Heisman Trophy 2022: Top 10 candidates ranked for college football's biggest award by Athlon

1. CJ STROUD, QB - OHIO STATE


It’s pretty simple, Stroud is the favorite because he's going into Year 2 in Ryan Day’s system. Stroud was outstanding in his first year as a starter in 2021 and he can only get better. His 2021 numbers included 4,435 passing yards, 44 touchdowns tosix interceptions, and a 71.9% completion percentage. He has no shortage of weapons, either. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is back at wide receiver, running back TreyVeon Henderson roams the backfield and other receivers such as Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr. step up to bigger roles in the wide receiver department. Put your money on Stroud to walk away with college football’s biggest individual award, Athlon predicts.

7. JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA, WR - OHIO STATE


Smith-Njigba benefits from playing with Stroud in Day’s offense. Despite being the No. 3 pass catcher on the depth chart behind Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson last year, Smith-Njigba put up big numbers and had the Rose Bowl of his life when the Buckeyes took out Utah. He is now the No. 1 option for Stroud in the passing game, with other talents such as Egbuka and Harrison Jr. lining up with him. He’ll draw more attention but it helps that he has other studs next to him. Smith-Njigba finished the 2021 season with 95 catches for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 16.9 yards per catch. He had 347 yards in the Rose Bowl.

Entire article: https://247sports.com/college/ohio-...iggest-award-by-Athlon-189218543/#189218543_1

I was flipping channels this AM and ran into a "legal helpline" infomercial about being referred to a law firm concerning the compensation for Camp Lejeune water contamination victims per a 2022 bill that came into law. FWIW, apparently legislation was just passed applicable to the Camp Lejeune water contamination:

Statement by President Joe Biden on Bipartisan Senate Passage of the PACT Act
June 16, 2022
As part of the Unity Agenda that I laid out in my State of the Union address, I called on Congress to make sure that veterans and their families and caregivers impacted by toxic exposures finally get the benefits and comprehensive health care they earned and deserve. Today, the United States Senate answered that call by overwhelmingly passing the bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022—the largest single bill in American history to address our service members’ exposure to burn pits and other toxic substances.

This bill will provide expanded access to health care and disability benefits for veterans harmed by certain toxic exposures, whether in the jungles of Vietnam or the mountains of Afghanistan. It will also let the Department of Veterans Affairs move more quickly and comprehensively in the future to determine if illnesses are related to military service, and it will offer critical support to survivors who were harmed by exposures, including from water contamination at Camp LeJeune. Importantly, the bill includes the tools and resources to ensure that the VA can effectively implement it.

Entire article: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing...on-bipartisan-senate-passage-of-the-pact-act/

Bill to provide compensation for Camp Lejeune water contamination victims heads to President Biden's desk
June 23, 2022
Legislation that would provide relief for Camp Lejeune water contamination victims is headed to President Joe Biden's desk.

On June 16, the Senate passed the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022 by a vote of 84 to 14. It encompasses the Camp Lejeune Justice Act along with other legal matters pertaining to toxic exposures related to military service.

In March 2022, the House of Representatives voted 256 to 174 to pass the Honoring our PACT Act.

Entire article: https://www.wral.com/bill-to-provid...ims-heads-to-president-biden-s-desk/20344941/

Indiana Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin calls out LeBron James: 'He's going to have to show me he's better than me'

Along with a rookie that raises the ceiling of the organization’s future, the Indiana Pacers apparently received a player with an unwavering level of confidence when drafting ex-Arizona star Bennedict Mathurin. Ahead of hearing his name called, Mathurin did not shy away from calling out one of the best players to ever pick up a basketball, LeBron James.

“A lot of people say he’s great,” Mathurin said in an interview with the Washington Post. “I want to see how great he is. I don’t think anybody is better than me. He’s going to have to show me he’s better than me.”

Entire article: https://247sports.com/college/ohio-...ztzepxblEQSn9oWR7GYiLdxGyhr-HzFlvz-Lyv7nkM538

Just sayin': The rookie should just shut up and play.

Malaki Branham drafted by the San Antonio Spurs with the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

The B1G Freshman of the Year is the first Ohio State first-rounder since D’Angelo Russell in 2015.

With the 20th pick, the San Antonio Spurs select Malaki Branham, freshman guard from The ™ Ohio State University, in the 2022 NBA Draft.

After a freshman season where he garnered All-Big Ten honors as well as earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Branham not only became Ohio State’s first first-rounder in seven years, but also the first one-and-done player in seven years and the first one-and-done player of the Chris Holtmann era.


Branham averaged 6.3 points per game over the first 10 games of the season, capping that streak off with a zero-point dud against Wisconsin on Dec. 11 where he shot 0-2 from the floor. But after a well-documented COVID-19 pause in the program that lasted three weeks, Branham returned a completely different player.

On January 2nd, Branham blew up for a career-high 35 points in a road win at Nebraska while many of his teammates were still recovering from lingering effects of the illness. Branham averaged 17 points per game from that point on, providing an elite Robin to E.J. Liddell’s Batman.

Branham’s defense will need to improve at the next level, as will his body. At 6-foot-5 and 180 pounds he’s still slender, but will get bigger with the San Antonio training and conditioning staff.

But his assets far outweigh the knocks on his game. Branham shot north of 40% from three last season and showed the ability to attack the basket with either hand from either side. And that doesn’t even include his mid-range game, which may be the most refined part of his offensive toolbox. He’s not a main ballhandler, but Branham has shown the ability to read defenses and make the appropriate pass when he doesn’t have a clear lane to the basket.

And at 19 years old, he still could grow, both physically and mentally. He’ll become a smarter, more cerebral player with time, but he could also get bigger and taller once he gets to the league. To have all these physical tools at such a young age, it’s no wonder Branham shot up draft boards so quickly once the calendar flipped to 2022.

