You’re Nuts: Biggest overreactions to first week of Ohio State camp
Gene Ross 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

Surely we already have all the answers about the 2022 Buckeyes.

Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.

In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.

This week’s topic: Biggest overreactions to the first week of Ohio State camp.

Gene’s Take: Ohio State’s offensive line will be dominant


It’s rare that I get to take the first crack at it in these things, so I'm excited to get out ahead of my podcast co-host on this one. That being said, I'm not going to steal either of the topics Josh floated out when planning to write this edition of You’re Nuts this week. In addition, while I find that I'm usually the more negative of the two of us when it comes to almost all things Ohio State, I'm actually going to overreact in this positive this time around. Maybe you're all just catching me at a good time, but I really hope I’m right about this one.

With one week of the Buckeyes’ preseason camp having come and gone, I can confidently (not confidently) say that Ohio State’s offensive line is going to dominate this season and fix all of the issues that plagued them a year ago.

I didn’t think it would be a big enough overreaction to say that they would improve from a season ago, as the unit wasn’t exactly stellar for Ryan Day’s offense in 2021. The all-tackles offensive line was a questionable decision from the jump under former offensive line coach Greg Studrawa, and it performed about how you would expect. The blocking was solid when it came to the passing game, ranking No. 15 in FBS in sacks allowed with 17 total on the year. However, with no guards on the field in a purely zone running game, they consistently failed in the run blocking department. The Buckeyes ranked 52nd in power success rate, per Football Outsiders, which in large part led to their struggles on 3rd-and-short.

With Justin Frye now at the helm of the unit, Ohio State will return back to a traditional line formation with two tackles, two guards and a center — which, in itself, should lead to significant improvement. Starting in those spots include a pair of former five-star prospects in Paris Johnson Jr. at tackle and Donovan Jackson at guard, returning starter Luke Wypler at center, a player with experience all over the line in Matthew Jones at the other guard position, and a 6-foot-8 mountain of a man in Dawand Jones rounding out the five at tackle. Having the correct personnel on the field is a great place to start, but that is an incredibly solid group of guys to man down the front.

Personally, I’m excited to see both Johnson and Jackson on the field this season. Coming out of high school, Paris Johnson Jr. was drawing lofty comparisons as the next Orlando Pace. It is not exactly fair to expect Johnson to emulate one of the best to ever do it at the position in the history of the sport, but after performing admirably at guard last season, the nation’s No. 1 OT in the 2020 class will now get to dominate on the outside for Ohio State where he belongs. Jackson is certainly no slouch either, as the Texas native came to Columbus as the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in the 2021 class. Having a pair of five-star caliber players on the line at the same time should pay dividends for the Buckeyes.

On top of the level of talent from a player perspective along this year’s line, I'm excited to see what Frye brings to the mix as the new man in charge. Studrawa’s coaching had gotten old and stale over time, and his replacement was likely long overdue. Frye previously spent time at Boston College and UCLA, which both saw improvement in the run game after he arrived. As a Chip Kelly disciple, hopefully Frye is able to bring some much needed juice to Ohio State’s ground attack, which became far too predictable at times last season. New players and better coaching up front could pay dividends for what was already an explosive Buckeye offense a year ago, especially if they can supplement that air attack with the ground and pound.

Josh’s Take: Julian Fleming will be a starter


Roughly a week into fall camp, this is the perfect time to have some overreactions! Don’t you agree, Gene? One or two practices in? Seems too early. Waiting until the team has had a chance to develop chemistry and gel? That’s amateur hour, and much too late in the game. Yep, this feels like the absolute sweet spot to make snap judgements regarding the 2022 Ohio State football season.

Media outlets and beat reporters – and as a direct result, fans – have had limited access to practice sessions thus far, cutting down on the amount of substantial news that has come out pertaining to players, position battles, new coaches, etc. Brief glimpses of a controlled setting(s) don’t typically provide a ton of information, but fortunately, the staff has been generous with their time and occasionally forthcoming with information.

The curtain was thrown back last Thursday, when a full practice was opened up, and those in attendance had a field day giving us their keen observations. There is plenty to learn from press conferences and media availability, but nothing can replicate a live practice. Between those early pressers and recent, in-person observations, we have started to gain just a little bit of insight into the Buckeye and their preparation for the upcoming season.

What has stood out to me, and what I am completely willing to overreact to, is the praise being heaped upon Julian Fleming — as well as his presence among the starters. Now, this is not to say Fleming will be in the starting lineup come Sept. 3, because a lot could change in three weeks. But there are good vibes and positive momentum propelling the former five-star recruit and top-ranked WR in his class, and I could not be more excited.

Because I am on the board of trustees in Flemingtown. I purchased a small condo on Fleming Island nearly three years ago, and I’ve been forced to watch my property value tank ever since. But this is our season. Comeback SZN. 2022 will be the year of Fleming, as all reports indicate an impending breakout for the oft-injured and terribly unlucky wideout. I legitimately believe in his talent, and it finally seems like things are beginning to go his way.

In my opinion, it was never about talent with Fleming. A multi-sport stud in high school, he came to Columbus with the pedigree, the skills, and the work ethic. He just couldn’t stay healthy. Even when he has been on the field, he rarely seemed to be playing at 100 percent. Not doing him any favors, was the fact that he shared a position room with Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and others. While iron sharpens iron, and I’m sure Fleming learned a great deal, his odds of earning playing time were low. Then Jaxon Smith-Njigba broke out, and he became a bit of an afterthought.

Olave and Wilson chose to protect their investment and sat out of the 2022 Rose Bowl, but Fleming did not shine in their absence(s). He played in the game, but Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka put up better stats. It seemed as if Fleming would be no higher than fourth on the depth chart heading into the 2022 season, but I was still not ready to step down from the board and/or put up a For Sale sign. Indications are that Fleming still has a chance to shine, and might do so sooner than later.

The third-year wideout recently earned the status of Iron Buckeye — a name and honor given to those who had the most outstanding summer from a training standpoint. Fleming was joined by Kamryn Babb, Tommy Eichenberg, Tyler Friday, Ronnie Hickman, Kourt Williams, and Cade Stover... a nice list of players. But offseason awards often mean very little when it comes to playing time. Guys still need to earn it, which is apparently what Fleming is doing right now.

Last Thursday, during the open practice, Fleming took all of the first-team reps at Z receiver. He was on the field with JSN and Harrison Jr., and ahead of Egbuka. While I expect all four to play a ton, there now exists a scenario in with Fleming earns the start against Notre Dame. He also ran as the first-team gunner during punt team work, which might not seem like much, but remember: that was the beginning of the ascent for guys like Terry McLaurin and Chris Olave. Not an apples to apples comparison, but if anything, it proves that Fleming is at least fully healthy.

I don’t expect Fleming to lead the team in receptions or receiving yards. He could finish fourth or fifth in either category, and I would not be shocked. But as of January 2, 2022, I’m not sure any of us expected him to even compete for a starting role... which is exactly what he’s doing. And to that, I am willing to overreact. It has been a long time coming.

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Column: Kam Babb 100% deserves to receive the Block O jersey
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Doral Chenoweth / USA TODAY NETWORK

The fifth-year senior has had an unbelievably bad run with injuries, yet never wavered as one of the leaders on this team.

This past week, the Ohio State football team announced that Kamryn Babb would be the third recipient of the prestigious ‘Block O’ jersey. This selection made me extremely happy, as I believe there is truly no one more deserving of it than him.

Babb is pretty much the definition of perseverance. The fifth-year receiver has torn his ACL not once, not twice, not three times, but FOUR TIMES! The first one ended his senior high school season early. He tore it again his freshman and redshirt-freshman year of college, then a fourth time his redshirt junior year (last year).

The former four-star receiver is still looking for his first collegiate catch. However, the fact that he has only played seven games during his four years hasn’t prevented Babb from being a leader on this team, as this is the second year in a row his teammates voted him as a captain.

Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

I feel like this speaks volumes to the type of person Babb is off the field. The fact that his team looks up to him that much and he hasn’t even played a full season yet just shows the amount of respect they have for him. I mean, it would be hard not to. He is showing up for a fifth season, still grinding and keeping a positive attitude after four serious knee injuries. It is extremely admirable.

