4-star 2021 wide receiver Jayden Ballard 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


Zone 6 gets a big commitment for the future.

The weekend got off to a BOOMing start for the Ohio State Buckeyes as they picked up a commitment from four-star, 2021 wide-receiver Jayden Ballard on Friday afternoon. The Massillon native made is pledge official on Twitter.


Ballard currently ranks as the 125th best prospect in the country, according to 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is currently slotted in as the fifth best player from the state of Ohio, and the 22nd WR nationally in the 2021 class.

In addition to the Buckeyes, Ballard also had offers from Notre Dame, Michigan State, Penn State, and others; although he was long expected to commit to the in-state powerhouse.

Ballard joins the Buckeyes class as the third member of next year’s class for Ryan Day, joining quarterback Kyle McCord and defensive end Jack Sawyer. The WR’s commitment only increases OSU’s standing at the top of the Big Ten class rankings.

We will have more on Ballard’s commitment and the rest of the major recruiting weekend here on LGHL.

Check out highlights from Ballard’s high school career:

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Podcast: Ohio State’s recruiting business is about to be BOOMing
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


We predict that the Buckeyes will finally pick up some defensive commitments soon!

On the State Secrets recruiting episodes of the Land-Grant Holy Land podcast, one of our recruiting experts, Patrick Mayhorn, tries to educate our resident “old,” Matt Tamanini, about Ohio State Buckeyes’ recruiting.

With one of the busiest weekends on Ohio State’s recruiting calendar now officially underway, we take a look at what’s been going on recently for the Buckeyes in terms of building their upcoming classes, and what might be coming this weekend and over the rest of the summer.

Matt and Patrick start by talking about the four most recent commits to Ohio State’s football 2020 recruiting class. Then they discuss how Ohio State taking one 2021 quarterback made a another 2021 very angry, and then they’ll look forward to who might be joining the Buckeye fold in the next few weeks.


On this episode:

1) Commitment recap: Ty Hamilton, Julian Fleming, Grant Toutant, Jake Seibert


2) Why Ohio State took Kyle McCord over J.J. McCarthy, and what that means for the rivalry with TTUN.


3) Which three running will Ohio State get from Kendall Milton, Bijan Robinson, Deamonte Trayanum, Sam Adams and Jaylan Knighton?


4) Commitment watch: Darrion Henry, Clark Phillips, Cody Simon, Kourt Williams, Trayanum, Joe Royer and A.J. Kirk


Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt
Instagram: @BWWMatt

Contact Patrick Mayhorn
Twitter: @Patrick_Mayhorn

Theme music provided by www.bensound.com

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Ohio State recruiting: Buckeyes poised for huge recruiting weekend, RB updates
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


This weekend is easily Ohio State’s largest recruiting weekend of the year.

It’s here! The biggest recruiting weekend of the year so far has begun for the Ohio State Buckeyes. And while everyone of course wants the main event to be game day, in the summertime, “recruiting day” will have to do. The Buckeyes will host a whopping 15 prospects on official visits this weekend and with many big names on commit today and throughout the rest of this weekend, Ryan Day and his staff are hoping to set off some early fireworks for the 2020 class.

Any time a program is able to host this number of elite talents at the same time, it may be hard to devote enough attention to each one, but if you’ve learned anything about the Buckeyes in recent years it’s that they recruit with the best of them. And, with all of these athletes getting to know one another and begin to believe in the future of a team at OSU, the next two days will surely be a weekend that will be a key piece to the current 2020 class.

Latest running back updates with 2020 prospects


Probably the most interesting position in terms of recruiting for the 2020 Ohio State class is at running back. What’s less of a “problem” and more of an advantage is that the Buckeyes are in on so many top elite level guys, but at the same time, still have yet to land one at the position for this current cycle. The guys that Ohio State wants in the fold aren’t new names to recruiting followers as each are being recruited by nearly every top program in the country. Without further adieu, let’s get into the latest rumblings in the wild west of running back recruiting.

