You’re Nuts: Most ideal landing spot for Ohio State’s NFL draftees
Josh Dooley 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

Which former Buckeye is best set up for success?

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: Most ideal landing spot for Ohio State’s NFL draftees.

Josh’s Take: Chris Olave (Saints)


The 2022 NFL Draft produced a mixed bag of emotions for former Ohio State football players. Six former Buckeyes were drafted, with Garrett Wilson leading the way. He was selected 10th overall by the New York Jets, and followed immediately by Chris Olave and Jameson Williams at 11 and 12. Of course, Williams was not included among the six OSU draftees, but I still wanted to give him a quick shoutout. If we’re looking at the positives, three former Ohio State wideouts going in succession was definitely one of the cool stories of the weekend.

On the other end of the spectrum, Thayer Munford fell all the way to the seventh round (Las Vegas Raiders), and Haskell Garrett surprisingly never heard his name called. The two big men were both such great teammates and leaders, but each saw their NFL Draft stock plummet due to inconsistency and/or injury during the 2021 season. The odds of contributing early at the next level are now stacked against them, but fans of the scarlet and gray have seen Munford and Garrett overcome different obstacles before.

The players in-between all went in the neighborhood of where they were projected, but we’re only talking about three other guys! Nicholas Petit-Frere and Jeremy Ruckert both came off the board in the third round, and Tyreke Smith was taken in the fifth. All in all, Ohio State was out-classed by a number of other schools, including Cincinnati. Luke Fickell’s Bearcats had nine players selected, further cementing their status as a legitimate contender. So Gene, while this was far from a historic OSU draft class, I do think most or all of these former Buckeyes landed in a position where they have a chance to succeed.

But the player with the greatest chance to experience individual success and contribute to a winning team – in my opinion – is Chris Olave. He landed in an ideal spot, in the inferior conference, with a solid team, and he has another former Ohio State wide receiver to mentor him early on. It’s almost too good to be true, and Olave should be able to enjoy multiple “luxuries” not often afforded to other rookies.

Many people, including myself, had mocked Olave to the New Orleans Saints at No. 16 prior to Thursday night, but with two other wideouts coming off the board at No. 8 and No. 10, New Orleans did not want to risk losing their guy. The Saints made a significant trade to move up five spots, and snagged Olave with the 11th pick — a move which some viewed as giving up too much draft capital. But the team’s investment in Olave says a lot about how they view his potential, and I think their confidence is more than warranted.

Right off the bat, Olave will not be expected to come in and carry the offense. The Saints can lean on Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas while Olave learns the ropes. I don’t think it will take long for the organization’s most recent OSU draftee to acclimate, but he will be afforded time. Whereas, in New York, I think Wilson will be expected to come in and perform at a high level right away.

In addition to being surrounded by multiple All-Pro skill players, Olave will presumably be playing with a proven veteran quarterback. Say what you will about Jameis Winston, but he has been in the league for seven seasons, and has a 5,000-yard season on the back of his football card. Winston has had time to work on his own game in New Orleans, likely maturing from the interception machine he one was in Tampa Bay. When healthy last year, he threw 14 touchdowns to only three interceptions — and that was with a rag-tag group of weapons around him. Winston could really flourish with Kamara, Thomas, and now Olave, all in the fold. The rookie wide receiver should benefit as well.

We also can’t forget that New Orleans plays in the NFC South, which is basically a two-team division. The Atlanta Falcons are in the midst of a full-on rebuild, and the Carolina Panthers just... aren’t any good. The Saints will face stiff competition from the cyborg-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but overall, the NFC is the weaker conference. I’m not saying that any team in the NFL is a pushover, but at least Olave will not be playing in a loaded division.

Generally speaking, Olave just landed in a great situation. Often times, the best rookies in the class end up on some of the worst teams. That is not the case here. Sure, the Saints lost a guy or two, and they are not the team that was a perennial contender with Drew Brees, but they have a ton of vets and a ton of talent. I barely mentioned the fact that Olave will be tutored by Thomas (who is looking to re-establish his greatness), while also being surrounded by other former Buckeyes such as Marshon Lattimore and Pete Werner. New Orleans has become Ohio State South (Southwest?), and OSU’s all-time leader in touchdown receptions is yet another piece that they’ve added to the puzzle.

I expect Chris Olave to eventually be a star in New Orleans. It might not happen right away, and if it doesn’t, I don’t think he will or should feel any pressure. That’s why I love the spot in which he landed. He can go in and play Robin to Thomas’ Batman, and possibly become “the guy” by year two or three. Olave is surrounded by familiar faces and a solid roster, so I believe he is destined to succeed.

Gene’s Take: Jeremy Ruckert (Jets)


Growing up on Long Island, one of my favorite stories of the NFL Draft was Jeremy Ruckert ending up with the New York Jets — the team he grew up rooting for as a kid.

Ruckert is a native of Lindenhurst, NY, a town located about 25 minutes from my own hometown and about an hour or so (without traffic, which rarely happens) away from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. If you follow recruiting even a little bit, you will know that New York in general isn’t exactly a high school football factory, and that is especially true on Long Island. To see someone not only make it to a place like Ohio State from my area but then also get to play in the NFL for one of the two local teams, and the one he is a fan of at that, is incredibly special.

We all know about the tight end position at Ohio State. Especially with the insane amount of wide receiver talent that has come through the program under Brian Hartline, even a guy as talented as Ruckert wasn’t exactly the focal point of the passing game. Still, the 6-foot-5, 250 pound athlete was able to haul in 54 receptions for 615 yards and 12 touchdowns during his time in Columbus. Not shown in those numbers were the handful of insane one-handed grabs he made, including a critical one in the B1G Title game against Wisconsin in 2019, and how much he showed up in the team’s biggest games, including a pair of TDs against Penn State in 2020 and of course his two TDs against Clemson in the Sugar Bowl.

Looking at the Jets’ roster, it seems like Ruckert will have some time to get his feet wet in the league before being expected to take over any sort of TE1 responsibilities. This offseason, the Jets signed former Cincinnati Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah to a three-year deal. Uzomah racked up nearly 500 yards and five TDs last season with 49 catches, so he will be the No. 1 guy at the position. Behind him is likely Tyler Conklin, whom the Jets also signed to a three-year deal this offseason having played the last four years in Minnesota. Conklin isn’t quite the receiving threat of Uzomah, but is coming off a career year wherein he totaled 593 yards and three scores.

That puts Ruckert as the third guy in the room, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him overtake Conklin if the former Viking is unable to replicate his stellar 2021 season. Either way, with the amount of two tight end sets NFL teams love to use, we will surely get a chance to see Ruckert playing a good amount of snaps in his rookie season without the added weight of being a team’s top option. We know what he brings to the field in terms of his pass-catching abilities, and his run blocking was really overlooked at Ohio State. It isn’t he best asset by any means, but if he can continue to hone those skills at the next level, he can become a huge talent for the Jets.

I think a guy like Ruckert will need a little time to adjust to an offense that actually uses its tight ends, especially after the way he was utilized with the Buckeyes. That being said, if his number is called earlier than expected whether due to injury or poor play for the guys ahead of him, he will be ready to become a hometown hero. Even as a Giants fan myself, I am very excited to see what Ruckert is able to do at the next level. The Jets have been a laughing stock for a while now, but they have done a tremendous job in these last few drafts at crafting a talented roster, and Ruckert (as well as Garrett Wilson, of course) is another piece to keep the franchise heading in the right direction.

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I-70 Football Podcast: Recapping NFL Draft for former Ohio State, Big Ten Players
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The 2022 NFL Draft has ended and Dante and Jordan get together to discuss the Big Ten players selected

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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The 2022 NFL Draft has ended marking another year that the “Big Two” ran laps around the rest of college football. Forty-eight Big Ten players got their names called and a multitude of others signed undrafted free agent deals and accepted invites to mini camps.

The SEC continued to dominate with 65 total selections, including a record-breaking 15 from the National Champion Georgia Bulldogs. After the B1G’s 48, the next closest conference had 25 selections while “blue bloods” Clemson and Texas combined for two total players drafted.

Penn State lead the Big Ten with eight players drafted followed by Ohio State with six. Every team in the Big Ten had at least one player drafted aside from the Northwestern Wildcats. With the Nittany Lions leading the Big Ten in draft selections including a first-round pick and multiple second-round picks, Jordan wants to know if Penn State failed by only going 7-5 in 2021. Overall, the Big Ten had seven — eight if you include Jamison Williams — first-round picks. A showing the conference should be very proud of.

With their weekly pitstops, Dante highlights the USFL and their entertaining football games. Jordan agrees and hopes that it succeeds and becomes to the NFL what the G-League is to the NBA.

Jordan thinks the Colts SHOULD win the AFC South for the first time since 2014. They’ve had a solid off-season so far so here’s hoping it translates to the field.


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

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Column: How position-less basketball could work (or fail) for Ohio State this season
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports

Tanner Holden at point? How about power forward Justice Sueing? Odds are you will see both this season at some point.

