Arkansas State’s player to watch
Former Ohio State running back Brian Snead, who was dismissed from the university in 2018 after he was found in violation of two student code of conduct charges of sexual misconduct, transferred from FCS Austin Peay over the summer. Snead rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries against Grambling.

https://www.dispatch.com/story/spor...otball-vs-arkansas-state-preview/65473173007/

Buckeyes offer 2024 offensive lineman, leave big impression on recruits in attendance for Week 1
Caleb Houser 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 Sports

Ohio State’s win over Notre Dame isn’t just impacting this season...

Just a few days removed from the season opening win over Notre Dame, the positive vibes are still rolling through Columbus. That win over the Irish is big for this season’s ultimate goals, but when you look at the grand scheme of things, Saturday’s success has a lasting impact off the field as well.

On the recruiting front, the Buckeyes were able to impress a laundry list of top recruits, and they’ve been pretty vocal about how impactful Saturday’s game day was. From the win itself to the overall atmosphere of the stadium, these top targets are raving about all things Ohio State, and that’s a major win for this coaching staff and program as a whole.

The immediate class of 2023 provided three uncommitted five-star talents that were on site to see a new-look defense. While it’s only one game, the proof of improvement was plain as day. In the future classes of 2024 and even 2025, thoughts on this game are still being discussed, and Wednesday made that very prevalent as several recruits who were on hand gave insights to their visits.

Buckeyes dish out latest offer in 2024 class


Among the many things that stood out Saturday, Ohio State’s offensive line was definitely one of them. While not perfect all night, the offensive line really started clicking in the second half as they asserted their will up front, and that was a sight Buckeye followers have to love seeing as the offseason was full of talks about needing to improve in the area of toughness. Not a finished product by any means, this unit is trending in the right direction, and looks to be a strong-suit not only for this team, but one of the better units in the country.

When Ohio State is able to bring in highly touted players to pave the way, the development track is made a lot easier. That said, the search for talent to uphold the success never ceases. On Wednesday, Ohio State kept with that trend by offering the latest offensive lineman in the 2024 class.

On the receiving end, Jordan Seaton (Washington, DC/St. John’s) took to his Twitter account to release the latest news in his recruitment.


A 6-foot-6, 300 pound lineman, Seaton is currently the No. 128 player nationally as well as the eighth best player at his interior line spot and the second best player from DC for the 2024 class per the 247Sports Composite. With nearly 30 offers to his name already, Ohio State can be considered a little late to the party, but now with the offer in hand, position coach Justin Frye can get down to work and make up any lost time.

Successful visits giving Ohio State momentum


The night game against Notre Dame didn’t have an impact on just the current 2023 class. In fact, with all of the future cycle players in attendance, Saturday night looks to be having maybe even a bigger impression on players in both the 2024 and 2025 classes.

Starting in 2025, Ohio State was able to host tight end target, Bear Tenney (Chandler, Arizona/Hamilton) who of course is from the same area as current Buckeye quarterback commit, Dylan Raiola. Sure to be a connection the coaching staff is looking to take advantage of, it’s not going to be a surprise if Raiola is the one doing most if not all of the peer recruiting in regards to Ohio State.

The 6-foot-5, 230 pound high school sophomore has yet to see a ranking by the 247Sports Composite grades, but nearly 20 offers to his name already lead to the feeling that he will be one of the more highly regarded players at his position.

With his unofficial visit now concluded, the Buckeyes have come out smelling like roses for Bear, as he came away super impressed with what Ohio State has to offer. Going as far to say, “By far the best game I’ve ever been to.” in conversations with Rivals, clearly the Buckeyes have made a lasting impression on a target that will be mentioned frequently in the coming years.


In addition to Tenney, Ohio State also stayed close to home with 2024 target, Garrett Stover. The cousin of current Buckeye, Cade Stover, Garrett is no stranger around Ohio State’s campus. While the commute isn’t a long one, getting him back on campus is always beneficial, as the Buckeyes have full intent on adding another Stover to the program when the time comes.

Taking it all in Saturday, Garrett has been pretty vocal with how highly he thinks of the program, and has been quoted by 247Sports as saying, “it’s such a special place” in regard to Ohio State.

The No. 228 player nationally, Stover also grades out as the 28th best athlete in the country and the ninth best player in Ohio for the 2024 class according to the 247Sports Composite. With one Crystal Ball prediction currently favoring Ohio State, the easy assumption is that Garrett also ends up in Columbus as a Buckeye, but getting the job done still remains to be seen. However, it’s probably just a matter of when and not if.

Quick Hits

• Keeping a fence around the Ohio border, the Buckeyes are very much still evaluating the talent in the 2024 class, and aren’t having to look too far as right in their own back yard there are still players the coaches seem to be looking at.

A program that has been very kind to the Buckeyes recently, Lakota West is home to some of the top players in the state, and Ohio State is looking to keep that pipeline building. Yesterday, 2024 athlete Taebron Bennie-Powell showed how much the Buckeyes are keeping in touch with the amount of mail he is receiving.