Last season’s 20th overall pick, Jalen Johnson, signed a four-year, $12.8 million-dollar contract with the Atlanta Hawks following the 2021 NBA Draft. Branham will likely sign a contract in that range.

Congratulations to Malaki on being drafted to the Spurs. We can’t wait to see you become successful at the next level!

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This or That: Which position group from Ohio State’s past could change the 2022 outlook immediately?
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Ohio State’s defense was historically bad in 2021. Taking one position group from the past to fix it is not easy, but the linebacker position is a solid place to start.

This week, Land-Grant Holy Land writers will be comparing current facets of Ohio State teams and comparing them to those of the past: Comparing THIS year’s Buckeyes to those of THAT other time. Welcome to LGHL’s “This or That.”

In the 2021 season, the Ohio State Buckeyes were historically bad defensively, and head coach Ryan Day made wholesale changes to the coaching staff because of it. For the Buckeyes, the defense was never able to find their footing under Kerry Coombs, and as an entire staff never seemed to gel together.

Combine that with a long list of new starters on defense in the secondary, linebacker room, and on the defensive line and the results speak for themselves. Now the Buckeyes have revived their staff with the addition of new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, safeties coach Perry Eliano, and corners coach Tim Walton while keeping Larry Johnson on the defensive line. This should lead to a major turn around on momentum shift, as all three new coaches have had success at their past stops.

Even with full confidence in the new staff, some question marks remain on the defense. The Buckeyes are still fresh faced at linebacker, the defensive line doesn’t have a dominant force coming into the season, and the secondary is being reworked for the third time in under a year. That being said, if the Buckeyes could take one unit from the past to replace a current one, which one would have the most immediate impact?

If you take the 2014 linebacker unit and put it on this team, you answer the biggest question mark and guarantee marked improvement in 2022.

2014 Unit vs. 2022 Unit


In 2014, the Buckeyes had quite few question marks coming into the season. They needed to replace one of the best linebackers in school history in Ryan Shazier, but they had two talented players returning. They also had the benefit of continuity with Luke Fickell in his ninth year as a defensive coordinator at Ohio State. All these played a part in how well this unit performed on a year over year basis.

Looking at the 2014 unit first, they returned two starters in Curtis Grant and Joshua Perry at the position. Perry improved his production and Grant had another solid year as a senior. The emergence of Darron Lee (who changed positions from quarterback in high school) and freshman Raekwon McMillan took the group from solid to elite. The addition of those two players to the rotation made the group even better than the previous season.


When you look at the units from 2014 compared to 2021 there are some similarities. With hindsight being our greatest advantage though, we know exactly how 2014 turned out. This year, there is a lot of projection going into how much this unit will improve. Jim Knowles is in his first year with the program and has had success at other places, but rivaling that continuity makes this even harder to project.

Steele Chambers switched positions and had an immediate impact leading the linebacker unit in tackles. Tommy Eichenberg started the season off struggling, but developed weekly, culminating in a dominant second half in the Rose Bowl. They seem have the Darron Lee and Joshua Perry roles. C.J. Hicks comes in with a similar excitement to Raekwon McMillan, and if he can provide immediately this group will be a lot better off.


Looking at the stats, you can see that there was a definitive lack of production from last year’s unit compared to 2014. With zero 100-tackle players, this is the main reason for the switch to 2014’s unit. The Buckeyes struggled against the run against well coached teams as you can see by the tackle totals. The on holdover is two of the most productive players in 2014 put up zero stats. This shows that a group can be a surprise and become one of the best units in the country.

For the Buckeyes and fans everywhere, the questions heading into the year at linebacker are still the most pressing. By bringing in a savvy, explosive group of linebackers, one of the biggest questions is answered. Now, this doesn’t mean Ohio State can’t have great linebackers in 2022, but there is significantly less mystery involved.

Why the 2014 linebacker unit?


The main reasoning behind this switch is the known ceiling of the 2014 group. Ohio State’s linebacker room at the moment is all potential, and knowing their ceiling is incredibly difficult. Steele Chambers and Tommy Eichenberg have a high floor, but can they play at the national championship level needed?

We saw an all-time great group emerge in 2014, and the defenses in the early Urban Meyer years were incredible — starting with the linebackers. Historically, Ohio State’s best teams are elite at that position and having an elite group like 2014, which won a national championship, that eliminates the run threat is a great place to start. If you have elite linebacker play it allows the rest of your defense to work freely. The group, on top of being elite, still has the athleticism all over to play in the more modern RPO based game.

Adding Darron Lee, Joshua Perry, Raekwon McMillan, and Curtis Grant takes this defense back to the Silver Bullet level that is expected. Knowles just has to put the players in position and this group would give him the flexibility to help get the most out of the defensive line as well. Now with the coaches fixed, this group would guarantee a top-10 defense in 2022.

The 2022 group can still be awesome


Ohio State is looking at a group that is incredibly similar to the 2014 unit. You have similar paths to the position, a blue chip prospect looking to make an immediate impact, and some veterans who are looking to be tone setters. If you just look at the comparison on paper, the group should be capable of netting a similar result.

Eichenberg led the position group in tackles and did his best work late. Grant is a solid comparison to the past group, being a returning starter with solid production. Chambers moved to linebacker last year after starting his career as a running back, and ended up being one of the most exciting defenders on the defense. Hicks is a five star recruit who’s coming in and can have an immediate impact like Raekwon McMillan. Now they just need to find who will be their lead backer like Joshua Perry.

This group has an established floor, and with improvement other places, they should improve. Being in a new scheme will come with growing pains, but the 2014 team also lost early in the year to come back and win a championship. I’m not saying the Buckeyes are going to lose, but the success did not happen over night.

With as much returning production as the Buckeyes have, on top of the recruiting class in addition to transfer Deamonte Treyanum, this room brings potential. The gained experience should set them up for success in 2022. If they can find a way to reach the 2014 level, the Buckeyes can be playing in the middle of January.


