AuTX Buckeye said:

no that woulda been in the The Game thread this year…

Click to expand...

Ouch.

Ohio State wrestling is rolling into 2022 with positive momentum
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Kaleb Romero’s return from injury has provided a spark for the wrestling Buckeyes | Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images

The Buckeye grapplers are now healthy and ready to begin the Big Ten season. The conference is a gauntlet, but one that Tom Ryan should have his guys ready for.

The Ohio State wrestling Buckeyes are off to a solid start as they look to bounce back from a disappointing (for them) 2020-21 campaign. OSU has won all four of its duals by a combined score of 121-32, and finished an impressive second out of 27 teams at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. The team now gets a short break before a tune-up against American University and the start of the Big Ten schedule.

So far, the Buckeyes look like the perennial Big Ten and NCAA contender that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing under Tom Ryan.


Last season was difficult for a variety of reasons, and I don’t really read too much into the results. The team finished ninth in their conference, but also ninth in the NCAA Championships. Such is life in the Big Ten; it is a grind. However, prior to the awkward Covid-influenced season, the Buckeyes had finished no lower than third in both the Big Ten and NCAA Championships. Ryan has turned this program into a national powerhouse, and early results from this 2021-22 season tell me one thing: Ohio State has the potential to reclaim its status as one of the best teams in the country.

Now for a small disclaimer: OSU has not faced the toughest schedule. Their most difficult matchups will come throughout the entirety of the Big Ten season. That being said, three of their four dual victories have come against ACC schools, one of which (Virginia Tech) has a top-10 team. The second-place finish in Las Vegas was promising not necessarily because of the level of competition, but because the Buckeyes saw a couple wrestlers secure high finishes in their first invitational or first overall appearance of the season.

At the Keen Invitational, Sammy Sasso lost in the finals at 149, but Sasso wrestling in any finals is no surprise; He will likely see Yianni Diakomihalis of Cornell again in the NCAA’s. At 165, Carson Kharchla finished third, as he continues to look great in his return from injury. Kharchla was a former HS Wrestler of the Year, and back-to-back Ohio State Champion, but had not been a part of the main roster until this season. The Keen was his first large tournament as “the guy” at 165, and he showed that he could be a sleeper candidate to podium for the Buckeyes.

Ethan Smith is a vet who keeps getting better with experience, and he took second at 174. To me, the surprise of the meet for the Buckeyes, was Kaleb Romero at 184. Romero had previously spent time at 165 and 174, and though the jump up in weight was expected, this was his first event at 184 — ever. He missed all of November due to injury, but coach Ryan felt comfortable throwing him into the deep end. He more than rewarded the staff for their confidence and looks to be a viable threat at his third weight class. Tate Orndorff also finished fourth at 285.

The Keen Invitational was wrapped up on Dec. 4, leaving the Buckeyes one more dual before their holiday-induced layoff. OSU throttled the Pitt Panthers 30-7 this past Sunday, dropping only two matches and running away with many others. Sasso and Smith scored huge tech falls, and Ohio State soundly beat a Pitt team that currently ranks No. 23 in the country. With the exception of fifth-ranked North Carolina State, OSU took out the best the ACC has to offer, and they will now shift their attention to the Big Ten.


Ohio State will be out of action until after the holidays, when they visit D.C. to take on American, on Jan. 3. The conference slate begins shortly thereafter, and it is a true gauntlet. Big Ten teams currently hold the first three spots in the team rankings, along with five other teams being ranked inside the top-15. Iowa is a unanimous No. 1 and the favorite to win it all. Penn State and Michigan are right behind the Hawkeyes, but it was encouraging to see the Buckeyes finish ahead of the Wolverines in the Keen Invitational.

The first six weeks of 2022 will be put up or shut up time for the Buckeyes. Five of their eight conference duals are against teams currently ranked in the top-14. They will face Iowa, Penn State, and Michigan (currently ranked 1-3) all in span of three weeks. If OSU hits a rough patch, they could easily finish outside of the top-3 yet again. But with Kharchla and Romero now healthy, and Smith continuing his ascent, I think this team will surprise some people.

If the Buckeyes become a national contender, we might even see Paddy Gallagher thrown into the mix. The stud freshman and 2021 Cliff Keen preseason Wrestler of the Year is currently unattached (sort of like JV, but not really), and Ryan has mentioned the possibility of keeping Gallagher off the main roster this season to save a year of eligibility. However, he is the most talented wrestler at 157. Jashon Hubbard and Bryce Hepner have split duties at that weight, and although talented in their own right, they don’t possess the upside that Gallagher does. He could be a secret weapon down the stretch.

The Big Ten season will be a wild ride to begin 2022, as it always is. The Buckeyes are well-positioned to make some noise, and possibly surprise some people. This team has a ton of veteran talent, and high-upside young guys in the pipeline. It should be a fun and exciting rest of the season, as Tom Ryan’s group attempts to climb the proverbial mountain. They are a longshot to finish on top when all is said and done, but expectations are high once again. And that is a good thing for Ohio State wrestling.

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Play Like a Girl Podcast: When will we see another defensive player win the Heisman?
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

Plus, what the heck is happening in Jacksonville?

On LGHL’s Play Like a Girl podcast, Megan and Meredith talk everything from Ohio State sports to advocacy for women in sports and all the happenings in between.

Check out the podcast below, and make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:


Welcome back! With bowl season nearly upon us, we’re rapidly approaching one of the most wonderful times of the year. The only downside is that we just had our last regular season college football game of 2021 with the annual Army vs. Navy game this past weekend.

But of course, there’s no shortage of off the field drama to discuss, and Megan and Meredith talked through some of the biggest headlines of the last week, including more coaching carousel moves, transfer portal decisions and, on the NFL side, Urban Meyer’s continued struggles to find his way as an NFL head coach in Jacksonville.

But even without an abundance of football, there’s been plenty of excitement from the hardcourt, including a huge conference win for the Ohio State men’s basketball team over Wisconsin.


Contact Megan Husslein
Twitter: @meganhusslein

Contact Meredith Hein
Twitter: @MeredithHein

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Ohio State adds four-star DL from Indiana before the early signing period begins
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Caden Curry | Steve Wiltfong, 247Sports

The Buckeyes were on the receiving end of their 19th pledge in the 2022 class on Tuesday — a major defensive prospect.

Welcome to day one of the early signing period for the 2022 recruiting class. Today is the day in which the vast majority of prospects across the country will sign with their future programs.

For Ohio State, they will look to officially welcome a 19-man haul (for now) that currently ranks as the No. 4 recruiting class in the country and features 17 blue chip prospects, including a massive, long-time target of the Buckeyes that made his pledge to the program Tuesday evening.

Buckeyes land major DL target


Aside from five-star linebacker C.J. Hicks of Alter (OH), Ohio State was on the receiving end of arguably their biggest target on the recruiting trail for the entire class on Tuesday. The Buckeyes were able to finally reel in the pledge of four-star defensive lineman Caden Curry of Center Grove (IN), a prospect that they were in full pursuit of since offering in May of last year.

Curry, the No. 88 overall prospect, chose Ohio State over Alabama, Clemson, Indiana, and Oregon with the Crimson Tide seemingly being the biggest threat in this recruitment. The Greenwood (IN) native grades as the 14th-best defensive lineman in the class and the third-best player in The Hoosier State.

The newest verbal pledge is the sixth-highest graded defensive prospect in the Buckeyes’ class, and 247Sports’ Allen Trieu gave an impressive look into what he can bring to the table for new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and the Ohio State defense.