The No. 511 player nationally, Bennie-Powell does not currently hold an Ohio State offer, but an impressive season this year and the chance to camp in Columbus in the offseason and that could be a move in the making. Either way, the interest is clear.


Continue reading...

LGHL Asks: Did the Notre Dame win make you more confident in Ohio State’s title chances?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Set Number: X164138 TK1

You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.

Every day for the entirety of the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.

We here in Buckeye Nation can be a fickle bunch (no Luke pun intended). Our emotions can rise and fall on one individual bounce of an oblong-shaped ball. Saturday’s contest against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish did not go exactly how most people thought that it would, but the final result was certainly one that all Buckeye fans should be able to happily embrace.

So, today we are taking the temperature of LGHL’s lovely Ohio State fans to see how you felt coming out of the 21-10 victory over the Golden Domers.

Question 1: How did you feel about the Notre Dame game?


As always, I will try not to insert my thoughts until you all have had a chance to get your answers in, but I do think that there are myriad opportunities for shade and nuance when it comes to pinpointing individual feelings about that game.

Our Megan Husslein made it clear that people who were freaking out about the offense need to chill the F out. While I think it was another indication that there is a law of diminishing returns when it comes to top-tier coaches calling plays.

Either way, I think it is safe to say that a double-digit win over a top-five team is certainly an outcome that we all can be happy with.

Question 2: Did the Notre Dame game change your expectations for the season?


Before the game on Saturday, we posted our annual staff predictions and nearly all of LGHL’s contributors picked Ohio State to go undefeated and win the national championship. I feel like a lot of Buckeye fans probably felt the same way heading into the ND game.

I will be interested to see if how OSU won changed opinions or not. Check back later in the week to find out!

Question 3: Who were you most impressed with in the Notre Dame game?


This one is the hardest one to answer for me, because there were so many guys who stepped up and played phenomenal games. I have my pick, but I won’t disclose it until the results are in. However, there were guys on offense, defense, and special teams that absolutely fantastic showings and they all deserve to be celebrated.


Have your voice heard and share your thoughts on the Buckeyes here:


Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State Buckeyes fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate.

Continue reading...

LGHL Uncut Podcast: Day, Eliano, Stroud discuss victory over Notre Dame
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ohio State Athletics

The trio of Buckeyes praised the team’s toughness and execution on Saturday night.

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.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio


On this episode of “Land-Grant Holy Land Uncut,” we have press conference audio from head coach Ryan Day, safeties coach Perry Eliano, and quarterback C.J. Stroud’s media availability on Tuesday, Sept. 6. The three answered questions from reporters about the primetime, top-five matchup between the Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday night.

The coaches and team captain discussed the improved defense and running games, explained how the team developed an increased toughness, and praised players including Lathan Ransom, Tommy Eichenberg, Paris Jackson Jr. Xavier Johnson, and more.

Stroud also spent some time dissecting individual plays to give the reporters some insight into what he saw and how it impacted his execution.


Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt

Music by: www.bensound.com

Continue reading...

Arkansas State Defensive Player to Watch: LB/DL Kivon Bennett
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 Jesse Beals/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

This talented hybrid defender once played alongside Nick Bosa before making some waves in the SEC.

As I wrote earlier this week, the Arkansas State Red Wolves have their work cut out for them on Saturday just to remain competitive in this matchup with the Buckeyes. There is just no other way to put it, given that the Red Wolves finished 2-10 last year, and were blown out a number of times.

The two marquee games on their 2021 schedule were against Washington and Coastal Carolina, and A-State dropped those contests by a combined score of 104-23. The program has been in a freefall since 2019, which was the last of their nine consecutive winning seasons. Gus Malzahn, Bryan Harsin, and Blake Anderson all found success with the team, but Butch Jones might have one of the steepest hills to climb in all of college football.

The biggest factor in Arkansas State’s lack of recent success has been the play of their defense — and it’s not even close. Since 2018, the Red Wolves have finished no better than 112th (out of 130 teams) in scoring defense. They have also surrendered more than 480 total yards per game to opponents during that time, and done so in a variety of ways. In 2020, the team gave up an average of 314 yards through the air. In 2021, they reduced the aerial assault to 244 yards/game, but saw their defense trampled to the tune of 261 rushing yards (!) per. All told, A-State finished ahead of only one team (Duke) in total yards allowed, while giving up 39 points per game. Their reward for 2022 is Ohio State in Week 2...

But alas, a defensive player will be previewed this week. Especially if he has “super” family ties, shared the field and a locker room with Nick Bosa, once held an offer from the Buckeyes, and is currently coached by a national champion from their ’02 team! That player’s name is Kivon Bennett, and he is this week’s Defensive Player to Watch.

