Ohio State virtually visits with four-star small forward
Dan Hessler 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 Buckeyes reportedly played virtual host to a 2022 basketball prospect

Chris Holtmann and the Basketball Buckeyes have shown no signs of slowing down when it comes to recruiting despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ohio State recently added its newest commitment when the No. 1 recruit in Ohio, Malaki Branham, became the third member of its 2021 recruiting class. The addition boosted the Buckeyes to the No. 4 team in the 247Sports Recruiting Rankings.

However, Holtmann and the Buckeyes coaching staff are not solely focusing on the 2021 class. Over the weekend, it was reported that the team virtually met with 2022 small forward Trae Clayton (DeSoto, TX/Waxahachie Faith Family Academy).


Despite just two seasons of high school ball under his belt, Clayton already holds scholarship offers from multiple schools, including Nebraska, Texas, TCU and others. The Buckeyes have not yet offered the 6-foot-5 hooper, but that could change following the recent virtual meeting.

Clayton would make for an excellent addition alongside three-star Ohio State SG commit, Bowen Hardman.

Ohio State has some groundwork to make up here, especially if it is serious about getting him to commit further from home than some of the more local schools that have already offered the Texas native. However, in his short time leading the helm of the basketball Buckeyes, Holtmann has proven to be just as good virtually recruiting as he is the more traditional way.

Clayton is the No. 22 SF in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and the No. 100 overall prospect in the 2022 class.

Future Buckeyes listed in MaxPreps top recruits list


MaxPreps recently released a list of the top high school football player from each state, and future Buckeyes were littered throughout. Below are the Ohio State commits representing the Scarlet and Gray as the top recruit in their perspective state:

Four-star CB Jakailin Johnson


Class: 2021
Hometown: Saint Louis, MO/DeSmet
Recruitment Status: committed to Ohio State

Five-star DE Jack Sawyer


Class: 2021
Hometown: Pickerington, OH/Pickerington North
Recruitment Status: committed to Ohio State

Five-star QB Kyle McCord


Class: 2021
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA/St. Joseph’s
Recruitment Status: committed to Ohio State

Five-star RB TreVeyon Henderson


Class: 2021
Hometown: Hopewell, VA/Hopewell
Recruitment Status: committed to Ohio State

Five-star WR Emeka Egbuka


Class: 2021
Hometown: Stellacoom, WA/Stellacoom
Recruitment Status: has Ohio State among top schools

Quick Hits:

• Recent Ohio State four-star DB commit Jordan Hancock announced he will opt out of his senior season of high school football. The nation’s No. 5 corner in the 2021 class cited family health concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic as the primary reason for his decision.

• Late Monday night, Ohio State sent out a scholarship offer to five-star athlete Keon Sabb. The 6-foot-3 New Jersey native is the No. 1 athlete in the 2022 class, and the No. 8 player in the cycle overall. Already holding over 28 offers this early in the game, Sabb is clearly a highly sought after prospect. He projects as a defensive back at the next level, and so Kerry Coombs will likely look to work his magic in this recruitment.

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Buckeye Bits: Ohio State commit Jordan Hancock sitting out his senior season, no fans in the Shoe, more
Tia Johnston via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Twitter via @jordanhancock_7
All of the latest Ohio State news from around the beat and beyond.

I am happy to report that there’s finally...a lot to report! Things are happening in the sports-world, and there will likely be even bigger news coming later this week when the Big Ten announces its plans for the 2020 season. Until then, keep scrolling for everything you may have missed over the weekend, including some updates on a few of Ohio State’s biggest 2021 commits, the newest plans for fans in the stands, the Pac-12 players’ ultimatum and more.

From around Land-Grant Holy Land...


Column: Why Notre Dame needs the ACC to save its own brand

Meredith Hein, LGHL

In her column this week, Meredith talks all things marketing (which happens to be her day job), including the decline of Notre Dame’s brand over the years. What was once one of the most powerful brands in all of sports, The Fighting Irish have lost significant brand equity in recent years, now living in the shadows of the likes of Ohio State, Alabama, USC, Texas and Oklahoma.

Meredith attributes many reasons to the demise of ND’s brand— the main one being the fact that they’re the odd one out of college football, which has been made especially obvious due to this year’s conference-only scheduling in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Notre Dame has opted to play in the ACC this year, and if they were to remain in the conference indefinitely, Meredith notes that it would give them the opportunity to regain some brand equity by reaching a new audience and by winning some conference titles.

Sleepers of the Room: Don’t count Gunnar Hoak out for the backup job

Tia Johnston, LGHL

Ohio State’s quarterback room is full of talent this season. With Justin Fields at the helm and a freshman duo in CJ Stroud and Jack Miller battling each other for the starting job next season, it’s easy to overlook the other QB in the room— Gunnar Hoak, who will likely be playing many a fourth quarter this season.

Ohio State offers Georgia commit over the weekend

Gene Ross, LGHL

Lots of recruiting updates in this morning’s State Secrets, including Ohio State’s latest offer to a 2023 athlete, a commitment from the nation’s No. 2 OLB and the five recruits who could be next to commit.

From around the gridiron...


State order prohibits fans at Ohio State, Bengals, Browns games

Garrett Stepien, Bucknuts

A new order was signed in Ohio on Aug. 1, which allows sports to continue...sans fans. This applies to the state’s NFL and college football teams, and will remain the case until Gov. DeWine’s state of emergency is no longer in effect.

*pretends to be shocked*


Looming questions as Buckeyes, Big Ten face critical-decisions week

Austin Ward, Lettermen Row

We’ve heard from just about every other Power Five conference regarding their schedules and plans for the upcoming season....except the Big Ten. The B1G’s commissioner, Kevin Warren, hinted that the league would announce on Wednesday whether or not teams can start full practices on Friday (Aug 7) as originally planned, which means it will also need provide the teams with some type of schedule and glimpse into their plans.

Austin lists some other questions that we should get answers to this week, including: Will any Ohio State players opt out? And how will Ryan Day tweak practice schedules/training groups?


Ohio State commit Jordan Hancock sitting out 2020 season

Steve Wiltfong, 247Sports

2021 cornerback Jordan Hancock will not be playing his senior season of high school football. Both of his parents are at-risk individuals, and Hancock wants to limit his face-to-face contact with other people so as not to bring home the virus. He has already informed Day of his decision.

Hancock is the No. 4 cornerback and No. 40 prospect overall in the 2021 class.


TreVeyon Henderson, Evan Pryor Named to SI All-American Top-10 List at Running Back

Adam Prescott, BuckeyesNow

A pair of future Ohio State running backs were selected to the Sports Illustrated All-American Watch List Top 10. TreVeyon Henderson tops the list and Evan Pryor is No. 4.

Henderson is the No. 1 running back in the 2021 class and Pryor is the No. 2 all purpose back.


Everything that makes Ohio State QB Justin Fields an ideal Heisman Trophy candidate: Buckeye Take

Doug Lesmerises, cleveland.com

Well for starters, he was a Heisman Trophy candidate last season so....

Lesmerises names a few more valid reasons why the stud Buckeye QB will likely be in the running for the trophy again this season, including the edge he has over Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence, and how he compares to past Heisman winners.


OSU staffer Justin Perez creates GoFundMe for son with cancer

Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

The Ohio State Assistant Director of Player Personnel, Justin Perez, learned this summer that his six-year-old son, Peyton, has been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a blood and bone marrow cancer that affects the white blood cells. The Perez family is now facing more than three years of chemotherapy and hospitalizations for their son.