Babb has previously said that he did think about quitting a couple of times. However, himself and his doctors have remained optimistic after each injury, which keeps him hopeful for a healthy season. Additionally, he credits his faith for allowing him to become a leader and remain a critical part of this team.

Perhaps his most public showing of his leadership took place during the Spring Game this past year. There was a moment of silence to observe the death of former Buckeye QB Dwayne Haskins, and Babb led the team, and basically the entire stadium, in prayer.

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Clearly, the super senior has gained the respect of his teammates and coaches. He is definitely someone they can look up to in terms of staying positive and getting through the grind of being an Ohio State football player. If he can put 110% effort into everything he does and he’s torn his ACL four times, then certainly that can motivate his teammates to do their best as well.

Both C.J. Stroud and Jaxon Smith-Njigba commented on Babb at Big Ten Media Day, supporting the fact that he is a mentor on the team and they seek advice from him. They both were confident in the role that Babb could play this year, with JSN saying, “His ceiling’s really high.”

If the top two offensive players on the team are hyping up Babb, you know he’s done his job well. Now, he did suffer a minor meniscus injury in the spring, but he does appear to be fully healthy at the moment. Let’s all pray that he stays that way for the entirety of the season so that he can show off his highly-touted skills that have been four years in the making. Oh, and we are all going to go absolutely berzerk when he makes his first career reception, right?

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Column: Bronny James committing to Ohio State seems unlikely, but not impossible
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Katie Goodale / USA TODAY NETWORK

If the son of LeBron James really wants to be a Buckeye, I’m sure Ohio State will find a way to make it happen.

A basketball player with the last name James caused quite a stir in the Ohio State Twitter universe over the weekend, but this time it wasn’t LeBron.

No, it was actually LeBron’s oldest son, Bronny, who caused so much commotion among Buckeye fans Friday night, as ESPN’s Paul Biancardi reported that there is a “strong feeling” that James will take the college route — rather than playing one year in the G-League or overseas. It’s no secret that LeBron James wants to play alongside his son for at least one season before he retires, and as the years roll on and he continues to defy Father Time, it looks like LeBron and Bronny could actually overlap in the NBA in 2024 or 2025.

But none of that is breaking news. The #BiancardiBomb was actually the second part of his tweet, where ESPN’s National Recruiting Director listed the five programs that are recruiting him the hardest, “among others”:


That’s right, Chris Holtmann and the Buckeyes are in contact with James, as Biancardi listed them specifically as one of the programs pursuing the 2023 guard most aggressively. He listed the Buckeyes next to Michigan, Oregon, USC, and UCLA, “among others” to make sure everyone knows that the list of potential suitors is much larger than just the five frontrunners.

There are so many layers to James’ recruitment, and it is going to be fascinating to follow as it quickly heats up this fall. According to 247Sports, Bronny James is the No. 43 player in the country, the No. 7 shooting guard, and the No. 12 player in the basketball-rich (and just really big) state of California. That places James above every player in Ohio State’s current 2023 recruiting class except the recently-committed Scotty Middleton, who is No. 34 nationally.

Growing up in the shadow of one of — if not the — greatest basketball players ever has without a doubt been a challenge for Bronny. Playing for national powerhouse Sierra Canyon, he has been surrounded by older, more talented players his entire prep career. He’s never been the go-to scorer or the alpha on his team due to guys like BJ Boston and Ziaire Williams being his teammates. But Bronny has played his role well, and his college recruitment has pretty much flown under the radar until this week.


Many people — myself included — assumed James would bypass college and play professionally for one year before entering the 2024 NBA Draft. He could have opted to play in the G-League, like 2022 first-round pick Dyson Daniels, or he could’ve gone overseas like LaMelo Ball did before being taken third overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. If the goal was to get to the NBA as quickly as possible to play with his papa, that felt like the most efficient route.

But now we’ve been blessed with the most complicated and entertaining recruitment of any player in the history of college basketball. If LeBron James Jr. wants to play at a big-time college program for one or two years, he will have dozens of scholarship offers to choose from. While he’s not a once-in-a-generation type of player like his father was nearly 20 years ago, James is a very talented guard who is climbing up recruiting rankings as his senior season draws near. And while many of the top 2023 prospects have already committed to schools or are planning to soon, Bronny’s recruitment will be front and center pretty soon, as more and more top recruits make decisions and shut down their recruitment — leaving Bronny as one of the top players still available. Grab the popcorn!

There’s quite a bit to unpack with a recruitment of this magnitude. If a school isn’t Nike or Jordan brand they’ll be out of the running, so we can get that out of the way right now. It’s no coincidence that Ohio State, Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Michigan — all Jordan or Nike programs — are the five schools that leaked as “favorites” this weekend.


Bronny goes to school in Los Angeles and his father plays for the Lakers, so UCLA and USC will be major players thanks to proximity — in addition to the fact that UCLA is rich in college basketball history and will forever be among the “blue bloods” of the sport.

Oregon is Nike’s flagship school, and boasts a top-10 recruiting class already, including five-star forwards Mookie Cook and Kwame Evans Jr. What they don’t have in their 2023 class is a combo guard like James, so he would be able to step in and potentially fight for meaningful minutes right away next to two other one-and-done freshmen.

The idea of LeBron James’ son playing for the University of Michigan seems asinine to Ohio State fans — how could Ohio’s native son send his son to Michigan? James has said numerous times that if “he had gone to college” it would’ve been Ohio State, 100%. Can he turn around and send his kid to play for Ohio State’s biggest rival?

Here’s the thing. Relationships will be important as anything else during Bronny’s recruitment, and the head coach up in Ann Arbor happens to be a former teammate, coach, and very close friend of LeBron’s due to their shared time with the Miami Heat. So while it’s true that LeBron may not love the idea of sending his son to play for “That School Up North,” he certainly trusts Juwan Howard to watch over his son and continue his development as a player — and person — at Michigan for one season.

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Additionally, Michigan does not have any commitments in their 2023 class yet — not a single one! The delayed nature of James’ recruitment will likely cause some problems with certain schools that already have their 2023 classes filled and their 2023-2024 scholarships accounted for. Michigan will not have that problem.

And that brings us to the Buckeyes.

Chris Holtmann and his staff have assembled the No. 3 recruiting class in the nation (tied with Michigan State) in the 2023 cycle. The class is made up of four players — Middleton, George Washington III (No. 60 overall), Devin Royal (No. 73 overall), and Austin Parks (No. 105 overall). Assuming that nobody transfers or leaves early, the Buckeyes have already committed 13 scholarships — the maximum amount — to the 2023-2024 team. There is not a scholarship to offer Bronny James, as of now.

Assuming there are no transfers or early departures, here are Ohio State’s scholarships for the 2023-2024 season:

• Tanner Holden
• Gene Brown
• Zed Key
• Kalen Etzler
• Bruce Thornton
• Felix Okpara
• Brice Sensabaugh
• Roddy Gayle Jr.
• Bowen Hardman
• Scotty Middleton
• Austin Parks
• Devin Royal
• George Washington III

Those are the numbers assuming nobody transfers. But I’ll let you in on a little secret — someone is going to leave. Last season, only 10 Division-I programs kept their roster intact and avoided losing any players by way of transfer. That translates to roughly 96% of all programs losing at least one player to the transfer portal. With the amount of young talent on this roster and the amount joining next year, someone is bound to seek a new opportunity. However, that does not mean Chris Holtmann will over-commit scholarships and assume one will free up in the spring.

Even with no available scholarships, I still think Bronny James to Ohio State is a possibility. A lack of scholarships doesn’t necessarily equate to a lack of roster space. Unlike most households, $25,000 is nothing to the James family. Similar to the situation at Michigan with Juwan Howard’s son Jace, LeBron could hypothetically pay his son’s tuition and allow him to join the Ohio State men’s basketball program as a walk-on. Clearly, Bronny James would not be a practice player or fill the typical walk-on role — he would play. But to get around the scholarship limit, he could join the program and pay his own way.

It’s a wild and wacky hypothetical, but if LeBron James Jr. really wants to be a Buckeye, he’s going to be a Buckeye. Scholarship, no scholarship, it doesn’t matter — they would figure it out.