Bennett is in his second season with the Red Wolves, after appearing in 28 games over four years with the Tennessee Volunteers. He was a high three-star recruit out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Florida, where he played next to Nick Bosa on the team’s defensive line. Bennett graduated one year after Bosa, and chose Tennessee over a number of other schools — including Ohio State, from whom he had received an offer in December of 2015.

The former Volunteer followed in his father’s footsteps, at least when it comes to the conference in which he decided to pursue his college football dream. Kivon’s father is Cornelius Bennett, former No. 2 overall draft pick and five-time Pro Bowler in the NFL. He (the elder Bennett) dominated in the SEC, earning three All-American nods and a Lombardi Award while at Alabama before spending 14 borderline Hall of Fame-worthy years in the league. In addition to being named to five Pro Bowls, Cornelius Bennett was also named First Team All-Pro on three occasions, and played in five Super Bowls! His football acumen was clearly passed down, as Kivon eventually became an accomplished player in his own right.

But the younger Bennett did not find a ton of early success in Knoxville. He appeared in just a handful of games during his first two seasons, not making an impact at all on the defensive line. He then switched to linebacker prior to the 2019 season, and began to find his footing as a college player. In 17 games at his new position, Bennett totaled 49 tackles, 13.5 TFL, and 6.5 sacks for the Volunteers. However, his time at UT came to a quick and premature end in December of 2020. He was dismissed from the team following an arrest on gun and drug charges, for which he later pled guilty to misdemeanor charges.

Fortunately for Bennett, he had an ally of sorts in Butch Jones. The new A-State coach recruited him while at Tennessee, and apparently there was enough of a relationship there that the hybrid defender felt comfortable joining his former coach again with the Red Wolves. Having played multiple roles in the past, Bennett once again found himself on the defensive line. But this time, it worked out well for all parties involved.

He finished last season ranked second in the Sun Belt with 15.5 tackles for loss, and fourth in the conference with eight sacks. For his achievements, Bennett was named Second Team All-Sun Belt, and now seems poised to potentially follow in his father’s NFL footsteps.

Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images

Interestingly enough, Bennett’s current defensive coordinator is none other than Rob Harley. The great nephew of legendary Chic Harley, Rob was a former walk-on and member of OSU’s 2002 national championship team. He then spent time coaching linebackers at Michigan State, Florida International, and Pittsburgh before landing his first coordinator job with the Red Wolves in 2020.

Harley apparently had another position change in mind, as Bennett began practicing (once again) with the linebackers during the team’s spring sessions. Although clearly familiar with the position, he was used as more of a pass-rushing specialist in Tennessee’s 3-4 base defense. It could take some time for the sixth-year player to get comfortable playing “traditional” LB, but in the meantime, he is likely to be used in a hybrid role, due to his ability as a pass rusher.

Bennett’s move to LB was likely made out of necessity, given the fact that A-State’s other options were/are woefully undersized. Melique Straker started five games at LB for them last year, at 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, which might be a 21st century record for that position. He could potentially move to defensive back at some point, but Jaden Harris has been entrenched as another starter in the middle. Harris is only listed at 6-foot-1, 215. Finally, Jordan Carmouche is yet another option for the Red Wolves. He began playing college football in 2016... as a running back at Houston. I would say that is less than ideal size and experience for the LB position.

Arkansas State is clearly coming in overmatched, but Bennett is still a guy to watch out for. He has a versatile skillset, solid experience, and most importantly he has shown an ability to get after the quarterback. The Red Wolves might not deploy him as a rusher as often as he is used to, but if gets C.J. Stroud in his sights... watch out. Bennett is clearly the biggest threat to Ohio State’s offense, so I expect him to receive plenty of attention. I will be watching him too to see if he can make things uncomfortable for the Buckeyes, and possibly show off some future NFL potential.

Continue reading...

Big Ten releases women’s basketball conference schedule; Ohio State opens home slate with Michigan State
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 Graham Stokes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The conference releases dates for the 2022-23 B1G schedule.

In June, the Big Ten announced the home and away match-ups for all 14 conference teams. Tuesday, the conference put dates on the games, announcing the full schedule live on “B1G Today.”

The Ohio State Buckeyes women’s basketball team enters the 2022-23 season as the defending regular season co-champions and their conference title defense will begin against Rutgers on the road in New Jersey on Dec. 4.

Throughout the season, the Buckeyes face three conference contenders on and away from their home court. The biggest ones that everyone will have circled on their calendars ae against the Michigan Wolverines. Ohio State welcomes Michigan first on Dec. 31, with the away edition on Feb. 20, 2023.

A team that many thought would win the conference last year was the Maryland Terrapins. Ranked first in coaches and media preseason polls in October 2021, Maryland ended the year in fourth place in the conference. This summer, they’ve lost First Team All-B1G forward Angel Reese and Second Team All-B1G guard Ashley Owusu, but they’re a team that retools, not rebuilds.