If you can, please consider donating to their GoFundMe page, where they hope to raise $40,000 to help cover the cost of Peyton’s treatments. You can do so here.


Trey Sermon doubles up.


Ohio State running back Trey Sermon—who wore No. 4 during his three years at Oklahoma—will wear No. 8 as a Buckeye.

From everywhere else...


Let’s check in on the PAC 12.


Over the weekend, a group of Pac-12 football players from multiple schools put a letter in The Players’ Tribune threatening to opt out of fall camp and the 2020 college football season unless a list of demands were met by the conference. The demands included in that list (among many others) are as follows:

1. Better health and safety precautions, such as allowing players not to play during the pandemic without losing athletics eligibility or their spot on the roster
2. Conference commissioner Larry Scott, administrators, and coaches to voluntarily and drastically reduce excessive pay in order to help preserve existing sports.
3. End racial injustice in college sports and society. Players want to form a permanent civic-engagement task force made up of our leaders and experts of their choice to address outstanding issues when it comes to racism.
4. Guaranteed medical expense coverage for sports-related medical conditions, including COVID-19 illness, to cover six years after college athletics eligibility ends.
5. Fair market pay, rights, and freedoms, including the right to earn money from their name, image and likeness

The group is reported to include hundreds of Pac 12 football players, and while the group realizes that many of these demands will take time to negotiate, the coronavirus-related asks remain the top priority for the group.

In my personal opinion, all of this stuff should have been done a long time ago, and while most of these demands will likely not be granted, I’m happy to see college athletes discovering the power they have over the coaches/directors/commissioners/administrators who profit off of their talents.


Report: Washington State players who support Pac-12 movement ‘released from team’

John Taylor, NBC Sports

Gotta agree with the first sentence in this article: “This is not a good look for Washington State or first-year head football coach Nick Rolovich. At all.”


According to Taylor, Washington State has not addressed these claims, nor have they even attempted to clarify the allegations which, quite frankly, tells us (and recruits) all we need to know about Rolovich.


Jashon Cornell signs rookie deal with Detroit Lions

Jaylon Thompson, 247Sports

Good news! Former Ohio State defensive tackle Jashon Cornell agreed to his rookie deal with the Detroit Lions after being selected as a seventh-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Cornell recorded 30 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks last season with Buckeyes.


Bad news! Steelers released J.T. Barrett.


The Steelers waived the former Buckeye quarterback, along with seven other players on Sunday. Barrett signed to the Steelers’ practice squad last Dec. 24, then signed to a reserve/futures contract six days later.

The Steelers were Barrett’s third NFL organization in his first two seasons.


Odell is skeptical.


The Pac 12 players aren’t the only ones speaking out about their discomfort playing football this season. In fact, Cleveland Browns WR Odell Beckham Jr. told The Wall Street Journal that he wouldn’t mind not having a season at all. However, it was later reported that his comments were made before seeing the Browns’ facilities and the safety precautions they’ve put in place, and Beckham is now not expected to opt out.

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Column: Why Notre Dame needs the ACC to save its own brand
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
A decline in brand equity means a necessary shift in strategy.

The concept of sports franchises and teams as brands has been bubbling subtly under the surface of many of the conversations surrounding sports this summer, both in light of COVID-19 and systemic racism in the U.S. Obviously it’s not of primary, secondary or even tertiary concern, but it is interesting to consider how this underlying and oft unrecognizable brand loyalty has worked against progressing toward a better future in sports.

The most obvious example was the conversation surrounding the Washington Football Team’s (formerly Redskins’) long-overdue name change this summer. How many people did you hear say “they’ve always been the Redskins. What’s the big deal?” What these folks are really saying is they identify with a brand and branding that’s remained static almost since its founding — at least when it comes to naming, logo and traditions.

Then there’s the consideration of no fans in stadiums. Yeah, that’s a huge bummer for a lot of reasons (so wear your masks, people), but there’s also the subtle component of fanbases contributing to sports brands, and how maybe a less-than-full Ohio Stadium wouldn’t feel like an Ohio State game at all. There’s a reason the NBA invested in building a digital fan base for its return to basketball bubble.

I could go on for hours. Really, I could: My day job is in marketing. The discussion around branding in sports is fascinating, in particular because of the brand loyalty it evokes. Consider the fire that comes to each of your bellies when you see a fellow Ohio State fan in Disney World (not now, obviously) or the irrational rage you feel when you witness someone in maize and blue with the AUDACITY to be walking down High Street.

Which obviously begs the question: Where is the brand equity for these teams built? For Ohio State, we have visuals and associations that build symbolism. For example, as an Ohio State fan, what do you associate the colors “scarlet and gray” with? How do you feel about a man with a giant light-and-dark brown nut for a head? Is “horseshoe” a game or a place? These parts have been drilled into our conscience for years by watching the Buckeyes play on TV, living in Columbus and seeing flags everywhere, and going to Graeter’s and getting Buckeye Blitz ice cream, ultimately building the aforementioned associations.

These components also build loyalty and a community around that loyalty, because brands can be badges you use to express yourself (looking at you, Apple people). You might think you are just wearing your Woody Hayes classic black Ohio State hat because it looks cool, but you’re also linking back to the symbolism it expresses and projecting that as an indication of who you are.

Which brings us to why this topic is interesting and relevant now. If we were to build a Mount Rushmore of college football brands, there is a limited set of the 130 FBS teams who would even be marked for consideration for inclusion in those coveted spots. My personal bias aside, few could argue against including Ohio State as one of those brands (my Michigan fan husband agrees). Alabama surely tops the list in the SEC, while USC, Texas and Oklahoma also have strong arguments in their favor. Schools like Florida, Michigan, Clemson, Miami, Florida State, Nebraska and a slew of others are firmly on that second tier.

Because I know I’m ruffling a lot of feathers, I want to clarify that when I’m talking about a “brand” in this sense, I’m not actually talking about who is good and bad at football. I’m talking about those associations I mentioned earlier - the recognition, for example, of a Michigan fan from a mile away because of that distinct and horrid color scheme, or of a Browns fan for an equally distinct yet warm, kind and inviting palate (am I being biased here?), or of Nebraska’s block N, Florida’s gator or the longhorn logo of Texas. For the teams mentioned above, those associations are strong to the point that particular shades of blue and yellow - just colors on a palate - suddenly mean something when put together.

Back to the topic at hand. You’ll notice there is a notable absence from the top tier; a team so fiercely independent and yet so inconsequential that it’s managed to fall from grace.

Yep. It’s Notre Dame.

Once among the most powerful brands in sports, Notre Dame has lost significant brand equity in recent years. We could cite the decline of the influence of the Catholic church in the U.S. as a factor in reducing the reach of the historically Catholic university as a brand. Contributing to the decline in reach, and the crux of this column, is also the fact Notre Dame remained and, after 2020, could return to being an independent. In fact, the Fighting Irish have built their brand equity on being so inherently sought after and worthwhile that they were above being part of a mere conference like these other mere mortal football programs.

So how has this brand impacted the Fighting Irish on the field?

Ohio State doesn’t win a national championship every year, but it sure as heck vies for and wins most conference championships in the Big Ten. Teams in the Power-5 are similar, in that even if they don’t win the Playoff, which only one team can win in a given season, they have chances to win conferences or divisions or boast conference players of the year.