If Bronny James joined the Ohio State Basketball program, everything would change. Non-conference games against the likes of Maine, Texas-Arlington, and Niagara would become sell-outs. The price of a ticket to see the Buckeyes play Big Ten foes would spike to levels even I can’t predict. Simply the possibility — even if it’s minute — of LeBron being in the house to watch his son play would turn Buckeye basketball games into a frenzy. Attendance would skyrocket, merchandise sales would skyrocket, and the program would receive national attention it hasn’t seen since the Greg Oden/Mike Conley era.


Not to be overlooked, the pressure on Holtmann and his staff would be immense. Have you ever bought a ticket to watch your favorite professional team play, only to show up and learn that one or more star players aren’t in the lineup? The same conflicting interests would hang over Holtmann and his staff for as long as James was (hypothetically) part of the program.

With Washington and Thornton already on the roster, Bronny James would not show up and play starter’s minutes right away. He would see action off the bench, as most freshmen do under Holtmann. Five seasons in, it’s become quite clear that Chris Holtmann does not want his freshmen to sit and rot on the bench. He wants them to get involved early and have a chance to learn in big games. But make no mistake, Bronny would not be a starter right away or the focal point of that team — from a basketball standpoint.

So while 19,000 people would pack the Schott on a Monday night to see LeBron James Jr. put on a show against Nebraska, he may only wind up playing 10 minutes — much to the chagrin of the thousands of fans who are there to watch Bronny, not Zed Key or Felix Okpara. Holtmann is paid to win basketball games, not satisfy fans’ demands. Maybe it would go off without a hitch, but I could see the high-profile nature of this recruitment causing some tension between the coaching staff, the fan base, and the Ohio State athletic department.

My gut tells me that Bronny James will either end up at Michigan playing for a close family friend in Howard, or at UCLA right in his backyard. But if Bronny really wants to be a Buckeye and call Columbus home for one year, I have a feeling that Chris Holtmann and Gene Smith will do whatever it takes to make that dream become a reality. Buckle up!

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ScriptOhio said:

Login to view embedded media
It still cool to use the internet though.. just don’t let it use you....

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Dont let the Internet use you, as I accept this trophy that looks like an ice dick sculpture behind a podium with a Yahoo! logo on it.

It was who I suspected. Still think there was another involved. Still, nice to have the closure.

BUCKDUBBS007 said:

Seeding again

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Thanks....appreciate you!

Bill Russell's No. 6 to be retired across NBA following legend's death last month

The NBA will honor the legacy of Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell by retiring his No. 6 jersey for all 30 teams, the league and the National Basketball Players Association announced Thursday.

Russell becomes the first player in NBA history to have his jersey retired leaguewide.

Additionally, all NBA players will wear a commemorative patch on the right shoulder of their jerseys during the 2022-23 season, and every court will display a shamrock-shaped logo with Russell's No. 6 on the sideline near the scorer's table.

"Bill Russell's unparalleled success on the court and pioneering civil rights activism deserve to be honored in a unique and historic way," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "Permanently retiring his No. 6 across every NBA team ensures that Bill's transcendent career will always be recognized."

Starting with the 2022-23 season, no NBA team will be allowed to issue No. 6 to any player. Players who currently wear No. 6 -- such as Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James -- may continue to do so. According to Basketball Reference, 25 players, including James, Kristaps Porzingis, Alex Caruso, Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams, wore No. 6 last season.

Entire article: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...retired-nba-following-legend-death-last-month

BROWN, JOHNSON SPLIT FIRST-TEAM REPS AT CORNERBACK
Two days after Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles expressed concerns about the Buckeyes’ cornerback depth, we got a glimpse at why on Thursday.


When Brown wasn’t on the field, redshirt freshman JK Johnson took first-team reps opposite No. 1 cornerback Denzel Burke. True freshman Jyaire Brown and walk-on Lloyd McFarquhar were the second-team cornerbacks on Thursday – and McFarquhar took advantage of the opportunity by intercepting Kyle McCord during 7-on-7.

ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS

• McFarquhar’s interception came in tight coverage on Emeka Egbuka near the line of scrimmage during 7-on-7 drills and was one of the highlights of the day for the defense.

Observations from Watching A Full Ohio State Practice for the First Time in 2022 | Eleven Warriors

gmen6981 said:

If I recall correctly, scUM didn't allow any TEAM to rush for more than 50 yds that season. OSU had two 50+ yd TDs in that 2006 game. The one by Beanie and a 56 yarder by Antonio Pittman.

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Two other teams did manage it, but that was a heckuva run defense in 2006.

Minnesota rushed for 108 on 24 carries.
Sparty rushed for 60 yards on 26 carries.

But they also had these stats:

Notre Dame had 4 yards on 17 carries, including 4 by Brady Quinn for -18 yards.
Wisconsin had 12 yards on 27 carries.
Penn State had -14 yards on 25 carries, due to Anthony Morelli getting 5 ‘carries’ for -49.
Iowa had 41 yards on 24 carries.
NW’ern had -13 yards on 17 carries.

In the bowl game, USC had 48 yards on 23 carries.

Combined stats for ND, Wiscy, Penn St., Iowa, NW’ern, and USC:

78 yards on 133 carries, an average of 13 yards per game, and 0.586 yards per carry.

In the only version of The Game to feature #1 vs #2, the Buckeyes had 29 carries for 187, or 6.45 ypc.

Column: A quick look at the running back room as Fall Camp begins for Ohio State
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

The running back room was center stage during media availability, so let’s look at what the room brings to the table entering the 2022 season

Fall camp is underway in Columbus, Ohio and the Ohio State Buckeyes are ready to start the journey of their 2022 season. The Buckeyes bring back an explosive offensive with a ton of talent and high expectations entering camp coming off a year where they ranked near the top of the country in every major category. A significant reason for the offense’s success was the explosive nature of the running back room.

This room returns the featured back in Treveyon Henderson, who led the team in rushing and set the Ohio State freshman record for touchdowns, as well as the bulldozing Miyan Williams, who had some big play ability in his own right. Position coach Tony Alford also had high praise for Evan Pryor as he heads into year two for the Buckeyes. With a core like this, expectations should be high and improvement should be expected from all three players with another year of maturity.

Looking ahead, there is no reason this room shouldn’t be in the conversation for best in the country. Last year, the group was not always perfect, and this year they won’t have to be. That being said, the running backs should be a dangerous weapon for Ryan Day, and if he can unlock it this offense will be unstoppable.

A quick look at last year


This room, despite relying on two first time contributors, looked exceptional for most of the season. As a group, they return 84.6 percent of their rushing yards and they bring back 85.2 percent of the touchdowns from the position. This is an incredible place to start for the Buckeyes, and this experience should count for something.

The one issue for the Buckeyes with this group was the list of health problems they faced. Having another year under the belts of Williams, Henderson, and Pryor should also lead to some more durability this season. Henderson came into his first season at Ohio State after not playing football for year. This weighed on him, as he ended up battling a concussion and the physical wear made Henderson struggle a little bit late in the season. Williams battled an undisclosed illness as well as some other health issues on top of a few injuries throughout the season, and his production level dropped off as well. Pryor just wasn’t physically ready to take on the work load of a consistent contributor, but all signs point to a big role this year.

If the Buckeyes can remain healthy, the experience gained last year will be invaluable. The group will need to be tougher and convert in short yardage situations, which was a major struggle last year. The explosiveness is already there, and they really have a group of players with three different skill sets that can hurt opponents.

The current running back room


TreVeyon Henderson (183 attempts, 1248 yards, 19 Touchdowns)

Henderson came onto the scene with an explosive 70 yard touchdown against Minnesota to to give the Buckeyes the lead in the fourth quarter. From then on expectations were set, and the freshman running back was one of the most exciting stories in the sport through the first four games.

After the controversial statement he made about playing through a concussion, the running back began to fade in production. After a huge performance against Penn State, Henderson failed to eclipse 100 yards rushing again on the season. This is where Henderson will be looking to improve. His explosiveness gave Buckeye fans a lot to be excited about, and becoming a more well-rounded back will go a long way for the offense.