The Buckeyes will face the Terrapins first on the road on Feb. 5, and then their final regular season game of the season will be against the Terps on Feb. 25 in Columbus. Ohio State split the two-game series last season, with each side winning at home.

Another favorite who slipped near the end of the season was the Indiana Hoosiers. The Scarlet and Gray faced the Hoosiers twice last year, but only once in the regular season. Ohio State lost the in-season and B1G tournament games against Indiana, but has two chances in the 2022-23 regular season to narrow the competitive gap.

Indiana welcomes Ohio State first on Jan. 26, while the Buckeyes will welcome the Hoosiers to Columbus on Feb. 13.

Arguably the biggest matchup on the schedule is against the team that shared the regular season championship with OSU last season — the Iowa Hawkeyes. Led by Naismith National Player of the Year finalist Caitlin Clark, the Hawkeyes followed up their regular season co-title with a B1G Tournament Championship this past spring, but fell to Ohio State in a high-scoring game in Iowa City 92-88.

Clark and the Hawkeyes travel to Ohio State for the lone regular season game between the two teams. The two squads play at the Schottenstein Center on Jan. 23.

Ohio State will also welcome Michigan State, Northwestern, Minnesota, and Purdue to Columbus, after playing each of the five sides away from their home campus last season.

Before the Buckeyes tip off against in-conference opponents, they will play a full non-conference schedule that features a number of big match-ups. Ohio State starts the season by welcoming the Tennessee Volunteers on Nov. 8. From there, the Buckeyes travel to Boston College, Louisville, and play in the two-game San Diego Invitational against South Florida and either the Oregon Ducks or Arkansas Razorbacks.

Here’s the full 2022-23 schedule:

Continue reading...

247 Profile
Rivals Profile
HUDL Highlights
Twitter: @



Class: 2023 (high school)
Position: Tight end
School: Miamisburg (OH) Miamisburg
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 210 lbs

Ask LGHL: What does Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s injury mean for the Ohio State offense?
Matt Tamanini 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 Sports

You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.

Every day for the entirety of the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.

Question: What does Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s injury mean for the Ohio State offense?


First off, it’s never a good thing when you lose the best wide receiver in the country for any period of time, but if you are a glass-half-full kind of fan, there is probably a fairly significant silver lining or two to Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s apparent hamstring strain.

On Monday, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day told the Big Ten Network that his star wide receiver does not have a long-term injury and could be back on the field as early as this Saturday against Arkansas State. However, at his weekly press conference on Tuesday, Day said that JSN would need to be 100% in order to play against the Red Wolves, and that he would leave that determination up to the medical staff.

For his part at the weekly presser, quarterback C.J. Stroud alluded to the fact that it appears that Smith-Njigba is dealing with a hamstring injury suffered on a questionably dirty hit against Notre Dame.

While I am neither a doctor (or football coach for that matter), nor do I play one on TV, I feel pretty comfortable in saying that unless JSN’s hammy is in better working condition than it was to start Saturday’s game against the Irish, it’s probably in everybody’s interest if he just takes the week off; heck, take next week against Toldeo off too if you want.

If the best wide receiver in the country is healthy, then obviously, he should be out there, but if there are any lingering concerns about the long-term health of his legs, then Day and company should take the opportunity afforded by back-to-back weeks against opponents that the Buckeyes will not need its full complement of players to beat (I hope this doesn’t come back to bite me in the ass) and sit their star wideout.

As long as JSN is in tip-top shape by the time the Big Ten season kicks off on Sept. 24 when Wisconsin comes calling to Columbus, that’s all that matters to me. Get Smith-Njigba healthy as quickly as possible, but there’s no reason for him to play a second sooner than that happens.

But, beyond having the ability for Jaxon to take the next two weeks off if the medical team deems it necessary, there is another positive to the projected first-round receiver being potentially sidelined.

It was pretty clear for the first two and a half quarters of the game against ND that Stroud was not yet in perfect sync with his first-time starting receivers like he was last year with Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and Smith-Njigba; but how could he be? Not only was Saturday the first time that Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr. were starting a regular season game, but with injuries to JSN and Julian Fleming, they were quickly elevated to go-to options in arguably the biggest game of the 2022 season until The Game in late November.

While, fortunately, OSU’s QB and WRs seemed to get on the same page when it mattered most to eventually salt away a double-digit victory over the then No. 5-team in the country, I would love to see Stroud and company — including Fleming if he is healthy and everybody’s favorite pass-catcher/special teams playmaker Xavier Johnson — get more opportunities to work on their timing and cohesion in game situations before the pressure of the conference slate kicks into gear.

I think most Buckeye fans — myself included — are pretty confident that Day, Stroud and WR coach Brian Hartline’s crew will be able to get the passing game clicking in fairly short order, but if they are able to make the most out of a potential week or two-absence from Jaxon Smith-Njigba, it could end up being to the Buckeyes’ long-term benefit.