As we’ve learned over the five seasons that Chris Holtmann has been at the helm of the Ohio State men’s basketball program, he absolutely loves versatility. He loves having multiple players who can guard multiple positions, play different roles on offense, and just generally fill in wherever needed. His recruiting — especially lately — reflects this. But Ohio State looks ready to completely embrace the “position-less basketball” theory during the 2022-2023 season.

There was a mass diaspora from the 2021-2022 Ohio State men’s basketball team for a myriad of reasons. Meechie Johnson and Justin Ahrens both chose to transfer. E.J. Liddell and Malaki Branham are headed to the 2022 NBA Draft. Cedric Russell, Jimmy Sotos, Joey Brunk, Kyle Young, Harrison Hookfin, and Jamari Wheeler are all too old to play and ran out of eligibility. This year’s roster is going to look completely different with just five returning players.

But while the mass exodus was unfolding, a wave of young talent and experienced transfers simultaneously rolled in. Ohio State’s incoming freshmen class — which is No. 11 in the nation — includes five players, four of whom are top-100 players and two of which are in the top-50. Then there’s the two transfers that have joined the program — Tanner Holden and Sean McNeil.

Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

The Buckeyes accrued a nice collection of talent here, but the way the pieces fit positionally is a bit puzzling. As it stands, Chris Holtmann has exactly one point guard on the roster —freshman Bruce Thornton. There are seven or eight players who play either the two or three (shooting guard and small forward) positions:

• Bowen Hardman (Redshirt is also a possibility)
• Roddy Gayle
• Brice Sensabaugh
• Justice Sueing
• Seth Towns
• Gene Brown
• Tanner Holden
• Sean McNeil

Kalen Etzler is probably the only “true” power forward on this roster, but after a full-season redshirt last year there is essentially a 0% chance he starts at that position — or any position — this season. And then Zed Key and Felix Okpara are your low post players/centers.

So you’ve got a solid center in Key, who jumped from 5.2 PPG as a freshman to 7.8 PPG as a sophomore. I think he’ll make a similar jump into his junior season and should be a solid double-digit scorer this year.

You have a phenomenally talented young point guard in Thornton, although as a freshman there will be bumps and growing pains. There will be some head-scratching mistakes and some games where Ohio State fans will turn on him, even if just for a moment. But don’t worry, Thornton will be a very solid player. However, do we want to push a freshman into 30+ minutes per game as the floor general? It’s not ideal.

And then, as I stated earlier, you’ve got about eight players who could start at shooting guard or small forward. Simple math says all eight cannot start. But at this point, the Buckeyes only have one scholarship remaining. It isn’t going to be a guard, so what you see is what you get with OSU’s point guard situation. It’s likely to be a power forward or center, but we’re not sure if it’ll end up being an impact player who starts right away, or more of a depth guy off the bench — at this stage of the game, my money is on the latter.

Which means yes, Ohio State is going to roll out some funky lineups this season that don’t exactly go by the book. Thornton is not going to play 35 minutes per night, which means other players — who are not point guards by trade, not even a little bit — will handle the rock at times.

Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Two seasons ago when CJ Walker was injured, 6-foot-7, 215-pounds Sueing was asked to run point a bit. It wasn’t a huge success, but it wasn’t a failure, either. He got the job done despite not really being much of a creator for others. Certainly, he’s more useful in other ways.

Holden primarily played small forward at Wright State, but most databases classify him as a shooting guard at 6-foot-6 and 175 pounds. Could he carry some of the point guard load when Thornton is not? Yes, and I think Holden is one of the biggest candidates to do so despite his lack of experience with it previously.

And then at the power forward position, is Sueing, Towns, or Brown the answer? Could it be Sensabaugh down the line? Ohio State doesn’t have one player who really fits the by-the-book definition of a big, bruising, (but relatively mobile) power forward. But someone has to start there, right? It very well could be the mystery transfer that gets that 13th scholarship. But until that spot is filled, we have to work with what we have.

Right now, hammering down a starting lineup is nearly impossible without knowing what the coaching staff is planning for these guys. But if I had to guess, the most likely lineup is:

• Bruce Thornton
• Sean McNeil
• Tanner Holden
• Justice Sueing
• Zed Key

So in essence, you have a traditional point guard, a traditional center, three guys who can slide back and forth from shooting guard to small forward, and nobody who really seems like a true power forward.

Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Again, nailing a starting lineup on May 2 is about as easy as predicting the weather for Memorial Day weekend on May 2. But what’s abundantly clear is that the staff trusts that several players on this roster are skilled enough to contribute in multiple roles — even if they are roles they haven’t played before. It could lead to a really fun, explosive brand of basketball where the best players flourish because of their versatility. Or, it could expose the positional holes on the roster as well as its youth.

Scenario 1: It works like a charm


Thornton adapts to college basketball seamlessly and averages 12.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists (vs. just 1.7 turnovers) per game while averaging 27 minutes per contest. Holden averages 17 points per game while mostly playing small forward, and Sueing is a second-team All Big Ten honoree after averaging 16.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3 assists per game at power forward.

The team doesn’t have one great rebounder, but as a unit they crash the glass well for their size. They rank somewhere between sixth and eighth in the Big Ten in rebounding, and rarely cough up the basketball. When Thornton is out, Holden and Sueing share point guard duties. They don’t dish out many assists between the two of them, but they take care of the basketball and get it past half court without incident more times than not, which is all you can ask. Ohio State finishes top-four in the Big Ten and earns a 4-seed in the NCAA Tournament in large part thanks to their versatility.

Scenario 2: Teams expose Ohio State due their size, lack of ball-handlers


Thornton gets off to a rocky start and has a 1:2 assist-to-turnover ratio through the first eight games of the season, two of which Ohio State loses. Thornton is benched in favor of Sueing, who slides up to the point guard spot despite that not being his natural position. Sensabaugh suddenly takes Sueing’s place at power forward, despite only averaging 4.2 points and 3 rebounds per game at that point in the season.

Teams begin to trap and press Sueing at every opportunity, knowing he’s not playing his natural position. The Buckeyes begin to turn the ball over at a frustratingly high rate, giving away points off turnovers frequently. Big Ten teams with large centers (Michigan, Purdue, etc.) manhandle Ohio State on the glass — especially on the offensive end. Things begin to break down due to the instability at the point guard position and the Buckeyes’ inability to keep people off the offensive glass. Ohio State scratches and claws their way to a 10-10 record in Big Ten play and earns a 9-seed in the NCAA Tournament, setting them up to play a 1-seed in the second round, should they advance.


I would not be shocked if the 2022-2023 season turns out more like scenario one. Several people have told me they think this year’s team could be Holtmann’s deepest one yet —even if there isn’t one Liddell or Branham-caliber player on it. Lots of folks think that — as long as the coaching staff doesn’t complicate things too much — several players could step in as point guard, or slide over to the power forward position. I still think rebounding could be an issue, but the prevailing logic still checks out. Get your best players on the floor, and let the rest work itself out. Texas Tech has been following this model the last several seasons, and they’ve been wildly successful. Villanova did the same under Jay Wright. Position-less basketball can absolutely work.

I also would not be shocked if the 2022-2023 season plays out more like scenario two. Ohio State was 12th in the Big Ten last year in both overall rebounding and offensive rebounding last season. To make it worse, their leading rebounder is now off to the NBA, and Ohio State has not added an impact post player who can replace any of those rebounds. Holden and McNeil are fine players, but they’ll combine for what, a max of eight rebounds per game? Maybe Key averages six or seven, and Sueing does the same. Rebounding could be a more severe problem than last season.

As we saw last season at times, letting teams dominate you on the glass saps a team’s energy and is emotionally draining when defensive stops go for naught, because the other teams just keeps corralling their own misses. That issue could be even more crucial than who is playing point guard on any particular day. Just get the ball over half court without coughing it up — that’s the bare minimum and most players on this roster can do that.

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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for May 2, 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


Kyle Robertson/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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#DevelopedHere


2022 NFL Draft: Ex-Ohio State TE Jeremy Ruckert overjoyed to join Jets with Garrett Wilson
Isaac Trotter, Bucknuts

Nicholas Petit-Frere selected by Tennessee Titans in NFL draft
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch

Love this energy from NPF:


Tyreke Smith taken No. 158 in fifth round by the Seattle Seahawks in NFL Draft 2022: Ohio State football
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

OSU OL Thayer Munford picked by Las Vegas Raiders in seventh round
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State has had some undrafted free agents step up big in the NFL
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Gran Holy Land

Ohio State’s Master Teague signs with Chicago Bears as undrafted free agent
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Ohio State football’s Haskell Garrett reaches agreement with Tennessee Titans as undrafted free agent
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

Where do Ohio State’s newest NFL Draft picks fit in at the next level?
Colin Gay, Scarlet and Gray Report

Ohio State has had some undrafted free agents step up big in the NFL
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land

Former Buckeye Demario McCall Signs with Bears
Chase Brown, Buckeye Sports Bulletin

Antwaun Jackson Invited to New York Giants Rookie Minicamp
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

Chris Booker Invited to Arizona Cardinals Rookie Minicamp
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

First round NFL Draft success for Buckeyes should help continue trend of elite receiver play
Caleb Houser, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Gridiron


Ohio State football adds Kent State to 2026 schedule
Stephen Means, cleveland.com

It’s easy to root for a guy like this:


Ohio State Will Pay Youngstown State $800,000 for Game at Ohio Stadium in 2023
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

Parker Lewis finds winning situation with Ohio State transfer (paywall)
Jeremy Birmingham, Lettermen Row

Can’t Lose!

