gave up 49 to Alabama at home, were down 24-6 to Georgia in the first half before a torrential down pour, and 63 to South Carolina to end their playoff hopes.
With all the replacements on offense, the defense will need to be better against the top teams on their schedule. If not, the pressure can crush the offense.
It’s going to come down to the bowl game, but I don’t think the Vols are winning back-to-back bowls. UNDER 9.5 wins.
Shane Beamer has become a media darling, and I bought in as well. When is enough, enough though? This guy beat a bad Clemson team, picked on a Tennessee squad without their starting quarterback, and then ended the year on a disappointing note in their bowl game.
Beamer has done a commendable job in getting South Carolina back to a respectable program, but they are still a tier below where most people have them. There are two facts that remain certain about this South Carolina program: they still have Spencer Rattler playing quarterback, and they still lost to Tyler Buchner in the Outback Bowl. I bring this up because South Carolina opens up the season with games at home against UNC, on the road at Georgia, in Knoxville to take on Tennessee, and then they get their rival Florida after the bye week. That could be the end of the season right there.
They lost more than half their production on both sides of the ball. Clayton White, the defensive coordinator, has improved the defense every year he’s been in the role, but they still ranked 39th out 69 Power Five teams plus Notre Dame, who they lost to. This team has a fun culture, but at the end of the day they have a long way to go.
6.5 wins is not a high number, but this is not going to be a good football team.
If you have followed my work, this is the least surprising school on the list. To start the coach doesn’t even have the confidence to stand by his words. He may not have wanted to make the same mistake twice, but having to play Ohio State twice in consecutive years is going to plague him at least twice.
The Fighting Irish are going to be relying on Sam Hartmann, the transfer from Wake Forest to get them to that next level under Freeman. There is still a lot that needs to be proven at the receiver position with it being one of the least explosive groups in the country last year. In the run game Audric Estime established himself as one of the best backs in the country, but lacks the ability to change a game in one play.
This is where this takes a turn that you might not be expecting. With the returnees on defense, this Notre Dame team has a chance to be solid this year. They get both their toughest games against Ohio State and USC at home, and their toughest remaining game is Clemson on the road. That’s a really great opportunity for this program to get to 10 wins and anything else as an abject failure.
If they don’t get to 10 wins they are a bad team, if they do get to 10 wins they still probably lost their most important games.
Oh Luke Fickell, you finally took a job outside the comfort of the state of Ohio. There is no longer sneaking around in the shadow of the flagship program in the state, and with that comes the spotlight in Madison. Wisconsin underperformed last year, and outside the heroics of Braelon Allen they often failed to create any offense.
Fickell brought with him to Madison three transfer quarterbacks, four transfer receivers and Phil Longo to call the offense. Wisconsin’s offense was directionless at the end of the Paul Chryst era, and for the Badgers Longo at least brings some sense of identity to that side of the ball immediately. The turnover is a major question. Looking at fellow Big Ten conference member Michigan State, there has been back-to-back years with varying results.
This is the new way to kick start a program, but there is no guarantee these players come in flipping the switch immediately. Losing an elite player in Nick Herbig and a reliable player in John Torchio leaves a major void that needs to be filled defensively. They have to play Washington State on the road, Ohio State, and a Big Ten West schedule with many other coaches looking to prove themselves as well.
If they do not get off to a fast start, this season can go off the rails entirely in year one for Fickell.
Wisconsin could be 8-4 or 4-8. Either way, they don’t win more than 8.5 games.
Colorado: Primetime is what this will be either direction in Deion Sanders’ first year as the coach of the Buffaloes. Shadeur Sanders and Travis Hunter are jumping levels. There are also more transfers in the program than any other in the country. Good luck against that schedule as well, not like there isn’t a huge target here now.
Ohio State: This is here as a bias check. Ohio State has a lot to replace on the offensive line, they still need to decide on a quarterback, they’ve had injury issues in three consecutive seasons, and the defense fell apart at the end of last year. I don’t believe that these will be issues, but if they don’t get figured out, the Buckeyes could suck.
Alabama: Tyler Buchner or Jalen Milroe with Tommy Rees calling the plays is a water gun in a college football world full of bazookas for offenses. This is the worst roster outlook Saban has had entering a season in some time, but odds are this will be his best team in recent years because of it.
Oregon: Bo Nix going back-to-back years of awesome — I’ll believe it when I see it. The Ducks lost Wunderkind coach Kenny Dillingham to Arizona State, so the pressure is on for that offense to show it was not one man’s creation. Troy Franklin is awesome, the defense should be good, but they are likely playing for fourth this year.
College football is fun when teams overperform and fun when they underperform, but when it is your own team it is truly hard to watch when expectations aren’t met. Once storied football programs pray for bowl eligibility or 10 win seasons. That is the reality of this world when a few bad hires, a golden generation of players, or other variables bring the downfall of a football team that once showed promise.
I don’t think these teams are actually bad, but I do think they have an incredibly wide margin in how their seasons go with lower peaks than their fan bases. Nobody in the list above the Honorable Mentions section has any business thinking about the college football playoff this year.
Seeing a team like South Carolina finish the year strongly or a Tennessee fanbase that is bullish about there only being one direction to go is what makes college football exciting. Just because the media has nothing to talk about does not mean that every team can be great. That is why these bold predictions are personal to me — a challenge that only one side is looking at.
I know Clemson’s football program won’t read this, but when they don’t meet expectations again like I boldly proclaimed here, the personal victory will provide satisfaction. Not every team in college football can be great, especially the first four I listed. The media can fawn over the moves all they want, I am not buying in.
Continue reading...
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK
Sorry, but not every team can be successful in this sport.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about making predictions that may or may not be reasonable, in fact, some might say they are bold. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Bold Predictions” articles here.
Fall camp is approaching across the country, and that means fans of all teams are about to get overly ambitious about their chances of success. With all the hype trains getting rolling, there needs to be some warning signs on the track for some of the more zealous fan bases.
There is nothing wrong with a person getting excited about their team’s upcoming season, but there is also nothing wrong with other people have more reasonable expectations. Not every team in the country can win a national championship, and to me there are five at most who could potentially hoist the trophy. As a person who writes about one of those five, there is no shame not being in that list.
Most teams will not reach that level, and that is why there is value in meeting other expectations — like winning a certain amount of games.
Sports books are not the be-all end-all from a prediction standpoint for college football programs winning games, but their win totals do set a marker for teams to meet. To me, there are teams who will absolutely not meet those numbers, but the fan bases – or media — think differently. Using win totals from DraftKings, I will the boldly proclaim which college football teams will be bad by not living up to the hype.