Brooks set to make final call


While today will likely be relatively drama-free for the Buckeyes, there is one prospect who will be making his final decision in just a few hours. That player is four-star cornerback Terrance Brooks of Little Elm (TX), an Ohio State commit since June, who will either stick with his pledge or instead stay home and suit up for the Longhorns.


The No. 8 cornerback in the country initially chose the Buckeyes over Alabama, Florida, Oregon, Texas, and Texas A&M. However, the burnt orange and white have made a significant push for the 5-foot-11, 180-pounder in recent weeks, including an in-home visit by the program’s head man in Steve Sarkisian.

All indications are that the Longhorns have been in Brooks’ ear about a potential parting between Ohio State and assistant Kerry Coombs, the primary recruiter for the No. 59 overall prospect. However, that seems unlikely at this time, and would come as a surprise given Coombs’ success on the recruiting trail.

Nonetheless, the final call for Brooks will come at 9:45 AM EST, and I would expect head coach Ryan Day and Coombs to work this one until the final minute in hopes of outlasting the Longhorns’ push.

Quick Hits

• Ohio State landed a pair of preferred walk-on pledges on Tuesday as Hubbard (OH) running back TC Caffey and IMG Academy (FL) kicker Jayden Fielding announced their commitment to Ohio State.
• In basketball news, 2023 four-star shooting guard Jahnathan Lamothe of St. Frances Academy (MD) had high praise for the Buckeyes when updating his recruitment with 247Sports’ Dushawn London on Tuesday. “Our relationship is going good, I’m real close with Tony Skinn, the assistant coach,” the Top 100 prospect who holds an Ohio State offer stated. “I also got to meet Coach (Chris) Holtmann on my visit and they really like me and what I bring to the table so I really like them.”

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Jamari Wheeler has been exactly what Ohio State has needed
justingolba 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 Buckeyes needed a point guard coming into the season and they found him.

Coming into this season, there were a lot of questions about the Ohio State basketball team. Who will replace Duane Washington and his almost 17 points per game? When will Justice Sueing and Seth Towns be healthy? Who will be the consistent point guard that C.J. Walker was? Well, after the first 10 games of the season, you can safely check one of those off your list; Jamari Wheeler is firmly entrenched as OSU’s starting point guard.

Anyone who has paid attention to Big Ten basketball over the last few seasons knew that the commitment from Penn State transfer was a huge deal. He was a proven veteran with a defensive mindset joining a team that had a clear weakness on that side of the court.

Wheeler started at the point guard position for three years at Penn State, so the learning curve when it came to adjusting to the style and level of play was not nearly as large for Wheeler as it has been for transfers who have made the move to bigger conferences. OSU head coach Chris Holtmann and his staff knew that Wheeler could be a plug-and-play guy from the jump, which is a massive boost from any transfer, since the growing pains can sometimes be a large hill to overcome.

Last season, Walker was a constant for the Buckeyes, averaging 9.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. He gave up just 2.0 turnovers per game and, for the most part, was an incredibly reliable ball-handler for the Buckeyes. He missed some time with an injury during the B1G slate and when that happened, it was evident that the Buckeyes didn’t have anyone behind him that was yet ready to fill his shoes. Sueing handled the ball for the most part in his absence — a role that he filled serviceably, but it was clearly not his strongest suit as it forced him to play way out of position and comfort level.

It was obvious that Holtmann agreed, as they immediately and forcefully went after Wheeler once his name hit the transfer portal. In his four years at Penn State, Wheeler averaged 3.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. None of those stats jump off the page at you and scream “Superstar!”, but he also averaged 1.5 steals and just 1.4 turnovers per game. That is for his entire career, so from the minute he stepped on campus as a freshman, he was a stalwart on defense and handled the ball well.

Wheeler stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 170 pounds, so he isn’t a force of nature by any means, but he is a pestering guard who can make life miserable for opponents, as evidenced by his two B1G All-Defensive Team selections.

So far this season, Wheeler is having a career year, averaging 6.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. He is also still averaging those 1.5 steals and 1.4 turnovers per game — exactly his career mark.

Wheeler is sixth in the Big Ten in assists per game and his assist/turnover ratio is third in the conference. This number would be even higher, but against Duke he had two assists and five turnovers; it is the only game this season that his turnover number was higher than his assist number.

I know the points and assists numbers aren’t flashy, and he’s never going to give you 20 points per game, but that is not what he was brought to Ohio State to do. He was brought to Columbus for three very important reasons.

First of all, his defense, which has been fantastic. He has made life hard on every opponent’s point guard and has been a menace with his on-ball defense, turning steals and turnovers into offense for the Buckeyes. He even faced off against Duke’s Trevor Keels Duke who is 6-foot-4, 240 pounds and forced him to take contested jump shots all game, finishing 3-for-12 from the field.

Secondly, he was brought to Columbus to be a reliable ball-handler. In OSU’s 10 games thus far, Wheeler has two or fewer turnovers in nine of them. So suffice it to say, so far that has been a major plus for the Buckeyes and gives the young guards like Meechie Johnson Jr. and Malaki Branham a chance to grow without having to have the ball in their hands constantly. Wheeler has made it his personal mission to facilitate others and keep the turnovers at a minimum, at least from him. He also has finished with five or more assists in six out of the 10 games in the early season. Really the only thing keeping him from having an astonishing assist/turnover ratio is that pesky Duke game; but I’ve got a feeling he’s happier with the win than personal stats.

Last — but certainly not least — his veteran presence was a must on this team. As mentioned before, the Buckeyes lost Walker to graduation and all of their guards who play significant minutes are young (no offense to senior guard Jimmy Sotos who doesn’t get in the game often). Wheeler has brought energy, wisdom and calm under pressure to a team that desperately needed just that thing. In the stretch run of games, having a guy like Wheeler who has that experience and doesn't turn the ball over is such a crucial element for a team looking to have a special season. Look at recent national champions; every single one of them has had a reliable, experienced point guard running the offense. It is simply a must have.

Wheeler has also been very efficient in his scoring, shooting 48% form the field, 37% from three-point range and 87.5% from the free-throw line (even though he is only 7-for-8).

We know that Wheeler isn’t going to light up the scoring column or give you 15-20 points every game, but what he has given the Buckeyes is a reliable hand with the ball and veteran leadership and he’s given opponents an absolute defensive nightmare; and on this specific team, that is likely even more valuable than another scoring threat.

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BOOOOM! Four-star DL Caden Curry commits to Ohio State
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Four-star Center Grove DL Caden Curry | Steve Wiltfong, 247Sports

The Buckeyes add another huge piece to their top-five 2022 recruiting class.

Early Signing Day is upon us, as Dec. 15 marks the first day that recruits in the 2022 class can sign their national letters of intent. A day that has really taken over the recruiting landscape and rendered the actual National Signing Day (Feb. 2) more or less irrelevant, this week you will see a ton of the nation’s top remaining uncommitted prospects commit to their schools of choice. On Tuesday afternoon, Ohio State was on the receiving end of one of these decisions.

Four-star defensive lineman Caden Curry announced live on CBS Sports HQ that he will be taking his talents to Columbus next year as a member of the Buckeyes’ 2022 class. Curry is the nation’s No. 14 DL, and the No. 88 player in the class overall as the No. 3 player from his home state of Indiana. Ohio State beat out a number of large suitors for Curry, as he held over two dozen offers with a top five list that also included Alabama, Clemson, Indiana and Oregon.


Curry has been a monster for Center Grove High School in Greenwood, IN. Helping the Trojans to a 14-0 record in 2020 and back-to-back Indiana 6A State Championships in his junior and senior campaigns, he has been an integral part of the varsity team for four years. In 55 games played at Center Grove, Curry has amassed a whopping 290 total tackles with 83.5 tackles for loss and 28 sacks. He also played a very limited role at running back for the Trojans, scoring five touchdowns in his last two seasons. Being recognized for his efforts, Curry was named the Mr. Football position award winner for defensive line.

