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MotS&G Depth Chart: Running Backs
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Depth Chart: Running Backs
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Running Back or the Cadillac position will be the next to analyze and it hasn’t gone through a ton of drama and it surely wasn’t as festive as the previous positional group. Yes, they lost Mike Weber to the 2019 NFL Draft and Brian Snead to an eventual transfer out of Ohio State, but the depth is still solid and laced with talented players that could put spare reps to good use with what I see could be a more balanced attack offensively.
JK Dobbins would re-assume the throne as the feature back in 2019. He will look to potentially raise his NFL Draft stock this season and if all goes well, but I do not think that is his main concern at this point of the off-season. He will look to secure his legacy as a Buckeye, as a member of Tote Nation as he fine tunes his body for what could be a Heisman type of season. He could leave, but he also could stay and that is difficult to predict without any games in the books, so we will just have to wait it out and see how it would turn out.
Behind Dobbins is another generation of beast Running Backs. Redshirt Junior Demario McCall is the most seasoned players on the roster. He has been through many injury-plagued seasons while at Ohio State, but he stuck with it and fought through his battles with adversity. McCall is listed as a Running Back, but I could see him at the H-Back position with Jaelin Gill, which is a pretty good one-two punch at the most critical positions at Ohio State.
The true heirs to Dobbins’ room would be a pair of young studs, Master Teague and Marcus Crowley. Teague with the limited touches a season ago, proved that he could hang with the big boys. He has the burst and the strength to shed or run over would-be tacklers. He could be an asset to spell Dobbins when needed. Crowley is a monster back with a frame to destroy defenders. Watching his high school highlights was crazy because yes, he had the strength, but when he outran the defenses? I am excited for this kid to come into his own.
There are also a ton of talented walk-on players as well with Robert Cope, Amari McMahon, and Mitch Rossi learning under Tony Alford under the Tote Nation mantra. This roster is absolutely loaded at the position and we would see a healthy distribution of carries as the season progresses, even for the walk-ons. My biggest concern would be the transfer portal curse and the patience of these kids. The Buckeyes have been hit hard at quarterback and I am hopeful that these kids have the grit and patience to wait it out.
The depth chart is easy to predict with Dobbins re-establishing himself as the feature back with Teague and Crowley as the clear back-ups. The trio of walk-ons would assume third-stringer duties, but they could be used if games get out of hand. The H-Backs would be McCall and Gill, but they are interchangeable and I could see them rotate between RB 2 and H-Back, depending on the situation.
It should be a fun season with an explosive Buckeye offense and we aren’t even talking about the Zone 6 or Tight End rooms yet! Day will begin the season with high expectations, but I know he is ready for the challenge.
Projected Depth Chart:
RB 1: JK Dobbins
RB 2: Master Teague/Marcus Crowley/Demario McCall
RB 3: Robert Cope/Amari McMahon/Mitch Rossi
H-Back: Demario McCall/Jaelin Gill
Future RB’s: None currently committed.
Continue reading...
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Running Back or the Cadillac position will be the next to analyze and it hasn’t gone through a ton of drama and it surely wasn’t as festive as the previous positional group. Yes, they lost Mike Weber to the 2019 NFL Draft and Brian Snead to an eventual transfer out of Ohio State, but the depth is still solid and laced with talented players that could put spare reps to good use with what I see could be a more balanced attack offensively.
JK Dobbins would re-assume the throne as the feature back in 2019. He will look to potentially raise his NFL Draft stock this season and if all goes well, but I do not think that is his main concern at this point of the off-season. He will look to secure his legacy as a Buckeye, as a member of Tote Nation as he fine tunes his body for what could be a Heisman type of season. He could leave, but he also could stay and that is difficult to predict without any games in the books, so we will just have to wait it out and see how it would turn out.
Behind Dobbins is another generation of beast Running Backs. Redshirt Junior Demario McCall is the most seasoned players on the roster. He has been through many injury-plagued seasons while at Ohio State, but he stuck with it and fought through his battles with adversity. McCall is listed as a Running Back, but I could see him at the H-Back position with Jaelin Gill, which is a pretty good one-two punch at the most critical positions at Ohio State.
The true heirs to Dobbins’ room would be a pair of young studs, Master Teague and Marcus Crowley. Teague with the limited touches a season ago, proved that he could hang with the big boys. He has the burst and the strength to shed or run over would-be tacklers. He could be an asset to spell Dobbins when needed. Crowley is a monster back with a frame to destroy defenders. Watching his high school highlights was crazy because yes, he had the strength, but when he outran the defenses? I am excited for this kid to come into his own.
There are also a ton of talented walk-on players as well with Robert Cope, Amari McMahon, and Mitch Rossi learning under Tony Alford under the Tote Nation mantra. This roster is absolutely loaded at the position and we would see a healthy distribution of carries as the season progresses, even for the walk-ons. My biggest concern would be the transfer portal curse and the patience of these kids. The Buckeyes have been hit hard at quarterback and I am hopeful that these kids have the grit and patience to wait it out.
The depth chart is easy to predict with Dobbins re-establishing himself as the feature back with Teague and Crowley as the clear back-ups. The trio of walk-ons would assume third-stringer duties, but they could be used if games get out of hand. The H-Backs would be McCall and Gill, but they are interchangeable and I could see them rotate between RB 2 and H-Back, depending on the situation.
It should be a fun season with an explosive Buckeye offense and we aren’t even talking about the Zone 6 or Tight End rooms yet! Day will begin the season with high expectations, but I know he is ready for the challenge.
Projected Depth Chart:
RB 1: JK Dobbins
RB 2: Master Teague/Marcus Crowley/Demario McCall
RB 3: Robert Cope/Amari McMahon/Mitch Rossi
H-Back: Demario McCall/Jaelin Gill
Future RB’s: None currently committed.
Continue reading...
MotS&G Depth Chart: Quarterbacks
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Depth Chart: Quarterbacks
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
After another transfer-filled offseason for the Buckeyes, the quarterback depth was thought to be in danger, but Ryan Day and his staff managed to restock the shelves by looking into the transfer portal for reinforcements.
The transfer portal is brand-new and is a way for recruits to put their name out there to find a better situation or opportunity and it has singlehandedly brought pain for the Buckeyes in 2019. A season prior, they also lost Joe Burrow as a grad transfer, who left for a starting job at LSU after being outdueled by Dwayne Haskins after the annual spring game.
Since then, Haskins left for the NFL, leaving Tate Martell and Matthew Baldwin as the heirs for the vacant starting gig, but enter Justin Fields and now all of a sudden Martell transfers to Miami and Baldwin becomes homesick and leaves for TCU. Both left for better situations for them, and I do not blame them one bit. Walk-on Kory Curtis also left for Bryant University, leaving three signal-callers left on a thin positional group. Justin Fields who is and was the projected starter, Chris Chugunov, a former West Virginia transfer, and 2018 walk-on Danny Vanatsky.
Coach Day realized the lack of depth and experience at a key position and he began to sift through the transfer portal and he restocked the once bare shelves and he is now ready to move forward with his group and towards the 2019 season. In a matter of weeks, he and his staff have added two former SEC scholarship quarterbacks in Gunnar Hoak (Kentucky) and Jagger LaRoe (Texas A&M). They also added preferred walk-on JP Andrade (Florida), who will play in the same role for the Buckeyes this season.
This years quarterback room is filled with inexperience and the majority of the room has little to no starting experience, which is the major worry among the Buckeye faithful. Fields also struggled during the spring game and while it is well warranted, the Buckeyes still have time on their side to improve and sharpen Fields’ skills before the season opener.
The room is going to be competitive with the clear starter in Fields. The rest of the roster will occupy their roles and in the worst-case scenario where a major injury occurs to Fields, the rest will be ready and they will be more than capable of picking up the slack in his absence.
It is early, but I feel like this will be the set-up for the 2019 season. I also included the future QB section even though recruiting can be unpredictable before the pen goes to paper, but I feel that both Miller and McCord are solid commits that will eventually don the Scarlet and Gray.
Projected 2019 Depth Chart:
QB 1: Justin Fields
QB 2: Gunnar Hoak/Chris Chugunov
QB 3: Jagger LaRoe/JP Andrade/Danny Vanatsky
Future QB’s: Jack Miller (2020) and Kyle McCord (2021)
Continue reading...
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
After another transfer-filled offseason for the Buckeyes, the quarterback depth was thought to be in danger, but Ryan Day and his staff managed to restock the shelves by looking into the transfer portal for reinforcements.
The transfer portal is brand-new and is a way for recruits to put their name out there to find a better situation or opportunity and it has singlehandedly brought pain for the Buckeyes in 2019. A season prior, they also lost Joe Burrow as a grad transfer, who left for a starting job at LSU after being outdueled by Dwayne Haskins after the annual spring game.
Since then, Haskins left for the NFL, leaving Tate Martell and Matthew Baldwin as the heirs for the vacant starting gig, but enter Justin Fields and now all of a sudden Martell transfers to Miami and Baldwin becomes homesick and leaves for TCU. Both left for better situations for them, and I do not blame them one bit. Walk-on Kory Curtis also left for Bryant University, leaving three signal-callers left on a thin positional group. Justin Fields who is and was the projected starter, Chris Chugunov, a former West Virginia transfer, and 2018 walk-on Danny Vanatsky.