On May 31, arguably Ohio State’s highest targeted running back, Kendall Milton, started his official visit in Columbus to see the Buckeyes and what they could offer him if he were to choose Ohio State in the end. Blown away by the visit, Milton and his father mainly went out of their way to say that the Buckeyes had outdone themselves with how well the visit went. One aspect they enjoyed the most was the reality that the Buckeye staff had plans for Milton not only on the field, but off the field too after football to ensure he’d be successful. In many cases, when Milton’s visit ended, many top insiders felt the Buckeyes were the team to beat in his recruitment.

Fast forward to now though and it’s true when they say recruiting is like a roller coaster ride. Many times, the current team or visit has the hot hand and that looks to be the case right now with Milton. In fact, Bill Kurelic had his crystal ball pegged toward Ohio State following Kendall’s OSU visit, but now, Milton is wrapping up his time at Georgia and the crystal ball has shifted to the Bulldogs. What’s to make of all of this then? Well, as it looks now, the team with the recent visit such as Georgia seems to have the momentum. It’s important to note that in recruiting, many times the last visit is the one that sticks out the most of course. Ohio State isn’t out of it by any means, but need to get back into Milton’s ear if they want to fend off what seems to be trending right now.

Another 2020 running back who was recently at Ohio State for his official visit was Bijan Robinson, a back who if not 1a on Ohio State’s list, he’s certainly 1b. The Arizona four-star is a back the Buckeyes have long desired to have in their class and their hosting of Robinson like usual was a visit that really stood out for him. Now, only a week removed from his official, the Buckeyes still sit in a really good place for Bijan and the potential for him to make the decision to come to Ohio State. While top target backs usually don’t concern themselves with what other guys do, if Milton were to choose Georgia, it leaves the running back room in Columbus wide open for a guy like Bijan to come in and be “the” guy.

Programs like Texas and other schools closer to home are of course very much still in the fold, but with Bijan himself saying that he still feels very high on the Buckeyes, the staff has to like where they stand for his services and the potential of landing him in their current class. What comes next is to continue to press for Bijan and ensure that he will be a vital piece to their class. If that can continue, Robinson could very well be the top target for the staff and hopefully a committed member of the class.

Last but certainly not least, in-state running back DeaMonte Trayanum of Akron Hoban just finished up his official visit to see the Buckeyes earlier this week. A prospect that’s certainly no stranger around campus, the visit was just another opportunity for the Buckeyes to cement mainly what Trayanum has already known. It’s clear Ohio State wants to take two backs in this class simply due to future depth concerns and DeaMonte is a player that they want in the fold—and can certainly land. The 247sports crystal ball has Ohio State in a large favorite to land him, but it’s not over yet.


So what sense can we make with all of this? It’s a bit of a timeless momentum shift, but the bullet points to take away are that the Buckeyes are not out for any of the guys mentioned here. They are still very much in the thick of things. The trouble, when you’re an elite who attracts national caliber talents, you have to face other elite programs for them. As it stands right now, the Buckeyes may have a better shot at Bijan Robinson than Kendall Milton, but also have a really solid shot at keeping DeaMonte Trayanum at home to round out two stellar guys at the position for the 2020 class. Time however will tell.

Quick Hits:

• Four-star California native Clark Phillips III will announce his decision today. With him starting his official visit today with Ohio State, it’s a pretty good notion to think that he will choose the Buckeyes. The fourth best corner in the class, Phillips will fill a serious need and be a huge addition to a class that needs defensive talent to coming in.
• Four-star Ohio native Darrion Henry is back on campus for his official visit. A decision isn’t guaranteed, but is possible if all goes well this weekend. Henry would be another elite player and in-state kid to bolster the 2020 defensive class.

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Ohio State football’s H-Back position will continue to evolve under new head coach Ryan Day
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The trend of Ohio State’s H-Backs being more involved in the passing game will likely continue in 2019, with some tight ends possibly being added to the mix.

