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LGHL Ohio State begins its second century of Ohio football supremacy
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State begins its second century of Ohio football supremacy
David M Wheeler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
From the cover of a vintage Yeomen football program. | Photo by John Kanuit Photography/Sports Studio Photos/Getty Images
Quick trivia question: which Ohio football team was the last to beat the Buckeyes?
(If you’re still thinking about the answer to the trivia question above, stop reading now. The answer will be revealed very, very quickly.)
Last week at a party I ran into a friend that I hadn’t seen for a couple of years (pre-pandemic). We talked about what we had been up to, and I, of course, mentioned writing for LGHL and about Ohio State football. Then he hit me with the question above. I didn’t know, and he cheerfully told me that his alma mater, Oberlin College, was the last, as the Yeomen defeated the Buckeyes on Oct. 8, 1921, by a score of 7-6.
Since then, Ohio State has beaten every in-state school that it’s played. Curiously, there’s a gap dating from a 76-0 win over Western Reserve in 1934, until a 17-6 Buckeye victory over Bowling Green on Sept. 12, 1992, when the Bucks played nobody in-state. I wonder why?
Looking over the various series records introduces lots of oddities. Which among Ohio colleges and universities has OSU played most? The 17 games against Cincinnati? No. It’s the 29-game series against Ohio Wesleyan (OSU leads the series 26-2-1). That’s followed by 26 games against Oberlin and 23 each against Kenyon College and the Case Institute of Technology.
Only Western Reserve, among Ohio schools, holds a series edge against the Buckeyes: 6-5-1. And it will stand. Western Reserve and Case merged in 1967 to form Case Western Reserve.
I told my friend that I’d write this piece and let him know when it gets posted, so I’d better return to Oberlin. Yes, the Bucks hold the series lead – but not by much, 13-10-3.
The Ohio State – Oberlin series began in 1892, very soon after football was introduced at both schools. Oberlin began competing in 1891 and the Buckeyes just the year before that, when they beat Ohio Wesleyan 20-14 in May 1890 (apparently, football was played year-around), to launch their storied history. In the fall of that same year, however, the Bucks fell to the mighty College of Wooster, 64-0. To the Fighting Scots of Wooster: C.J. Stroud welcomes a rematch!
For the 1892 season, Oberlin hired John Heisman (yes, the Heisman for whom the trophy is named) as the football coach. Having been a star player at Penn, Heisman enrolled in some graduate courses at Oberlin and played in several of the Oberlin games. You were eligible if you were a student, and player-coaches were fairly common then, as there was a shortage of both.
In the series opener between the two schools, Oberlin trounced the Buckeyes 40-4 on Oct. 15. It wasn’t a fluke. Heisman’s “O” Men, as the team was called then, beat the Bucks again three weeks later (No. 7) 50-0. Interestingly, the enrollments at the two schools were about the same in the 1890s, and Oberlin was a midwest power that year, posting a perfect 7-0 record. In addition to the two wins over Ohio State, Oberlin also handled Michigan in 1892.
By the time that the 1920s rolled around, though, Ohio State was fast becoming a major university, while Oberlin was an academically respected college, with an outstanding music school. Their sizes were no longer equivalent. Nor, it was thought, were their football teams. The Bucks had beaten Oberlin, now called the “Yeomen,” 37-0 in 1920 and was heavily favored in the 1921 matchup to be played in Columbus.
The “Shoe” was under construction and would open in October the following year, so the Buckeyes and Yeomen faced off in old Ohio Stadium, in front of a crowd of about 10,000. The field was a mess after a day and night of heavy rains, and it was evident early on that this one would be a low-scoring affair.
But the Bucks broke through the Yeomen line to block a first-quarter punt, which was scooped up and carried into the end zone for an OSU touchdown. The extra point failed, and the Buckeyes led 6-0.
That’s how the score remained, as the teams exchanged punts until about midway through the third quarter when Oberlin put together a sustained drive — one that took them nearly 80 yards to the Ohio State seven-yard line. From there, Oberlin tailback Al Wheeler threw a pass (remember – John Heisman liked the forward pass) to W.E. Parkhill in the end zone to tie the score. Parkhill then kicked the PAT for the 7-6 lead. The Buckeyes couldn’t do anything. The Yeomen held. And Oberlin had the last in-state victory against the Buckeyes. It’s a win that figures pretty prominently on the Oberlin website.
So, yes, my friend, you have something to boast about. The record has stood a long time — over 100 years now. With the disparity in conferences, athletic budgets, and sheer talent, it seems unlikely that, in the near future, there would be any danger of the record falling – except, perhaps, to Cincinnati, which has emerged now as a legitimate power.
And though you were right about Oberlin’s 7-6 win, you failed to mention Oberlin’s participation in another Ohio State record. On Oct. 14, 1916, the Buckeyes beat the Oberlin eleven by the astonishing score of 128-0 — still the most lopsided score in OSU history.
Take that!
Continue reading...
David M Wheeler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
From the cover of a vintage Yeomen football program. | Photo by John Kanuit Photography/Sports Studio Photos/Getty Images
Quick trivia question: which Ohio football team was the last to beat the Buckeyes?
(If you’re still thinking about the answer to the trivia question above, stop reading now. The answer will be revealed very, very quickly.)
Last week at a party I ran into a friend that I hadn’t seen for a couple of years (pre-pandemic). We talked about what we had been up to, and I, of course, mentioned writing for LGHL and about Ohio State football. Then he hit me with the question above. I didn’t know, and he cheerfully told me that his alma mater, Oberlin College, was the last, as the Yeomen defeated the Buckeyes on Oct. 8, 1921, by a score of 7-6.
Since then, Ohio State has beaten every in-state school that it’s played. Curiously, there’s a gap dating from a 76-0 win over Western Reserve in 1934, until a 17-6 Buckeye victory over Bowling Green on Sept. 12, 1992, when the Bucks played nobody in-state. I wonder why?
Looking over the various series records introduces lots of oddities. Which among Ohio colleges and universities has OSU played most? The 17 games against Cincinnati? No. It’s the 29-game series against Ohio Wesleyan (OSU leads the series 26-2-1). That’s followed by 26 games against Oberlin and 23 each against Kenyon College and the Case Institute of Technology.
Only Western Reserve, among Ohio schools, holds a series edge against the Buckeyes: 6-5-1. And it will stand. Western Reserve and Case merged in 1967 to form Case Western Reserve.
I told my friend that I’d write this piece and let him know when it gets posted, so I’d better return to Oberlin. Yes, the Bucks hold the series lead – but not by much, 13-10-3.
The Ohio State – Oberlin series began in 1892, very soon after football was introduced at both schools. Oberlin began competing in 1891 and the Buckeyes just the year before that, when they beat Ohio Wesleyan 20-14 in May 1890 (apparently, football was played year-around), to launch their storied history. In the fall of that same year, however, the Bucks fell to the mighty College of Wooster, 64-0. To the Fighting Scots of Wooster: C.J. Stroud welcomes a rematch!
For the 1892 season, Oberlin hired John Heisman (yes, the Heisman for whom the trophy is named) as the football coach. Having been a star player at Penn, Heisman enrolled in some graduate courses at Oberlin and played in several of the Oberlin games. You were eligible if you were a student, and player-coaches were fairly common then, as there was a shortage of both.
In the series opener between the two schools, Oberlin trounced the Buckeyes 40-4 on Oct. 15. It wasn’t a fluke. Heisman’s “O” Men, as the team was called then, beat the Bucks again three weeks later (No. 7) 50-0. Interestingly, the enrollments at the two schools were about the same in the 1890s, and Oberlin was a midwest power that year, posting a perfect 7-0 record. In addition to the two wins over Ohio State, Oberlin also handled Michigan in 1892.
By the time that the 1920s rolled around, though, Ohio State was fast becoming a major university, while Oberlin was an academically respected college, with an outstanding music school. Their sizes were no longer equivalent. Nor, it was thought, were their football teams. The Bucks had beaten Oberlin, now called the “Yeomen,” 37-0 in 1920 and was heavily favored in the 1921 matchup to be played in Columbus.
The “Shoe” was under construction and would open in October the following year, so the Buckeyes and Yeomen faced off in old Ohio Stadium, in front of a crowd of about 10,000. The field was a mess after a day and night of heavy rains, and it was evident early on that this one would be a low-scoring affair.
But the Bucks broke through the Yeomen line to block a first-quarter punt, which was scooped up and carried into the end zone for an OSU touchdown. The extra point failed, and the Buckeyes led 6-0.
That’s how the score remained, as the teams exchanged punts until about midway through the third quarter when Oberlin put together a sustained drive — one that took them nearly 80 yards to the Ohio State seven-yard line. From there, Oberlin tailback Al Wheeler threw a pass (remember – John Heisman liked the forward pass) to W.E. Parkhill in the end zone to tie the score. Parkhill then kicked the PAT for the 7-6 lead. The Buckeyes couldn’t do anything. The Yeomen held. And Oberlin had the last in-state victory against the Buckeyes. It’s a win that figures pretty prominently on the Oberlin website.
So, yes, my friend, you have something to boast about. The record has stood a long time — over 100 years now. With the disparity in conferences, athletic budgets, and sheer talent, it seems unlikely that, in the near future, there would be any danger of the record falling – except, perhaps, to Cincinnati, which has emerged now as a legitimate power.
And though you were right about Oberlin’s 7-6 win, you failed to mention Oberlin’s participation in another Ohio State record. On Oct. 14, 1916, the Buckeyes beat the Oberlin eleven by the astonishing score of 128-0 — still the most lopsided score in OSU history.
Take that!
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State men’s basketball eyeing trio of versatile forwards to round out 2023 recruiting...
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State men’s basketball eyeing trio of versatile forwards to round out 2023 recruiting class
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo courtesy of Michael McCammon/247Sports
Ohio State’s two-man class has room for a few more members.
As we inch closer to the 2022-23 season, recruiting will hone in on the class of 2023 as many of the nation’s top players still are uncommitted. Ohio State, which had the No. 12 class in the country for the 2022 cycle, currently has the No. 5 class in the country in 2023. Their two-man class consists of four-star combo guard George Washington III (No. 46 overall) and four-star center Austin Parks (No. 90 overall).
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23489183/GW3.JPG)
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23489191/parks.JPG)
Moving forward, the Buckeyes should be set at center with Zed Key, Felix Okpara, and Parks all projected to be on the 2023-24 roster. They also should have enough guard depth with Bruce Thornton, Tanner Holden, Roddy Gayle, Bowen Hardman, and Washington all on the 2023-24 roster as well. However, with Seth Towns and Justice Sueing both moving on, Ohio State will need to add some depth at both the small forward and power forward positions. Coincidentally, the Buckeyes do not have a forward in their 2023 class yet. That will change soon.
While Chris Holtmann and staff could certainly shock us and lock up someone completely different, it’s looking like Ohio State is focusing on three forwards in the class of 2023:
Ohio State has been aggressively pursuing all three wings. Middleton included the Buckeyes in his final five schools back on April 21, alongside Kansas, UCONN, Seton Hall, and Texas A&M. Middleton was offered by Ohio State back in January and took an official visit in March. He cut his list down to five a few weeks later, and the Buckeyes were right there.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23492135/middleton.JPG)
Middleton told Eleven Warriors in April that he liked the family feel at Ohio State. He said he liked the fact that older players — like D’Angelo Russell, Mike Conley, Evan Turner, Keyshawn Woods, and others — return in the summer and work directly with the current team. He also said that all five schools are “even” right now, and he does not have an idea of when he’ll announce his college decision.
Middleton stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 180 pounds. He is categorized as a small forward, but could potentially slide over to shooting guard or even point guard if needed. With his slim figure, it’s unlikely he could play the four or five. Ohio State values versatility, and recruits typically reciprocate that feeling if it means a better chance to see early minutes. At No. 49 overall, Middleton is the highest ranked of the three forwards the Buckeyes are gunning for, and they appear to have a legitimate shot at getting him.
Swain is the second forward Ohio State has their eye on. He was the Division III player of the year in Ohio this past season, averaging 20.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.9 steals, and 3 blocks per game.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23581240/swain.JPG)
He does not have a list of schools he is considering at this time, but Ohio State, Cincinnati, Xavier, Marquette, and Virginia Tech are all heavily involved. The No. 63 player in the 2023 class, Swain made an unofficial visit to Ohio State on June 24, 2021 and received a scholarship offer from the Buckeyes the same day. Similarly to how Ohio State views 2022 commit Brice Sensabaugh and how they viewed star E.J. Liddell, Swain said that the Buckeyes love his versatility and ability to defend multiple positions:
“They showed me they could beat any team in the country; they beat Duke, who was No. 1 at the time. They showed how they stay together and are really good with game plans. Their players are coachable and when they follow the game plan from the coaches, they can play with anyone. They feel like I can play any position on the floor and guard the one through four. The coaches really like my versatility.”
Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann is serious about Dailyn Swain
So serious that he and assistant coach Jake Diebler went and watched the Africentric junior play tennis today
True story
— Zach Fleer (@ZachFleer270) April 26, 2022
Swain recently told 247Sports that Ohio State is in touch with him multiple times per week.
“There hasn’t been a week where I haven’t talked to them. They stay in touch a lot. They’re just checking in and seeing what I’m up to. They tell me what they think about my games and stuff like that.”
In my opinion, Swain is the most likely of the three to end up a Buckeye. Ohio State has some big competition for Middleton, and Royal (we’ll touch on him in a moment) has seen his recruitment heat up quite a bit in the last few months. Being a Columbus kid, the Buckeyes should have the inside track to get Swain in the scarlet and gray.
The third forward Ohio State has been aggressively going after is four-star Devin Royal. Royal plays for nearby Pickerington Central High School, and has seen his stock rise considerably over the past few months. Not too long ago, Royal was a three-star prospect and outside the top-100 in 247Sports’ rankings. Now he’s the No. 86 player in the country, the No. 4 player in Ohio, and a four-star recruit.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23581361/royal.JPG)
Ohio State was the biggest program recruiting Royal for awhile, but since his season ended, Michigan State, Illinois, and Wisconsin have all become heavily involved. Royal is already Big Ten-sized at 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, something neither Middleton nor Swain can say. Royal won’t need to bulk up much once he gets to college, he’ll just need to tone the weight he already has.
Like Middleton and Swain, Ohio State loves Royal’s versatility. He averaged 19.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game as a junior on the way to winning the Division-I state championship. He’s classified as a small forward according to 247Sports, but he continues to work on his ballhandling and passing to play different roles if needed.
Royal spoke to 247Sports earlier this month about all of the schools pursuing him. On Ohio State:
”It’s a good vibe. They really like how versatile I am and they love me for me and how I play. They just tell me that it would be good to stay close to home, but to me distance doesn’t matter it is more about the relationship that I have with them and how they play.”
Ohio State offered Royal in October of last year, and he was in attendance on month later to watch the Buckeyes upset top-ranked Duke at the Schott. The Buckeyes were the second Big Ten team to offer Royal a scholarship, after only Penn State. Royal also plays on the same AAU team as Ohio State commit George Washington III.
None of the three have picked a date of when they will announce their college choice, and only Middleton has narrowed down any kind of list. Both Swain and Royal have said previously that they would like their recruitment to be over before their senior seasons start in November.
Will Ohio State land one of these three? It seems that way, and all three would be quality additions to the 2023 class. Could Ohio State land two of these guys? That’s harder to pin down because of the unpredictability of the transfer portal. Right now, Ohio State has four players departing after the 2022-23 season. That means the Buckeyes could add a total of two more players via transfer or 2023 recruits, assuming Holden stays for a scond season and nobody transfers out.
Right now it appears Swain is the most likely to wind up in Columbus, followed by Royal, and then Middleton. But with no timetable for any of them, no list for two of the three, and new teams getting involved all the time, it’s difficult to tell if the Buckeyes are the favorite for any of these three talented players.
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo courtesy of Michael McCammon/247Sports
Ohio State’s two-man class has room for a few more members.
As we inch closer to the 2022-23 season, recruiting will hone in on the class of 2023 as many of the nation’s top players still are uncommitted. Ohio State, which had the No. 12 class in the country for the 2022 cycle, currently has the No. 5 class in the country in 2023. Their two-man class consists of four-star combo guard George Washington III (No. 46 overall) and four-star center Austin Parks (No. 90 overall).
Moving forward, the Buckeyes should be set at center with Zed Key, Felix Okpara, and Parks all projected to be on the 2023-24 roster. They also should have enough guard depth with Bruce Thornton, Tanner Holden, Roddy Gayle, Bowen Hardman, and Washington all on the 2023-24 roster as well. However, with Seth Towns and Justice Sueing both moving on, Ohio State will need to add some depth at both the small forward and power forward positions. Coincidentally, the Buckeyes do not have a forward in their 2023 class yet. That will change soon.