Coach Day realized the lack of depth and experience at a key position and he began to sift through the transfer portal and he restocked the once bare shelves and he is now ready to move forward with his group and towards the 2019 season. In a matter of weeks, he and his staff have added two former SEC scholarship quarterbacks in Gunnar Hoak (Kentucky) and Jagger LaRoe (Texas A&M). They also added preferred walk-on JP Andrade (Florida), who will play in the same role for the Buckeyes this season.
This years quarterback room is filled with inexperience and the majority of the room has little to no starting experience, which is the major worry among the Buckeye faithful. Fields also struggled during the spring game and while it is well warranted, the Buckeyes still have time on their side to improve and sharpen Fields’ skills before the season opener.
The room is going to be competitive with the clear starter in Fields. The rest of the roster will occupy their roles and in the worst-case scenario where a major injury occurs to Fields, the rest will be ready and they will be more than capable of picking up the slack in his absence.
It is early, but I feel like this will be the set-up for the 2019 season. I also included the future QB section even though recruiting can be unpredictable before the pen goes to paper, but I feel that both Miller and McCord are solid commits that will eventually don the Scarlet and Gray.
Projected 2019 Depth Chart:
QB 1: Justin Fields
QB 2: Gunnar Hoak/Chris Chugunov
QB 3: Jagger LaRoe/JP Andrade/Danny Vanatsky
Future QB’s: Jack Miller (2020) and Kyle McCord (2021)
Continue reading...
LGHL Ranking the 20 most rewatchable games in Ohio State history: Nos. 16 and 15
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Ranking the 20 most rewatchable games in Ohio State history: Nos. 16 and 15
Colton Denning via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The 2016 defense shines, and the Buckeyes get revenge against Texas in this week’s episode.
Who doesn’t love Ohio State laying a nice beatdown on someone?
That’s the theme today as we continue our list of the 20 most rewatchable Ohio State games of all-time, and break down two times where the Buckeyes showed their dominance in different ways. If you want to keep up with our list, check out the first two episodes here and here, and follow the Hangout in the Holy Land on Apple Podcasts, and Spotify
The first four games on our list almost all came down to the last play, so it’s time to switch it up. Let’s get into that time the Ohio State defense grounded Nebraska into dust, and when Troy Smith in the Buckeyes got some revenge in Austin.
No. 16: Ohio State rips Nebraska 62-3 (2016)
Patrick: This was really the last great beatdown of the Urban Meyer, and boy, it was just enormous. Nebraska was, at this point, seemingly a pretty good team, and Ohio State made them look like one of the worst teams in the country, especially when the Buckeye defense was on the field. That defense is what we spend most of the episode talking about. The 2016 offense was still largely bad, even in a massive win, but that defense, held together by roughly 30 future NFLers, is still delightful to watch, especially if you need a palate cleanse after 2018.
Colton: Just a beatdown of epic proportions. I remember being nervous about this game because Ohio State looked dreadful against Northwestern the week before, and Nebraska came in ranked 10th and was 7-1 at the time. Turns out there was nothing to be nervous about, because this one was over in three plays.
The 62 points are great, but the real reason to watch is because of the defense. The Clemson game rightfully made us all want to forget everything that happened that year, but the 2016 defense was nasty, and this was one of their masterpieces. Malik Hooker is everywhere, Tyquan Lewis and Sam Hubbard obliterate the Nebraska O-line, and if you want to remember what good linebacker play at Ohio State looked like, here you go. Also watch for Curtis Samuel explosions, and freshman Demario McCall (???) somehow leading the team in rushing.
No. 15: Ohio State gets revenge on Texas (2006)
Patrick: Colton is wrong on this game. It’s good as hell, baby, and let me tell you why. Firstly, it has Troy Smith operating at full capacity, which was delightful for the entire 2006 season. It also has Ted Ginn gashing a great Longhorns defense, a young but rapidly developing Buckeye defense, and a ton of talent all over the field. The final score isn’t particularly close, but if you want to watch Ohio State put a whooping on a top-10 team (why wouldn’t you), this is the game for you.
Colton: I’ll admit: In terms of straight up rewatchability, I don’t think this is top 20. It’s cool that Ohio State went into Austin and got revenge after what happened in 2005 —more on that game soon— but Ohio State knew they were better than a very young Texas team, got the lead and sat on it.
On the flipside, they were the top two ranked teams in the country, James Laurinaitis had his breakout game, and Troy Smith completely diced the UT defense with Anthony Gonzalez and Ted Ginn. Beating Texas also rules. This win set the tone for 2006, and it’s pretty cool to remember that they played three 1 vs 2 games that season.
I’ll also leave a take here at the bottom and hope no one sees it: Talking about this game reminded me that I think the 2005 team would wreck 2006. We’ll discuss that more next week.
Continue reading...
Colton Denning via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The 2016 defense shines, and the Buckeyes get revenge against Texas in this week’s episode.
Who doesn’t love Ohio State laying a nice beatdown on someone?
That’s the theme today as we continue our list of the 20 most rewatchable Ohio State games of all-time, and break down two times where the Buckeyes showed their dominance in different ways. If you want to keep up with our list, check out the first two episodes here and here, and follow the Hangout in the Holy Land on Apple Podcasts, and Spotify
The first four games on our list almost all came down to the last play, so it’s time to switch it up. Let’s get into that time the Ohio State defense grounded Nebraska into dust, and when Troy Smith in the Buckeyes got some revenge in Austin.
No. 16: Ohio State rips Nebraska 62-3 (2016)
Patrick: This was really the last great beatdown of the Urban Meyer, and boy, it was just enormous. Nebraska was, at this point, seemingly a pretty good team, and Ohio State made them look like one of the worst teams in the country, especially when the Buckeye defense was on the field. That defense is what we spend most of the episode talking about. The 2016 offense was still largely bad, even in a massive win, but that defense, held together by roughly 30 future NFLers, is still delightful to watch, especially if you need a palate cleanse after 2018.
Colton: Just a beatdown of epic proportions. I remember being nervous about this game because Ohio State looked dreadful against Northwestern the week before, and Nebraska came in ranked 10th and was 7-1 at the time. Turns out there was nothing to be nervous about, because this one was over in three plays.
The 62 points are great, but the real reason to watch is because of the defense. The Clemson game rightfully made us all want to forget everything that happened that year, but the 2016 defense was nasty, and this was one of their masterpieces. Malik Hooker is everywhere, Tyquan Lewis and Sam Hubbard obliterate the Nebraska O-line, and if you want to remember what good linebacker play at Ohio State looked like, here you go. Also watch for Curtis Samuel explosions, and freshman Demario McCall (???) somehow leading the team in rushing.
No. 15: Ohio State gets revenge on Texas (2006)
Patrick: Colton is wrong on this game. It’s good as hell, baby, and let me tell you why. Firstly, it has Troy Smith operating at full capacity, which was delightful for the entire 2006 season. It also has Ted Ginn gashing a great Longhorns defense, a young but rapidly developing Buckeye defense, and a ton of talent all over the field. The final score isn’t particularly close, but if you want to watch Ohio State put a whooping on a top-10 team (why wouldn’t you), this is the game for you.
Colton: I’ll admit: In terms of straight up rewatchability, I don’t think this is top 20. It’s cool that Ohio State went into Austin and got revenge after what happened in 2005 —more on that game soon— but Ohio State knew they were better than a very young Texas team, got the lead and sat on it.
On the flipside, they were the top two ranked teams in the country, James Laurinaitis had his breakout game, and Troy Smith completely diced the UT defense with Anthony Gonzalez and Ted Ginn. Beating Texas also rules. This win set the tone for 2006, and it’s pretty cool to remember that they played three 1 vs 2 games that season.
I’ll also leave a take here at the bottom and hope no one sees it: Talking about this game reminded me that I think the 2005 team would wreck 2006. We’ll discuss that more next week.
Continue reading...
LGHL Terrelle Pryor is happy and healthy joining the Jaguars, plus other Buckeye NFL updates
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- 0 Replies
Terrelle Pryor is happy and healthy joining the Jaguars, plus other Buckeye NFL updates
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
OTAs and underway and there’s a lot to look forward to from Ohio State alumni this upcoming NFL season.
To say former Ohio State QB turned NFL receiver Terrelle Pryor Sr. has had an up and down career, would be putting it mildly. After joining the NFL by way of the Supplemental Draft — thank you, TattooGate — he spent several seasons as a backup quarterback before making the transition to wideout in Cleveland.
It took some adjustment, but in 2016 he had a breakout year for the Browns, totaling 1,007 yards and four touchdowns on 77 catches. Importantly, this was under Offensive Coordinator John DeFilippo who is now with the Jaguars — a relationship Pryor says adds familiarity and is helpful.
“It helps a lot,” Pryor told the media on Tuesday. “There are a couple of things I look at and say, ‘Flip’s trying to grow a little bit of that playbook.’ He’s a very sharp, smart guy. I love playing for him and always did.”