Overall, the groups do have similarities, but the 2014 team was arguably the last group that truly met the standard set at Ohio State. If you add them to this roster, the remaining sense of doubt on this defense is gone.

The 2014 group had an incredibly high ceiling and it took time to get there, so there is reason to believe that under Knowles this team can reach theirs. The one issue that wasn’t mentioned is the question about general toughness. The 2021 group was pushed around and teams took advantage of the fresh faced group all season long. The 2014 group brings toughness in droves, and that tone being set alone would massively improve the defense.

Knowles will not have the luxury of the 2014 showing up, but he has the blueprint of what his defense should look like at Ohio State. The defensive line is loaded with potential and the secondary has a good mix of talent as well as experience. If the linebacker group can be tough, organized, and nasty Ohio State could end up with one of the best defenses in the country – much like 2014.

Even though the 2014 unit is not walking into the Shoe come September, this group can embrace the challenge to be the next great linebacker unit to win a national championship.

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Ohio State’s NBA Draft history by the numbers
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Bob Leverone/Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images

Tonight, two more Buckeyes will join the list of Ohio State players selected in the NBA’s annual event

Just a week removed for the Golden State Warriors becoming NBA champs for a seventh time in franchise history, the 2022 NBA Draft takes place tonight at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. While the last few editions of the draft haven’t had much for Ohio State fans to get excited about, this year a couple of Buckeyes should hear their named called in the first round by NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

Malaki Branham and E.J. Liddell are poised to be the latest Ohio State players selected in the NBA Draft. Over the years there have been quite a few Buckeye products that have been drafted in the annual event. To get Buckeye fans prepared for tonight’s draft, we dove inside the numbers.

53


Since 1947, Ohio State has had 53 players drafted in the NBA Draft. Jack Underman and Paul Huston were the first Buckeyes taken, with Underman being taken seventh overall, followed by Huston coming off the board with the next pick. Underman never played professionally, instead becoming an oral surgeon after college. Huston played one season for the Chicago Stags, averaging 3.6 points per game.

The last Buckeye to be selected in the NBA Draft was Keita Bates-Diop, who was selected in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft with the 48th overall selection by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bates-Diop just wrapped up his fourth season in the league, appearing in 59 games for the San Antonio Spurs, averaging 5.7 points per game and 3.9 rebounds per game. Bates-Diop was the 14th Ohio State player to be chosen in the NBA Draft since 2000.

24


Almost half of the Ohio State players selected in the NBA Draft have been first round picks (24 in total). Eight of those first round picks have come since the 2007 edition of the draft, which kicked off a stretch that saw at least one Ohio State player drafted in the first round in four straight years. If you include Jared Sullinger, who was taken with the 21st pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, the Buckeyes saw at least one player drafted in the first round in five of six years between 2007 and 2012.

The last Ohio State player drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft came in 2015, when the Los Angeles Lakers selected D’Angelo Russell with the second overall pick. Russell joined Evan Turner as the only Ohio State players to be selected with the second overall pick in the draft, as Turner was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers just after John Wall in the 2010 NBA Draft.

1


Only one Ohio State player has ever been taken with the first pick in the NBA Draft. The Portland Trailblazers made Greg Oden the first pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. Unfortunately, Oden’s body didn’t allow him the chance to live up to the hype. Not only did Oden miss the 2007-08 season, he was only able to play in 105 games during his NBA career. It was obvious that Oden was a force on the floor, especially on the defense end, it’s just a shame we didn’t get to see him fully healthy during his time in the NBA.

26,395


There’s very little doubt on who is the best draft pick to ever come out of Ohio State is. John Havlicek was taken by the Boston Celtics with the ninth overall pick in the 1962 draft. During his 16 years in the NBA, Havlicek scored 26,395 points, which ranks 17th all-time in NBA history. Hondo scored more than 12,000 points more than Mike Conley, who has scored the second-most points amongst players drafted out of Ohio State.

Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images

Along with his impressive point total, Havlicek also won eight NBA titles with the Celtics, and was named the NBA Finals MVP in 1974, making him the only former Buckeye to earn that honor. The Martins Ferry product was a 13-time All-Star during his career, earned NBA All-First Team honors four times, and was included on the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team five times. Havlicek had his number retired by both Ohio State and the Boston Celtics.

12,942


Three picks before John Havlicek was taken in the 1962 NBA Draft, Jerry Lucas was selected as a territorial selection by the Cincinnati Royals. The Buckeye not only was part of the school’s 1960 national championship team, he led the NCAA in rebounding in 1961 and 1962.

After starting his career with the Cleveland Pipers in the ABL, Lucas joined the Royals for the 1963-64 season, winning Rookie of the Year honors after averaging 17.7 points per game and 17.4 rebounds per game. Lucas is still the only Ohio State product to win Rookie of the Year honors.

Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images

During his 11-year NBA career, Lucas would grab 12,942 rebounds, which ranks 17th all-time in the NBA. Lucas is the only Buckeye with over 10,000 career rebounds. The Middletown native averaged at least 15 rebounds per game in seven seasons, and had two years in which he eclipsed 20 rebounds per game.

1,363


Mike Conley was selected with the fourth pick by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2007 NBA Draft. While Greg Oden’s career was shortened due to injuries, Conley has been going strong in the NBA for 15 years. Even though he hasn’t been able to win a championship, Conley has been one of the best defenders in the league for years.

Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images

Conley’s best season came in 2012-13, when he led the league with 174 steals. The high mark came during a five-year stretch where Conley recorded at least 100 steals in each of those seasons. In five other seasons Conley has been credited with at least 89 thefts. Conley is the only former Buckeye to record at least 1,000 career steals in the NBA.

