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LGHL Buckeyes offer 2025 Florida linebacker, make the cut for a top 2024 cornerback target
- News
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Buckeyes offer 2025 Florida linebacker, make the cut for a top 2024 cornerback target
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State’s continues its positive momentum on the recruiting trail.
The linebacker position at Ohio State has really caught some momentum lately on the recruiting trail, and make no mistake about it, James Laurinaitis is a major reason as to why. Dominating the recruitment of recent commit Payton Pierce, Laurinaitis is proving to be worth his weight in gold when it comes to recruiting, and certainly the idea here is to keep it moving in their favor.
Though he’s limited to being on-campus, you wouldn’t be able to tell. This coming weekend he will be needed in full force yet again to show why Ohio State is the place to be not only for linebackers, but many of the top defensive targets that will be in Columbus for the conclusion of spring football.
Hoping to see the linebacker momentum continue beyond just the 2024 class, the Buckeyes were active with the position when they offered their latest prospect in 2025. Florida native Tarvos Alford took to Twitter to share the latest news in his recruitment and was thrilled to do so. A 6-foot-2, 195 athlete, Alford is not currently ranked by the 247Sports, but with 15 offers to his name already, the current high school sophomore has plenty of time to see his stock rise.
Programs such as Tennessee, Auburn, Florida, Penn State, and several others are some of his more notable offers in hand, but with Ohio State now entering the mix, that could cause somewhat of a domino effect for other top schools to throw their name into consideration. At any rate, this is the next name in line to pay attention to moving forward as Ohio State leans on both Laurinaitis and coordinator Jim Knowles to bring in elite level linebackers who can continue to improve this defense in the near future.
There may not be a position in Ohio State’s 2024 recruiting class more interesting than cornerback. Knowing they need to land at the very least three guys this cycle, the Buckeyes have to continue putting in relentless efforts with all of their top targets. Sure, in-state stars such as Bryce West and Aaron Scott see majority of the attention and are thought to be two of the guys that will end up in this class, but the staff knows they need to stay after it with these two guys no matter where they’re from, and that goes for every corner on their board being a real position of need.
Several names come to mind when talking about other potential pickups for the Buckeyes, and that’s certainly a good thing that they’re in the mix for many of them. Yesterday, Ohio State received more good news when they made the cut for another top cornerback as he trimmed his offer list down to a final five schools. Texas native Corian Gipson took to his social media to release the latest update in his recruitment, and his finalists included Clemson, Texas, TCU, Alabama, and Ohio State.
A 6-foot, 170 pound athlete, Gipson is currently the No. 61 player nationally and the seventh ranked corner in the class per the 247Sports Composite. At nearly 40 offers to his name too, getting down to a top five is pretty serious considering the list of other big time programs he is no longer including. The Buckeyes as mentioned have more than a few guys they’re in on and this is another elite player that they’d love to see join the fold.
Without any Crystal Ball predictions it’s tough to say who the odds on favorite is right now, but knowing how well Ohio State has done in Texas with cornerbacks over the years, maybe they can win this one in the end.
It was just last week that Tank included Ohio State in his top five with South Carolina, Purdue, and Texas A&M, but with Arkansas the pick here it’s probably logical to bet that the Buckeyes won’t add another defensive addition to the roster for 2023. Maybe or maybe not a loss for the Buckeyes, this is still a name that had the interest of several who is now off the board.
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
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State’s continues its positive momentum on the recruiting trail.
Buckeyes offer 2025 Florida native linebacker
The linebacker position at Ohio State has really caught some momentum lately on the recruiting trail, and make no mistake about it, James Laurinaitis is a major reason as to why. Dominating the recruitment of recent commit Payton Pierce, Laurinaitis is proving to be worth his weight in gold when it comes to recruiting, and certainly the idea here is to keep it moving in their favor.
Though he’s limited to being on-campus, you wouldn’t be able to tell. This coming weekend he will be needed in full force yet again to show why Ohio State is the place to be not only for linebackers, but many of the top defensive targets that will be in Columbus for the conclusion of spring football.