On the Hardwood


Chris Holtman Says Loss of Malaki Branham “Completely Changes the Complexion” of Ohio State Roster, Even Though it was Anticipated
Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

You’re Nuts: Drafting an Ohio State men’s basketball starting five since 2000
Connor Lemons and Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Men’s Lacrosse: Ohio State Advances in B1G Tourney with 16-10 Win Over Michigan
Ohio State Athletics

Men’s Swimming and Diving: Buckeyes Break Two School Records to Close US International Team Trials
Ohio State Athletics

Women’s Tennis: No. 10 Buckeyes Fall to No. 20 Wolverines in B1G Tournament Final
Ohio State Athletics

Men’s Tennis: Buckeyes Fall Short in B1G Championship
Ohio State Athletics

And now for something completely different:


As the kids say, this is cringe:


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Well this aged poorly.

Drafted
Garrett Wilson - 100% of the votes
Chris Olave - 100% of the votes
Jeremy Ruckert - 88.2% of the votes
Nicholas Petit-Frere - 94.1% of the votes (my bad)
Thayer Munford - 94.1% of the votes
Tyreke Smith - 76.5% of the votes

Biggest misses by BP
Haskell Garrett - 100% of the votes. Undrafted.
Zach Harrison - 76.5% of the votes. Returning for 2022.
Sevyn Banks - 70.6% of the votes. Transferred out.
Josh Proctor - 47.1% of the votes. Returning for 2022 after injury.

Four-star defensive lineman includes Ohio State as a 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


Stephiylan Green | Rusty Mansell, 247Sports

The Buckeyes remain firmly in the mix for a blue chip defensive prospect from SEC territory.

While most of the weekend involved a host of Buckeyes realizing their dream by making it to the next level, Ohio State also saw optimistic developments on the recruiting front as a defensive lineman included the program in his top group. Plus, another defensive lineman becomes a name to watch going forward with the Buckeyes seemingly in good standing.

Six remain for Green


Despite only beginning their pursuit for four-star defensive lineman Stephiylan Green of Rome (GA) back in February when they offered, Ohio State seems to have done enough to impress the Peach State prospect.

The 6-foot-4, 267-pounder has garnered over 20 schloarship opportunities thus far, and on Saturday he was prepared to narrow down his recruitment.


Among the programs that remain in the running for the Top 300 prospect in the class was defensive line coach Larry Johnson and the Buckeyes. Green also has Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Tennessee, and Ole Miss as potential options.

Green, who is fresh off of a visit to Columbus in mid-March, comes in regarded as the No. 291 overall prospect in the class. The Wolves standout also slots in as the 42nd highest graded defensive lineman that the class has to offer and the 29th best player from Georgia.

Buckeyes leading for Florida DL?


Another player along the defensive front that now should be monitored closely with the Buckeyes is 2023 four-star defensive lineman John Walker of Osceola (FL). On Sunday morning, well-respected 247Sports recruiting analyst Bill Kurelic casted a Crystal Ball prediction in favor of Ohio State landing the 6-foot-3, 310-pounder.

Walker, a Kissimmee native, was offered by the Buckeyes way back in November of 2020 and was on campus for a visit back in June of last year. In February, Walker did tell 247Sports' Andrew Ivins that Ohio State (along with Michigan and USC) would get official visits and according the his profile on 247Sports, that visit will happen in late June.

While the Buckeyes have already had plenty of success in the class with Florida prospects, Walker would certainly have to be considered one of the more important targets from the state for the program. Ohio State has already welcomed four Sunshine State talents to their class, and Walker a host of others remain very much in-play.

If Johnson and the Buckeyes can outlast the competition that includes Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami (FL), Notre Dame, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and USC, it would land them the No. 95 prospect in the class. Walker also slots in as the 13th best defensive lineman and the 20th highest graded player in Florida.

Quick Hits

• Ohio State officially announced the addition of West Virginia transfer guard Sean McNeil on Saturday. The Kentucky native who averaged just over 12 points per game for the Mountaineers pledged to the program last week.
• The Buckeyes picked up a transfer pledge on the gridiron as well as USC kicker Parker Lewis announced his move to the scarlet and gray on Friday. Lewis netted 17 of 22 field goal attempts last season as a Trojan.
• 2023 four-star shooting guard Rayvon Griffith of Taft (OH) announced his commitment to Cincinnati last night. The No. 1 player in the state chose the Bearcats over Alabama, Kansas, Ohio State, and UCLA.

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Ohio State has had some undrafted free agents step up big in the NFL
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



Over the years, a number of Ohio State players not drafted in the NFL Draft have gone on to make their way into the league and play big roles.

While every college football player hopes to one day hear their name announced in the NFL Draft, in the end they just hope to somehow make it to the NFL. Just because a player isn’t drafted in the annual draft, it doesn’t mean their professional football career is over even before it has a chance to start. Those players that aren’t drafted don’t have long to be disappointed that they weren’t chosen because often they are taking calls from multiple teams and have to decide where they want to start their career as an undrafted free agent.

Undrafted free agents know they have to work a little harder to earn a spot in the NFL. There have been plenty of players over the years that have gone from being undrafted to becoming a top player in the NFL. After Kurt Warner went undrafted in 1994, the Northern Iowa quarterback won the NFL MVP award in 1999 and 2001. Priest Holmes wasn’t drafted out of Texas, but from 2001-03 the running back eclipsed 2,000 total yards in each of those seasons, winning the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award in 2002. Tony Romo, Wes Welker, and Arian Foster are a few other undrafted players that went on to have successful NFL careers.

Ohio State saw six players drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft. Even though it has to be upsetting for Haskell Garrett, Master Teague, and a few other Buckeyes that were eligible to be drafted to not be picked, they can look to some past Ohio State players as inspiration. Around this time of year, the number of players Ohio State has seen drafted always gets mentioned, but the Buckeyes have seen a lot of players become solid NFL players after not being drafted. We are going to take a look at some notable overlooked Buckeyes.


Lou Groza

Obviously when Lou Groza played college football, things were a lot different than they were now. The drafts during the mid-1940s actually had more picks, with 330 picks being made, but there was also many players that were forced into military service because of World War II. Groza played just one year at Ohio State, making five field goals as a Buckeye in 1942.

Groza enlisted in the army in 1943, eventually being sent to the Pacific as a surgical technician. While in service, former Ohio State coach Paul Brown sent Groza a package with a contract to play with the Cleveland Browns, who Brown was coaching at the time. The kicker agreed to join the Browns after the war ended in 1946.

The list of accomplishments for Groza during his NFL career was impressive. The kicker hit 234 of his 405 field goal attempts over 216 games. Groza was a four-time NFL champion, four-time First team All-Pro selection, two-time Second team All-Pro choice, a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, and a member of the NFL’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. Not bad for a guy that made just five field goals in Columbus.


Bill Willis

Would Groza and Bill Willis go undrafted out of college today? Willis definitely would have been selected had things not been as they were in the 1940s. Along with the country being involved in World War II, no African-American had played in the NFL since 1933 because of a “gentleman’s agreement” was made when segregationist George Preston Marshall entered the league as owner of the Boston Redskins.

After graduating from Ohio State in 1945, Willis actually was the head coach at Kentucky State College for a year before Cleveland Browns head coach Paul Brown offered Willis a tryout in 1946. After impressing at the tryout, the Browns offered Willis a contract, which allowed Willis to join a group of three other African-Americans in the league to break football’s color barrier as the first black players in the league.

Much like Groza, Willis was very successful with Cleveland, winning a title with the team in 1950, and becoming a four-time First team All-Pro, and three-time Pro Bowl selection. Willis is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as well as the College Football Hall of Fame. Ohio State not only retired number 99 in honor of Willis, Ohio State also designated the number 0 jersey to be worn by a different player each year in recognition of Willis.


Mike Tomczak

If you plugged Tomczak’s stats into college football today, there is no way he is even getting considered as a undrafted free agent. Luckily for the former Buckeye quarterback, the game was a little different in 1985. Tomczak lucked into a great situation when he signed with the Chicago Bears as an UDFA right before the Bears would go 15-1 and win the Super Bowl.

Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images

Tomczak would go on to start 31 games for the Bears before leaving for Green Bay in 1991. The quarterback would spend one year with the Packers, and one year with Cleveland before finding a comfortable spot in Pittsburgh, where he would play from 1993-99. By the time his career was over, Tomczak started 73 games, threw for 16.079 yards, 88 touchdowns, and 106 interceptions.


