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LGHL The name I’m most excited to hear about during spring practice is Caden Curry
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The name I’m most excited to hear about during spring practice is Caden Curry
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The true freshman popped every time he was on the field last season, it’s time to let him cook more often this year.
Spring is a time of hope, a time of rebirth. Where everything is possible as we emerge from the dark and depressing doldrums of winter. While weather-wise, it might still be winter where you are, it is now officially spring at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center as the Ohio State football program is kicking off spring practice today with a lot of questions to answer, things to accomplish, and players to prepare.
Obviously, the most important thing that needs to be accomplished over the next five weeks is the development of the player who will take over at quarterback come fall. When I generously gave the football team some New Year’s resolutions in early January, I suggested that the coaches have a pretty good idea who the starting QB would be coming out of spring. They don’t need to share it publicly, but having a clear-cut favorite will be important so that they can focus the summer workouts and fall camp around “the guy,” rather than having to extend the battle over the next five months (we’ve seen how damaging that can be to a team).
Ryan Day has said that the plan is to pick a signal-caller this spring, but wouldn’t 100% commit to it, which I think is fine. Do everything you can to make that decision, but if neither guy distances himself from the other, there’s no reason to force it. You have to get that decision right, but it sure would be nice if Kyle McCord or Devin Brown would grab the reins during these 15 practices.
So, while we know that the quarterback competition will be the most important part of the upcoming practices, there is one name that I am hoping to hear about having a standout spring, and that is rising-sophomore defensive end Caden Curry. The defensive line has long been one of the most important and impactful position groups for Ohio State, but in recent years, while they have been relatively productive, the nearly supernatural dominance that we have seen from the likes of the Bosas, Chase Young, Cameron Heyward, Vernon Gholston, Will Smith, and others just hasn’t been there.
In Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau, defensive line coach Larry Johnson has some incredible talents on the outside this season, and hopefully they will live up to their potential this fall, but it’s this young guy that has me most intrigued.
Back in mid-September, following the game against Arkansas State, I thought that Curry had already shown the potential to become a Buckeye legend. As is often the case with true freshmen, Curry’s snap count decreased as the season progressed, but he did rack up 81 plays on defense with Pro Football Focus grading him at a 77.6-clip. While, by rule, I generally don’t put much stock in PFF grades, that did rank Curry as the 11th-best defensive player on OSU last year; the only edge rushers ahead of him were Zach Harrison (now off to the NFL), fellow true freshman Kenyatta Jackson (who only had 24 snaps over three games), Javontae Jean-Baptiste (who transferred to Notre Dame), and Tyler Friday who is not returning to Ohio State.
Tuimoloau was just behind Curry in 12th at a 75.2 grade and Sawyer was in 14th at 74. Again, those specific numbers and rankings don’t mean much to me, but what does is the fact that Curry held his own against the higher-profile players at his position. Granted, he didn’t play as meaningful of snaps against the same level of competition that Jack and J.T. did, but man was he impactful in the games he played.
Anytime Curry was on the field and allowed to cook, he looked like he had another gear that could pay major dividends for the Buckeyes. Harrison even singled him out last week while at the NFL Combine when discussing Ohio State players that could break out this year.
We all know that Johnson likes to rotate his players and move guys around, so I am hopeful that throughout the spring we hear that Curry is proving that he has to be in that mix come fall. We know that Sawyer and Tuimoloau are almost assuredly going to be starting on the outside, but if Curry can become the third guy in that rotation, and even challenge Sawyer for the Jack/Leo position, I think that is in the best interest of the OSU defense. Sawyer has clearly not reached his ceiling so far in Johnson’s and Jim Knowles’ scheme, so maybe letting him play a more traditional DE position would allow him to show what he’s capable of.
Undoubtedly an incredible athlete, but the way that he has bulked up, it does seem like the roaming, free-range responsibilities of the Jack fit him (despite it literally being his name). Curry — at least based on what we’ve seen thus far — feels like a far more natural fit for that position. Now, I’m not saying I think that Curry should supplant Sawyer in the starting lineup, just that L.J. likes to move guys around, and I am hopeful that Curry uses this spring to prove that he can’t be off the field all that often.
When you think of a three-man edge rusher rotation of J.T., Jack, and Caden paired with guys like Tyliek Williams, Mike Hall Jr., and Ty Hamilton in the middle, I think this has the potential to be the Buckeyes' best defensive line since The Predator left to wreak havoc on the NFL. There is talent and youth in the Ohio State defensive line room this year, and I am optimistic that they can get the unit back to where it belongs starting this spring.
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The true freshman popped every time he was on the field last season, it’s time to let him cook more often this year.
Spring is a time of hope, a time of rebirth. Where everything is possible as we emerge from the dark and depressing doldrums of winter. While weather-wise, it might still be winter where you are, it is now officially spring at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center as the Ohio State football program is kicking off spring practice today with a lot of questions to answer, things to accomplish, and players to prepare.
Obviously, the most important thing that needs to be accomplished over the next five weeks is the development of the player who will take over at quarterback come fall. When I generously gave the football team some New Year’s resolutions in early January, I suggested that the coaches have a pretty good idea who the starting QB would be coming out of spring. They don’t need to share it publicly, but having a clear-cut favorite will be important so that they can focus the summer workouts and fall camp around “the guy,” rather than having to extend the battle over the next five months (we’ve seen how damaging that can be to a team).
Ryan Day has said that the plan is to pick a signal-caller this spring, but wouldn’t 100% commit to it, which I think is fine. Do everything you can to make that decision, but if neither guy distances himself from the other, there’s no reason to force it. You have to get that decision right, but it sure would be nice if Kyle McCord or Devin Brown would grab the reins during these 15 practices.