Hoping to see the linebacker momentum continue beyond just the 2024 class, the Buckeyes were active with the position when they offered their latest prospect in 2025. Florida native Tarvos Alford took to Twitter to share the latest news in his recruitment and was thrilled to do so. A 6-foot-2, 195 athlete, Alford is not currently ranked by the 247Sports, but with 15 offers to his name already, the current high school sophomore has plenty of time to see his stock rise.
Programs such as Tennessee, Auburn, Florida, Penn State, and several others are some of his more notable offers in hand, but with Ohio State now entering the mix, that could cause somewhat of a domino effect for other top schools to throw their name into consideration. At any rate, this is the next name in line to pay attention to moving forward as Ohio State leans on both Laurinaitis and coordinator Jim Knowles to bring in elite level linebackers who can continue to improve this defense in the near future.
Ohio State still in it for four-star cornerback
There may not be a position in Ohio State’s 2024 recruiting class more interesting than cornerback. Knowing they need to land at the very least three guys this cycle, the Buckeyes have to continue putting in relentless efforts with all of their top targets. Sure, in-state stars such as Bryce West and Aaron Scott see majority of the attention and are thought to be two of the guys that will end up in this class, but the staff knows they need to stay after it with these two guys no matter where they’re from, and that goes for every corner on their board being a real position of need.
Several names come to mind when talking about other potential pickups for the Buckeyes, and that’s certainly a good thing that they’re in the mix for many of them. Yesterday, Ohio State received more good news when they made the cut for another top cornerback as he trimmed his offer list down to a final five schools. Texas native Corian Gipson took to his social media to release the latest update in his recruitment, and his finalists included Clemson, Texas, TCU, Alabama, and Ohio State.
A 6-foot, 170 pound athlete, Gipson is currently the No. 61 player nationally and the seventh ranked corner in the class per the 247Sports Composite. At nearly 40 offers to his name too, getting down to a top five is pretty serious considering the list of other big time programs he is no longer including. The Buckeyes as mentioned have more than a few guys they’re in on and this is another elite player that they’d love to see join the fold.
Without any Crystal Ball predictions it’s tough to say who the odds on favorite is right now, but knowing how well Ohio State has done in Texas with cornerbacks over the years, maybe they can win this one in the end.
Quick Hits
- With the transfer portal set to re-open again, one name that was linked to Ohio State was former Maryland defensive tackle Anthony “Tank” Booker. A Cincinnati, Ohio native who played his prep football at Winton Woods, the thought here was with his entrance to the portal, the Buckeyes would certainly be in the mix. Though they were a finalist for him, Tank released on Wednesday his commitment to Arkansas.
It was just last week that Tank included Ohio State in his top five with South Carolina, Purdue, and Texas A&M, but with Arkansas the pick here it’s probably logical to bet that the Buckeyes won’t add another defensive addition to the roster for 2023. Maybe or maybe not a loss for the Buckeyes, this is still a name that had the interest of several who is now off the board.
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Pro Volleyball Federation: Columbus Fury
- By ScriptOhio
- Other OSU and Professional Sports
- 10 Replies
'Unleash the Fury': Pro Volleyball Federation introduces Columbus Fury at Nationwide Arena
Wednesday afternoon, Columbus' newest professional sports team was given a name: the Columbus Fury.
www.dispatch.com
'Unleash the Fury': Pro Volleyball Federation introduces Columbus Fury at Nationwide Arena
Professional volleyball is coming to Columbus in 2024. And Wednesday afternoon, the city's newest professional sports team was given a name: the Columbus Fury.
The Pro Volleyball Federation, a North American professional volleyball league scheduled to begin in February, introduced the Fury for the first time, unveiling its identity brand and logo during a press conference at the team's home venue Nationwide Arena.
The Fury will play 12 of its 24-match regular-season schedule at Nationwide Arena. Season ticket reservations for the team’s inaugural season are available at ColumbusFury.com.