While the in-state Hoosiers were always a player in his recruitment and the Crimson Tide made a late push for his services, Curry ended up choosing Ohio State. Defensive line coach Larry Johnson no doubt played a huge role in his recruitment, but the Buckeyes were once again the beneficiaries of some peer recruitment. Both J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer gave their pitch to Curry when he visited campus back in September, and clearly the thought of those three playing together was enticing enough for him to chose the Buckeyes.

“They just told me about it and how they fit in,” Curry told Eleven Warriors in October. “They told me if I went there it would definitely be us three, honestly seeing that it would fit perfectly well. It was cool. Honestly just seeing that day-to-day basis from them after they’ve been there a few months is helpful.”

Here is what 247Sports’ National Recruiting Analyst Allen Trieu had to say of Curry’s abilities:


Curry is the second defensive lineman to commit to Ohio State in this cycle, joining four-star edge rusher Kenyatta Jackson. Overall, Curry becomes the 19th commit for the Buckeyes in the 2022 class, which bumps their total up to 296.49 — good for the No. 4 group nationally and the No. 1 class in the Big Ten. Ohio State’s class is now comprised of two five-stars, 15 four-stars and two three-star prospects, with still a chance for another addition or two along the way.

Despite sitting in fourth, Ohio State is only about 10 points behind Georgia for the No. 1 spot, which is even more impressive given that the Bulldogs have seven more commits in their class. The Buckeyes’ average player ranking is second in the country to only Alabama, and so surely Ryan Day will be quite pleased with another successful recruiting cycle, even if another commitment doesn’t come their way. For what it’s worth, I have a good feeling Ohio State will be adding one more defensive lineman before we can fully put a bow on this year’s class.

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You’re Nuts: Who is your favorite Ohio State player that fell short of winning the Heisman Trophy?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.

Over the weekend, C.J. Stroud became the eighth Heisman Trophy finalist from Ohio State since 1982. While Stroud finished fourth in the final voting, since he is just a redshirt freshman, the quarterback is a favorite to return to New York City in 2022 as a finalist for the award given annually to the best player in college football.

The Buckeyes have had six players with college football’s most prestigious award seven times, with Archie Griffin being the only two-time recipient of the Heisman Trophy. Troy Smith was the last Ohio State player to win the award, bringing the golden stiff-arm to Columbus in 2006. Since then four Buckeyes have been Heisman Trophy finalists, with all four of them coming since 2018.

While the list of Ohio State players to win the Heisman Trophy has some pretty big names, the Buckeyes who came up just short of winning the award is even more impressive. Since 2018, the three other Buckeyes aside from Stroud to be invited to New York City for the ceremony have all been selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, and it looks like that same fate could be in store for Stroud, possibly in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Today’s question: Who is your favorite Ohio State player that fell short of winning the Heisman Trophy?


We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.

Brett’s answer: Orlando Pace, offensive tackle


Times were quite different at Ohio State, as well as in college football, over 20 years ago. Orlando Pace was just the second-ever true freshman to start on opening day. Pace came to Columbus from Sandusky, where he was not only a Parade All-American as an offensive lineman, but also a USA Today All-American defensive lineman. While expectations were sky-high for Pace, he not only met those expectations, he surpassed them.

What Pace did on the offensive line for Ohio State was unheard of. Pace was credited with bringing popularity to the “pancake block”. Even though some teams had been using the term “pancake block”, usage of it really gained steamed with Pace’s dominance on the offensive line. Not only was Pace the only player to win the Lombardi Award twice, he also won the Outland Trophy, joining Dave Riminigton as the only other player to total three combined Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award victories.

What makes Orlando Pace my favorite Buckeye to fail to win the Heisman Trophy, is he is the only offensive line to finish in the top-four in Heisman Trophy voting since fellow Buckeye John Hicks finished second in 1973. Pace received 599 votes for the Heisman Trophy, which was less than 100 behind Arizona State quarterback Jake Plummer, who finished in third place. Florida’s Danny Wuerffel went on to win the award with 1,363 votes.

It’s likely that we will never see another offensive lineman named a Heisman Trophy finalist, which just proves how special of a talent Pace was. With the frequency that quarterbacks and running backs are honored for the Heisman, it’s extremely rare than a defensive player is named a finalist, let alone an offensive lineman. While offensive linemen are recognized through other awards for their contributions, they don’t get the respect they truly deserve. There will never be an offensive lineman quite like Orlando Pace.

Meredith’s answer: Chase Young, defensive end


The narrative around defensive players winning the Heisman Trophy has been well worn. It seems that in years where no one wants to win college football’s biggest award, the committee throws a bone to the other side of the ball and lets a defender in the milieu just to keep things interesting.

But then Chase Young had his 2019 season, and the call for Young as a true Heisman contender was rooted in the fact he truly was among the nation’s best players (he would, after all, go on to be the No. 2-overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft behind Heisman winner Joe Burrow). Through 13 games, Young had 16.5 sacks and seven forced fumbles. Like Aidan Hutchinson this year, Young was an unstoppable force on the field — there was nothing even elite college offensive lines could do to contain him — and he altered the outcomes of games like few defenders could do on their own.

I’m not saying Joe Burrow didn’t deserve the Heisman — he had a monster season with LSU. However, we see quarterbacks with monster stats year in and year out (because, spoiler, they touch the ball on every offensive play). It’s not often that we see a game changing force on defense a la Young. Young would ultimately finish fourth in the Heisman voting behind Burrow, Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts and teammate Justin Fields.

2019 was a fun year in the Heisman race for a lot of reasons. Besides Burrow (who, for the purposes of this column, we’ll consider an Ohio State product) and Fields, JK Dobbins finished sixth in the voting. Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor finished fifth, bringing a strong Big Ten bend to the season’s award.

Young would have been an amazing Heisman winner for Ohio State because his performance in 2019 was the culmination of years of success at the defensive end position for the Buckeyes, and would have been an incredible nod to Larry Johnson and his efforts in bringing that consistency year in and year out.

The cry to include more defensive players in the Heisman conversation has grown stronger in recent years. Michigan’s Hutchinson did finish second in the voting behind Bryce Young over the weekend, so perhaps someday soon we could see a defensive end as disruptive as Young take home college football’s ultimate prize.

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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for December 14, 2021
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

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!

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On the Gridiron


Miles Frazier, transfer offensive lineman and freshman All-American, puts Ohio State football in top three
- Nathan Baird, Cleveland.com

Ohio State’s Haskell Garrett accepts Senior Bowl invitation
- Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Former Ohio State safety/linebacker Craig Young transfers to Kansas
- Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

Eight Ohio State Players Named Second- Or Third-Team All-Americans By AP
- Andrew Lind, Sports Illustrated

Ohio State offered up the bag for their new DC. tOSU > OSU


Five roster decisions with Rose Bowl, future depth implications for Buckeyes
- Austin Ward, Lettermen Row

What Ohio State fans can expect from a defense led by Jim Knowles
- Kyle Jones, Eleven Warriors

Report: Ohio State Adds Buffalo To 2028 Football Schedule
- Andrew Lind, Sports Illustrated

#DevelopedHere


Bowl schedule: Odds, predictions for every college football bowl game
- Brad Crawford, Bucknuts

Former Ohio State QB Quinn Ewers transfers to Texas
- Patrick Mayhorn, BSB

Rose Bowl practices an opportunity for young Ohio State plays to build for 2022
- Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

On the Hardwood


E.J. Liddell has been absolutely balling out for OSU hoops.