So, while we know that the quarterback competition will be the most important part of the upcoming practices, there is one name that I am hoping to hear about having a standout spring, and that is rising-sophomore defensive end Caden Curry. The defensive line has long been one of the most important and impactful position groups for Ohio State, but in recent years, while they have been relatively productive, the nearly supernatural dominance that we have seen from the likes of the Bosas, Chase Young, Cameron Heyward, Vernon Gholston, Will Smith, and others just hasn’t been there.
In Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau, defensive line coach Larry Johnson has some incredible talents on the outside this season, and hopefully they will live up to their potential this fall, but it’s this young guy that has me most intrigued.
Back in mid-September, following the game against Arkansas State, I thought that Curry had already shown the potential to become a Buckeye legend. As is often the case with true freshmen, Curry’s snap count decreased as the season progressed, but he did rack up 81 plays on defense with Pro Football Focus grading him at a 77.6-clip. While, by rule, I generally don’t put much stock in PFF grades, that did rank Curry as the 11th-best defensive player on OSU last year; the only edge rushers ahead of him were Zach Harrison (now off to the NFL), fellow true freshman Kenyatta Jackson (who only had 24 snaps over three games), Javontae Jean-Baptiste (who transferred to Notre Dame), and Tyler Friday who is not returning to Ohio State.
Tuimoloau was just behind Curry in 12th at a 75.2 grade and Sawyer was in 14th at 74. Again, those specific numbers and rankings don’t mean much to me, but what does is the fact that Curry held his own against the higher-profile players at his position. Granted, he didn’t play as meaningful of snaps against the same level of competition that Jack and J.T. did, but man was he impactful in the games he played.
Anytime Curry was on the field and allowed to cook, he looked like he had another gear that could pay major dividends for the Buckeyes. Harrison even singled him out last week while at the NFL Combine when discussing Ohio State players that could break out this year.
We all know that Johnson likes to rotate his players and move guys around, so I am hopeful that throughout the spring we hear that Curry is proving that he has to be in that mix come fall. We know that Sawyer and Tuimoloau are almost assuredly going to be starting on the outside, but if Curry can become the third guy in that rotation, and even challenge Sawyer for the Jack/Leo position, I think that is in the best interest of the OSU defense. Sawyer has clearly not reached his ceiling so far in Johnson’s and Jim Knowles’ scheme, so maybe letting him play a more traditional DE position would allow him to show what he’s capable of.
Undoubtedly an incredible athlete, but the way that he has bulked up, it does seem like the roaming, free-range responsibilities of the Jack fit him (despite it literally being his name). Curry — at least based on what we’ve seen thus far — feels like a far more natural fit for that position. Now, I’m not saying I think that Curry should supplant Sawyer in the starting lineup, just that L.J. likes to move guys around, and I am hopeful that Curry uses this spring to prove that he can’t be off the field all that often.
When you think of a three-man edge rusher rotation of J.T., Jack, and Caden paired with guys like Tyliek Williams, Mike Hall Jr., and Ty Hamilton in the middle, I think this has the potential to be the Buckeyes' best defensive line since The Predator left to wreak havoc on the NFL. There is talent and youth in the Ohio State defensive line room this year, and I am optimistic that they can get the unit back to where it belongs starting this spring.
Continue reading...
LGHL Land-Grant Uncut: B1G Women’s Tournament finale: McGuff, McMahon and Mikesell on the defeat
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Land-Grant Uncut: B1G Women’s Tournament finale: McGuff, McMahon and Mikesell on the defeat
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by David Berding/Getty Images
The loss, a strong second half, addressing the McMahon and Caitlin Clark situation and more
Throughout the year, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
After an entertaining two first games of the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament for the Ohio State women’s basketball team, it came to an end Sunday in the finale. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, they weren’t bringing the tournament trophy on the plane ride home.
The Scarlet & Gray suffered a second tough first half in a row, and unable to come back from a severely lopsided first two quarters. After the 105-72 defeat, head coach Kevin McGuff, guard Taylor Mikesell and forward Cotie McMahon spoke with the media.
After a brief message by McGuff, Mikesell and McMahon talk about how they can use this game as motivation. Mikesell addresses her final Big Ten game in her five-year career, with more basketball to play, and McMahon discusses a moment in the game between herself and Iowa’s Caitlin Clark that ended with an intentional foul call against McMahon.
To end the press conference, head coach Kevin McGuff talks about both his end of the game and halftime speech to the team, Mikesell’s final Big Ten game, the impact of fouls on the Buckeyes’ gameplan, the growth of the conference and more.
All that and more on the latest Land-Grant Uncut.
Connect with Thomas:
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by David Berding/Getty Images
The loss, a strong second half, addressing the McMahon and Caitlin Clark situation and more
Throughout the year, Land-Grant Holy Land will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
After an entertaining two first games of the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament for the Ohio State women’s basketball team, it came to an end Sunday in the finale. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, they weren’t bringing the tournament trophy on the plane ride home.
The Scarlet & Gray suffered a second tough first half in a row, and unable to come back from a severely lopsided first two quarters. After the 105-72 defeat, head coach Kevin McGuff, guard Taylor Mikesell and forward Cotie McMahon spoke with the media.
After a brief message by McGuff, Mikesell and McMahon talk about how they can use this game as motivation. Mikesell addresses her final Big Ten game in her five-year career, with more basketball to play, and McMahon discusses a moment in the game between herself and Iowa’s Caitlin Clark that ended with an intentional foul call against McMahon.
To end the press conference, head coach Kevin McGuff talks about both his end of the game and halftime speech to the team, Mikesell’s final Big Ten game, the impact of fouls on the Buckeyes’ gameplan, the growth of the conference and more.
All that and more on the latest Land-Grant Uncut.