While Chris Holtmann and staff could certainly shock us and lock up someone completely different, it’s looking like Ohio State is focusing on three forwards in the class of 2023:
- Four-star SF Dailyn Swain from Columbus Africentric High School (No. 63 overall)
- Four-star SF Devin Royal from Pickerington Central High School (No. 86 overall)
- Four-star SF Scotty Middleton from Sunrise Christian High School (No. 49 overall)
Ohio State has been aggressively pursuing all three wings. Middleton included the Buckeyes in his final five schools back on April 21, alongside Kansas, UCONN, Seton Hall, and Texas A&M. Middleton was offered by Ohio State back in January and took an official visit in March. He cut his list down to five a few weeks later, and the Buckeyes were right there.
Middleton told Eleven Warriors in April that he liked the family feel at Ohio State. He said he liked the fact that older players — like D’Angelo Russell, Mike Conley, Evan Turner, Keyshawn Woods, and others — return in the summer and work directly with the current team. He also said that all five schools are “even” right now, and he does not have an idea of when he’ll announce his college decision.
Middleton stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 180 pounds. He is categorized as a small forward, but could potentially slide over to shooting guard or even point guard if needed. With his slim figure, it’s unlikely he could play the four or five. Ohio State values versatility, and recruits typically reciprocate that feeling if it means a better chance to see early minutes. At No. 49 overall, Middleton is the highest ranked of the three forwards the Buckeyes are gunning for, and they appear to have a legitimate shot at getting him.
Swain is the second forward Ohio State has their eye on. He was the Division III player of the year in Ohio this past season, averaging 20.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.9 steals, and 3 blocks per game.
He does not have a list of schools he is considering at this time, but Ohio State, Cincinnati, Xavier, Marquette, and Virginia Tech are all heavily involved. The No. 63 player in the 2023 class, Swain made an unofficial visit to Ohio State on June 24, 2021 and received a scholarship offer from the Buckeyes the same day. Similarly to how Ohio State views 2022 commit Brice Sensabaugh and how they viewed star E.J. Liddell, Swain said that the Buckeyes love his versatility and ability to defend multiple positions:
“They showed me they could beat any team in the country; they beat Duke, who was No. 1 at the time. They showed how they stay together and are really good with game plans. Their players are coachable and when they follow the game plan from the coaches, they can play with anyone. They feel like I can play any position on the floor and guard the one through four. The coaches really like my versatility.”
Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann is serious about Dailyn Swain
So serious that he and assistant coach Jake Diebler went and watched the Africentric junior play tennis today
True story
— Zach Fleer (@ZachFleer270) April 26, 2022
Swain recently told 247Sports that Ohio State is in touch with him multiple times per week.
“There hasn’t been a week where I haven’t talked to them. They stay in touch a lot. They’re just checking in and seeing what I’m up to. They tell me what they think about my games and stuff like that.”
In my opinion, Swain is the most likely of the three to end up a Buckeye. Ohio State has some big competition for Middleton, and Royal (we’ll touch on him in a moment) has seen his recruitment heat up quite a bit in the last few months. Being a Columbus kid, the Buckeyes should have the inside track to get Swain in the scarlet and gray.
The third forward Ohio State has been aggressively going after is four-star Devin Royal. Royal plays for nearby Pickerington Central High School, and has seen his stock rise considerably over the past few months. Not too long ago, Royal was a three-star prospect and outside the top-100 in 247Sports’ rankings. Now he’s the No. 86 player in the country, the No. 4 player in Ohio, and a four-star recruit.
Ohio State was the biggest program recruiting Royal for awhile, but since his season ended, Michigan State, Illinois, and Wisconsin have all become heavily involved. Royal is already Big Ten-sized at 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, something neither Middleton nor Swain can say. Royal won’t need to bulk up much once he gets to college, he’ll just need to tone the weight he already has.
Like Middleton and Swain, Ohio State loves Royal’s versatility. He averaged 19.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game as a junior on the way to winning the Division-I state championship. He’s classified as a small forward according to 247Sports, but he continues to work on his ballhandling and passing to play different roles if needed.
Royal spoke to 247Sports earlier this month about all of the schools pursuing him. On Ohio State:
”It’s a good vibe. They really like how versatile I am and they love me for me and how I play. They just tell me that it would be good to stay close to home, but to me distance doesn’t matter it is more about the relationship that I have with them and how they play.”
Ohio State offered Royal in October of last year, and he was in attendance on month later to watch the Buckeyes upset top-ranked Duke at the Schott. The Buckeyes were the second Big Ten team to offer Royal a scholarship, after only Penn State. Royal also plays on the same AAU team as Ohio State commit George Washington III.
None of the three have picked a date of when they will announce their college choice, and only Middleton has narrowed down any kind of list. Both Swain and Royal have said previously that they would like their recruitment to be over before their senior seasons start in November.
Will Ohio State land one of these three? It seems that way, and all three would be quality additions to the 2023 class. Could Ohio State land two of these guys? That’s harder to pin down because of the unpredictability of the transfer portal. Right now, Ohio State has four players departing after the 2022-23 season. That means the Buckeyes could add a total of two more players via transfer or 2023 recruits, assuming Holden stays for a scond season and nobody transfers out.
Right now it appears Swain is the most likely to wind up in Columbus, followed by Royal, and then Middleton. But with no timetable for any of them, no list for two of the three, and new teams getting involved all the time, it’s difficult to tell if the Buckeyes are the favorite for any of these three talented players.
Continue reading...
LGHL Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for May 23, 2022
- News
- 0 Replies
Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for May 23, 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
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
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
On the Gridiron
Column: As chaos swirls throughout college athletics, Ohio State has remained undeterred
Meredith Hein, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio lawmakers urge NCAA to restore Buckeyes’ vacated 2010 wins
Nick Kosko, 247Sports
Next Man Up: How Buckeyes can replace leadership, find new Block O (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Pretty much every sportsbook has OSU at -14 against Notre Dame:
College Football
Week 0 & Week 1 Lines pic.twitter.com/DqEeoyBXHb
— Circa Sports (@CircaSports) May 22, 2022
Kamryn Babb Still Has High Hopes of Making On-Field Impact While Providing Valuable Leadership for Ohio State
Dan Hope, Elven Warriors
Eichenberg continues to step up for Buckeyes at linebacker says Knowles
Dave Biddle, Bucknuts
That, unfortunately, didn’t last very long:
Elks announce several moves, adding Sherman Badie (RB) to active roster & releasing Cardale Jones (QB).
We've also placed Michael Walker (WR) on the suspended list & Chris Gangarossa (OL) on the retired list.
DETAILS | https://t.co/AumLORrt2f
Tulane Athletics pic.twitter.com/xD28IDlhRe
— Edmonton Elks (@GoElks) May 20, 2022
What will Miyan Williams bring to the Ohio State run game?
Colin Gay, Scarlet and Gray Report
The cycle that helped Ohio State football coach Ryan Day double his salary in 4 years
Doug Lesmerises, cleveland.com
On the Hardwood
Report: Ohio State to play North Carolina in CBS Sports Classic
Patrick Murphy, Land-Grant Holy Land
Roster Analysis: Holtmann has personnel set for 2022-23 Ohio State team
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
But y’all said he needed to stay in school another year:
I’m not sure there has been a name buzzing in Chicago this week more than Malaki Branham’s. At this point, I think there is a strong possibility that he will go in the lottery. #NBADraftCombine pic.twitter.com/SyjDGpCd0y
— Matt Babcock (@MattBabcock11) May 20, 2022
Former American University Forward Karla Vreš Transferring to Ohio State
Braden Moles, Buckeye Sports Bulletin
You’re Nuts: Which Ohio State men’s basketball freshman will score the most points this season?
Connor Lemons and Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land
The Cleveland Cavaliers could find themselves in a position to land the “kid from Akron” again this summer... and his name is not LeBron James
Josh Dooley, Land-Grant Holy Land
Outside The Shoe and Schott
Buckeyes fall to Kentucky in NCAA men’s tennis semifinal
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State Buckeyes eliminated from NCAA softball tournament with 5-1 loss to Oregon State
Staff Reports, The Columbus Dispatch
Really good season for the softball Buckeyes:
So much to be proud of in 2022:
36 wins, tied for the most in the last 12 seasons
Best winning pct. since 2010
Top 25 RPI all season
5th @NCAASoftball appearance in the last six tournaments#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/VmxwpTEiHS
— Ohio State Softball (@OhioStateSB) May 22, 2022
Softball: Seniors Reflect on Their Careers and the 2022 Season
Ohio State Athletics
Women’s Tennis: Buckeyes Set for NCAA Singles and Doubles Tournaments
Ohio State Athletics
And now for something completely different...
I grew up a Reds’ fan first and foremost, but an Orioles’ fan second (Cal Ripken is still my favorite player ever), so this is awesome!
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
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
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...
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On the Gridiron
Column: As chaos swirls throughout college athletics, Ohio State has remained undeterred
Meredith Hein, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio lawmakers urge NCAA to restore Buckeyes’ vacated 2010 wins
Nick Kosko, 247Sports
Next Man Up: How Buckeyes can replace leadership, find new Block O (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Pretty much every sportsbook has OSU at -14 against Notre Dame:
College Football
Week 0 & Week 1 Lines pic.twitter.com/DqEeoyBXHb
— Circa Sports (@CircaSports) May 22, 2022
Kamryn Babb Still Has High Hopes of Making On-Field Impact While Providing Valuable Leadership for Ohio State
Dan Hope, Elven Warriors
Eichenberg continues to step up for Buckeyes at linebacker says Knowles
Dave Biddle, Bucknuts
That, unfortunately, didn’t last very long:
Elks announce several moves, adding Sherman Badie (RB) to active roster & releasing Cardale Jones (QB).
We've also placed Michael Walker (WR) on the suspended list & Chris Gangarossa (OL) on the retired list.
DETAILS | https://t.co/AumLORrt2f
Tulane Athletics pic.twitter.com/xD28IDlhRe
— Edmonton Elks (@GoElks) May 20, 2022
What will Miyan Williams bring to the Ohio State run game?
Colin Gay, Scarlet and Gray Report
The cycle that helped Ohio State football coach Ryan Day double his salary in 4 years
Doug Lesmerises, cleveland.com
On the Hardwood
Report: Ohio State to play North Carolina in CBS Sports Classic
Patrick Murphy, Land-Grant Holy Land
Roster Analysis: Holtmann has personnel set for 2022-23 Ohio State team
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
But y’all said he needed to stay in school another year:
I’m not sure there has been a name buzzing in Chicago this week more than Malaki Branham’s. At this point, I think there is a strong possibility that he will go in the lottery. #NBADraftCombine pic.twitter.com/SyjDGpCd0y
— Matt Babcock (@MattBabcock11) May 20, 2022
Former American University Forward Karla Vreš Transferring to Ohio State
Braden Moles, Buckeye Sports Bulletin
You’re Nuts: Which Ohio State men’s basketball freshman will score the most points this season?
Connor Lemons and Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land
The Cleveland Cavaliers could find themselves in a position to land the “kid from Akron” again this summer... and his name is not LeBron James
Josh Dooley, Land-Grant Holy Land
Outside The Shoe and Schott
Buckeyes fall to Kentucky in NCAA men’s tennis semifinal
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State Buckeyes eliminated from NCAA softball tournament with 5-1 loss to Oregon State
Staff Reports, The Columbus Dispatch
Really good season for the softball Buckeyes:
So much to be proud of in 2022:
36 wins, tied for the most in the last 12 seasons
Best winning pct. since 2010
Top 25 RPI all season
5th @NCAASoftball appearance in the last six tournaments#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/VmxwpTEiHS
— Ohio State Softball (@OhioStateSB) May 22, 2022
Softball: Seniors Reflect on Their Careers and the 2022 Season
Ohio State Athletics
Women’s Tennis: Buckeyes Set for NCAA Singles and Doubles Tournaments
Ohio State Athletics
And now for something completely different...
I grew up a Reds’ fan first and foremost, but an Orioles’ fan second (Cal Ripken is still my favorite player ever), so this is awesome!
Continue reading...
LGHL Four-star cornerback from Georgia includes Ohio State as finalist
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Four-star cornerback from Georgia includes Ohio State as finalist
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ethan Nation | Andrew Ivins, 247Sports
The Buckeyes are well-positioned for the coveted pledge of a four-star defensive back from the peach state.
Ohio State and newly hired cornerbacks coach Tim Walton saw a positive development in their pursuit for a blue-chip defensive back from Georgia over the weekend. Plus, a new 2023 prospect emerges as a target for the Buckeyes after the program heads to Maryland to deliver their latest offer.
Four-star CB reveals finalists
After initially jumping into the mix for 2023 four-star cornerback Ethan Nation of Roswell (GA) back in May of last year, the Buckeyes are now aware of where they stand just a full calendar year later. On Friday evening, Nation revealed on Twitter that he narrowed his recruitment down and will begin focusing on eight schools in particular.
BREAKING: Four-Star CB Ethan Nation is down to
Schools, he tells @On3Recruits
The 5’11 165 CB from Roswell, GA holds a total of 51 offers.
More Here (FREE): https://t.co/UYzdKVLfv2 pic.twitter.com/tIiHqAwfC2
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 20, 2022
The 5-foot-10, 165-pounder did include Ohio State in the group of finalists for his coveted pledge. The Buckeyes will look to outlast the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Michigan, Oregon, Texas A&M, and USC if they want to push themselves to the front of the pack for Nation.
Nation currently slots in as the No. 178 prospect overall in this year’s recruiting class. Additionally, the peach state defensive back slots in as the 22nd highest graded cornerback in the class and the 15th best prospect from the talented state of Georgia.
While their is no known timetable on a decision for Nation, it is worth mentioning that the Buckeyes currently hold pledges from three 2023 prospects in the defensive secondary with a trio of four-stars in Malik Hartford of Lakota West (OH), Cedrick Hawkins of Cocoa (FL), and Dijon Johnson of Wharton (FL) already on board.
Babalade lands Buckeye offer
Ohio State and offensive line coach Justin Frye had their eyes on the state of Maryland this weekend as 2023 three-star offensive tackle Oluwatosin Babalade of DeMatha Catholic (MD) was on the receiving end of an offer from the Buckeyes.
#AGTG Blessed to receive an offer from Ohio state!!! @CoachJFrye @adamgorney @RivalsFriedman @ChadSimmons_ pic.twitter.com/crS4tZDfhl
— Oluwatosin Babalade (@_Bigtree23) May 21, 2022
Ohio State’s offer to Babalade pushes the 6-foot-5, 296-pounder closer to 25 offers as a prospect thus far. The Buckeyes joined Florida, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami (FL), North Carolina, Ole Miss, Penn State, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, and many more as programs that have sent a scholarship offer to Babalade.
The Stags standout offensive lineman is currently graded as the No. 549 overall prospect in the 2023 class. While the overall grade might not be the most appealing to Buckeye fans, Babalade is consider a Top 10 prospect in the talent-rich state of Maryland. Plus, a big senior season for Babalade could be cause for a big jump in the rankings.
Aside from his latest offer from Ohio State, Babalade also spent the weekend in Chapel Hill as the Hyattsville native took a visit to North Carolina.
Quick Hits
Continue reading...
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ethan Nation | Andrew Ivins, 247Sports
The Buckeyes are well-positioned for the coveted pledge of a four-star defensive back from the peach state.
Ohio State and newly hired cornerbacks coach Tim Walton saw a positive development in their pursuit for a blue-chip defensive back from Georgia over the weekend. Plus, a new 2023 prospect emerges as a target for the Buckeyes after the program heads to Maryland to deliver their latest offer.
Four-star CB reveals finalists
After initially jumping into the mix for 2023 four-star cornerback Ethan Nation of Roswell (GA) back in May of last year, the Buckeyes are now aware of where they stand just a full calendar year later. On Friday evening, Nation revealed on Twitter that he narrowed his recruitment down and will begin focusing on eight schools in particular.
BREAKING: Four-Star CB Ethan Nation is down to
Schools, he tells @On3Recruits The 5’11 165 CB from Roswell, GA holds a total of 51 offers.
More Here (FREE): https://t.co/UYzdKVLfv2 pic.twitter.com/tIiHqAwfC2
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 20, 2022
The 5-foot-10, 165-pounder did include Ohio State in the group of finalists for his coveted pledge. The Buckeyes will look to outlast the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Michigan, Oregon, Texas A&M, and USC if they want to push themselves to the front of the pack for Nation.