(All lines/odds are from DraftKings Sports Book unless noted otherwise.)
Clemson (O/U 10 wins)
Over the past few seasons Clemson has benefitted from a weaker ACC, and still this year could be much of the same. Florida State is looking to improve under Mike Norvell, North Carolina has the 1B NFL quarterback prospect, and they have to go to South Carolina to try to win back the bragging rights in that series.
For the Tigers, they are looking for a reset on offense after hiring Garrett Riley, and are still finding their footing defensively after losing Brent Venables to Oklahoma. All eyes will be on quarterback Cade Klubnik, but my question here is who is going to help him? For those who might have seen his excellent performance against North Carolina, there was an equally as bad performance against Tennessee where Clemson only mustered 14 points against a “vaunted” Volunteer defense.
Riley will be tasked with fixing the offense, but they will still be young at receiver with Antonio Williams leading the room as a sophomore. A dire need for run game improvement is exactly what you’ll get from an air raid coach, and to me that doesn’t bold well for Will Shipley reaching his potential. The defense underperformed last year as well though, and there really wasn’t much done to address that.
We’re taking the under on this one, as the streak of double-digit wins ends at 12 seasons for Clemson.
Tennesse (O/U 9.5 wins)
On the other side of last year’s Orange Bowl was the Tennessee Volunteers in their first 11-win season since 2001. In some ways, Josh Heupel caught lightning in a bottle with the emergence of Hendon Hooker and Jalin Hyatt to go with the already well-established Cedric Tillman. With the wide open passing game, the Volunteers wowed the college football world, and even beat Alabama.
Now it is up to Joe Milton to maintain the new standard that the Vols faithful expects. He will have Bru McCoy stepping into the No. 1 receiver spot and a guy who goes by Squirrel operating out of the slot – but don’t underestimate Squirrel White. This isn’t to say these players have not proven to be solid college football players, but what it does say is Tennessee is replacing multiple record setters at the positions that define Heupel’s scheme. They are also replacing an offensive coordinator, which hurts less given the simplicity of the scheme, but will provide a challenge nonetheless.
Defensively they return 69 percent of their production, but that group produced a defense that ranked 127th in passing yards allowed and ranked 92nd in total defense. Is that bad? It’s definitely not good, and this is where the game gets scary for them. They gave up 49 to Alabama at home, were down 24-6 to Georgia in the first half before a torrential down pour, and 63 to South Carolina to end their playoff hopes.
With all the replacements on offense, the defense will need to be better against the top teams on their schedule. If not, the pressure can crush the offense.
It’s going to come down to the bowl game, but I don’t think the Vols are winning back-to-back bowls. UNDER 9.5 wins.
South Carolina (Win Total O/U 6.5)
Shane Beamer has become a media darling, and I bought in as well. When is enough, enough though? This guy beat a bad Clemson team, picked on a Tennessee squad without their starting quarterback, and then ended the year on a disappointing note in their bowl game.
Beamer has done a commendable job in getting South Carolina back to a respectable program, but they are still a tier below where most people have them. There are two facts that remain certain about this South Carolina program: they still have Spencer Rattler playing quarterback, and they still lost to Tyler Buchner in the Outback Bowl. I bring this up because South Carolina opens up the season with games at home against UNC, on the road at Georgia, in Knoxville to take on Tennessee, and then they get their rival Florida after the bye week. That could be the end of the season right there.
They lost more than half their production on both sides of the ball. Clayton White, the defensive coordinator, has improved the defense every year he’s been in the role, but they still ranked 39th out 69 Power Five teams plus Notre Dame, who they lost to. This team has a fun culture, but at the end of the day they have a long way to go.
6.5 wins is not a high number, but this is not going to be a good football team.
Notre Dame (Win Total O/U 9)
If you have followed my work, this is the least surprising school on the list. To start the coach doesn’t even have the confidence to stand by his words. He may not have wanted to make the same mistake twice, but having to play Ohio State twice in consecutive years is going to plague him at least twice.
The Fighting Irish are going to be relying on Sam Hartmann, the transfer from Wake Forest to get them to that next level under Freeman. There is still a lot that needs to be proven at the receiver position with it being one of the least explosive groups in the country last year. In the run game Audric Estime established himself as one of the best backs in the country, but lacks the ability to change a game in one play.
This is where this takes a turn that you might not be expecting. With the returnees on defense, this Notre Dame team has a chance to be solid this year. They get both their toughest games against Ohio State and USC at home, and their toughest remaining game is Clemson on the road. That’s a really great opportunity for this program to get to 10 wins and anything else as an abject failure.
If they don’t get to 10 wins they are a bad team, if they do get to 10 wins they still probably lost their most important games.
Wisconsin (Win Total O/U 8.5)
Oh Luke Fickell, you finally took a job outside the comfort of the state of Ohio. There is no longer sneaking around in the shadow of the flagship program in the state, and with that comes the spotlight in Madison. Wisconsin underperformed last year, and outside the heroics of Braelon Allen they often failed to create any offense.
Fickell brought with him to Madison three transfer quarterbacks, four transfer receivers and Phil Longo to call the offense. Wisconsin’s offense was directionless at the end of the Paul Chryst era, and for the Badgers Longo at least brings some sense of identity to that side of the ball immediately. The turnover is a major question. Looking at fellow Big Ten conference member Michigan State, there has been back-to-back years with varying results.
This is the new way to kick start a program, but there is no guarantee these players come in flipping the switch immediately. Losing an elite player in Nick Herbig and a reliable player in John Torchio leaves a major void that needs to be filled defensively. They have to play Washington State on the road, Ohio State, and a Big Ten West schedule with many other coaches looking to prove themselves as well.
If they do not get off to a fast start, this season can go off the rails entirely in year one for Fickell.
Wisconsin could be 8-4 or 4-8. Either way, they don’t win more than 8.5 games.
Honorable Mentions
Colorado: Primetime is what this will be either direction in Deion Sanders’ first year as the coach of the Buffaloes. Shadeur Sanders and Travis Hunter are jumping levels. There are also more transfers in the program than any other in the country. Good luck against that schedule as well, not like there isn’t a huge target here now.
Ohio State: This is here as a bias check. Ohio State has a lot to replace on the offensive line, they still need to decide on a quarterback, they’ve had injury issues in three consecutive seasons, and the defense fell apart at the end of last year. I don’t believe that these will be issues, but if they don’t get figured out, the Buckeyes could suck.