Connect with Thomas:
Twitter: @1ThomasCostello
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State baseball wins 2023 Frisco Classic
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Ohio State baseball wins 2023 Frisco Classic
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
via @OhioStateBASE on Twitter
The Buckeyes defeated the 2022 national runner-up to win the Texas tournament.
The Buckeyes opened up the Frisco Classic against reigning national champion Mississippi State, who entered the game at 6-3 on the young season, including a win against No. 25 Southern Miss in their last time out.
The two teams remained scoreless through the first three innings before a wild pitch allowed Henry Kaczmar to score the game’s first run in the top of the 4th inning. The Bulldogs responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the 5th, but Ohio State busted it open in the 6th.
A bases loaded walk put OSU up 2-1, and Tyler Petteroni followed it up with a bases-clearing double to give the Buckeyes a 5-1 lead. Ohio State added three more runs in the 7th on an RBI single by Hank Thomas and a pair of Mississippi State errors as they ballooned the lead up to 8-1. The Bulldogs got a run back in both the 8th and the 9th inning, but it would not be nearly enough as Ohio State walked away with the 8-3 victory.
Buckeye ace Isaiah Coupet had to battle through six walks in this one, but even still the southpaw managed to toss five innings allowed just one unearned run while striking out nine. Jonah Jenkins recorded the final out of the game, earning his first save of the season.
Saturday’s game was one to forget, as Ohio State was thoroughly dominated by Cal in a game that was called after only seven innings as the Buckeyes were run-ruled.
Things went poorly pretty much right out of the gate, with the Golden Bears putting up a five-spot in the 1st inning. That was all she wrote for Ohio State starter Justin Eckhardt, who was charged with all five runs and came out following the opening frame. The Buckeyes got one run back in the 4th on a solo home run by Marcus Ernst, but Cal opened the floodgates with a 10-run 5th to put this one away.
Ohio State used six different pitchers in this game, compared to just two for the Bears. Wyatt Loncar was the only Buckeye to toss a scoreless frame, striking out two in what wound up being the final inning of the game in the 7th. Ernst was the only hitter with a productive day, going 2-for-2 (two of the teams four total hits) and driving in Ohio State’s only run with the homer.
After defeating the reigning national champs on Friday, Ohio State also knocked off the national runner-ups with a huge victory over Oklahoma to win the 2023 Frisco Classic.
The Sooners took an early lead in this one, pushing three runs across in the 1st inning. Ohio State wouldn’t get on the board until the 3rd inning, but they did so in a big way, scoring five runs on the strength of RBI singles by Matthew Graveline and Nick Erwin and a two-run double by Pettorini to make it 5-3 OSU. Oklahoma drove in a pair with a double in the 4th as things were all the sudden knotted up at five runs apiece.
The Buckeye bats got going again in the 5th, scoring three runs on a pair of RBI doubles by Erwin and Ernst and an RBI single by Josh McAlister. Ohio State added three more runs in the top of the 7th on a huge three-run home run by Kade Kern to make it 11-5 good guys. The Sooners made things interesting, scoring two runs in each of the 7th and 8th innings to cut the OSU lead to 11-9, but Kaczmar’s RBi single in the top of the 9th would be the icing on the cake in a 12-9 Ohio State win.
Ohio State once again used six different pitchers in this one, with Jenkins earning the win after tossing 3.2 innings allowing two earned runs and striking out three. Landon Beidelschies pitched the final 1.2 innings, earning the save while allowing just two hits and no runs with three Ks.
Both Ohio State and Oklahoma finished the round-robin tournament with a 2-1 record, but the Buckeyes’ head-to-head win over the Sooners secured them the event as they were named the official winners of the 2023 Frisco Classic. Ohio State had a trio of players recognized for their efforts over the weekend, with Coupet, Kern and Pettorini each named to the Frisco Classic All-Tournament teams for their standout performances.
The Buckeyes now sit at 5-6 on the year, and have to be feeling good as they return from Texas. Coupet has continued to be outstanding on the mound thus far, allowing only one skinny earned run over 18 innings pitched with 27 strikeouts. Jenkins has done a little bit of everything for Ohio State thus far, appearing in five game and posting a 2.38 ERA over 11.1 innings with 11 punchouts and a save. George Eisenhart has been a quietly solid arm as well, posting a 1.80 ERA over five innings (two appearances).
Offensively, Erwin leads the team with 11 RBIs, but he is followed closely by Graveline and Kern with eight apiece. Ernst leads the way with three home runs, as he and Kern (two) are the only Buckeyes to hit multiple homers on the young season. Kern’s OBP is up to .429 as well with his team-high 10 walks. The sophomore Pettorini is starting to make a name for himself after an impressive showing in the Frisco Classic, getting his average up to .289 for the year with seven RBIs and four doubles.
Up next for the Buckeyes is a trip out West to take on Cal State Bakersfield in a three-game series beginning on March 10. The Roadrunners are off to a 7-5 start to the year, but were just swept in a three-game series by Stanford in their last time out. All three games in the upcoming series will be streamed on ESPN+, starting at 9:00 p.m. ET on Friday.
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
via @OhioStateBASE on Twitter
The Buckeyes defeated the 2022 national runner-up to win the Texas tournament.
Friday, March 3: 8-3 Ohio State (vs. Mississippi State)
The Buckeyes opened up the Frisco Classic against reigning national champion Mississippi State, who entered the game at 6-3 on the young season, including a win against No. 25 Southern Miss in their last time out.
The two teams remained scoreless through the first three innings before a wild pitch allowed Henry Kaczmar to score the game’s first run in the top of the 4th inning. The Bulldogs responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the 5th, but Ohio State busted it open in the 6th.