Here is a look at what Henderson can bring to the table from an explosive, power, and balance stand point:


Miyan Williams (71 attempts, 508 yards, 3 touchdowns)

Williams was the starter week one of the season and carved out a consistent role for the Buckeyes until he ran into some health issues. His skill set starts with his agility and his innate ability to make defenders miss. This gave him quite a few highlight juke moves on his tape from last season, and he will be looking to build off that skill set this year.

Where Williams can improve is harnessing his powerful running style and becoming a bell cow in short yardage. Despite being hard to tackle and incredibly physical, he still wasn’t always reliable in short yardage situations like fans would hope. For a true thunder and lightning dynamic, Williams will need to continue to run hard, but build more on the battering ram aspect of his game.

Here is a look at the shiftiness and power Miyan Williams is bringing into the season:


Evan Pryor (21 attempts, 98 yards, 1 touchdown)

Last season Pryor was the fifth back on the depth chart. With Marcus Crowley medically retiring and Master Teague III heading to the NFL, Pryor now has a significant opportunity to prove he belongs in the Buckeye backfield. As a recruit he was touted for his explosiveness and shiftiness, which flashed in his limited play last time last season. This year in the Spring Game he got to show off his skills even more.

This skillset should bring balance to the styles of Henderson and Williams, and if a team doesn’t want to focus attention on Pryor he has the talent to do damage to opposing defenses.

Here is a look at Evan Pryor showing his acceleration, shiftiness, and stiff arm in the Spring Game:


Dallan Hayden (N/A incoming freshman)

Hayden will not have an expansive role on the offense this season, but with a rather thin group he still should receive some ample playing opportunity. He brings an all-around skillset with no true calling card heading into the first season. His high school highlights showed a great blend of shiftiness and power, while also showing more explosiveness his senior season. This mix should set him up for some success early, and if he can build on that, he has the upside to be a featured back in the future for Ohio State.


The first media session with players and coach was the running back position group. As a unit, “Tote Nation” has high expectations for themselves. Tony Alford spoke on how the group has been carrying themselves and the experience is showing in their day-to-day work.

Alford mentioned how well they approaching the game on and off the field, saying, “When they’re talking the game, they’re they’re articulating the way that we play and using our terminology, and they’re understanding the game of football much more than they did at any time in point last year. But that’s just called maturation. That’s how it should be.”

Entering camp the roles were well established and complacency could have set in, but all of the players in the room are preparing for the huge opportunity this season will provide. The combination of work ethic, talent, and understanding provide the expectations that this room should be much improved.

This maturity level should raise expectations even higher, and this room has all the ability to be one of the best in the country. Coach Alford has the room poised for success, and the value of having three capable backs will pay dividends down the stretch. The one thing that can truly take the offense to another level is a balanced and explosive run game.

The only things left to learn are the rotations, roles, and how many carries each back will get in the games. As we get further into camp, expect to hear more about the business mindset this room is taking. With few eyes on the running backs, they’ll be able to work in silence until the Buckeyes take on Notre Dame and the group can show the rest of the country who they really are.

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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for August 9, 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 Michael Hickey/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...


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Ask LGHL


Ask LGHL: What will it take for you to consider the Ohio State football season a success?
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

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

On the Gridiron


SBJ Media: Big Ten talks in the home stretch
John Ourand, Sports Business Journal

What we know about Big Ten rights negotiations (paywall)
Nicole Auerbach, The Athletic

I think there are some things to be concerned about not having any games on the ESPN family of networks, but I think I am coming down in agreement with Chris.


Ohio State ranks No. 2 in 2022 preseason Coaches Poll
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Practice Report: Buckeyes becoming deeper, better along offensive line in preseason
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Buckeyes RT Dawand Jones feels faster after offseason weight loss
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch

OL Anchored by Returning Starters Johnson, Jones and Wypler
Ohio State Athletics

Paris Johnson feeling more at home after an offseason focused on tackle (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes

Tony Alford keeping relationships, production at forefront of recruiting pitch
Matt Parker, Lettermen Row

Well done, Colton.


Julian Fleming Building Momentum for Long-Awaited Breakout with “Best Offseason He’s Had”
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

Watch six Ohio State linemen interview Buckeyes teammate Josh Fryar
Doug Lesmerises, cleveland.com

Dallan Hayden Going Full Speed Into First Fall Camp
Braden Moles, Buckeye Sports Bulletin

Four Lessons Learned from Justin Frye, emerging Buckeyes offensive line unit
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Ready for J.K. to Dominate the NFL!


Josh Fryar Ready to Play After Offseason Recovery from Torn ACL: “I Don’t Want to Sit Back and Wait”
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

You’re Nuts: What position battle are you most interested in heading into 2022?
Josh Dooley and Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land

Three Takeaways from hungry Buckeyes offensive line (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes

On the Hardwood


Here are five key plays from Ohio State’s win against Puerto Rico
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State basketball aiming for back-to-back top-10 recruiting classes
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

This Seems Good!


Ohio State’s men’s basketball team learns their first 2022 Maui Invitational opponent
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land

Outside the Shoe and Schott

And now for something completely different...


I love this stupid game:




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Silver Bullets Podcast: Ramping up for the 2022 Ohio State football season
Michael Citro 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

We look back on the biggest stories of the off-season as we join our new home at LGHL.

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Well, hello there! Chip Minnich and I are excited to become part of the Land-Grant Holy Land team this season. If you’re not familiar with us, well, we’ve been doing the Silver Bullets Podcast together since August of 2018. Chip has been doing it a bit longer, as he and Shannon Sommers hosted the first 25 episodes together before I came aboard.

Now, here we are on our 114th episode of the Silver Bullets Podcast and the first at our new home, here at LGHL. Chip and I last recorded in the aftermath of Ohio State’s wile 48-45 Rose Bowl win over Utah, so it’s been a minute.

For this episode, we touch on why we left our old place and how excited we are to be here. We also discussed two of the biggest off-season stories of the past several months — the addition of USC and UCLA to the Big Ten, and the coaching changes that Ryan Day made to the OSU staff after the conclusion of the 2021 season. Both Chip and I grew up loathing USC due to the fact that the Trojans wrecked a lot of Ohio State seasons in the Rose Bowl, so we’re both finding it a little surreal to think that they could soon be a conference opponent. We’re also eager to see what lies ahead between now and 2024 in terms of additional expansion.

The Buckeyes did a little house cleaning on the defensive coaching staff since last year and we discussed what that might mean for Ohio State’s season to come. We also touched on the important, yet less talked about, addition of Justin Frye and how that could improve things for Day’s offense.

Finally, we looked ahead to what listeners can expect in the run-up to Ohio State’s 2022 kickoff against Notre Dame. We look forward to bringing you our show every week through the end of the season and then going monthly in the off-season. We invite you to provide feedback or send questions to us at SilverBulletsPod (at) gmail dot com and feel free to follow the show on Twitter at @SilvrBulletsPod.

It’s great to be here and to get started.

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Ohio State four-star DL target sets commitment date
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


2023 four-star DL Jalen Thompson via 247Sports

Buckeye target sets decision date, plus multiple future Buckeyes named as MaxPreps second-team All-Americans.

The second week of fall camp is now underway for Ryan Day and the Ohio State football team. With this, much of the talk surrounding the Ohio State football team will revolve around the Buckeyes’ current roster. However, recruiting will remain a mainstay for the team to ensure the success of the program in the future.

Thompson sets commitment date


Ohio State’s 2023 recruiting class is quickly coming together, and with 19 verbal commitments there is little room for the Buckeyes to add to the class. With the offensive side of things in solid footing, the Ohio State coaching staff will look to focus on the defensive side of the ball to finish out the class. July brought to light multiple concerns on the defensive recruiting front, as a few Ohio State targets decided to commit elsewhere and the Buckeyes saw a top-100 recruit de-commit from the program.

August has been much kinder to the Buckeyes, as they have added defensive recruits to both this current class as well as to future classes. The team will hope this trend continues throughout the month, as they will see more of their top defensive recruits announce their decisions. One of those targets set to announce this month is four-star defensive lineman Jalen Thompson of Detroit, MI (Cass Technical).