Alabama: Tyler Buchner or Jalen Milroe with Tommy Rees calling the plays is a water gun in a college football world full of bazookas for offenses. This is the worst roster outlook Saban has had entering a season in some time, but odds are this will be his best team in recent years because of it.
Oregon: Bo Nix going back-to-back years of awesome — I’ll believe it when I see it. The Ducks lost Wunderkind coach Kenny Dillingham to Arizona State, so the pressure is on for that offense to show it was not one man’s creation. Troy Franklin is awesome, the defense should be good, but they are likely playing for fourth this year.
College football is fun when teams overperform and fun when they underperform, but when it is your own team it is truly hard to watch when expectations aren’t met. Once storied football programs pray for bowl eligibility or 10 win seasons. That is the reality of this world when a few bad hires, a golden generation of players, or other variables bring the downfall of a football team that once showed promise.
I don’t think these teams are actually bad, but I do think they have an incredibly wide margin in how their seasons go with lower peaks than their fan bases. Nobody in the list above the Honorable Mentions section has any business thinking about the college football playoff this year.
Seeing a team like South Carolina finish the year strongly or a Tennessee fanbase that is bullish about there only being one direction to go is what makes college football exciting. Just because the media has nothing to talk about does not mean that every team can be great. That is why these bold predictions are personal to me — a challenge that only one side is looking at.
I know Clemson’s football program won’t read this, but when they don’t meet expectations again like I boldly proclaimed here, the personal victory will provide satisfaction. Not every team in college football can be great, especially the first four I listed. The media can fawn over the moves all they want, I am not buying in.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State Football Countdown: 39
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Ohio State Football Countdown: 39
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 Scott W. Grau/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 39 days remaining.
Probably the best sporting event I’ve ever attended, the Ohio State comeback over Penn State in 2017 was one for the ages. The Buckeyes trailed by as many as 18 points in the second quarter, and the Nittany Lions still held on to a 15-point lead heading into the fourth. Then, a blocked punt by Denzel Ward completely flipped the momentum. Ohio State outscored PSU 21-3 in the final frame, largely on the back of a perfect performance by J.T. Barrett, who went 13-of-13 passing for 170 yards and three TDs in that fourth quarter. The Buckeyes emerged victorious, 39-38, as fans stormed the field in excitement and disbelief.
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Scott W. Grau/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 39 days remaining.
Play of the Day: Ohio State beats Penn State in 39-38 thriller (2017)
Probably the best sporting event I’ve ever attended, the Ohio State comeback over Penn State in 2017 was one for the ages. The Buckeyes trailed by as many as 18 points in the second quarter, and the Nittany Lions still held on to a 15-point lead heading into the fourth. Then, a blocked punt by Denzel Ward completely flipped the momentum. Ohio State outscored PSU 21-3 in the final frame, largely on the back of a perfect performance by J.T. Barrett, who went 13-of-13 passing for 170 yards and three TDs in that fourth quarter. The Buckeyes emerged victorious, 39-38, as fans stormed the field in excitement and disbelief.
Players to Wear the #39 (since 2010):
- Derek Erwin (2009-11)
- Jordan Whiting (2009-11)
- Kyle Clinton (2012-14)
- Kyle Berger (2015)
- Malik Harrison (2016-19)
- Andrew Moore (2021-present)
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LGHL Silver Bullets Podcast: Alternate uniforms, Big Ten Media Days, and the Northwestern scandal
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Silver Bullets Podcast: Alternate uniforms, Big Ten Media Days, and the Northwestern scandal
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns / USA TODAY NETWORK
Our offseason is winding down, but there’s still a lot to talk about as preseason camp approaches.
We are back, and there’s plenty of offseason news to discuss.
We begin with Ohio State’s all-gray alternate uniforms that are planned for this year’s Michigan State matchup. We are traditionalists, but we can still appreciate a good-looking alternate whenever those appear. Our consensus is that we like the gray ones, but we also have thoughts on Ohio State’s traditional uniforms that would make them better (again).
We looked ahead to Big Ten Media Days and discussed the things we’re eager to see when that event gets underway this week. What will Ryan Day have to say? Will things finally calm down for Northwestern? What will the new coaches have to say?
Linebacker target Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa committed to Notre Dame over OSU. Is Ohio State doing enough on the defensive side of the ball when it comes to recruiting? Is there a defensive Brian Hartline out there somewhere?
Finally, we discussed the Northwestern hazing scandal, how it has already affected the Wildcats, and what might happen in the future. We already weren’t very high on Northwestern’s chances in 2023, but will the Cats have a fighting chance (or any fight at all) without Fitz? This situation will bear watching.
We’ll be back next month, or possibly sooner if news warrants, as we remain in our offseason broadcast schedule. We’ll return to our weekly format in August as we ramp up for the 2023 Ohio State football season. In the meantime, feel free to reach out with your feedback and questions below in the comments section or send us an email.
Be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share, and follow the show over on Twitter at @SilvrBulletsPod.
As always, thanks for listening!
Continue reading...
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns / USA TODAY NETWORK
Our offseason is winding down, but there’s still a lot to talk about as preseason camp approaches.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
We are back, and there’s plenty of offseason news to discuss.
We begin with Ohio State’s all-gray alternate uniforms that are planned for this year’s Michigan State matchup. We are traditionalists, but we can still appreciate a good-looking alternate whenever those appear. Our consensus is that we like the gray ones, but we also have thoughts on Ohio State’s traditional uniforms that would make them better (again).
We looked ahead to Big Ten Media Days and discussed the things we’re eager to see when that event gets underway this week. What will Ryan Day have to say? Will things finally calm down for Northwestern? What will the new coaches have to say?
Linebacker target Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa committed to Notre Dame over OSU. Is Ohio State doing enough on the defensive side of the ball when it comes to recruiting? Is there a defensive Brian Hartline out there somewhere?
Finally, we discussed the Northwestern hazing scandal, how it has already affected the Wildcats, and what might happen in the future. We already weren’t very high on Northwestern’s chances in 2023, but will the Cats have a fighting chance (or any fight at all) without Fitz? This situation will bear watching.
We’ll be back next month, or possibly sooner if news warrants, as we remain in our offseason broadcast schedule. We’ll return to our weekly format in August as we ramp up for the 2023 Ohio State football season. In the meantime, feel free to reach out with your feedback and questions below in the comments section or send us an email.
Be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share, and follow the show over on Twitter at @SilvrBulletsPod.
As always, thanks for listening!
