Always kinda wonder how coaches utilize the 'dropping' of player rankings to motivate said players? Is it a singling out, position room generalization, or a take aside type of thing? And conversely, using a player upgrade 4* => 5*, to push/maintain the player's enthusiasm toward hard work. Certainly the coaches use comparisons "you have the same qualities as Caleb, so use them" type of pitch. The above post put these questions in my wandering mind on this Wednesday morning. Methinks that is why/how these coaches are paid seven figures to ply their trades....and yeah, I get that every kid is different, some require praise, some require kicking in the butt, etc.

Stock is up on Former Ohio State star Will Howard following just a few words from new Steelers HC Mike McCarthy​

The former Buckeye may just have a chance to take a big step forward in Year 2 in the NFL.



The Ohio State Buckeyes got Will Howard for one season to be their starting quarterback and it worked out perfectly.

There’s a chance Ohio State doesn’t win the national championship without Howard. The former Kansas State transfer was able to boost his draft stock into being a sixth-round pick.

After sitting his first year, Howard could be in the mix to compete for the job in Pittsburgh if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t return. Steelers’ new head coach Mike McCarthy just so happens to sound like a big fan of what Howard brings.

Mike McCarthy is looking forward to coaching former Buckeye Will Howard ​

“I’m really excited about Will Howard,” McCarthy said on Tuesday. “I thought he really came on there at Ohio State. I’m anxious to work with him. It would be great to have Aaron back — but Will and Mason — I’m really looking forward to getting started with those guys.”

Login to view embedded media
Howard along with Mason Rudolph are the only quarterbacks under contract for 2026 in Pittsburgh. Howard did not play in 2025 and was out with a broken hand until November.

McCarthy has a track record of developing quarterbacks and that’s good news for the 6-foot-4 Howard. Some believe that Howard’s leadership and student of the game mentality can help him be a long-term backup. There are also some who think he can be a low-end starter for a team.
.
.
.
continued

I'm as biased as it gets but I think this man will be the head coach at OSU someday. Great with the kids and developing them, personable, well spoken, and he just fucking gets it.

I have two tickets on the 50 yard line. Make me an offer!

buckeyebri said:

Yeah all they did was promote Brady their OC. The HC sucks but one of his lieutenants is the guy to lead you to the SB….

Click to expand...

I remember sometime in the last few years a time fired the Oline coach and hired the assistant worked out about like expected

Halloween game for this one. Definitely going to be going, any other BPers planning on attending this one as well?

Login to view embedded media Makes sense, his HS QB is starting there

Where's 'Son of Nuge?'

Am guessing that until the Oregon benefactor passes, Oregon will be a player in the NIL game. Maybe he leaves a ton of cash in a trust to be doled out as necessary to secure Oregon players? Wouldn't be surprised. Anyway, always seems like Oregon gets 'close' but never has that impetus to get over the top. Will be watching to see how many of these 'NIL babies' transfer when they don't get the minutes they want/need.

eam seahawks pats vs denver enjoy there mp4

Login to view embedded media
Ohio State has been recruiting Whitley for some time now and officially offered him in June. He will likely schedule official visits with all five of his finalists but until then, no school will likely separate itself from the pack. If there is a favorite, home-state school LSU may be have a slight edge, but it is minimal at most.

How Ohio State’s Bo Jackson can improve in 2026​

Bo Jackson had a standout freshman season, but he can find another level in 2026.

Ohio State’s Lamar “Bo” Jackson had one of the best freshman seasons for a running back in the history of Ohio State football.

One of just six freshmen to surpass the 1,000-yard rushing mark in a single season, the former four-star recruit out of Villa Angela-St. Joseph ran for 1,090 yards as a true freshman, placing his name in elite company.

Those names include J.K. Dobbins (1,403 in 2017), TreVeyon Henderson (1,255 in 2021), Maurice Clarett (1,237 in 2002), Robert Smith (1,126 in 1990), and Mike Weber (1,096 in 2016; although it should be noted that Weber was a redshirt freshman rather than a true frosh).

Jackson finished his first collegiate season ranked 26th in the nation in rushing yards, 37th in yards per game (83.85), 42nd in yards per carry (6.09), and 48th in rush attempts (179). That’s not bad for a guy who wasn’t the starter when the season began — he didn’t play in the opener against Texas and had just nine carries each against Grambling State and Ohio University.