Nation currently slots in as the No. 178 prospect overall in this year’s recruiting class. Additionally, the peach state defensive back slots in as the 22nd highest graded cornerback in the class and the 15th best prospect from the talented state of Georgia.
While their is no known timetable on a decision for Nation, it is worth mentioning that the Buckeyes currently hold pledges from three 2023 prospects in the defensive secondary with a trio of four-stars in Malik Hartford of Lakota West (OH), Cedrick Hawkins of Cocoa (FL), and Dijon Johnson of Wharton (FL) already on board.
Babalade lands Buckeye offer
Ohio State and offensive line coach Justin Frye had their eyes on the state of Maryland this weekend as 2023 three-star offensive tackle Oluwatosin Babalade of DeMatha Catholic (MD) was on the receiving end of an offer from the Buckeyes.
#AGTG Blessed to receive an offer from Ohio state!!! @CoachJFrye @adamgorney @RivalsFriedman @ChadSimmons_ pic.twitter.com/crS4tZDfhl
— Oluwatosin Babalade (@_Bigtree23) May 21, 2022
Ohio State’s offer to Babalade pushes the 6-foot-5, 296-pounder closer to 25 offers as a prospect thus far. The Buckeyes joined Florida, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami (FL), North Carolina, Ole Miss, Penn State, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, and many more as programs that have sent a scholarship offer to Babalade.
The Stags standout offensive lineman is currently graded as the No. 549 overall prospect in the 2023 class. While the overall grade might not be the most appealing to Buckeye fans, Babalade is consider a Top 10 prospect in the talent-rich state of Maryland. Plus, a big senior season for Babalade could be cause for a big jump in the rankings.
Aside from his latest offer from Ohio State, Babalade also spent the weekend in Chapel Hill as the Hyattsville native took a visit to North Carolina.
Quick Hits
- Ohio State played host to 2024 four-star defensive lineman Xadavien Sims of Durant (OK) on Friday morning. The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder has yet to receive an offer from the Buckeyes but is currently pegged as an early Top 60 prospect in the class by 247Sports.
- According to Griffin Strom of Eleven Warriors, 2023 three-star shooting guard Lawrent Rice of Wayne (OH) is planning to make another visit to Ohio State “soon.” Rice currently slots in as the No. 6 player in Ohio and is just one spot behind Buckeye pledge and four-star center Austin Parks of Memorial (OH).
- After initially including Ohio State as a finalist in April, 2023 four-star offensive tackle Chase Bisontis of Don Bosco Prep (NJ) narrowed his list even further on Saturday. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, Bisontis will move forward focusing on the likes of Georgia, LSU, Michigan State, Rutgers, and Texas A&M.
Continue reading...
LGHL The Cleveland Cavaliers could find themselves in a position to land the “kid from Akron”...
- News
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The Cleveland Cavaliers could find themselves in a position to land the “kid from Akron” again this summer... and his name is not LeBron James
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Could Branham find himself back in Northeast Ohio as a pro? | Jeff Lange via Imagn Content Services, LLC
With the 14th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Cavs should take look at local product, Malaki Branham.
Ohio (the state of) basketball fans can hear it now: “With the 14th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers select... from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School... and The Ohio State University... Shooting guard... Malaki Branham!”
I hope you appreciate the dramatic pauses, because Adam Silver – the commissioner of the NBA – uses them to near-perfection on draft night. While he may or may not make a similar announcement on June 23, there is a very real possibility that the Cavs could be in a position draft another young star with significant ties to Northeast Ohio. And while the late lottery is a little too rich for my blood, I am sure Branham would love to have his name called 14th overall.
LeBron James was the original kid from Akron, at least when it pertains to popular culture. James once famously referred to himself as, “just a kid from Akron.” It has become so popular and so synonymous with the NBA star, that LBJ now uses it as sort of a mantra or tagline in interviews and commercials. Well, Branham is not James. He is not the heir to the throne. And he is also not from Akron — at least not in the truest sense.
Branham was raised in Columbus, but moved to Northeast Ohio to attend high school and play ball at St. Vincent-St. Mary. His ascent to potential lottery pick has been more of a slow burn (compared to that of James), but he will soon find himself in the same league and/or sharing the same court with a player he likely looked up to.
Now that I’ve beaten the Akron thing to death, let’s talk basketball. The Cleveland Cavaliers clearly struck gold when they drafted James in 2003. Nearly two decades later, they could potentially go after another local product in Branham, but the circumstances are much different. The Cavs needed a basketball lifeline in 2003. They were a franchise in peril. Neither is the case in 2022.
The Cavs would have been a playoff team this year if not for terrible injury luck. And I’m not making up far-fetched excuses. They were the 2-seed as late as February! Unfortunately, up and coming guard Collin Sexton played all of 11 games before tearing his meniscus in November. Ricky Rubio, who was a revelation for the squad, tore his ACL after 34 games. Young stars Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen combined to miss nearly 50 games, and by the end of the season, the Cavs were out of the race. They still competed in the play-in tournament, but it wasn’t the same team. They should absolutely bounce back and be a contender next year.
So Branham – if he were to be drafted by the Cavs – would not join a franchise in need of rescuing. He would join a young team on the rise. But does he fit, and is he worth the price tag? I think both questions are debatable.
Starting with fit: yes, I believe Branham could eventually flourish with the current core of the roster. He is only redundant with Caris Levert (also raised in Columbus), and the former Pickerington Central star has just one season remaining on his current contract. Sexton is also in the mix at guard, but he is a restricted free agent coming off a knee injury.
A collection of four guards can easily co-exist, especially in today’s NBA. The Cavs could roll out a three-guard lineup with consistency, or simply stagger minutes. Fit is not the issue. Value is where I have questions. As much as I love Branham, I am not sure he is worth the 14th overall pick (which admittedly puts me in the minority). As a team with playoff aspirations, the Cavs need a player who can contribute right away, and if that player happens to be a solid wing defender, even better.
As currently constructed (with Sexton, whose RFA offers can be matched by the Cavs), Cleveland is strong at the guard position, and strong up front. They are lacking in-between. Isaac Okoro is a talented, defensive-minded wing, but his offensive game is not fully developed. He is also listed primarily as a small forward, despite standing at 6-foot-5 (the same height as Branham). But the Cavs have plenty of core players who are 6-foot-5 and under, and then a separate logjam of 7-footers. Which is why I think the teams needs a Scottie Barnes-type, or a bigger wing/forward with considerable reps under his belt.
Branham could wind up being a Levert clone, albeit much younger and potentially more talented. While there is room for both, drafting Branham would be an investment in the Cavs’ future — not the present. That is why I question the value. Because serious playoff contenders should prioritize immediate impact. Landing a player who can make an impact while simultaneously improving on the fly is an ideal scenario, but I’m not sure Branham is that guy... At least not yet.
If the Ohio State one-and-done star reaches his ceiling, I think DeMar DeRozan and/or Khris Middleton are good comps. Branham doesn’t possess quite the athleticism that a young DeRozan did, and he is not a lights-out shooter in the way Middleton currently is, but he could eventually be a great combination of the two. That being said, I believe it will take time.
I just don’t know if his ability to create shots in the midrange is an elite skill, especially at the NBA level. Maybe Branham is more athletic than I give him credit for, and maybe his outside shooting is sustainable in higher volume, but I actually think that his former OSU teammate E.J. Liddell is better suited to contribute to a contender right away. You can call me nuts, and you wouldn’t be the first (or last) to do so.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23544995/usa_today_17803300.jpg)
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
While OSU fans certainly hope both of these guys find success in the NBA, I would not be shocked if the one on the left is first to do so
I truly hope that Branham becomes a star. I cannot stress that enough. I think he is working with a seriously impressive skillset, and the potential is there. But he’s young, and he found himself playing an alpha role for the Buckeyes because they lacked a strong supporting cast. I don’t believe that he will enjoy the same freedom of movement at the next level. If he is unable to rely on 8-10 open midrange jumpers per game, then he will need to improve his secondary offensive skills, not to mention his defense, in order to stay on the court. Is the totality of his game worth the 14th overall pick? I have no idea, but there is a chance we find out in June.
Critiques aside, Branham becoming a Cavalier would be an all-time moment for Ohio basketball fans like myself. And if it were to happen, I would absolutely line up for a jersey. Because my critiques are rooted in actually, you know, rooting for a player’s development and for that individual to reach their ceiling. It’s all love here. So go Bucks and go Malaki! Cleveland would be lucky to have you.
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
Could Branham find himself back in Northeast Ohio as a pro? | Jeff Lange via Imagn Content Services, LLC
With the 14th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Cavs should take look at local product, Malaki Branham.
Ohio (the state of) basketball fans can hear it now: “With the 14th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers select... from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School... and The Ohio State University... Shooting guard... Malaki Branham!”
I hope you appreciate the dramatic pauses, because Adam Silver – the commissioner of the NBA – uses them to near-perfection on draft night. While he may or may not make a similar announcement on June 23, there is a very real possibility that the Cavs could be in a position draft another young star with significant ties to Northeast Ohio. And while the late lottery is a little too rich for my blood, I am sure Branham would love to have his name called 14th overall.
LeBron James was the original kid from Akron, at least when it pertains to popular culture. James once famously referred to himself as, “just a kid from Akron.” It has become so popular and so synonymous with the NBA star, that LBJ now uses it as sort of a mantra or tagline in interviews and commercials. Well, Branham is not James. He is not the heir to the throne. And he is also not from Akron — at least not in the truest sense.
Branham was raised in Columbus, but moved to Northeast Ohio to attend high school and play ball at St. Vincent-St. Mary. His ascent to potential lottery pick has been more of a slow burn (compared to that of James), but he will soon find himself in the same league and/or sharing the same court with a player he likely looked up to.
Now that I’ve beaten the Akron thing to death, let’s talk basketball. The Cleveland Cavaliers clearly struck gold when they drafted James in 2003. Nearly two decades later, they could potentially go after another local product in Branham, but the circumstances are much different. The Cavs needed a basketball lifeline in 2003. They were a franchise in peril. Neither is the case in 2022.
The Cavs would have been a playoff team this year if not for terrible injury luck. And I’m not making up far-fetched excuses. They were the 2-seed as late as February! Unfortunately, up and coming guard Collin Sexton played all of 11 games before tearing his meniscus in November. Ricky Rubio, who was a revelation for the squad, tore his ACL after 34 games. Young stars Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen combined to miss nearly 50 games, and by the end of the season, the Cavs were out of the race. They still competed in the play-in tournament, but it wasn’t the same team. They should absolutely bounce back and be a contender next year.
So Branham – if he were to be drafted by the Cavs – would not join a franchise in need of rescuing. He would join a young team on the rise. But does he fit, and is he worth the price tag? I think both questions are debatable.
Starting with fit: yes, I believe Branham could eventually flourish with the current core of the roster. He is only redundant with Caris Levert (also raised in Columbus), and the former Pickerington Central star has just one season remaining on his current contract. Sexton is also in the mix at guard, but he is a restricted free agent coming off a knee injury.
A collection of four guards can easily co-exist, especially in today’s NBA. The Cavs could roll out a three-guard lineup with consistency, or simply stagger minutes. Fit is not the issue. Value is where I have questions. As much as I love Branham, I am not sure he is worth the 14th overall pick (which admittedly puts me in the minority). As a team with playoff aspirations, the Cavs need a player who can contribute right away, and if that player happens to be a solid wing defender, even better.
As currently constructed (with Sexton, whose RFA offers can be matched by the Cavs), Cleveland is strong at the guard position, and strong up front. They are lacking in-between. Isaac Okoro is a talented, defensive-minded wing, but his offensive game is not fully developed. He is also listed primarily as a small forward, despite standing at 6-foot-5 (the same height as Branham). But the Cavs have plenty of core players who are 6-foot-5 and under, and then a separate logjam of 7-footers. Which is why I think the teams needs a Scottie Barnes-type, or a bigger wing/forward with considerable reps under his belt.
Branham could wind up being a Levert clone, albeit much younger and potentially more talented. While there is room for both, drafting Branham would be an investment in the Cavs’ future — not the present. That is why I question the value. Because serious playoff contenders should prioritize immediate impact. Landing a player who can make an impact while simultaneously improving on the fly is an ideal scenario, but I’m not sure Branham is that guy... At least not yet.
If the Ohio State one-and-done star reaches his ceiling, I think DeMar DeRozan and/or Khris Middleton are good comps. Branham doesn’t possess quite the athleticism that a young DeRozan did, and he is not a lights-out shooter in the way Middleton currently is, but he could eventually be a great combination of the two. That being said, I believe it will take time.
I just don’t know if his ability to create shots in the midrange is an elite skill, especially at the NBA level. Maybe Branham is more athletic than I give him credit for, and maybe his outside shooting is sustainable in higher volume, but I actually think that his former OSU teammate E.J. Liddell is better suited to contribute to a contender right away. You can call me nuts, and you wouldn’t be the first (or last) to do so.
While OSU fans certainly hope both of these guys find success in the NBA, I would not be shocked if the one on the left is first to do so
I truly hope that Branham becomes a star. I cannot stress that enough. I think he is working with a seriously impressive skillset, and the potential is there. But he’s young, and he found himself playing an alpha role for the Buckeyes because they lacked a strong supporting cast. I don’t believe that he will enjoy the same freedom of movement at the next level. If he is unable to rely on 8-10 open midrange jumpers per game, then he will need to improve his secondary offensive skills, not to mention his defense, in order to stay on the court. Is the totality of his game worth the 14th overall pick? I have no idea, but there is a chance we find out in June.
Critiques aside, Branham becoming a Cavalier would be an all-time moment for Ohio basketball fans like myself. And if it were to happen, I would absolutely line up for a jersey. Because my critiques are rooted in actually, you know, rooting for a player’s development and for that individual to reach their ceiling. It’s all love here. So go Bucks and go Malaki! Cleveland would be lucky to have you.
Continue reading...
Steve Spurrier (bye)
- By 5 STAR U-G-A
- College Football
- 424 Replies
https://thecomeback.com/ncaa/steve-spurrier-weighs-in-on-nick-saban-jimbo-fisher-feud.html
The Ol Ball Coach being his classic self
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LGHL Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: Breaking down the biggest matchups on Ohio State’s 2022...
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Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: Breaking down the biggest matchups on Ohio State’s 2022 schedule
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images
The Buckeyes have a handful of marquee matchups this season, including the season opener against Notre Dame and a big rematch with TTUN.
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast ‘Hangout in the Holy Land’ is here! Join LGHL’s co-managing editor Gene Ross alongside his co-host Josh Dooley as they cover everything from football to basketball to recruiting and more!
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On this week’s episode, Gene and Josh run through the 2022 Ohio State football schedule. While there is still a ways to go until the Buckeyes will officially kick off their new campaign, the guys break down some of the biggest matchups ahead for Ryan Day’s crew, including a season opener under the lights against Notre Dame and a high-stakes rematch with Michigan in Columbus to close it out. They discuss some of the storylines and opposing faces heading into the season’s marquee games, as well as how Ohio State matches up with the teams on their schedule as well was within the Big Ten at large.
“Hangout in the Holy Land” is will now return to one episode a week during the offseason, dropping every Wednesday (don’t hold us to that). Be sure to download and listen in wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple to let us know your thoughts and how we can make things even better!
You can also follow us on Twitter @HolyLandPod, where we will want to hear from you guys even more! If there’s anything you’d like us to talk about on the show, @ us and let us know!
As always, Go Bucks.
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Gene:
Twitter: @Gene_Ross23
Connect with Josh
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images
The Buckeyes have a handful of marquee matchups this season, including the season opener against Notre Dame and a big rematch with TTUN.
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast ‘Hangout in the Holy Land’ is here! Join LGHL’s co-managing editor Gene Ross alongside his co-host Josh Dooley as they cover everything from football to basketball to recruiting and more!
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On this week’s episode, Gene and Josh run through the 2022 Ohio State football schedule. While there is still a ways to go until the Buckeyes will officially kick off their new campaign, the guys break down some of the biggest matchups ahead for Ryan Day’s crew, including a season opener under the lights against Notre Dame and a high-stakes rematch with Michigan in Columbus to close it out. They discuss some of the storylines and opposing faces heading into the season’s marquee games, as well as how Ohio State matches up with the teams on their schedule as well was within the Big Ten at large.
“Hangout in the Holy Land” is will now return to one episode a week during the offseason, dropping every Wednesday (don’t hold us to that). Be sure to download and listen in wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple to let us know your thoughts and how we can make things even better!