In life and in sports, there are very few substitutions for experience. Because of the abundance of receiver talent that Hartline has assembled at OSU over the past four years, it is tough for even the most talented pass-catchers to gain ample experience if they aren’t on top of the depth chart. So, if opportunity allows, the Buckeyes should take advantage and get Egbuka, Harrison, Fleming, Johnson, Jayden Ballard, et al. as much experience running routes and catching passes from Stroud against non-Buckeye defenders as possible; that will only serve to pay dividends later in the season.

Continue reading...

The Dotted Line Podcast: Recruiting updates, crystal balls following Ohio State-Notre Dame game
Matt Tamanini 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

The Buckeyes have got three crystal balls since Saturday and three major defensive ends left impressed.

On “The Dotted Line”, Land-Grant Holy Land’s Matt Tamanini talks to recruiting experts, LGHL’s recruiting analysts, and prospects themselves to get a unique perspective on the players that will be a part of Ohio State’s future.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio


dsdfOn Land-Grant Holy Land’s recruiting-centric podcast, LGHL’s Matt Tamanini and Caleb Houser break down the three 2024 crystal balls that Ohio State has picked up following its major recruiting weekend around the 21-10 win over Notre Dame.

They also discuss the trio of major 2023 defensive ends who raved about their visits to Columbus and which — if any — of them could end up committing to the Buckeyes between now and national signing day in December.

They also get in a few their thoughts on the game itself and a little bit of news on the mens’ basketball recruiting efforts following Saturday’s game.


Connect with Caleb Houser
Twitter: @CalebHouser9

Connect with Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt

Continue reading...

Meh. If everyone's in it, I'll stay in. But I don't really care either way.

Arvell Reese is ready to make his mark in Columbus
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



Is Reese the next great linebacker to play for the Buckeyes?

Over the past decade, the Ohio State Buckeyes have had some great linebackers grace the Horseshoe, many of whom are now playing on Sundays. Next year, they could be getting another one from Cleveland, Ohio in Arvell Reese.

Reese is a 2023 linebacker recruit from the famed Glenville High School in Cleveland, Ohio. Glenville is led by longtime head coach Ted Ginn Sr., a legendary football coach in Northeast Ohio and father of former Ohio State and NFL receiver, Ted Ginn Jr.

Reese committed to Ohio State about a month ago, getting that decision out of the way and freeing him up to focus on his senior season at Glenville. Reese is listed as a 220 pound, 6-foot-3 linebacker who is ranked as the No. 228 player nationally in the 2023 class, the No. 15 ranked linebacker and the No. 5 player in the state of Ohio, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.


“It was great when I made the decision, everyone was happy for me,” Reese said. “From the Glenville aspect, I just respect it. I have been in the program since I was six (years old) and I respect everyone that went to Ohio State before me, and I love it.”

Reese added, “It is definitely great. I knew what I wanted, and I got it out of the way.”

Glenville has been an NFL factory under Ted Ginn Sr, producing NFL talent such as Marshon Lattimore, Cardale Jones, Troy Smith, Donte Whitner, Ted Ginn Jr., Shane Wynn, Frank Clark and numerous others. Avon high school football coach Mike Elder, who Reese and Glenville defeated on Sep. 2, 27-21, thinks that the Tarblooders have another NFL talent in Reese.

“Glenville has some guys on that team that will play on Sunday, make no doubt about that,” Elder said after the game.

From 2002-2017, 21 players from Glenville have gone to Ohio State.

According to 247Sports national recruiting analyst Allen Trieu, Ohio State is getting an above-average athlete and player in Reese.


Here are some highlights from Reese’s impressive high school junior season:


Reese also praised head coach Ted Ginn Sr., and the impact he has had on his life and playing career thus far.

“It is a blessing playing for him,” Reese said about Ginn Sr. “He changed my life. He got me on track in school and football and got the right people around us and the best people just teaching us about life. Playing for him is legendary.”

Playing for Glenville, being from Cleveland and watching Ohio State growing up all played a key role in Reese deciding to play his college ball in Columbus over schools like Alabama, Cincinnati, Iowa, Indiana, Kent State, Michigan, Nebraska, USC, Penn State, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wisconsin — all of which he held offers from. But they all had the same issue: they just weren't Ohio State.

“I can’t wait to get to Ohio State,” Reese said. “It is a great place and that’s my favorite school. I love it all. I love the coaches, coach Knowles and Coach Day, it’s a special place.”

Continue reading...

Ohio State recruiting: Dylan Raiola and his role as the leader of the 2024 class
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Five-star QB, Dylan Raiola | 247Sports

Raiola is not only the top player in the country, but also the leader of the 2024 recruiting class for the Buckeyes.

More times than not, the leader in a program’s recruiting class is at the quarterback position. Sure, other players on both sides of the ball may step up and be the vocal leaders of the group, but the quarterback spot being the most important on the field certainly plays a massive role in recruiting classes around the country. Maybe because of the importance of their position alone or who those players are on the national stage, quarterbacks ideally help build the class with talent around them, and Ohio State continues to fit that mold in how its classes are shaped.