A real area where these banners have impact is in recruiting. The consideration set for recruits isn’t limited to CFP teams, but for top recruits, it is often limited to those schools who compete year in and year out to win something - like a conference title. That’s why Ohio State crushes Michigan in recruiting every year. That’s why James Franklin has Penn State creeping up the recruiting rankings in recent years.

Notre Dame? Not in the top 10 in recruiting. In fact, Notre Dame hasn’t had a higher than 10th-ranked recruiting class since 2013 (fifth) — the year after the Irish’s embarrassing loss to Bama in the BCS title game.

Notre Dame recruits like the third or fourth best team in the Big Ten. In fact, if they were in the Big Ten, they would have been in fourth place, just ahead of Nebraska, in 2020. When you’re not getting the talent to play for a national title and you don’t have any conference banners to hang your hat on, the recruiting pitch tends to fall back on history. The problem with that strategy is that Notre Dame’s most recent national title was in 1988. Their most recent Heisman winner (Tim Brown) won the trophy in 1987.

Of course, the Irish football team is not helped by the stringent academic standards which might keep out a four- or five-star recruit — one who would otherwise attend Ohio State or Michigan.

There’s also an impact of this independence on scheduling. Unlike Power-5 teams, who are something of known entities and whose schedules can be generally racked and stacked by the end of a given season, Notre Dame remains a mystery. The Irish boast of their standing rivalries - USC, Navy, Stanford - and their other scheduling nuances which pit the Irish against many Power-5 schools year in and year out, but the fact is that teams like Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State have to play teams like Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State for nine weeks of the year. (Maybe even 10! We’ll see how this season goes I guess). It’s not hard to recognize that, on the whole, Ohio State, Clemson, Alabama and any other Power-5 team that wins its conference has played a more challenging schedule than the hodge-podge Notre Dame puts forth every season.

This equity, built on independence, on panache, on being the top destination for recruits in the midwest, has not kept up with the times. The rest of college football consolidated, leaving the Fighting Irish on the outskirts. The squeaky wheel lost a lot of what credibility it had remaining when it fell to Clemson in the CFP in 2018.

You’ll notice that, at the outset, I said that the brand wasn’t about who was good and who was bad at football, but that those points are what I’m arguing have been the downfall of Notre Dame. For comparison, consider Nebraska: another great college football brand who was also last good decades ago. Nebraska was sitting in a floundering Big 12 conference before shifting to the Big Ten, building a new market of rivals (cough, Iowa) and growing its brand recognition to a new region of the country. Nebraska hasn’t won any more national titles, but the Huskers made an appearance in a Big Ten Championship game and have continued to extend their brand rather than losing equity by remaining in the Big 12.

It took a global pandemic that threatened the college football season for Notre Dame to recognize the financial disaster awaiting its programs. While other conferences quickly made the jump to conference-only seasons, the Fighting Irish became the odd team out. Even the service academies, with two independents in Army and Navy, were guaranteed a couple games in 2020.

If it chose to remain in the ACC, Notre Dame would have the opportunity to regain some brand equity by reaching a new base and possibly even by winning some games and conference titles. But they’d have to rethink the fundamentals of what’s built their equity - since being a fiercely independent being is what led to its shrinking influence in the first place.

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Sleepers of the Room: Don’t count Gunnar Hoak out for the backup job
Tia Johnston via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images
Experience and seniority gives the redshirt senior an edge in the backup QB battle

Now that we’ve addressed the leaders of each group on Ohio State’s roster, it’s time to take a look at the guys that just might surprise us this season—the guys who tend to fly under the radar, but carry immense potential.

To begin, we’ll start with one of the most reputable and, arguably, one of the most important positions on the roster: The Backup Quarterback.

As Buckeye fans, we know all too well the impact a backup quarterback can have on a game, hell, an entire season. I probably don’t have to remind you of the 2014 quarterback saga, but I’ll give you the SparksNotes version just in case. Backup quarterback J.T. Barrett became the team’s starter in the blink of an eye after Braxton Miller suffered a season-ending injury eight days before the first game. A few months later, Barrett went down early in the fourth quarter of the Michigan game, leaving the rest of Ohio State’s national championship run in the hands of their third-string QB, Cardale Jones. You know the rest.

Then there’s the infamous Kenny Guiton, who did the impossible against Purdue in 2012 after Miller was carted off the field. Guiton had to go 61 yards for the touchdown AND get the two-point conversion to tie the game, all within 47 seconds. He did just that, and then went on to win the game in overtime.

And most recently, when Barrett injured his knee (again) during the third quarter against Michigan in 2017, it was redshirt freshman Dwayne Haskins who took over, completing six of his seven pass attempts for 94 yards, and making his case for the starting job the following season.

However, last season is when I think we all really felt the importance of having a reliable backup QB. Justin Fields went down in the third quarter against Michigan (I think it’s safe to assume Ohio State will probably need their backup in the second half of every Michigan game) after aggravating a sprained MCL injury. Sure, he was out for all of three minutes, but for those long (so...so long) three minutes, the fate of Ohio State’s season fell right into Chris Chugonov’s lap. In that moment, we all prayed for a Guiton/Barrett/Jones/Haskins performance to occur.

I don’t know about you, but I wasn’t exactly confident in Chugonov’s ability to lead us through the playoffs, but then again I was pretty skeptical about Jones, too. While Chug never got the chance to prove us all wrong, the lesson to be learned is this: Ohio State should have a damn good QB2 ready to go every. single. year.

And luckily, we just might have that this fall, as this season’s quarterback room is the deepest it’s been in quite sometime. Lined up behind Fields is redshirt senior Gunnar Hoak, and the highly acclaimed freshmen, CJ Stroud and Jack Miller.

Stroud and Miller have certainly been the headline grabbers since they arrived in Columbus in January. Not only are they each battling Hoak for the backup job, but they’re also in the mix to become Field’s successor in 2021.

Stroud was a five-star, No. 41 overall prospect and No. 2 pro-style QB in his class. He threw for nearly 6,500 yards in 35 games at Rancho Cucamonga, Cali., completing just under 63 percent of his passes with 70 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, earning him Elite 11 MVP honors.

Miller was a four-star recruit who, due to injury, dropped to No. 334 overall during his final year of high school. Miller threw for just under 9,500 yards in 38 games at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Ariz. He completed over 56 percent of his passes and totaled 115 touchdowns with 31 interceptions.

So yeah, they deserve all the hype, and I make the argument as to why one of them could easily snag the QB2 spot at some point in the season here.

But if Fields goes down early in the season, I don’t think it’s Stroud’s or Miller’s name Ryan Day will be calling— not when there’s another guy on the list who’s had a full year to study the playbook, along with four years of experience in the Power Five.

Hoak — a Dublin, Ohio-native and the only other returning scholarship quarterback besides Fields — spent three years at Kentucky before graduate transferring to Ohio State last summer. Hoak served as Ohio State’s third-string quarterback behind Fields and Chugunov last season, and took advantage of every opportunity he was given. He completed all six of his pass attempts for 104 yards and one touchdown.

Before they were cancelled, this year’s spring practices were supposed to serve as the big stage for Hoak, allowing him to show off his experience and understanding of the playbook—something he has over Stroud and Miller. However one could also say that the lack of in-person practices gives Hoak somewhat of an edge in the backup battle. Sure, he could have benefited from spring practice, but as freshmen, those reps are even more crucial for Stroud and Miller to get acclimated to the increased speed and intensity of the college game.

Now, as game one approaches, the two freshmen have spent minimal time with their coaches and teammates, having to learn most of the playbook virtually, while Hoak is well-versed in the system, is accustomed to the college game, has practiced with most of the receiving unit already and is without question the most reliable option on the depth chart right now.