Pryor held out for a longterm, big money deal that never came to fruition following the 2016 season, and spent the past couple seasons bouncing from Washington to New York (Jets) and battling injury after injury. All told, in the past two seasons, Pryor only nabbed 36 receptions for 492 total yards and three scores, so there wasn’t an obvious landing spot for him this offseason.
“I was trying to wait for the right spot,” Pryor said, according to the team site. “Everybody was bothering me, ‘When are you going to sign? Are you playing?’ I was patiently waiting.”
Now, the former Buckeye says he’s 100% healthy and eager to get to work with his new quarterback, Nick Foles. Getting healthy has been a long process, and one that has kept him sidelined more than he would have liked the past couple of seasons.
“The problem for me the past two years was really my foot,” Pryor said. “After I tore my ankle two years ago, it was just so hard stopping and starting. Finally, it’s to the point where I have no pain and feel no stoppage on my ankle.”
But by the looks of things, he’s back to his old ways on the practice field.
Nick Foles to new #Jaguars WR Terrelle Pryor. pic.twitter.com/i7XYv6by6A
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) June 3, 2019Buckeye updates around the league
The Carolina Panthers need wide receiver Curtis Samuel to have a breakout 2019 season — MickSmiley, Cat Scratch Reader
“What was most promising from last season is the speedy wideout got better as the year went along. Over the Panthers last five games he averaged four receptions for 59.6 yards per game. Pro Football Focus also highlighted his improvement as an outside wide receiver in 2018 when compared to his 2017 rookie season.”
Running right: A big-picture view of Ezekiel Elliott and his role in the Cowboys’ offense — Tom Ryle, Blogging the Boys
“From a standpoint of ability, athleticism, power, speed, durability, his influence in the locker room, or whatever else you want to throw into the mix, there is no other player on the roster who clearly exceeds what Elliott brings to the table, and few that can even pull up a chair to be in the conversation.”
Adam Schefter talks the latest on Malcolm Jenkins, Johnathan Cyprien, and Carson Wentz — Brandon Lee Gowton, Bleeding Green Nation
“Jenkins be fined a total of $88,650 if he misses next week’s minicamp (June 11 through June 13). His absence could send a message that he’s really serious about wanting a new deal.
Ted Ginn Jr. not shy about belief he’s the fastest player in the NFL: ‘We’ve all got our labels’ — Nathan Brown, The New Orleans Advocate
“We’re in a league where everyone wants to be the best. Everyone feels like they’re the guy. That’s what this league is all about,” he said. “But when you think about speed, and you come to the New Orleans Saints, you think about one guy. When you think about the No. 1 receiver, you go to Mike (Thomas). We’ve all got our labels.”
Ryan Shazier wins PFWA’s Halas Award for overcoming adversity — Darin Gantt, ProFootball Talk
“Shazier was named the winner of the George Halas Award from the Professional Football Writers of America, which recognizes the person who overcomes the most adversity to succeed.”
Other notables
Parris Campbell will be used like Keenan Allen. Reich and his OC were in SD when Allen arrived. https://t.co/zffWn25h1h
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) June 5, 2019
Practice ends with an unbelievable catch by Terry McLaurin from Haskins to score in the 2 minute.
He reached right around Harris and somehow caught the ball through his body. Jaw dropping catch.
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) June 5, 2019
.@DLeeMG8 putting in work during OTAs pic.twitter.com/lfiw7CVmQI
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) June 2, 2019
Continue reading...
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
OTAs and underway and there’s a lot to look forward to from Ohio State alumni this upcoming NFL season.
To say former Ohio State QB turned NFL receiver Terrelle Pryor Sr. has had an up and down career, would be putting it mildly. After joining the NFL by way of the Supplemental Draft — thank you, TattooGate — he spent several seasons as a backup quarterback before making the transition to wideout in Cleveland.
It took some adjustment, but in 2016 he had a breakout year for the Browns, totaling 1,007 yards and four touchdowns on 77 catches. Importantly, this was under Offensive Coordinator John DeFilippo who is now with the Jaguars — a relationship Pryor says adds familiarity and is helpful.
“It helps a lot,” Pryor told the media on Tuesday. “There are a couple of things I look at and say, ‘Flip’s trying to grow a little bit of that playbook.’ He’s a very sharp, smart guy. I love playing for him and always did.”
Pryor held out for a longterm, big money deal that never came to fruition following the 2016 season, and spent the past couple seasons bouncing from Washington to New York (Jets) and battling injury after injury. All told, in the past two seasons, Pryor only nabbed 36 receptions for 492 total yards and three scores, so there wasn’t an obvious landing spot for him this offseason.
“I was trying to wait for the right spot,” Pryor said, according to the team site. “Everybody was bothering me, ‘When are you going to sign? Are you playing?’ I was patiently waiting.”
Now, the former Buckeye says he’s 100% healthy and eager to get to work with his new quarterback, Nick Foles. Getting healthy has been a long process, and one that has kept him sidelined more than he would have liked the past couple of seasons.
“The problem for me the past two years was really my foot,” Pryor said. “After I tore my ankle two years ago, it was just so hard stopping and starting. Finally, it’s to the point where I have no pain and feel no stoppage on my ankle.”
But by the looks of things, he’s back to his old ways on the practice field.
Nick Foles to new #Jaguars WR Terrelle Pryor. pic.twitter.com/i7XYv6by6A
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) June 3, 2019
The Carolina Panthers need wide receiver Curtis Samuel to have a breakout 2019 season — MickSmiley, Cat Scratch Reader
“What was most promising from last season is the speedy wideout got better as the year went along. Over the Panthers last five games he averaged four receptions for 59.6 yards per game. Pro Football Focus also highlighted his improvement as an outside wide receiver in 2018 when compared to his 2017 rookie season.”
Running right: A big-picture view of Ezekiel Elliott and his role in the Cowboys’ offense — Tom Ryle, Blogging the Boys
“From a standpoint of ability, athleticism, power, speed, durability, his influence in the locker room, or whatever else you want to throw into the mix, there is no other player on the roster who clearly exceeds what Elliott brings to the table, and few that can even pull up a chair to be in the conversation.”
Adam Schefter talks the latest on Malcolm Jenkins, Johnathan Cyprien, and Carson Wentz — Brandon Lee Gowton, Bleeding Green Nation
“Jenkins be fined a total of $88,650 if he misses next week’s minicamp (June 11 through June 13). His absence could send a message that he’s really serious about wanting a new deal.
Ted Ginn Jr. not shy about belief he’s the fastest player in the NFL: ‘We’ve all got our labels’ — Nathan Brown, The New Orleans Advocate
“We’re in a league where everyone wants to be the best. Everyone feels like they’re the guy. That’s what this league is all about,” he said. “But when you think about speed, and you come to the New Orleans Saints, you think about one guy. When you think about the No. 1 receiver, you go to Mike (Thomas). We’ve all got our labels.”
Ryan Shazier wins PFWA’s Halas Award for overcoming adversity — Darin Gantt, ProFootball Talk
“Shazier was named the winner of the George Halas Award from the Professional Football Writers of America, which recognizes the person who overcomes the most adversity to succeed.”
Parris Campbell will be used like Keenan Allen. Reich and his OC were in SD when Allen arrived. https://t.co/zffWn25h1h
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) June 5, 2019
Practice ends with an unbelievable catch by Terry McLaurin from Haskins to score in the 2 minute.
He reached right around Harris and somehow caught the ball through his body. Jaw dropping catch.
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) June 5, 2019
.@DLeeMG8 putting in work during OTAs pic.twitter.com/lfiw7CVmQI
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) June 2, 2019
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State cracks the top 5 for top safety prospect
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State cracks the top 5 for top safety prospect
Patrick Mayhorn via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes are in the hunt for Lathan Ransom.
Plenty has been made about Ohio State’s recruiting on the defensive side of the ball in the 2020 class. The Buckeyes, of course, have just one defender (Lejond Cavazos) committed at this point in early June, and with a new, offense first head coach, the anxiety is understandable, though ultimately misguided (Day is going to recruit defenders, I promise).
Day isn’t the only new coach on the staff. Almost every defensive coach is brand new to Columbus, and it takes time to build relationships when you’re new to a school. It’s especially hard when you’re new to a school that fielded a pretty abysmal defense last season. That’s still fresh in quite a few minds, and Jeff Hafley, Matt Barnes and Al Washington all have to work to assure recruits that the new defense is going to work much better than the old defense.
While the commitment number is small, it seems that those efforts are paying off, and will result in numbers on the board sooner than later. The latest win? Ohio State was included in four-star safety Lathan Ransom’s top five yesterday.
The Buckeyes are joined in that top five with LSU, Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Texas, a final list that should not surprise. There doesn’t seem to be a runaway leader right now, but Ohio State does have the final visit, and if they can blow him away, I think they’re very much in the running to land him. In fact, right now, I’d predict that the Buckeye do land Ransom.
Ransom is the No. 5 safety in the country, and he sits at 72nd in the 247Sports composite rankings. He also happens to be teammates with Buckeye running back target Bijan Robinson, but the two aren’t a deal, and landing one would only marginally impact the other, IMO.
Kick talk
Folks, we’re talking kicker recruits. Specifically, we’re talking Ohio State’s next kicker, and latest commitment, Cincinnati’s own Jake Seibert is considered by many to be the best kicker in the class of 2020, and I have no reason to doubt.