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State makes the cut for four-star tight end, five-star safety announces commitment date
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Ohio State makes the cut for four-star tight end, five-star safety announces commitment date
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 four-star tight end Ethan Barbour via Andrew Ivins, 247Sports
The Buckeyes kicked off a busy recruiting week by making the top eight schools for a 2025 four-star tight end.
Ohio State is coming off what may be the biggest recruiting loss of this cycle, as four-star linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa committed to Notre Dame over Ohio State and USC. Leading up to his announcement, Ohio State was viewed as the favorite to land his services. The timing of Viliamu-Asa spurning the Buckeyes may add to the sting, as July has been a slow recruiting month for Ohio State outside of the first week.
This now marks two years in a row where Ohio State has missed out on its top linebacker targets when the position has been one of priority. However, the Buckeyes are far from finished and have a massive recruiting week ahead of itself. If all goes according to plan, the ship could be turned around quickly.
Ohio State received positive news Monday evening when 2025 four-star tight end Ethan Barbour announced an update on his recruitment. Barbour made known that he is now down to eight finalists, and Ohio State made the cut.
Alongside Ohio State, Barbour also included Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, South Carolina, USC, Auburn and Texas in his top schools.
Barbour’s recruitment will not be an easy one, and prying him out of SEC Country will be tough for the Buckeyes. Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina have jumped out as early favorites, but Ohio State making the list cannot be brushed off.
Ohio State has to get him on campus for a visit to have a realistic shot at landing him, and that will be tough to do before he starts his junior season of high school football. If his recruitment plays out and he is able to schedule a visit to Columbus though, the Buckeyes could become legitimate contenders.
Barbour is the No. 4 TE in the 247Sports Composite and is the No. 157 overall prospect. He is also the No. 20 recruit from the talent-rich state of Georgia.
Ohio State is hoping to end this month how it started — with some fireworks. The Buckeyes earned multiple commitments to start July, but since, the month has been quiet for Ohio State.
The Buckeyes will hope that changes this week as they have a busy week ahead of themselves. First and foremost will be the commitment of four-star cornerback Aaron Scott.
Scott is one of Ohio State’s biggest targets right now, and the Buckeyes have long been recruiting him. He is set to commit Sunday July 30, and is basically down to Ohio State and Michigan. The Buckeyes have been the favorites among most recruiting experts, but Michigan has come on strong to close out his recruitment.
Things seem to be so close, Scott said Monday he still has not decided on which school he will play at.
Scott’s recruitment is not all that is happening for the Buckeyes this week, recruiting wise. Ohio State is also scheduled to host its Summer Bash camp. A lot of current Ohio State commits are expected to make the trip this weekend, but a focus on local recruits is also being made.
With this focus on Ohio, expect a lot of recruits that make it to the event to be in the 2025 and 2026 classes as well. A commitment is not expected to follow this weekend, but it cannot be ruled off the table as this will be Ohio State’s biggest recruiting event of the summer.
Continue reading...
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 four-star tight end Ethan Barbour via Andrew Ivins, 247Sports
The Buckeyes kicked off a busy recruiting week by making the top eight schools for a 2025 four-star tight end.
Ohio State is coming off what may be the biggest recruiting loss of this cycle, as four-star linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa committed to Notre Dame over Ohio State and USC. Leading up to his announcement, Ohio State was viewed as the favorite to land his services. The timing of Viliamu-Asa spurning the Buckeyes may add to the sting, as July has been a slow recruiting month for Ohio State outside of the first week.
This now marks two years in a row where Ohio State has missed out on its top linebacker targets when the position has been one of priority. However, the Buckeyes are far from finished and have a massive recruiting week ahead of itself. If all goes according to plan, the ship could be turned around quickly.
Four-star TE has Ohio State in top schools
Ohio State received positive news Monday evening when 2025 four-star tight end Ethan Barbour announced an update on his recruitment. Barbour made known that he is now down to eight finalists, and Ohio State made the cut.
Top 8!!! Where is home? #GoBuckeyes #SpursUp #GoNoles #GoDawgs @FightOn#WarEagle #RollTide #HookEm @JasonKervin @quonmarshall16 @JeremyO_Johnson @RustyMansell_ @SWiltfong247 @adamgorney @Andrew_Ivins @ChadSimmons_ @RivalsFriedman pic.twitter.com/kMQTXse9eX
— Ethan Barbour (@EthanBarbour5) July 24, 2023
Alongside Ohio State, Barbour also included Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, South Carolina, USC, Auburn and Texas in his top schools.
Barbour’s recruitment will not be an easy one, and prying him out of SEC Country will be tough for the Buckeyes. Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina have jumped out as early favorites, but Ohio State making the list cannot be brushed off.
Ohio State has to get him on campus for a visit to have a realistic shot at landing him, and that will be tough to do before he starts his junior season of high school football. If his recruitment plays out and he is able to schedule a visit to Columbus though, the Buckeyes could become legitimate contenders.
Barbour is the No. 4 TE in the 247Sports Composite and is the No. 157 overall prospect. He is also the No. 20 recruit from the talent-rich state of Georgia.
Busy week on deck for Buckeyes
Ohio State is hoping to end this month how it started — with some fireworks. The Buckeyes earned multiple commitments to start July, but since, the month has been quiet for Ohio State.
The Buckeyes will hope that changes this week as they have a busy week ahead of themselves. First and foremost will be the commitment of four-star cornerback Aaron Scott.
Scott is one of Ohio State’s biggest targets right now, and the Buckeyes have long been recruiting him. He is set to commit Sunday July 30, and is basically down to Ohio State and Michigan. The Buckeyes have been the favorites among most recruiting experts, but Michigan has come on strong to close out his recruitment.
Things seem to be so close, Scott said Monday he still has not decided on which school he will play at.
6 more days until decision day. Mann even though it’s close, still confused about where i wanna go.
— Aaron Scott JR (@AaronScottJr1) July 24, 2023
Scott’s recruitment is not all that is happening for the Buckeyes this week, recruiting wise. Ohio State is also scheduled to host its Summer Bash camp. A lot of current Ohio State commits are expected to make the trip this weekend, but a focus on local recruits is also being made.
With this focus on Ohio, expect a lot of recruits that make it to the event to be in the 2025 and 2026 classes as well. A commitment is not expected to follow this weekend, but it cannot be ruled off the table as this will be Ohio State’s biggest recruiting event of the summer.