A bases loaded walk put OSU up 2-1, and Tyler Petteroni followed it up with a bases-clearing double to give the Buckeyes a 5-1 lead. Ohio State added three more runs in the 7th on an RBI single by Hank Thomas and a pair of Mississippi State errors as they ballooned the lead up to 8-1. The Bulldogs got a run back in both the 8th and the 9th inning, but it would not be nearly enough as Ohio State walked away with the 8-3 victory.
Buckeye ace Isaiah Coupet had to battle through six walks in this one, but even still the southpaw managed to toss five innings allowed just one unearned run while striking out nine. Jonah Jenkins recorded the final out of the game, earning his first save of the season.
Saturday, March 4: 16-1 Cal
Saturday’s game was one to forget, as Ohio State was thoroughly dominated by Cal in a game that was called after only seven innings as the Buckeyes were run-ruled.
Things went poorly pretty much right out of the gate, with the Golden Bears putting up a five-spot in the 1st inning. That was all she wrote for Ohio State starter Justin Eckhardt, who was charged with all five runs and came out following the opening frame. The Buckeyes got one run back in the 4th on a solo home run by Marcus Ernst, but Cal opened the floodgates with a 10-run 5th to put this one away.
Ohio State used six different pitchers in this game, compared to just two for the Bears. Wyatt Loncar was the only Buckeye to toss a scoreless frame, striking out two in what wound up being the final inning of the game in the 7th. Ernst was the only hitter with a productive day, going 2-for-2 (two of the teams four total hits) and driving in Ohio State’s only run with the homer.
Sunday, March 5: 12-9 Ohio State (vs. Oklahoma)
After defeating the reigning national champs on Friday, Ohio State also knocked off the national runner-ups with a huge victory over Oklahoma to win the 2023 Frisco Classic.
The Sooners took an early lead in this one, pushing three runs across in the 1st inning. Ohio State wouldn’t get on the board until the 3rd inning, but they did so in a big way, scoring five runs on the strength of RBI singles by Matthew Graveline and Nick Erwin and a two-run double by Pettorini to make it 5-3 OSU. Oklahoma drove in a pair with a double in the 4th as things were all the sudden knotted up at five runs apiece.
The Buckeye bats got going again in the 5th, scoring three runs on a pair of RBI doubles by Erwin and Ernst and an RBI single by Josh McAlister. Ohio State added three more runs in the top of the 7th on a huge three-run home run by Kade Kern to make it 11-5 good guys. The Sooners made things interesting, scoring two runs in each of the 7th and 8th innings to cut the OSU lead to 11-9, but Kaczmar’s RBi single in the top of the 9th would be the icing on the cake in a 12-9 Ohio State win.
Ohio State once again used six different pitchers in this one, with Jenkins earning the win after tossing 3.2 innings allowing two earned runs and striking out three. Landon Beidelschies pitched the final 1.2 innings, earning the save while allowing just two hits and no runs with three Ks.
Both Ohio State and Oklahoma finished the round-robin tournament with a 2-1 record, but the Buckeyes’ head-to-head win over the Sooners secured them the event as they were named the official winners of the 2023 Frisco Classic. Ohio State had a trio of players recognized for their efforts over the weekend, with Coupet, Kern and Pettorini each named to the Frisco Classic All-Tournament teams for their standout performances.
The Buckeyes now sit at 5-6 on the year, and have to be feeling good as they return from Texas. Coupet has continued to be outstanding on the mound thus far, allowing only one skinny earned run over 18 innings pitched with 27 strikeouts. Jenkins has done a little bit of everything for Ohio State thus far, appearing in five game and posting a 2.38 ERA over 11.1 innings with 11 punchouts and a save. George Eisenhart has been a quietly solid arm as well, posting a 1.80 ERA over five innings (two appearances).
Offensively, Erwin leads the team with 11 RBIs, but he is followed closely by Graveline and Kern with eight apiece. Ernst leads the way with three home runs, as he and Kern (two) are the only Buckeyes to hit multiple homers on the young season. Kern’s OBP is up to .429 as well with his team-high 10 walks. The sophomore Pettorini is starting to make a name for himself after an impressive showing in the Frisco Classic, getting his average up to .289 for the year with seven RBIs and four doubles.
Up next for the Buckeyes is a trip out West to take on Cal State Bakersfield in a three-game series beginning on March 10. The Roadrunners are off to a 7-5 start to the year, but were just swept in a three-game series by Stanford in their last time out. All three games in the upcoming series will be streamed on ESPN+, starting at 9:00 p.m. ET on Friday.
Continue reading...
LGHL Elite Ohio QB to visit Ohio State this week
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Elite Ohio QB to visit Ohio State this week
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
With spring football beginning today, Ohio State is getting ready to play host to dozens of recruits, including an elite Ohio quarterback.
The college football recruiting dead period has finally come to an end, and with it brings the beginning of spring football. Spring practices will begin this week, and the annual spring game will be right around the corner.
Ryan Day and the Ohio State football coaching staff will be busy preparing this year’s team for the upcoming season, but this will not be the staff’s only focus. As the team takes the field for spring practice, so too will recruits that Ohio State is interested in. The Buckeyes are set to play host to dozens of recruits over the next couple months, and on Monday the team learned a pair of Ohio teammates will be on campus this weekend, including an up-and-coming quarterback.
2026 quarterback Rocco Williams (Pickerington, OH / Pickerington Central) announced on Monday that he will making an unofficial visit to Ohio State today, and he will be accompanied by his trainer, who Buckeye Nation will be very familiar with as it is former star quarterback Braxton Miller.
Like many in the 2026 class, Williams has not yet received a star ranking from 247Sports, and his offer list also reflects this, with offers from Jackson State, Marshall and Campbell. However, the freshman is being recruited by blue-chip programs and he has already made unofficial visits to schools like Alabama, Auburn, West Virginia, Pitt, Michigan and LSU.