So, what does this mean? Well, it’s good news, in case you were concerned that it isn’t, for some reason. Seibert is a very talented kicker, and, well, we’ve seen what it’s like when you don’t have one of those during basically the entire Urban Meyer era. Ryan Day doesn’t want to repeat those kicking struggles, and Seibert seems to be the best person to do that.
It certainly isn’t the sexiest recruiting news in the world, but having a very good kicker is going to help Ohio State win games, and I don’t know about y’all, but Ohio State winning games sounds pretty good to me.
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Patrick Mayhorn via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes are in the hunt for Lathan Ransom.
Plenty has been made about Ohio State’s recruiting on the defensive side of the ball in the 2020 class. The Buckeyes, of course, have just one defender (Lejond Cavazos) committed at this point in early June, and with a new, offense first head coach, the anxiety is understandable, though ultimately misguided (Day is going to recruit defenders, I promise).
Day isn’t the only new coach on the staff. Almost every defensive coach is brand new to Columbus, and it takes time to build relationships when you’re new to a school. It’s especially hard when you’re new to a school that fielded a pretty abysmal defense last season. That’s still fresh in quite a few minds, and Jeff Hafley, Matt Barnes and Al Washington all have to work to assure recruits that the new defense is going to work much better than the old defense.
While the commitment number is small, it seems that those efforts are paying off, and will result in numbers on the board sooner than later. The latest win? Ohio State was included in four-star safety Lathan Ransom’s top five yesterday.
The Buckeyes are joined in that top five with LSU, Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Texas, a final list that should not surprise. There doesn’t seem to be a runaway leader right now, but Ohio State does have the final visit, and if they can blow him away, I think they’re very much in the running to land him. In fact, right now, I’d predict that the Buckeye do land Ransom.
Ransom is the No. 5 safety in the country, and he sits at 72nd in the 247Sports composite rankings. He also happens to be teammates with Buckeye running back target Bijan Robinson, but the two aren’t a deal, and landing one would only marginally impact the other, IMO.
Kick talk
Folks, we’re talking kicker recruits. Specifically, we’re talking Ohio State’s next kicker, and latest commitment, Cincinnati’s own Jake Seibert is considered by many to be the best kicker in the class of 2020, and I have no reason to doubt.
So, what does this mean? Well, it’s good news, in case you were concerned that it isn’t, for some reason. Seibert is a very talented kicker, and, well, we’ve seen what it’s like when you don’t have one of those during basically the entire Urban Meyer era. Ryan Day doesn’t want to repeat those kicking struggles, and Seibert seems to be the best person to do that.
It certainly isn’t the sexiest recruiting news in the world, but having a very good kicker is going to help Ohio State win games, and I don’t know about y’all, but Ohio State winning games sounds pretty good to me.
Continue reading...
LGHL Chris Holtmann named to coaching staff for US men’s basketball U19 training camp
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Chris Holtmann named to coaching staff for US men’s basketball U19 training camp
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
This summer, the Buckeye coach will help mold the stars of tomorrow.
“Six successful coaches will be on hand to help the USA basketball Men’s U19 National Team coaching staff at training camp, including Rodney Billups(University of Denver), Jeff Britt (Bethel University, Tenn.), Jeff Culver (University of Colorado Colorado Springs), Aaron Gray (former NBA athlete) and Chris Holtmann (Ohio State University) and Hank Plona.”
— USA Basketball
Big news for Ohio State basketball head coach Chris Holtmann, as he's been announced as one of the six coaches for the USA Men's basketball U19 training camp. This is Holtmann’s first assignment to USA Basketball.
The camp will take place from June 15-17 in Colorado Springs, and will help determine who makes the cut for the U19 national team. The head coach of the U19 squad is Bruce Weber, current head coach at Kansas State. Weber is a successful coach with a Final Four appearance on his résumé from his time at Illinois.
Getting called upon to help the US national team is a big honor, regardless if it's gearing up for an Olympiad or for a U19 training camp. Having a pedigree worthy of being selected is great, and with how Holtmann has been doing at OSU, will be a huge advantage on the recruiting trail, too. In the last two seasons, Holtmann has guided the Buckeyes to the NCAA Tournament, and has a top recruiting class coming in.
If there's a guy who knows what he's doing in college basketball, it's Holtmann. Especially when it comes to molding the future stars of college basketball.
“Warren, 55, will start working alongside current Commissioner Jim Delany on Sept. 16, 2019, and Delany, who has run the conference since 1989, plans to step down on Jan. 1, 2020.”
— Marcus Fuller | Star Tribune
In conference news, the Big Ten has found their next commissioner. Kevin Warren, who was the chief operating officer of the Minnesota Vikings since 2015, was introduced as the next commissioner of the league on Tuesday. He’ll work with current Commissioner Jim Delany starting in September 2019, and will take over for Delany when he departs on New Year’s Day 2020.
Before stepping into this new role, Warren has had experience with working in the Big Ten. According to Marcus Fuller’s article, in 2016, Warren helped Minnesota University find their new athletic director. From a résumé standpoint, Warren is impressive. He’s helped bring US Bank Stadium, the current home of the Vikings, to fruition. And he’s also been vice president of football operations for the (then) St. Louis Rams and the senior vice president of business operations for the Detroit Lions.
Delany will leave big shoes to fill. Under his reign, which began in 1989, the Big Ten conference has grown dramatically. A couple milestones for Delany was that he ushered in four new institutions to the conference (Penn State in 1990, Nebraska in 2011, and Maryland and Rutgers in 2014), and helped create the Big Ten Network.
For the foreseeable future, things looks bright for the conference. Congrats to Mr. Warren!
“The Big Ten unveiled its most diverse postseason lineup in conference history on Tuesday, with at least 11 different bowl partners spread across the country beginning with the 2020 college football season.”
— Big Ten Network
In other Big Ten news, there are some bowl tie-in changes for the 2020-25 seasons.
Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual (Pasadena, Calif.)
Capital One Orange Bowl (Miami)
Citrus Bowl (Orlando, Fla.)
Outback Bowl (Tampa, Fla.)
Las Vegas Bowl (Las Vegas)
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl (Nashville, Tenn.)
New Era Pinstripe Bowl (Bronx, N.Y.)
Belk Bowl (Charlotte, N.C.)
Cheez-It Bowl (Phoenix)
Redbox Bowl (Santa Clara, Calif.)
Quick Lane Bowl (Detroit, Mich.)
While the New Year’s Six bowl ties remain unchanged, there are a couple notable bowls that will feature a team from the B1G. First, the Las Vegas bowl is one of the new additions starting in 2020, and will feature a matchup with a school from the Pac-12. But, there's a catch: the Big Ten will be in Vegas on odd numbered years through 2025; the SEC gets a slot in the Las Vegas bowl on even numbered years. In recent years, the Las Vegas bowl has featured matchups between Pac-12 and the Mountain West. The bowl tie-in change comes with the addition of a new stadium being built to house the Raiders, who’ll move from Oakland to Las Vegas in 2020.
The Belk Bowl, which previously was a matchup between ACC-SEC programs, will now incorporate a Big Ten squad in the years they aren’t in the Las Vegas Bowl (even numbered years).
With the additions, there are some subtractions. The Holiday Bowl is definitely out for the Big Ten, so no team is going to San Diego for the foreseeable future. And trips to the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville are no longer a possible postseason destination for the Big Ten.
Stick to Sports
Continue reading...
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
This summer, the Buckeye coach will help mold the stars of tomorrow.
“Six successful coaches will be on hand to help the USA basketball Men’s U19 National Team coaching staff at training camp, including Rodney Billups(University of Denver), Jeff Britt (Bethel University, Tenn.), Jeff Culver (University of Colorado Colorado Springs), Aaron Gray (former NBA athlete) and Chris Holtmann (Ohio State University) and Hank Plona.”
— USA Basketball
Big news for Ohio State basketball head coach Chris Holtmann, as he's been announced as one of the six coaches for the USA Men's basketball U19 training camp. This is Holtmann’s first assignment to USA Basketball.
The camp will take place from June 15-17 in Colorado Springs, and will help determine who makes the cut for the U19 national team. The head coach of the U19 squad is Bruce Weber, current head coach at Kansas State. Weber is a successful coach with a Final Four appearance on his résumé from his time at Illinois.
Getting called upon to help the US national team is a big honor, regardless if it's gearing up for an Olympiad or for a U19 training camp. Having a pedigree worthy of being selected is great, and with how Holtmann has been doing at OSU, will be a huge advantage on the recruiting trail, too. In the last two seasons, Holtmann has guided the Buckeyes to the NCAA Tournament, and has a top recruiting class coming in.
If there's a guy who knows what he's doing in college basketball, it's Holtmann. Especially when it comes to molding the future stars of college basketball.
“Warren, 55, will start working alongside current Commissioner Jim Delany on Sept. 16, 2019, and Delany, who has run the conference since 1989, plans to step down on Jan. 1, 2020.”
— Marcus Fuller | Star Tribune
In conference news, the Big Ten has found their next commissioner. Kevin Warren, who was the chief operating officer of the Minnesota Vikings since 2015, was introduced as the next commissioner of the league on Tuesday. He’ll work with current Commissioner Jim Delany starting in September 2019, and will take over for Delany when he departs on New Year’s Day 2020.