“That position, that H position can take on a lot of different roles. It can be a third receiver. It could be a second running back, or it could be a second tight end based on the body type. We kind of have all those. We have Jeremy. We have Rashod (Berry). We have Demario McCall. We have K.J., obviously. We have C.J. (Saunders), Jaelen Gill. All those guys are kind of different body types in the same role.”

Ohio State football head coach Ryan Day on the H-Back position via Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts


When Urban Meyer came to Ohio State in 2012, one of the biggest changes he made to the offense was the introduction of the H-Back. The position became famous during his time in Florida when Percy Harvin was released on the college football world. While the Buckeyes never quite had someone at H-Back who had the impact of Harvin, what players like Curtis Samuel, Jalin Marshall, and others did at the position was nothing to sneeze at.

Over the last two years, the H-Back position at Ohio State has underwent a bit of a transformation. With Mike Weber and J.K. Dobbins at running back, the Buckeyes didn’t need their H-Backs to be as involved in the running game as they did when players like Curtis Samuel and Dontre Wilson lined up at the position. After having at least one H-Back see at least 20 carries every year from 2013-16, over the last two years Parris Campbell and K.J. Hill saw a combined 22 carries. Because of the lack of a need to give the H-Back carries over the last two years, the position was heavily involved in the passing game, especially in 2018 when Campbell recorded 90 catches as the Buckeyes shattered a number of school passing records.

It seems likely that players like Demario McCall and Jaelen Gill seeing some carries at H-Back for the Buckeyes this year, don’t expect for the number to be similar to what Samuel saw during his time at Ohio State. In a bit of a different wrinkle, Day has been working with a couple tight ends at H-Back, with Jeremy Ruckert being a prime candidate to possibly see snaps at the position. With the position having evolved over the years during Meyer’s time at Ohio State, it already seems like Day is continuing with the trend and looking for new ways to keep opposing defenses on their toes.

“Look at the skill that we have there, ‘go out and compete’ for all of those guys. Go out here and play ball. Whoever has the best training camp... we as coaches have got to decide where to put them and get them on the field. I am going to be consistent with that, and that is how I talk to the players, and that is how I will be honest with you guys, and that is what we have to do, that is our jobs.”

Ohio State secondary coach Jeff Hafley on the safety position via Tony Gerdeman, The Ozone


For new secondary coach and co-defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, at least one part of Ohio State’s safety combination in 2019 was very easy to identify. Senior Jordan Fuller returns to the Buckeyes for his third year at starter, and will look to put a bow on a strong career in Columbus. Who will start next to Fuller in the fall isn’t nearly as easy to identify.

In the second half of last season, Brendon White started next to Fuller at safety. While White will likely still lineup at safety on passing downs, he will spend the bulk of his time at the new Bullet position. This leaves Jahsen Wint, Isaiah Pryor, and Shaun Wade to battle for the second starting safety spot.

Hafley and the rest of the coaching staff got a good look at the trio during spring practices, as Fuller was on the sidelines due to injury. Wade was the top strong safety for Ohio State during spring practices, while Pryor lined up at free safety. Even though Wade and Pryor saw a lot of reps during spring practices, Wint made a big impact during the spring game, stating his case for more playing time.

Even though there is still the question of who will play next to Fuller at safety, at least a little bit of the concern can be eased since the Buckeyes have a number of talented players who can fill the role. Wade is the most intriguing prospect after he came to Ohio State as a top-rated recruit, but Pryor and Wint have shown they belong as well. Whoever is tabbed as the starter will have the luxury of working in tandem with a veteran like Fuller. The competition in training camp should be exciting, and whoever comes out on top will have truly earned the starting position.

“I took some time off during May, went through rehab probably that whole month and worked on basic skill stuff, fundamental stuff while my body was healing. I took that time to really recover and I’m back fully covered now. I think my body really needed it, just to lighten up on the legs and stuff like that. It was good, just taking it slow and getting everything back to 100 percent.”

Ohio State forward Kyle Young via Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch


Ohio State was at its best last year when forward Kyle Young was on the floor. The sophomore brought plenty of energy and grit to the Buckeyes, and when he was on the floor with Andre and Kaleb Wesson, the trio had the best cumulative plus-minus rating for the Buckeyes.