You can also follow us on Twitter @HolyLandPod, where we will want to hear from you guys even more! If there’s anything you’d like us to talk about on the show, @ us and let us know!
As always, Go Bucks.
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Gene:
Twitter: @Gene_Ross23
Connect with Josh
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Continue reading...
LGHL Forgotten Buckeyes: Fullback edition
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Forgotten Buckeyes: Fullback edition
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 Howie McCormick/Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images
The ongoing series where we re-remember lesser known or potentially forgotten Buckeye heroes.
Shortly after I began contributing to Land Grant Holy Land, I realized that I was already struggling to come up with good content for the offseason/summer months. Hell of a start, right? But unfortunately, once the NFL Draft takes place, the content well tends to dry up unless you’ve already dialed in on one of the spring sports or the NBA Draft (but as Buckeye hoops fans... you get it). Ohio State football and basketball – our most popular topics – are still part of the news cycle, but they have taken a back seat. And recruiting... well, there are people at LGHL who do a hell of a job covering it, so I wasn’t about to swim with those sharks.
I needed to think outside the box. I thought: Football is months away, basketball is months away, recruiting is speculative and subject to change... many of the topics being covered now revolve around future events or predictions. But what about former players? And I’m not talking recent or soon-to-be draftees, because those athletes are still being talked or written about.
I am referring to unheralded and underappreciated Buckeyes from decades ago, that have been forgotten by some (or most) since they last donned the scarlet and gray. And there it was: Forgotten Buckeyes. Other OSU fans and media types have taken a similar approach to recognition, but this is my personal way of appreciating those who left an indelible mark at Ohio State.
Welcome to Volume II.
Hand up, my mistake... I did not cover a fullback during last summer’s Forgotten Buckeyes series. Total error on my part, and it was very odd considering that I used to love watching guys like Mike Alstott, Larry Centers, Lorenzo Neal, and Cory Schlesinger in the NFL. They were legitimately some of my favorite players. It simply comes down to the fact that fullbacks did not (and do not) typically receive Alstott-level attention at Ohio State — at least not in the years I have been a fan.
I missed the careers of Jim Otis, John Brockington, and Pete Johnson, so I don’t feel qualified to write about their potentially forgotten greatness. And the Zach Boren-types have been few and far between ever since. I also think Boren is still a very well-known player, even among younger fans. But there were a couple of guys who I believe slipped through the cracks during the 1990’s and early 2000’s. In an effort to make up for my past negligence, this week’s Forgotten Buckeyes is a double dose of mean, nasty, hard-hitting fullback appreciation.
Nicky Sualua | Fullback (1993-1995)
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Sualua rarely carried the ball, but was always looking for contact
Nicky Sualua was a two-way football player, wrestler, and weightlifting champion in high school. If that doesn’t scream fullback, I don’t know what does. He did all of the above while attending football powerhouse Mater Dei (HS) in Santa Ana, California — a school that has produced scores of NCAA football and NFL-level talent. Sualua committed to Ohio State in January of 1993, and famously stated that he was “looking forward to the challenge of playing in the Big Eight.” Whoops...
If they were even aware of Sualua’s gaffe, OSU fans would have forgiven his misconceptions regarding the conference they play(ed) in, because he eventually developed into a devastating blocker for the Buckeyes. But it didn’t happen right away. Sualua took a redshirt in 1993. He then lost the battle for the starting fullback role in 1994, and only took over when two of his peers were beset by injuries. Regardless of how it happened, Sualua took full advantage of the opportunity to start and function as the team’s lead blocker.
With Alex Rodriguez forced to retire for medical reasons, and Matt Calhoun also dinged up, the 5-foot-11, 250-pounder from Santa Ana started the final eight games of the ’94 season. Unlike fullbacks in previous years, Sualua was not featured in the run game often (only 25 carries). He was asked to pass protect and pave the way for star running back Eddie George, which is exactly what he did. George rushed for 1,442 yards behind Sualua and an improved offensive line, and established his name as one of the most dangerous players in all of college football. The “other guys” received very little credit, but such is the life for a fullback and/or offensive lineman.
After going 9-4 the previous season, Ohio State was being mentioned as a national championship contender in 1995. Sualua returned to block for George, but missed the first two games while he worked himself into playing shape. The reason he was late in doing so, is because he missed most of fall camp due to academic issues. However, it was not the last time academics got in the way of Sualua suiting up for the Buckeyes. But he eventually got into playing shape and out of the doghouse, and helped open up holes and running room for the eventual Heisman Trophy winner.
George rushed for over 1,900 yards and 24 touchdowns, and added 417 more yards through the air. Sualua did not put up the stats himself, but he was a contributor to greatness. The fullback did chip in with 20 carries for 109 yards, and also became more involved in the passing game. He caught 17 passes for 129 yards, including the only two touchdowns of his OSU career.
Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, the team fizzled out after an 11-0 start. They lost to TTUN and Peyton Manning-led Tennessee to close out the season, ending what could have been a special run. Sualua was projected to return for the 1996 season, but he never played a down. He was once again ruled academically ineligible, and eventually declared for the NFL Draft. Sualua’s time as a Buckeye ended in disappointment, which is too bad because the big fullback was a fan-favorite and well-liked by teammates. He never found the same level of football success again, and his professional career ended under tragic circumstances.
The Dallas Cowboys selected Sualua in the fourth round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He was thought to be their heir apparent to Daryl “Moose” Johnston, but the former Buckeye only spent two seasons as a backup. He never registered a rushing attempt or reception for the ‘Boys, and the team released him prior to the 1999 season. Dallas claimed it was for football reasons, but Sualua was also present for the accidental overdose of former Cowboy Mark Tuinei.
He was never accused of buying or supplying drugs, nor was he ever charged with a crime in relation to the overdose, but Sualua ultimately attempted to let his friend and former teammate “sleep it off” — rather than taking him to a hospital. Tuinei passed on May 6, 1999. Sualua was waived by Dallas a month later, and eventually signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. But he was released with an injury settlement in September, and never caught on with another NFL team.
Nicky Sualua might be remembered more for the unfortunate losses he was a part of, but I have no interest in playing judge, jury, or executioner. His on-field contributions for Ohio State were more significant than many people realize, and that is what I am choosing to bring light to. The former fullback contributed to a Heisman-winning season, albeit somewhat indirectly. For that, Buckeye fans should acknowledge his place in OSU history.
Branden Joe | Fullback (2000-2004)
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Photo by Darren Abate/Getty Images
Branden Joe contributed to plenty of winning during his time as a Buckeye
Branden Joe was a First Team All-Ohio running back for Westerville South High School, located in Columbus. He also played linebacker on the defensive side of the ball, and packed a serious punch due to his roughly 6-foot, 230-pound frame. Joe committed to Ohio State as part of the 2000 recruiting class, and proceeded to not play either of his high school positions ever again. But he did become a versatile fullback and a national champion, which is surely more important than individual rushing yards or total tackles.
Joe redshirted as a freshman, and as far as I could tell, was still listed as a running back in 2001. However, due to depth at the position, he never appeared in a game. OSU had another deep RB room in 2002 – made even better by the addition of Maurice Clarett – and as a result, the decision was made to move Joe to fullback on a permanent basis. The move paid off for both he and the Buckeyes, in ways few could have imagined (at least prior to that ‘02 season).
Fullback duties were split between Joe and Brandon Schnittker in 2002, with both playing in all 14 games. Neither player was heavily involved in the offense (four combined touches), but each had their moments blocking for Clarett, Lydell Ross, and/or Maurice Hall. Joe also played frequently on special teams, which was of the utmost importance to head coach Jim Tressel. The fullback’s tangible contributions were limited and never jumped out on paper, but he carved out a role and eventually earned a ring.
You know the story: the Buckeyes made an unexpected title run, were heavy underdogs to the Miami Hurricanes in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, and the rest is history. The fullbacks were unable able to spring Clarett for many big gains in that championship game, but he and quarterback Craig Krenzel did combine for four rushing touchdowns. It was a total team effort, Joe included.
Joe took a more active role in the offense during his final two seasons, but that’s not a whole lot. Similar to his Ohio State coaching predecessors, Tressel used a stable of running backs, but fullbacks were not featured the way they were during the 80’s and 90’s. Joe only totaled 77 carries and six receptions over his final two seasons, adding a lone touchdown in 2004. It was his first and last as a Buckeye, but he continued to be a strong lead blocker when called upon. OSU went 11-2 and 8-4 in 2003 and 2004, respectively, as they were never able to match the success of the 2002 squad. But Joe made a lifetime of memories during that season alone.
Joe never caught on in the NFL, only spending a few months with the Pittsburgh Steelers prior to the 2006 season. He has remained in Columbus, Ohio and has spent time covering the Buckeyes for local media outlets. Like many former players, he is active on social media and always supports his team. Though he was never the most high-profile player during his Ohio State career, Joe made an impact on the program and left a champion. Those players are always worth a mention, especially the forgotten fullbacks.
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Howie McCormick/Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images
The ongoing series where we re-remember lesser known or potentially forgotten Buckeye heroes.
Shortly after I began contributing to Land Grant Holy Land, I realized that I was already struggling to come up with good content for the offseason/summer months. Hell of a start, right? But unfortunately, once the NFL Draft takes place, the content well tends to dry up unless you’ve already dialed in on one of the spring sports or the NBA Draft (but as Buckeye hoops fans... you get it). Ohio State football and basketball – our most popular topics – are still part of the news cycle, but they have taken a back seat. And recruiting... well, there are people at LGHL who do a hell of a job covering it, so I wasn’t about to swim with those sharks.
I needed to think outside the box. I thought: Football is months away, basketball is months away, recruiting is speculative and subject to change... many of the topics being covered now revolve around future events or predictions. But what about former players? And I’m not talking recent or soon-to-be draftees, because those athletes are still being talked or written about.
I am referring to unheralded and underappreciated Buckeyes from decades ago, that have been forgotten by some (or most) since they last donned the scarlet and gray. And there it was: Forgotten Buckeyes. Other OSU fans and media types have taken a similar approach to recognition, but this is my personal way of appreciating those who left an indelible mark at Ohio State.
Welcome to Volume II.
Hand up, my mistake... I did not cover a fullback during last summer’s Forgotten Buckeyes series. Total error on my part, and it was very odd considering that I used to love watching guys like Mike Alstott, Larry Centers, Lorenzo Neal, and Cory Schlesinger in the NFL. They were legitimately some of my favorite players. It simply comes down to the fact that fullbacks did not (and do not) typically receive Alstott-level attention at Ohio State — at least not in the years I have been a fan.
I missed the careers of Jim Otis, John Brockington, and Pete Johnson, so I don’t feel qualified to write about their potentially forgotten greatness. And the Zach Boren-types have been few and far between ever since. I also think Boren is still a very well-known player, even among younger fans. But there were a couple of guys who I believe slipped through the cracks during the 1990’s and early 2000’s. In an effort to make up for my past negligence, this week’s Forgotten Buckeyes is a double dose of mean, nasty, hard-hitting fullback appreciation.
Nicky Sualua | Fullback (1993-1995)
Sualua rarely carried the ball, but was always looking for contact
Nicky Sualua was a two-way football player, wrestler, and weightlifting champion in high school. If that doesn’t scream fullback, I don’t know what does. He did all of the above while attending football powerhouse Mater Dei (HS) in Santa Ana, California — a school that has produced scores of NCAA football and NFL-level talent. Sualua committed to Ohio State in January of 1993, and famously stated that he was “looking forward to the challenge of playing in the Big Eight.” Whoops...
If they were even aware of Sualua’s gaffe, OSU fans would have forgiven his misconceptions regarding the conference they play(ed) in, because he eventually developed into a devastating blocker for the Buckeyes. But it didn’t happen right away. Sualua took a redshirt in 1993. He then lost the battle for the starting fullback role in 1994, and only took over when two of his peers were beset by injuries. Regardless of how it happened, Sualua took full advantage of the opportunity to start and function as the team’s lead blocker.
With Alex Rodriguez forced to retire for medical reasons, and Matt Calhoun also dinged up, the 5-foot-11, 250-pounder from Santa Ana started the final eight games of the ’94 season. Unlike fullbacks in previous years, Sualua was not featured in the run game often (only 25 carries). He was asked to pass protect and pave the way for star running back Eddie George, which is exactly what he did. George rushed for 1,442 yards behind Sualua and an improved offensive line, and established his name as one of the most dangerous players in all of college football. The “other guys” received very little credit, but such is the life for a fullback and/or offensive lineman.
After going 9-4 the previous season, Ohio State was being mentioned as a national championship contender in 1995. Sualua returned to block for George, but missed the first two games while he worked himself into playing shape. The reason he was late in doing so, is because he missed most of fall camp due to academic issues. However, it was not the last time academics got in the way of Sualua suiting up for the Buckeyes. But he eventually got into playing shape and out of the doghouse, and helped open up holes and running room for the eventual Heisman Trophy winner.
George rushed for over 1,900 yards and 24 touchdowns, and added 417 more yards through the air. Sualua did not put up the stats himself, but he was a contributor to greatness. The fullback did chip in with 20 carries for 109 yards, and also became more involved in the passing game. He caught 17 passes for 129 yards, including the only two touchdowns of his OSU career.
Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, the team fizzled out after an 11-0 start. They lost to TTUN and Peyton Manning-led Tennessee to close out the season, ending what could have been a special run. Sualua was projected to return for the 1996 season, but he never played a down. He was once again ruled academically ineligible, and eventually declared for the NFL Draft. Sualua’s time as a Buckeye ended in disappointment, which is too bad because the big fullback was a fan-favorite and well-liked by teammates. He never found the same level of football success again, and his professional career ended under tragic circumstances.
The Dallas Cowboys selected Sualua in the fourth round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He was thought to be their heir apparent to Daryl “Moose” Johnston, but the former Buckeye only spent two seasons as a backup. He never registered a rushing attempt or reception for the ‘Boys, and the team released him prior to the 1999 season. Dallas claimed it was for football reasons, but Sualua was also present for the accidental overdose of former Cowboy Mark Tuinei.
He was never accused of buying or supplying drugs, nor was he ever charged with a crime in relation to the overdose, but Sualua ultimately attempted to let his friend and former teammate “sleep it off” — rather than taking him to a hospital. Tuinei passed on May 6, 1999. Sualua was waived by Dallas a month later, and eventually signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. But he was released with an injury settlement in September, and never caught on with another NFL team.
Nicky Sualua might be remembered more for the unfortunate losses he was a part of, but I have no interest in playing judge, jury, or executioner. His on-field contributions for Ohio State were more significant than many people realize, and that is what I am choosing to bring light to. The former fullback contributed to a Heisman-winning season, albeit somewhat indirectly. For that, Buckeye fans should acknowledge his place in OSU history.
Branden Joe | Fullback (2000-2004)
Branden Joe contributed to plenty of winning during his time as a Buckeye
Branden Joe was a First Team All-Ohio running back for Westerville South High School, located in Columbus. He also played linebacker on the defensive side of the ball, and packed a serious punch due to his roughly 6-foot, 230-pound frame. Joe committed to Ohio State as part of the 2000 recruiting class, and proceeded to not play either of his high school positions ever again. But he did become a versatile fullback and a national champion, which is surely more important than individual rushing yards or total tackles.
Joe redshirted as a freshman, and as far as I could tell, was still listed as a running back in 2001. However, due to depth at the position, he never appeared in a game. OSU had another deep RB room in 2002 – made even better by the addition of Maurice Clarett – and as a result, the decision was made to move Joe to fullback on a permanent basis. The move paid off for both he and the Buckeyes, in ways few could have imagined (at least prior to that ‘02 season).
Fullback duties were split between Joe and Brandon Schnittker in 2002, with both playing in all 14 games. Neither player was heavily involved in the offense (four combined touches), but each had their moments blocking for Clarett, Lydell Ross, and/or Maurice Hall. Joe also played frequently on special teams, which was of the utmost importance to head coach Jim Tressel. The fullback’s tangible contributions were limited and never jumped out on paper, but he carved out a role and eventually earned a ring.
You know the story: the Buckeyes made an unexpected title run, were heavy underdogs to the Miami Hurricanes in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, and the rest is history. The fullbacks were unable able to spring Clarett for many big gains in that championship game, but he and quarterback Craig Krenzel did combine for four rushing touchdowns. It was a total team effort, Joe included.