Being from the outskirts of Columbus, and that his trainer is Miller, Williams has been on Ohio State’s campus multiple times, and the team is viewed as the early leaders in his recruitment.
Williams will not be making the visit on his own, as he will also be visiting with his teammate, 2025 running back Michael Taylor.
Taylor is still very early in his recruitment process, being two years away from committing to a school. And while he holds just one official scholarship offer from Kentucky, he is also being recruited by elite-level programs such as Michigan State, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Pitt, Bowling Green, etc. The visit with Ohio State will also not be his first.
The two teammates will not be alone on campus tomorrow as the Buckeyes are prepared to host a handful of other Ohio prospects as well this weekend including their other teammate 2024 three-star running back Sam Williams-Dixon.
Ohio State will be playing host to several recruits what feels like every day for the next two months. Make sure to stay up-to-date with all things Ohio State recruiting with Land-Grant Holy Land.
On Monday, Dartmouth forward Dame Adelekun entered the transfer portal. The forward averaged 13.8 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.0 blocks, 1.0 steals this season and has already heard from several teams, including Ohio State.
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
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
With spring football beginning today, Ohio State is getting ready to play host to dozens of recruits, including an elite Ohio quarterback.
The college football recruiting dead period has finally come to an end, and with it brings the beginning of spring football. Spring practices will begin this week, and the annual spring game will be right around the corner.
Ryan Day and the Ohio State football coaching staff will be busy preparing this year’s team for the upcoming season, but this will not be the staff’s only focus. As the team takes the field for spring practice, so too will recruits that Ohio State is interested in. The Buckeyes are set to play host to dozens of recruits over the next couple months, and on Monday the team learned a pair of Ohio teammates will be on campus this weekend, including an up-and-coming quarterback.
2026 quarterback Rocco Williams (Pickerington, OH / Pickerington Central) announced on Monday that he will making an unofficial visit to Ohio State today, and he will be accompanied by his trainer, who Buckeye Nation will be very familiar with as it is former star quarterback Braxton Miller.
Like many in the 2026 class, Williams has not yet received a star ranking from 247Sports, and his offer list also reflects this, with offers from Jackson State, Marshall and Campbell. However, the freshman is being recruited by blue-chip programs and he has already made unofficial visits to schools like Alabama, Auburn, West Virginia, Pitt, Michigan and LSU.
Being from the outskirts of Columbus, and that his trainer is Miller, Williams has been on Ohio State’s campus multiple times, and the team is viewed as the early leaders in his recruitment.
Williams will not be making the visit on his own, as he will also be visiting with his teammate, 2025 running back Michael Taylor.
Taylor is still very early in his recruitment process, being two years away from committing to a school. And while he holds just one official scholarship offer from Kentucky, he is also being recruited by elite-level programs such as Michigan State, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Pitt, Bowling Green, etc. The visit with Ohio State will also not be his first.
The two teammates will not be alone on campus tomorrow as the Buckeyes are prepared to host a handful of other Ohio prospects as well this weekend including their other teammate 2024 three-star running back Sam Williams-Dixon.
Ohio State will be playing host to several recruits what feels like every day for the next two months. Make sure to stay up-to-date with all things Ohio State recruiting with Land-Grant Holy Land.
Quick Hits
- College football and basketball have seen each of their sports change for the same reason in the last 12-months — the evolution of the transfer portal. With players rightfully able to earn money in college with Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) and relaxed rules on the transfer portal, college coaches are having to add to their schedules recruiting players who wish to find a new school.
On Monday, Dartmouth forward Dame Adelekun entered the transfer portal. The forward averaged 13.8 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.0 blocks, 1.0 steals this season and has already heard from several teams, including Ohio State.
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LGHL Play Like a Girl Podcast: Pick a sport, any sport (as long as it’s spring)
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Play Like a Girl Podcast: Pick a sport, any sport (as long as it’s spring)
JamiJurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jaime Crawford/Getty Images
Plus, women’s basketball tournament predictions and what we can learn from the men’s basketball win against Illinois.
On LGHL’s Play Like a Girl podcast, Jami and Megan talk everything from Ohio State sports to advocacy for women in sports and all the happenings in between.
Check out the podcast below, and make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:
Welcome back to the Play Like a Girl podcast. Spring is in the air, and Buckeye fans are ready to leave the winter blues behind for good. But before they close the door and wipe their memories of this winter, Jami and Megan have predictions for women’s basketball and men’s ice hockey heading into their respective tournaments, plus forecasts for next year’s men’s basketball team.
Also on the podcast, it’s time to give spring sports their due! The pair will make a hard sell for the oft-forgotten-but-not-so-forgettable spring Buckeyes! With stellar starts from men’s tennis and volleyball, plus a promising women’s softball team and a men’s baseball team that could be turning over a new leaf, choose your fighter to carry you through to football season!
Contact Megan Husslein
Twitter: @meganhusslein
Contact Jami Jurich
Twitter: @JamiJurich
Continue reading...
JamiJurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jaime Crawford/Getty Images
Plus, women’s basketball tournament predictions and what we can learn from the men’s basketball win against Illinois.
On LGHL’s Play Like a Girl podcast, Jami and Megan talk everything from Ohio State sports to advocacy for women in sports and all the happenings in between.
Check out the podcast below, and make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:
Welcome back to the Play Like a Girl podcast. Spring is in the air, and Buckeye fans are ready to leave the winter blues behind for good. But before they close the door and wipe their memories of this winter, Jami and Megan have predictions for women’s basketball and men’s ice hockey heading into their respective tournaments, plus forecasts for next year’s men’s basketball team.
Also on the podcast, it’s time to give spring sports their due! The pair will make a hard sell for the oft-forgotten-but-not-so-forgettable spring Buckeyes! With stellar starts from men’s tennis and volleyball, plus a promising women’s softball team and a men’s baseball team that could be turning over a new leaf, choose your fighter to carry you through to football season!