The problem for Ohio State in the latter half of the year was that Young was limited by a stress fracture in his lower left leg. Young ended up missing five games in January and early February, and was limited after he returned, logging at least 25 minutes in just four of the final 14 games of the season. Young admits that he rushed coming back from the injury so he could get back on the court, but he has taken the time in the offseason to make he is fully recovered ahead of his junior season.

Making sure his body is healed from the stress fracture isn’t the only area in which Young has been working on this offseason. During his first two seasons, Young’s offensive game has been rather limited, but he is working on expanding his shooting range as he prepares for the final two years of his Ohio State career. Last year, Young shot 71.7 percent from the field, which led the Big Ten, but he only took 13.3 percent of his team’s shots while on the court.

With Young working on his shot, the junior could be primed for a breakout season for Ohio State. Even though the Buckeyes have a number of top recruits coming to Columbus, Ohio State will need the experience and toughness that Young provides. Any extra offense the Buckeyes can get from Young will be an added bonus, as Ohio State looks to reach the NCAA Tournament for a third consecutive season. With Young finally healthy, along with expanding his offensive game, expect to see a different Young on the floor the season for Ohio State.

STICK TO SPORTS

• Heavy rain is causing havoc all around Ohio, with numerous roadways around Central Ohio being closed due to high water.
• While details have yet to be revealed, the Short North looks to be adding some Louisiana flair.
• The return of the Columbus Underground Beer + Ice Cream Block Party is slated for June 30 at The District PourHouse at The University District Gateway.
• Jeopardy! champ James Holzhauser donated $1,100 for show host Alex Trebek to a pancreatic cancer walk in his former hometown.
• A new trailer for The Lion King live-action remake has been released.

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2021 WR has “great” camp visit at Ohio State
Charles Doss via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


We caught up with one of the latest Buckeye offers.

While the rain took a break for most of Wednesday, you might’ve been outside trying to enjoy the sun.

Do you need to catch up on some of the latest news surrounding the recruiting efforts of the Ohio State Buckeyes? Don’t worry! Land-Grant Holy Land is here to save the day.

2021 WR has “great’ camp at OSU


Ryan Day, Brian Hartline, and the rest of staff at Ohio State have been working their tails off playing host to a long list of talented high school prospects so far this camp season.

Dishing out many offers along the way, class of 2021 wide receiver Dekel Crowdus was just one of the recruits who caught the attention of the Buckeye coaches with his skills in person during camp last weekend.

“It was great at Ohio State. I had an amazing camp that day,” Crowdus, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound speedster from Lexington, Kentucky, told Land-Grant Holy Land.

“(I learned) To get my head around when I break out of my routes and to run my routes at a 4.36 speed,” the Frederick Douglass junior added on what tips he learned during his time with the OSU staff.

Arriving in Columbus with offers on the table from programs such as Kentucky, Penn State, and the University of Tennessee, Crowdus left the 614 with a chance to rock the Scarlet and Gray on the college level.


“Coach Hartline offered me,” Dekel said. “They (OSU coaches) loved my performance. They loved my 40 yard dash and loved how I was making plays during 1-on-1’s.”

When it comes to rankings, Crowdus should watch his name climb up the rankings in the coming weeks. A three-star prospect at the moment, he’s currently pegged as the 49th wide receiver, and 317th overall prospect in the entire class of 2021, according to 247Sports.

Want to get a small glimpse into what caught the Buckeyes attention? Check out these highlights of Dekel Crowdus in game action from last season:

Basketball Buckeyes offer 2020 PF


Ryan Day and the football squad aren’t the only ones handing out scholarship offers to top notch prospects, so are Chris Holtmann and the basketball program.

Announcing his offer via his Twitter page yesterday, three-star 2020 power forward Zed Key is the latest recruit to earn a chance to call Columbus his future home.


With over 20 full rides from programs across the country, the Buckeyes find themselves up against the likes of Illinois, Pittsburgh, Florida, and UConn for the 6-foot-8, 215-pound New York native.