Chris Holtmann talks E.J. Liddell’s last year, early B1G games and more on radio show
- Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State men's basketball jumps to No. 15 in AP Poll
- Connor Lemons, LGHL

Women’s basketball: No. 20 Buckeyes fall to No. 10 Indiana, 86-66
- Patrick Engels, The Lantern

Outside The Shoe and Schott


If you’re gonna pick up your 150th career win, it might as well be against TTUN.


Wrestling: Buckeyes beat Pittsburgh 30-7 to remain undefeated
- Kole Emplit, The Lantern

Men’s swimming: Buckeye divers to compete at Winter Nationals
- Ohio State Athletics

Men’s Hockey: No. 17 Ohio State beats No. 3 Michigan, 6-1
- Cameron Shaffer, The Lantern

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Will Ohio State add a four-star DL today?
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


2022 four-star DL recruit Caden Curry via @CGSportsNetwork on Twitter.

Ahead of the early signing period, Ohio State is looking to earn a commitment from a 2022 four-star DL.

The Ohio State football program is gearing up for one of its busiest weeks of the year. The early signing period opens on Wednesday, and while Ohio State’s 2022 recruiting class is nearly full, there are a handful of remaining targets the Buckeyes will want to add to its class. In case you missed the Buckeyes making the recruiting headlines to start your week, no need to worry as Land-Grant Holy Land has you covered.

Four-star Ohio State DL target to commit today


Ahead of the early signing period, Ohio State is looking to add to its nearly-full 2022 recruiting class today. Four-star defensive line target Caden Curry is scheduled to announce his collegiate school of choice this afternoon, and the Buckeyes are one of his top remaining schools.

Curry is scheduled to announce his decision at Cedar Grove High School today at 3:30 p.m. ET.


Ohio State has long been associated with Curry, but there is an impressive list of schools it will need beat out to earn his commitment. The four-star DL has Alabama, Oregon, Indiana and Clemson in his top five, alongside the Buckeyes.

Despite the stiff competition, the Buckeyes seem to have a leg up in his recruitment. After two fall visits with Ohio State this year, the Buckeyes now hold 100 percent of the 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions. While these predictions are far from guarantees, the fact that local recruiting expert Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts and national recruiting expert Steve Wiltfong both agree on Ohio State as the school of choice bodes well for the Buckeyes.

Ohio State has just one defensive line commitment in the 2022 class in four-star defensive end Kenyatta Jackson. The Buckeyes are still in on a few other 2022 DL prospects, but adding Curry to the mix would be a big boost to the class.

Curry is the No. 14 DL target in the 2022 recruiting class and is the No. 88 overall prospect. He is also the No. 3 recruit from the state of Indiana.

Ohio State hoping for Early Signing Day surprises


The early signing period will begin Wednesday, and Ohio State is hoping most if not all of their current verbal commits in the 2022 class decide to officially join the program during this time. However, the Buckeyes are also looking to add some big last-minute additions to the class as well. On Monday, the program learned two of their remaining targets set to commit Wednesday are still considering the Buckeyes. However, Ohio State has been thought as losing steam with both prospects leading up to tomorrow.

Both four-star safety Zion Branch and four-star defensive end Enai White should be familiar names for those that follow Ohio State recruiting. The Buckeyes have long been courting both players, and at certain points in their recruitments it seemed like Ohio State was the leader. However, as is always with recruiting, things are constantly changing.

While the Buckeyes have seemed to fall off with both Branch and White, both have Ohio State among their finalists leading into their announcements.


Branch and White both took official visits to Ohio State this year, and the visits went as well as possible. While the Buckeyes were favorites at different points for both, Branch was always viewed at being more realistic than White.

White has been trending towards Texas A&M since October, with three 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions coming in days apart from each other. Since these predictions were made, Texas A&M’s coaching staff, including Jimbo Fisher, visited with White, and then White used his final official visit to Texas A&M this past weekend. Given the timing of his official visit to Texas A&M as well as the Aggies already seemingly leading the pack for White, they will likely be his school of choice Wednesday.

Branch’s recruitment has been much like White’s, as the Buckeyes were viewed as legitimate contenders at one point. However, instead of Texas A&M, Ohio State is competing with USC for Branch.

When USC announced they were parting ways with former head coach Clay Helton, Ohio State quickly became the new favorite to land Branch’s commitment. However, now that USC has brought in Lincoln Riley, Branch seems much more comfortable in his initial desire to stay close to home, spurning Ohio State.

However, Ohio State’s chances of landing Branch seem better than with White. While Ohio State seems all but out of it for White, they still have a fighting chance for Branch. Branch had in-home visits with both USC and Ohio State recently, and both made his final schools, alongside Oklahoma leading up to his decision date.

If Branch were to chose to USC, there would also seemingly be a bit stronger of a sting for the Buckeyes when compared to White. This is because Ohio State recently missed out on four-star safety Xavier Nwankpa when he committed to Iowa last week. However, Ohio State may have already seen this coming. The Buckeyes recently saw 2023 five-star safety commit Sonny Styles officially reclassify to the 2022 class, joining four-star Athlete Kye Stokes, who Ohio State recruited as a safety. If Branch does stay in California, the Buckeyes still have two safety commitments in this class.

White is the No. 3 DE in the nation and is also the No. 37 overall prospect. While Branch is viewed as the No. 6 safety prospect and the No. 47 overall prospect.

Make sure to follow Land-Grant Holy Land as we will keep you informed on all things Ohio State recruiting during this busy week for the Buckeyes.

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Player Spotlight: Zed Key’s strong start, entertaining personality
meganhusslein 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

With the losses of Duane Washington Jr. and C.J. Walker, Zed Key has stepped up big this season to help lead Team 123.

The Ohio State’s men’s basketball team lost a couple of key players following last season in Duane Washington Jr. and C.J. Walker. Therefore, a couple of new guys had to step in and fill their shoes. E.J. Liddell emerged as the star of the team last year, and was the clear No. 1 option beginning this season. Through the first 10 games of the 2021-22 season, arguably the second most important player (and possibly the most entertaining) on Team 123 has been second-year center Zed Key.

Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

But before we get into that, let’s back it up to last season. Key was a freshman averaging 5.2 points per game and 3.4 rebounds per game playing around 12 minutes per contest. He was a steady contributor when called upon, but he quickly became a fan favorite as a result of his positive and goofy personality. His famous “finger guns” after drawing a foul on a made shot and “raising the roof” after a dunk quickly made him extremely popular with Buckeye Nation.

However, after being a rotational role-player last season, Key has stepped up big in the first month of the season. He has solidified himself as the team’s main center and second-leading scorer. He has also proved himself to be clutch in big moments.

In a shockingly tight game against Akron, it looked like the Buckeyes might lose in the final seconds, but Key was not going to let that happen, hitting a layup with 0.3 seconds left. In arguably the biggest game of the season, Key was the leading scorer with 20 points against Duke, a night when the majority of the other starters weren’t on their A-game.


Key has seemingly become a go-to guy this season, behind only Liddell in terms of reliability. He is aggressive in the paint, averaging 5.4 boards per game. Both defensively and offensively, he is not afraid to go for the ball, even when surrounded by the opposing team’s players, but it’s his scoring ability that has been the most impressive thus far. Key has improved his jump shot, allowing him to be a threat from more than just the paint, and he’s doubled his scoring average from last year to 10.4 ppg.

Off the court, not only is Key well-liked by fans, but his teammates love him, too; he just seems like an all-around likable guy. The player’s TikToks and other social media posts always show them laughing and having a good time with Key. Don’t forget to check out his pet snake on Instagram (@7thesnake) for some quality content, too.