Before stepping into this new role, Warren has had experience with working in the Big Ten. According to Marcus Fuller’s article, in 2016, Warren helped Minnesota University find their new athletic director. From a résumé standpoint, Warren is impressive. He’s helped bring US Bank Stadium, the current home of the Vikings, to fruition. And he’s also been vice president of football operations for the (then) St. Louis Rams and the senior vice president of business operations for the Detroit Lions.
Delany will leave big shoes to fill. Under his reign, which began in 1989, the Big Ten conference has grown dramatically. A couple milestones for Delany was that he ushered in four new institutions to the conference (Penn State in 1990, Nebraska in 2011, and Maryland and Rutgers in 2014), and helped create the Big Ten Network.
For the foreseeable future, things looks bright for the conference. Congrats to Mr. Warren!
“The Big Ten unveiled its most diverse postseason lineup in conference history on Tuesday, with at least 11 different bowl partners spread across the country beginning with the 2020 college football season.”
— Big Ten Network
In other Big Ten news, there are some bowl tie-in changes for the 2020-25 seasons.
Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual (Pasadena, Calif.)
Capital One Orange Bowl (Miami)
Citrus Bowl (Orlando, Fla.)
Outback Bowl (Tampa, Fla.)
Las Vegas Bowl (Las Vegas)
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl (Nashville, Tenn.)
New Era Pinstripe Bowl (Bronx, N.Y.)
Belk Bowl (Charlotte, N.C.)
Cheez-It Bowl (Phoenix)
Redbox Bowl (Santa Clara, Calif.)
Quick Lane Bowl (Detroit, Mich.)
While the New Year’s Six bowl ties remain unchanged, there are a couple notable bowls that will feature a team from the B1G. First, the Las Vegas bowl is one of the new additions starting in 2020, and will feature a matchup with a school from the Pac-12. But, there's a catch: the Big Ten will be in Vegas on odd numbered years through 2025; the SEC gets a slot in the Las Vegas bowl on even numbered years. In recent years, the Las Vegas bowl has featured matchups between Pac-12 and the Mountain West. The bowl tie-in change comes with the addition of a new stadium being built to house the Raiders, who’ll move from Oakland to Las Vegas in 2020.
The Belk Bowl, which previously was a matchup between ACC-SEC programs, will now incorporate a Big Ten squad in the years they aren’t in the Las Vegas Bowl (even numbered years).
With the additions, there are some subtractions. The Holiday Bowl is definitely out for the Big Ten, so no team is going to San Diego for the foreseeable future. And trips to the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville are no longer a possible postseason destination for the Big Ten.
Stick to Sports
- James Holzhauer’s 32-day run as champion on Jeopardy! has come to an end.
- Apple to replace iTunes on Mac with three new apps.
- Obligatory The Bachelorette recap.
- Katalina’s II is now open in Clintonville.
- On this day in history: (1940) Evacuations on Dunkirk beach come to an end. In total, nearly 350,000 troops are saved.
- Also on this day: (1929) White Castle, home of the slider, opens its first shop in Columbus.
Continue reading...
LGHL BOOM! Jake Seibert, nation’s top-ranked kicker, commits to Ohio State
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- 0 Replies
BOOM! Jake Seibert, nation’s top-ranked kicker, commits to Ohio State
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Cincinnati will be staying in state to play his college football.
He might not have any any stars next to his name, but Jake Seibert is a big time kicking prospect. According to Chris Sailer Kicking, Seibert is the nation’s best 2020 kicking recruit, and he just committed to play his college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
The rising-senior was 6-for-6 on fields last season, 23-for-24 on extra points, and 29 of his 37 kickoffs resulted in touchbacks. The Cincinnati native also held offer from UCLA, Michigan State, and others.
According to Chris Sailer, “Jake is a special kicking talent. He is an amazing athlete with a big time leg and natural ability. He hits a great ball off the ground on field goal. He has 60+ yard range and gets excellent lift on his ball. His kickoffs are D1 ready right now. Jake drives the ball deep into the end zone with 4.0+ hang time. He is a competitor that thrives under pressure. The sky is the limit here. Jake is a fine young man with a great attitude and work ethic. Big things ahead for this Chris Sailer Kicking Kicker. Look for Jake to dominate this 2019 off season and pick up multiple D1 offers. Excellent prospect.”
Ohio State’s incumbent kicker Blake Haubeil will be a junior this fall, as will backup Zach Hoover. OSU’s other backup Dominic DiMaccio is a junior. So, barring transfers, Seibert will be coming into a crowded kicking room in the fall of 2020, but one in which he is the only underclassman.
Check out highlights from Seibert’s junior season:
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Cincinnati will be staying in state to play his college football.
He might not have any any stars next to his name, but Jake Seibert is a big time kicking prospect. According to Chris Sailer Kicking, Seibert is the nation’s best 2020 kicking recruit, and he just committed to play his college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
️ The rising-senior was 6-for-6 on fields last season, 23-for-24 on extra points, and 29 of his 37 kickoffs resulted in touchbacks. The Cincinnati native also held offer from UCLA, Michigan State, and others.
According to Chris Sailer, “Jake is a special kicking talent. He is an amazing athlete with a big time leg and natural ability. He hits a great ball off the ground on field goal. He has 60+ yard range and gets excellent lift on his ball. His kickoffs are D1 ready right now. Jake drives the ball deep into the end zone with 4.0+ hang time. He is a competitor that thrives under pressure. The sky is the limit here. Jake is a fine young man with a great attitude and work ethic. Big things ahead for this Chris Sailer Kicking Kicker. Look for Jake to dominate this 2019 off season and pick up multiple D1 offers. Excellent prospect.”
Ohio State’s incumbent kicker Blake Haubeil will be a junior this fall, as will backup Zach Hoover. OSU’s other backup Dominic DiMaccio is a junior. So, barring transfers, Seibert will be coming into a crowded kicking room in the fall of 2020, but one in which he is the only underclassman.
Check out highlights from Seibert’s junior season:
Continue reading...
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2020 MI OL Justin Rogers (Kentucky Verbal)
- By AuTX Buckeye
- Football Recruiting
- 71 Replies
Someone help me with this... I forgot to take my daily LSD, MDMA, and shrooms... i can’t fathom this...
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UEFA Champions League (Official Thread)
- By Jake
- Other OSU and Professional Sports
- 1147 Replies
Six times! 
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MotS&G 2019 NFL Draft: Dwayne Haskins
- News
- 0 Replies
2019 NFL Draft: Dwayne Haskins
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Dwayne Haskins, Quarterback
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: Dwayne Haskins #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks to make a pass during the first half in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2019, in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Dwayne Haskins had a wonderful year during his only season as the starting Quarterback for the Buckeyes. After torching the Ohio State record books, he will look ahead toward his future as an NFL Quarterback.
Although he could use another year to sharpen and hone his skills, he has the necessary tools and traits to succeed at the next level. The lucky team who covets him will get a baller with very few flaws.
Haskins is surely capable of playing at a high level and if he gets a shot early he could make some noise, but every team interested in his services seems to have a veteran in place for the time being.
Having a seasoned veteran in place isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker in the Haskins sweepstakes. In a pre-draft interview, he mentioned that he was open to learning under an established veteran, so although we would have to wait some time for the Dwayne Haskins era to begin, he will have an opportunity to become an understudy until his number is called.
Here is a list of Quarterback-needy teams to keep an eye on for the upcoming draft. There is a lot of smoke from multiple teams, so it will be an interesting ride for Haskins the fans out there (including myself!) to get drafted by their own NFL franchise. Buckle up, folks!
Arizona Cardinals, #1 Overall Pick:
Arizona has been connected to a Quarterback prospect in the draft, but unfortunately, it isn’t to Haskins. They have their eyes set on Kyler Murray, the Oklahoma Sooners stud who spurned the Oakland A’s to pursue football instead of baseball.
I know that it isn’t Haskins, but its the NFL Draft, the pick could change. There can be a situation (a la Aaron Rodgers) where Murray could slip down after a last-minute discovery.
It seems likely that it will not happen, but it is always fun to play the “what if” game before the draft. Given their infatuation with the type of Quarterbacks Kliff Kingsbury has had at Texas Tech, Murray fits that Gunslinger mold similar to Mahomes, so there is that.
The team also spent a 1st Rounder last year on Josh Rosen. There has been some speculation about his future, but we will see what continues to develop as the NFL Draft inches closer. There might be a surprise or a few on draft day.
Chances: 5%
Oakland Raiders, #4 Overall Pick
Oakland has a franchise Quarterback in place in Derek Carr, but John Gruden might be ready to turn the page on him with Haskins. By acting as the understudy, it would give time for him to master the playbook while biding his time. There could also be some waves during the draft and we could see Carr getting traded during the draft.
You honestly never know about the draft, but it is possible. Chucky is also always somewhat connected to anything Ohio State. Like before Urban Meyer accepted the job, Gruden was always mentioned as a potential candidate for the job.