Alex Boone

Had it not been for alcohol issues coming out of college, Alex Boone would have definitely been drafted at some point in the 2009 NFL Draft. Just two months before the draft, Boone was arrested for an incident where he was jumping on car hoods, yanking on a tow truck cable, and trying to break a window. Had it not been for that, there’s no way a First team All-Big Ten player in 2008 isn’t getting drafted.

Even though the San Francisco 49ers signed Boone as an undrafted free agent, it still took nearly two seasons for Boone to see his first NFL action. The guard would go on to become a key starter on the offensive line for the 49ers. Following the 2015 season, Boone would go on to sign a four-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings worth $26 million, but he was released prior to the 2017 season for refusing to take a pay cut. Boone would sign with the Arizona Cardinals, and start 13 games. By the end of his career, Boone had started 86 games in the NFL.


Jake McQuaide

Sometimes to make it in the NFL you have to get a little creative. If you asked most people who Jake McQuaide was, they’d have no idea. Hardcore football fans would know because he is one of the best long snappers in the game. After not being drafted in 2011, McQuaide caught on with the Rams, who were in St. Louis at the time. McQuaide has played in 177 games since then, earning Pro Bowl selections in 2016 and 2017.


Corey “Philly” Brown

Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

It was surprising to see Corey Brown not selected in the 2014 NFL Draft after catch 63 passes and scoring 10 touchdowns in 2013. The Carolina Panthers scooped up Brown after the draft, and it took like time for the Buckeye to make an impact. Brown scored Carolina’s first punt return touchdown since 2003 when he housed a punt in October. The receiver would go on to catch 79 passes for 1,019 yards, and seven touchdowns over his three years with Carolina, which included an appearance in Super Bowl 50, where he led Carolina with 80 receiving yards in the 24-10 loss to Denver.


Andrew Norwell

Another Buckeye that fell into Carolina’s lap in 2014 was Andrew Norwell, who was a two-time First team All-Big Ten selection. By the seventh week of the 2014 season, Norwell was starting at guard for Carolina, and was a rock for the Panthers for the next three seasons. Norwell earned First team All-Pro honors in 2017, which led to him becoming the highest-paid guard in football when he signed a five-year, $66.5 million dollar contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. After spending the last four years with Jacksonville, Norwell signed a two-year contract with the Washington Commanders this offseason.


Cameron Johnston

Technically Cameron Johnston didn’t go undrafted professionally, since he was taken by the Melbourne Football Club with the 63rd selection of the 2011 AFL Rookie Draft. After his AFL career didn’t go as planned, Johnston made his way to the United States to punt at Ohio State, where he was the Big Ten’s Punter of the Year in 2016.

Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images

After going undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Johnston, but they would waive him before the start of the season. Johnston kept at it though, making the Eagles roster in 2018, and since then he has started every game. Following last season, Johnston signed with the Houston Texans, where he would have plenty of opportunities to punt during the 2021 season, leading the NFL in punting yardage.

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Round One Recap: Buckeye WR’s go back-to-back
Shane Bailey via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



Ohio State had a successful first round of the NFL Draft.

It was quite the spectacle on Thursday night of the NFL Draft, as Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave showed up on the red carpet dressed like they were about to be starring in a buddy cop movie. The two close friends no doubt spoke about this for many years while in Columbus, but I doubt either of them thought they would be drafted so close together — much less back to back. They had such a great chemistry with Zone 6 for the Buckeyes, so I was glad to see the two teammates get to share in one last moment together before their lives were forever changed.


When I first saw the duo strolling on to the red carpet, I will admit I got a little bit nostalgic and sad, yet proud and optimistic about the future of two of the Buckeyes’ best and most popular wide outs in the history of Buckeye nation. All the time and battles gone through together led to this absolutely awesome moment of being able to be drafted with one of your best friends is next-level cool.

What made things even more storybook like is the fact the duo got drafted BACK-TO-BACK in the first round, going 10th and 11th overall in the draft. They not only got to experience the draft with their teammate, but celebrate on stage when they were picked less than 10 minutes apart from each other.

I mean, when Michael Irvin is the one getting your number you know you have made it


I wanted to take a quick look at the fit before the second round of the draft starts tonight, and how we can expect the two to perform in their rookie seasons, or at least what kind of situations they are stepping into.

Garrett Wilson was first off the board (but not the first WR, looking at you Atlanta) and was chosen to end up in the Big Apple with the New York Jets. Now, I know many of you claim the Jets are cursed, and while I do not disagree with that statement, if anybody can break a curse it’s our guy Garrett. He heads to New York to team up with the Jets’ first round pick last season, Zach Wilson, for the now patented Wilson-to-Wilson combo connection.

The Jets not so quietly had one of the best first rounds of the draft, which is to be expected when you make three picks. Garrett joins an offense without a true No. 1 wide out threat. Elijah Moore and Corey Davis are good players, but neither has the potential that can be had out of Garrett. I think he will vault to the top of that depth chart in training camp or by the latest the first month of the season. He will have ample opportunities for targets, and for you fantasy football dynasty players is looking pretty great to pick up for the long haul.

The offense he will entering is still a bit of a question mark, but he will be able to grow and development with the young QB already in place. Gaining chemistry and good practice habits is key to any rookie in the NFL, and with coach Brian Hartline’s discipline and work ethic instilled into our wideouts, I think that will be no issue for Wilson in his transition to the League.


Then we get to one of the most popular Buckeyes in my time on this earth, Chris Olave. The Columbus Saint.... errrr... excuse me the New Orleans Saints made their presence known once more in Ohio, as they swoop in to take one of our favorites. This is a very interesting situation Olave now finds himself in, and one I may be a bigger fan of than most people I have seen. I think Jameis Winston is a capable QB with good weapons, and he excels in throwing the ball deep down the field.

What does Olave do better than almost anyone in the draft class? Track and catch the deep ball. Olave will open up all kinds of space in the underneath routes for Michael Thomas (oh look another Buckeye in New Orleans) and their play styles will compliment each other so well.


Everybody always jokes about how Michael Thomas being the slant king, but with Olave taking the top off of the defense those slants will be even more wide open and the YAC will only increase this year if I was a betting man. Now of course that's a bunch of bologna how Thomas only runs slants, but just wanted to make sure how good Olave is going to be for Thomas’s game.

The first year without Sean Payton is going to be a good indicator what direction the Saints are headed in the coming years. If Jameis can play even average football with Olave now in the fold, their offense is a whole new animal. Kamara along with Thomas and Olave all healthy and on the field at once is a three-headed monster which I very much look forward to seeing.

There were obviously some very mixed feelings on the landing spots for Ohio State’s two stars, but that's the price you pay when you are elite and go higher in the draft to the teams who may not be as well established. They may not have landed in the perfect situations, but I am willing to bet that the two of them will make the situations perfect for themselves. We know how hard these two work at their craft and their will to be great, so why not believe their greatness will rub off on others around them? I don't see any reason why it can’t.

Call me a homer but these two studs are going to be All-Pros in no time.

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You’re Nuts: Drafting an Ohio State men’s basketball starting five since 2000
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 Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Who would you vote for? And again, it is SINCE 2000.

It has been a busy couple of weeks for Ohio State basketball, as they have announced the return of Seth Towns, the addition of transfer guards Tanner Holden and Sean McNeil, and Malaki Branham announced he is officially staying in the NBA draft.

As always, the Bucketheads are keeping on with the debates and discussions and talking about all things Ohio State basketball related. This week, we are doing something a bit different. We are trying out a draft.

Last week, we talked about Ohio State hoops recruiting and the best way to go about it. This was prompted by this years recruiting class coming in, as it is one of the highest ranked basketball classes in Columbus in a long time. Connor went with keeping the talent in state, and Justin went with getting all the talent no matter where they hooped in high school.


Justin won in a close battle.


After 47 weeks:

Connor- 21
Justin- 18
Other- 6

(There have been two ties)


So this week we drafted teams. There were two stipulations. One was starting at the year 2000. No Jerry Lucas on this list. And the second one was this was strictly based on college success. What these guys have done professionally does not matter.

How it broke down...

Pick 1 (Justin): Greg Oden
Pick 2 (Connor): Evan Turner
Pick 3 (Justin): Keita Bates-Diop
Pick 4 (Connor): Mike Conley
Pick 5 (Justin): D’Angelo Russell
Pick 6 (Connor): Jared Sullinger
Pick 7 (Justin): Michael Redd
Pick 8 (Connor): Jae’Sean Tate
Pick 9 (Justin): Deshaun Thomas
Pick 10 (Connor): Kosta Koufas
Pick 11 (Justin): Aaron Craft
Pick 12 (Connor): E.J. Liddell

Today’s question: Who drafted a better all-Buckeye team?

Connor:

Mike Conley, Evan Turner, Jae’Sean Tate, Jared Sullinger, Kosta Koufos, E.J. Liddell

Set Number: X83958 TK1 R8 F56

I decided ahead of time that my first pick was going to be either Evan Turner or Mike Conley, because they were both so successful in college and also had pretty great NBA careers (I know this draft was only supposed to be based on college, but it’s still hard to get over Greg Oden’s NBA career). So when Justin took Oden first, it was a no-brainer to take the National Player of the Year, right? Easy choice for my first pick.