"It’s exciting. It’s a little scary," Columbus Fury co-owner Jeff Gilger told The Dispatch. "One of the reasons why I did this was I wanted to, at this time in my career, learn and be exposed to something I hadn’t done before. I’ve been drinking from the fire hose of sports and entertainment and professional volleyball and learning about the sport and meeting with athletes and talking with prospective coaches… it’s been really fun. It’s been really exciting."
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Jeff and Beth Gilger were announced as the owners of the Fury in February. Jeff Gilger is a partner and chief development officer of Express Wash Concepts, the parent company of Moo Moo Express Car Wash, while also being an investor and on the board of directors at North High Brewing.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is supplying some of the funds for the Pro Volleyball Federation. His parents, Jimmy and Robin Burrow, are founding partners along with former Super Bowl champion quarterback Trent Dilfer.
With the league starting in February and lasting until May prior to the start of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, Jeff Gilger said his job now turns to convincing Columbus and Ohio residents that the Columbus Fury is something to buy into.
LGHL Which former Buckeye(s) could be a steal in the mid-to-late rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft?
- News
- 0 Replies
Which former Buckeye(s) could be a steal in the mid-to-late rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft?
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images
C.J. Stroud, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Paris Johnson Jr. are all expected to go in the first round, with Dawand Jones potentially joining them. But which Day 2 or Day 3 picks could provide tremendous value relative to their draft position?
If you’ve happened to stumble across 7 Cent Drafts, you know that yours truly has been on a real value kick lately — especially as it pertains to the NFL Draft. Which player provided the highest return on investment: The first-rounder who played eight seasons, appeared in two career playoff games, and made three Pro Bowls? Or the sixth-rounder who made one (Pro Bowl) but provided exemplary leadership and did the dirty work for three Super Bowl champions?
These types of questions keep me up at night, especially a few weeks out from the draft. So I wanted to take a look at former Buckeyes in this 2023 class, but not for comparison purposes. I have no idea how valuable C.J. Stroud or Luke Wypler is going to be, and frankly I don’t (currently) care. I hope all these guys get drafted into great situations and enjoy long, prosperous NFL careers.
But I do want to look at “steal” potential. Which projected mid to late-rounder has the potential to make their organization look like Mensa International for landing such a productive talent so late in the draft?
Projected first-rounders were nixed, because how am I supposed to sell you on Stroud being a steal at No. 1 overall? Do I think he’ll be awesome? Abso-freaking-lutely. But he sure as hell isn’t going to sneak up on anybody. He will enter the NFL with sky-high expectations, and if he meets them, then congrats, he did what he was supposed to do. A bit of a burden if you ask me, but I believe Stroud will rise to the occasion.
But that would not make him a steal. That would make him a very good quarterback who is owed $200 million in his second contract. Doesn’t sound very cheap (or free), does it?
A steal is a player who far exceeds expectations for their draft slot. Think Kurt Coleman (7th round) or Nate Ebner (6th round). Few expected those guys to have much of an impact at the next level, if any. But they worked their tails off, cost their organization(s) no money early on, and helped their respective teams win a bunch of games. So who are those former Buckeyes in this 2023 draft class? Let’s take a look at a few of the candidates.
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Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Harrison is a Columbus (OH) native who stayed home to don scarlet and gray in The Shoe and will now be playing his home games outside the city for the first time in many years. A consensus five-star recruit, Harrison never really achieved stardom for Ohio State, but he did play his best ball as a senior. He displayed versatility throughout his four seasons as a Buckeye and profiles as a potential multi-position defender at the next level. However, there are some who see Harrison as having a low ceiling, which could ultimately push him down to the middle rounds of the draft.
I am bullish on Harrison’s NFL potential, so I absolutely view him as a potential steal in this draft. While he was a bit of an underachiever in college, he was at least consistent. And flashed brilliance in short, sporadic bursts. He has NFL strength, tremendous size, and performs well against both the run and pass. The latter is what gives me great optimism RE: Harrison’s future. He is not a one-trick pony, so there exists a world in which he is a three-down lineman.