Contact Megan Husslein
Twitter: @meganhusslein
Contact Jami Jurich
Twitter: @JamiJurich
Continue reading...
LGHL We’ll Talk About This Later: Life after football comedy tour
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We’ll Talk About This Later: Life after football comedy tour
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images
Your dose of lighthearted takes from this week’s happenings.
Each week, we’ll break down something that happened during the Ohio State game (and occasionally other games and events) that we’ll be talking about for a while—you know, the silly sideline interactions, the awful announcing and the weird storylines that stick with us for years to come. We’ll also compare each of these happenings to memorable moments in pop culture, because who doesn’t love a good Office reference?
As we’ve heard from the NCAA commercials during college football and hoops seasons, less than 2% of college athletes go pro in their sports. Men’s basketball players enter the NBA at a rate of about 1.2%, while just 0.8% of women make it to the WNBA. Then there’s baseball, where nearly 10% of college athletes get to the major league.
When it comes to football, of 1.1 million high school athletes who play football, 6.5% will go on to play in college across all divisions. From those playing college ball, 1.6% go on to compete at the professional level. While football is the most physically intensive sport on this list (in terms of contact — not making commentary on skills here), it makes sense that the average NFL career spans just 3.3 years.
These stats of course beg the question of what the heck happens to the vast majority of athletes we know and love when their college and pro careers are done. We’ve seen them in the broadcast booth with varying degrees of success, moving into the coaching ranks or generally hanging around their former college or pro teams in other capacities.
Most recently — even though he is still firmly in the league — we saw Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce try his hand at standup comedy while hosting Saturday Night Live over the weekend.
Perhaps the 33-year old was testing the waters for his post-NFL career. It was an interesting shift since SNL is firmly separated from the NFL and would be a high-risk, high-reward move for someone to look for success in an area completely apart from the sports realm. At least he made his brother laugh.
For Ohio State, all-pro safety Malcolm Jenkins, who had a lengthy and extremely successful NFL career, has translated his fame into a successful foundation that works to promote social justice. Former hoops standout Michael Redd is a successful entrepreneur.
On the analyst side, power forward Clark Kellogg is clearly the best commentator CBS has to offer (fun fact, Kellogg went back to school after his NBA career ended and earned his marketing degree from Ohio State). Joshua Perry, who joined BTN seemingly minutes after being at Ohio State, has become a favorite on the panel.
And that list doesn’t even begin to account for the many entrepreneurs (the Boren brothers, Chimdi Chikwa, Doug Worthington, Thaddeus Gibson and others) who have founded or furthered businesses.
In the future perhaps we will see even more from these former athletes, especially as NIL deals will give them access to new channels earlier than they’d had before.
Continue reading...
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images
Your dose of lighthearted takes from this week’s happenings.
Each week, we’ll break down something that happened during the Ohio State game (and occasionally other games and events) that we’ll be talking about for a while—you know, the silly sideline interactions, the awful announcing and the weird storylines that stick with us for years to come. We’ll also compare each of these happenings to memorable moments in pop culture, because who doesn’t love a good Office reference?
As we’ve heard from the NCAA commercials during college football and hoops seasons, less than 2% of college athletes go pro in their sports. Men’s basketball players enter the NBA at a rate of about 1.2%, while just 0.8% of women make it to the WNBA. Then there’s baseball, where nearly 10% of college athletes get to the major league.
When it comes to football, of 1.1 million high school athletes who play football, 6.5% will go on to play in college across all divisions. From those playing college ball, 1.6% go on to compete at the professional level. While football is the most physically intensive sport on this list (in terms of contact — not making commentary on skills here), it makes sense that the average NFL career spans just 3.3 years.
These stats of course beg the question of what the heck happens to the vast majority of athletes we know and love when their college and pro careers are done. We’ve seen them in the broadcast booth with varying degrees of success, moving into the coaching ranks or generally hanging around their former college or pro teams in other capacities.
Most recently — even though he is still firmly in the league — we saw Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce try his hand at standup comedy while hosting Saturday Night Live over the weekend.
Perhaps the 33-year old was testing the waters for his post-NFL career. It was an interesting shift since SNL is firmly separated from the NFL and would be a high-risk, high-reward move for someone to look for success in an area completely apart from the sports realm. At least he made his brother laugh.
For Ohio State, all-pro safety Malcolm Jenkins, who had a lengthy and extremely successful NFL career, has translated his fame into a successful foundation that works to promote social justice. Former hoops standout Michael Redd is a successful entrepreneur.
On the analyst side, power forward Clark Kellogg is clearly the best commentator CBS has to offer (fun fact, Kellogg went back to school after his NBA career ended and earned his marketing degree from Ohio State). Joshua Perry, who joined BTN seemingly minutes after being at Ohio State, has become a favorite on the panel.
And that list doesn’t even begin to account for the many entrepreneurs (the Boren brothers, Chimdi Chikwa, Doug Worthington, Thaddeus Gibson and others) who have founded or furthered businesses.
In the future perhaps we will see even more from these former athletes, especially as NIL deals will give them access to new channels earlier than they’d had before.
Continue reading...
LGHL You're Nuts: Who will win the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament?
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- 0 Replies
You're Nuts: Who will win the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament?
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Plus, how far will the Buckeyes make it in the conference tourney?
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: Who will win the men’s Big Ten Tournament?
The Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament begins on Wednesday, and barring a minor miracle — or a big, fat, hairy, scarlet & gray miracle — Ohio State is not expected to contend for the title. I am not breaking news, as you likely figured this out some time in mid-January. But the Buckeyes’ lack of tournament hopes will not stop Gene and I from predicting an outcome. Or two outcomes, really.