Key has emerged as the strong No. 2 on both ends of the floor for this year’s Buckeye team. His large frame enables him to grab rebounds, but he’s also become a surprisingly effective shooter as well. And what’s also become obvious through 10 games is that he never lets the moment — no matter how big — overwhelm him. And perhaps most importantly, he just seems to have so much fun while he is doing all of this. What’s not to like about Zed Key?

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College football's best quotes of 2021, from Lane Kiffin to Brian Kelly

"I've got a deal for you. Anybody who heard me on your show ... just say 'I heard Barney on the BFT' at the Barney Beer Garden and I'll buy your beer. I'm not buying your ticket, but I'll buy your beer." -- Portland State coach Bruce Barnum on Oregonian columnist John Canzano's radio show, offering to buy beer for fans at his team's game since the Vikings were playing at the same time as Oregon and Oregon State. He ended up with a $14,448 bar tab.

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"I'm going to go have a cold one and then we'll get ready for Miami." -- Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett (He's 23!) after the Panthers beat Clemson.

"No. I mean, look, ... unless that fairy godmother comes by with that $250 million check, my wife would want to take a look at it first. I'd have to run it by her." -- Kelly, on Nov. 22, on if he could imagine a scenario where he would leave Notre Dame.

Entire article: https://www.espn.com/college-footba...ball-best-quotes-2021-lane-kiffin-brian-kelly

The article is worth reading, a summary of some of the best quotes this season including one coach who bought the beer, a Heisman finalist who bought his own beer, and a ND coach that must of had a visit from his fairy godmother.

ScriptOhio said:

Just sayin': Then again maybe he likes competition and has the confidence that he can beat out Quinn Ewers for QB1 at Texas.

Click to expand...

Are we talking about beating QE out for playing time or who has a bigger NIL deal. Pretty sure I know who’s going to win the NIL deal.

Hey, Desdemona, yo mama, she callin’ you, man!

Apparently those NILs are NOT guaranteed......or else why would kombucha tell Ewers that he either needed to start or he's out? (paraphrasing and trying to connect dots on what have heard/read). As VP marketing for a company, would you want your advertising dollars to go to a person that's riding the pine? PS, no one made the cover of Cheerios/Wheaties by riding the pine. Soooo, trying to beat out a Heisman finalist might have been too big a mountain for Quinn to scale, so he's going to look for some smaller hills to climb. Go Bucks!

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“This was a quality win over a real quality team and program,” OSU coach Chris Holtmann said. “We know how good Wisconsin is and how consistent they’ve been and how well coached they are. Obviously, they had an emotional win (over Indiana) a couple of nights ago. I give our guys a lot of credit.

“Outside of some turnovers early and some of the sloppy plays in that particular area, I was really pleased with our effort here. We had a good week. We had a road win (at Penn State), a tough win (over Towson) at midweek and we finished up with a home win.”

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Bestbuck36 said:

You're a sick individual.

Click to expand...

Well, in BB73's defense, he was there.

Travis Howard fuckin gets it

Ohio State men’s basketball sees conference odds improve, national title odds slip
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Not sure why the Buckeyes dropped so much in the title odds, but it might just give someone a really nice discount.

Over the past two weeks, the Ohio State men’s basketball team seems to have started to figure some things out. In wins over then-No. 1 Duke, regularly annoying conference foe Penn State, and the feisty mid-major Towson Tigers, the Buckeyes have climbed back into the AP Top 25 and — according to DrafKings Sportsbook — are starting to move up the ranks in terms of odds-on favorites to compete for titles in various postseason tournaments.

Big Ten Title Odds


Before the Buckeyes beat the Blue Devils, DK had them with the fourth best odds to win the Big Ten crown coming in at +750. However, in the past two weeks, they’ve past Illinois and now sit at +600.

Given that No. 1 Purdue fell to Rutgers (who doesn’t appear in these odds due to New Jersey law) on Thursday night, perhaps there could be another bit of a shakeup at the top of the B1G odds.


Final Four Odds


While the folks who are extra critical of Chris Holtmann’s OSU teams not yet getting out of the NCAA Tournament’s first weekend might roll their eyes at this, the Buckeyes are currently tied for the eighth best odds in the country to make this year’s Final Four at +425. As you would expect based on the conference odds, that is the the third best number for B1G teams; Purdue (+240) and Michigan (+350) are ahead of the Scarlet and Gray.

Last year’s natural runner-up Gonzaga has the best odds at +100 and last year’s national champs, the Baylor Bears are tied for 10th at +450.

Despite the fact that the Buckeyes beat them in dramatic fashion, Duke has the second best odds in the country at +180. Illinois (+475) and Michigan State (+800) are the other two Big Ten teams in the top 20 (including ties).


National Title Odds


Now this is interesting, despite the fact that the Boilermakers had the third best odds to make the Final Four, they jumped the Blue Devils to take the second spot when it comes to cutting down the nets at the end of the season.

Gonzaga is still the substantial favorites, but our Buckeyes are 18th with +3500 odds. Both the Illini and Spartans moved fairly substantially ahead of OSU in this category. In addition to Purdue, Michigan clocks in at +1500, Illinois is at +2200, and MSU is +3000.

Two and a half weeks ago, before Ohio State played Duke, they were actually up in 13th place with +2500 odds. I would imagine that if the No. 21 Buckeyes beat the No. 22 Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday, that could help them across all of the gambling boards.


John Wooden Award


In addition to all of the team-specific odds, DraftKings Sportsbook also has odds on the National Player of the Year award. Ohio State’s third-year power forward E.J. Liddell currently has the third best odds in the country at +1000.

He currently sits behind only Duke’s Paolo Banchero (+450) and Gonzaga’s mustachioed Drew Timme (+550). A paid of other Big Ten stars round out the top five as Purdue’s Jaden Ivey (+1200) and Michigan’s Hunter Dickinson (+1500) are just behind Liddell.



So, now that you’ve seen the odds, where are you putting your money down? Let us know in the comments below.

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The Dotted Line Podcast: Talking Sonny Styles, Zachariah Branch, recruiting transfer portal
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Matt and Caleb talk recruiting and coaching philosophy in a somewhat out-dated episode.

On “The Dotted Line”, Land-Grant Holy Land’s Matt Tamanini talks to recruiting experts, LGHL’s recruiting analysts, and prospects themselves to get a unique perspective on the players that will be a part of Ohio State’s future.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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


So, here’s the thing, this episode was recorded on Monday night, so four days later a lot has changed for Ohio State between Jim Knowles being hired as the new defensive coordinator, Xavier Nwankpa committed to Iowa, and Sonny Styles reclassified to the 2022 class. But, Matt Tamanini and Caleb Houser talk about all of those things as well as the future of the quarterback recruiting now that Devin Brown is in the fold.

They also discuss the philosophy of playing younger, more talented, players over veterans especially on defense and their thoughts on Ryan Day’s coaching staff.


Connect with Caleb Houser
Twitter: @CalebHouser9

Connect with Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt

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You’re Nuts: How many NCAA Tournament bids will the Big Ten receive, and who will they be?
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

Analytics love the B1G, but will they back it up on the court this season?

The Bucketheads are back and more ready than ever as the college basketball season is starting to get into the nitty gritty (right?) and this is truly when the fun begins as conference play is getting fairly close to starting. In the Big ten, it already has as teams are now playing there two December conference games.

Ohio State is currently 7-2 with three non conference games remaining against Kentucky, Tennessee-Martin and New Orleans. Then it will be the grind that is conference basketball, even though the Buckeyes have a fairly easy start to the conference schedule.