1,605


One mark by a Buckeye in the NBA that will likely never be topped is the 1,605 blocks Herb Williams recorded during his career. Kosta Koufos has the second-most blocks by an Ohio State draft pick in the NBA, with his 506 rejections sitting just 1,099 behind Williams. Currently, the block total by Williams ranks 31st in NBA history. The Marion-Franklin grad was taken with the 14th pick by the Indiana Pacers in the 1981 NBA Draft

23


Ohio State draft picks have combined for 23 All-Star Game appearances. While that may seem like a high number, Havlicek and Lucas combined for 20 All-Star Game appearances during their incredible careers. Michael Redd, D’Angelo Russell, and Mike Conley are responsible for the other three All-Star Game appearances, with each player earning a trip to the annual exhibition.

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Column: Ohio State patented a word and that’s fine
1ThomasCostello 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 via Imagn Content Services, LLC

How manufactured shock at Wednesday’s announcement is exactly what it looks like.

On Wednesday, Ohio State landed another long-pursued prospect. It wasn’t yet another top-ranked wide receiver or a shot-blocking forward to give guard Taylor Mikesell more room to shoot. Instead, Buckeye officials landed an article of speech. This noun-defining word was a tough commitment to land, with Scarlet & Gray leaders first receiving a “no” from patent office civil servants in Sept. 2019. Now Ohio State owns a word, a commonly used word, and everything is fine.

Why is it fine? Scouring through endless social media threads and message boards tells a story of Ohio State flexing muscles of arrogance and making a decision based solely on making money. Both of those points are actually valid and correct, but isn’t that what today’s NCAA world is all about?

Although there’s little confusion between Ohio State University and Ohio University, its use has grown over decades of collegiate rivalry. Ohio State’s word has been used to differentiate themselves and give fuel to rivals. Now, it’s finally been elevated to a higher calling of a marketing chip.

Imagine you’re a fan of a competing conference university like Michigan or an SEC powerhouse like Alabama, and maybe you actually are a fan of one of those two sides. On June 8, Buckeye football coach Ryan Day announced an astronomical $13 million needed to keep a roster together in a post-Name, Image and Likeness world.

Also, every other year it seems like another outlet is warning of a doomsday NCAA scenario where a stretching financial bubble is about to burst, with subsequent responses that everything is fine. Owning a word gets Ohio State what every school, and every fan (consciously or subconsciously) wants: more money.

Ohio State has free reign to add this word to any and every piece of sports apparel produced from June 21, 2021 until Earth — or America — ceases to be. It removes any chance of small, non-Nike, clothiers from adorning this famous article. Speaking of swoosh, securing rights is their expertise. They single-handedly (footedly?) broke Olympic marketing with a golden pair of shoes for track star Michael Johnson at Atlanta’s 1996 Olympic games.

There’s also merit in Ohio State’s claim. After all, Scarlet & Gray apparel shops have featured clothing with this word for 15 years, as Ohio State’s 2019 claim for this word states. Expensive sweatshirt designer Marc Jacobs tried taking Ohio State’s word for a sweater, and lawyers for Columbus, Ohio’s landmark pounced.

More money also benefits NCAA athletics far beyond its most popular asset of college football. More money for a school means less cuts to soccer, field hockey and women’s programs.

So, banter will never cease in a connected and ceaseless world, but an elephant on a crimson shirt would get similar focus. Universities protect individual letters, so what’s wrong with adding a couple more?

If you haven’t stopped watching this billion-dollar industry that just recently allowed players to receive compensation for their involvement in these billions now, I doubt a word’s addition to a history of stuffing pockets will trigger a tipping point. If anything, this will only motivate other schools to pursue similar avenues.

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Bucketheads Podcast: Talking NBA Draft with Ohio State Hoops’ Joe Gemma
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 Rob Carr/Getty Images

Plus, rest in peace Caleb “Biggie” Swanigan.

Land-Grant Holy Land’s newest podcast, ‘Bucketheads’ takes you on a journey across the college basketball landscape every episode. The only basketball-focused podcast in the LGHL family of podcasts, co-hosts Connor Lemons and Justin Golba give the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes as well as all the other happenings in the college hoops world. ‘Bucketheads’ will be released every Thursday throughout the regular season and every other Thursday during the off-season.

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


For the 40th episode of the “Bucketheads” podcast, Connor and Justin talk a little bit about their memories of Caleb Swanigan and the adversity he overcame to make it big in college basketball and ultimately the NBA. Also, the guys talk about the 2022 NBA Draft and where they think Malaki Branham and E.J. Liddell could wind up.

Plus, an interview with Ohio State social media guru Joe Gemma. Joe will have boots on the ground in New York for the draft, so we talked about what he’ll be doing at the draft as well as why teams need to draft E.J. Liddell and Malaki Branham on Thursday night.

Make sure to subscribe wherever you get your music and podcasts.


Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGHL

Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor

Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba

Connect with Joe:
Twitter: @JoeDGemma and @OhioStateHoops

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Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz says, 'I'll get on my knees' and 'do whatever you want,' pleading with workers to return to the office
Bethany Biron
Jun 11, 2022, 2:14 PM
https://www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-ceo-howard-schultz-begs-workers-return-office-2022-6

• Howard Schultz, Starbucks' CEO, said he's been unsuccessful in getting employees back to the office.
• The company offers hybrid and remote work options for eligible, non-retail staffers.
• "I've pleaded with them," Schultz said at a New York Times event. He added, "Whatever you want."

Despite doing "everything" to get employees to return to the office, Starbucks' CEO said, they're not returning "at the level" he wants.

Speaking at The New York Times' DealBook policy forum in Washington, DC, on Thursday, Howard Schultz — who returned as interim CEO in April after Kevin Johnson stepped down from the role — said swaying staffers away from remote work and back to the office hasn't been productive.