Most projections have Harrison going somewhere in the second or third round, while a few have him falling to Day 3. Now tipping the scales at 270+, I believe he can play inside or out, which should make him an attractive option for each and every team. With that sort of versatility, I expect Harrison to be drafted in Round 3 at the latest and become an early contributor. If he does so and is available to his team on all three downs, then I think he will be viewed as a steal.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24547386/1244772132.jpg)
Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Hickman is a solid all-around safety whose performance fell off in 2022. Whether that dip was due to changes in the OSU defense or a “last day of school” mentality, we may never know. I tend to believe the former, because he was used as a bit of a chess piece and not asked to play around the line of scrimmage nearly as much. Others around Hickman (namely Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers) also improved their play drastically, all but eliminating the need for Hickman to act as Mr. Cleanup.
Brian Dawkins or Sean Taylor he is not, but Hickman will run downhill and lay the boom on opposing ball carriers. He has no fear when playing near the LOS or blitzing, which is actually something I wish he could have done more of for the Buckeyes. He can cover a ton of ground and is a sure tackler when playing under control. One area where Hickman needs to improve is pass coverage, but I think NFL teams will study and know his limitations there.
Hickman will not be an ideal fit for every team, but in my opinion, he plays like a less-disciplined version of another former Buckeye safety: Vonn Bell. And the latter has enjoyed quite an NFL career. Hickman is commonly projected as a Day 3 pick, which sounds about right to me. I do not see a huge role in Year 1... However, if he is given ample opportunity to learn and develop in one system – with a defined role – then I think he can develop into a Vonn Bell-type. And that would be great value for a fourth, fifth, or sixth-round pick.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24547389/1444835871.jpg)
Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images
Putting Wypler behind the others in terms of steal potential because I think NFL teams just really like him. And I have seen him mocked as high as pick No. 65, which is a big investment to make in a center. But while Ohio State has gained notoriety for being DB U in the past or WR U in the present, they have also churned out a bunch of solid centers. So if Wypler follows in the footsteps of a Nick Mangold or Corey Linsley, then said investment becomes a pretty safe one.
I am far from an expert on the center position, so I will just say that Wypler was a heck of a leader for the Buckeyes, anchored offensive lines which underwent significant change(s), and for what it’s worth, was an all-state tackle in high school. To me, that means he has sort of been there, done that in terms of offensive line play and experience.
Unless Wypler becomes Mangold or Jason Kelce, I am going to have trouble ever referring to him as a steal if selected in the first 75 or so picks. But if he becomes a late 3rd/early 4th guy, then I do believe he has steal potential. Think Linsley, who was taken in the fifth round and has since been named to two All-Pro teams.
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
Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images
C.J. Stroud, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Paris Johnson Jr. are all expected to go in the first round, with Dawand Jones potentially joining them. But which Day 2 or Day 3 picks could provide tremendous value relative to their draft position?
If you’ve happened to stumble across 7 Cent Drafts, you know that yours truly has been on a real value kick lately — especially as it pertains to the NFL Draft. Which player provided the highest return on investment: The first-rounder who played eight seasons, appeared in two career playoff games, and made three Pro Bowls? Or the sixth-rounder who made one (Pro Bowl) but provided exemplary leadership and did the dirty work for three Super Bowl champions?
These types of questions keep me up at night, especially a few weeks out from the draft. So I wanted to take a look at former Buckeyes in this 2023 class, but not for comparison purposes. I have no idea how valuable C.J. Stroud or Luke Wypler is going to be, and frankly I don’t (currently) care. I hope all these guys get drafted into great situations and enjoy long, prosperous NFL careers.
But I do want to look at “steal” potential. Which projected mid to late-rounder has the potential to make their organization look like Mensa International for landing such a productive talent so late in the draft?
Projected first-rounders were nixed, because how am I supposed to sell you on Stroud being a steal at No. 1 overall? Do I think he’ll be awesome? Abso-freaking-lutely. But he sure as hell isn’t going to sneak up on anybody. He will enter the NFL with sky-high expectations, and if he meets them, then congrats, he did what he was supposed to do. A bit of a burden if you ask me, but I believe Stroud will rise to the occasion.