Thompson was offered by Ohio State on June 1 after impressing the coaching staff at a summer recruiting camp. He then made a return trip to Columbus later in the month, and and following the visit the Buckeyes have been viewed as one of the favorites to land him.

However, the team seems to have slowed down in his recruitment as of late, which has led to Michigan State becoming the overwhelming favorites to earn his commitment. This may be a situation where if Ohio State gives Thompson the green light, he would commit to the program, but the Buckeyes are waiting to see how things play out with some of their other defensive line prospects.

Ohio State is also heavily recruiting a handful of other defensive line targets including five-star DE Matayo Uiagalelei, four-star DL Damon Wilson, four-star DE Desmond Umeozulu and five-star DE Keon Keeley.

Keeley seems the least likely to become a Buckeye, but Ohio State has placed themselves in a good position with all of the above, and as of late Uiagalelei and Umeozulu have especially been trending towards Ohio State.

If Thompson decides to commit to Michigan State in a couple weeks, this likely reflects that the Buckeyes feel they are in a solid spot to land a combination of the above targets, as well as feel they would make for a better fit with the team more than Thompson.

Thompson is the No. 30 DL prospect in the 2023 class and is the No. 195 overall prospect. He is also the No. 3 prospect out of Michigan.

Quick Hits

• A trio of future Buckeyes were listed as second-team preseason All-Americans when MaxPreps released its All-America teams for high school seniors Monday. Five-star WR Brandon Innis, four-star OT Luke Montgomery and four-star CB Kayin Lee all received the prestigious honor. While the trio were the only current Ohio State commitments to make the list, Ohio State defensive line target Uiagalelei was given first-team honors.
• Ohio State 2024 five-star WR target Jeremiah Smith of Opa Locka, FL (Chaminade-Madonna Prep) will reportedly visit Columbus for the Buckeyes’ first game of the season when the team plays host to Notre Dame. It is still early in Smith’s recruitment but he has spoken highly of Ohio State which has led the team to become the early favorites in his recruitment.

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Ask LGHL: What will it take for you to consider the Ohio State football season a success?
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 Michael Hickey/Getty Images

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

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

Ohio State’s fall football camp kicked off last week, and the team officially moved into it’s hotel on Sunday in one of the most beloved — and bizarre — traditions in all of Buckeye Nation as fans and media alike photographed the players walking into their new digs as if they were severely underdressed for an awards show red carpet.

But, with three and a half-ish weeks until the Buckeyes open the season against Notre Dame, to kick off our Ask LGHL series for the season, we wanted to get an idea of where your head is at in regards to this team and this season.

So, we asked two simple questions in our most recent SBNation Reacts survey about what your hopes and expectations are for this year.

Question 1: What is the minimum needed for a successful Ohio State season?


The Ohio State fandom is made up of many different people and we all come into each season with different thresholds for what we consider a success. So, as you can see in the graphic below, we gave you four options and more than half (54%) of the respondents said that making the playoffs is the floor of what would make the OSU 2022 campaign a success.

I do wonder if we had made one of the options “Win a CFP Playoff Game,” if that would have moved the bar up a little bit. While people would obviously be pretty ticked off if the Buckeyes lost to The Domers and/or TTUN, it does make sense that fans would need more than those two high-profile wins to feel good about the season. Imagine beating them, but losing to Penn State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Ugh, I just got a nasty shiver down my spine.

For me, given these four options, I would probably agree with the majority and say that the Bucks would need to make the playoff to have a successful season, but I will admit that without winning a national championship this year, the first four years of Ryan Day’s tenure in Columbus are going to feel monumentally disappointing to me, based solely on the fact that they will have squandered four years of potentially the two best quarterbacks in program history.

I feel very comfortable in putting Justin Fields atop that list already, and given C.J. Stroud’s first year as OSU’s signal caller, I think he has the ability to be in that conversation as well by season’s end.

I will talk more about my thoughts on what needs to happen from Day and company this season in tomorrow’s Ask LGHL column, but it is definitely time for this team to make some significant steps forward.


Question 2: What do you most want to hear coming out of preseason camp?


When we put together the multiple choice answers for this question, we wanted to keep it balanced between offense and defense, but let’s be honest, we all knew that the answer was going to be on the defensive side of the ball.

With Stroud and that absurd group of receiving talent, the passing game is going to be fine, and while the line’s ability to impose their will should go a long way to determining how well-rounded the offense is this fall, that side of the ball is going to practically score at will for most of the season, so nothing from the offense could possibly rise to the level of the most important question — short of an injury to Stroud {furiously knocks on every piece of wood in the house}.

So, all of the major questions surrounding this team are going to come from Jim Knowles side. With a nearly completely new defensive coaching staff, I don’t think that the Bucks need to become the No. 1 defense in the country to contend for a national title, but if they can move up to the No. 25-30 range, this team could be unbeatable, assuming the offense maintains its otherworldly firepower from last year.

For the fans, the biggest hope is that the linebackers and defensive backs — particular focuses in Knowles’ units — make big strides during camp. Again, I would agree.

While Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloa becoming the dominant edge rushers that we all think that they can be would be a huge bonus for the defense, I think the defensive line is strong enough without an elite edge rusher that they can hold their own, as long as the linebackers and secondary make considerable strides.



For college football fans, August is filled with speculation and expectations. With how limited media access is to preseason practices, it likely won’t be until Notre Dame shows up at The Horseshoe that we actually get some solid ideas about who this Ohio State team is actually going to be in 2022.

But the great part about being a college football fan is that hope springs eternal this time of year and the anticipation, debates, excitement, hopes, and dreams are part of the inherent joy and charm of the sport.

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You’re Nuts: What position battle are you most interested in heading into 2022?
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

With fall camp underway, we will soon start to learn who will top the depth chart this season.

Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.

In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.

This week’s topic: What position battle are you most interested in heading into 2022?

Josh’s Take:


With fall camp officially underway for the Ohio State football team, the 2022 season is starting to feel real. We are finally going to see a “finished” product, and all the stars will be projected onto the screen like a blockbuster movie. The Notre Dame opener is Top Gun: Maverick or Black Adam (just kidding, nobody has enjoyed The Rock since Fast Five), and we can start watching for tickets and planning our dinner and drinks around that opening night.

The spring game, on the other hand, is more like a teaser trailer. We get a glimpse of the star or a crazy action scene, but it tells us next to nothing about the movie itself. A teaser trailer is meant to get us talking, or spark excitement, but it could ultimately be the only highlight of an otherwise terrible movie. Remember how excited you were for Red Notice? And then you watched Red Notice... I need to stop picking on The Rock, because he really does shine in most of his carefully chosen projects.

Ohio State’s spring game (and recruiting, to an extent) most definitely sparked excitement, but now it is popcorn and preview time. Let’s go! Gene and I wanted to look at a few position “battles”, which I found to be somewhat difficult. I don’t know how many intense battles there will really be — at least when it comes to the very top of the depth chart. I think many of the starters have been identified or listed as favorites, due to the Buckeyes returning a ton of depth from last season. However, there is one position battle that has intrigued me since the end of OSU’s 2021-22 season. Since Jan. 1st, 2022 to be exact. That position is wide receiver.

The 2022 Rose Bowl would have most of us believe that Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka are likely to start alongside Jaxon Smith-Njigba. But I say “not so fast, my friend.” Because while Harrison Jr. and Egbuka absolutely proved themselves worthy of significant roles this season, we need to remember how inexperienced they are. The two freshmen combined for 20 catches, most of which came in the Rose Bowl when Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson sat out. They both flashed all-world potential, but to pencil them in as starters would be ignoring the talent and depth the Buckeyes have at the position.

Julian Fleming, the former No. 1 receiver in his recruiting class, finally seems to be healthy. He was also recently recognized as an Iron Buckeye for his tremendous offseason. When healthy and afforded opportunity, he has done nothing to take himself out of this race. In fact, he might be the best downfield blocker Ohio State has at the WR position. Absent a truly experienced tight end, the coaching staff may want his skillset on the field.