So since we are starting to get somewhat of a clearer picture into who is hot and who is not in the college basketball (and as I am writing this Rutgers just beat Purdue so who knows anything anymore), we decided to pick who we think from the conference will be heading to the NCAA tournament from the Big Ten because, why not?

Last week, we picked who we thought the most surprising team in the conference was thus far, for better or for worse. Connor picked Wisconsin in a positive way ad Justin picked Michigan in a negative way.

In what had to have been the closest poll this season, Connor won with 15 votes, while Justin got 14 votes and “other” got 13 votes. Since no one ever listens, we will never learn who the others were.


After 30 weeks:

Connor- 16
Justin- 9
Other- 4
(There has been one tie)


Connor takes the lead by seven weeks after a small run by Justin went by the wayside. However, there is still time to come back since we have no idea when this ends.

Nevertheless, lets hope into today’s question.

Today’s Question/Prompt: How many NCAA Tournament bids will the Big Ten receive?

Connor: Nine

Illinois


KenPom: 14
Record: 7-2 (2-0)
Confidence: Lock

Illinois stumbled a little bit out the gate, but they’ve settled it down and have won their last five games, including two against Big Ten opponents. Kofi Cockburn is a player of the year candidate and Alfonso Plummer is scoring nearly 16 PPG and 43% from deep. They’re a lock.

Purdue


KenPom: 2
Record: 8-1 (1-1)
Confidence: Lock

Purdue is the most complete team in the country. Two All-American caliber centers, a plethora of shooters on the outside, and a handful of freshman and sophomores that guarantees continuity for years to come. Lock!

Ohio State


KenPom: 21
Record: 7-2 (1-0)
Confidence: Lock

The Buckeyes haven’t blown anyone away yet, but they’ve proven to be a solid and improving team. When you add in the resume safety blanket of having beaten Duke already, this team would really have to stumble this year to not make the tournament. They’re a lock...I think.

Indiana


KenPom: 32
Record: 7-2 (1-1)
Confidence: Lock

Amongst all the haze of a new coach, the Hoosiers have come out firing this season. They haven’t really won any difficult games so far, but we can’t knock them for winning the games they’re supposed to win. Trayce Jackson-Davis is nearly unstoppable. I think they’ll be in.

Michigan


KenPom: 11
Record: 6-3 (1-0)
Confidence: Lock

Yeah, there was a sense of panic surrounding Michigan basketball after they lost to Seton Hall and got whomped on by Arizona. I don’t think Michigan will win the conference, but there is far too much talent on this team for them not to figure it out. Did you see what they did to Nebraska? I think they’re in as well.

Iowa


KenPom: 22
Record: 7-2 (0-2)
Confidence: Pretty sure

As I write this, the Hawkeyes are playing No. 17 Iowa State in Hilton Coliseum, but the result of that game won’t change my mind. Keegan Murray has emerged as a certified stud, and Iowa has just enough talent around him to keep up. I’m less confident in this one than the above four, but I think they’ll make it.

Maryland


KenPom: 53
Record: 5-4 (0-1)
Confidence: Taking a leap of faith

I picked Maryland to finish third in the B1G this season, because their talent is top-three level talent in this conference. Between Eric Ayala, Donta Scott, Qudus Wahab, and Fatts Russell, they’ve got some guys. Obviously, the head coach quitting eight games into the season was not part of the plan. I still think they’re a tournament team.

Michigan State


KenPom: 20
Record: 8-2 (2-0)
Confidence: Pretty sure

They have a few good wins already on their resume in Butler, Loyola-Chicago, and Louisville. When you pair that with a 10-10 record in conference play (at worst), I think that’s enough to get them in the field. They’re boring, but I think they’ll be in.

Wisconsin


KenPom: 26
Record: 8-1 (1-0)
Confidence: Pretty sure

I picked Wisconsin to finish 12th in the B1G before the season began, and I could not be more wrong. They’re a tournament team, and Jonathan Davis is a star. Enjoy him while you can, Badger fans, because he’s gone after this season!

Justin: Ten


Connor did a good job breaking down the nine teams that we agree on, so there is really no reason for me to go into much more depth on those since we agree they are tournament teams. I agree on the confidence points to except for Maryland, as I would put them as pretty sure. Talent beats all and they have talent. They will figure it out at least enough to make the 68 team dance.

The only difference I have with teams making the dance is the team I am going out on a limb on and that is Northwestern. I really have liked the way they started the season and like Ohio State, they have done it without one of their top players this season.

Chase Audige is one of the Wildcats top players and he has only played one game thus far. Once he is back and fully a go for Northwestern, they will only get better.

Northwestern has not beaten any fantastic, with their best wins coming against a not so great Georgia team and a slightly imploding Maryland team, but they are 6-2 and have a good chance to move that 10-2 to finish out non conference play. They are currently 36th in KenPom and should be able to move up over next month, not that it truly matters but it is fun.

We will truly learn how good Northwestern is in early January, as they play Michigan State, Penn State, Ohio State, Maryland, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Purdue, Michigan and Illinois to start the new year. That is an unreal schedule and one that can completely take them out of the tournament or be the next step to punching their ticket.

So we will just have to wait and see.

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Ohio State will likely have opt outs for the Rose Bowl. So what?
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Have Olave and Wilson played their last game(s) for Ohio State? As a Buckeye fan and not solely a fan of the 2021 team, I sure hope so. | Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images

Olave, Wilson, and others have a decision to make. A personal, business-oriented decision. They owe us fans nothing, but instead, deserve our respect for what they’ve contributed to as Buckeyes.

Imagine a titan of industry – your industry – approaches you and says, “I am willing to give you millions of dollars, under one condition. That condition is: you quit the job you have right now and come work for me.” What would you do? How long would you need to think about it?

If your first inclination is or was to turn down the offer, would you change your mind under any circumstances? What if this specific industry or profession had a limited shelf life and a relatively short window in which to earn life-changing money? That is essentially the decision Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and a few others are currently facing — albeit with far less risk of alienating their former coworkers and bosses (teammates and coaches).

If Olave and Wilson (“others” are insinuated from here on out) choose to opt out of Ohio State’s Rose Bowl, they are not really quitting on the team. It’s not as if these guys are considering a transfer to TTUN for the CFP. These players would simply be starting preparation for the next stage of their career(s). The relationships formed at OSU, and the achievements and memories made will not be thrown in the trash due a reasonable (and very common) business decision. So if you have a problem with players sitting out bowl games, that’s a “you” problem — not theirs.


Consider the money involved. Trevor Lawrence, picked first overall in the 2021 NFL draft, signed a rookie contract worth $36.8 million. Kadarius Toney (20th overall) signed for $13.7 million, Rich Grant (40th) for $8.3 million, Elijah Molden (100th) for $4.8 million, and Brandin Echols (200th) for $3.7 million. Now, if you follow the NFL, you know that these dollar figures are fake. Theoretical money. The guarantees fall off significantly after the first round, which is why Echols is only guaranteed $174,000 — roughly five percent of the total contract value. All of that being said, the upside is very high for the current Buckeye receivers. They are likely first rounders as it stands today.

Now consider the risk. It is highly unlikely that Olave or Wilson would be “exposed” by Utah. They are two of the best receivers in the country, and they’ve proven it against the toughest competition. But injury risk is something entirely different. If Olave or Wilson were to sprain an ankle or tweak a hammy, no big deal. However, a torn ligament or broken foot could lead to a precipitous drop in their draft stock.

Buckeye fans likely remember Willis McGahee’s severe injury suffered in the 2002 BCS National Championship. He entered the draft immediately after, and was fortunate to only slide down to the 23rd pick. He was projected by some to go top-5 before the injury. A knee injury such as his could have led to him dropping into the third or fourth round, and as previously pointed out, the disparity between picks 5, 10, 20, 40, and beyond is significant.