Especially under Ryan Day, the Buckeyes have been able to bring in elite signal callers, and that alone has had a direct correlation in how successful these cycles have gone. Since Day has been in Columbus, the QB recruiting has been off the charts, and certainly that makes things easier for bringing in other elite talent to fill the roster — particularly on offense.

It makes sense that the best players want to play with the best quarterbacks, and when you look at the receiver position success the Buckeyes have had, it’s a perfect match for why the best pass-catchers in the nation end up in Scarlet and Gray. Sure, having Brian Hartline is a huge factor in most occasions, but having that elite talent under center is the other part of the equation, and Ohio State has had both.

Though the current cycle is still the 2023 class, when looking at the next big leader under center for Ohio State, Dylan Raiola checks every box for what Ohio State is looking for both on and off the field.

Talent


Talent alone can many times be a deciding factor for why quarterbacks are the vocal leaders of a recruiting class. Top national recruits want to play with a guy who can get the job done at the highest level, and Raiola’s long list of accolades confirms he has every ability to surround himself with a loaded list of stars prior to arriving on campus.

The top 2024 player in the 247Sports Composite rankings, Raiola’s ranking already has guys interested in playing alongside of him. Similar to what Ohio State fans have seen in the last few classes, the Chandler, Arizona should have no trouble in appealing to other top offensive weapons around the country. In addition, the new and improved defensive staff has the other side of the ball on an upward trajectory as well.

Where Raiola can and likely will separate himself is his ability to prove his worth on the field. Seeing him throw the rock is just as impressive as his ranking, and while many have already taken notice of that, it shouldn’t be long before the 2024 class for the Buckeyes adds more players alongside Raiola.

Peer Recruiting


Beyond talent, quarterbacks have to be able to peer recruit. Ohio State’s staff knows that they need their commits to help out with doing some recruiting of their own. When the Buckeyes are at or near the top of the country in the recruiting class rankings, they have players who dominate on the trail with their peers. Fortunately, that happens more times than not for Ohio State.

Looking at 2024, Raiola is a perfect example of an effective peer recruiter, and while there’s tons of work still to do, he’s off to a great start. Whether it be on Twitter or other various social media outlets, Raiola is seen constantly reaching out to other top players and pitching the Buckeyes.

This weekend was also no different, as Raiola was of course in attendance for the Notre Dame contest and did everything he could to be in the ears of the highly touted players that were also on campus. It’s not by coincidence that Dylan spent ample time with both Jeremiah Smith and Joshisa “JoJo” Trader, who are the No. 10 and No. 3 players nationally per the 247Sports Composite grades, and just happen to both play the receiver position.

Being that both Smith and Trader play at the same prep program, Raiola has waisted no time in doing his best to build a relationship with the duo. Fortunately, the Buckeyes already look to be in great position with Smith on the 247Sports Crystal Ball, and would love nothing more than to get heavily in the mix for his prep teammate.


Of course most of the work Raiola is putting in right now is on the offensive side of the ball, but as mentioned, the defensive players too are impacted by who the quarterback of their class is. Like he did with his offensive targets, Raiola put in the work in peer recruiting defensive players as well, because he knows that side of the ball is just as important as his when it comes to building the class as a whole.

Taking time to bond with safety Peyton Woodyard, the leader of this class made sure he took the time to get in his ear about why playing for the Buckeyes at the next level is the right move. The No. 25 player nationally, Woodyard is the second ranked safety in the class and the third best player from California for the 2024 class per the 247Sports Composite.

A big time target for the Buckeyes, this wasn’t Woodyard’s first trip to Columbus, but he came away very impressed with Ohio State’s new-look defense, and made it very clear how happy he was with his visit. Shortly after, you can see how much of a plyer Raiola will be in his recruitment going forward as a major peer recruiter.

Conclusion


The list of examples could go on and on, but the fact remains true: Raiola is taking the peer recruiting responsibility very seriously, and that’s a must if the Buckeyes are going to have the best possible 2024 class. Add his ability to appeal to other top prospects to his own personal talent, and you have the perfect combo for a great class leader.

Continue reading...

You’re Nuts: What movie titles best describe Ohio State’s performance in each half on Saturday night?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.

Football season is back and so are the roller coaster of emotions that we are put through during Ohio State football games. The Buckeyes came out a little flat, at least on offense. No complaints can be made about the defense, even though Notre Dame broke off a big play to start the game, which made every Buckeye fan have flashbacks to the horror shows that we have seen from the defense the last few years.

From a performance standpoint, it was a tale of two halves for Ohio State. Since it felt great to see the Buckeyes find their rhythm and earn the victory in the second half, we figured we might as well have a little fun with today’s topic. A football game lasts about as long as a couple movies these days, so why not use cinema to describe the game?