Maybe as the season progresses, Stroud or Miller get in the swing of things and inch their way past Hoak, but it’s always hard to look past the veteran. As Hoak is approaching his final year of college eligibility, it could be his most important one yet.

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Ohio State offers Georgia commit over the weekend
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Trinity Christian Academy athlete Treyaun Webb | Andrew Ivins, 247Sports
Catching you up with the latest Buckeye recruiting news from the past few days

Ryan Day and the rest of the Ohio State staff are making sure the team stays loaded with talent for years to come. Still looking to close out the 2021 class strong and finish with the No. 1 group in the nation, the Buckeyes have been hard at work scouting talent in both the 2022 and 2023 cycles. Recruiting never stops, and at a powerhouse program like the one that resides in Columbus, you must always be a step ahead of the competition to remain at the top.

On Saturday, the team sent out its latest offer to a member of the 2023 class, reaching out to Georgia commit Treyaun Webb. The Florida native announced the offer via his Twitter page.


Webb, an athlete out of Trinity Christian Academy, has been committed to the Bulldogs since November of last year. The 6-foot, 188-pound standout now holds over 36 different offers from nearly all of the nation’s top programs, including the likes of Alabama, Florida, LSU, Oklahoma, Penn State and obviously Georgia. With his primary recruiter being Tony Alford, the Buckeyes likely see him as a running back at the next level.

Ohio State has been busy early on in the 2023 class when it comes to the talent-rich Florida area. According to 247Sports, the Buckeyes currently have eight offers out in the cycle, and five of those are from the Sunshine State. In addition to Webb, the program has offered a trio of Florida offensive tackles in Payton Kirkland, TJ Shanahan, and Clay Wedin in addition to defensive end Derrick LeBlanc.

Ratings for the 2023 have not yet been released, so we will have to wait and see where these guys stack up with the rest of the class. However, you know if Ohio State is offering players that are currently high school sophomores, they will likely be pretty high up the list.

Quick Hits

• On Sunday, Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts dropped a list of five recruits he thinks could be the next to commit to Ohio State, regardless of current class standing. At the top of the list was 2022 linebacker Dasan McCullough. The nation’s No. 7 athlete and No. 69 player overall, McCullough has flirted with the Buckeyes for quite a while now, and just this past Thursday received a Crystal Ball to OSU from 247Sports director of recruiting Steve Wiltfong with a confidence of seven.

Here he is reacting to the commitment of Gabe Powers on Saturday:

• Oh yea, in case you somehow missed it, Ohio State got a commitment from the nation’s No. 2 OLB on Saturday. Powers, the No. 1 player in Ohio in 2022, chose the Buckeyes out of 18 different scholarship offers, including Kentucky, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State and others. Powers’ commitment, the fourth in the class, gave OSU the No. 2 group in the cycle thus far, trailing only LSU (who has five total commits).

• A big reason for Ohio State’s early success in 2022? Look no further than C.J. Hicks, who has taken on the role as “Captain Buckeye” in his relentless pursuit of adding talent to his class. Between Hicks’ efforts in 2022 and TreVeyon Henderson’s in 2021, Ryan Day’s job gets just a little bit easier as his recruits continue to do work on the trail themselves.

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BOOOOM! 2022 four-star OLB Gabe Powers 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

Photo via @GabePowers21 on Twitter
The Buckeyes added the nation’s No. 2 OLB on Saturday.

The one potential flaw in the absolutely loaded 2021 recruiting class is the lack of depth at the linebacker spot. It’s hard to find much to complain about in terms of the nation’s No. 1 class, but especially with all three of the current starting linebackers graduating at the end of the season, Day and position coach Al Washington knew that linebacker would be a big need looking ahead to 2022.

They’ve now addressed that need in a huge way already, as 2022 four-star OLB Gabe Powers committed to Ohio State on Saturday. Powers, an incredibly important in-state prospect as the No. 1 player in Ohio, is the No. 2 OLB in the country and the No. 45 player overall according to the 247Sports Composite.


Powers was raised in a football family, with his father Mike a member of the Marysville staff and a former college football player himself. A middle linebacker prior to his sophomore year, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound athlete played outside linebacker this past season, compiling 90 tackles for the Monarchs. Powers has trained with a pair of former Buckeyes this offseason, both with Olympic gold medal sprinter Butch Reynolds and former OSU corner Donald Washington.

Powers has long been linked to Ohio State, with all six of his Crystal Ball predictions having been in favor of OSU. Two of these predictions rolled in late Friday night with the announcement that Powers would be making his decision on Saturday, and just this past Thursday 247Sports director of recruiting Steve Wiltfong upgraded the confidence of his prediction from a six to a 10.

Holding over 18 scholarship offers, the Buckeyes beat out some of the nation’s top programs, including Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, Stanford and USC. Powers had previously wanted to take his official visits before coming to a decision, but came to the conclusion that he already knew where he wanted to go, so there was no reason to wait any further. He attended two Ohio State games last season, appearing in The Shoe for their wins over Michigan State and Penn State.

Powers is the fourth member of Ohio State’s 2022 class, and the highest-rated of the bunch. He joins a trio of other four-star prospects in corner Jyaire Brown, fellow OLB C.J. Hicks, and offensive tackle Tegra Tshabola. Between Powers and Hicks, who is the No. 8 OLB in the cycle, the Buckeyes are off to a phenomenal start in their quest to sign what will likely be either three or four linebackers next year.

Most impressively, Ryan Day has now been able to haul in four of the top five players from the state of Ohio in 2022 — after getting five of the top six guys in 2021. Did I mention it’s only August? The now second-year head coach has made in-state recruiting a priority early on in his tenure, and so far it is paying dividends. With Powers’ commitment, Ohio State has gotten the top player in Ohio for the fourth consecutive cycle.

Check out these highlights of the newest future Buckeye in action this past season:

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ScriptOhio said:

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PAYNE’S FAMILY CONFUSED BY MICHIGAN’S SILENCE
In Michigan, there seems to be a major disconnect between in-state players and the Wolverines coaching staff.

That’s even more under the spotlight following Rainer Sabin’s story in the Detroit Free Press that detailed the mystery a lack of communication between the Michigan coaches and Damon Payne, the No. 1 player in the state of Michigan who is a five-star prospect ranked No. 1 at defensive tackle and No. 14 overall.

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Payne committed to Alabama in July, but Michigan seems to have pulled itself out of the race, writes Sabin:

Bewilderment is detected in his voice. Disappointment is heard, too. Over the phone, Damon Payne Sr. recalled how the Michigan football program he has always rooted for suddenly stopped recruiting his son, the gifted five-star defensive tackle and newly minted Alabama commitment, Damon Jr.

“I don’t know what happened. I have no idea,” he said. “If you can dig and investigate and find out why, let me know.”

More from Sabin’s report:

“It sounds weird. I totally get it,” he said. “As a parent, me and my wife and my son haven’t heard from them. I can’t go into detail and say why.”

He just simply doesn’t have an explanation. But Payne Sr. wondered if it may have had something to do with the tense relationship that has developed between his son’s coach at Belleville High School, Jermain Crowell, and Michigan. Based on his own experience, Payne said Crowell never tried to steer him away from the Wolverines.

“He never discouraged us or any other kids, ‘Don’t go to Michigan,’” Payne Sr. said. “I haven’t witnessed ill-will toward Michigan from him.”