Kamryn Babb, who this staff loves and is seemingly healthy himself (after years of terrible luck), is a fifth-year guy with leadership chops and an incredible football IQ. He was also a highly coveted recruit once upon a time, and has looked impressive in the small glimpses we’ve seen of him this offseason. If he remains healthy, maybe he gets a shot after all the hard work and time he has put in with the Buckeyes. Long shot? Sure. But who doesn't love a Cinderella story?

And let’s not forget about Jayden Ballard. Another young player from the same class as Harrison Jr. and Egbuka, he is likely the longest of long shots, but the burner possesses top-end speed and athleticism. With a strong camp, who knows how far he can rise up the depth chart.

While I ultimately think Harrison Jr. and Egbuka get first crack at running with JSN, I cannot ignore the talent in the WR room. It would be a disservice to Fleming and Babb to rule them out as starters in early August. Same goes for Ballard, even if he is a heavy underdog right now. But crazier things have happened.

I think back to when Michael Thomas was at Ohio State. After appearing in 11 games as a true freshman, he found himself in Urban Meyer’s doghouse and was redshirted as a sophomore! We rarely see that, unless it is injury-related. To Thomas’ credit, he worked his tail off and eventually became a starter in 2015 (and a star after that). I don’t think we will see that with one of the top six guys I mentioned, but his situation is what I mean when I say crazier things have happened.

Starting spots will be earned by the Buckeyes, not given. And that goes for every player at every position, even if they did score three touchdowns in a Rose Bowl. Regardless of who wins out, I have high expectations. I believe that OSU has the best WR room in the country, and iron always sharpens iron. Fall practice and the ensuing position battle will go a long way toward deciding the starters, and I will be following said battle with a watchful eye.

Gene’s Take:


Heading into the 2022 season, all eyes are on Ohio State’s defense. While the position battle at wide receiver is certainly intriguing, everyone just kind of assumes the Buckeye offense will return to its elite form from a year ago regardless of whose catching passes thanks to C.J. Stroud and a strong running back tandem in TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams. So, I will take my position battle to the defensive side of the ball, where there is still a ton left to be sorted out before Notre Dame comes to town on Sept. 3.

Originally, I was going to talk about the battle specifically between Zach Harrison and J.T. Tuimoloau at defense end. We kind of assume it will be Jack Sawyer mostly manning, ironically, the Jack position in Jim Knowles’ defense as sort of a linebacker/edge rusher hybrid, but the other pure end spot is between Harrison and Tuimoloau. It is a real rookie versus the vet type scenario, with Harrison having been in Columbus for quite some time now without really taking that next step and Tuimoloau the fresh face who showed a glimpse of potential stardom in year one. Ultimately, I think we will see the two start in some sort of timeshare to begin the year, as Larry Johnson has always rotated his defensive lineman.

Instead, I want to focus on a position that I feel as though not all too many people are talking about, but will be exceptionally important if Ohio State is in fact going to turn around its defensive woes from 2021. I want to talk about the starting cornerbacks.

It is seemingly obvious that Denzel Burke will return as the team’s No. 1 corner after a phenomenal freshman campaign a year ago. Playing in all 12 games, Burke registered a team-high 12 pass breakups to go along with 35 tackles and an interception. We heard all the stories about how impressive he was in his very first preseason camp, and he showed that on the field all season long. While he is the clear top dog at the position right now, who else is going to join him out there?

Unfortunately for Ohio State, the cornerback room is quite thin right now — so much so that kicker Jake Seibert has been playing the position in fall camp. There are currently only six scholarship cornerbacks on the roster, and while that is a concerning number should they lose someone to injury or otherwise, they do still have talent on the roster and one other guy who I think could star in the role despite not being listed at corner, but we’ll get there.

Burke will start on the outside, which means the Buckeyes will need to find another man opposite him to lock down the other sideline. Cameron Brown returns as a starter from last season, and he has impressed thus far this offseason. He finished second on the team in pass breakups behind Burke a year ago with seven, and if he is now fully recovered from that achilles injury he could become a real force on that outside, even though I personally would like him better as a slot corner.

The other two guys in the mix for the job are Jordan Hancock and Jakailin Johnson. Hancock, whom Ohio State flipped from Clemson during his recruitment, was the No. 5 corner in the 2021 class and a top-75 player overall. He played sparingly in 2021, but playing even less so was Johnson, whom despite being the higher-rated of the two as a No. 3 CB in 2021 and a top-50 player overall, suffered an injury that forced him to take a redshirt in his first year on campus. Both guys are supremely talented, and even if either of the two dont start I would expect to see the pair a healthy amount in 2022, and if Brown struggles either could potentially even earn a starting role.

Ohio State won’t deploy a true slot corner in Knowles’ base defense, but the nickel safety will effectively play the same role. The expected starter at the position is Tanner McCalister, who came over from Oklahoma State to continue playing under Knowles, but I'm really high on Cam Martinez. One of the best pure athletes on the team, Martinez has moved around from corner to safety during his tenure with the Buckeyes, but I think his speed and coverage abilities would make him a perfect candidate to play over the middle. Martinez is far too good a player for Ohio State not to find a job for him, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s the starting nickel by seasons end.

The only other names not mentioned from the cornerback room are freshmen Jyaire Brown and Ryan Turner. Brown was the No. 8 player in Ohio in the 2022 recruiting cycle, while Turner was a four-star prospect by way of Florida. It would be a bit surprising to see the two crack the two-deep in year one, however with the lack of any real proven superstars outside of Burke and the lack of depth in the room as a whole, it would not be at all shocking to see either of the two on the field a bit in their freshman campaigns.

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I-70 Football Podcast: Looking at Big Ten’s lower-tier bowl teams
JordanW330 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 Hickey/Getty Images

In this episode, we discuss the four teams who we think will make lower-tier bowl games this season.

Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s I-70 podcast. On this show we talk all things Big Ten football and basketball. After every week of action, we will get you caught up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players that you should be paying attention to in the next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:


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We are a few weeks away from the start of the 2022-23 football season, so it is time to switch gears from off-season talk to diving headfirst into real football content. What better way to start football season than ranking teams and picking games?

In our season preview series, we rank the Big Ten into four tiers: Non-bowl tier, lower-bowl tier, New Year’s Six Bowl tier, and Contenders tier. We also predict records and finishes for all 14 teams leading to 168 games picked.

In this episode, we discuss the three or four teams that we think will make lower-ranked bowl games. Jordan believes that Mike Locksley — an overall bad coach — will stumble into back-to-back bowl games on the shoulders of his talented quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa and his pass catchers Rakim Jarrett and Dontay Demus Jr., however, Dante disagrees.

They both agree that after a shocking 5-7 season, the Fighting Illini will reach six wins and make it to a bowl game in the second year under Bret Bielema. There may be a ceiling to what Illinois can be in the Big Ten, but behind Chase Brown and Josh McCray, they will be a tough team to face.

While Maryland and Illinois may be happy about being placed in this tier, the same cannot be said for the next two teams in this tier. After winning the Big Ten West and facing Michigan in the championship game last year, Iowa is set up to take a step back. Their defense will be good — as always — but with some losses on offense and without a change on that side of the ball’s staff, this team should lose more games than last year.

Penn State is the final team in this tier in our estimation. Their ceiling will remain limited with Sean Clifford as their starting quarterback. They should have a rejuvinated James Franklin but losing Jahan Dotson, Jaquan Brisker, and Brent Pry will be tough to deal with. This team should be better in the future, but with a tough schedule, they will not contend for the Big Ten East crown this year.

In their weekly pit stops, Dante gives a shout-out to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ kicker Chris Boswell's new contract extension, while Jordan expresses anger about the Deshaun Watson suspension and the overall process.


Connect with us on Twitter:
Jordan: @JordanW330
Dante: @DanteM10216

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Ohio State’s men’s basketball team learns their first 2022 Maui Invitational opponent
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 David Becker/Getty Images

The Buckeyes will take on San Diego State, who they opened up their last trip to Maui back in 2003 against


Ohio State’s first opponent in the 2022 Maui Jim Maui Invitational was announced on Monday. The Buckeyes will play in the third game on the first day of the annual tournament, squaring off against San Diego State. This year’s edition of the tournament will be a little more special than recent years, as COVID-19 has kept the last two tournaments away from Hawaii. In 2020, Asheville, North Carolina was the home of the tournament, followed by last year’s Maui Invitational being played in Las Vegas.