Joe took a more active role in the offense during his final two seasons, but that’s not a whole lot. Similar to his Ohio State coaching predecessors, Tressel used a stable of running backs, but fullbacks were not featured the way they were during the 80’s and 90’s. Joe only totaled 77 carries and six receptions over his final two seasons, adding a lone touchdown in 2004. It was his first and last as a Buckeye, but he continued to be a strong lead blocker when called upon. OSU went 11-2 and 8-4 in 2003 and 2004, respectively, as they were never able to match the success of the 2002 squad. But Joe made a lifetime of memories during that season alone.
Joe never caught on in the NFL, only spending a few months with the Pittsburgh Steelers prior to the 2006 season. He has remained in Columbus, Ohio and has spent time covering the Buckeyes for local media outlets. Like many former players, he is active on social media and always supports his team. Though he was never the most high-profile player during his Ohio State career, Joe made an impact on the program and left a champion. Those players are always worth a mention, especially the forgotten fullbacks.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State-Notre Dame sets up potential big recruiting weekend in Columbus
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Ohio State-Notre Dame sets up potential big recruiting weekend in Columbus
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images
The Buckeyes and Irish kickoff the season, which welcomes a good opportunity on the recruiting trail for Ohio State.
Ohio State has had it’s fair share of notable recruiting weekends now in the rearview mirror. However, a schedule update that was announced on Tuesday will likely set the Buckeyes up for another massive opportunity to impressive many top recruits across the country. Plus, a 2025 prospect from New Jersey shares his thoughts on his offer from the scarlet and gray.
Likely major recruiting weekend set
Perhaps the biggest recruiting news to come about for the Buckeyes on Tuesday was when the kickoff time was announced for the week one contest against Notre Dame. Ohio State will get their crack at the Irish under the lights on ABC in a 7:30 PM EST contest that will also be the site of College Gameday.
The expectation is that this will wind up being a massive chance for the Buckeyes to welcome some of the very best high school football players in the country to Columbus to get a closer look at what the program has to offer. In particular, it could provide Ohio State with the chance to leave a lasting impression on prospects considering the two programs.
With the start time being so fresh, it is unknown as to who exactly will make their way to Ohio Stadium to check out the powerhouse programs in action.
Some names to watch as potential visitors include five-star safety Caleb Downs of Mill Creek (GA), four-star wide receiver Rico Flores of Folsom (CA), four-star wide receiver Carnell Tate of IMG Academy, five-star running back Richard Young of Lehigh Senior (FL), and more — all of whom are considering both Ohio State and Notre Dame.
Matthews talks Buckeye offer
While the main focus for head coach Ryan Day is undoubtedly on the 2023 recruiting class, Ohio State has also gotten active in future classes. The Buckeyes looked towards the state of New Jersey late last month when they dropped an offer to 2025 offensive tackle Jaelyne Matthews of Toms River North (NJ).
The 6-foot-6, 300-pounder caught up with Garrick Hodge of Eleven Warriors on Tuesday to share his opinion of the offer from the Buckeyes.
“They said they offered me because of my aggressiveness on film, how smart I am on the football field and my size,” Matthews said. Hodge went on to say that Matthews was “ecstatic” about the scholarship offer from Ohio State.
While Matthews has plenty of visits likely in his future so that he can continue to get a better feel for programs in pursuit, Ohio State looks to be one program that will definitely get a visit from the Toms River native.
“I’ll be there this summer,” Matthews relayed to Hodge.
Aside from the Buckeyes, Matthews has also already secured offers from the likes of Georgia, Miami (FL), Penn State, Texas A&M, and more.
Quick Hits
Continue reading...
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images
The Buckeyes and Irish kickoff the season, which welcomes a good opportunity on the recruiting trail for Ohio State.
Ohio State has had it’s fair share of notable recruiting weekends now in the rearview mirror. However, a schedule update that was announced on Tuesday will likely set the Buckeyes up for another massive opportunity to impressive many top recruits across the country. Plus, a 2025 prospect from New Jersey shares his thoughts on his offer from the scarlet and gray.
Likely major recruiting weekend set
Perhaps the biggest recruiting news to come about for the Buckeyes on Tuesday was when the kickoff time was announced for the week one contest against Notre Dame. Ohio State will get their crack at the Irish under the lights on ABC in a 7:30 PM EST contest that will also be the site of College Gameday.
The expectation is that this will wind up being a massive chance for the Buckeyes to welcome some of the very best high school football players in the country to Columbus to get a closer look at what the program has to offer. In particular, it could provide Ohio State with the chance to leave a lasting impression on prospects considering the two programs.
With the start time being so fresh, it is unknown as to who exactly will make their way to Ohio Stadium to check out the powerhouse programs in action.
Some names to watch as potential visitors include five-star safety Caleb Downs of Mill Creek (GA), four-star wide receiver Rico Flores of Folsom (CA), four-star wide receiver Carnell Tate of IMG Academy, five-star running back Richard Young of Lehigh Senior (FL), and more — all of whom are considering both Ohio State and Notre Dame.
Matthews talks Buckeye offer
While the main focus for head coach Ryan Day is undoubtedly on the 2023 recruiting class, Ohio State has also gotten active in future classes. The Buckeyes looked towards the state of New Jersey late last month when they dropped an offer to 2025 offensive tackle Jaelyne Matthews of Toms River North (NJ).
The 6-foot-6, 300-pounder caught up with Garrick Hodge of Eleven Warriors on Tuesday to share his opinion of the offer from the Buckeyes.
“They said they offered me because of my aggressiveness on film, how smart I am on the football field and my size,” Matthews said. Hodge went on to say that Matthews was “ecstatic” about the scholarship offer from Ohio State.
While Matthews has plenty of visits likely in his future so that he can continue to get a better feel for programs in pursuit, Ohio State looks to be one program that will definitely get a visit from the Toms River native.
“I’ll be there this summer,” Matthews relayed to Hodge.
Aside from the Buckeyes, Matthews has also already secured offers from the likes of Georgia, Miami (FL), Penn State, Texas A&M, and more.
Quick Hits
- According to Bill Kurelic on Twitter, 2023 four-star cornerback Daniel Harris of Gulliver Prep (FL) has “locked in” an official visit to Ohio State. The Miami native and Buckeye target is currently graded as the No. 31 ranked cornerback in the class.
- Ohio State offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Kevin Wilson was in California on Tuesday. Wilson made an appearance at Folsom High School likely to check in on a pair of hopeful additions for 2023 in four-star wide receiver Rico Flores and four-star tight end Walker Lyons.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: What 2023 NFL Draft prospect are you excited to see Ohio State play this year?
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- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: What 2023 NFL Draft prospect are you excited to see Ohio State play this year?
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 Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
We all know that Ohio State is loaded with talent on both sides of the football. In most years, the Buckeyes usually produce the highest number of players drafted in the Big Ten, and Ohio State is often near the top annually for most players selected from any college football team around the country. Since 2000, the Buckeyes have seen 157 players selected in the NFL Draft, with 34 of those picks coming in the first round.
While many Ohio State fans are excited to watch C.J. Stroud, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Paris Johnson Jr. this year as they look to cement their status as first round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, we can’t forget that the Buckeyes will be taking on plenty of players that will be eligible for the draft that will want to use a big performance against Ohio State to impress NFL scouts. A perfect example of this from previous years is Khalil Mack. Even though plenty of people knew the Buffalo defensive end was going to be a star heading into the season opener against the Buckeyes, Mack sent his draft stock soaring even higher with a huge performance in Columbus.
There are different ways you can look at games when Ohio State is taking on a team with NFL Draft prospects. Either you can see this as a chance to get an early look at a player that your favorite NFL team might be selecting in the next draft, if you are an NFL fan. There is also a possibility you can see one of Ohio State’s own draft prospects matching up with the highly touted draft prospect from an opponent. Or, you could just simply want to see the Buckeyes shutdown a possible top draft pick, showing some of the holes still in their game.
Today’s question: What 2023 NFL Draft prospect are you excited to see Ohio State play this year?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: Joey Porter Jr. - Penn State
For starters, I’m sure Browns and Bengals fans will agree with this pick since Joey Porter Sr. was a thorn in the side of both teams when he played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s probably already a given that the younger Porter will end up being drafted by the Steelers next April and torture Cleveland and Cincinnati for the next decade.
My reasoning for wanting to see Porter against the Buckeyes in the fall is because I want to see how he is able to handle Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr., and the rest of the Ohio State wide receivers. Somehow the Nittany Lions have found a way to keep the Ohio State offense in check in recent years, and if they are able to do it again in October, a huge reason for it will be because of the play of Porter in the secondary.
Personally, I hope that Smith-Njigba and the rest of the Buckeye receivers go off in State College, putting up huge numbers on Porter. Is that mean? It absolutely is, but there’s a reason I call myself a “big ball of hate” in my Twitter bio. I look at Penn State the same way I look at the Red Sox. I just want to see both destroyed as much as possible. It’s nothing personal against Porter, I was hating Penn State long before he committed to their football program.
In all seriousness, Porter is likely going to go on to be a good pro in the NFL. He not only has talent, he also can lean on his father for advice and what to expect at the next level. I’m just hoping he has his own personal fright night a couple days before Halloween. In the end, we are the ones getting the treat since we’ll get to see three possible first round picks going at it, as C.J. Stroud and Jaxon Smith-Njigba will try and break down Porter on the road.
Meredith’s answer: Peter Skoronski - Northwestern
The 2023 quarterback class is poised to be a good one (especially after whatever this nonsense was we saw this year), and the Buckeyes may even find themselves facing off against one of the other quarterbacks, besides C.J. Stroud, who are part of this elite group at some point in the postseason.
However, the player I’m excited to see is a Big Ten West foe who Ohio State will travel to see in November, when the Buckeyes head to Evanston to face Northwestern.
Yes, that player is Peter Skoronski, who has followed in Rashawn Slater’s massive shoes at left tackle for the Wildcats. As Northwestern doesn’t have what one might classify as a prolific offense, Skoronski’s strengths might fall under the radar in the average game, but he’s emerged after his sophomore season as one of the Big Ten’s best pass protectors. As an aside, it doesn’t hurt that Skoronski’s grandfather was a five-time NFL Champion with the Green Bay Packers.
I’m looking forward to watching Skorinski, who will be facing off directly against Ohio State’s always formidable defensive line generally and defensive end Zach Harrison, specifically. Harrison opted to come back for his senior season rather than enter the 2022 NFL Draft, which happened to feature almost as many outstanding defensive linemen as it did receivers. Harrison will be looking to improve his draft stock, and film against an almost assured future NFL offensive lineman can help make that case.
Skoronski is projected to go in the first round in a similar spot to Slater, with many way-too-early mock drafts placing him just outside the top-10.
Continue reading...
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 Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
We all know that Ohio State is loaded with talent on both sides of the football. In most years, the Buckeyes usually produce the highest number of players drafted in the Big Ten, and Ohio State is often near the top annually for most players selected from any college football team around the country. Since 2000, the Buckeyes have seen 157 players selected in the NFL Draft, with 34 of those picks coming in the first round.
While many Ohio State fans are excited to watch C.J. Stroud, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Paris Johnson Jr. this year as they look to cement their status as first round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, we can’t forget that the Buckeyes will be taking on plenty of players that will be eligible for the draft that will want to use a big performance against Ohio State to impress NFL scouts. A perfect example of this from previous years is Khalil Mack. Even though plenty of people knew the Buffalo defensive end was going to be a star heading into the season opener against the Buckeyes, Mack sent his draft stock soaring even higher with a huge performance in Columbus.
There are different ways you can look at games when Ohio State is taking on a team with NFL Draft prospects. Either you can see this as a chance to get an early look at a player that your favorite NFL team might be selecting in the next draft, if you are an NFL fan. There is also a possibility you can see one of Ohio State’s own draft prospects matching up with the highly touted draft prospect from an opponent. Or, you could just simply want to see the Buckeyes shutdown a possible top draft pick, showing some of the holes still in their game.
Today’s question: What 2023 NFL Draft prospect are you excited to see Ohio State play this year?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: Joey Porter Jr. - Penn State
For starters, I’m sure Browns and Bengals fans will agree with this pick since Joey Porter Sr. was a thorn in the side of both teams when he played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s probably already a given that the younger Porter will end up being drafted by the Steelers next April and torture Cleveland and Cincinnati for the next decade.
My reasoning for wanting to see Porter against the Buckeyes in the fall is because I want to see how he is able to handle Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr., and the rest of the Ohio State wide receivers. Somehow the Nittany Lions have found a way to keep the Ohio State offense in check in recent years, and if they are able to do it again in October, a huge reason for it will be because of the play of Porter in the secondary.
Personally, I hope that Smith-Njigba and the rest of the Buckeye receivers go off in State College, putting up huge numbers on Porter. Is that mean? It absolutely is, but there’s a reason I call myself a “big ball of hate” in my Twitter bio. I look at Penn State the same way I look at the Red Sox. I just want to see both destroyed as much as possible. It’s nothing personal against Porter, I was hating Penn State long before he committed to their football program.
In all seriousness, Porter is likely going to go on to be a good pro in the NFL. He not only has talent, he also can lean on his father for advice and what to expect at the next level. I’m just hoping he has his own personal fright night a couple days before Halloween. In the end, we are the ones getting the treat since we’ll get to see three possible first round picks going at it, as C.J. Stroud and Jaxon Smith-Njigba will try and break down Porter on the road.
Meredith’s answer: Peter Skoronski - Northwestern
The 2023 quarterback class is poised to be a good one (especially after whatever this nonsense was we saw this year), and the Buckeyes may even find themselves facing off against one of the other quarterbacks, besides C.J. Stroud, who are part of this elite group at some point in the postseason.
However, the player I’m excited to see is a Big Ten West foe who Ohio State will travel to see in November, when the Buckeyes head to Evanston to face Northwestern.
Yes, that player is Peter Skoronski, who has followed in Rashawn Slater’s massive shoes at left tackle for the Wildcats. As Northwestern doesn’t have what one might classify as a prolific offense, Skoronski’s strengths might fall under the radar in the average game, but he’s emerged after his sophomore season as one of the Big Ten’s best pass protectors. As an aside, it doesn’t hurt that Skoronski’s grandfather was a five-time NFL Champion with the Green Bay Packers.
I’m looking forward to watching Skorinski, who will be facing off directly against Ohio State’s always formidable defensive line generally and defensive end Zach Harrison, specifically. Harrison opted to come back for his senior season rather than enter the 2022 NFL Draft, which happened to feature almost as many outstanding defensive linemen as it did receivers. Harrison will be looking to improve his draft stock, and film against an almost assured future NFL offensive lineman can help make that case.
Skoronski is projected to go in the first round in a similar spot to Slater, with many way-too-early mock drafts placing him just outside the top-10.
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LGHL Stick to Sports Podcast: ‘The One Where We Don’t Talk About Sports and Instead Discuss the...
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Stick to Sports Podcast: ‘The One Where We Don’t Talk About Sports and Instead Discuss the Tony Nominations’
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions
Sorry, it’s slow in those Buckeye streets and we’ve got plenty of other sports-focused podcast episodes for you this week.
Land-Grant Holy Land’s Stick to Sports is unlike any podcast you’ve heard on the Ohio State beat. Your hosts, Matt Tamanini and Jami Jurich, will (of course) talk Ohio State sports, but the primary focus of the show will be on what’s going on around the periphery, such as weird/funny happenings in college football and the sports world at large, as well as other things that keep us interested in between games, whether that’s pop culture, social media trends— you name it.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On an episode that will likely appeal to literally zero people, Matt and Jami break down last week’s 2022 Tony nominations. Hear these two Ohio State alums and Broadway insiders discuss what they think of the major categories. The awards will be presented on CBS on Sunday, June 12 at 8 p.m. ET.
Jami’s Recommendations:
“Under the Banner of Heaven” on FX on Hulu:
https://www.hulu.com/series/under-the-banner-of-heaven-9c4ae394-e9c4-4a6d-985e-314270602c6b
Final Season of “Grace and Frankie” on Netflix:
https://www.netflix.com/title/80017537
Matt’s Recommendation:
“Outer Range” on Amazon Prime Video:
https://www.amazon.com/Outer-Range-Season-1/dp/B09PVRLSLB
Connect with Jami Jurich
Twitter: @JamiJurich
Connect with Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
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
Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions
Sorry, it’s slow in those Buckeye streets and we’ve got plenty of other sports-focused podcast episodes for you this week.
Land-Grant Holy Land’s Stick to Sports is unlike any podcast you’ve heard on the Ohio State beat. Your hosts, Matt Tamanini and Jami Jurich, will (of course) talk Ohio State sports, but the primary focus of the show will be on what’s going on around the periphery, such as weird/funny happenings in college football and the sports world at large, as well as other things that keep us interested in between games, whether that’s pop culture, social media trends— you name it.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On an episode that will likely appeal to literally zero people, Matt and Jami break down last week’s 2022 Tony nominations. Hear these two Ohio State alums and Broadway insiders discuss what they think of the major categories. The awards will be presented on CBS on Sunday, June 12 at 8 p.m. ET.