Once Turner was off the board, I figured Justin would take Conley — who is definitely held in higher regard by Ohio State fans than D’Angelo Russell, and who arguably has had a better career in the league, too. Justin opted for Keita Bates-Diop, which meant I was able to take both of my top two guys with my first and second picks, rounding out my backcourt right away.

With my backcourt all set, I was able to use my third pick on one of the most dominant big men of the past 20 years in Sullinger, who is also from Columbus. He also may be the best post player Ohio State has had since 2000 other than Oden, so it just made sense here. At this point I really felt like I was dominating this draft.

Justin snagged Michael Redd with his fourth pick, which might’ve been the best value pick in this whole thing if we’re being honest. I went with my heart instead of my head and reached for Jae’Sean Tate with my fourth pick, just because I love him with my whole heart and am so damn proud of his journey. But in the grand scheme of things, he probably isn’t on the same level as some of these other guys. But I digress.

With my fifth pick I had to find a center, and I realized Ohio State really has not had many great centers since Oden. The options really come down to Byron Mullens, Kosta Koufos, and I guess... Kaleb Wesson? So Koufos was the pick. And then I tied it all up with an All-American in E.J. Liddell coming off the bench with my final selection.

Justin:

D’Angelo Russell, Michael Redd, Keita Bates-Diop, Deshaun Thomas, Greg Oden, Aaron Craft



With my first pick, I went with big man Greg Oden. I mean, I don’t have to actually explain this one do I? Dude was as dominant as anyone over the last 20 years and led Ohio State to the national championship game, where he put up 25 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks on 10-for-15 shooting.

With my second pick, I wanted to go with a position I thought was lacking a bit. So I went with Keita Bates-Diop at small forward. Bates-Diop will always hold a strong spot in a lot of Buckeyes fans hearts along with Jae’Sean Tate, because they made a year that was supposed to be pretty miserable a lot of fun. This was the first season under Chris Holtmann for the Buckeyes and they were coming off two missed NCAA tournaments in a row. However, in large part to Big Ten player of the year Bates-Diop, the Buckeyes ended up finishing third in the conference with a five seed in the NCAA Tournament. KBD averaged 19.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game during that historic season.

With my third pick, it was time for a point guard. D’Angelo Russell was the only choice here. Russell was not only one of the best players to come through Ohio State in the last two decades, but he was easily one of the most entertaining too. It felt like he could really do anything on the court. He had a triple-double as a Buckeye, basically single handedly won them a postseason game and made play after play that had the defenses heads spinning. He was the highest draft pick since Greg Oden for a reason. He averaged 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds per game and 5 assists per game in his only season in Columbus.

With my fourth pick, Michael Redd. Redd just barely made the cut as he was drafted in 2000, but he is an Ohio State great, nonetheless. Redd averaged 19.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game through his three year career with Ohio State. Just a pure scorer who crashed the boards surprisingly well. Weirdly enough, his scoring averages steadily decreased through his three years, as he averaged almost 22 points per game as a freshman and just over 17 points per game as a junior. Still, he put up some staggering numbers.

And finally with my fifth pick, Deshaun Thomas. Thomas was a guy who played with a lot of talent and still was able to carve out his own incredible lane scoring. The lefty killer was so vital to Ohio State in their success post William Buford, Jon Diebler and David Lighty and helped the Buckeyes still reach an Elite Eight and a Final Four. Thomas averaged 14.4 points and 5 rebounds per game for his career, but he averaged just under 20 points his junior season.

And off the bench, is there a better sixth man than Aaron Craft? Doubt it.

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Buck Off Podcast: Live NFL Draft Reactions, Ohio State transfers, first overall pick in 2022
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK

The guys watch the 1st round of the NFL draft and discuss some of the recent news surrounding Ohio State football

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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


On today’s episode of “Buck Off with Christopher Renne,” Chris and Jordan Williams discuss Ohio State’s draft-eligible Buckeyes and watch the NFL Draft.

To start the show, the guys get into some of their thoughts on the NFL draft including how they think the first round will go. We also discuss the ideal fits for Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave in the first round. Then we discuss the rest of the Ohio State potential draftees. Throughout the show they get into their live reactions of some of the NFL draft picks and make some predictions as the show goes on.

After that, they discuss the potential each Ohio State transfer has at their next destination in a little game called “Jamo or no more.” The guys predict if each transfer will find success or if we will never hear about them again as they go on to the next steps of their journeys.

Continuing on the guys get into C.J. Stroud being better than Bryce Young and the potential number one overall pick in 2023. We discuss the passing chart that blew up Twitter and get into the reasons why each quarterback might go first overall.

They close out the show discussing some questions about the Buckeyes they found on the internet and have some fun answering them.


Connect with the Show:
Twitter: @BuckOffPod

Connect with Chris Renne:
Twitter: @ChrisRenneCFB

Connect with Jordan Williams
Twitter: @JordanW330

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Florida Gators' Keyontae Johnson enters transfer portal with hopes of resuming college basketball career

Florida forward Keyontae Johnson, who collapsed during a game in December 2020 and hasn't practiced or played since, entered the NCAA men's basketball transfer portal Sunday with hopes of resuming his college career.

School officials confirmed Johnson's desire to move on from Florida following his graduation over the weekend. It's unclear what his ultimate intentions are, but it's possible the 22-year-old Johnson hopes to prove he's healthy before turning pro, which has been one of his goals for more than a year.
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From Norfolk, Virginia, Johnson would need to gain medical clearance to work out for NBA teams or attend the NBA combine before the draft. He also has a $5 million insurance policy that would pay out if he never plays again.

The policy allows him to take part in a handful of games to test his health. If he proceeds beyond the set number of games, any potential payout would be nullified.

Johnson's insurance policy went into effect in July 2020, five months before he fell face-first onto the court at Florida State. The Southeastern Conference's preseason player of the year in 2020 became a trauma patient on Dec. 12 of that year, crumpling to the court seconds after breaking a team huddle in the fourth game of the COVID-19-delayed season.
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Johnson's parents said last year their son's collapse was not related to a previous positive COVID-19 test, citing a consultation team that included experts from four highly respected schools of medicine. The family has not said what doctors believe caused the episode.

Entire article: https://www.espn.com/mens-college-b...rtal-hopes-resuming-college-basketball-career

I guess you really need to know exactly what his medical diagnosis was/is before commenting.

Honor&Glory said:

Cincinnati is still a basketball school at heart. But I think he was always gonna be a Bearcat regardless of NIL. Wes Miller is having a good start to his recruiting resume at UC. just has to start winning now.

Click to expand...

Yeah, and getting Landers Nolley out of the transfer portal recently was impressive, I am not sure if they had some connection working there for them or just a good sales pitch.

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CONNOR HEYWARD ON GETTING DRAFTED TO STEELERS…

Connor: “It's surreal. (I’m excited), my grandma (is excited), everybody's excited. My whole family's from Pittsburgh. I'm the only one born and raised in Georgia. But, you know, I have a Pittsburgh mentality and I'm ready to get to work.”

Cam: “Get ready to hold my shoulder pads. But you know, I think he’s gonna learn some things along the way. I’m gonna let him experience it as well. But you know, I'm gonna make sure I do whatever I can to make sure he has a great career.”

Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for April 29, 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


Gary Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.

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

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

You’re welcome!

For your Earholes...


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

#DevelopedHere


2022 NFL Draft: New York Jets select Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson in first round
Dave Biddle, Bucknuts

Buckeyes receiver Chris Olave selected by Saints in first round of NFL draft
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Three Former Ohio State Receivers Taken Consecutively in First Round as Jameson Williams Is Selected No. 12 by the Detroit Lions
Kevin Harrish, Eleven Warriors

What a picture!


Which former Ohio State wide receiver has the highest ceiling, and which current NFL stars could they possibly model their game(s) after?
Josh Dooley, Land-Grant Holy Land

Former Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins honored at NFL Draft with moment of silence
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

Ohio State Draft Primer: A last look at the Buckeye draft prospects
Chris Renne, Land-Grant Holy Land

If you think the recruits didn’t notice, you’d be mistaken:

On the Hardwood


Analyzing impact as Malaki Branham officially leaves Ohio State for NBA Draft (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Taking Redshirt Season Was “Best Decision” for Kalen Etzler, Who Is Eager to Get on the Court for Ohio State in Second Year
Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

You know you want to scream this dude’s name next season.

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Men’s Swimming: Hunter Armstrong Sets World Record in 50m Backstroke
Ohio State Athletics

Ohio State’s Andrea Kuhn, and Daniella Santos excel at Penn Relays
Staff Reports, The Columbus Dispatch

Men’s Lacrosse: Myers, Reid and Van Buren Receive All-Big Ten Honors
Matt Goldman, The Lantern

Losses mount for Ohio State baseball as team struggles in B1G play
David M. Wheeler, Land-Grant Holy Land

And now for something completely different:


Score one for the Buckeyes and the Bear!