The Wolverines have the luxury of having one of the best cycles the state has ever produced, with five players ranked in the top 80 overall.

If they can land Rocco Spindler on Saturday, and if they can land Donovan Edwards, that will go a monumental way to getting them back into being competitive against Ohio State. Until that happens, The Game could be a mismatch for the foreseeable future.

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This recruitment is a clear example of why scUM is so far from OSU as a football program. No way would Meyer or Day not put up a fight trying to land the top player in OH, regardless of the relationship with the coach, you find a way to mend that or have an assistant try and mend it. I couldn't fathom giving up recruiting a kid lime Jack Sawyer and letting a team like Bama get him. Inexcusable, but ill enjoy the continued domination

DaddyBigBucks said:

I've always said you're the smartest guy on the board

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or at least in the top 50%

Jaxbuck said:

Give a free lottery scratch-off ticket to the hunter for every snake they bring in.

Those things will be gone from Florida inside of 30 days.

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FIFY

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Power 5 Leaders Exploring Possibility of Staging Their Own Fall Sports Championships

The NCAA Board of Governors is expected to decide the fate of fall sports championships—except for FBS football—on Tuesday.

In anticipation of the NCAA Board of Governors potentially canceling or postponing fall sports championships, Power 5 conference leaders have begun exploring the possibility of staging their own championships in those affected sports, multiple sources have told Sports Illustrated. This could be seen as a first step toward a long-theorized breakaway from the NCAA by the 65 schools that play college sports at the highest level.

The Board of Governors, comprised primarily of university presidents and chancellors from all levels of the NCAA, has a meeting scheduled for Tuesday. At that time it is expected to make a decision on the fate of fall sports championships other than FBS football, which has a championship outside the NCAA structure. However, the board also could delay action until later in August.

Not certain what kind of roofing is popular in PA, but would suggest you not go with a 'gypo' roofer. Whomever you select, make certain you see their liability/workers comp insurance certificate. Without one, and someone takes a tumble off your roof, you're holding the proverbial 'bag' for medical costs. Here in Cali (in Valley), we have 50+ daily swings in temperature. A composit shingle lasts 35 years, with no worries. Very water tight as well. Good luck.

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The losses to Clemson, it's the curse of "Charlie Bauman"......

bigdog3300 said:

I just ate a very delicious and simple PB&J for lunch after a couple days of turkey/cheddar/ketchup.

But you know what, I feel like I need to expand my lunch sandwich boundaries.

Anyone have any unique combinations to explore? Blow my mind.

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$350 PB&J on Menu at Upcoming West Loop Restaurant

The center of attention is the over-the-top $350 “Golden Goose” that has to be ordered at least a day in advance. It’s an entire loaf of toasted bread made with edible gold leaf and layered with Maison Dutriez Red Currant Jam; it’s the most expensive jelly in the world, de-seeded by hand with goose quills. The peanut butter is Adams All-Natural, and it’s affordable retailing for around $5 per jar. It’s then drizzled with Manuka Honey, an ingredient native to New Zealand. They’ll also offer PB&Js in loaf form — the sandwiches are reassembled inside a bag, presented to diners, then sliced open table side.

Entire article: https://chicago.eater.com/2020/6/25...jukebox-restaurant-bar-west-loop-chicago-menu

Who is up for a $350 peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I'm NOT buying......

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SENIOR BOWL STEPPING UP? If there's no college football season this fall, it's going to make it extremely hard for NFL scouts to evaluate this year's crop of draft-eligible players, given that they'll be no games to attend and no new film to watch.

If that happens, the Senior Bowl might have a plan to help with that process.

Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy told Yahoo Sports he’s open to having a Senior Bowl buildup that lasts up to two-and-a-half weeks if there’s no college football this season. That would both help players acclimate to playing after extended time off and give the NFL personnel a bigger window to both evaluate the prospects as players and people.

The lack of campus visits would likely mean canned information given to scouts over Zoom, as opposed to more candid in-person conversations. Nagy said he’s also considered going to the NFL and asking that all players who’ve declared for the draft – not just seniors or graduated juniors – be eligible for the Senior Bowl.

Nagy, a former NFL scout, was more conservative about the numbers of players who would opt out of the college season.

“There’s only a small handful for guys who can rest on their junior tape,” he said. "It would be a small, small handful. The scary part for me is where are the kids getting the information, that’s the hardest part of the whole process, getting credible information.”

That last bit is what I keep going back to – nobody is particularly stoked about this situation. Pretty much everybody involved would much, much prefer to play the season as close to normal as possible. So I'm not giving up hope, because too many people are fighting too hard to try to make a season work.

Anybody know of another college basketball coach that has 2 college basketball courts named after him?

R.I.P.

Ohio State makes 2022 tight end’s top three
Tia Johnston via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images
Plus, a 2021 offensive guard’s commitment date is approaching.

As Gene predicted yesterday, Bennett Christian — the No. 18 tight end in the class of 2022 and No. 26 player out of the state of Georgia — has announced his top three schools.


Unsurprisingly, Ohio State made the cut, along with Penn State and Tennessee.

Christian has already visited Penn State and Tennessee, and said he plans on visiting Ohio State once the pandemic subsides.

“Ohio State is one of my top schools,” Christian told Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts. “Every week I talk to coach (Kevin) Wilson or coach (Tim) Hinton. I call coach Wilson each week.”

As Gene notes, Kevin Wilson and Ryan Day’s uneventful 2021 TE recruiting has them planning ahead for 2022. Christian is one of four 2022 tight ends that have received an offer from Ohio State. The No. 1 TE in the class, Donovan Green, also holds an offer from the Buckeyes, along with the No. 4 TE, Holden Staes, and Benji Gosnell, who is ranked No. 10 at the position, according to 247Sports.


The No. 3 offensive guard in the class of 2021, Rocco Spindler, is set to announce his commitment live on CBS Sports HQ on Saturday, August 8 at 6 p.m. ET.


The four star from Clarkston (Mich.) will be choosing between Penn State, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan and LSU, with the Wolverines and Fighting Irish as the most likely candidates. Not only is he in close contact with both school’s offensive line coaches, but, according to Allen Trieu of Bucknuts, Spindler has developed close relationships with both school’s recruiting classes as well.

The 247Sports Crystal Ball has four predictions each for Notre Dame and Michigan, however the Irish have a higher confidence level.

“Education… that’s number one, top priority,” Spindler told The Michigan Insider when asked about what he seeks in a program. “Development; who am I going to be developed by the best to get me a shot the NFL? The brotherhood aspect… I want to be part of a great family. And networking... that’s a great thing as well because I want to get jobs after I’m done playing football and know a lot of great people. And just biggest thing for me is who’s going to take care of me after football ends? And, of course a national championship would be awesome as well.

Spindler is the No. 3 prospect in the state of Michigan and No. 48 prospect overall.

Quick Hits

• On Wednesday, Ohio State offered 2023 offensive tackle Payton Kirkland. The Buckeyes are just the latest in what is now a whopping 25 total offers for the Florida native, which includes some of the nation’s top program’s among the likes of Auburn, Georgia, Florida, and Penn State. Kirkland, whose mother grew up a Buckeye fan, does not yet have a rating on 247Sports, but expect him to be one of the region’s top prospects when those ratings are released.

• Kirkland wasn’t the only big name to see an Ohio State offer come his way on Wednesday, as the program also offered 2023 defensive end Derrick LeBlanc. The Buckeyes were the latest team to throw their hat in the ring for the elite edge rusher, who now holds at least 37 offers from top schools like Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, and a ton of others. Like the rest of his 2023 counterparts, LeBlanc is not yet rated on 247Sports.