There is injury risk for football players getting out of bed in the morning, stretching, practicing, or playing in a competitive game – and I don’t foresee any or many players opting out of a title game like McGahee could have – but the Rose Bowl presents risk without the reward of a CFB National Championship.


McGahee nearly had his career ended prematurely during a bowl game. The stakes were much bigger in that Fiesta Bowl, but who could blame a guy for protecting future earning potential?

But maybe Olave and Wilson do stick around for the Rose Bowl. That doesn’t make it a bad business decision either. These players have put in literal blood, sweat, and tears with the program. Ryan Day and his staff (and Urban Meyer before them) built relationships with these guys and helped develop them as football players and men. The brotherhood that Ohio State players speak of will always be there, but this game is potentially the last opportunity Olave and Wilson will have to share the field with their “brothers”.

There is also opportunity to increase their draft stock even more. Olave, in particular, was often the third option in this year’s passing game. He set the OSU record for career touchdown catches, but failed to reach 1,000 yards during the regular season. His name is probably written in pencil in many first-round mock drafts, but an impressive performance in the Rose Bowl could leave a fresh memory in the minds of scouts and coaches. The financial benefit of jumping from 25 to 18 is the cost of a house to you or I.

Wilson’s name has steadily climbed up draft boards in recent months, but a few picks here or there could make a big difference. The New Orleans Saints currently sit at 11, and the Browns are projected to pick 16. Would you rather go to New Orleans with a host of other Buckeyes and Sean Payton, or Cleveland with a putrid quarterback situation? I’m anti-Browns, so no apologies for the shrapnel damage there.

Whether Olave, Wilson, and/or others stick around for the Rose Bowl or leave, they deserve nothing but respect and admiration from Ohio State fans. They have contributed to incredible highs and very few lows during their time(s) in Columbus. Two CFP appearances, at least two Big Ten titles each, and countless other achievements. All of these players, Olave and Wilson being the most prominent ones, will make the right decision for themselves and their families.

Would we love to have the entire active roster for the Rose Bowl? Absolutely. Will we? Maybe, maybe not. But the Buckeyes on the field will represent this program to the best of their ability, and players who opted out will be pulling for them. We should do the same, for all of the above, in all their future endeavors. Go Bucks!

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Buck Off Podcast: Jim Knowles, recruiting for ESD, coaching carousel update
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 Brian Bahr/Getty Images

The guys discuss the impact of the Jim Knowles hiring, give a recruiting update before signing day, and give their thoughts on the most recent hires in the coaching carousel

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,” I am joined, as always, by Jordan Williams to discuss Ohio State’s recent defensive coordinator hire in Jim Knowles and get into some of the other stories surrounding #BuckeyeNation.

We begin the show by talking about Ohio State making the big time move of hiring the biggest name on the coordinator market in Jim Knowles. We discuss how the defense will be philosophically different and schematically different. Then we also discuss the type of person Knowles is given the reaction from his former players. We also discuss his special linebacker positions

Moving forward, we get into a discussion about some of the recent recruiting news in the Sonny Styles reclassification and the Xavier Nwankpa commitment news. This gets us into a discussion about safety depth and potential play time for the young guys coming in. We also discuss the Elias Ricks situation.

After that we discuss recruiting we get into some quick hits with Marcus Freeman hating the Buckeyes and C.J. Stroud’s invite to New York City for the Heisman ceremony. We transition into an early signing day preview and discuss some of the prospects Ohio State is in on and still waiting to hear from.

Our final discussion gets into the two recent big school hires in Brett Venables to Oklahoma and Mario Christobal to Miami. We discuss their fits at the school, what we expect from them, and how we feel their going to fair over the next few years. Then we ask: Do you feel bad for Manny Diaz?

Lastly, we close out the show with our final thoughts from the week and for the offseason.


Connect with the Show
Twitter: @BuckOffPod

Connect with Chris Renne:
Twitter: @ChrisRenneCFB

Connect with Jordan Williams
Twitter: @JordanW330

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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for December 10, 2021
Gene Ross 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...


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

On the Gridiron


Buckeyes Crootin’ 2022 Class-In-Review: Athlete Kye Stokes
- Shane Bailey, LGHL

Three Buckeyes named Walter Camp All-Americans
- Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Tyreke Smith Accepts Invitation To 2022 Senior Bowl
- Andrew Lind, Sports Illustrated

Bears QB Justin Fields set to return against the Packers this weekend
- Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune

What Can Quinn Ewers’ Experience Teach Ohio State About Sonny Styles?
- Tom Orr, Buckeye Scoop

Shout out to former Ohio State punter Cam Johnston, aka Tia’s husband


Film Study: Jim Knowles is a mad scientist and his pass defense reflects that
- Christopher Renne, LGHL

Justin Fields, Dwayne Haskins inspired C.J. Stroud on his path to becoming a Heisman finalist
- Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

CJ Stroud looking forward to Rose Bowl trip
- Patrick Mayhorn, Buckeye Sports Bulletin

College football stat leaders: Top 10 quarterbacks of the 2021 season
- Will Backus, 247Sports

Jordan Fuller Nominated For NFL’s Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award
- Andrew Lind, Sports Illustrated

On the Hardwood


Not Ohio State hoops, but too cool not to post.


Despite fast start, Chris Holtmann, Ohio State knew Towson battle was still coming
- Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Kyle Young continues to expand his game with three-point shooting, ball handling
- Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Justin Ahrens, Kyle Young shoulder scoring load for Buckeyes against Towson
- Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

LGHL Uncut Podcast: Press conference following Ohio State’s 85-74 win over Towson
- Connor Lemons, LGHL

Outside The Shoe and Schott


Men’s Hockey: No. 17 Ohio State gears up for tough test against No. 3 Michigan
- Cameron Shaffer, The Lantern

Wrestling: Buckeyes back home to battle Panthers Sunday
- Ohio State Athletics

It may not have ended how they wanted, but still a great season for the Buckeyes!


Ohio State women’s volleyball falls in the Sweet 16
- Lori Schmidt, The Columbus Dispatch

Women's Tennis: Buckeyes in ITA Rankings following fall season
- Ohio State Athletics

And Now for Something Completely Different


Finally some good news in 2021... (even though its in 2023)


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Buckeyes earn Crystal Balls for multiple defensive line targets
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Caden Curry

Ohio State is looking poised to continue landing elite defensive targets in the recruiting game.

As it has been for the last two weeks, the Ohio State staff was on the road again on Thursday recruiting as the early signing period nears. Now under a week away, the Buckeyes are officially in crunch time as they hope to sign all 18 of their current commits in the 2022 class. More-so, they hope to also add a couple of names to the list as there’s still a few spots up for grabs.

Never a down time for the Buckeyes and their coaching staff, regardless if it’s this close to signing day or just starting the next class, Ohio State keeps the same intensity and pursuit. Having multiple coaches in every corner of the country should say quite a bit, but that’s the kind of effort that leads to winning the battles in these various recruitments. Relationships are many times the deciding factors of recruitments, and that’s where this Ohio State staff specializes. We’ll see soon enough how these efforts have paid off.

Ohio State trending for big time defensive linemen


There may not be a player in the 2022 class that Ohio State has recruited longer than Indiana native, Caden Curry. The Center Grove product is one of the very best defensive linemen in the country, and has long been someone the Buckeyes covet due to his athleticism and versatility. Ranked as the the 14th-best player at his position, Curry is also the 88th-best player nationally per the 247Sports Composite. With multiple state championships under his belt, his offer list, and the many other accolades, it’s clear Curry is certainly one of the top players regardless of position, but specifically a target Ohio State wants and needs for their defensive line haul.