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Have fun with that UGA. I dont think were missing a thing without this commitment

Figured we needed one of these threads with 7-on-7 and shorts and t-shirts season coming up.

Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge: Roster released

Of note:

QB Kyle McCord
QB Jack Miller
RB Jalen Berger
RB Zach Evans
RB Bijan Robinson
WR Lavon Bunkley-Shelton
WR Mookie Cooper
WR Dekel Crowdus
WR Jaylan Knighton
WR Jaxson Smith-Njigba
TE Cam Large
OL Donovan Jackson
OL Chris Morris
DL Vernon Broughton
DL Jacolbe Cowan
DL Darrion Henry
LB Noah Sewell
LB Cody Simon
LB Jaheim Thomas
DB Tony Grimes
DB Isaiah Johnson
DB Kamren Kinchens
DB Kelee Ringo

Really interested to see how the QBs perform as well as Large, Henry, Simon and Grimes.

Ohio State women’s basketball to play Louisville in ACC-Big Ten Challenge
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 get a marquee non-conference matchup on the schedule.

“The Challenge will take place over two days in early December, beginning Wednesday, Dec. 4, with Big Ten schools Iowa, Nebraska and Northwestern playing host to ACC counterparts that evening, while Indiana and Minnesota venture on the road. The following night (Thursday, Dec. 5), Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Rutgers will serve as the Big Ten host schools”


— Big Ten Conference

The Ohio State Buckeyes women’s basketball team will be going up against one of the best teams from the ACC in the annual ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

Louisville, who went 32-4 last season, will be making the trek to Columbus to face the Buckeyes on Dec. 5. OSU, on the other hand, is coming off a tough 14-15 campaign. There were some bright spots though, as the Bucks took down North Carolina in last season’s Challenge—their first marquee win since Kelsey Mitchell departed the program.

This will be the third meeting between the two schools. In both instances, the Buckeyes played well but couldn’t pull off the victory against the Cardinals. In 2001, the first meeting, Value City Arena played host to a 67-66 victory for Louisville. The ‘Cards came back — trailing by as many as seven — and escaped with a victory even though OSU shot 53 percent from the field. Meeting No. 2 happened in 2017 at Nationwide Arena. Playing in downtown Columbus, the site of the 2018 Women’s Final Four, Mitchell put together a 26 point effort. However, Louisville eked out an overtime win, 95-90, thanks to a 47-point performance from Asia Durr.

Hopefully, round three will be just as exciting. And hopefully, the Buckeyes can finally get the win against Louisville.

“While the two teams weren’t able to agree on a deal in February, the Jazz still like Conley and what he’d bring to the team: scoring, shooting and tough defense.”


— Andy Larsen | Salt Lake Tribune

In the NBA, a former Buckeye could be moving across the country. With the NBA Draft taking place on Thursday, teams are looking to move players—and Utah may be the one to get Mike Conley.

Currently a member of the Memphis Grizzlies, Conley is on the books for $32.5 million next season. However, with Memphis winning the No. 2 pick in the draft, there’s a strong belief that they’ll draft another point guard in Murray State’s Ja Morant. And if that’s their plan, then it makes sense for the Grizzlies to build around Morant—and deal Conley somewhere else.

Utah has tried to trade for Conley before. Back in February, as mentioned in the Salt Lake Tribune article, Ricky Rubio was on the trade block. However, he’s becoming a free agent and is effectively off the table.

Andy Larsen does a very good job explaining the math for how a Conley-to-Utah trade would work; there’s salary cap adjustments to be made, and contracts to be be guaranteed if Utah wants to move certain players.

If a trade does go through, the Grizzlies rebuild looks bright. Larsen believes Utah’s No. 23 overall pick would be part of the package—giving Memphis two first-rounders on Thursday. On the other hand, the Jazz will be flying under the radar in the Western Conference if they can complete the deal. Conley would be joining Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, two impact players that helped Utah to the playoffs.