Quick Hits
- Ohio State 2024 five-star safety target KJ Bolden is set to announce his commitment on Aug. 5. We now know he will be doing so at 7:30 p.m. on the On3 YouTube channel. Bolden is down to Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Ohio State and Florida State, with no team really separating itself from the group.
BREAKING Five-Star Plus+ safety KJ Bolden will announce his commitment LIVE on the On3 YouTube Channel on August 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Bolden is down to Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia and Ohio State
More from @ChadSimmons_: https://t.co/OXHtlEeCQJ pic.twitter.com/mipeBdBlWZ
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) July 24, 2023
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LGHL You’re Nuts: Which true freshman will make the biggest impact for Ohio State in 2023
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You’re Nuts: Which true freshman will make the biggest impact for Ohio State in 2023
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State tight ends Cade Stover and Jelani Thurman | via @OhioStateFB on Twitter
As part of bold predictions week, we’re narrowing our focus to the first-years.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about making predictions that may or may not be reasonable, in fact, some might say they are bold. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Bold Predictions” articles here.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
This week’s topic: The true freshman that will make the biggest impact for Ohio State in 2023.
It is Bold Predictions week here at LGHL, which essentially gives us creative freedom to embrace our inner Skip Bayless and/or Colin Cowherd, right Gene? Just fire off hot takes left and right, no interest in sounding rational? Sounds right up my alley.
In all seriousness, making these bold predictions is always a fun exercise. And some of us can end up looking or sounding like geniuses, while others... not so much. But who cares!? Fortune favors the bold, right? So why not go out on a limb? Within reason of course, because LGHL is a respectable and dignified group.
Gene and I are a little less respectable and dignified though, so we wanted to go off the beaten path with our predictions. Meaning we did not want to take a stab at Ohio State’s win-loss record or how many passing yards Kyle McCord will rack up in 2023, although those are fine, fine topics. But they felt a bit too mainstream. I mean, where’s the fun in making a prediction about the Buckeyes’ record when a thousand other people are likely to have the same opinion and/or make the same prediction?
Instead of focusing on the totality of the (OSU) team or any well-known players, we decided to make bold predictions regarding the impact of certain fresh faces. Not fresh faces in the starting lineup... Not those who are ‘just’ new to Columbus... No, Gene and I are looking at true freshmen and predicting which one(s) will make the biggest impact for the Buckeyes in 2023.
I usually bat leadoff, which means I usually get first dibs. And I think there is one obvious choice here, as far as impact freshman are concerned. However, I am not going to make that choice. I am going to leave Carnell Tate on the board, with the expectation that my partner will take him and thank me for making his (Gene’s) life easier.
I could be wrong, but after Tate’s impressive spring, he seems like the obvious choice to make a tangible impact early. I know that he recently experienced a tragic loss, which is much, much bigger than the game of football. But on talent and first impressions alone, he has to be considered the leader in the clubhouse.
Yes, I realize that I just made a baseball reference and a golf reference in close proximity, deal with it.
By skipping over Tate, I definitely backed myself into a corner. But again, we are making bold predictions. I did not want to play it safe. So not only am I going to leave Tate on the board, but I am also going to leave Brandon Inniss on the board and make my prediction about a less-heralded offensive player. One who plays a position that is often the butt of Ohio State fans’ jokes.
The position I am referring to is tight end, and the player is Jelani Thurman. A four-star recruit out of Georgia, Thurman was not just some throw-in for the Buckeyes. He was the third-ranked player at his position, as well as a top-70 national recruit. But because OSU does not typically feature the TE in Ryan Day’s offense, I feel like the massive freshman’s theoretical ceiling is being ignored. Or not talked about enough; that might be a better way to frame it.
But ignoring Thurman’s potential would be unwise. Because he is a freak, freak athlete, the likes of which you rarely see. He is tied for the second tallest player on Ohio State’s roster and weighs more than any other player who does not play on the offensive or defensive line(s). So the measurements alone set him apart. But then you just look at the guy and... yeesh. Thurman is ‘built different’ as the kids would say. Like a power forward or a damn cyborg. He offers up an athletic profile that no other Buckeye can match, other than perhaps Sonny Styles.
Of course, Thurman will need to learn the ins and outs, the intricacies, of playing tight end at the next level. And that is no easy task. He was essentially a glorified, over-sized WR in high school, so Keenan Bailey has his work cut out for him. But coaches, including Bailey, raved about Thurman’s maturity and work ethic during the spring. The latter earned rave reviews all around, setting up to potentially earn real playing time in 2023.
Cade Stover is the incumbent TE, and he will obviously hold onto his starting role. But behind him, I think playing time could be up for grabs. Gee Scott Jr. has been a solid role player and Joe Royer has flashed on occasion, but neither should be guaranteed snaps. Neither has proven to be a tremendous blocker, so it’s not as if Thurman is far behind in that area. And if OSU coaches are looking versatility and upside, I believe the latter offers it up in spades.
Getting down to brass tax, my bold prediction is that Thurman makes the largest and most significant impact of all the true freshman. I think that he will see the second-most snaps at TE and earn a consistent role in the Buckeyes’ passing game, particularly in the red zone.
While Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and the rest of Ohio State’s wide receivers are likely to soak up most RZ targets, they simply cannot match the physicality of Thurman. Nor can Stover. And sometimes you just need a massive, massive target in or around the end zone. Taking it a step further, I also predict that Thurman will score at least five touchdowns in 2023, matching or even exceeding Stover’s 2022 total.
Call me crazy, Gene, but I have heard much, much worse. I have high expectations for the freshman, and this is me planting my flag on Thurman Island.
Josh, I know you tried to give me a layup here with Tate and Inniss, but this is bold predictions, and picking either of the stud freshman receivers just feels too easy.
Plus, while both of these guys are incredibly talented and will almost certainly put together big careers for Ohio State in the future, I’m not quite sure just how much they will factor into the rotation with Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Julian Fleming, Jayden Ballard and even Xavier Johnson all likely ahead of them and battling for reps.
Instead, since you picked a different offensive player, and one that I do really like at a position of need in Thurman, I am going to take my talents to the defensive side of the ball.
Were we looking at just fresh faces and not freshmen, I would’ve definitely taken a stab at either Davison Igbinosun or Tywone Malone. Igbinosun, the Ole Miss transfer, is a lock in my eyes to start at corner opposite Denzel Burke, and Malone, also by way of the Rebels — will factor into the two-deep at defensive tackle. But, since we are just factoring in the first years, my eyes revert back to that defensive backfield at the same position as Igbinosun, but a different name.