I have been seeing a lot of draft experts talking about Haskins at this pick, but it could be more smoke and mirrors, and we could see a trade happen if the right offer comes up. The fit for Haskins would work as well, but with the number of talented pass-rushers in the AFC West, he might spend a lot of his time on the ground as he learns, but he could thrive under the Raiders system.
Chances: 40%
New York Giants, #6 Overall Pick
The Giants are the most connected to when talking about Dwayne Haskins. With the combination of being a lifelong Giants fan and the teams need for a solution after Eli calls it quits, it seems like a perfect storm for the team.
With the departure of Odell Beckham Jr and the extension of Sterling Sheppard, it would be a fun offense to watch with the addition of Haskins and the rise of Barkley. This would be the ideal situation for him to thrive and learn under another Super Bowl winning Quarterback.
He would certainly be up for sitting behind Eli as he continues to develop and learn the playbook. It would be a shock if they don’t take him.
Chances: 75%
Jacksonville Jaguars, #7 Overall Pick
The Jaguars are in dire need of a Quarterback after cutting ties with Blake Bortles. They have put a bandaid on the situation with the former Eagles Super Bowl hero Nick Foles, but the future remains murky.
Haskins could fall to the Jags if the Raiders and the Giants end up taking other needs and he would fit here too. With a solid defense in tow and a punishing running attack, he could thrive with little pressure to put up points.
All he has to do is become more productive than Bortles was and cutting down on the turnovers or mistakes. If he could do that, he would be golden. This makes sense because of the age and the wear and tear with Foles.
Chances: 35%
Denver Broncos, #10 Overall Pick
Denver has needed a Quarterback since the end of Peyton Manning’s playing days and it is beginning to show. Firstly, I am a fan of this franchise and it hurts, but Haskins at this spot would restore my faith in John Elway.
The Broncos, Elway specifically is infatuated with Drew Lock at this spot. Kind of like the Brock Osweiler experiment, the Trevor Siemian season, the Paxton Lynch debacle, and the Chad Kelly gamble. Each of them reminded Elway of himself and each selection was a bad one. This year, Elway has a chance to change that if he selects Dwayne Haskins, but will he be willing to do it?
New Head Coach Vic Fangio would like to bolster the defense with a game-changing Linebacker and with Joe Flacco joining the team, they could wait another year to draft his successor OR they could grab a Haskins who is plummeting in the draft (allegedly).
Haskins fits with the Broncos and he could study under a Super Bowl winning Quarterback like Joe Flacco. I would certainly enjoy it and start watching the NFL more, but it is up to Elway to work his magic.
Chances: 50%
Cincinnati Bengals, #11 Overall Pick
The Bengals are in a spot where they could keep the former Ohio State product in the state of Ohio and it could certainly happen. Andy Dalton has been iffy over the last couple of season and his health is a huge concern.
Haskins is like a tank and he has been fortunate enough to not be seriously hurt by the injury bug. Haskins to Green/Eifert has a nice ring to it and I am positive that a few Bengals fans would love it too.
Although the learn under the Super Bowl winning Quarterback does not apply here, he can stay in Ohio and he has a decent offense to work with Mixon being there for the handoffs in the running game. Their defense will undergo a lot of changes, but with the addition of Haskins, you never know.
Chances: 85%
Miami Dolphins, #12 Overall Pick
The Dolphins moved on from Tannehill and they could get a steal with a plummeting Dwayne Haskins. If all of the previous teams pass on him, I would be upset, but it is the name of the game.
He could learn under Ryan Fitzmagic for the time being before earning the starting job. The offense is not as good as the other teams, but it the cupboard isn’t bare and Haskins could inject some energy into the team.
He also would have a good defense and he would reconnect with former Buckeye Linebackers Jerome Baker and Raekwon McMillan, which would be awesome to see at the next level.
Chances: 85%
Washington Redskins, #15 Overall Pick
The last team on the docket is the Washinton Redskins. They have a lot of depth in the Quarterback room with Alex Smith recovering from a gruesome leg injury, the recent trade with Denver for Case Keenum and then there is Colt McCoy too.
The situation could get more complicated with the addition of Haskins, especially when having that many players at the same position. The only way this would happen is to make draft day trades, but we shall see what they could manage.
If Haskins joins the fold, he would have a pretty explosive offense with a punishing running game. The defense is always good in D.C. He would learn under three Quarterbacks with varying levels of success in the league.
Chances: 25%
Continue reading...
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Dwayne Haskins, Quarterback
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: Dwayne Haskins #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks to make a pass during the first half in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2019, in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Dwayne Haskins had a wonderful year during his only season as the starting Quarterback for the Buckeyes. After torching the Ohio State record books, he will look ahead toward his future as an NFL Quarterback.
Although he could use another year to sharpen and hone his skills, he has the necessary tools and traits to succeed at the next level. The lucky team who covets him will get a baller with very few flaws.
Haskins is surely capable of playing at a high level and if he gets a shot early he could make some noise, but every team interested in his services seems to have a veteran in place for the time being.
Having a seasoned veteran in place isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker in the Haskins sweepstakes. In a pre-draft interview, he mentioned that he was open to learning under an established veteran, so although we would have to wait some time for the Dwayne Haskins era to begin, he will have an opportunity to become an understudy until his number is called.
Here is a list of Quarterback-needy teams to keep an eye on for the upcoming draft. There is a lot of smoke from multiple teams, so it will be an interesting ride for Haskins the fans out there (including myself!) to get drafted by their own NFL franchise. Buckle up, folks!
Arizona Cardinals, #1 Overall Pick:
I know that it isn’t Haskins, but its the NFL Draft, the pick could change. There can be a situation (a la Aaron Rodgers) where Murray could slip down after a last-minute discovery.
It seems likely that it will not happen, but it is always fun to play the “what if” game before the draft. Given their infatuation with the type of Quarterbacks Kliff Kingsbury has had at Texas Tech, Murray fits that Gunslinger mold similar to Mahomes, so there is that.
The team also spent a 1st Rounder last year on Josh Rosen. There has been some speculation about his future, but we will see what continues to develop as the NFL Draft inches closer. There might be a surprise or a few on draft day.
Chances: 5%
Oakland Raiders, #4 Overall Pick
You honestly never know about the draft, but it is possible. Chucky is also always somewhat connected to anything Ohio State. Like before Urban Meyer accepted the job, Gruden was always mentioned as a potential candidate for the job.
I have been seeing a lot of draft experts talking about Haskins at this pick, but it could be more smoke and mirrors, and we could see a trade happen if the right offer comes up. The fit for Haskins would work as well, but with the number of talented pass-rushers in the AFC West, he might spend a lot of his time on the ground as he learns, but he could thrive under the Raiders system.
Chances: 40%
New York Giants, #6 Overall Pick
With the departure of Odell Beckham Jr and the extension of Sterling Sheppard, it would be a fun offense to watch with the addition of Haskins and the rise of Barkley. This would be the ideal situation for him to thrive and learn under another Super Bowl winning Quarterback.
He would certainly be up for sitting behind Eli as he continues to develop and learn the playbook. It would be a shock if they don’t take him.
Chances: 75%
Jacksonville Jaguars, #7 Overall Pick
Haskins could fall to the Jags if the Raiders and the Giants end up taking other needs and he would fit here too. With a solid defense in tow and a punishing running attack, he could thrive with little pressure to put up points.
All he has to do is become more productive than Bortles was and cutting down on the turnovers or mistakes. If he could do that, he would be golden. This makes sense because of the age and the wear and tear with Foles.
Chances: 35%
Denver Broncos, #10 Overall Pick
The Broncos, Elway specifically is infatuated with Drew Lock at this spot. Kind of like the Brock Osweiler experiment, the Trevor Siemian season, the Paxton Lynch debacle, and the Chad Kelly gamble. Each of them reminded Elway of himself and each selection was a bad one. This year, Elway has a chance to change that if he selects Dwayne Haskins, but will he be willing to do it?
New Head Coach Vic Fangio would like to bolster the defense with a game-changing Linebacker and with Joe Flacco joining the team, they could wait another year to draft his successor OR they could grab a Haskins who is plummeting in the draft (allegedly).
Haskins fits with the Broncos and he could study under a Super Bowl winning Quarterback like Joe Flacco. I would certainly enjoy it and start watching the NFL more, but it is up to Elway to work his magic.
Chances: 50%
Cincinnati Bengals, #11 Overall Pick
Haskins is like a tank and he has been fortunate enough to not be seriously hurt by the injury bug. Haskins to Green/Eifert has a nice ring to it and I am positive that a few Bengals fans would love it too.
Although the learn under the Super Bowl winning Quarterback does not apply here, he can stay in Ohio and he has a decent offense to work with Mixon being there for the handoffs in the running game. Their defense will undergo a lot of changes, but with the addition of Haskins, you never know.
Chances: 85%
Miami Dolphins, #12 Overall Pick
He could learn under Ryan Fitzmagic for the time being before earning the starting job. The offense is not as good as the other teams, but it the cupboard isn’t bare and Haskins could inject some energy into the team.
He also would have a good defense and he would reconnect with former Buckeye Linebackers Jerome Baker and Raekwon McMillan, which would be awesome to see at the next level.
Chances: 85%
Washington Redskins, #15 Overall Pick
The situation could get more complicated with the addition of Haskins, especially when having that many players at the same position. The only way this would happen is to make draft day trades, but we shall see what they could manage.