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First round NFL Draft success for Buckeyes should help continue trend of elite receiver play
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Ohio State’s receiver position is in great hands for years to come thanks to more success in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Thursday saw the completion of the first round of the NFL Draft. With all eyes tuned in on the 32 selections last night, there wasn’t a ton of recruiting news to go out around. Ryan Day and his crew spent majority of their time focused on their players headed to the league, and though their attention was more so there than the recruiting trail, last night’s draft success for the Buckeyes was really all the recruiting effort needed.

The first round picks for the Buckeyes continued thanks to back-to-back selections for both Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. The proven track record the Ohio State staff has when it comes to developing their players for the NFL is the ultimate recruiting pitch, and a major reason as to why the Buckeyes continue to land elite talent at every position. Having the most players drafted since 2000 out of any program, Ryan Day and the rest of the staff really have all they need to say with those stats alone, and the positive outcomes in their recruiting efforts should reflect that and more.

Buckeyes on the verge of landing another top receiver?


Speaking of the receivers, the consecutive picks of Wilson and Olave going 10th and 11th overall last night had to have Brian Hartline grinning ear to ear. Further proof of coach Hart being the best receivers coach in college football, it’s pretty easy to see why top players at the position all over the country are wanting to suit up for Ohio State and be developed by not only a great coach, but someone who also played at the highest level.

Last night was just another testament and again, an incredible recruiting pitch for the top targets he and Ohio State have at the receiver position in the 2023 class. The millions of dollars made for former Buckeyes is all the noise that’s needed to be made, and you have to get the feeling that Hartline’s top targets were paying attention and seeing just why Columbus is the best possible destination when it comes to playing that spot. Fortunately, it looks pretty solid right now for one target starting to trend towards Ohio State.

North Carolina native Noah Rogers is currently ranked as the nation’s 10th-best receiver in the 2023 class and the 76th best player nationally per 247Sports. In this regard, Rogers this week has seen a bit of momentum in favor of the Buckeyes when he was Crystal Balled to Ohio State by Director of Recruiting for 247Sports, Steve Wiltfong. A major insight to where his recruitment is headed, any submission by Wiltfong should be taken pretty seriously.

Hartline has one receiver in the fold already, but there’s some major names out there and with Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss getting most of the attention, Rogers should certainly be in the conversation too. Being thought of as one of the very best products to come out of his home state in years by several analysts, the Buckeyes would be getting an absolute stud in Rogers. NC State is also a serious player in his recruitment, but if Noah was watching the draft last night, Ohio State is the easy pick between those two programs, bias aside.

Quick Hits

• Staying right with the Crystal Ball theme, yesterday another Crystal Ball prediction in favor of Ohio State was submitted by Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts for Austin Siereveld. Set to announce his commitment next Wednesday, the Buckeyes have to fend off Notre Dame and Alabama to land their top remaining in-state product, but all signs right now look to be good news for Ohio State to land their third in-state offensive lineman in the 2023 class.
• If you were wondering if the nation’s top ranked receiver, Brandon Inniss, was paying attention to the draft last night, take a look below and see that he clearly saw the benefits that come with Ohio State. That should further help Hartline’s chances of once again landing the top receiver in the country.

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Which former Ohio State wide receiver has the highest ceiling, and which current NFL stars could they possibly model their game(s) after?
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The three-headed monster has since split up, but all are expected to taken early in the same (2022) NFL Draft | Nick King/Lansing State Journal via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and even Jameson Williams are all expected to go in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Team, fit, and health will all play a role in their professional success, but here is a best guess at future potential.

Attempting to predict or hypothesize future NFL success is an exercise in futility. I know that, you know that, and every expert who tells you otherwise... guess what? They know it too. Draft prognosticators are a dime-a-dozen, with very few garnering Mel Kiper-esque respect and admiration from the football community. I could go into all the reasons why it is so difficult to try and guess which college players will transition well, but the truth of the matter is, it’s just really, really hard. There is no way to state it elegantly.


So with all of that being said, I’m going to take a stab at it! What a novel idea, right? And I’m going to try my hand at NFL player comps. But I only want to focus on three players and one position. Three former OSU wide receivers are expecting to hear their names called – all on Thursday night, according to mocks and projections – and all three could be viewed as having different, varied skillsets.

I think that there is plenty of overlap in their respective games, but to generalize (unfairly so): Garrett Wilson is the playmaker, Chris Olave is the technician, and Jameson Williams is the burner. How will these guys perform at the next level, and who should they look to as pillars of NFL success?

Jameson Williams

Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK
Williams took full advantage of the opportunity presented in Tuscaloosa

Yes, we still get to claim him as Buckeye... within reason. I had a difficult time deciding between Williams and Chris Olave, and predicting which player has the higher NFL ceiling. Fair or not, I used past precedent against Jamo, dropping him to the bottom of this extremely short list. But do not mistake my ranking for like/dislike or a prediction that Williams is not going to be a terrific NFL player. I think he is going to be a legitimate weapon. I’ve just seen more consistency from the guys who finished their college careers in Columbus.

Williams suffered an unfortunate injury during the CFP National Championship game, putting his immediate availability into question. Perhaps just as significant is the fact that it wiped out his ability to physically test in front of NFL talent evaluators at a combine or pro day. But here’s the good news: he is not the only one, and the injury will likely not drop him out of the first round. It would be crazy if it did, because he is a special talent.

The former Ohio State Buckeye and more recent Alabama Crimson Tide star has a specific calling card, and that is speed. Jamo might even be Tyreek Hill-level fast, as least while moving in a straight line. But Williams also displayed a well-rounded skillset once given the opportunity at Bama. He is nearly as quick as he is fast, can go up and make a contested catch, and showcased serious footwork for the Tide.

Any knock against Williams’ one-year production is debatable. Even if you do consider him to be a one-year wonder, you cannot argue that he was not one of the most dangerous players in college football last year. However, it is worth pointing out that we have seen plenty of guys put one great season on tape, only to fall off the map later. And he was behind Wilson and Olave (and JSN) on the depth chart for a reason. Playing for Alabama has a way of occasionally making a player look better than he really is.

I believe that Jameson Williams will eventually be a certified NFL stud, but it may take him some time. His rookie season will be impacted by the ACL injury. From there, he will need to prove that he can run all routes and beat sophisticated coverages. I found a comparison tough to come by, but eventually settled on a more-skilled version of Will Fuller or (much) smaller DK Metcalf. Sorry, I promise they will get better.

Chris Olave

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Olave set records at OSU, and now has his eyes set on doing the same as a professional

Admittedly, I do not know exactly what is going to happen for Olave in the NFL, but I have a very hard time believing that he will not be productive. He strikes me as a more-accomplished Terry McLaurin (college), but foreshadowing: Scary Terry is not my NFL comp. Olave is not the biggest, fastest, or strongest, but he is among the elite WR’s in this class when it comes to footwork, route running, and football IQ.

Similar to McLaurin, Olave initially made a name for himself by playing special teams. Although expected to perform by the staff, the Ohio State record-holder for career TD receptions put in extra time and became more than an active participant — Olave excelled in the third phase of the game. Over time, he honed his skills as a receiver and would go on to etch his name in the OSU history book. Olave’s work ethic directly influences my belief that he will succeed in the NFL.

I would describe Olave as a jack of all trades, master of none. Maybe that’s underselling his ability. Or overselling, I’m not sure. My point being, that he can do damage underneath and in short yardage situations, work himself open on a deep post or sideline route, and/or take the top off a defense. He is not Deebo Samuel with the ball in his hands, but he can do enough, and more importantly, he can produce from anywhere on the field and run any route.

All of the above are reasons why I think Olave will find success regardless of where he ends up. I see him as a No. 2 WR who eventually becomes a No. 1 or 1B. The NFL comp I settled on was another Chris: Chris Godwin. Godwin is not most athletic guy in the world, but he knows how to play the position, and he plays well in the presence of other weapons. Similar to Olave, both can play the 1B role, but also take over a game on occasion. If the former Buckeye were to end up in New Orleans or Kansas City – with a proven star WR/TE – he could settle into a complementary role right away. If Olave is not an 8-10 year player, I will be surprised.

Garrett Wilson

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Wilson has been pegged by many “experts” as a can’t-miss prospect

Wilson, according to many, is the safest bet and has the highest ceiling among this trio of stars. I do not disagree. While he might lack the top-end speed of Williams and/or the polish of Olave, Wilson is a dynamic do-it-all weapon. What he lacks in size, he makes up for with great footwork and his ability to make athletic, highly-contested catches. Similar to Williams, Wilson has a history of taking over games and appearing un-guardable. What seems to set him apart is the consistency with which he performed and made highlight-worthy plays. All of this should translate well to the next level.

Wilson stepped in as a freshman at Ohio State, and contributed right away. And then he just kept getting better. His year-to-year improvement is likely what excites many of the NFL teams looking for WR help. Williams went from 0-to-60 in his third year, whereas Wilson showed consistent, gradual improvement over time. Not to say that one is worse than the other, but consistency often creates a greater sense of comfort or confidence.