Jami’s Recommendations:
“Under the Banner of Heaven” on FX on Hulu:
https://www.hulu.com/series/under-the-banner-of-heaven-9c4ae394-e9c4-4a6d-985e-314270602c6b
Final Season of “Grace and Frankie” on Netflix:
https://www.netflix.com/title/80017537
Matt’s Recommendation:
“Outer Range” on Amazon Prime Video:
https://www.amazon.com/Outer-Range-Season-1/dp/B09PVRLSLB
Connect with Jami Jurich
Twitter: @JamiJurich
Connect with Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
'22 SC PF Julian Phillips (Tennessee Verbal)
- By ScriptOhio
- 2011 & Beyond Basketball Recruiting
- 7 Replies
Tennessee basketball recruiting: Five-star PF Julian Phillips commits to Volunteers on CBS Sports HQ
Tennessee picked up a commitment from the highest available prospect in the Class of 2022 on Thursday when Julian Phillips chose the Volunteers over Auburn, G League Ignite and other collegiate and professional options in a ceremony on CBS Sports HQ. Phillips came in at No. 18 in the final Class of 2022 prospect rankings released by 247Sports on Wednesday.
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"I picked Tennessee because I have a great relationship with Coach Barnes, Coach Gainey and the rest of their staff," Phillips said on CBS Sports HQ. "I took my visit down there a few months ago. The campus and everything is beautiful. In their system, I can do well next year. That's why I chose them."
Entire article: https://www.cbssports.com/college-b...llips-commits-to-volunteers-on-cbs-sports-hq/
....Yeah right, I'm sure that the topic of NIL money never came up....
Tennessee picked up a commitment from the highest available prospect in the Class of 2022 on Thursday when Julian Phillips chose the Volunteers over Auburn, G League Ignite and other collegiate and professional options in a ceremony on CBS Sports HQ. Phillips came in at No. 18 in the final Class of 2022 prospect rankings released by 247Sports on Wednesday.
.
.
.
"I picked Tennessee because I have a great relationship with Coach Barnes, Coach Gainey and the rest of their staff," Phillips said on CBS Sports HQ. "I took my visit down there a few months ago. The campus and everything is beautiful. In their system, I can do well next year. That's why I chose them."
Entire article: https://www.cbssports.com/college-b...llips-commits-to-volunteers-on-cbs-sports-hq/
....Yeah right, I'm sure that the topic of NIL money never came up....
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LGHL At last! A series sweep and a four-game win streak for Ohio State baseball
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At last! A series sweep and a four-game win streak for Ohio State baseball
David M Wheeler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Buckeyes score 45 runs to take all three games in Evanston against Northwestern, but the streak ends abruptly after four wins
We’ve been checking in on the Ohio State Buckeyes’ 2022 baseball season every couple of weeks since the season started with the Snowbird Classic back in mid-February. And, finally, I can talk about a winning streak. Although the Buckeyes won the first three games of that early “Classic,” last weekend marked their first four-game win streak and the first series sweep of the season.
Lots of hits, lots of long balls – the key to the wins. Unfortunately, the visiting Campbell Fighting Camels killed the streak at four, with a stunning 11-1 victory over the Buckeyes on Tuesday night, followed by a 10-1 rout on Wednesday. So much for the win streak.
The last two weeks, despite the conference sweep, did not have a happy beginning. Big-Ten-leading Rutgers rolled into Columbus on Friday, April 29, and began a sweep of their own. Pitching let the Bucks down against the Scarlet Knights. Whether they gave up an early lead or took an early lead, the Buckeyes found themselves on the short end after nine innings.
Currently, at 6-13, the Buckeyes are 12th in the Big Ten standings, with only Minnesota behind them (Wisconsin does not field a team). Overall, the team sits at 17-28, with seven contests left before the B1G Conference Tournament begins in Omaha on May 25.
With all of the hitting against the Wildcats, Ohio State batting stats surged, led by Brent Todys, Zach Dezenzo, and Kade Kern. Let’s hope that the pitching can hold up, and that potent offense will help make some noise as the season winds down.
Here are recaps of recent games.
April 29: Rutgers 6, Ohio State 4. The Scarlet Knights showed why they’re the conference’s top team early, as they hit OSU starter Nate Haberthier for three runs in the top of the 1st inning. Though the Buckeyes pounded out 12 hits, they never caught up.
April 30: Rutgers 13, Ohio State 3. Ohio State ace Isaiah Coupet cruised through the first five innings of this game and then hit trouble in the 6th, when Rutgers erupted for seven runs (five off of Coupet). Although Kade Kern lifted a homer, OSU managed only six hits overall. Rutgers had almost as many home runs (five) and outfielder Ryan Lasko hit three of them.
May 1: Rutgers 11, Ohio State 8. The third game of the series saw the Buckeyes turn the tables on Rutgers, scoring four runs in the 1st inning and four more in the bottom of the 3rd to lead, 8-3. But the Bucks’ relief pitching couldn’t hold the lead, as Tim Baird and Ethan Hammerberg gave up five runs in the 6th and three more in the 7th and 8th.
May 4: Ohio State 8, Kent State 6. OSU started the win streak with a trip north to take on the Golden Flashes. The Buckeyes, putting up four runs in the 2nd, led all the way in this one. Marcus Ernst was the batting leader, going three for four and knocking in two runs. Hammerberg pitched well in relief and picked up the save.
May 7 (first game): Ohio State 14, Northwestern 6. The Buckeyes simply feasted off Wildcat pitching. Brent Todys went 4-for-5 to lead the 14-hit Scarlet and Gray attack. Kade Kern was 2-for-4 with a homer and four RBI. If you just looked at the final score, you’d think that this game was a rout. Not so. In fact, the score was tied 6-6 going into the bottom of the 8th. It was 14-6 as the Wildcats left the field at the end of the inning. Eight runs!
May 7 (second game): Ohio State 25, Northwestern 9. Talk about a double header! NU didn’t get on the scoreboard until the 5th inning. By that time, the Buckeyes were up 23-0. 10 in the 2nd, five in the 3rd, six in the 4th, and two in the 5th. Though Northwestern did put up some runs late, the game was over by the halfway mark. Dezenzo went 5-for-5 for the day, with a home run and four RBI. Todys was 4-for-6, with two homers, a double, and seven RBI. Coupet collected the win for the Bucks.
May 8: Ohio State 6, Northwestern 5. The Buckeyes finished off the sweep with a nail-biter for a finale. It took a run in each of the final two innings for Ohio State to overcome the deficit and gain the lead. Wyatt Loncar pitched well for OSU, giving up only one hit and zero earned runs in his five innings of work. The Buckeyes outhit the Wildcats 11-4, as the bats continued to be hot.
May 10: Campbell 11, Ohio State 1. For the mid-week, non-conference game, spot starter Jacob Gehring took the mound for the Bucks. He was hit hard, as was reliever Will Pfennig. The Camels, in fact, put runs on the board in six of their nine at bats, knocking out 15 hits along the way. Kade Kern was the only bright spot in the OSU offense, getting two of the home team’s hits.
May 11: Campbell 10, Ohio State 1. Déjà vu all over again. OSU starting pitcher Aaron Funk pitched a strong four innings, giving up no runs and only two hits. Tim Baird, Griffan Smith, and Jake Johnson, however, could not keep up the good work, yielding 10 runs on eight hits in the next five frames. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, managed only three hits, two of them by Zach Dezenzo.
Statistical leaders
Batting Average: Marcus Ernst (.349)
RBI: Dezenzo (44), Kern (44)
HR: Dezenzo (13)
Pitching:
Wyatt Loncar 1-4, 4.66 ERA
Nate Haberthier 2-4, 5.12 ERA
Isaiah Coupet 3-5, 5.91 ERA
Reliever T.J. Brock has the best ERA – 3.78 – of the 18 Buckeye pitchers who have taken the mound this year.
Next up: A weekend series against visiting Penn State to close out the conference schedule. Then a home game against Cincinnati (5/17) and three at home against University of South Carolina Upstate on May 19-21. The B1G conference tourney starts on May 25.
Continue reading...
David M Wheeler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Buckeyes score 45 runs to take all three games in Evanston against Northwestern, but the streak ends abruptly after four wins
We’ve been checking in on the Ohio State Buckeyes’ 2022 baseball season every couple of weeks since the season started with the Snowbird Classic back in mid-February. And, finally, I can talk about a winning streak. Although the Buckeyes won the first three games of that early “Classic,” last weekend marked their first four-game win streak and the first series sweep of the season.
Lots of hits, lots of long balls – the key to the wins. Unfortunately, the visiting Campbell Fighting Camels killed the streak at four, with a stunning 11-1 victory over the Buckeyes on Tuesday night, followed by a 10-1 rout on Wednesday. So much for the win streak.
The last two weeks, despite the conference sweep, did not have a happy beginning. Big-Ten-leading Rutgers rolled into Columbus on Friday, April 29, and began a sweep of their own. Pitching let the Bucks down against the Scarlet Knights. Whether they gave up an early lead or took an early lead, the Buckeyes found themselves on the short end after nine innings.
Currently, at 6-13, the Buckeyes are 12th in the Big Ten standings, with only Minnesota behind them (Wisconsin does not field a team). Overall, the team sits at 17-28, with seven contests left before the B1G Conference Tournament begins in Omaha on May 25.
With all of the hitting against the Wildcats, Ohio State batting stats surged, led by Brent Todys, Zach Dezenzo, and Kade Kern. Let’s hope that the pitching can hold up, and that potent offense will help make some noise as the season winds down.
Here are recaps of recent games.
April 29: Rutgers 6, Ohio State 4. The Scarlet Knights showed why they’re the conference’s top team early, as they hit OSU starter Nate Haberthier for three runs in the top of the 1st inning. Though the Buckeyes pounded out 12 hits, they never caught up.
April 30: Rutgers 13, Ohio State 3. Ohio State ace Isaiah Coupet cruised through the first five innings of this game and then hit trouble in the 6th, when Rutgers erupted for seven runs (five off of Coupet). Although Kade Kern lifted a homer, OSU managed only six hits overall. Rutgers had almost as many home runs (five) and outfielder Ryan Lasko hit three of them.
May 1: Rutgers 11, Ohio State 8. The third game of the series saw the Buckeyes turn the tables on Rutgers, scoring four runs in the 1st inning and four more in the bottom of the 3rd to lead, 8-3. But the Bucks’ relief pitching couldn’t hold the lead, as Tim Baird and Ethan Hammerberg gave up five runs in the 6th and three more in the 7th and 8th.
May 4: Ohio State 8, Kent State 6. OSU started the win streak with a trip north to take on the Golden Flashes. The Buckeyes, putting up four runs in the 2nd, led all the way in this one. Marcus Ernst was the batting leader, going three for four and knocking in two runs. Hammerberg pitched well in relief and picked up the save.
May 7 (first game): Ohio State 14, Northwestern 6. The Buckeyes simply feasted off Wildcat pitching. Brent Todys went 4-for-5 to lead the 14-hit Scarlet and Gray attack. Kade Kern was 2-for-4 with a homer and four RBI. If you just looked at the final score, you’d think that this game was a rout. Not so. In fact, the score was tied 6-6 going into the bottom of the 8th. It was 14-6 as the Wildcats left the field at the end of the inning. Eight runs!
May 7 (second game): Ohio State 25, Northwestern 9. Talk about a double header! NU didn’t get on the scoreboard until the 5th inning. By that time, the Buckeyes were up 23-0. 10 in the 2nd, five in the 3rd, six in the 4th, and two in the 5th. Though Northwestern did put up some runs late, the game was over by the halfway mark. Dezenzo went 5-for-5 for the day, with a home run and four RBI. Todys was 4-for-6, with two homers, a double, and seven RBI. Coupet collected the win for the Bucks.
May 8: Ohio State 6, Northwestern 5. The Buckeyes finished off the sweep with a nail-biter for a finale. It took a run in each of the final two innings for Ohio State to overcome the deficit and gain the lead. Wyatt Loncar pitched well for OSU, giving up only one hit and zero earned runs in his five innings of work. The Buckeyes outhit the Wildcats 11-4, as the bats continued to be hot.
May 10: Campbell 11, Ohio State 1. For the mid-week, non-conference game, spot starter Jacob Gehring took the mound for the Bucks. He was hit hard, as was reliever Will Pfennig. The Camels, in fact, put runs on the board in six of their nine at bats, knocking out 15 hits along the way. Kade Kern was the only bright spot in the OSU offense, getting two of the home team’s hits.
May 11: Campbell 10, Ohio State 1. Déjà vu all over again. OSU starting pitcher Aaron Funk pitched a strong four innings, giving up no runs and only two hits. Tim Baird, Griffan Smith, and Jake Johnson, however, could not keep up the good work, yielding 10 runs on eight hits in the next five frames. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, managed only three hits, two of them by Zach Dezenzo.
Statistical leaders
Batting Average: Marcus Ernst (.349)
RBI: Dezenzo (44), Kern (44)
HR: Dezenzo (13)
Pitching:
Wyatt Loncar 1-4, 4.66 ERA
Nate Haberthier 2-4, 5.12 ERA
Isaiah Coupet 3-5, 5.91 ERA
Reliever T.J. Brock has the best ERA – 3.78 – of the 18 Buckeye pitchers who have taken the mound this year.
Next up: A weekend series against visiting Penn State to close out the conference schedule. Then a home game against Cincinnati (5/17) and three at home against University of South Carolina Upstate on May 19-21. The B1G conference tourney starts on May 25.
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LGHL Column: What makes an Ohio State quarterback recruit under Ryan Day?
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Column: What makes an Ohio State quarterback recruit under Ryan Day?
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Looking past the recruiting rankings, we take a look at what all of Ryan Day’s quarterback recruits have in common.
The Ohio State Buckeyes recently received a verbal commitment from class of 2024 quarterback and No. 1 player in the country according to 247Sports, Dylan Raiola from Chandler High School (Chandler, AZ).
Since Ryan Day came to Columbus for the 2017 season, the Buckeyes have landed five top-50 recruits at the quarterback position, and also brought in former five-star recruit Justin Fields through the transfer portal. The recruiting under Day at the quarterback position has arguably been the best in the country over that time period. Looking at more than the recruiting rankings, Day is looking for an extremely particular type of quarterback when he recruits.
When it comes to what Day is looking for when recruiting a quarterback, it starts with the person first, high football acumen second, physical tools third, and then the physical builds of the players fourth. When we look at the player profiles of every quarterback who has been recruited by Day since his arrival, there is a definitive look and feel to all of them. This is also why he has been able to build out such a talented quarterback room.
Football Background
Ryan Day comes from an NFL background, and in the case of his quarterbacks he looks for players who come from high level football backgrounds. This includes state championship level programs, former NFL players as coaches, and playing in high school programs that run offenses that actually prepare quarterbacks for college.
The most recent commitment Raiola comes from a football family — his dad Dominic Raiola was an All-American center and played in the NFL for 13 years. Dylan Raiola played for his Dad’s former teammate – and former NFL quarterback – Jon Kitna, who coached Raiola at Burleson High School. This is not the only quarterback Day has recruited with a former NFL player as a head coach.
Devin Brown – a Top-50 player in 247Sports’ Composite rankings – played for former Ohio State quarterback Joe Germaine, who was the head coach of Brown at Queen Creek High School (Queen Creek, AZ). Germaine ran the same offense the St. Louis Rams ran when he was a player for them. This gave Brown a pro-style background and gave him a solid foundation heading into his final season of high school. There he played in the same offense that produced first-round pick Zach Wilson and another Division-I football player in Jaxson Dart.
Brown and Raiols have incredible backgrounds for football coming in, but that doesn’t mean Kyle McCord, C.J. Stroud, Quinn Ewers, and Jack Miller didn’t. McCord played in a state championship level program in Philadelphia, and at a school that has put out NFL players in the past. Stroud comes from the talent rich state of California playing in a modern quarterback friendly offense, and Miller played in an offense under Brent Barnes at Chaparral High School (Scottsdale, AZ) in a high octane RPO/Vertical Passing offense.
When looking at all of the quarterbacks Day has brought in, high level high school offenses and winning programs seem to be the place to start. The last two quarterback commits have connections to the NFL, and every quarterback has won at a high level.