It may be hard to believe, but Conley’s been in the association for 12 seasons now. And all 12 seasons have been with Memphis. From 2011-17, the Grizzlies were a postseason team. With Conley, Marc Gasol, Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph leading the way, Memphis reached the Western Conference finals in 2013.

However, times have changed. Since Dave Joerger departed for Sacramento to be head coach in 2016, and David Fizdale’s firing in 2017, the Grizzlies have not only been out of the playoffs for the last two seasons, but are in a reset. They traded Marc Gasol midway through 2019 to Toronto, and since then, Gasol has become an NBA Champion.

Conley averages 14.9 points per game, and averages nearly 33 minutes per game. If Utah does get him, they’ll get a reliable player who’s bounced back—Conley missed most of the 2017-18 season with a heel injury.

“Mupo will serve as the offensive coordinator for the Buckeyes after spending last season with Bokker as an assistant on the Stanford lacrosse staff.”


— Ohio State Athletics

Back on June 5, Ohio State announced their new women’s lacrosse coach, Amy Bokker. Now, not even two weeks later, the women’s lacrosse program gets another ace on the coaching staff as Kara Mupo was announced as the offensive coordinator.

Mupo was part of Bokker’s staff at Stanford, and played a major role in the Cardinal success. Last season, Mupo’s assistance helped put Stanford at the top of the Pac-12 in numerous categories, including shot percentage (.431), assists (125), goals per game (13.89) and points per game (20.47). Stanford went 13-6, and punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

Mupo has played both professionally and on the U.S. National Team. When she played at Northwestern, she was part of two national champion squads, four Final Four squads, and completed her senior campaign as a captain.

Having shown success at every level, this is a huge get for the women’s lacrosse team.

Stick to Sports

• Former FIFA president Michel Platini taken into custody.
• Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus ranked seventh best children’s hospital in the country.
• Ah yes, it’s time for another The Bachelorette recap.
• Behind the scenes of the MTV Movie & TV Awards.
• Facebook has a new cryptocurrency.
• On this day in history (1815): Battle of Waterloo takes place.

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Why are there so few women involved in draft coverage?
Jeanna Thomas via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Some of the talented women from SB Nation’s team brands weigh in.

Women of SB Nation is a series featuring our talented team brands contributors and seeks to elevate voices that are often marginalized in sports media. If you’re interested in contributing to one of our team brands, please review our opportunities here under SB Nation Freelance, or reach out to [email protected] for more information.

Cristiana Caruso covered the 2019 MLB Draft for SB Nation’s MLB Daily Dish, and one moment of her experience was a perfect metaphor for women’s current place in the draft analysis landscape.

“I couldn’t find my seat at the table, where my assigned seating was, and I was just really panicked, because I felt like everyone was staring at me,” Caruso said. “I felt like everyone turned to look at me when I walked in, and it was just like, oh, my God, the pressure’s on.”

Women’s voices are becoming a bigger part of the sports conversation, but there’s still a huge divide between the number of men in the sports media industry compared to women. One area where this stands out is draft coverage. When Caruso did find her seat at the MLB Draft, she was one of just four women in the room.

Draft analysis is a different beast. Breaking down a player’s film and being able to identify their tendencies and then project how those will play at the next level is fundamental. Many women haven’t played sports at a level where breaking down film is a necessary part of the game, so this creates a barrier. Throw in the extra scrutiny women face in sports media, and it makes it more challenging for women to find their voice in the draft analysis realm. That’s how it’s been for Alexis Chassen, who covers Ohio State for Land-Grant Holy Land and the Eagles for Bleeding Green Nation.

“With the draft and scouting players being so subjective, there’s a lot of push back if you make a bad prediction, especially if that player ends up being a bust,” Chassen said. “There’s already so many people quick to criticize women in sports ... so feeling confident in making declarative statements regarding draft picks is something I personally, at least, struggle with.”

Of the big four pro sports — NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL — only basketball and hockey consistently present opportunities for women to play the game competitively at any level. That stands out to Stephanie McCarroll from SB Nation’s 49ers team brand, Niners Nation.