My bold prediction for 2023’s biggest impact freshman is cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. out of Cincinnati.
Mathews comes to Columbus as the No. 14 corner in the cycle and the No. 3 player in Ohio as the nation’s No. 148 overall player. He isn’t the highest-rated corner for the Buckeyes in this class — that would be Calvin Simpson-Hunt, the No. 7 corner in 2023 — but Mathews has the leg-up on Simpson-Hunt as the former went through the spring with Ohio State and the latter is a summer enrollee.
A two-sport athlete in football and basketball, Mathews was a late-bloomer as he rose up the recruiting rankings. His best attribute coming out of high school is athleticism, as he has been clocked at running a 4.35 40-yard dash. In addition, 247Sports’ Allen Trieu lauds Mathews’ change of direction and closing speed, noting that he’s shown the ability to play in both man and zone schemes and plays the ball well in the air. If you watched Ohio State’s corners last season, closing speed and playing the ball in the air were two areas where DBs did not exactly excel.
Speaking of last year’s corners, that is a big reason why I think Mathews will have a chance to contribute in his first season on campus. With Burke and Igbinosun almost assured to be your top two names on the depth chart, the reps behind that duo are largely wide open. While guys like Jordan Hancock, Jyaire Brown and Ryan Turner are also competing for reps, none of those guys have really shown all that much in limited playing time to this point. Lorenzo Styles Jr. from Notre Dame is here as well, but this year will likely be a transition for him as he moves from receiver to DB, so I don’t think he factors in just yet.
Both Mathews Jr. and Simpson-Hunt will have a chance to earn themselves some reps this year, but as mentioned earlier, a strong spring from Mathews has him in the driver seat to earn real reps at a position where Ohio State could really use some fresh faces to step up. By year’s end, I would not be surprised if Mathews Jr. is the No. 3 guy at corner, and potentially even No. 2 if Burke or Igbinosun struggle.
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
Ohio State tight ends Cade Stover and Jelani Thurman | via @OhioStateFB on Twitter
As part of bold predictions week, we’re narrowing our focus to the first-years.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about making predictions that may or may not be reasonable, in fact, some might say they are bold. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Bold Predictions” articles here.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
This week’s topic: The true freshman that will make the biggest impact for Ohio State in 2023.
Josh’s Take
It is Bold Predictions week here at LGHL, which essentially gives us creative freedom to embrace our inner Skip Bayless and/or Colin Cowherd, right Gene? Just fire off hot takes left and right, no interest in sounding rational? Sounds right up my alley.
In all seriousness, making these bold predictions is always a fun exercise. And some of us can end up looking or sounding like geniuses, while others... not so much. But who cares!? Fortune favors the bold, right? So why not go out on a limb? Within reason of course, because LGHL is a respectable and dignified group.
Gene and I are a little less respectable and dignified though, so we wanted to go off the beaten path with our predictions. Meaning we did not want to take a stab at Ohio State’s win-loss record or how many passing yards Kyle McCord will rack up in 2023, although those are fine, fine topics. But they felt a bit too mainstream. I mean, where’s the fun in making a prediction about the Buckeyes’ record when a thousand other people are likely to have the same opinion and/or make the same prediction?
Instead of focusing on the totality of the (OSU) team or any well-known players, we decided to make bold predictions regarding the impact of certain fresh faces. Not fresh faces in the starting lineup... Not those who are ‘just’ new to Columbus... No, Gene and I are looking at true freshmen and predicting which one(s) will make the biggest impact for the Buckeyes in 2023.
I usually bat leadoff, which means I usually get first dibs. And I think there is one obvious choice here, as far as impact freshman are concerned. However, I am not going to make that choice. I am going to leave Carnell Tate on the board, with the expectation that my partner will take him and thank me for making his (Gene’s) life easier.
I could be wrong, but after Tate’s impressive spring, he seems like the obvious choice to make a tangible impact early. I know that he recently experienced a tragic loss, which is much, much bigger than the game of football. But on talent and first impressions alone, he has to be considered the leader in the clubhouse.
Yes, I realize that I just made a baseball reference and a golf reference in close proximity, deal with it.
By skipping over Tate, I definitely backed myself into a corner. But again, we are making bold predictions. I did not want to play it safe. So not only am I going to leave Tate on the board, but I am also going to leave Brandon Inniss on the board and make my prediction about a less-heralded offensive player. One who plays a position that is often the butt of Ohio State fans’ jokes.
The position I am referring to is tight end, and the player is Jelani Thurman. A four-star recruit out of Georgia, Thurman was not just some throw-in for the Buckeyes. He was the third-ranked player at his position, as well as a top-70 national recruit. But because OSU does not typically feature the TE in Ryan Day’s offense, I feel like the massive freshman’s theoretical ceiling is being ignored. Or not talked about enough; that might be a better way to frame it.
But ignoring Thurman’s potential would be unwise. Because he is a freak, freak athlete, the likes of which you rarely see. He is tied for the second tallest player on Ohio State’s roster and weighs more than any other player who does not play on the offensive or defensive line(s). So the measurements alone set him apart. But then you just look at the guy and... yeesh. Thurman is ‘built different’ as the kids would say. Like a power forward or a damn cyborg. He offers up an athletic profile that no other Buckeye can match, other than perhaps Sonny Styles.
Of course, Thurman will need to learn the ins and outs, the intricacies, of playing tight end at the next level. And that is no easy task. He was essentially a glorified, over-sized WR in high school, so Keenan Bailey has his work cut out for him. But coaches, including Bailey, raved about Thurman’s maturity and work ethic during the spring. The latter earned rave reviews all around, setting up to potentially earn real playing time in 2023.
Cade Stover is the incumbent TE, and he will obviously hold onto his starting role. But behind him, I think playing time could be up for grabs. Gee Scott Jr. has been a solid role player and Joe Royer has flashed on occasion, but neither should be guaranteed snaps. Neither has proven to be a tremendous blocker, so it’s not as if Thurman is far behind in that area. And if OSU coaches are looking versatility and upside, I believe the latter offers it up in spades.
Getting down to brass tax, my bold prediction is that Thurman makes the largest and most significant impact of all the true freshman. I think that he will see the second-most snaps at TE and earn a consistent role in the Buckeyes’ passing game, particularly in the red zone.
While Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and the rest of Ohio State’s wide receivers are likely to soak up most RZ targets, they simply cannot match the physicality of Thurman. Nor can Stover. And sometimes you just need a massive, massive target in or around the end zone. Taking it a step further, I also predict that Thurman will score at least five touchdowns in 2023, matching or even exceeding Stover’s 2022 total.