We decided to flex our prognostication skills once again, for which we are both well known. Gene, of course, predicted Oral Roberts’ upset of OSU in 2021, while I, being a bit longer in the tooth, famously nailed that Fred Taylor would cut down the nets in 1960. So here we are again, just a couple of fortune tellers looking into our crystal ball(s).
(Editors note: some of the above details may be fabricated, but whose to say?)
On the docket today is predicting Ohio State’s B1G tourney fate, which will be followed by picking an eventual winner. But what if said fate is to win this whole damn thing!? Who says the Buckeyes can’t get hot and catch lightning in a bottle!? Huh!? Huh!?
Well, I do. I say the Buckeyes have no shot of winning it all in Chicago. But that does not mean I am predicting a quick exit. On the contrary, I am here to tell you that Chris Holtmann’s squad will make a run in the Windy City. And why, exactly, do I have these delusions of grandeur? Because I think the bracket worked out quite nicely for the Scarlet and Gray.
OSU gets Wisconsin in the first round, and I could not be less impressed by the Badgers. Yes, they beat the Buckeyes during the regular season (only matchup), but they play an awful, ugly brand of basketball. Their leading scorer averages 12.2 points per game on 39% shooting. They rank No. 333 (out of 363) in PPG as a team. Greg Gard’s squad does not have Johnny Davis or a borderline elite big man to save them this year, so I think Ohio State simply outscores UW.
Thursday’s game would then be against Iowa, and guess what? The Buckeyes already beat the Hawkeyes! They hung an average of 84 points on the Fighting Frans. This particular matchup would likely result in a fast-paced shootout, and OSU is better equipped to run and gun without Zed Key. Give me the Scarlet and Gray in an absolute barnburner.
If Ohio State advances to the third round, they would meet up with Tom Izzo’s Michigan State team, recipients of a double bye for this tournament. But MSU is not your typical BTT 4-seed. Due to very unfortunate and tragic events taking place, the Spartans only played 19 conference games and ended the (B1G) regular season with 11 wins and 8 losses. Had the team played an additional game and lost, they would have fallen into a tiebreaker and possibly received a much lower seed.
All this to say that Michigan State is very beatable. If a third game between these two team does come to fruition, I will take the Buckeyes.
Three wins and OSU is in the Big Ten semis, baby! But Saturday, March 11 is where I see this season coming to an end for Holtmann and the boys. They simply have no answer for Zach Edey and Purdue. Also, the Boilermakers have made a recent habit of destroying the Buckeyes’ hopes and dreams, which is what I believe will take place in the semifinals.
By now you are probably thinking my second prediction is for Purdue to win the Big Ten Tournament... No so fast, my friends! I will close this out by choosing a different team from the Hoosier State (hint, hint).
Give me Indiana to win this year’s Big Ten Tournament. Led by hyphenated stars Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino, Mike Davis’ Hoosiers have greater collective starpower. Furthermore, they have big bodies to throw at Edey to at least make him work hard for his points and rebounds — and they are lethal from beyond the arc (25th nationally in 3PT%). I think IU is surprise Elite 8 or Final 4 team waiting to happen, so I will pick them to cut down nets in Chi-town.
What do you think, Gene? Am I crazy like a fox, or just plain crazy?
Starting with the Buckeyes, I am not as confident as my counterpart here. I’m not gonna hit here and pretend to be an expert on Ohio State hoops, as I wasn’t exactly glued to the screen this season whenever Chris Holtmann’s team took the floor, but I know enough to say that this team simply isn’t very good. Sure, there is some reason to be optimistic for next year with all the young talent on the squad, but the 2022-23 campaign simply ain’t it for the Buckeyes.
For that reason, I will say that Ohio State’s campaign comes to a merciful end in the first round against Wisconsin. Now, would I be shocked if the Buckeyes win a game or two this week? Absolutely not. In fact, they are favored against the Badgers on the ESPN matchup predictor at 59.4% despite their 13-18 record and their previous loss to Greg Gard’s unit. However, the smart money this year has been to pick against Ohio State and be pleasantly surprised if they do pull off a win, so I will be doing just that.
Hopefully I am wrong and the Buckeyes can pull off one of the greatest Cinderella stories of all time as they sweep through the Big Ten and win the tournament altogether — their only chance of earning a spot in this year’s NCAA Tournament — but I'm not a man to put my chips in favor of fairytales.
On the other half of this equation, since Josh was kind enough to not pick the favorite in this year’s Big Ten Tournament, although the Hoosiers are the second-favorite on most sportsbooks, I will gladly take the favored Purdue Boilermakers.
Matt Painters group won the Big Ten regular season this year with a mark of 15-5, going 26-5 overall. Unless you’ve been living under a rock throughout the college basketball season, you know about Purdue’s 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey. The big man averaged well over a double-double this season with 21.9 points and 12.8 rebounds per game, and led the conference in points, rebounds, field goal percentage, player efficiency rating, and of course free throw attempts.
The projected Wooden Award winner is joined by a strong supporting cast among the likes of Braden Smith, Brandon Newman, Fletcher Loyer and a host of other contributors on a nightly basis.
Aside from their talent, the biggest reason I'm picking Purdue to win the Big Ten this season is that they’ve already lost to Indiana twice. It is hard enough to beat a time two times in the same year, let alone three. The Boilermakers will be seeking revenge against the Hoosiers if the two meet in the conference championship game, which is a very likely possibility. I think Painter will have his guys ready for the third meeting between these two schools if it comes down to it, especially with a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament potentially on the line.
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
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Plus, how far will the Buckeyes make it in the conference tourney?
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: Who will win the men’s Big Ten Tournament?