This will be the first time Ohio State has played in the Maui Invitational since 2003, when they also were matched up with San Diego State in the first round. The Buckeyes will be hoping for a different result this year, as the Aztecs topped the Buckeyes, 83-61, 19 years ago. The game was tied at 32 heading into the halftime break before San Diego State used a 21-1 run in the second half to put some distance on the Buckeyes. The Aztecs hit 13 three-pointers in the game, which at the time was a school record.

Following the loss to San Diego State, Ohio State would rebound to defeat Central Michigan 77-71, followed by edging Villanova 67-66 to earn fifth place honors in 2003. The only time the Buckeyes won their first game of the Maui Invitational was in 1993, when they took down Tennessee Tech 98-77 before losing 100-88 to Kentucky. Ohio State closed out the 1993 with a 69-67 win over Boston College, with the third place finish being their best finish in three Maui appearances. Their first trip to Maui in 1988 saw them finish in fifth place beating DePaul and Vanderbilt after an opening round loss to Oklahoma.

The Aztecs and Buckeyes have met on two other occasions, splitting a home-and-home series. Ohio State won 72-56 in Columbus in 1995, while San Diego State defended their home court with an 81-75 win the following year. Last season, Brian Dutcher’s team finished with a 23-9 record, falling to Creighton 72-69 in overtime in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Buckeyes could be matching up with a familiar face when they battle the Aztecs. After starting his college career in Columbus, Jaedon LeDee played in 26 games for Ohio State before transferring to TCU. LeDee had a couple really good performances for the Buckeyes, scoring 16 points against Purdue-Fort Wayne, as well as against Purdue before announcing his transfer to TCU, where he only scored more than 16 points in a game once. After redshirting last season due to transfer rules, LeDee is eligible to play for San Diego State this year.

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

Cincinnati

After playing San Diego State, the Buckeyes will take on either Cincinnati or Arizona, depending on the results of the first round of the tournament. Obviously the juicier matchup would be if the Buckeyes and Bearcats were to meet in the winners bracket in Hawaii. Ohio State has won their last four meetings against Cincinnati. The in-state foes opened up the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons against each other, with Ohio State taking both legs of the home-and-home series by a 64-56 scoreline.

Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Last season, Cincinnati was 18-15 in Wes Miller’s first season as head coach. The Bearcats should field a tougher squad this year, with leading scorers David DeJulius and Jeremiah Davenport returning, as well as the addition of four-star guard Daniel Skillings. If the schools meet and Cincinnati is able to beat Ohio State, it would be the first win by the Bearcats over the Buckeyes since 1962.


Arizona

If it plays out that Ohio State and Arizona meet in Maui, it will be the first time the schools have met in the regular season since 1971, when the Buckeyes cruised to a 90-47 victory. Since then, Ohio State and Arizona have split two NCAA Tournament appearances. The Buckeyes won a thriller in the 2013 Sweet Sixteen in Los Angeles, edging the Wildcats 73-70. Two years later Arizona earned a bit of revenge with a 73-58 victory over Ohio State in Portland. Following an overtime win over VCU in the first round, D’Angelo Russell had nothing left in the tank against Arizona, going just 3-of-19 from the field.

Last season, the Wildcats were a one-seed in the NCAA Tournament, losing 72-60 to Houston in the Sweet Sixteen, finishing with a 33-4 record. Tommy Lloyd will be looking to go farther in the tourney in his second season in Tucson, as he has the 10th-ranked recruiting class in the country, as well as Texas transfer Courtney Ramey in the fold. The Wildcats are the only team in the field to previous win a Maui Invitational, taking home the title in 2000 and 2014.


Louisville

Rounding out the field is Texas Tech, Creighton, Louisville, and Arkansas. Louisville is the team Ohio State has matched up with most in the past, with the Cardinals holding a 5-4 edge in past meetings with the Buckeyes. The last time Ohio State and Louisville faced each other was in the 2014 ACC/Big Ten Challenge, where the Cardinals earned a 66-54 win at home over the Buckeyes. Russell scored 17 points against his hometown team, but Ohio State shot just 30% from the field.

The Cardinals will be looking to turn around a program that has been dealing with turmoil over the last few seasons. Head coach Chris Mack was suspended for the first six games of last season before being let go in late January. Louisville finished the season 13-19 and will now turn to former player Kenny Payne to lead the program. This will be Payne’s first head coaching job after spending time as an assistant with the New York Knicks, as well as at Oregon and Kentucky at the college level.


Creighton

Aside from Cincinnati, the most recent team the Buckeyes have faced are the Creighton Blue Jays. Ohio state traveled to Omaha in 2018, where they defeated Creighton 69-60 in the Gavitt Games thanks to a combined 31 points off the bench from Keyshawn Woods and Duane Washington Jr.

Creighton head coach Greg McDermott was seriously considered to take over as head coach at Ohio State following the departure of Thad Matta, but the Buckeyes eventually turned to Chris Holtmann. McDermott will be entering his 13th season as head coach of the Blue Jays. Last season Creighton snuck by San Diego State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual champion Kansas 79-72 in the second round.


Texas Tech & Arkansas

The final two teams the Buckeyes could possibly face in Maui are Texas Tech and Arkansas, who were the last two teams that Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski defeated in his legendary coaching career. Texas Tech fell to Duke 78-73 in the Sweet Sixteen, while Arkansas lost 78-69 before the Blue Devils were defeated by North Carolina in the Final Four.

Ohio State has faced Texas Tech just twice, with the teams meeting for a home-and-home in the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons. The Red Raiders won 80-72 in their first matchup, followed by Ohio State earning a 77-71 win the next season. If Ohio State and Texas Tech meet, Buckeye fans will hear a name that caused them pain a couple years ago, as Oral Roberts forward Kevin Obanor transferred into the program prior to last season.

Arkansas holds a 2-1 advantage all-time against Ohio State, but the teams haven’t met since 1986. The only three meetings between the teams happened during a three-year stretch that started in 1984. The Buckeyes took the first meeting 85-84 before the Razorbacks won the next two. Arkansas has been strong in Eric Musselman’s first three seasons as head coach in Fayetteville, winning at least 20 games in each season. The Razorbacks have reached the Elite Eight in each of the last two seasons.

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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for August 8, 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

Introducing ‘Ask LGHL,’ asking and answering questions throughout the football season

On the Gridiron


Sights and Sounds: Ohio State players report to team hotel for preseason camp
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts

Highlights from Ohio State’s 2022 Camp Hotel Check-In
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors


Four-star linebacker Arvell Reese commits to Ohio State
Matt Parker, Lettermen Row

What Arvell Reese’s Commitment Means for Ohio State’s 2023 Recruiting Class
Garrick Hodge, Eleven Warriors

Twitter reacted after LB Arvell Reese announced commitment to Ohio State
Bill Kurelic, Bucknuts

Alabama, Ohio State favorites to reach CFP (paywall)
The Athletic Staff

He is inevitable:


Ohio State distributing reps at running back ‘pretty evenly’ during camp
Jacob Benge, Dotting The Eyes

Ted Ginn Sr. sees potential in 2023 Ohio State commit Arvell Reese
Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch

https://twitter.com/albertbreer/status/1555937236645842949?s=12

On the Hardwood


BOOOOM! Ohio State men’s basketball gets commitment from top-35 forward Scotty Middleton
Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land

What Scotty Middleton’s commitment means to Ohio State basketball
Stephen Means, cleveland.com

Yeah, this dude’s legit!


Ohio State beats Egypt: Five key plays from the exhibition win
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Buckeyes complete 2-0 exhibition trip with win over Puerto Rico
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts

Ohio State men’s basketball lands in final five schools for Columbus Africentric’s Dailyn Swain
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land


Ohio State men’s basketball player preview: Bowen Hardman
Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land

You’re Nuts: Who is the best Toledo basketball recruit in Ohio State history?
Justin Golba and Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Student-Athletes Receive Degrees on Sunday at Summer Commencement
Ohio State Athletics

Men’s Swimming & Diving: Buckeyes Shine at Summer Nationals
Ohio State Athletics

And now for something completely different...