But that would not make him a steal. That would make him a very good quarterback who is owed $200 million in his second contract. Doesn’t sound very cheap (or free), does it?
A steal is a player who far exceeds expectations for their draft slot. Think Kurt Coleman (7th round) or Nate Ebner (6th round). Few expected those guys to have much of an impact at the next level, if any. But they worked their tails off, cost their organization(s) no money early on, and helped their respective teams win a bunch of games. So who are those former Buckeyes in this 2023 draft class? Let’s take a look at a few of the candidates.
Zach Harrison — Defensive line
Harrison is a Columbus (OH) native who stayed home to don scarlet and gray in The Shoe and will now be playing his home games outside the city for the first time in many years. A consensus five-star recruit, Harrison never really achieved stardom for Ohio State, but he did play his best ball as a senior. He displayed versatility throughout his four seasons as a Buckeye and profiles as a potential multi-position defender at the next level. However, there are some who see Harrison as having a low ceiling, which could ultimately push him down to the middle rounds of the draft.
I am bullish on Harrison’s NFL potential, so I absolutely view him as a potential steal in this draft. While he was a bit of an underachiever in college, he was at least consistent. And flashed brilliance in short, sporadic bursts. He has NFL strength, tremendous size, and performs well against both the run and pass. The latter is what gives me great optimism RE: Harrison’s future. He is not a one-trick pony, so there exists a world in which he is a three-down lineman.
Most projections have Harrison going somewhere in the second or third round, while a few have him falling to Day 3. Now tipping the scales at 270+, I believe he can play inside or out, which should make him an attractive option for each and every team. With that sort of versatility, I expect Harrison to be drafted in Round 3 at the latest and become an early contributor. If he does so and is available to his team on all three downs, then I think he will be viewed as a steal.
Ronnie Hickman — Safety
Hickman is a solid all-around safety whose performance fell off in 2022. Whether that dip was due to changes in the OSU defense or a “last day of school” mentality, we may never know. I tend to believe the former, because he was used as a bit of a chess piece and not asked to play around the line of scrimmage nearly as much. Others around Hickman (namely Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers) also improved their play drastically, all but eliminating the need for Hickman to act as Mr. Cleanup.
Brian Dawkins or Sean Taylor he is not, but Hickman will run downhill and lay the boom on opposing ball carriers. He has no fear when playing near the LOS or blitzing, which is actually something I wish he could have done more of for the Buckeyes. He can cover a ton of ground and is a sure tackler when playing under control. One area where Hickman needs to improve is pass coverage, but I think NFL teams will study and know his limitations there.
Hickman will not be an ideal fit for every team, but in my opinion, he plays like a less-disciplined version of another former Buckeye safety: Vonn Bell. And the latter has enjoyed quite an NFL career. Hickman is commonly projected as a Day 3 pick, which sounds about right to me. I do not see a huge role in Year 1... However, if he is given ample opportunity to learn and develop in one system – with a defined role – then I think he can develop into a Vonn Bell-type. And that would be great value for a fourth, fifth, or sixth-round pick.
Luke Wypler — Center
Putting Wypler behind the others in terms of steal potential because I think NFL teams just really like him. And I have seen him mocked as high as pick No. 65, which is a big investment to make in a center. But while Ohio State has gained notoriety for being DB U in the past or WR U in the present, they have also churned out a bunch of solid centers. So if Wypler follows in the footsteps of a Nick Mangold or Corey Linsley, then said investment becomes a pretty safe one.
I am far from an expert on the center position, so I will just say that Wypler was a heck of a leader for the Buckeyes, anchored offensive lines which underwent significant change(s), and for what it’s worth, was an all-state tackle in high school. To me, that means he has sort of been there, done that in terms of offensive line play and experience.
Unless Wypler becomes Mangold or Jason Kelce, I am going to have trouble ever referring to him as a steal if selected in the first 75 or so picks. But if he becomes a late 3rd/early 4th guy, then I do believe he has steal potential. Think Linsley, who was taken in the fifth round and has since been named to two All-Pro teams.
Continue reading...