Call me crazy, Gene, but I have heard much, much worse. I have high expectations for the freshman, and this is me planting my flag on Thurman Island.
Gene’s Take
Josh, I know you tried to give me a layup here with Tate and Inniss, but this is bold predictions, and picking either of the stud freshman receivers just feels too easy.
Plus, while both of these guys are incredibly talented and will almost certainly put together big careers for Ohio State in the future, I’m not quite sure just how much they will factor into the rotation with Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Julian Fleming, Jayden Ballard and even Xavier Johnson all likely ahead of them and battling for reps.
Instead, since you picked a different offensive player, and one that I do really like at a position of need in Thurman, I am going to take my talents to the defensive side of the ball.
Were we looking at just fresh faces and not freshmen, I would’ve definitely taken a stab at either Davison Igbinosun or Tywone Malone. Igbinosun, the Ole Miss transfer, is a lock in my eyes to start at corner opposite Denzel Burke, and Malone, also by way of the Rebels — will factor into the two-deep at defensive tackle. But, since we are just factoring in the first years, my eyes revert back to that defensive backfield at the same position as Igbinosun, but a different name.
My bold prediction for 2023’s biggest impact freshman is cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. out of Cincinnati.
Mathews comes to Columbus as the No. 14 corner in the cycle and the No. 3 player in Ohio as the nation’s No. 148 overall player. He isn’t the highest-rated corner for the Buckeyes in this class — that would be Calvin Simpson-Hunt, the No. 7 corner in 2023 — but Mathews has the leg-up on Simpson-Hunt as the former went through the spring with Ohio State and the latter is a summer enrollee.
A two-sport athlete in football and basketball, Mathews was a late-bloomer as he rose up the recruiting rankings. His best attribute coming out of high school is athleticism, as he has been clocked at running a 4.35 40-yard dash. In addition, 247Sports’ Allen Trieu lauds Mathews’ change of direction and closing speed, noting that he’s shown the ability to play in both man and zone schemes and plays the ball well in the air. If you watched Ohio State’s corners last season, closing speed and playing the ball in the air were two areas where DBs did not exactly excel.
Speaking of last year’s corners, that is a big reason why I think Mathews will have a chance to contribute in his first season on campus. With Burke and Igbinosun almost assured to be your top two names on the depth chart, the reps behind that duo are largely wide open. While guys like Jordan Hancock, Jyaire Brown and Ryan Turner are also competing for reps, none of those guys have really shown all that much in limited playing time to this point. Lorenzo Styles Jr. from Notre Dame is here as well, but this year will likely be a transition for him as he moves from receiver to DB, so I don’t think he factors in just yet.
Both Mathews Jr. and Simpson-Hunt will have a chance to earn themselves some reps this year, but as mentioned earlier, a strong spring from Mathews has him in the driver seat to earn real reps at a position where Ohio State could really use some fresh faces to step up. By year’s end, I would not be surprised if Mathews Jr. is the No. 3 guy at corner, and potentially even No. 2 if Burke or Igbinosun struggle.
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LGHL Bold Prediction: Ohio State will block six or more kicks in 2023
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Bold Prediction: Ohio State will block six or more kicks in 2023
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
I think the Buckeyes will get after it on special teams this season.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about making predictions that may or may not be reasonable, in fact, some might say they are bold. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Bold Predictions” articles here.
It’s hard to believe, but here we are in our final “theme week” of the 2023 offseason. We’ve been tasked with making a bold prediction. Sometimes you can make a bold prediction based on what has come before and projecting what might happen based on those past performances. I tried to do that last season by suggesting Jaxon Smith-Njigba would win the Heisman Trophy, but that didn’t work out too well as JSN suffered through a season plagued with injuries.
This year, I’m not going with numbers or trying to project some kind of forecast. I’m just going with my gut, because it can’t be any dumber than my brain. So here goes...
Ohio State will block at least six kicks in 2023. I think at least three of those will be punts, so look for the Buckeyes to block a minimum of six combined punts, field goals, and PATs this upcoming season.
Parker Fleming’s special teams unit blocked two punts in 2022, which tied the Buckeyes for 14th place in the country in that category. Ohio State also blocked two kicks last season. That was tied for 36th in the nation. The Buckeyes got close a number of other times, both on field goals and punts, which makes me think that they’re going to start paying off some more of those opportunities in 2023. (Yes, I know I said I was going with my gut rather than stats, but that doesn’t mean I can’t throw some in.)
Based on blocking four a year ago, perhaps six doesn’t seem like that bold of a prediction. That’s especially true when you consider that four teams — Notre Dame, Central Michigan, Middle Tennessee, and South Carolina — blocked six or more kicks (sans punts) alone. The Irish also blocked seven punts a year ago. South Carolina blocked five punts, and Middle Tennessee and Central Michigan each blocked four punts. That means those particular four teams were dialed in on special teams.
But that’s not normal. Most teams get one or two of each per season or are better at blocking one type of kick than they are at the other.
Ohio State has fast, athletic, hungry players on special teams. It should be expected that they get to a few every season. But to block at least three punts and six total kicks will require an improvement on special teams under Fleming. It’s certainly possible to improve by that much when you’re talking about the talent Ohio State has available. It’s a place were players can make their mark and earn more snaps at their preferred positions.
Sevyn Banks is a player who made his mark previously as a special teams player. Lathan Ransom managed to block a pair of kicks last year, so he might be the guy to watch, or at least to lead that category. Young defensive backs and receivers are the most likely candidates to get to the ball before it’s kicked past the line of scrimmage, and Ohio State has no shortage of those.
If six blocks is not that bold of a prediction, how about Ransom getting four of them? I think that’ll make this take sufficiently spicy, and we’ll check back at the end of the season to see how I did.
Continue reading...
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
I think the Buckeyes will get after it on special teams this season.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about making predictions that may or may not be reasonable, in fact, some might say they are bold. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Bold Predictions” articles here.
It’s hard to believe, but here we are in our final “theme week” of the 2023 offseason. We’ve been tasked with making a bold prediction. Sometimes you can make a bold prediction based on what has come before and projecting what might happen based on those past performances. I tried to do that last season by suggesting Jaxon Smith-Njigba would win the Heisman Trophy, but that didn’t work out too well as JSN suffered through a season plagued with injuries.
This year, I’m not going with numbers or trying to project some kind of forecast. I’m just going with my gut, because it can’t be any dumber than my brain. So here goes...