So. Damn. MANY!


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Ohio State adds four-star pledges in both football and basketball
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Arvell Reese | Steve Wiltfong

The Buckeyes saw a pair of additions this weekend with blue-chip prospects on the gridiron and hardwood pledging to the program.

It was a big weekend on both the gridiron and the hardwood in Columbus. The Buckeyes secured a pledge from an in-state linebacker on the football side of things, and Chris Holtmann followed that up by welcoming a high four-star standout from Kansas.

Reese stays home, chooses Buckeyes


Ohio State went back to familiar territory for their latest pledge on the gridiron when 2023 four-star linebacker Arvell Reese of Glenville (OH) announced his commitment to the program on Saturday.


The Cleveland native now joins a long line of former Tarblooders to ultimately pick the Buckeyes including Ted Ginn Jr., Cardale Jones, Marshon Lattimore, Troy Smith, Donte Whitner, and many more.

Reese secured 25 offers from programs across the nation but ultimately would chose Ohio State over the likes of Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, and USC, according to Hayes Fawcett of On3.

The in-state standout becomes the first prospect from Glenville High School to commit to Ohio State since the 2014 recruiting class when the Buckeyes were able to land three-star offensive guard Marcelys Jones, the aforementioned four-cornerback Marshon Lattimore, and four-star safety Erick Smith. Fortunately for Ohio State, Reese is currently teammates with another top target for the program in 2024 four-star cornerback Bryce West.

Reese currently slots in as the No. 277 over prospect in this year’s recruiting class. The 6-foot-3, 212-pounder also comes in as the 20th highest graded linebacker this cycle and is a Top 10 player from the state of Ohio.

Holtmann lands Middleton


Ryan Day wasn’t the only head man in Columbus that picked up good news this weekend. Hoops coach Chris Holtmann also had himself quite a weekend when he landed 2023 four-star small forward Scotty Middleton of Sunrise Christian (KS).


Middleton, a Wichita native, chose the Buckeyes on Sunday over Connecticut, Kansas, Seton Hall, and Texas A&M — the four other programs that were named finalists for Middleton just one month ago.

The latest addition for the Buckeyes gives them the No. 3 recruiting class in the country for the time being. Ohio State’s four man 2023 class that now includes Middleton, four-star center Austin Parks of Memorial (OH), four-star small forward Devin Royal of Pickerington Central (OH), and four-star combo guard George Washington III of Chaminade Julienne (OH) ranks behind only Duke and Kentucky.

Middleton, who is just outside of five-star status, is currently positioned as the No. 34 overall prospect in the class. The 6-foot-6, 180-pounder additionally comes in as the sixth best small forward in the class and is the third highest graded prospect from Kansas in the cycle.

Quick Hits

• After a near handful of predictions in favor of Ohio State landing 2023 four-star safety Jayden Bonsu on Thursday, another came about on Friday. 247Sports’ Sean Scherer, a Michigan State insider, also casted a crystal ball forecast on Friday that pegged the No. 4 player from New Jersey to the Buckeyes.
• Despite one addition to the linebacker room this weekend in the aforementioned Reese, Ohio State also saw 2023 four-star linebacker/defensive end Derion Gullette of Teague (TX) make his pledge to the Longhorns. According to Hayes Fawcett of On3, Gullette chose Texas over Ohio State and Texas A&M.
• According to Garrick Hodge of Eleven Warriors, the Buckeyes are likely to get a visit from 2024 four-star linebacker Edwin Spillman of Lipscomb Academy (TN) this fall. Hodge notes that the visit from Spillman, a Top 100 prospect, is likely to be for the Michigan game near seasons end.

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BOOOOM! Ohio State men’s basketball gets commitment from top-35 forward Scotty Middleton
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Chris Holtmann and company got their second major commitment in a week!

In the words of the great D.J. Khaled, “Anotha one.” It has been one heck of a week for Ohio State basketball recruiting. On Wednesday, four-star forward from Pickerington Central Devin Royal announced his verbal commitment to Ohio State.

Then, another Columbus four-star forward, Dailyn Swain, announced on Friday that Ohio State was in his final five alongside Xavier, Clemson, Arizona State, and Arkansas. Now, the Buckeyes get arguably their biggest commitment in the 2023 class.


Small forward Scotty Middleton from Sunrise Christian High School in Wichita, Kan. has verbally committed to Ohio State on Instagram live with ESPN’s Paul Biancardi.

The 6-foot-6, 180-pound rising senior is a guy who could finish as a five-star recruit, but for now is a consensus four-star. He is ranked as the No. 34 recruit in the country, the sixth-best small forward recruit in the class, and the third-ranked recruit from Kansas, according to 247Sports Composite Rankings.

“I like how they are together,” Middleton told 247Sports last month when discussing Chris Holtmann’s Buckeyes. “They have a saying, ‘Once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye.’ I think that goes so far with them because guys always come back and show love just because they want to teach the players.”

Middleton joins Royal in the Buckeyes’ 2023 class, which also includes No. 60 national player, shooting guard George Washington III and No. 105 player, center Austin Parks. With Middleton’s pledge, the Buckeyes move up to the No. 3 ranked class in the country behind only Duke and Kentucky.

Middleton originally listed five schools in his final school list. Those five were Ohio State, Seton Hall, UConn, Kansas, and Texas A&M. He then cut out Kansas and Texas A&M and gave a final three of Ohio State, Seton Hall, and UConn. In the end, it came down to Ohio State and Seton Hall. Ultimately, Middleton decided he wanted to commit to Holtmann and the Buckeyes.

Middleton visited Columbus on March 4 and got a good understanding of the Buckeyes and the culture that they have built under Chris Holtmann:

“My visit was really good,” Middleton said. “I got to see what Ohio State is really about and what it is to be a Buckeye. I like how the coaches and fans love their players and how some NBA guys come back and work with the players.”

Check out highlights for Scotty Middleton:

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Ohio State men’s basketball lands in final five schools for Columbus Africentric’s Dailyn Swain
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 Steve Helwagen - 247Sports

Chris Holtmann’s persistence on the recruiting trail has the Buckeyes in position to land another dynamic wing.

Just days after landing a commitment from Pickerington Central’s Devin Royal, the Buckeyes found themselves in the top-five on Friday for another talented Columbus player in the 2023 class — four-star small forward Dailyn Swain.


Swain listed the Buckeyes alongside Xavier, Arizona State, Clemson, and Arkansas. While Ohio State may look like the favorite from the outside, it appears more and more likely that the Buckeyes will land a commitment from a player very similar to Swain before Swain makes a final decision. Scotty Middleton — the No. 34 player in the country — will announce his college decision tomorrow, and there are more than a few whispers that the Buckeyes are his preference. If that happens, Ohio State may not be the best fit for the No. 75 player in the nation, Swain.

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 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.”

Swain plays alongside current Ohio State commits George Washington III and Royal on All-Ohio Red, an AAU team in the EYBL circuit. Royal, who just committed on Wednesday, said that he would “Definitely be talking to” Swain and trying to get him to join the 2023 class as well. Swain is currently the No. 75 player in the nation, the No. 15 small forward, and the No. 3 player in the state of Ohio according to 247Sports. He stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 175 pounds.

Swain’s recruitment has been much quieter and closer to the vest than Royal’s was. Ohio State has been viewed as a slight favorite because of Swain’s connections to the program and its 2023 class, but if there isn’t space for him or he goes elsewhere, it’s tough to say where he might wind up. Xavier and Arizona State are two programs that have been involved with Swain for nearly as long as the Buckeyes.

Ohio State’s 2023 class currently sits at No. 5 in the nation with three four-star recruits, according to 247Sports.

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Any year we have won a title, we have not been expected to in the preseason.

In modern times, every time we were a preseason favorite, it has not happened.

JUSTIN AHRENS, JIMMY SOTOS AMONG 29 OHIO STATE STUDENT-ATHLETE SUMMER GRADUATES

The graduating class of summer 2022 features two of the most recent season's basketball players in Justin Ahrens and Jimmy Sotos.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...9-ohio-state-student-athlete-summer-graduates