• Zack Carpenter of Eleven Warriors reported that Ohio State’s 2021 five-star defensive end commit Jack Sawyer’s rehab for his MCL tear is “going phenomenal” and that he is “way ahead of schedule.” The No. 3 player in the class even went so far as to say that he feels better than he ever has in his life.
• In Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts’ latest edition of his “Top 10 prospects from the Ohio class of 2022”, Marysville linebacker Gabe Powers continues his reign at the top of the list. Powers is the No. 1 prospect in the state of Ohio, and the No. 2 outside linebacker in the country. He has four 247Sports Crystal Balls for Ohio State (100%). Powers’ college decision may be coming sooner rather than later, if you read into the latest tweet from OSU recruiting extraordinaire C.J. Hicks:

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Buckeye Bits: Joey Bosa gets $135 million contract extension, the NBA bubble actually works, more
Tia Johnston via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
All of the latest Ohio State news from around the beat and beyond.

Another day, another news cycle filled with COVID-19 updates, former Ohio State players getting paid, corny Clemson players, and panic about the possibility (or lack thereof) of a college football season. I have all that and more for you in today’s Buckeye Bits, but first, another PSA from Ohio State Athletics, who are quite literally begging fans to wear a mask.


If you’re reading this article, I assume you like sports and, therefore, I assume you would also like a season. So....#MaskUp. Now, onto today’s headlines.


From around Land-Grant Holy Land...

Paul Bixler, OSU’s Mr. Inconsistent as head coach

Jim Baird, LGHL

Next up in our “24 Club” series, Jim tells the story of Paul Bixner, who coached the Buckeyes for exactly one season in 1946 before his team suffered a 52-point loss against Michigan— the worst defeat for any OSU team against the Wolverines in Columbus.

Even in the 1940s, Ohio State would not tolerate a head coach who loses to Michigan by that big of a deficit. On a completely unrelated note, Jim Harbaugh is approaching his sixth season as head coach of Michigan.


Which former Ohio State safety would you want back in Columbus?

Me, LGHL

Malik Hooker. Next.


Ohio State 2022 tight end target could be nearing a decision

Gene Ross, LGHL

Ryan Day and tight ends coach Kevin Wilson have made a great impression on the No. 18 tight end in the 2022 class. The Georgia-native tweeted that he had “big news coming soon”, and told Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts that Ohio State is “one of his top three schools.”

(Update to Gene’s article: Bennett Christian announced his top three. Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee)

From around the gridiron...


Gov. DeWine: Too early to know Ohio State football’s 20 percent capacity plan is safe during COVID-19

Nathan Baird, Cleveland.com

On Tuesday, Ohio State announced that Ohio Stadium will be at “no more than 20 percent” capacity this fall (which is obviously subject to change before the season begins), however shortly after the announcement, Gov. DeWine held a press conference where he said he was not aware of this plan, and that it’s still too early to know if 20 percent capacity is doable.


Five Ohio State freshmen who can make special teams impact

Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

The guys who stand out on special teams one year, usually find themselves a solidified spot on offense or defense the next year. Holbrook predicts which true freshmen will make the biggest impact on special teams this season, thus getting a head start on their position battles.


Swapping Justin Fields — Would the Ohio State QB beat the Buckeyes if he played for other teams? Buckeye Talk Podcast

Doug Lesmerises, Cleveland.com

On their Buckeye Talk podcast, Cleveland.com’s Lesmerises and Nathan Baird answer the horrific question: What if Justin Fields played for another team? If he played for Penn State, Michigan, Wisconsin or Georgia, could they beat the Buckeyes? In other words, just how valuable is a starting quarterback and how does the rest of the offense’s talent impact his performance?


Kyle McCord’s accuracy stands out at QB Collective event

Steve Wiltfong, Bucknuts

Ohio State five-star quarterback 2021 commit Kyle McCord took part in the QB Collective event over the weekend in Indianapolis. A former NFL signal-caller said that “his strength is going to be his accuracy,” and another QB collective coach added that McCord was “one of the prettiest throwers.”


CBS Sports hot-seat rankings: Where Big Ten coaches stand

Brad Crawford, Bucknuts

Ryan Day is not on the hot seat, per CBS Sports.


Same, Jeff.


Clemson’s TikTok is a disgrace to the sport of college football, as were the referees on the night of December 28, 2019.

From everywhere else...


Joey Bosa just became the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player.


Bosa and the Chargers have agreed to a $135 million contract extension that includes $78 million fully guaranteed at signing and $102 million in total guarantees, which are both NFL records for a defensive player. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Bosa is now the highest-paid former Buckeye in the NFL, surpassing Michael Thomas, who signed a five-year, $100 million contract extension with the Saints a year ago.


Attention recruits! You play for Ohio State, you get paid. It’s as simple as that.


Ezekiel Elliott, Joey Bosa join Ohio State football alums on NFL’s Top 100 for 2020 list

Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

Nick Bosa, Ezekiel Elliott and Joey Bosa (not a bad day for Joey) were named to the NFL’s Top 100 for 2020 list, ranking No. 17, No. 24 and No. 34, respectively. They join Marshon Lattimore (No. 76) and Cameron Heyward (No. 84) who were announced earlier this week.

The top 10 players will be revealed at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday on NFL Network.


I think it’s time we take our College Football Island idea a little more seriously...


Meanwhile, another Miami Marlins player tested positive for COVID-19 today, bringing their total to 18 reported positive cases!

The MLB is not playing in a bubble.

CFB and the NFL will likely not play in a bubble.

You do the math.

Continue reading...

Paul Bixler, OSU’s Mr. Inconsistent as head coach
Jim Baird via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Bixler’s short tenure featured some big wins — and one of the worst losses to Michigan in the history of the program.

There have been 24 head coaches in the history of Ohio State football. Each has a story and legacy. This offseason, Land-Grant Holy Land’s new series 24 Club will help you get to know the coaches from past and present who built the program. Today we look at Ohio State’s 17th head coach — Paul Bixler, who lead the program to big wins and even bigger losses.


Name: Paul Bixler
Seasons Coached: One (1946)
Overall Record: 4-3-2

Where Does He Rank in the 24 Club?
Overall Wins: No. 22 out of 24 OSU Coaches
Winning Percentage: No. 20 out of 24 OSU Coaches


Entering the 1946 season, Ohio State played its own version of musical chairs. After two winning seasons, OSU coach Carroll Widdoes stepped down and remained on staff as an assistant. Paul Bixler, who had been an assistant for Widdoes, took over as head coach.

Bixler lasted a single season in his new role. The team’s inconsistent play was his downfall. Ohio State shut out USC 21-0 in Los Angeles, and bested No. 6 Northwestern in Evanston. However, losses to Illinois and Wisconsin along with draws against a mediocre Missouri team and a bad Purdue squad turned up the heat on the new coach.

Unfortunately, Bixler’s seat went from warm to a couple of degrees hotter than the surface of the sun after the Wolverines came to town to end the season. Michigan bested Ohio State 58-6 in Columbus. The 52 point loss remains the worst defeat for any OSU team against the Wolverines in Columbus. Ohio State finished the year with a 4-3-2 record, and Bixler stepped aside.

In six seasons from 1941-1946, the Buckeyes had said hello and goodbye to three head coaches — Paul Brown, Carroll Widdoes and now Paul Bixler. Ohio State needed coaching stability. The search for the perfect fit continued.