In today’s NFL, teams are looking for versatility, and that is another trait Wilson brings to the field. He can take reverses or screens and make something happen, or he can do significant damage running routes from either the slot or the outside. Wilson can also makes plays in the return game, although that seems to be a bit of a dying art. Whatever you need, this former Buckeye can do it all.

I compared Wilson to NFL superstar Stefon Diggs. Similar in size, Diggs gets it done in a variety of ways. He also lacks extreme size and elite speed, although both he and Wilson have plenty of NOS in the tank. Both 6-footers are just naturally-gifted receivers, capable of running through any opposing defense. Lastly, and why I really like the comparison, is that Diggs and Wilson both had room for improvement after college – despite being so dangerous on the field already. Diggs did not receive a ton of hype at Maryland, and was a 5th-round pick. He improved his game and grew alongside Adam Thielen, eventually achieving stardom.

Wilson probably needs to get stronger and work on his anti-jam techniques, but he is already leaps and bounds ahead of where Diggs was coming out of college. If he can improve in a similar manner, I believe he’s a 1,500-yard receiver before the age of 25.


That’s it, folks. Pick it apart. I did my best to prognosticate, and if I’m wrong, at least I won’t be the only one.

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All the important info you need to know ahead of tonight’s NFL Draft
Brett Ludwiczak 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

Where is the NFL Draft this year? What channels can you find it on? When could we some Ohio State players come off the board? We got all that info and more.

The 2022 NFL Draft is finally upon us. Even though the NFL regular season doesn’t start for more than four months, optimism flows throughout fans around the league, as they feel with the right mixture of picks, their team could be playing out in Glendale at the Super Bowl in February. Except you, Jacksonville. Even though you rid yourself of Urban Meyer’s boomer brain, you still likely won’t be sniffing the playoffs for a while.

Where is this year’s draft....and the 2023 draft....and the 2024 draft


This year’s NFL Draft will be held in Las Vegas for the first time. Originally the 2020 NFL Draft was slated to be in Sin City, but COVID-19 changed those plans. Instead the 2020 NFL Draft was held virtually, which gave us some hilarious moments, like when there was a cut to Bill Belichick’s home and we saw no sign of Belichick, and instead it looked as if his dog was making the picks for the Patriots. Then again, let’s not put that evil on the dog, since that very good boy probably would have made better draft picks that what the Patriots actually made in 2020.

From 1965-2014, the NFL Draft was held in New York City before the league finally came to its senses and decided to take the show on the road. Last year’s draft was held in Cleveland, while next year’s edition will be held in Kansas City. If Buckeye fans want to catch the draft but don’t want to go out to Kansas City next year, they’ll have a much shorter trip in 2024, since Detroit will be the host. Even though it might be tough to stomach cross over into That State Up North, 2024 could possibly see Buckeyes like TreVeyon Henderson or Marvin Harrison Jr. come off the board in the first round.

How to watch this year’s draft


There are a number of options on how to watch this year’s NFL Draft. Gone are the days when the only real option we had was Chris Berman making a bunch of strange sounds and workshop nicknames for the rookies. These days you have the option of watch the draft on ESPN, ABC, or NFL Network.

The safest option is probably to watch the draft on NFL Network. Despite being a Michigan Man, Rich Eisen is a pretty good listen as host of the broadcast. It certainly is an infinitely better option than ESPN, who continues to give America more Mike Greenberg even though we are begging them to stop subjecting us to that windbag. If you have to choose between ABC or ESPN for draft coverage, the safer option is ABC, since aside from Desmond Howard, the rest of the broadcast crew that is headed by Rece Davis and Suzy Kolber are strong professionals.

How the first two picks should shake out


Unlike many years when there are a few players that separate themselves from the rest of the players eligible to be drafted, this year’s draft is pretty wide open. What will likely be remembered most about this year’s draft is the absence of a true franchise quarterback, as well as the offensive and defensive line dominating the picks early on.

For the second year in a row, the Jacksonville Jaguars hold the first pick in the NFL Draft. The Jags didn’t have to make as tough of a decision last year, since Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence was the obvious top pick in the draft. This year with Doug Pederson in his first year as head coach in Jacksonville, the decision isn’t so simple. Although, it looks like Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker is likely to be who the Jaguars are targeting.

The second pick of this year’s draft is held by the Detroit Lions. If Jacksonville goes with Walker, the Lions should run their pick up to Roger Goodell and select defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. The Lions should be able to sell plenty of Hutchinson jerseys since the standout was not only born in Michigan, he went on to play his college football at the University of Michigan.

An impressive streak


Since 2016, Ohio State has produced 16 first round draft picks, although last year was the only year during that span in which the Buckeyes didn’t have multiple first round picks. Justin Fields was the lone Ohio State first rounder, going to Chicago after the Bears traded up to the 11th pick in the draft to select the quarterback.

Who is going first, Olave or Wilson?


This year we are pretty much certain that we’ll see two Buckeyes selected in the first round. What we don’t know is whether Chris Olave or Garrett Wilson will be the first Ohio State wide receiver selected. A couple months ago Wilson was the favorite to come off the board first, but Olave has impressed in the time since the season has ended, and we could possibly see Olave join Terry McLaurin in Washington.

If Olave is taken with the 11th pick, keep an eye on Wilson going to New Orleans with the 16th pick. Much like Olave, Wilson would also be teaming up with a former Ohio State wide receiver. Michael Thomas is a member of the New Orleans Saints even though it’s easy to forget that’s where Thomas is these days since he played in just seven games in 2020 and didn’t see the field in 2021 due to injury.

When either Olave or Wilson is drafted in the first round, it will snap a streak of 12 Ohio State wide receivers that were drafted, but not taken in the first round. The last time Ohio State produced first round wide receivers was back in 2007 when the Miami Dolphins took Ted Ginn Jr. with the ninth pick, and the Indianapolis Colts took Anthony Gonzalez with the final pick in the first round.

What other Buckeyes should be selected before the draft wraps up on Saturday?


During the three-day draft, we’ll likely see around seven Buckeyes drafted. After Olave and Wilson are drafted during the first round, the next likely Ohio State players to come off the board will be tight end Jeremy Ruckert and offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere on Friday night. By the time the draft wraps up on Saturday, defensive linemen Tyreke Smith and Haskell Garrett, as well as offensive lineman Thayer Munford look like they’ll hear their name called at some point.

What the NFL teams in Ohio will be doing on Thursday night


For fans of the two Ohio teams in the NFL, Thursday night likely won’t be much fun. The Browns decided to use their first round picks over the next few years to acquire quarterback Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans. On the other end of I-71, Cincinnati won’t pick until the 31st pick, since the Bengals made it all the way to the Super Bowl. Since Cincinnati addressed their offensive line issues in free agency, the Bengals could opt to trade out of the first round and acquire some more future draft capital.

No matter what your plans for the draft over the next three days are, the smartest move to keep track of all that is going on with Ohio State players in this year’s draft is to keep it locked here at Land-Grant Holy Land. Enjoy this year’s draft as we celebrate the Ohio State players that are drafted and keep getting closer to the start of the 2022 season.

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Ohio State Draft Primer: A last look at the Buckeye draft prospects
Chris Renne 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

Ohio State has a long list of draft eligible players, so we take a one last look at where they might end up.

This year’s NFL Draft is finally here, taking place in Las Vegas, and the Ohio State Buckeyes are looking to be well represented once again. Ohio State has seven former players projected to go in the seven rounds and three more draft eligible players who will be looking to find homes this weekend as well. For the Buckeyes, this is an opportunity to extend their lead in total first round picks, where they currently sit at 85, and will also look to add to their 473 total NFL Draft picks.

Ohio State’s list of projected players that will be selected in the draft includes: Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jeremy Ruckert, Nicholas Petit-Frere, Haskell Garrett, Tyreke Smith and Thayer Munford. Scouring the mock draft data base these seem to be the consensus draft picks this season for the Buckeyes. The former Buckeyes are projected to go all over the place, so this will be a three-day affair for the program as their next set of players head to the professional level.

Today we are going to go through the list of players, project their landing spots, and discuss some of the traits that will make the former Buckeyes successful at the next level.

Garrett Wilson


The All-American receiver is the first projected Buckeye to be taken in most mock drafts. Wilson left Ohio State with 143 receptions, 2,213 yards, and 24 total touchdowns. Throughout his career, Wilson used his athleticism to make spectacular catches as well as big plays in space after the catch. His skillset is versatile and his ability at the catch point makes him a definitive No. 1 receiver.

Wilson is projected to three teams, including the Atlanta Falcons, New York Jets, and Washington Commanders. Though he is not the consensus No. 1 receiver in the draft, there is no reason he should fall out of the top-15 picks. This selection will extend Ohio State’s first round NFL draft picks total to 86 players. We will not have to wait for long to hear Wilson’s name on Thursday.

