• New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.

2027 tOSU Recruiting Discussion

A Chicagoan? You don’t see many of those. I’d be really curious to understand how/why Chicago doesn’t seem to produce much major D1 talent.
Always wondered the same. Then I lived there. It's a basketball town, downtown at least.

There are some pockets, but really who wants as a coach to go in a place where the support really isn't there. Tate came from a school downtown... but he's a pretty rare one.

There's some solid talent in the burbs and the rest of the state, but it's pretty rare air that you're in when you get recruited to tOSU. The density of those types across the entire state is not exactly very high.
Upvote 0

Cancer

FWIW, anyone remember Ben Sasse? He was a US Senator from Nebraska and then President of the University of Florida. I ran into this article about him having terminal pancreatic cancer.

Former Sen. Ben Sasse, Bleeding from His Face, Shares Brutal Reality of Terminal Cancer at Age 54​

Sasse was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer in December 2025
  • With blood on his face, former Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse sat down with The New York Times to open up about his painful experience with terminal cancer
  • The father of three, 54, was diagnosed with stage 4 inoperable pancreatic cancer in mid-December and said he learned his "torso is chock-full of tumors"
  • A new drug he's been prescribed has greatly improved his condition, but it causes him to "bleed all out of a whole bunch of parts of me that shouldn’t be bleeding" because his body can't properly grow new skin
Former Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse is shedding light on his painful journey with terminal cancer.

The former Republican senator and brief University of Florida president, 54, appeared on The New York Times' podcast with significant amounts of blood on his face, less than four months after revealing he had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. At the time, Sasse described the diagnosis as a "death sentence."

Speaking with podcast host and columnist Ross Douthat, Sasse got candid about his own mortality, and why he's chosen to speak out publicly in his remaining time.

"In mid-December I got a three- to four-month life expectancy, and I’m at Day 99 or something since then, and I’m doing a heck of a lot better than I was doing at Christmas," Sasse shared. "But even at three to four months left to live, you have to redeem the time."

The father of three added, "There’s only so many bits of unsolicited advice I can give my children," so he's happy to impart what he can to journalists willing to listen. He and wife Melissa share daughters Corrie and Alex, in their 20s, and son Breck, who was 14 at the time Sasse announced his diagnosis.

Sasse said he first noticed something was wrong in late October 2025. His preferred method of staying fit, he said, was sprint triathlons, and when he was training at that time, he realized he was experiencing much more back and abdominal pain than usual. At first, he thought he had just pulled a muscle.

By November 2025, the pain was severe enough that he decided to seek medical attention. His physician ran several tests that didn't reveal anything, so Sasse's doctor referred him to a gastroenterologist, believing the cause could be undiagnosed celiac or lactose intolerance.

Login to view embedded media .
.
.
continued

Some information on Pancreatic Cancer:
Upvote 0

DE Khary Wilder (Official Thread)

Khary Wilder looks like the next defensive end Ohio State fans will obsess over

Ohio State’s newest edge rusher already flashes the explosiveness, motor, and physical tools that have defined the Buckeyes’ elite defensive end pipeline for years.

The “Rushmen” traits that make Wilder so intriguing

That motor consistently shows up on tape. Wilder chases plays downfield, works through blocks aggressively, and rarely looks satisfied after simply engaging his assignment. The effort level feels very “Rushmen” stylistically, think a Caden Curry or Jack Sawyer, which is part of why so many evaluators inside and outside the program believe his long-term projection is extremely high.

And historically, this is exactly the type of player Ohio State tends to maximize. The Buckeyes do not necessarily need freshman defensive ends to become stars immediately. In fact, the program’s developmental structure at edge rusher is built around gradual growth. Ohio State rotates defensive linemen heavily, keeps players fresh, and allows younger pass rushers to carve out specialized roles before eventually taking over full-time jobs.

That pathway could fit Wilder perfectly. Entering 2026, Ohio State still has experienced edge players ahead of him, including Kenyatta Jackson Jr. Beau Atkinson, Qua Russaw, Zion Grady, and several other highly talented defensive ends competing for snaps. That depth is important because it allows Wilder to develop without being forced into unrealistic expectations too early.
But at the same time, opportunity always exists in this room because Ohio State consistently sends defensive linemen to the NFL early and often, and the Buckeyes rotate enough that even younger players can earn meaningful situational snaps if they prove trustworthy.

Particularly on obvious passing downs where explosiveness matters most. And Wilder’s current strengths already project naturally into that type of role. As a freshman, the clearest pathway for him is becoming a specialized third-down pass rusher capable of affecting games in smaller bursts while continuing to physically develop within Mickey Marotti’s strength program.
Upvote 0

WR Devin McCuin (Official Thread)

Login to view embedded media

Unpopular opinion: Devin McCuin will finish second on Ohio State in receiving this season

Ohio State may already have its superstar in Jeremiah Smith, but UTSA transfer Devin McCuin could quietly become the Buckeyes’ most important complementary receiver as a polished veteran route runner with a real path to WR2 production in 2026.

Proven production matters more than people want to admit​

Ohio State has recruited elite receiver talent for years, but there is a difference between recruiting projection and proven college production. McCuin arrives in Columbus with the latter already established.

At UTSA, he became one of the most productive receivers in program history, finishing his career with 152 receptions, 1,696 receiving yards, and 16 touchdowns while ranking top five all-time at the school in both catches and receiving yardage.
In 2025 alone, despite battling injuries during portions of the season, McCuin posted 65 receptions for 726 yards and eight touchdowns while operating as the focal point of the Roadrunners’ passing offense.

Those numbers matter, but the context around them matters even more. McCuin was not simply compiling easy production through manufactured touches or scheme inflation. His tape consistently shows a polished, experienced receiver capable of winning in multiple ways.

He understands leverage, he adjusts naturally to coverage rotations, and he creates separation through pacing and route detail rather than relying solely on athleticism. And perhaps most importantly for an Ohio State offense built around timing and spacing, he already plays like a quarterback-friendly receiver.

That last part is critical. Quarterbacks trust receivers who arrive where they are supposed to arrive, when they are supposed to arrive there. McCuin’s game is built around consistency and efficiency. He is not necessarily the flashiest receiver in the room physically, but he may already be one of the most dependable.

tends to matter a lot more than recruiting stars once the real games begin.
Upvote 0

Filter

Back
Top