Josh’s Take
The Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament begins on Wednesday, and barring a minor miracle — or a big, fat, hairy, scarlet & gray miracle — Ohio State is not expected to contend for the title. I am not breaking news, as you likely figured this out some time in mid-January. But the Buckeyes’ lack of tournament hopes will not stop Gene and I from predicting an outcome. Or two outcomes, really.
We decided to flex our prognostication skills once again, for which we are both well known. Gene, of course, predicted Oral Roberts’ upset of OSU in 2021, while I, being a bit longer in the tooth, famously nailed that Fred Taylor would cut down the nets in 1960. So here we are again, just a couple of fortune tellers looking into our crystal ball(s).
(Editors note: some of the above details may be fabricated, but whose to say?)
On the docket today is predicting Ohio State’s B1G tourney fate, which will be followed by picking an eventual winner. But what if said fate is to win this whole damn thing!? Who says the Buckeyes can’t get hot and catch lightning in a bottle!? Huh!? Huh!?
Well, I do. I say the Buckeyes have no shot of winning it all in Chicago. But that does not mean I am predicting a quick exit. On the contrary, I am here to tell you that Chris Holtmann’s squad will make a run in the Windy City. And why, exactly, do I have these delusions of grandeur? Because I think the bracket worked out quite nicely for the Scarlet and Gray.
OSU gets Wisconsin in the first round, and I could not be less impressed by the Badgers. Yes, they beat the Buckeyes during the regular season (only matchup), but they play an awful, ugly brand of basketball. Their leading scorer averages 12.2 points per game on 39% shooting. They rank No. 333 (out of 363) in PPG as a team. Greg Gard’s squad does not have Johnny Davis or a borderline elite big man to save them this year, so I think Ohio State simply outscores UW.
Thursday’s game would then be against Iowa, and guess what? The Buckeyes already beat the Hawkeyes! They hung an average of 84 points on the Fighting Frans. This particular matchup would likely result in a fast-paced shootout, and OSU is better equipped to run and gun without Zed Key. Give me the Scarlet and Gray in an absolute barnburner.
If Ohio State advances to the third round, they would meet up with Tom Izzo’s Michigan State team, recipients of a double bye for this tournament. But MSU is not your typical BTT 4-seed. Due to very unfortunate and tragic events taking place, the Spartans only played 19 conference games and ended the (B1G) regular season with 11 wins and 8 losses. Had the team played an additional game and lost, they would have fallen into a tiebreaker and possibly received a much lower seed.
All this to say that Michigan State is very beatable. If a third game between these two team does come to fruition, I will take the Buckeyes.
Three wins and OSU is in the Big Ten semis, baby! But Saturday, March 11 is where I see this season coming to an end for Holtmann and the boys. They simply have no answer for Zach Edey and Purdue. Also, the Boilermakers have made a recent habit of destroying the Buckeyes’ hopes and dreams, which is what I believe will take place in the semifinals.
By now you are probably thinking my second prediction is for Purdue to win the Big Ten Tournament... No so fast, my friends! I will close this out by choosing a different team from the Hoosier State (hint, hint).
Give me Indiana to win this year’s Big Ten Tournament. Led by hyphenated stars Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino, Mike Davis’ Hoosiers have greater collective starpower. Furthermore, they have big bodies to throw at Edey to at least make him work hard for his points and rebounds — and they are lethal from beyond the arc (25th nationally in 3PT%). I think IU is surprise Elite 8 or Final 4 team waiting to happen, so I will pick them to cut down nets in Chi-town.
What do you think, Gene? Am I crazy like a fox, or just plain crazy?
Gene’s Take
Starting with the Buckeyes, I am not as confident as my counterpart here. I’m not gonna hit here and pretend to be an expert on Ohio State hoops, as I wasn’t exactly glued to the screen this season whenever Chris Holtmann’s team took the floor, but I know enough to say that this team simply isn’t very good. Sure, there is some reason to be optimistic for next year with all the young talent on the squad, but the 2022-23 campaign simply ain’t it for the Buckeyes.
For that reason, I will say that Ohio State’s campaign comes to a merciful end in the first round against Wisconsin. Now, would I be shocked if the Buckeyes win a game or two this week? Absolutely not. In fact, they are favored against the Badgers on the ESPN matchup predictor at 59.4% despite their 13-18 record and their previous loss to Greg Gard’s unit. However, the smart money this year has been to pick against Ohio State and be pleasantly surprised if they do pull off a win, so I will be doing just that.
Hopefully I am wrong and the Buckeyes can pull off one of the greatest Cinderella stories of all time as they sweep through the Big Ten and win the tournament altogether — their only chance of earning a spot in this year’s NCAA Tournament — but I'm not a man to put my chips in favor of fairytales.
On the other half of this equation, since Josh was kind enough to not pick the favorite in this year’s Big Ten Tournament, although the Hoosiers are the second-favorite on most sportsbooks, I will gladly take the favored Purdue Boilermakers.
Matt Painters group won the Big Ten regular season this year with a mark of 15-5, going 26-5 overall. Unless you’ve been living under a rock throughout the college basketball season, you know about Purdue’s 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey. The big man averaged well over a double-double this season with 21.9 points and 12.8 rebounds per game, and led the conference in points, rebounds, field goal percentage, player efficiency rating, and of course free throw attempts.
The projected Wooden Award winner is joined by a strong supporting cast among the likes of Braden Smith, Brandon Newman, Fletcher Loyer and a host of other contributors on a nightly basis.
Aside from their talent, the biggest reason I'm picking Purdue to win the Big Ten this season is that they’ve already lost to Indiana twice. It is hard enough to beat a time two times in the same year, let alone three. The Boilermakers will be seeking revenge against the Hoosiers if the two meet in the conference championship game, which is a very likely possibility. I think Painter will have his guys ready for the third meeting between these two schools if it comes down to it, especially with a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament potentially on the line.
Continue reading...