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Which former Ohio State safety would you want back in Columbus?
Tia Johnston via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Photo by Khris Hale/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Sound off in the comments!

Ohio State, otherwise known as “DBU,” is nothing if not a safety/cornerback conveyer belt for the NFL. In the 2020 Draft, the Buckeyes saw Jeff Okudah go No. 3 overall, Damon Arnette go No. 19 overall and Jordan Fuller go No. 199. In recent years, we’ve also seen the likes of Marshon Lattimore, Eli Apple, Malik Hooker, Vonn Bell and Denzel Ward make a name for themselves in the league.

Since Gene already covered the cornerbacks, its time to zone in on the safety position, which happens to be one of the big question marks on Ohio State’s roster as we approach the 2020-21 season.

Fuller is now with the Los Angeles Rams, and its looking like junior safety Josh Proctor will be the next man up. Last season, Proctor played in nine games, and totaled 13 total tackles, one interception and three pass breakups.


While we haven’t seen a whole lot of what he can do, Proctor obviously shows promise. In fact, he’s expected to be less of a Fuller-type safety and more Malik Hooker-esque, meaning he’s likely to take more chances at the position, go for the interception, and overall be a little less reserved than Fuller.

Behind Proctor on the depth chart there’s sophomore Marcus Hooker (Malik’s younger brother), redshirt freshmen Ronnie Hickman and Bryson Shaw, and freshmen Lathan Ransom and Kourt Williams.

There’s really no reason to believe that Proctor won’t be on the field come September, but again, for this series’ purposes, we’re going to imagine a world where Proctor gets injured, loses all his talent, mysteriously vanishes, whatever story you want to go with, and Ryan Day is allowed to teleport any former Ohio State safety and put him in this season’s lineup. Who would you want him to choose?

If it were up to me, I’d go with Malik Hooker. For one, we lost him to the NFL way too soon. He only played one real season as a Buckeye in 2016 before getting drafted No. 15 overall to the Indianapolis Colts. During that season, he racked up 74 total tackles, seven interceptions, three defensive touchdowns and four pass breakups. I miss the electricity Hooker brought to the Buckeyes’ secondary, and while we’ve had insanely good talent succeed him, we haven’t really had a seven-interception guy since Hooker.

The only Buckeye safety to have pulled off more than seven single season interceptions is Mike Sensibaugh, who had eight in 1970 and nine in 1969.

Speaking of which, maybe you’d like Day to bring back Sensibaugh, who is not only tied as the program leader for single season interceptions, but also career interceptions (22).

Another solid option would be Mike Doss, who collected a total of 331 tackles, six quarterback sacks, eight interceptions, eight fumble recoveries and three defensive touchdowns. Doss was also chosen as Defensive MVP of the 2002 Fiesta Bowl 31-24 double-overtime victory over Miami.

We all have our favorite Ohio State safeties, and your first choice will likely be based on the fond memories you have of watching that particular player. But, I urge you to pick your player based on the current 2020-21 roster, coaching staff and schedule. I’d kill to see a Hooker/Wade duo on the field this season (but hey, we just might be getting that with Proctor anyway!)

So, let’s hear it.

Which former Ohio State safety would you want back in Columbus? Let us know in the comments!

Continue reading...

Ohio State 2022 tight end target could be nearing a decision
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Allatoona tight end Bennett Christian | Rusty Mansell, 247Sports
The Buckeyes will likely look to sign two TEs in next year’s cycle

Ohio State really wants to get two tight ends in 2021, but it doesn’t look all too promising that it will become a reality. Holding just one commitment at the position from three-star prospect Sam Hart, the Buckeyes are running out of options in the current class. It is not a total impossibility, with guys like Dametrious Crownover and Jordan Dingle still on the table, but Ryan Day and position coach Kevin Wilson are planning ahead.

It seems like they have already made quite the impact on 2022 tight end Bennett Christian. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Georgia native was offered a scholarship by Ohio State back at the beginning of June, and since then the relationship between the two parties has continued to grow.

“Ohio State is one of my top schools,” Christian told Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts. “Every week I talk to coach (Kevin) Wilson or coach (Tim) Hinton. I call coach Wilson each week.”

Christian, currently rated as the No. 18 TE in the 2022 class, already holds 12 scholarship offers including some of the nation’s top programs, including the likes of Kentucky, Penn State, Tennessee, and others. However, it sounds like the Allatoona product is nearing a decision.


While it could very well be that Christian makes his commitment sometime soon, it sounds a lot like it will just be a top schools list.

“I’m talking to a lot of schools, but I’m kind of narrowing it down to three,” Christian told Kurelic. “The main three are Ohio State, Penn State and Tennessee. I’m talking to those three each week. It’s pretty much those three.”

Christian also said he plans on visiting Ohio State once the whole COVID situation dies down, having already been to both Penn State and Tennessee. Only time will tell what exactly his “big news” tweet is in reference too, but my money would be on an official top schools list in the coming days.

Quick Hits

• One of 2022’s top prospects, offensive guard Earnest Greene, is also close to naming his top schools list, and Ohio State is expected to make the cut. Greene, the No. 2 OG and No. 48 overall player in the 247Sports Composite, told Greg Biggins of 247Sports that he is looking to name a top seven or top 10 within the next month. Greene said he talks a lot with OSU guard Wyatt Davis and has a good relationship with Greg Studrawa, so expect the Buckeyes to be on that list.
• One of 2022’s top basketball recruits will be on the move at the high school level, as five-star shooting guard Chris Livingston is set to return to Akron Buchtel HS after spending his sophomore year at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio. Livingston, the No. 3 player overall in the 2022 class and the No. 1 player in Ohio, is obviously a massive target for Chris Holtmann. After hauling in the top three in-state players in 2021, Holtmann will be hoping to once again bring a huge local talent to Columbus.

Continue reading...

Buckeye Bits: All FBS schools allowed to play Week 0, Ohio State football plans to have limited fans (for now), more
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


All of the latest Ohio State news from around the beat and beyond.

Welcome to Buckeye Bits, our daily news roundup of all things Ohio State. We still don't really know for sure whether or not there will be a college football season in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to run rampant through the country, but the NCAA is still trying do everything in its power to make it happen. The big news on Tuesday was that the association will allow all FBS schools to start their season on Aug. 29, AKA “Week 0”, in order to provide greater flexibility to the scheduling process.


The blanket waiver, which only applies to the 2020 season, now gives teams an extra week to work with as they try to rebuild their upcoming schedules. For schools in the Big Ten and Pac-12, which have both decided to play only conference opponents this year, this now makes it even easier for them to try and figure out how and when they will fit in what will likely be 10 regular season contests. It is unclear at this time whether Ohio State will look to schedule a Week 0 game.

With the latest update from the NCAA out of the way, let’s get to the rest of today’s headlines.

From around Land-Grant Holy Land...

• Ohio State offers 2023 offensive tackle
  (Dan Hessler, LGHL)

On Monday, Ohio State sent out an offer to 2023 offensive tackle Aidan Leigh. If that last name sounds familiar to you, it’s because he is the younger brother of 2021 five-star OT Tristan Leigh, one of the Buckeyes’ top remaining targets in this year’s class. Ryan Day and position coach Greg Studrawa certainly would not hate to add the pair of Leighs to their offensive line in the next few years.