Ohio State will block at least six kicks in 2023. I think at least three of those will be punts, so look for the Buckeyes to block a minimum of six combined punts, field goals, and PATs this upcoming season.
Parker Fleming’s special teams unit blocked two punts in 2022, which tied the Buckeyes for 14th place in the country in that category. Ohio State also blocked two kicks last season. That was tied for 36th in the nation. The Buckeyes got close a number of other times, both on field goals and punts, which makes me think that they’re going to start paying off some more of those opportunities in 2023. (Yes, I know I said I was going with my gut rather than stats, but that doesn’t mean I can’t throw some in.)
Based on blocking four a year ago, perhaps six doesn’t seem like that bold of a prediction. That’s especially true when you consider that four teams — Notre Dame, Central Michigan, Middle Tennessee, and South Carolina — blocked six or more kicks (sans punts) alone. The Irish also blocked seven punts a year ago. South Carolina blocked five punts, and Middle Tennessee and Central Michigan each blocked four punts. That means those particular four teams were dialed in on special teams.
But that’s not normal. Most teams get one or two of each per season or are better at blocking one type of kick than they are at the other.
Ohio State has fast, athletic, hungry players on special teams. It should be expected that they get to a few every season. But to block at least three punts and six total kicks will require an improvement on special teams under Fleming. It’s certainly possible to improve by that much when you’re talking about the talent Ohio State has available. It’s a place were players can make their mark and earn more snaps at their preferred positions.
Sevyn Banks is a player who made his mark previously as a special teams player. Lathan Ransom managed to block a pair of kicks last year, so he might be the guy to watch, or at least to lead that category. Young defensive backs and receivers are the most likely candidates to get to the ball before it’s kicked past the line of scrimmage, and Ohio State has no shortage of those.
If six blocks is not that bold of a prediction, how about Ransom getting four of them? I think that’ll make this take sufficiently spicy, and we’ll check back at the end of the season to see how I did.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State Football Countdown: 40
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Ohio State Football Countdown: 40
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 Jamie Sabau/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 40 days remaining.
Leading by just three before halftime, Ohio State decided to go for it on 4th-and-7 at the 40-yard line. Braxton Miller stepped up in the pocket and found an open Philly Brown for a touchdown to extend the lead to 10 points heading into the break. That score would be crucial in a game that the Buckeyes won 31-24. Miller threw for just under 200 yards and four TDs, rushing for another 83 yards. Brown led in the receiving department, catching eight balls for 85 yards and two TDs. Devin Smith and Evan Spencer hauled in the other two scores through the air.
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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 Jamie Sabau/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 40 days remaining.
Play of the Day: Philly Brown’s 40-yard TD vs. Wisconsin (2013)
Leading by just three before halftime, Ohio State decided to go for it on 4th-and-7 at the 40-yard line. Braxton Miller stepped up in the pocket and found an open Philly Brown for a touchdown to extend the lead to 10 points heading into the break. That score would be crucial in a game that the Buckeyes won 31-24. Miller threw for just under 200 yards and four TDs, rushing for another 83 yards. Brown led in the receiving department, catching eight balls for 85 yards and two TDs. Devin Smith and Evan Spencer hauled in the other two scores through the air.
Players to Wear the #40 (since 2010):
- NONE - Retired in 2004
- Howard “Hopalong” Cassady (1952-55)
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LGHL I-80 Football Show: Five predictions for the 2023 season
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I-80 Football Show: Five predictions for the 2023 season
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
To begin their 2023 season preview, Dante and Jordan give five predictions that are guaranteed to be accurate.
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.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
In this episode of the new and improved I-80 Football Show, the guys open with updates on the situation at Northwestern. Since we last talked, more former players have spoken out about the hazing and racism they’ve faced within the football program and the athletic department. Northwestern now faces a lawsuit from former head coach Pat Fitzgerald, who is trying to get the remainder of his salary, and three different lawsuits from various players across multiple sports looking for damages due to the trauma they faced in Evanston.
Big Ten media days start this Wednesday, July 26, signifying the semi-official end of the offseason. Starting next week, we’ll begin our four-week season preview breaking down the 16 teams into four tiers. Before that, we wanted to give five predictions for the season and predict the end-of-year award winners. Dante and Jordan agree that Ohio State sweeps the Player of the Year awards, with wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. winning Offensive Player of the Year and linebacker Tommy Eichenberg winning Defensive Player of the Year.
Despite all the hype surrounding Penn State, Jordan does not believe this is the year they beat Ohio State and Michigan to win the Big Ten. Dante on the other hand thinks that despite losing twins Chase and Sydney Brown as well as top-10 pick Devon Witherspoon, Illinois will once again be one of the best programs in the West during the final season of divisions.
Listen to the podcast to hear the rest of our predictions and feel free to send us yours!
Follow the show on YouTube:
Jordan: @JordanW330
Land Grant Podcast Network: @LandGrantPods
Connect with us on Twitter:
Jordan: @JordanW330
Dante: @DanteM10216
Continue reading...
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
To begin their 2023 season preview, Dante and Jordan give five predictions that are guaranteed to be accurate.
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.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
In this episode of the new and improved I-80 Football Show, the guys open with updates on the situation at Northwestern. Since we last talked, more former players have spoken out about the hazing and racism they’ve faced within the football program and the athletic department. Northwestern now faces a lawsuit from former head coach Pat Fitzgerald, who is trying to get the remainder of his salary, and three different lawsuits from various players across multiple sports looking for damages due to the trauma they faced in Evanston.
Big Ten media days start this Wednesday, July 26, signifying the semi-official end of the offseason. Starting next week, we’ll begin our four-week season preview breaking down the 16 teams into four tiers. Before that, we wanted to give five predictions for the season and predict the end-of-year award winners. Dante and Jordan agree that Ohio State sweeps the Player of the Year awards, with wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. winning Offensive Player of the Year and linebacker Tommy Eichenberg winning Defensive Player of the Year.
Despite all the hype surrounding Penn State, Jordan does not believe this is the year they beat Ohio State and Michigan to win the Big Ten. Dante on the other hand thinks that despite losing twins Chase and Sydney Brown as well as top-10 pick Devon Witherspoon, Illinois will once again be one of the best programs in the West during the final season of divisions.
Listen to the podcast to hear the rest of our predictions and feel free to send us yours!
Follow the show on YouTube:
Jordan: @JordanW330
Land Grant Podcast Network: @LandGrantPods
Connect with us on Twitter:
Jordan: @JordanW330
Dante: @DanteM10216
Continue reading...