Notre Dame has the movie about that loser Rudy, who most definitely was offside, so why not pick a movie title that best describes Ohio State’s performance in each half on Saturday? The great thing about this topic is there are so many movies that you could ask 100 people to pick movies describing each half for the Buckeyes and you might not see any movie titles repeated.

Today’s question: What movie titles would you use to describe Ohio State’s performance in each half on Saturday night?

We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.

Brett’s first half answer: “Joker”


“You wanna know how I got these scars?”

Even though that line came from one of the “Dark Knight” movies, it felt true on Saturday night. For the first 30 minutes of the game, it felt like Ryan Day wasn’t capable of coaching his way out of a paper bag. Even though the Buckeyes went on to win the game, there still are questions about whether Day should give up play-calling duties. After hearing about how the Ohio State offense was going to be unstoppable this year, it was extremely concerning to see the Buckeyes struggle to get anything going offensively, heading into halftime only scoring seven points.

At halftime, it felt like I was Joaquin Phoenix in “Joker”, looking into the mirror and physically forcing my face to smile. Had Ohio State lost this game, I might have painted my face and gone out and caused some chaos around Columbus. All this and it wasn’t until after halftime that we heard official word that Jaxon Smith-Njigba wouldn’t return to the game due to injury.

Brett’s second half answer: “True Grit”


If you wanted to describe Ohio State’s second half performance in one word, it would definitely be grit. Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson not only gave the Buckeyes the lead with their physicality running the football in the second half, they sealed the game for Ohio State. Even more impressive was how the Ohio State defense played throughout the game, putting pressure on Tyler Buchner to rattle the young quarterback in his first start for Notre Dame.

Was Ohio State’s performance on Saturday night pretty? Not at all. But, all that matters is the Buckeyes beat the fifth-ranked team in the country. Last year, Georgia beat Clemson, who was ranked third in the country heading into the season, 10-3. The Bulldogs would use the tough win as a start to a season that would end with a national championship. Hopefully the Buckeyes can also follow the same formula, opening up a championship season with a win in a game that was grittier than sandpaper at times against a top-five team.

Meredith’s first half answer: “Dude, Where’s My Car?”


Ohio State entered this season essentially without questions on offense. From returning C.J. Stroud and TreVeyon Henderson to a strong offensive line and skill position players that had already shown themselves worthy next men up, all signs pointed to a humming unit that should at least sustain the Buckeyes while the defense found its footing.

Unfortunately, the Buckeyes couldn’t seem to find that offense throughout the first half of Saturday’s matchup against Notre Dame. Perhaps they parked it somewhere after the Rose Bowl and the first half was a dramatic attempt to locate it. Regardless, all the things we expected to see — high-flying passes, open bursts of rushing, the ball moving at will — were nowhere to be seen. Fortunately, the early season hiccups didn’t seem to last too long.

Meredith’s second half answer: “The Replacements”


Okay, this one is a stretch, especially since, as mentioned above, Ohio State returned a lot of key players on offense. The Buckeyes also returned key personnel on defense. However, things took a scary turn early on in the game after Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the expected leading receiver heading into 2022, left the game with an injury. That loss was felt even more considering fellow wideout Julian Fleming was ruled out due to injury before the game.

But then fifth-year receiver Xavier Johnson caught a touchdown pass in the second half to put the Buckeyes ahead in the third quarter. Johnson followed up that play with a monster tackle on Notre Dame’s return man on the ensuing kickoff. On the defensive side of things, sophomore defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. had a sack and two tackles for loss. That sack, importantly, came on third down on Notre Dame’s last drive of the game, effectively sealing the win for Ohio State.

Sure, Johnson has been on the roster for a long time, and Hall came in as the No. 54 player in the 2020 class, but they were effectively replacements in the Buckeyes’ opener Saturday — replacements that sure got the job done.

Continue reading...

in his top 5

Iowa St Verbal

Minnesota Verbal

Baylor verbal

Oregon verbal

not in his top 5

committed to Maryland

Baylor Verbal

Bronny James, Taison Chatman among Ohio State recruits at Notre Dame game

Ohio State also hosted Raleigh Burgess, a 6-10, 205-pound center from Cincinnati Sycamore in the class of 2024. He holds offers from Ohio State, Wisconsin and Iowa, among others.

https://www.dispatch.com/story/spor...ate-for-notre-dame-football-game/65472235007/

Column: There’s no need to freak out after ND... the Bucks won!
meganhusslein 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

I have been seeing a lot of negativity on social media following the Buckeyes’ WIN, so allow me to settle these folks down.

ICYMI, No. 2 Ohio State defeated No. 5 Notre Dame by double digits Saturday. Or, in case you did see it, yet are feeling a little bit concerned about some parts of the team, I am here to calm you down and tell you not to fret.

There are many reasons to be encouraged by this win, so here are just a few.

The most important: Ohio State won!

Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images

A lot of people acted like the Buckeyes opened the season with a loss. Not only did they win, they beat a top five team by more than one score. I believe that Notre Dame was SEVERELY underestimated by many (including myself), so that might be the reason some were disappointed with the game.

Additionally, it’s tempting to compare Ohio State’s outcome to other top-10 programs. However, it’s critical to point out that No. 1 Alabama played Utah State, No. 8 TTUN played Colorado State, No. 9 Oklahoma played UTEP and No. 7 Utah LOST to Florida. So, there’s three automatic blowouts right there, followed by a loss! The Buckeyes faced a really difficult opponent, especially for Week 1.

You have to give credit to where credit is due — Marcus Freeman had his team prepared. Their defensive game plan worked extremely well, keeping Stroud & Co. in check for the majority of the game. Plus, quarterback Tyler Buchner showed flashes of potential. However, in the end, the Buckeyes simply are more talented, and that is why they came out with more points.

How about that defense?

Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

You could say that the defense is EXTREMELY improved from last season! They limited the Irish to just 10 points the entire game. In fact, in the second half alone, Buchner only passed for two completions, the run game rushed for 23 yards and they were forced to punt in each of their final six possessions.

While there were some nerve-wracking moments in the first half, including the very first play of the game, the defense got their crap together during the critical time — the second half. They held ND to 76 rushing yards on 30 attempts overall, which is very encouraging considering how poor the run defense was last season.

The Silver Bullets just looked confident and powerful out there. There were contributions from everyone. It was expected from Tommy Eichenburg (maybe not as well as he performed!), but how about Mike Hall? Four tackles, two TFL and a sack? Not bad for the sophomore defensive tackle. The best part about all of this is: it was only the first game, and Jim Knowles admitted it was a basic game plan, so that means it’s only going to get better!

The receivers had pretty much zero experience, no JSN... yet still balled out

Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images

I must admit, once Jaxon Smith-Njigba got injured, I was nervous. It’s Stroud’s first game (well, technically second) without Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, and now JSN is out too? This new slate of receivers had little to no game experience, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. However, I should’ve known to never doubt the Buckeyes’ receiving core!

I expected Marvin Harrison Jr. to step into the WR1 role with JSN out, but Emeka Egbuka truly proved what he is all about. He finished with nine receptions for 90 yards and one touchdown. That was his breakout game as a Buckeye, but MH2 still did well too — we all know what he is capable of.

However, a guy I simply have never heard of, Xavier Johnson, BALLED OUT! While he only had two receptions for 34 yards, one of those was the go-ahead TD in the third quarter. I didn’t know who No. 10 was until that very moment, but that just proves how deep the WR room is, which is extremely encouraging. Cade Stover and Jayden Ballard also played well.

I hope that if you were on the fence about how you were feeling following the game, this has brought you over to the greener side. There is so much to be optimistic about, between the defense, the run game and Xavier Johnson — I could go on and on. If you think the offense looked a bit shaky, it probably did. This was Stroud’s first game with all new receivers, and it was against a top five defense. It’s only going to get better.

The best thing about being 1-0...

Continue reading...

Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for September 6, 2022
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

All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.

Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.

Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.

You’re welcome!

For your Earholes...


Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio

Ask LGHL


Introducing ‘Ask LGHL,’ asking and answering questions throughout the football season
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Gridiron


We love our analytical robot overlords.


Jaxon Smith-Njigba injury ‘not a long-term thing,’ coach Ryan Day says
Robbie Weinstein, 247Sports

Ohio State names four players of the week from Notre Dame win
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Ohio State Rewatch: Thoughts on defensive pressure and a solid run game (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes


Film Review: Jim Knowles as good as advertised with physical, fast defense against Notre Dame
Chris Renne, Land-Grant Holy Land

Snap Counts: 52 Ohio State Players See Action Against Notre Dame as Buckeyes Keep Rotations Tight in Season Opener
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

Grumpy Old Buckeye: Ohio State vs. Notre Dame
Michael Citro, Land-Grant Holy Land


Five Buckeyes who boosted their stock in opening win over Notre Dame
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Five Questions as Buckeyes turn focus to tuneup stretch (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes

You’re Nuts: What was the biggest pleasant surprise from Ohio State in Week 1?
Josh Dooley and Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land


B1G Thoughts: Running backs still rule, Ohio State is tough?
Jordan Williams, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Hardwood


Four-star guard George Washington de-commits from Ohio State
Travis Branham, 247Sports


What’s next for Ohio State after George Washington III’s decision?
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Impressed by Ohio State visit, Taison Chatman could decide soon
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Women’s Soccer: Buckeyes Draw with No. 18 Texas A&M in Entertaining Match
Ohio State Athletics

Women’s Golf: McGinty Named To ANNIKA Award Preseason Watch List
Ohio State Athletic

Women’s Volleyball: Emily Londot Named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week
Ohio State Athletics

And now for something completely different...


I absolutely love this for him.


Continue reading...