If Haskins joins the fold, he would have a pretty explosive offense with a punishing running game. The defense is always good in D.C. He would learn under three Quarterbacks with varying levels of success in the league.
Chances: 25%
Continue reading...
MotS&G Dawn of A New Day at Ohio State
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Dawn of A New Day at Ohio State
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
With the annual Spring Game just around the corner, there are many reasons to be excited about the 2019 team. The biggest elephant in the room is the changing of the guard between Urban Meyer and Ryan Day. In epic fashion, the keys were handed over to him, leaving Ohio State in more than capable hands to lead this new era of Ohio State football forward and onto big things.
From day one of taking the sticks from Coach Meyer, he assembled quite an impressive staff that returned only Brian Hartline, who is now their full-time wide receivers coach, Larry Johnson, who will act as the teams Associate Head Coach and the defensive shot-caller, Tony Alford, who returns to coach the Running Backs, Kevin Wilson, who is responsible for the Tight Ends and finally, Greg Studrawa, the O-Line head honcho.
The Buckeyes lost a few of their coaches. Some were not retained and others left for jobs elsewhere, but I personally wish them the best, but they also managed to improve on the fly by poaching a couple of former rivals to add to the team in Greg Mattison and Al Washington. They both jumped ship to help the team improve the play of the front seven. Jeff Hafley was added to coach up the DB’s and he came after a stint with the 49ers. Day also added the former Oklahoma State O-Coordinator Mike Yurich, who is a bright, young offensive mind who will be coaching the Quarterback room.
Coach Day has assembled a team comparable to the Avengers, with every coach being some form of a rising star or a threat to opposing coaches, with the core group of coaches acts as the foundation to ensure their potential is reached. The offense has the potential to scorch teams and the defense has the depth to outlast teams in the trenches. Excitement outweighs the dread, but we have to be patient.
Expectations:
Offense:
Even with a new Head Coach, the expectations at Ohio State remain sky-high. That is what all coaches to don the Scarlet and Gray have hovering over their heads. With a couple of pass-friendly and pass-happy coaching in tow, the Buckeyes have a potent group of coaches that will look to maximize their talent and play to their players strengths.
I fully expect a balanced offense that fall in the 55/45 model. Balance is key and so is speed. The Buckeyes are loaded at just about every level on offense and defense, but a 55% pass and 45% run gameplan could cause defenses to scramble or panic. This would be awesome and as a fan I am excited to see what develops as the season inches closer.
Quarterback is a two-man race, with Fields likely to be the starter. He is locked in a battle with Baldwin, but you just never know. The odds are in his favor and it is his job to lose. For Running Back, it is Dobbins’ show as the feature back with Teague, Crowley, and McCall vying for playing time. This is not the deepest skill position at Ohio State. The Wide Receivers room is stocked full of talent with Mack, Victor and Hill being the most experienced and young players like Olave, Gill, Wilson, Harris and Gardiner looking for snaps as well. Tight End is also competitive with Farrell leading the way and Berry and Ruckert waiting in the wings. The O-Line will have to find new starters and they have a lot of former four/five stars fighting for the jobs available, but Jonah Jackson, a Grad Transfer from Rutgers will be one of the key cogs along the line with Wyatt Davis.
Defense:
The defense is also very deep at every position. With the addition of three new defensive coaches, their collective views will show in year one of the Day Era. Not only have they stockpiled the talent over the years at Ohio State at just about every position, the position coaches have also been compiled and every coach on the roster either brings years of experience with them or is a rising young coach that got his shot at one of the best places in Ohio State.
The front four is beyond deep, even after the losses of Dre’Mont Jones and Nick Bosa. Young returns, as Smith and Harrison continue to develop during the offseason. Defensive Tackle is also deep with Landers returning and Vincent, Garrett and Togiai in tow, the look to get after opposing offenses by consistently harassing and disrupting opposing offenses.
The Linebackers also get a boost with a simplified defense that will allow them to fly around the field and make plays. DB’s get a boost as well being taught to look back for the ball, which was part of the problem last year as they look to turn it around. Playing faster will help the defense a lot and I cannot wait to see them dominate with the new scheme because the defense over the last couple of years has been so frustrating, but I believe it will revert back to the Silver Bullet standards over the next couple of seasons.
Special Teams:
I think with Haubeil and Chrisman at the forefront, the Buckeyes have game changers at their disposal. The returner positions and gunners need to be identified and with recent struggles with fielding kicks, I hope they find sure-handed players that won’t make mistakes. Either way, Special Teams is in good hands.
Continue reading...
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
With the annual Spring Game just around the corner, there are many reasons to be excited about the 2019 team. The biggest elephant in the room is the changing of the guard between Urban Meyer and Ryan Day. In epic fashion, the keys were handed over to him, leaving Ohio State in more than capable hands to lead this new era of Ohio State football forward and onto big things.
From day one of taking the sticks from Coach Meyer, he assembled quite an impressive staff that returned only Brian Hartline, who is now their full-time wide receivers coach, Larry Johnson, who will act as the teams Associate Head Coach and the defensive shot-caller, Tony Alford, who returns to coach the Running Backs, Kevin Wilson, who is responsible for the Tight Ends and finally, Greg Studrawa, the O-Line head honcho.
The Buckeyes lost a few of their coaches. Some were not retained and others left for jobs elsewhere, but I personally wish them the best, but they also managed to improve on the fly by poaching a couple of former rivals to add to the team in Greg Mattison and Al Washington. They both jumped ship to help the team improve the play of the front seven. Jeff Hafley was added to coach up the DB’s and he came after a stint with the 49ers. Day also added the former Oklahoma State O-Coordinator Mike Yurich, who is a bright, young offensive mind who will be coaching the Quarterback room.
Coach Day has assembled a team comparable to the Avengers, with every coach being some form of a rising star or a threat to opposing coaches, with the core group of coaches acts as the foundation to ensure their potential is reached. The offense has the potential to scorch teams and the defense has the depth to outlast teams in the trenches. Excitement outweighs the dread, but we have to be patient.
Expectations:
Offense:
Even with a new Head Coach, the expectations at Ohio State remain sky-high. That is what all coaches to don the Scarlet and Gray have hovering over their heads. With a couple of pass-friendly and pass-happy coaching in tow, the Buckeyes have a potent group of coaches that will look to maximize their talent and play to their players strengths.
I fully expect a balanced offense that fall in the 55/45 model. Balance is key and so is speed. The Buckeyes are loaded at just about every level on offense and defense, but a 55% pass and 45% run gameplan could cause defenses to scramble or panic. This would be awesome and as a fan I am excited to see what develops as the season inches closer.
Quarterback is a two-man race, with Fields likely to be the starter. He is locked in a battle with Baldwin, but you just never know. The odds are in his favor and it is his job to lose. For Running Back, it is Dobbins’ show as the feature back with Teague, Crowley, and McCall vying for playing time. This is not the deepest skill position at Ohio State. The Wide Receivers room is stocked full of talent with Mack, Victor and Hill being the most experienced and young players like Olave, Gill, Wilson, Harris and Gardiner looking for snaps as well. Tight End is also competitive with Farrell leading the way and Berry and Ruckert waiting in the wings. The O-Line will have to find new starters and they have a lot of former four/five stars fighting for the jobs available, but Jonah Jackson, a Grad Transfer from Rutgers will be one of the key cogs along the line with Wyatt Davis.
Defense:
The defense is also very deep at every position. With the addition of three new defensive coaches, their collective views will show in year one of the Day Era. Not only have they stockpiled the talent over the years at Ohio State at just about every position, the position coaches have also been compiled and every coach on the roster either brings years of experience with them or is a rising young coach that got his shot at one of the best places in Ohio State.
The front four is beyond deep, even after the losses of Dre’Mont Jones and Nick Bosa. Young returns, as Smith and Harrison continue to develop during the offseason. Defensive Tackle is also deep with Landers returning and Vincent, Garrett and Togiai in tow, the look to get after opposing offenses by consistently harassing and disrupting opposing offenses.
The Linebackers also get a boost with a simplified defense that will allow them to fly around the field and make plays. DB’s get a boost as well being taught to look back for the ball, which was part of the problem last year as they look to turn it around. Playing faster will help the defense a lot and I cannot wait to see them dominate with the new scheme because the defense over the last couple of years has been so frustrating, but I believe it will revert back to the Silver Bullet standards over the next couple of seasons.
Special Teams:
I think with Haubeil and Chrisman at the forefront, the Buckeyes have game changers at their disposal. The returner positions and gunners need to be identified and with recent struggles with fielding kicks, I hope they find sure-handed players that won’t make mistakes. Either way, Special Teams is in good hands.
Continue reading...
LGHL Podcast: Ohio State baseball NCAA Regional preview
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Podcast: Ohio State baseball NCAA Regional preview
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes play Vanderbilt on Friday night in Nashville.
Outside the Shoe is a podcast that focuses on Ohio State sports that aren’t football or men’s basketball.
In this episode of Outside the Shoe, Meredith Hein and Geoff Hammersley review the Buckeyes Big Ten Tournament win, and preview the Friday night contest at Vanderbilt in the NCAA Regionals.