Physical Tools
Ryan Day has coached three First Round NFL Draft picks at quarterback since arriving at Ohio State in 2017. The list of Dwayne Haskins Jr., Justin Fields, and now C.J. Stroud all have incredibly strong arms and natural athletic ability. Fields was more athletic than both Stroud and Haskins, but the overall strengths of being able shape throws, be accurate to all levels, and being able to improvise when needed are the physical tools he his looking for.
We’ve seen that with the first three, but looking at the incoming players we can see that they fit the same profile as the previous quarterbacks. Starting with Jack Miller, Miller is big and athletic. He also was able to deliver the ball to all three levels of the field with accuracy and on the move. McCord arguably has the strongest arm of the bunch, and fits into the same category as a potential passer as his three potential predecessors. Brown’s senior highlight tape puts the type of arm talent and accuracy Ryan Day is looking for at that level into incredible perspective. Now, Raiola has taken that expectation to the next level with his Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes comparisons.
Below we can take look at three high light tapes from Miller, Brown, and Raiola to see how they compare. In these highlight mixes you can see the arm strength, accuracy to multiple levels of the field, and incredible playmaking ability.
Physical Traits
Once you have the first two boxes on this checklist marked off, then you get to Ryan Day’s ideal physical build at of a quarterback. After getting all the high school quarterbacks Day has recruited their height averaged out to be 6-foot-3 and their weight was 208 pounds. This is the prototypical size of an incoming quarterback, and the heights are extremely valuable to NFL evaluations when it comes to looking the part. Having six quarterbacks come in fitting the exact same – or at least incredibly similar – physical statures does not happen on accident.
Looking at the current 2023 class, the quarterbacks that Ohio State has been linked with have fallen short of this physical profile, which definitely plays into the initial evaluation. Even taking a look at J.T. Barrett, Dwayne Haskins, and Justin Fields, they all fall into the same physical profile. You combine the stature with the physical tools and high level football back ground, and you get an Ohio State quarterback. Even with Stroud coming in smaller than every other quarterback, in his time at Ohio State he already has his weight up to 218 pounds, and that gives Devin Brown some hope.
Now there could be some exceptions if a quarterback is incredibly gifted in the first two areas of quarterbacking. As of now, we have seen a definitive type of quarterback in all three categories under Day when it comes to recruiting a quarterback.
Conclusion
Ohio State under Ryan Day has had two quarterbacks taken in the first round of the NFL Draft and third almost certainly on his way. There are articles about Ohio State becoming QBU all over the internet, which says a lot about what you need to know about Ryan Day’s quarterback evaluation skills. Day is also recruiting from the top, giving him access to the highest level quarterbacks allowing him to be truly selective in who he goes after.
We saw in the three highlight mixes what Ohio State quarterbacks should look like at the high school level. The ability to throw to all three levels, with different velocities and when improvising, all show up immediately when you watch any of the quarterbacks’ high school tapes. Coming from a high level offense, NFL coaching, and high character high school programs is definitely in the formula as well.
Day does not recruit quarterbacks who can’t do a little bit of everything. It’s a requirement of his offense. Every quarterback he has recruited has been incredibly successful at the high school level, and this has built him into one of the greatest talent collectors in quarterback recruiting. Ohio State fans should be excited, and with the commitment of Dylan Raiola earlier this week, it doesn’t look like this trend of elite quarterback recruiting is slowing down.
Continue reading...
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Looking past the recruiting rankings, we take a look at what all of Ryan Day’s quarterback recruits have in common.
The Ohio State Buckeyes recently received a verbal commitment from class of 2024 quarterback and No. 1 player in the country according to 247Sports, Dylan Raiola from Chandler High School (Chandler, AZ).
Since Ryan Day came to Columbus for the 2017 season, the Buckeyes have landed five top-50 recruits at the quarterback position, and also brought in former five-star recruit Justin Fields through the transfer portal. The recruiting under Day at the quarterback position has arguably been the best in the country over that time period. Looking at more than the recruiting rankings, Day is looking for an extremely particular type of quarterback when he recruits.
When it comes to what Day is looking for when recruiting a quarterback, it starts with the person first, high football acumen second, physical tools third, and then the physical builds of the players fourth. When we look at the player profiles of every quarterback who has been recruited by Day since his arrival, there is a definitive look and feel to all of them. This is also why he has been able to build out such a talented quarterback room.
Football Background
Ryan Day comes from an NFL background, and in the case of his quarterbacks he looks for players who come from high level football backgrounds. This includes state championship level programs, former NFL players as coaches, and playing in high school programs that run offenses that actually prepare quarterbacks for college.
The most recent commitment Raiola comes from a football family — his dad Dominic Raiola was an All-American center and played in the NFL for 13 years. Dylan Raiola played for his Dad’s former teammate – and former NFL quarterback – Jon Kitna, who coached Raiola at Burleson High School. This is not the only quarterback Day has recruited with a former NFL player as a head coach.
Devin Brown – a Top-50 player in 247Sports’ Composite rankings – played for former Ohio State quarterback Joe Germaine, who was the head coach of Brown at Queen Creek High School (Queen Creek, AZ). Germaine ran the same offense the St. Louis Rams ran when he was a player for them. This gave Brown a pro-style background and gave him a solid foundation heading into his final season of high school. There he played in the same offense that produced first-round pick Zach Wilson and another Division-I football player in Jaxson Dart.
Brown and Raiols have incredible backgrounds for football coming in, but that doesn’t mean Kyle McCord, C.J. Stroud, Quinn Ewers, and Jack Miller didn’t. McCord played in a state championship level program in Philadelphia, and at a school that has put out NFL players in the past. Stroud comes from the talent rich state of California playing in a modern quarterback friendly offense, and Miller played in an offense under Brent Barnes at Chaparral High School (Scottsdale, AZ) in a high octane RPO/Vertical Passing offense.
When looking at all of the quarterbacks Day has brought in, high level high school offenses and winning programs seem to be the place to start. The last two quarterback commits have connections to the NFL, and every quarterback has won at a high level.
Physical Tools
Ryan Day has coached three First Round NFL Draft picks at quarterback since arriving at Ohio State in 2017. The list of Dwayne Haskins Jr., Justin Fields, and now C.J. Stroud all have incredibly strong arms and natural athletic ability. Fields was more athletic than both Stroud and Haskins, but the overall strengths of being able shape throws, be accurate to all levels, and being able to improvise when needed are the physical tools he his looking for.
We’ve seen that with the first three, but looking at the incoming players we can see that they fit the same profile as the previous quarterbacks. Starting with Jack Miller, Miller is big and athletic. He also was able to deliver the ball to all three levels of the field with accuracy and on the move. McCord arguably has the strongest arm of the bunch, and fits into the same category as a potential passer as his three potential predecessors. Brown’s senior highlight tape puts the type of arm talent and accuracy Ryan Day is looking for at that level into incredible perspective. Now, Raiola has taken that expectation to the next level with his Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes comparisons.
Below we can take look at three high light tapes from Miller, Brown, and Raiola to see how they compare. In these highlight mixes you can see the arm strength, accuracy to multiple levels of the field, and incredible playmaking ability.
Physical Traits
Once you have the first two boxes on this checklist marked off, then you get to Ryan Day’s ideal physical build at of a quarterback. After getting all the high school quarterbacks Day has recruited their height averaged out to be 6-foot-3 and their weight was 208 pounds. This is the prototypical size of an incoming quarterback, and the heights are extremely valuable to NFL evaluations when it comes to looking the part. Having six quarterbacks come in fitting the exact same – or at least incredibly similar – physical statures does not happen on accident.
Looking at the current 2023 class, the quarterbacks that Ohio State has been linked with have fallen short of this physical profile, which definitely plays into the initial evaluation. Even taking a look at J.T. Barrett, Dwayne Haskins, and Justin Fields, they all fall into the same physical profile. You combine the stature with the physical tools and high level football back ground, and you get an Ohio State quarterback. Even with Stroud coming in smaller than every other quarterback, in his time at Ohio State he already has his weight up to 218 pounds, and that gives Devin Brown some hope.
Now there could be some exceptions if a quarterback is incredibly gifted in the first two areas of quarterbacking. As of now, we have seen a definitive type of quarterback in all three categories under Day when it comes to recruiting a quarterback.
Conclusion
Ohio State under Ryan Day has had two quarterbacks taken in the first round of the NFL Draft and third almost certainly on his way. There are articles about Ohio State becoming QBU all over the internet, which says a lot about what you need to know about Ryan Day’s quarterback evaluation skills. Day is also recruiting from the top, giving him access to the highest level quarterbacks allowing him to be truly selective in who he goes after.
We saw in the three highlight mixes what Ohio State quarterbacks should look like at the high school level. The ability to throw to all three levels, with different velocities and when improvising, all show up immediately when you watch any of the quarterbacks’ high school tapes. Coming from a high level offense, NFL coaching, and high character high school programs is definitely in the formula as well.
Day does not recruit quarterbacks who can’t do a little bit of everything. It’s a requirement of his offense. Every quarterback he has recruited has been incredibly successful at the high school level, and this has built him into one of the greatest talent collectors in quarterback recruiting. Ohio State fans should be excited, and with the commitment of Dylan Raiola earlier this week, it doesn’t look like this trend of elite quarterback recruiting is slowing down.
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LGHL Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for May 12, 2022
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- 0 Replies
Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for May 12, 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
Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
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
On the Gridiron
Forgotten Buckeyes: Bobby Hoying took a while to get going at OSU, but put up more prolific numbers than you might remember
Josh Dooley. Land-Grant Holy Land
Once homeless, Carlos Snow rallies to earn Ohio State degree
Rob Oller, The Columbus Dispatch
A talented Ohio State receiver room has Brian Hartline again confident in a deep rotation
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Next Man Up: How Buckeyes can replace Chris Olave at wide receiver (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Good thing he’s better at catching the ball than throwing it!
San Diego's Own @chrisolave_
️ @Padres pic.twitter.com/OjSzPXO1AX
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) May 11, 2022
Mickey Marotti says Ohio State football’s loss to Michigan forced everybody to ‘look in the mirror’
Stephen Means, cleveland.com
What Jim Knowles wants out of an Ohio State linebacker
Colin Gay, Scarlet and Gray Report
Why Notre Dame could be Ohio State’s toughest game of the season: Buckeyes schedule breakdown
Doug Lesmerises, cleveland.com
Ohio State is the new QBU, Florida poised to break out
Ari Wasserman, The Athletic
Column: How far can Ohio State go in claiming other programs’ starpower?
Meredith Hein, Land-Grant Holy Land
You’re Nuts: Which Ohio State football player would you want to see play a different sport?
Meredith Hein and Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land
On the Hardwood
Malaki Branham, E.J. Liddell invited to participate in NBA Combine
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Zed is putting in the work!
Outside the Shoe and Schott
Buckeyes top Purdue, advance in Big Ten softball tournament
Staff Reports, The Columbus Dispatch
Softball: Six Buckeyes Earn Big Ten Postseason Honors
Ohio State Athletics
Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith Believes NCAA’s New NIL Guidelines Are Necessary, Worth Risk of Potential Lawsuits
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Women’s Lacrosse: Johnson and Epstein Named USA Lacrosse Magazine Honorable Mention All-Americans
Ohio State Athletics
And now for something completely different
Humanity is not all bad.
INCREDIBLE MOMENT: Boynton Beach police sent this video out in the hopes to honor the people who got out of the car to help the woman who had a medical episode while driving. https://t.co/5XDUhTg570 pic.twitter.com/2o6G9d6MJP
— WPBF 25 News (@WPBF25News) May 11, 2022
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
Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
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
On the Gridiron
Forgotten Buckeyes: Bobby Hoying took a while to get going at OSU, but put up more prolific numbers than you might remember
Josh Dooley. Land-Grant Holy Land
Once homeless, Carlos Snow rallies to earn Ohio State degree
Rob Oller, The Columbus Dispatch
A talented Ohio State receiver room has Brian Hartline again confident in a deep rotation
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Next Man Up: How Buckeyes can replace Chris Olave at wide receiver (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Good thing he’s better at catching the ball than throwing it!
San Diego's Own @chrisolave_
️ @Padres pic.twitter.com/OjSzPXO1AX— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) May 11, 2022
Mickey Marotti says Ohio State football’s loss to Michigan forced everybody to ‘look in the mirror’
Stephen Means, cleveland.com
What Jim Knowles wants out of an Ohio State linebacker
Colin Gay, Scarlet and Gray Report
Why Notre Dame could be Ohio State’s toughest game of the season: Buckeyes schedule breakdown
Doug Lesmerises, cleveland.com
Ohio State is the new QBU, Florida poised to break out
Ari Wasserman, The Athletic
Column: How far can Ohio State go in claiming other programs’ starpower?
Meredith Hein, Land-Grant Holy Land
You’re Nuts: Which Ohio State football player would you want to see play a different sport?
Meredith Hein and Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land
On the Hardwood
Malaki Branham, E.J. Liddell invited to participate in NBA Combine
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Zed is putting in the work!
Outside the Shoe and Schott
Buckeyes top Purdue, advance in Big Ten softball tournament
Staff Reports, The Columbus Dispatch
Softball: Six Buckeyes Earn Big Ten Postseason Honors
Ohio State Athletics
Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith Believes NCAA’s New NIL Guidelines Are Necessary, Worth Risk of Potential Lawsuits
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Women’s Lacrosse: Johnson and Epstein Named USA Lacrosse Magazine Honorable Mention All-Americans
Ohio State Athletics
And now for something completely different
Humanity is not all bad.
INCREDIBLE MOMENT: Boynton Beach police sent this video out in the hopes to honor the people who got out of the car to help the woman who had a medical episode while driving. https://t.co/5XDUhTg570 pic.twitter.com/2o6G9d6MJP
— WPBF 25 News (@WPBF25News) May 11, 2022
Continue reading...
LGHL Buckeyes stay busy on the recruiting trail as they offer a pair of Georgia natives
- News
- 0 Replies
Buckeyes stay busy on the recruiting trail as they offer a pair of Georgia natives
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Nicolas Galindo/The Columbus Dispatch via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Ohio State continues to stay active in Georgia by offering two new players from the Peach State.
In-season, out-of-season, it really doesn’t matter. Ohio State is recruiting their tails off and not showing any signs of stopping. This coaching staff has been non-stop when it comes to evaluating top new talent, and the same is true for their efforts in courting the 2023 and 2024 top targets on their board. Landing the nation’s best player in the 2024 class earlier this week thanks to the commitment of Dylan Raiola, it looks as if that’s just the beginning of how well the rest of this spring and into summer can go for the Buckeyes.
Buckeyes dish out latest offer in the 2024 class
Stop if you’ve heard this before, but the state of Georgia is easily one of the most impressive states when it comes to producing DI talent. The amount of players coming out of the Peach State right now is pretty incredible, and every major program is looking to shoot their shot with any number of those top guys. Fortunately, the Buckeyes have a pretty solid track record in Georgia, and they’ll look to keep the trend moving.
On Wednesday, Ohio State’s presence was back inside those talent-rich state lines as they sent out their latest offer in the 2024 cycle. On the receiving end, 6-foot-3, 180-pound defensive back Mike Matthews took to his Twitter account to share the latest in his recruitment process.
The No. 73 overall player in the 2024 class per the 247Sports Composite grades, Mike is also considered the be the eighth-best safety and the No. 15 player in Georgia. With nearly 20 offers to his name already, it’s not hard to see why Ohio State wanted to get in the mix here. While they may be a bit later to the party in comparison to the other programs such as Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, and a host of others, in-state power Georgia has yet to offer, so the Buckeyes are clearly looking to make a name for themselves early.
Though the 2023 class is certainly priority No. 1 for the staff right now, the addition of Raiola to the 2024 class is only going to speed up the momentum as they look to build yet another elite class of future Buckeyes.
AGTG. I am blessed and honored to receive an offer from Ohio State University
! @OhioStateFB @Coach_Eliano @ParkviewFB @MrHorne20 @RecruitGeorgia @Mansell247 @ChadSimmons_ @CoachBMiller35 @CoachGunterPV @JeremyO_Johnson @stephenmsmith11 @oalaribe @SWiltfong247 #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/k2GaKmsVxP
— mike matthews (@mike1matthews) May 11, 2022OSU sends out an offer in the very distant future
It’s not often you see Ohio State send out offers to prospects in classes that are three and four years out. Ryan Day and company tend to focus on the guys in the current cycle and the class to follow. Still, when a player is worthy of an Ohio State offer, it really doesn’t matter when they receive it if the coaches believe they’re good enough. In fact, those kinds of offers many times can be to Ohio State’s advantage, because it provides increased time for building strong relationships.