"I have been unsuccessful, despite everything I've tried to do, to get our people back to work," Schultz, 69, said. "I've pleaded with them. I said I'll get on my knees. I'll do push-ups. Whatever you want. Come back."

He continued: "No, they are not coming back at the level I want them to. And, you know, we're a very collaborative, creative group. I realize I'm an old-school person, and this is a different generation."

Despite his frustration, Schultz has not mandated that corporate employees return to the office. Instead, the company has offered "flexible options for eligible, non-retail roles" in the form of hybrid and remote positions, Starbucks' website said.

"Hybrid workplace options depend on the individual role and are identified in our job postings," the website said. "Roles that do not have to be based in a specific location are labeled as 'remote' while roles that can be fulfilled in multiple locations, such as a combination of home and office, are indicated as 'hybrid.'"

A representative for Starbucks said the company didn't have further comment on Schultz's statements or the company's remote work policies.

Schultz's hesitancy to demand full-time office work runs counter to recent efforts among other executives, including Elon Musk, who told staffers to return to the office or resign, reports say. Musk, Tesla's CEO, has been openly critical or remote work, tweeting that employees who are against working in the office "should pretend to work somewhere else."

Schultz appeared to acquiesce to the idea of hybrid and remote work options and said at the DealBook event that though he personally went into the office at 7 a.m. and left at 7 p.m. regularly, flexible workplaces are now "the way it is."

"I think people will come back two to three days a week, and that's the way — that's the way it is," he said. "But the thing that I am evaluating is, what's the level of productivity? And, you know, it appears that people are working at home."

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Candy was either 100 Grand or frozen Charleston Chew.

Favorite snack was homemade Chex mix.

For those interested. Kinda of sad actually.

Former NFL Player Shane Olivea's Cause of Death Revealed (yahoo.com)

According to documents obtained by E! News on June 21, the 40-year-old San Diego Chargers star died from "hypertensive heart disease," with the contributory cause of death attributed to "obesity." The former athlete's manner of death has been ruled as natural.

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MADD has long stopped being about drunk driving and, today, is essentially a religious neo-prohibitionist organization seeking to criminalize any social drinking. The day the limit was lowered to .08, their website was changed to start demanding a .05 limit. That's absurd. A small woman could literally be considered drunk after a single drink. For an average sized man, that's two.

And keep in mind that well over 90% of all drunk driving accidents and fatalities are caused by a repeat offender with a BAC well over a .1 limit.

Los Angeles Lakers to hire Atlanta Hawks assistant Chris Jent as Darvin Ham's top assistant, sources say

The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to hire Atlanta Hawks assistant Chris Jent as Darvin Ham's top assistant coach on his staff, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Ham, a first-time head coach, made Jent a priority and recruited him hard after getting the Lakers job, sources told Wojnarowski.

Ham and Jent coached with the Hawks together in 2017-18 and Jent -- who played collegiately at Ohio State before playing briefly in the NBA as well as overseas -- also has ties to Lakers star LeBron James, having served as an assistant with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2006 to 2011.

Entire article: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...ris-jent-darvin-ham-top-assistant-sources-say

Former Ohio State LB Justin Hilliard suspended two games by NFL

Hilliard posted on his personal Twitter page that he was aware of the suspension, explaining that he was "informed by the NFL that I tested positive for a banned diuretic - Spironolactone (Canrenone). After investigation, it became clear that I mistakenly took my partner's prescription medication instead of my own anti-inflammatory prescription. I am well aware of the NFL's zero-tolerance policy, and I take full responsibility for having a banned substance in my body."

Entire article: https://247sports.com/college/ohio-...EUaHd22DMbjWFUFPGgzqTSOIa5UCibUuAu47rsUjRgUCw

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In all, 16 teams had perfect 1,000 scores for 2020-21 – baseball, women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, football, men’s fencing, men’s golf, men’s gymnastics, men’s soccer, wrestling, women’s golf, women’s ice hockey, women’s swimming, women’s track, women’s volleyball and rifle.

BB73 said:

Those were much lighter than the stone tablet programs in my early years.

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Those Roman numerals were a bitch too, weren't they?

5 STAR U-G-A said:

Clicked the article to see what Kelly/Christina Applegate looked like in 2022....

Found out that she was diagnosed with MS.

That's depressing.

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Kinda sad how all the hot sluts from the 80's aged so badly

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Ohio State has been the most consistent non-Alabama producer of elite talent. Each of its 2013-17 recruiting classes manufactured at least one first-round pick among Top247 players, and its drafted percentage (58.7%) is the fourth highest among all teams included in this study.

Man there are too few of these kinds of talks with all the snowflake everyone gets a trophy shit going on. This is as much a life talk as it is sports. Outstanding by Mr Gee Scott

Awful news for Coach Anthony Grant and his family. Cannot imagine the pain, I hope he finds peace.

Friendly reminder to reach out to someone if you’re feeling “off” mentally. And if you’re good, it doesn’t hurt to check in on someone who may not be. A lot of people deal with a lot of battles while we float around on this rock. Worth doing whatever it takes to keep spinning while we can.

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In just one NFL season, Pete Werner flashed potential to be Ohio State’s most productive NFL linebacker since A.J. Hawk or James Laurinaitis
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Initially blocked on the depth chart, the former Buckeye was forced to play a waiting game in New Orleans. When his number was eventually called, Werner took full advantage of the opportunity.

Pete Werner was a standout high school linebacker in the state of Indiana, and gave an early verbal commitment to Notre Dame. Fortunately for Ohio State, he flipped his commitment to the Buckeyes, and the rest – as some would say – is history.

But will Werner’s OSU career really go down in history? With any sort of infamy? Would you (or I) call it memorable? Because while his individual play was often better than that of the linebackers as a whole, I think he became guilty by association. And the general disappointment in that group’s performance may have overshadowed Werner’s stellar play.

Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Werner became a starter for the Buckeyes in 2018, and spent most of his time playing alongside Tuf Borland, Baron Browning, and/or Justin Hilliard. The four of them took up a vast majority of the snaps at linebacker for three consecutive seasons, and while each guy had his moments, the entire unit was heavily criticized. Fair or not, Werner was one of those who took heat, but I would argue that he was far and away the most consistent performer. More than adequate against the run or as a blitzer, he often excelled in pass coverage, despite the fact that he never snatched an interception.

The New Orleans Saints saw through the occasional struggles and/or questionable coaching at Ohio State, and identified Werner as a versatile, high-upside linebacker. They took him with the 60th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and after just one season, they have to be thrilled with their return on investment. Werner began the year behind Demario Davis and Kwon Alexander, only seeing limited snaps in the Saints’ nickel-heavy defense. But when Alexander got banged up, Werner was inserted into the lineup and according to one NFL.com writer, became the team’s most underappreciated player.

Werner’s stats do not jump off the page, primarily due to the fact that he only started eight games. And even in those eight games, he was still subbed out in various packages — he was a rookie after all. But certain metrics paint the picture of a great rookie season. PFF gave Werner a 79.9 grade for his rookie campaign — a score that put him above the likes of San Francisco’s Fred Warner and Indianapolis’ Darius Leonard.

Nobody is saying the former Buckeye is better, relax. PFF graded him even higher solely against the run, dishing out a 91.0! Werner’s stop percentage (8.3) was the highest on the Saints defense in 2021, and despite not making a real impact until the halfway mark of the season, he finished 14th among rookies in total tackles.


Interestingly enough, Werner experienced more than a few growing pains in the passing game. He was targeted 29 times as the primary defender, and gave up 21 receptions (72% completion rate). He certainly has the background of a strong coverage linebacker, but it is something he will just need to work on moving forward. His teammate, Davis, is one of the better coverage linebackers in the league, so there is no shortage of resources when it comes to learning the tricks of the trade.

Entering the 2022 season, Werner should be penciled in as a starter, and if his eight-game sample size is any indication, he is likely to be a very productive linebacker. Perhaps the most productive former Buckeye since Hawk or Laurinaitis. Now, before the Jerome Baker hive comes for me: I get it, Baker has been solid for four consecutive seasons. And he adds a pass rush element that Werner does not. I’m just talking potential here. The hive and I should at least be able to agree that – despite the recent reputation – Ohio State squads have produced some nice talent at linebacker.

But there have been many lean years since Hawk and Laurinatis finished their NFL careers in 2016. More than a few stud Buckeyes entered the league at LB, but unfortunately, they have not had the opportunity or staying power to produce consistently. Ryan Shazier suffered a career-ending injury, Darron Lee was a bust, and Raekwon McMillian has been unable to stay on the field. Here is hoping that Werner (and Baker) can change or at least influence the recent narrative.

The reason I see higher upside with Werner is that he is almost always in the right spot at the right time. Every linebacker gets blown up or finds themselves out of position from time to time, but what sets the good ones apart is their ability to recover quickly and/or take a different angle of pursuit. Werner does both very well. In the run game, he will get bullied by the occasional lineman or tight end, but he attempts to counter with quick, decisive routes to the ball. Baker (no offense) will sometimes freelance or get lost in the shuffle, which is part of the reason his combined PFF grade is below 60 for the past two seasons.

Furthermore, where Werner struggled as a rookie was in pass coverage. But it was a strength of his while at Ohio State, so I expect him to adapt. His 4.6 speed is not tops in the league for his position, but it is more than enough to keep up with tight ends and/or most pass catchers across the middle. If Werner is able to marry his strong performance in the run game with improved awareness and positioning in coverage, we could be talking about an all-around stud sooner than later.

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You’re Nuts: Which team do you want to see Ohio State men’s basketball schedule a home-and-home with?
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Would you want to see an inter-state matchup, or perhaps a battle with one of the blue bloods?

After a one-week detour last week to share some of our sports trauma, we are back this week to give our thoughts on Ohio State basketball in this week’s edition of “You’re Nuts.” Ohio State’s schedule is still taking shape, and we won’t know the full schedule for quite some time. We do know the Buckeyes’ opponent in the CBS Sports Classic, the North Carolina Tar Heels. UNC ended last season as the national runner-up and is returning the core of that team that nearly won the title.

We also know that the Buckeyes will participate in the Maui Invitational from Nov. 21-23, where they’ll play three games. The bracket will be finalized at a later date, but Ohio State will play three of Arizona, Arkansas, Cincinnati, Creighton, Louisville, San Diego State, and Texas Tech. OSU will have a great chance to pick up some elite wins early in the season, but these early matchups could also sour their nonconference resume if they’re not able to pick up a few wins.


But first, a recap.

Last week, Connor and Justin shared their most painful sports memory. Connor picked the 2013 NLCS, where the Giants walked-off his beloved Cardinals. Justin picked the entire year of 2007, when Ohio State men’s basketball lost to Florida in the NCAA Tournament title game, Ohio State football lost to Florida in the BCS National Championship game, the Cavaliers were swept by the Spurs in the NBA Finals, the Browns missed the playoffs, the Penguins lost to the Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Finals, and the Indians lost to the Red Sox in the ALCS.

The people sided with Justin’s thoroughly miserable 2007, winning him 95% of the vote. Justin is within one win of tying it up with Connor after one year of nuts.

After 52 weeks:

Connor- 22
Justin- 21
Other- 7

(There have been two ties)


This week we’re talking about Ohio State’s nonconference schedule and who we would love to see the Buckeyes schedule for a home-and-home series. With our picks, the Buckeyes would host that team and travel to their house. Additionally, it does not need to be realistic. Would Duke, for example, ever agree to a home-and-home just for fun? Absolutely not, because they are cowards. But if that’s your choice, go for it.

Today’s question:

Which team do you want Ohio State to schedule for a home-and-home?