Additionally, Meredith and Geoff take a look at the rest of the Big Ten teams that punched their ticket to the Regionals, and figure out which team has the best chance to make a run to the College World Series.
Podcast breakdown
00:00 — Intro
00:42 — What has been going right for the Buckeyes this postseason?
2:42 — What can the Big Ten do to compete on the national level?
5:15 — Big Ten team with the best chance for Super Regionals and College World Series
9:23 — Impact of the Vanderbilt crowd on Ohio State
11:22 — Adjustments OSU has to make?
Continue reading...
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes play Vanderbilt on Friday night in Nashville.
Outside the Shoe is a podcast that focuses on Ohio State sports that aren’t football or men’s basketball.
In this episode of Outside the Shoe, Meredith Hein and Geoff Hammersley review the Buckeyes Big Ten Tournament win, and preview the Friday night contest at Vanderbilt in the NCAA Regionals.
Additionally, Meredith and Geoff take a look at the rest of the Big Ten teams that punched their ticket to the Regionals, and figure out which team has the best chance to make a run to the College World Series.
Podcast breakdown
00:00 — Intro
00:42 — What has been going right for the Buckeyes this postseason?
2:42 — What can the Big Ten do to compete on the national level?
5:15 — Big Ten team with the best chance for Super Regionals and College World Series
9:23 — Impact of the Vanderbilt crowd on Ohio State
11:22 — Adjustments OSU has to make?
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State recruiting: Buckeyes hoping to land 5-star WR later today
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Ohio State recruiting: Buckeyes hoping to land 5-star WR later today
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The nation’s top ranked receiver will make his commitment tonight.
Over the first few months of the head coaching tenure of Ryan Day, recruiting the offensive positions has been a strength. With a staff loaded with guys who can recruit their various positions, the Buckeyes aren’t lacking by any means in terms of landing talent for their future rosters. When you look at the current class, all but one of the pledges are on the offensive side of the ball. While some may worry, it may be necessary to take a step back and realize that, with basically an entire new defensive staff, those new assistants have to not only begin, but also build over time relationships with their top targets.
In recruiting, relationships are everything. While the defensive guys are for sure to come relatively soon, Ohio State and Brian Hartline may be in for a treat larger than any other as they await the decision of a not only a five-star receiver, but a prospect that is as good as it gets.
The decision awaits...
The recruitment of Julian Fleming has been one to have its twists and turns. The 2020, five-star receiver, who is the top receiver in the country, the sixth best player in the nation and the top player in Pennsylvania, has his decision slated for later today. The final schools to be in the mix are Penn State, Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Ohio State.
Being a Pennsylvania native and going to high school under two hours from Happy Valley, Penn State was the long time favorite to keep this native son at home. However, recruiting took its course, and Clemson catapulted into the conversation as a favorite to receive Fleming’s pledge. Fast forward until the last month or so and it’s Ohio State that is thought to not only be the leader, but the likely destination that Julian decides on later today.
It really started when Fleming was in town for a spring visit just a few short weeks ago that also held Student Appreciation Day at Ohio State during one of the team spring practices. While on this visit, Fleming was not only able to see another inside scoop to Ohio State’s program, but also hang around guys such as Parris Campbell, Terry McLaurin and Johnnie Dixon. Add in the fact that the relationship between Julian and Coach Hartline is strong, and you have what seems to be the perfect recipe for success.
When Julian decides later today, most believe it will in fact be in favor of the Buckeyes. Realizing that a commitment isn’t 100 percent cemented until signing day, the Buckeyes (if they land Julian) know they’ll have to keep Penn State, Clemson, Alabama, and Georgia off of him as much as possible. If today goes as planned though, Ohio State’s loaded receiver room will get a boost every program in the nation will envy. As Day continues to impress with his offensive abilities, the future continues to be bright in Columbus.
An all important visitor
As if today wasn’t big enough already, arguably the Buckeyes top running back target, five-star Kendall Milton, begins his official visit in Columbus. The nation’s third best running back and the 21st ranked player in the country overall will be on a multiple day stay at Ohio State and Ryan Day has his staff more than ready to roll out the red carpet for this visit to keep the momentum riding high. With Milton, Oklahoma was the once thought to be favorite, but as it stands now, Ohio State and Georgia look to be the two out in front with LSU not far off behind. Lately though, the Buckeyes have seen continued good news as the ever so popular 247sports crystal ball predictions have seen casts in favor of the Buckeyes regarding Kendall.
This weekend is as important as it can be in regards to landing Kendall. While a decision isn’t necessarily expected to come this weekend, never rule out the possibility for the hype and excitement at Ohio State to send Milton over the top. What Ohio State can present that others can’t is the fact that they have a wide open depth chart as soon as Milton steps on campus. With a No. 2 back behind Dobbins not completely solidified, Milton has to like what he could do to potentially earn early playing time. With his size and abilities too, early playing time isn’t anything out of the question. With the example of Ezekiel Elliott in the NFL, those types of recruiting tactics don’t hurt either. Being that Day has a West Coast background too, the ability to appeal from that far away area is seemingly becoming easier.
Milton’s first official visit starts today with the Buckeyes, and if this visit is everything Kendall could imagine, it could set the tone, and even set the Buckeyes closer to their chances of landing his services. Combined with the potential to strike gold today with Fleming, the timing of Milton’s visit isn’t only interesting, but also could be part of a larger plan to cement Day’s first class as one to remember.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The nation’s top ranked receiver will make his commitment tonight.
Over the first few months of the head coaching tenure of Ryan Day, recruiting the offensive positions has been a strength. With a staff loaded with guys who can recruit their various positions, the Buckeyes aren’t lacking by any means in terms of landing talent for their future rosters. When you look at the current class, all but one of the pledges are on the offensive side of the ball. While some may worry, it may be necessary to take a step back and realize that, with basically an entire new defensive staff, those new assistants have to not only begin, but also build over time relationships with their top targets.
In recruiting, relationships are everything. While the defensive guys are for sure to come relatively soon, Ohio State and Brian Hartline may be in for a treat larger than any other as they await the decision of a not only a five-star receiver, but a prospect that is as good as it gets.
The decision awaits...
The recruitment of Julian Fleming has been one to have its twists and turns. The 2020, five-star receiver, who is the top receiver in the country, the sixth best player in the nation and the top player in Pennsylvania, has his decision slated for later today. The final schools to be in the mix are Penn State, Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Ohio State.
Being a Pennsylvania native and going to high school under two hours from Happy Valley, Penn State was the long time favorite to keep this native son at home. However, recruiting took its course, and Clemson catapulted into the conversation as a favorite to receive Fleming’s pledge. Fast forward until the last month or so and it’s Ohio State that is thought to not only be the leader, but the likely destination that Julian decides on later today.
It really started when Fleming was in town for a spring visit just a few short weeks ago that also held Student Appreciation Day at Ohio State during one of the team spring practices. While on this visit, Fleming was not only able to see another inside scoop to Ohio State’s program, but also hang around guys such as Parris Campbell, Terry McLaurin and Johnnie Dixon. Add in the fact that the relationship between Julian and Coach Hartline is strong, and you have what seems to be the perfect recipe for success.
When Julian decides later today, most believe it will in fact be in favor of the Buckeyes. Realizing that a commitment isn’t 100 percent cemented until signing day, the Buckeyes (if they land Julian) know they’ll have to keep Penn State, Clemson, Alabama, and Georgia off of him as much as possible. If today goes as planned though, Ohio State’s loaded receiver room will get a boost every program in the nation will envy. As Day continues to impress with his offensive abilities, the future continues to be bright in Columbus.
An all important visitor
As if today wasn’t big enough already, arguably the Buckeyes top running back target, five-star Kendall Milton, begins his official visit in Columbus. The nation’s third best running back and the 21st ranked player in the country overall will be on a multiple day stay at Ohio State and Ryan Day has his staff more than ready to roll out the red carpet for this visit to keep the momentum riding high. With Milton, Oklahoma was the once thought to be favorite, but as it stands now, Ohio State and Georgia look to be the two out in front with LSU not far off behind. Lately though, the Buckeyes have seen continued good news as the ever so popular 247sports crystal ball predictions have seen casts in favor of the Buckeyes regarding Kendall.
This weekend is as important as it can be in regards to landing Kendall. While a decision isn’t necessarily expected to come this weekend, never rule out the possibility for the hype and excitement at Ohio State to send Milton over the top. What Ohio State can present that others can’t is the fact that they have a wide open depth chart as soon as Milton steps on campus. With a No. 2 back behind Dobbins not completely solidified, Milton has to like what he could do to potentially earn early playing time. With his size and abilities too, early playing time isn’t anything out of the question. With the example of Ezekiel Elliott in the NFL, those types of recruiting tactics don’t hurt either. Being that Day has a West Coast background too, the ability to appeal from that far away area is seemingly becoming easier.
Milton’s first official visit starts today with the Buckeyes, and if this visit is everything Kendall could imagine, it could set the tone, and even set the Buckeyes closer to their chances of landing his services. Combined with the potential to strike gold today with Fleming, the timing of Milton’s visit isn’t only interesting, but also could be part of a larger plan to cement Day’s first class as one to remember.
Continue reading...