Yesterday, the Buckeyes looked way off into the future when they sent out an offer to a current eighth grader in the class of 2026. About as early as it gets for an offer to be sent out, Ohio State was the latest to enter the very early recruitment of Tyler Atkinson, another Georgia product that is seeing his process explode with attention.
Not your typical middle school student by any means, Atkinson is already a household name and his offers from Georgia, Auburn, Ole Miss, and Ohio State prove how talented this youngster is. Without a ranking in the 247Sports Composite grades yet, without a doubt in mind, Atkinson will be easily one of the top players in the country for his class when those grades become available.
As mentioned, offers this early in the process make for a long relationship opportunity and though the Buckeyes weren’t first in line, Jim Knowles and the rest of the defensive staff have their sights set on being in this recruitment for the long haul.
Thanks For Believing In Me
Blessed to receive a Full Schloarship
️ffer from The Ohio State University
Means A LOT @OhioStateFB @OhioStAthletics @Coach_FredM @BigCoachMarvin @Mhoward38 @Mansell247 @JeremyO_Johnson @ChadSimmons_ @BrianDohn247 @CoachM_Patrick @CoachTimWalton pic.twitter.com/uMHyy3mYfV
— Tyler Atkinson (@Tyler16Atkinson) May 12, 2022Quick Hits
In addition to Woodyard, Ohio State is also in on 2024 linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa who is the No. 60 player nationally and fourth best linebacker in the class. Kyngstonn made it known that he definitely intends to get back to Columbus in the future for what would be his third visit to Ohio State overall. Not an easy trek from California, that alone should show the interest is pretty high for this top target.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Nicolas Galindo/The Columbus Dispatch via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Ohio State continues to stay active in Georgia by offering two new players from the Peach State.
In-season, out-of-season, it really doesn’t matter. Ohio State is recruiting their tails off and not showing any signs of stopping. This coaching staff has been non-stop when it comes to evaluating top new talent, and the same is true for their efforts in courting the 2023 and 2024 top targets on their board. Landing the nation’s best player in the 2024 class earlier this week thanks to the commitment of Dylan Raiola, it looks as if that’s just the beginning of how well the rest of this spring and into summer can go for the Buckeyes.
Buckeyes dish out latest offer in the 2024 class
Stop if you’ve heard this before, but the state of Georgia is easily one of the most impressive states when it comes to producing DI talent. The amount of players coming out of the Peach State right now is pretty incredible, and every major program is looking to shoot their shot with any number of those top guys. Fortunately, the Buckeyes have a pretty solid track record in Georgia, and they’ll look to keep the trend moving.
On Wednesday, Ohio State’s presence was back inside those talent-rich state lines as they sent out their latest offer in the 2024 cycle. On the receiving end, 6-foot-3, 180-pound defensive back Mike Matthews took to his Twitter account to share the latest in his recruitment process.
The No. 73 overall player in the 2024 class per the 247Sports Composite grades, Mike is also considered the be the eighth-best safety and the No. 15 player in Georgia. With nearly 20 offers to his name already, it’s not hard to see why Ohio State wanted to get in the mix here. While they may be a bit later to the party in comparison to the other programs such as Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, and a host of others, in-state power Georgia has yet to offer, so the Buckeyes are clearly looking to make a name for themselves early.
Though the 2023 class is certainly priority No. 1 for the staff right now, the addition of Raiola to the 2024 class is only going to speed up the momentum as they look to build yet another elite class of future Buckeyes.
AGTG. I am blessed and honored to receive an offer from Ohio State University
! @OhioStateFB @Coach_Eliano @ParkviewFB @MrHorne20 @RecruitGeorgia @Mansell247 @ChadSimmons_ @CoachBMiller35 @CoachGunterPV @JeremyO_Johnson @stephenmsmith11 @oalaribe @SWiltfong247 #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/k2GaKmsVxP— mike matthews (@mike1matthews) May 11, 2022
It’s not often you see Ohio State send out offers to prospects in classes that are three and four years out. Ryan Day and company tend to focus on the guys in the current cycle and the class to follow. Still, when a player is worthy of an Ohio State offer, it really doesn’t matter when they receive it if the coaches believe they’re good enough. In fact, those kinds of offers many times can be to Ohio State’s advantage, because it provides increased time for building strong relationships.
Yesterday, the Buckeyes looked way off into the future when they sent out an offer to a current eighth grader in the class of 2026. About as early as it gets for an offer to be sent out, Ohio State was the latest to enter the very early recruitment of Tyler Atkinson, another Georgia product that is seeing his process explode with attention.
Not your typical middle school student by any means, Atkinson is already a household name and his offers from Georgia, Auburn, Ole Miss, and Ohio State prove how talented this youngster is. Without a ranking in the 247Sports Composite grades yet, without a doubt in mind, Atkinson will be easily one of the top players in the country for his class when those grades become available.
As mentioned, offers this early in the process make for a long relationship opportunity and though the Buckeyes weren’t first in line, Jim Knowles and the rest of the defensive staff have their sights set on being in this recruitment for the long haul.
Thanks For Believing In Me
Blessed to receive a Full Schloarship
️ffer from The Ohio State University
Means A LOT @OhioStateFB @OhioStAthletics @Coach_FredM @BigCoachMarvin @Mhoward38 @Mansell247 @JeremyO_Johnson @ChadSimmons_ @BrianDohn247 @CoachM_Patrick @CoachTimWalton pic.twitter.com/uMHyy3mYfV
— Tyler Atkinson (@Tyler16Atkinson) May 12, 2022
- Jim Knowles was on the road in sunny California on Wednesday as he stopped in at the national power St. John Bosco for their showcase where several college coaches were in attendance. Checking in on defensive back target Peyton Woodyard, Knowles and his three-safety system are very much working to land the No. 11 player in the country and the top safety in the 2024 class.
In addition to Woodyard, Ohio State is also in on 2024 linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa who is the No. 60 player nationally and fourth best linebacker in the class. Kyngstonn made it known that he definitely intends to get back to Columbus in the future for what would be his third visit to Ohio State overall. Not an easy trek from California, that alone should show the interest is pretty high for this top target.
Continue reading...
LGHL Column: How far can Ohio State go in claiming other programs’ starpower?
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- 0 Replies
Column: How far can Ohio State go in claiming other programs’ starpower?
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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images
The limit does not exist.
A picture is worth a thousand words, and the photo of Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Jameson Williams in the endzone in the 2021 College Football Playoff Championship exemplifies the story of the 2022 NFL Draft — or at least the narrative Ohio State wants to tell.
It was a big night for receivers overall, but the 10-11-12 selection overall of Wilson, Olave and Williams to the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions leaves a lot to unpack — most notably because, as alluded to in the opener, they once lined up on offense for Ohio State altogether.
For starters, the trio’s success is a testament to Ohio State wide receivers coach Brian Hartline who, in just a few seasons, has made Columbus THE destination for top receiver talent from across the country. That pipeline has continued into its next generation, as we saw in the Rose Bowl in January with Jaxon Smith-Njigba seamlessly stepping into the role of No. 1 receiver.
There’s also the continued success of Ohio State in the draft at large — a story this draft helped to perpetuate. The Buckeyes have had at least one first round pick in every draft since 2016, and the program has an FBS record 87 first-round selections.
For all the success of this year’s draft, this narrative also begs the question of how much Ohio State can continue to capitalize on the talent of individual players who did not finish their collegiate careers in Columbus — something that would have seemed altogether unthinkable just a few seasons ago.
In 2022, however, the phenomenon is not that far-fetched, nor is it uncommon. Ohio State fans have been claiming Joe Burrow as a member of Buckeye Nation despite him leaving for LSU in 2018 after graduating from Ohio State — a solid reason to count him in the ranks if there ever was one. Now, we can add Williams to the list. It’s a scenario that will only continue to compound with the continuation of the transfer portal as more players will spend time with multiple programs during their college careers.
On the flip side, it feels apparent that Ohio State fans would rarely give credit to the previous program of a player who transferred in. There is some haughtiness there, but there’s also consideration that, as the elitist of elite programs, Ohio State deserves much of the credit in getting the inbound player the stage and setup to be successful.
That narrative doesn’t hold up when we look at players like North Carolina graduate transfer kicker Noah Ruggles, but even with a grad transfer, the story of Ruggles’ time in Columbus still contained the element that he’d initially wanted to come to Ohio State and his grandfather was a season ticket holder.
Similarly, we also tell ourselves that players like Williams and Burrow who transfer to other elite programs — Alabama and LSU, for instance — are trading for new situations with other great programs, so we can assume Ohio State played a big role in their development. Again, that’s the narrative we repeat to ourselves when times are good.
Perhaps looking at players who have never been at Ohio State can help us understand this situation. For instance, will Oklahoma continue to claim Caleb Williams as a Sooner? What about NC State/Wisconsin and Russell Wilson?
Russell Wilson presents a rare case of a player who can give us hindsight in this rapidly evolving situation, as the graduate transfer situation is recognizably more clear cut but similar to the chaos of the transfer portal. Players play for a significant period at their undergraduate school’s program before wrapping up elsewhere. For Big Ten fans, the emphasis for Wilson is the “somewhere” he landed — Wisconsin — while for others it might be NC State, where he spent the first several years of his college career. In many ways, it feels like there are fewer hard feelings with grad transfers.
Like Williams, Burrow didn’t leave anyone at Ohio State in a lurch when he transferred. Dwayne Haskins had effectively backed up JT Barrett in 2017 when Burrow was injured, and Haskins came out on top of the three-way quarterback competition in the spring of 2018. Haskins would go on to have a phenomenal season in 2018 before Justin Fields transferred in from Georgia in 2019 — a move no one was mad about.
That’s a long way of saying there were no hard feelings when Burrow left.
Fields, of course, is the inverse of Burrow, having played limited snaps in his single season with the Bulldogs before transferring to Ohio State. However, like Burrow and Williams, Ohio State fans claim Fields unequivocally as one of their own.
Granted, that “claim” also translates into extraordinary support. When Williams went down with an injury in the College Football Playoff final this year, Buckeye Nation collectively held its breath and hoped it wasn’t too serious. Like Burrow, we all seem to have a soft spot for Williams and want him to succeed, even if he did go to an SEC school.
Of course, even the most loyal of Ohio State fans can be fickle at times. We accept that Williams wouldn’t have had as much of a breakout season in Columbus if he was splitting catches with Olave and Wilson. Would our feelings toward Williams be so positive if Ohio State’s receiver room was not quite so talented this past season? We know what we’d do: We’d be calling him a traitor.
There’s also the consideration of some of the more unceremonious departures from Ohio State for the transfer portal who get no love from Ohio State fans. The mid-season transfer of linebacker K’Vaughan Pope comes to mind. It’s hard to imagine Ohio State fans cheering for him in the same way they did for the parted Williams — then again, tweeting out obscenities about the team at halftime might have contributed to those hard feelings.
Regardless of how we feel, Burrow doesn’t say he went to Ohio State when he does his voiceover for Monday Night Football. There are probably few who care that he started his career at Ohio State. So why is it so important to us, especially when we have so many other proof points?
At the end of the day, Ohio State has an embarrassment of riches, and probably can pump the brakes on claiming players who didn’t actually finish their college careers in Columbus. There’s no shortage of proof points to the validity of the program, and this past draft was no exception. Two receivers going high in the first round should be proof enough of the strength of the program.
Then again, there’s no reason not to keep showing that photo of Olave, Wilson and Williams at every possible opportunity.
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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images
The limit does not exist.
A picture is worth a thousand words, and the photo of Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Jameson Williams in the endzone in the 2021 College Football Playoff Championship exemplifies the story of the 2022 NFL Draft — or at least the narrative Ohio State wants to tell.
It was a big night for receivers overall, but the 10-11-12 selection overall of Wilson, Olave and Williams to the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions leaves a lot to unpack — most notably because, as alluded to in the opener, they once lined up on offense for Ohio State altogether.
For starters, the trio’s success is a testament to Ohio State wide receivers coach Brian Hartline who, in just a few seasons, has made Columbus THE destination for top receiver talent from across the country. That pipeline has continued into its next generation, as we saw in the Rose Bowl in January with Jaxon Smith-Njigba seamlessly stepping into the role of No. 1 receiver.
There’s also the continued success of Ohio State in the draft at large — a story this draft helped to perpetuate. The Buckeyes have had at least one first round pick in every draft since 2016, and the program has an FBS record 87 first-round selections.
For all the success of this year’s draft, this narrative also begs the question of how much Ohio State can continue to capitalize on the talent of individual players who did not finish their collegiate careers in Columbus — something that would have seemed altogether unthinkable just a few seasons ago.
In 2022, however, the phenomenon is not that far-fetched, nor is it uncommon. Ohio State fans have been claiming Joe Burrow as a member of Buckeye Nation despite him leaving for LSU in 2018 after graduating from Ohio State — a solid reason to count him in the ranks if there ever was one. Now, we can add Williams to the list. It’s a scenario that will only continue to compound with the continuation of the transfer portal as more players will spend time with multiple programs during their college careers.
On the flip side, it feels apparent that Ohio State fans would rarely give credit to the previous program of a player who transferred in. There is some haughtiness there, but there’s also consideration that, as the elitist of elite programs, Ohio State deserves much of the credit in getting the inbound player the stage and setup to be successful.
That narrative doesn’t hold up when we look at players like North Carolina graduate transfer kicker Noah Ruggles, but even with a grad transfer, the story of Ruggles’ time in Columbus still contained the element that he’d initially wanted to come to Ohio State and his grandfather was a season ticket holder.
Similarly, we also tell ourselves that players like Williams and Burrow who transfer to other elite programs — Alabama and LSU, for instance — are trading for new situations with other great programs, so we can assume Ohio State played a big role in their development. Again, that’s the narrative we repeat to ourselves when times are good.
Perhaps looking at players who have never been at Ohio State can help us understand this situation. For instance, will Oklahoma continue to claim Caleb Williams as a Sooner? What about NC State/Wisconsin and Russell Wilson?
Russell Wilson presents a rare case of a player who can give us hindsight in this rapidly evolving situation, as the graduate transfer situation is recognizably more clear cut but similar to the chaos of the transfer portal. Players play for a significant period at their undergraduate school’s program before wrapping up elsewhere. For Big Ten fans, the emphasis for Wilson is the “somewhere” he landed — Wisconsin — while for others it might be NC State, where he spent the first several years of his college career. In many ways, it feels like there are fewer hard feelings with grad transfers.
Like Williams, Burrow didn’t leave anyone at Ohio State in a lurch when he transferred. Dwayne Haskins had effectively backed up JT Barrett in 2017 when Burrow was injured, and Haskins came out on top of the three-way quarterback competition in the spring of 2018. Haskins would go on to have a phenomenal season in 2018 before Justin Fields transferred in from Georgia in 2019 — a move no one was mad about.
That’s a long way of saying there were no hard feelings when Burrow left.
Fields, of course, is the inverse of Burrow, having played limited snaps in his single season with the Bulldogs before transferring to Ohio State. However, like Burrow and Williams, Ohio State fans claim Fields unequivocally as one of their own.
Granted, that “claim” also translates into extraordinary support. When Williams went down with an injury in the College Football Playoff final this year, Buckeye Nation collectively held its breath and hoped it wasn’t too serious. Like Burrow, we all seem to have a soft spot for Williams and want him to succeed, even if he did go to an SEC school.
Of course, even the most loyal of Ohio State fans can be fickle at times. We accept that Williams wouldn’t have had as much of a breakout season in Columbus if he was splitting catches with Olave and Wilson. Would our feelings toward Williams be so positive if Ohio State’s receiver room was not quite so talented this past season? We know what we’d do: We’d be calling him a traitor.
There’s also the consideration of some of the more unceremonious departures from Ohio State for the transfer portal who get no love from Ohio State fans. The mid-season transfer of linebacker K’Vaughan Pope comes to mind. It’s hard to imagine Ohio State fans cheering for him in the same way they did for the parted Williams — then again, tweeting out obscenities about the team at halftime might have contributed to those hard feelings.
Regardless of how we feel, Burrow doesn’t say he went to Ohio State when he does his voiceover for Monday Night Football. There are probably few who care that he started his career at Ohio State. So why is it so important to us, especially when we have so many other proof points?
At the end of the day, Ohio State has an embarrassment of riches, and probably can pump the brakes on claiming players who didn’t actually finish their college careers in Columbus. There’s no shortage of proof points to the validity of the program, and this past draft was no exception. Two receivers going high in the first round should be proof enough of the strength of the program.
Then again, there’s no reason not to keep showing that photo of Olave, Wilson and Williams at every possible opportunity.
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