Connor: Kentucky

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Ohio State and Kentucky is one of the juicier rivalries that’s quietly simmering under the surface. It’s not a rivalry based on how frequently they play (only 21 times in 80 years), but geographically and between fans, this is a rivalry.

With Kentucky bordering Ohio to the south and Columbus only being about three hours from Lexington, there’s a decent amount of crossover amongst fans. There are plenty of UK fans that live in Ohio, and there are plenty of Ohio State fans that live in Kentucky. We all know someone who loves Ohio State football and Kentucky basketball — which is morally corrupt in my opinion. But it happens!

These two programs have faced off 21 times, with Kentucky leading the all-time series 11-10. Ohio State is currently riding a two-game winning streak over Big Blue, having beat them in the CBS Sports Classic in 2015 and 2019. The 2019 was a battle between two top-10 teams, with Ohio State winning 71-65. The 2015 game pitted the 4th-ranked Wildcats against the unranked Buckeyes, with Ohio State winning 74-67. Keita Bates-Diop, Marc Loving, Jaquan Lyle, and Trevor Thompson all scored in double-digits for an Ohio State team that did not make the NCAA Tournament that season.

These two teams were supposed to meet in the CBS Sports Classic this past season in Las Vegas, but — as we know — the Buckeyes dealt with some COVID-19 issues in December. The game was cancelled, in part because any players that tested positive in Las Vegas would not be allowed to fly back home for 10 days.

The two teams discussed rescheduling during the season, including playing the very next week, but Chris Holtmann and John Calipari weren’t able to work out a date. The two head coaches have said they would be willing to some sort of home-and-home series in the future, potentially as soon as this upcoming season. On his weekly radio show back on March 21, Holtmann said that “his guess” is that Kentucky will be on Ohio State’s schedule this upcoming season. Far from a guarantee, and this was also before they knew they’d also be playing North Carolina (on top of Maui).

And of course, Holtmann grew up in Nicholasville, Kentucky — 15 miles from Rupp Arena. He still has family living in Kentucky, and he donated $50,000 to the Kentucky United for Tornado Relief Telethon on Dec. 14, 2021. The head coach has personal ties to the area, so it looks pretty likely that the two programs will come to some sort of agreement here in the next year or two.

Justin: Gonzaga

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Hard to argue against Kentucky, and I might be the biggest fan of the CBS Sports Classic out there — just wanted to put that on the table. College basketball needs more events and tournaments like the CBS Sports Classic. Rant over.

I want the Buckeyes to play Gonzaga more. I went in between Gonzaga and Duke on this one, but I chalked Duke up to the moment and recency bias. Even with Coach K gone, a game versus Duke would still be huge because it’s still Duke, but they may never be able to live up to the magic that was Nov. 21, 2022 (that was when Ohio State played Duke in basketball, just to clarify).

For one, these two teams have only played three times. Ohio State won in 2011-12 and then they played twice in 2017-18, first in the super fun PK80 Invitational (I am at least consistent) where Gonzaga won and then Gonzaga knocked out Ohio State in the NCAA tournament that same year.

All of their matchups outside of the PK80 one were entertaining and fun to watch, as both teams can get out and run and score at high levels. Not to mention Gonzaga is consistently a top-five team in the country, incredibly well coached, and is very fun to go play on the road. What else do you need? Kentucky makes sense, but this one is a little outside of the box that could be a lot of fun.

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B1G Thoughts: Five running backs to watch in 2022
JordanW330 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

The Big Ten is full of top tier running backs. Which should you look out for in 2022?

The “slow” part of the offseason is here as college football is finally at a standstill. The NFL draft is over, the transfer portal is closed, and spring ball has come to an end. It is officially time to think about the 2022 season. Now is your chance to gather your surroundings, buy a few magazines and figure out who is on which roster and what players to key on. If you don’t know where to begin, B1G Thoughts is here to give you five players at each position to watch in the 2022 season.

Running back is somehow one of the most important and most underrated positions in football. Many coaches, analyst and fans will tell you that running back is replaceable, but a great running back is a difference maker. What would Michigan State be without Kenneth Walker III or LeVeon Bell before that? Ohio State’s dominance has been built off the backs of Archie Griffin, Maurice Clarett and Ezekiel Elliott. Wisconsin has won the West on the backs of Jonathan Taylor and Melvin Gordon.

2022 may be a running back resurgence in the Big Ten. There are more than five to watch, but here are the top five running back to watch in 2022.

TreVeyon Henderson

Sophomore - Ohio State


TreVeyon Henderson broke out in 2021 as a true freshman, rushing for 1,248 yards and 15 touchdowns on 183 carries. He also showcased his versatility in the passing game with 312 yards and four touchdowns on 27 receptions. With a total on 19 touchdowns, Henderson broke Ohio State’s record for TDs in a season by a freshman, a record held by Maurice Clarett.

Henderson has a lot of hype behind him — deservedly so — but he did not finish 2021 as strong as he started. That’s fair for a true freshman, but entering his sophomore season, Henderson will need to be ready to carry the Buckeyes through a 15 game season if he hopes to win a national championship. He is one of the best running backs in the nation, and will be a must-watch in the 2022 campaign.

Check out Henderson’s 2021 highlights:

Mohamed Ibrahim

Sixth-year senior - Minnesota


If there is anyone who can contend with TreVeyon Henderson for the title of best running back in the Big Ten, it’s Mohamed Ibrahim. Ibrahim was on a tour de force against Ohio State in week one before he suffered a season ending injury. In three quarters against a national championship contender, he had 30 carries for 163 yards and two touchdowns. You could argue this was a sign of things to come for Ohio State’s defense but Mo Ibrahim almost single handedly upset the Buckeyes.