Final Scouting Take: “Garrett Wilson is a dynamic receiver who has the lateral quickness and explosiveness to take any throw or handoff the distance. His foot speed and balance let him consistently miss the first defender with the ball in his hands and make him dangerous on underneath throws and screens to create yards after the catch.” - B/R NFL Draft Scouting Department

Round Projection: 1st Round, Pick 10 New York Jets | Full Scouting Report

Chris Olave


The Californian turned Ohio State all-time receiving touchdowns leader solidified himself as a first round pick with an impressive combine performance. Olave ran an official 4.39 40-yard dash and had decent jumping numbers in the other drills he participated in. In his career Olave was a touchdown machine and was a master at creating separation at the top of his routes. A team looking for a quarterback friendly receiver will find that in Chris Olave.

Not projected as consistently as Garrett Wilson, Olave has a list of team names with a lot of variety. When asked, he said the Packers were an interesting team and he thinks Aaron Rodgers is the greatest quarterback of all time. With projections to the Green Bay Packers, the New Orleans Saints, and the Dallas Cowboys, he will likely play for a competitive team in the NFL. Wherever he ends up, the Buckeyes will add one more to their all time first round picks total, and Brian Hartline will have an incredible recruiting pitch made for him.

Final Scouting Take: “The quiet storm of the Ohio State wide receiver corps, Olave is smooth, steady and makes things happen. His movements are fluid and easy from snap to the catch and all points between. He’s fast but efficient and plays with the bend and foot agility to uncover on all three levels.” -Lance Zierlein (NFL.com)

Round Projection: 1st Round | Full Scouting Report

Jeremy Ruckert


Ohio State’s tight end usage may hurt Ruckert in the end, but he still will be picked early in the draft. At Ohio State, Ruckert was a solid blocker as an inline tight end who brought physicality to the position in the run game. Despite only 54 career catches and 615 receiving yards, he showed he was reliable and has a solid resume of spectacular catches. The Buckeyes require their tight ends to be well rounded, and Ruckert has fit the mold better than any of his previous predecessors.

The consensus on Ruckert isn’t clear in the mock draft community, with some having him as first rounder. More likely than not he will not be a first round pick given his light resume, but many experts have called him a sleeper who will rise on Day 2 of the NFL Draft. This makes it hard to project where he might end up, but teams are always looking to add talented tight ends.

Final Scouting Take: “The ceiling is there for Ruckert to be a much better pro player than he is a college receiver. In the blocking phases of the position, Ruckert is used often in split-flow fits and has the mass necessary to crack the end man on the line of scrimmage effectively. That experience will prove helpful as he looks to acclimate to an NFL responsibility that is likely to ask him to play in the box.” -Kyle Crabbs (The Draft Network)

Round Projection: 2nd Round | Full Scouting Report

Nicholas Petit-Frere


A multi-year starter for the Buckeyes who played both tackle positions for Ohio State in his career. After coming in a little small for a tackle, it took time for the the Florida native to get on the field. Once he was on the field he became one of the best pass protectors in the Big Ten. His athleticism allowed him to be a powerful run blocker, and he was comfortable getting to the second level when his responsibility was to block linebackers or in screens.

Another Buckeye with quite a bit of range in his projections, but one of the most common ones is the Cincinnati Bengals at the end of the first round. The more likely scenario is a team snags him in the middle of the second round to the Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, or another tackle needy team. If Petit-Frere doesn’t end up starting right away, he will add a versatile depth piece with swing tackle potential.

Final Scouting Take: “Petit-Frere has the athleticism, violence, size, and urgency to be a scheme-versatile blocker, especially for teams that value run blocking. Even after an up-and-down 2021 campaign, there’s upside worth investing in. Late Day 2 or early Day 3, Petit-Frere can be a solid swing tackle early with starting potential.” -Ian Cummings (Pro Football Network)

Round Projection: 3rd Round | Full Scouting Report

Haskell Garrett


Garrett had a tumultuous obstacle in his career, but he did not stop let that stop him from accomplishing his goals of making it to the NFL. The former Buckeye does not have ideal size or athletic numbers for the scheme he is projected to play, but has a lot of production as a pass rusher with 7.5 sacks. A consistent player in the run game, he left something to be desired in consistent play strength against higher level IOL competition.

As a potential fit in the NFL, he will need to find a team that runs a 4-3 defense due to him being a traditional 3-technique defensive tackle. If he can prove that he can be a 3-4 end that could add a lot of value, but as of now he is projected Day 3 pick. A team looking to find a depth piece in late in the draft will find that in Garrett. He also brings a pass rushing skillset that isn’t common among interior defensive linemen.

Final Scouting Take: “Garrett provides alignment flexibility and versatility to a defense. He can align at the 1T, 3T, and 5T at any time. This fits his single-gap penetrating style of play. He offers special teams value. He plays on punt return and field goal block units.” -Damian Parson (The Draft Network)

Round Projection: 4th Round | Full Scouting Report

Tyreke Smith


Ohio State has not had a first round defensive linemen since Chase Young went second overall in the draft. This won’t start again with Smith who did not live up to his high recruiting ranking. He battled injuries throughout his career, but he was always a productive player when he was on the field.

Smith brings plus athleticism and that showed in his jumping ability at the combine with 34” vertical and 117” broad jump. He left a lot to be desired as a consistent pass rusher with only 7 career sacks. Smith is athletic which gives him the versatility to fit into a 3-4 scheme as a outside linebacker or a 4-3 scheme as a traditional defensive end. His projections have him in the fourth and fifth round to a variety of different teams.

Final Scouting Take: “Elastic, long-limbed edge defender whose unbridled, attacking style brings both highs and lows in every game. Smith’s urgent motor is an ingredient that gives him a chance to find some success in the pros, but his inefficiencies and lack of body control limit his ceiling.” -Lance Zierlein (NFL.com)

Round Projection: 4th Round | Full Scouting Report

Thayer Munford


Munford was the “Block O” number recipient for the 2021 season, and he brings a long list of intangibles into the draft. A multi-year starter at left tackle, he was moved to guard this past season. This gave him a lot of versatility, and with his age being on the older side for a rookie, his versatility will be a major separating factor against other prospects.

As a projected sixth round pick, Munford will have to wait a little bit to live out his dream of getting his name called in the draft. Regardless, he brings a lot of experience and will be a great depth piece for the organization that selects him. Being able to play four positions on the offensive line makes him a valuable asset in the draft.

Final Scouting Take: “He’s got the strapping frame to be an NFL tackle if need be, but his most recent play has cast some doubt on a projection there. Munford now, with a successful career at Ohio State behind him, will be an option for NFL teams who run a lot of inside zone concepts as the Buckeyes have offered him as both a tackle and guard.” -Kyle Crabbs (The Draft Network)

Round Projection: 6th Round | Full Scouting Report

Projected Undrafted Buckeyes


Not every draft eligible Buckeye will end up hearing their name called over the three day event, but Saturday night and Sunday are a huge day for the remaining Ohio State players. The list isn’t long, but the three other Buckeyes will find opportunities at the next level.

Master Teague III: Teague is a physical, one cut running back who has shown he can be an every down back. For Teague, his athleticism he displayed at Ohio State’s pro day could potentially get him drafted, but it might be better for him to pick his own team in free agency.

Demario McCall: McCall’s career at Ohio State was a roller coaster that took place on both sides of the football. McCall is an explosive athlete, but is a little undersized for any of the positions he might play at the NFL level. His return experience as well as other special team experience makes him an interesting potential fit for NFL teams.

Antwuan Jackson Jr.: Jackson impressed at his Ohio State Pro Day, but he still has not garnered much attention as a draft prospect. He can play both tackle spots and looked lean enough to be considered as a strong side defensive end. His work with Larry Johnson could pay long term dividends, but as of now he will just need to find the right fit to get started.


The NFL Draft is always a fun event, and even in a relatively down year Ohio State will be well represented as the former Buckeyes head to the next level. This years draft does not have a lot of consensus, so anything can happen. One thing we know for sure is a long list of Buckeyes will realize their dreams and become NFL players.

Ohio State will extend its lead in first round daft picks, and the Buckeyes who get drafted will help with future recruiting. The players only have one thing left to do and that is wait until they hear their name called. Overall, this time of year is always exciting and now we wait and see where the former Buckeyes end up.

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Where is my mind.

Pixies

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Twitter: @Ian_Reed72



Class: 2023 (high school)
School: Austin (TX) Vandegrift
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 310 lbs

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buchtelgrad04 said:

I wanted to ask this very question myself, but I felt it wouldn’t be an appropriate question for a breaking news story such as death.

Give it a few days…I’m gonna ask lol.

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My bad lost my scruples a decade ago

ScriptOhio said:

In case anyone is interested:

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https://247sports.com/LongFormArtic...es-released-for-QB-class-186715660/#1885648_1

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Zappe goes about 4.5x Desmond Howard there. Well done.

billmac91 said:

Truth be told….we should be thankful for the portal come next year…..bc we will see multiple starters come from it. Just being honest….

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Let's just hope we aren't Old Mother Hubbard when we go to that cupboard.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/247spo...rns-Home-Commits-to-UNC-186777772/Amp/?espv=1

Back home to UNC.
I can always root for a kid going back home in the portal if their first destination wasn't meant to be. Just like Antonio Williams(RB)

Best of luck Jacolbe