During his recruitment, Ohio State’s relentless pursuit has helped for them to maintain a great position. The track record of defensive line success in Columbus, distance from home, and competing at a national level have all appealed to Curry, and are big reasons why the Buckeyes will be in it until the very end. Earlier this summer in July, Curry named a top five of Oregon, Indiana, Clemson, Alabama, and Ohio State. Zeroing in on it, the two that have really separated themselves from the rest of the pack are the Buckeyes and Crimson Tide down the stretch.

On Thursday, Ohio State was on the receiving end of a Crystal Ball prediction in their favor for Curry. While not the final call by any means, who submits the predictions does shed some light on to how serious the notion is. Fortunately, Director of Recruiting for 247Sports, Steve Wiltfong — who is obviously in the know — made the prediction, and more times than not, a Wiltfong Crystal Ball is a pretty safe bet for where the player ends up.

As we near the end of Curry’s recruitment, there’s enough optimism to believe that this is trending towards Ohio State landing an elite defensive linemen to help reload the position group.

In some more defensive line news, another Crystal Ball prediction was submitted in favor of Ohio State. This time by Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts, the Buckeyes were pegged to land 2023 four-star defensive tackle target, A’mauri Washington.

The 6-foot-4, 295 pound defensive lineman checks in as the 20th-best player at his position and 139th-best player nationally per the 247sports Composite. Interestingly enough, the Buckeyes look to be in early contention here due to a previous relationship with Washington’s prep program, as current receiver commit Kyion Grayes is his teammate at Chandler High School in Arizona.

Quick Hits

• Current 2022 quarterback commit Devin Brown had his All-American Bowl jersey presentation on Thursday. One of the more impressive accolades a prep player can receive, Brown will join many more of the nation’s top recruits in the contest and carry on the tradition of several future Ohio State players suiting up in high school all-star games.

• As mentioned, the Buckeyes were on the road yesterday and made their presence known in Texas when they made a stop at Duncanville High School. Surely there to check in on Omari Abor, Ohio State is right at the top of the list of schools he is considering as he gets closer to committing. The nation’s fourth-best edge rusher, Abor is also the 38th-best player nationally and one of the few remaining targets the coaching staff is after in 2022.

• Four-star 2022 edge rusher Jihaad Campbell de-committed from Clemson on Thursday in the wake of Brent Venables’ departure. The Buckeyes were included in Campbell original top five schools, and the IMG Academy product used one of his official visits to check out Ohio State earlier this summer. Surely Ryan Day and Larry Johnson will try for a second chance with the nation’s No. 9 edge talent and No. 78 player overall in the cycle.

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Buckeyes Crootin’ 2022 Class-In-Review: Athlete Kye Stokes
Shane Bailey via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo Credit: Lettermen Row

In this series, Shane “@BuckeyesCrootin” Bailey will introduce you to every member of the Ohio State 2022 recruiting class.

With all of the offensive commitments scouted and analyzed, we are now moving on to the defense — the side of the ball subject to lots of criticism the past few years, and still to this day after a less than ideal end to the regular season in which I am still coping.

An infusion of defensive talent is needed once again for the 2022 recruiting class, and so far this group is shaping up to have a ton of potential future All-Americans that can possibly earn their way on to the field sooner than most think.

With the addition of Jim Knowles to the staff here in Columbus, the Buckeyes will really be getting the full potential out of their players here.

Current Defensive Commitments


Edge: Kenyatta Jackson Jr.
Defensive Tackles: None
Linebackers: C.J. Hicks, Gabe Powers
Defensive Backs: Terrance Brooks, Jyaire Brown, Ryan Turner, Sonny Styles and Kye Stokes


Kye Stokes

Athlete —Armwood High School, Seffner (Florida) — 6-foot-2, 185 lbs


On to one of the last currently committed defensive prospect headed to Columbus next season, Florida athlete Kye Stokes. Stokes is listed as an athlete per the 247Sports database as he has played WR, CB, and S for his school. He is ranked as the No. 350 prospect nationally, the No. 16 Athlete, and the No. 46 prospect in the state of Florida by the 247Sports Composite. He looks to be playing defensive back here at Ohio State, and I believe he can be a great safety for the Buckeyes.

Stokes has elite athleticism and is a fast rangy safety prospect that can really be that centerfielder Ohio State needs. Many Buckeye fans have lamented the play of the safeties this season, and that is not entirely on the players, as we all know there have been some coaching deficiencies there as well. However, Stokes is the exact type of player Buckeye fans have been clamoring for. He is someone that has played offense and defense, so he has elite ball skills as well as tracking ability when the ball is in the air. He runs a sub-11 second 100 meter dash, and every bit of that speed is needed to be able to cover sideline to sideline as the single-high deep safety.

He is a very effective tackler and is not afraid to take on ball carriers that have 20 lbs on him. If you wanna see evidence he is not afraid to come up and make a tackle in the run game, check out the 2:15 mark of the tape below. Also goes to show the fire he brings to his teammates on the big hits. Great form and a lot of power in his drive through his tackles as well.

When I say he is a physical player, I also mean he can cover any player the offense throws at him and not get bullied around. Whether its a running back out of the backfield, the wide receivers, or the tight end, he can cover them all. You can see evidenced in his highlight tape below, he can really make the opposition regret coming over the middle of the field. He has a great defensive IQ and also makes smart football plays by the dozens, for instance standing up ball carriers and perfecting the Peanut Punch (for those who do not know the Peanut Punch) playstyle that always aims to force the turnover.

He does a great job of reading the eyes of the quarterback and really just playing centerfield and being a ball hawk. Obviously nobody will be Malik Hooker, but that's the type of range he shows on his tape. He makes quick cuts in breaking towards the ball on interceptions and the first two plays in the tape below you can see his ability to run after the catch when making an interception.

At the 1:10 mark of the tape he exhibits the ability to play off-ball on the receiver, flip his hips and run with him into the endzone and makes a great play picking off the pass. He has elite awareness in man coverage, and the athletic ability to cover deep halves or the entire field deep in zone coverage. If you see at 1:50, it is almost as if he runs the route better than even the opposing player and knows the pass is coming from the second the ball is snapped, resulting in an interception that takes the ball deep into the opponents redzone.


He will line up all over the place in Armwoods’ defensive backfield, covering in the slot corner position, the deep safety role, on the ball and off the ball. He is a swiss army knife of dastardly defensive deviousness. With Jim Knowles now taking over the Buckeyes defense, it remains to be seen just how much the personnel will change as far as what happens with the Bullet position, what defensive front will he be lining up in, etc. Based on history, it appears he likes to run a 4-2-5 defense as well, but mixes up coverages immensely and is very aggressive and likes to throw blitzes from all over the field. This will also play to Stokes strength as an elite athlete who can blitz the quarterback.

In the Knowles’ defense, he treats third downs as an entirely different animal. The variety I have seen on tape that he throws at the opposing offense is astounding to be quite honest. It will require versatile players to be able to move around and accommodate some of the more exotic blitzes he likes to use. Stokes is made for this, as I stated he has lined up all over the field and is the true definition of the “Athlete” designation on 247Sports. Open field tackling is going to be crucial in this type of defense, and I see nothing on tape that suggests Stoke will have any trouble translating this part of his game to the next level.

I came away from writing this article much more optimistic about having a true centerfield safety in this class who can cover the deep part of the field, as it seemed to be something lacking in Columbus. I think Stokes will outplay his ranking once he gets the coaching he will receive at Ohio State, and can be the ball hawk we have missed since Malik Hooker was in the defensive backfield ruining the opposing quarterbacks’ day.

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