Without him, Minnesota went 9-3 and was in the running for the Big Ten West championship until the end. With Ibrahim carrying the rock, maybe they would have won. He’s coming back for a sixth season and hopes to lead Minnesota to a breakthrough and a Big Ten West title.

Check out Ibrahim’s 2021 highlights:

Braelon Allen

Sophomore - Wisconsin


Braelon Allen saved the Wisconsin Badgers’ season in 2021, and that is not hyperbole. Wisconsin struggled early in the season due to issues at running back and a quarterback that did not take the expected step up. Then Braelon happened. After a 1-3 start, Wisconsin won seven straight games on the back of Allen, ultimately winning every game where he rushed for 100 or more yards.

Allen finished the 2021 season with 1,268 yards and 12 touchdowns on 186 carries despite being a non-factor in the first couple of games. Wisconsin is at its best when it has a game breaking running back, and Allen has all the makings to be one of the best they’ve ever had. He’s must-see TV, and will look to bring Wisconsin back to the mountain top.

Check out Allen’s 2021 highlights:

Chase Brown

Junior - Illinois


Illinois was not the most interesting team to watch in 2021, so it’s okay if you’ve never heard of Chase Brown. Heading into 2022, Illinois will be looking to build on a season that saw them lose a bunch of games but set a foundation for the future. Brown is one of the key pieces they’re looking to build upon after rushing for 1,005 yards and five touchdowns on 170 carries.

Illinois under Bret Bielema is a throwback to Big Ten days of old, built off big tough guys in the trenches, a staunch defense, a grind it out running back and a quarterback who does just enough. With Brown carrying the rock, Illinois has a chance to get to bowl eligibility and scare a few Big Ten contenders.

Check out Brown’s 2021 highlights:

Blake Corum

Junior - Michigan


Blake Corum was the lightening to Hassan Haskins’ thunder. While Haskins got the bulk of the carries and much of the shine for leading Michigan past Ohio State and into the playoffs for the first time under Jim Harbaugh, Corum was a major factor to their success. He ran for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns on 144 carries and made it tough on opposing defenses.

If you load the box and key on the inside run, then Corum would sub in the game and run past the whole defense. He comes into the 2022 season hoping to hold off upcoming underclassman Donovan Jackson for the No. 1 running back spot. Michigan has lost a lot of talent from last year’s squad. If they hope to build on last year’s success, Corum will need to have a monster season.

Check out Corum’s 2021 highlights:

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Buckeyes catching the attention of newly offered target, tight end camper to watch moving forward
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

A Michigan native impacted by new OSU offer and tight end recruiting continues in the 2023 class.

With Wednesday’s first camp of the summer, nearly 10 new offers being sent out proved how busy the coaching staff is going to be this entire month of June. A bit of a slower day on Thursday, it was an opportunity to let the dust to settle. Surely it won’t be long for things to ramp up again, and with how many elite level prospects are coming to Columbus over the next few weeks, the only goal is to add to both the 2023 and 2024 classes.

Cass Tech product impacted by latest offer


An Ohio State offer doesn’t come that easily. Sure, some programs dish out offers in droves in each cycle, but the Buckeyes are more the type to offer players they’re truly serious about and would accept a commitment from. Wednesday’s several new offers being sent out in one day isn’t a common practice for the staff, but after seeing the performances from those players, the evaluations gave the reasoning behind each one.

In one case, Jalen Thompson is proof to how much an Ohio State offer means to prep talents. The Cass Tech product is the No. 212 player in the nation per 247Sports, and has most closely been linked to Michigan State. Having five predictions in favor of the Spartans on the 247Sports Crystal Ball feature, Thompson is basically what you’d call a heavy lean to Michigan State, and while they may still be in the lead, Ohio State is certainly giving him a lot to think about.

Larry Johnson’s ability to land top defensive line targets is incredible, and many times the players he brings in come later in the process than other positions. Not to say commitments come early each cycle, often the quantity comes later on. In the 2023 class, the Buckeyes currently only have one player committed along the defensive line, and while there’s several top players strongly considering Ohio State, Thompson looks to be a name that’s already feeling the impact of the Buckeyes being in his recruitment.

Moving forward, it’s not going to be a surprise if Ohio State and LJ are able to make him at least slow things down a bit. After Thompson has made it clear that he intends to get back to Columbus for another visit, and an official visit for that matter. This is just one instance that shows how valuable it is when the Buckeye’s coaching staff sends out an offer.

A new tight end name worth watching?


The first commitment in the 2023 class for Ohio State was tight end Ty Lockwood. The Tennessee native has been an incredible leader in the class when it comes to peer recruiting other top targets on Ohio State’s board, but the staff has every desire to pair him with another player at the position as depth is definitely needed. Moving players to the position doesn’t always happen at a program like Ohio State, but that’s been needed to ensure there’s healthy depth. That said, there’s every reason to take two tight ends in this current cycle.

With offers out to elite players at the spot, the Buckeyes would love to land a player such as Walker Lyons, but not banking on anything right now, the staff looks like they’ll be casting their nets a little bit wider and new names should pop up.

On Wednesday, Vance Bolyard (Greensboro, North Carolina/Northern Guilford) was in attendance for Ohio State’s one day football camp and the 6-foot-5, 230 pound tight end was able to work with position coach, Kevin Wilson during his time on campus. Going through drills and testing, Bolyard, who currently has over 20 offers to his name, was taking in every bit of coaching he could as he looked to develop his game and get better on the field.

The No. 831 player in the country per the 247Sports Composite, Bolyard isn’t the highly ranked player the Buckeyes typically go after. While he doesn’t have an Ohio State offer to this point, this could be a name worth watching if the staff continues to look for tight ends. Schools such as North Carolina, Maryland, Duke, Pitt, Michigan State, and several more have already entered the mix, and it’s not a guarantee that Ohio State follows suit. But definitely a recruitment that with further attention, it could be one worth paying attention to as potential for another new offer.


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