An Ohio State rusher had gained 100 or more yards in a game 533 times in school history entering 2025. Jackson added another six of those last season, including a career-high 117 at Michigan. His totals are more impressive considering he was appeared to be limited a few times by minor injuries.

With all of his accomplishments in 2025, including being named to the All-Big Ten second team by the coaches and third team by the media, there is room to grow for the speedy tailback.

Here are the aspects of Jackson’s game that can vault him into the discussion of the all-time great running backs to come out of Ohio State:

More Touchdowns​

Jackson scored just six rushing touchdowns in 2025, which is low for an Ohio State starting running back. While he wasn’t the starter at the start of the season, and it’s not his fault the coaching staff let C.J. Donaldson vulture his rushing touchdowns at the goal line, it still felt like there were a few near-misses that could have added to his total.

Despite not being as experienced or as big as Donaldson, Jackson’s explosiveness seemed to keep him from getting knocked backward more often than the West Virginia transfer, and it was frustrating at times for fans to watch Donaldson get stuffed while Jackson seemed to be in a good rhythm during a drive.

There were several times when Jackson came close to breaking a long one, which would have added to his total. This leads into the second area in which Ryan Day will expect improvement from him in his second season.

Breaking Tackles​

Jackson wasn’t necessarily bad at breaking tackles, but as freshmen college running backs are still developing their strength and technique. This should be an area where Jackson can improve by leaps and bounds.

Picking up his feet in traffic can prevent that last defensive player from tripping him up just as he’s starting to break into the open field of the defense’s third level. With a little more upper body strength, he should also be able to run through more arm tackles, even from the beefy interior defensive linemen.

In his second season, expect Jackson to run with more violence at the point of attack. With his speed and balance, he can turn some of those 5-yard runs into explosive plays, and become a threat to take it to the house on any given play the way Henderson was during his OSU career.
.
.
.
continued

pnuts34 said:

Login to view embedded media

Click to expand...

Going once...
Going twice...

To Miami.....

College football first-year coach grades: Bill Belichick gets 'D' after rough season at North Carolina​

How did the first-year coaches grade out after their debut campaigns in 2025?​

The biggest hire of the coaching carousel didn't work out nearly as well as expected.

It was a relatively quiet coaching carousel a year ago, at least at the Power Four level where only six programs made changes leading into the 2025 season. There wasn't a big marquee opening the way there was the year prior (Alabama, Michigan) or the following year (LSU, Florida, Penn State and Michigan). Instead, it was North Carolina that made the splash of the cycle when it lured eight-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick to Chapel Hill.

Unfortunately for UNC, Belichick and his team made more waves off the field than it did on it. It was another much less heralded hire in North Carolina that fared considerably better.

With the 2025 season officially in the books now, here is the full list of grades on the Year 1 performances of every first-year Power Four head coach.

North Carolina - Bill Belichick: D​

Purdue - Barry Odom: D​

Stanford - Frank Reich: C-​

UCF - Scott Frost: C+​

Wake Forest - Jake Dickert: A​

There were questions about fit as Jake Dickert had spent his entire career out West, but he quickly showed why AD John Currie believed he could win in Winston Salem. Dickert was the best hire of the cycle, taking over where Dave Clawson left off and guiding the Demon Deacons to wins over SMU, Virginia and North Carolina. It was only the fourth time in school history it recorded nine or more wins, quite the accomplishment for a first-year coach. The future looks bright at Wake Forest under Dickert. Record: 9-4

West Virginia - Rich Rodriguez: C-​

Just sayin': The post season review of the power 4 teams making coaching changes for 2026 should be a lot more interesting....

Key 2026 Power 4 Head Coaching Changes:

• LSU: Lane Kiffin (from Ole Miss)
• Florida: Jon Sumrall (from Tulane)
• Washington State: Kirby Moore (from Missouri)
• Penn State: Matt Campbell
• Virginia Tech: James Franklin
• Michigan: Kyle Whittingham

You need an entire front office operation at this point. Managing the current roster, portal transfers and high school kids. The scouting, the money management and the market constantly changing. All while roster building for a coach’s preferred styed. Impossible for one person to keep up with this many factors.

Super Bowl Bound!

Super Bowl Bound!

247
On3
Twitter
HudL



Class: 2028
Position: DL
School: Loganville (GA) Grayson
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 220 lbs

Login to view embedded media