“More than most other professional sports, football has the fewest opportunities for women to play the game -- and that leads to a lot of ‘How do you know? You never played,’ bad-taking by readers,” McCarroll said.

Add to that a general reticence to take female sports journalists seriously, and making one’s mark on the draft landscape becomes even more daunting. Caruso experienced this after a reader complimented the MLB Daily Dish draft coverage, from “(site manager) Eric (Cole) and all of his guys over there,” on Twitter.

“Yeah, basically, he was like, ‘his guys,’ Caruso said. “And I was like, ‘I’m a girl,’ and he was like, ‘Well, what are you really contributing?’

“And I was like, ‘Whoa, wait, I thought you just said we did a great job, and now suddenly that I have different chromosomes, I’m not doing as good of a job? I’m really confused right now.’”

We spoke to several of the talented women who write for SB Nation’s team brands about the lack of female draft analysts for all of the major U.S. pro sports and what we can do to carve out a space for women in draft analysis.

We need more women in leadership roles in professional sports


There’s progress being made, but it’s slow going. Right now, there are just a handful of women in leadership positions in pro sports. But those women on NFL sidelines, coaching up NBA players, playing professional hockey, or scouting for Major League Baseball teams are steering us in the right direction.

“There are definitely barriers that exist for women that don’t exist for men,” said Micah Allen, who runs SB Nation’s Oklahoma State team brand, Cowboys Ride for Free.

“There is still a lot of work to do when it comes to equality. Women struggle to be taken seriously as reporters still,” Allen said. “You make just one mistake and the entire fan base of a team is against you. I think this will change with getting more and more women involved in football in general.”


We’re seeing that happen now, with female coaches along with women representing big-name players like 2018 first rounder Saquon Barkley and 2019 No. 3 overall pick Quinnen Williams.

Rebecca Lawson, who runs SB Nation’s Dallas Mavericks team brand, Mavs Moneyball, thinks more women in these roles will help normalize women’s voices in sports.

“They have a few really prominent female coaching voices in the NBA these days, and that’s a trend that’s been, from everything I’ve seen, very welcomed by the players and the organizations — I won’t say the fans, because there are always those assholes on Twitter who … are always those assholes on Twitter,” Lawson said. “But by and large, at least, in the NBA community, I’ve seen from the intelligent people who talk about the NBA, that’s a welcome trend. And I think part of that does come from the access to WNBA and where they’ve been playing and have that experience, that competition, that they can then go to the players.

“If you want to think about it that way, I do see it as a good analogy for there being more paths in general in the NBA for women’s voices, not only in draft analysis, but just in every aspect of the game.”


Professional women’s hockey is also creating more opportunities for visibility, both in media and in front offices.

“Right now, we are starting to get more professional female hockey players who are getting a chance to go on and do commentary on games or doing the intermission reports and stuff, so we’re starting to see more women who have played the game at a high level give their opinions,” Sarah Avampato from our Kings site, Jewels from the Crown, said. “And of course, there’s still always going to be that segment of fans who are like, ‘I don’t want to hear a woman talking about sports on my television.’”


Big names in sports media like ESPN’s Mina Kimes are also helping to pave the way for women in sports journalism in general.

“(Mina) Kimes’ interview with Aaron Rodgers a year ago was groundbreaking in opening doors as well; Rodgers doesn’t open up much, and him choosing to do so with her specifically made a statement,” Melissa Triebwasser from our TCU site, Frogs O’ War, said. “And that’s what it’s going to take -- prominent players, coaches, etc., putting trust in and giving opportunities to female reporters, allowing those voices exclusivity that ensures people will go to them specifically for information.”

Women in sports have to support each other


Even with women earning more visibility in sports media, coaching, agency, and other leadership roles, it’s discouraging to hear well known men in sports media complaining about more women in sports. Longtime New York sports radio host Mike Francesa is one of them, and he’s had some archaic things to say about women in coaching positions.