• Which former Ohio State offensive lineman would you want back in Columbus?
  (Brett Ludwiczak, LGHL)

Continuing our ongoing series where we bring back former Buckeyes at each position, today Brett takes a look back through the offensive line archives. There have been some really good blockers to come through Ohio State over the program’s history, but the clear and obvious option for Brett (and myself) is Orlando Pace. Imagine Pace lining up alongside Wyatt Davis and Josh Myers? Totally unfair.

• Yesterday’s Buckeye Bits
  (Tia Johnston, LGHL)

Check out Yesterday’s Buckeye Bits from any of the latest Ohio State news you may have missed on Monday, including the Buckeyes’ 2020 NFL Draft class raking in over $111 million in rookie contracts, Marshon Lattimore and Cam Heyward making the first section of the NFL Top 100, some more COVID-related college football news, and more!

From around the gridiron...

• On Tuesday, Ohio State announced that Ohio Stadium will be at “no more than 20 percent” capacity if fans are allowed to attend college football games at all this fall. The restricted access, which would be comprised of an undecided mixture of season ticker holders and students, would put attendance around 20,000 people. Other stipulations of the plan include mandatory mask wearing inside the stadium, limited concessions, and no Skull Session or tailgating before games.

• 247Sports came out with its Top 50 players in college football on Tuesday, and three Ohio State players made the cut. Justin Fields was the highest-rated at No. 3, coming in behind only Trevor Lawrence and Oregon’s Penei Sewell. The other pair of Buckeyes on the list were Wyatt Davis at No. 14 and Shaun Wade at No. 47. I think Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson would like to have a word with somebody.

• Why does Ohio State keep beating Michigan and Penn State? This is why.

• How Garrett Wilson is going to break Ohio State’s return drought
  (Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row)

It has been quite a while since Ohio State has had a truly electric return man out there fielding kicks and punts, but Garrett Wilson could be the guy to change that. He didn’t get all that many opportunities last season as a freshman, but in the few instances Wilson had a chance to make some magic in the return game, he looked to be on the verge of breaking a big one. Now in year two with a chance to be the team’s full-time returner, watch out for Garrett Wilson on special teams.

• Alex Boone, a former Ohio State offensive lineman and a veteran of 105 games played in the NFL, is working on making his return to the league after retiring in 2017. Boone was a four-year starter with the Buckeyes, and was a two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection before going undrafted in 2009. Ironically, he would find a spot on Jim Harbaugh’s San Francisco 49ers, where he would go on to spend the first six years of his NFL career, starting in 59 games over his final four seasons with the team. Still just 33 years old, Boone is now looking to make a comeback.

From around the hardwood...

• The Ohio State women's hoops team made an addition on Tuesday, with Ohio native Tanya Beacham joining the Buckeyes as a grad transfer. Beacham spent the last three seasons at Toledo, posting a career-high 10.8 points per game last season. She also led the Rockets in field goal percentage this past year, hitting at a 58.3 percent clip. Beacham played her high school ball first at Youngstown Ursuline before spending her last two years at Toledo Rogers. She will have one year of eligibility remaining.

From everywhere else...

• Can we really blame Lou Williams for leaving the NBA bubble for food that looks like THIS:

• If there is college football to be played in 2020, I'm sure we will see a lot more of this.

• With that being said, don't get mad at athletes for making their safety a priority.

• The MLB season — which started last Thursday — is going... swell?

Continue reading...

Which former Ohio State offensive lineman would you want back in Columbus?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


There has been a long list of outstanding offensive linemen to come through Columbus over the years, but there is one that takes the (pan)cake.

If you play on the offensive line at Ohio State, there’s a good chance you have what it takes to play in the NFL. Since 2000, Ohio State has seen 19 offensive linemen taken in the NFL Draft, with numerous others latching on to teams as undrafted free agents. The list of Buckeye offensive linemen drafted will only grow in the near future, as guys like Wyatt Davis, Thayer Munford, and Josh Myers are among the best in the country.

Recently at LGHL, we have been asking our readers which former Buckeye they’d bring back to start the first game of this season. Tia started off the fun by breaking down what running back she’d most like to see return, and it’s hard to go wrong with the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner. We have continued the exercise for quarterback and wide receiver.

Now we have made our way to the offensive line. There are plenty of tremendous offensive linemen who have donned the scarlet and gray throughout the year. From Bill Willis, Jim Parker, and John Hicks of years gone by, to more recent trench warriors like Nick Mangold, LeCharles Bentley, and Taylor Decker.

Ohio State has been producing quality offensive linemen for nearly 80 years. Bill Willis was a two-time All-American in 1943 and 1944, while Jim Parker was the first Buckeye to win the Outland Trophy in 1955. John Hicks won the Outland and Lombardi in 1973 and was a two-time All-American. Jim Lachey played in Columbus in the early 1980s and went on to an illustrious NFL career.

More recently, Korey Stringer was a three-year starter and a first round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings before his life ended tragically at training camp in 2001. LeCharles Bentley won the Rimington Award, which is an award that Pat Elflein and Billy Price also earned. We also can’t forget about Nick Mangold if we are going to talk about great Buckeye centers.

As incredible as some of those options are, the answer to which Ohio State offensive linemen I’d bring back to play in 2020 is an easy one. Orlando Pace is the greatest offensive lineman to ever suit up for Ohio State, and was one of the best to ever play in the NFL, as evidenced by his induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016. Pace was so good when he arrived in Columbus that he became just the second true freshman to start on opening day for the Buckeyes.

How good was Pace? He became known as “The Pancake Man” because of the frequency in which he dished out pancake blocks. While the term “pancake block” had been used by some teams prior to Pace’s arrival in college football, the term became widely used because of Pace. The Sandusky native was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 1994, but that was only beginning of hardware that Pace would earn.

1995 was a true breakout season for Pace, as he not only was named an All-American, but he also earned the Lombardi Award, given annually to the nation’s best college football player regardless of position. Prior to Pace, previous winners of the award from Ohio State were Jim Stillwagon, John Hicks, and Chris Spielman.

As good as 1995 was for Pace, 1996 was even better. Not only did Pace become the first player to win back-to-back Lombardi Awards, but he was also the winner of the Outland Trophy, which is given to the best interior lineman in college football. Parker, Stillwagon, and Hicks all had won the award prior to Pace taking home the honor in 1996.

Do you know how many offensive linemen have finished in the top 10 in Heisman Trophy voting since Orlando Pace finished fourth in 1996? Zero. Zilch. None. That should tell you just how respected Pace was. It’s rare to even see a defensive lineman in the running for the Heisman. An offensive lineman finishing that high is unheard of.

Another testament to Pace’s greatness was being voted the Big Ten’s most valuable player and offensive player of the year in 1996. Ohio State went 11-1 and won the Rose Bowl that season, but without Pace it’s possible the Buckeyes could have been handed two or three more losses that season. It’s incredible just how much Pace changed the game when he was on the field. Pepe Pearson rushed for 1,484 yards in 1996, but just 869 in 1997 after Pace left Columbus.

Just imagine the sense of calm that Justin Fields would have with Orlando Pace protecting him, especially since Pace didn’t allow a sack in his final two seasons in Columbus. Running backs Trey Sermon and Master Teague would feel a lot less pressure in trying to replace J.K. Dobbins if they could have Pace clearing the way for them. As unstoppable as Ohio State looks right now, they’d be even more feared with Orlando Pace on the offensive line.

What do you think? Are you going against the grain and opting for one of the other phenomenal offensive linemen mentioned earlier, or do you have a favorite that was omitted?

Which former Ohio State offensive lineman would you want back in Columbus? Let us know in the comments!

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