“Not everybody is attuned or designed to do every single job,” Francesa said, not in 1957, but in 2017. “And as we move forward there’s no saying that everybody has to be able to do every single job. Some are better for some people, that’s all. That’s not being chauvinistic. That’s not being stone-aged. That’s just being reasonable. I’m just looking at this with some modicum of common sense.”

Any woman who’s written about sports on the internet has almost certainly been told to “get back in the kitchen” at least once. I’ve been doing this for nearly a decade, and I’ve probably received that response thousands of times, and that’s a conservative estimate. Not everyone is going to like what women have to say about sports, but that shouldn’t slow us down.

“When I and many other women show knowledge about the draft, it is often met with surprise. Apparently, because I have a uterus, it is completely astonishing that I can explain the difference between a 3-4 and 4-3 defense,” McCarroll said. “So, while support from male writers and athletes is great, we need to have confidence in our own work and not be afraid to voice our opinions.”

Part of the hesitation to embrace analysis from women is the idea that women haven’t played the game. It’s an unfair criticism.

“I think there’s an old, tired rhetoric of ‘Well, you didn’t play the game; how could you know,’ type of deal,” Caruso said. “Well, 90 percent of these people (commenting) didn’t play the game — how can they know? But for some reason, women, there’s a higher bar. It’s like you have to prove yourself, and sign a blood oath, and it feels like there are so many people who want to say, ‘Nope, stop right there,’ and gate-keep knowing baseball at such an intimate level.”

That sentiment is also common in NHL circles.

“It’s a lot of random men being like, ‘How can you tell me who this prospect is? You didn’t play; you don’t know how good he is or how hard the game is,’” Avampato said. “Well, you didn’t play, either. I checked the NHL site; you don’t have a bio on there.”

Traditional gender roles and the expectations they carry impact women in professional sports across the board. Caruso spoke with Kelly Rodman, a scout for the Yankees, at the draft, and Rodman shared the scrutiny she faces in her role because of her gender.

“She was like, ‘I don’t think people understand that as a female, but also a scout, I’m away from my family for months at a time. And I get really criticized about that because I’m a woman away from my family, but all these men who are away from their families, yes, it’s hard on them, too, but nobody’s criticizing them as harshly,’” Caruso said.

Those same perceptions of gender roles work against women in draft coverage. Patti Curl covers the Chicago Bears for Windy City Gridiron, and she explained why that can hold women back in the draft field.

“To some extent, credibility in the draft world is measured by how loudly and confidently someone can state their opinion,” Curl said. “Certainly women are capable of loudly and confidently defending our opinions, but it’s not a quality that’s encouraged as often in women as it is in men. Add to that the issue many of us have encountered that male fans are less inclined to trust a female analyst, and it’s not surprising that it’s a field few women have succeeded in.”

Representation matters, and elevating women’s perspectives on draft coverage can attract and engage more female fans. Kathleen Noa, who writes for The Phinsider, SB Nation’s Miami Dolphins site, said that support from female readers has helped build her confidence.

“I was approached to start writing for an NFL fan site because of my passion for this sport and because they wanted a female perspective,” Noa said. “I was very anxious when I first started and was afraid I would be judged and laughed at because I’m a woman. I never played football, so what would I know? My confidence grows each week because other women have reached out to tell me they appreciate my views and love the fact there is a female perspective instead of just men.”

And progress is still being made. As I was making edits to this piece, the Cavs announced the hire of Lindsay Gottlieb as an assistant coach. Every expansion of female influence in professional sports opens the door a bit more for women who want to dive into draft analysis.

Don’t be afraid to make your own space in draft coverage


Why would women even want to jump into draft coverage considering all of the extra scrutiny and barriers female analysts face?

“I love talking to players because the same rhetoric I hear every single time I interview a kid that’s about to get drafted, is, ‘My entire life has led up to this,’” Caruso said. “And it’s like, you have what someone has spent countless weekends, countless summers, thousands of dollars in equipment and training and so on, for this one moment.

“And what I love about the MLB Draft, too, that you kind of get different from the NFL and the NBA drafts since they’re only a few rounds, it’s kind of more hyped up. You could get a kid who goes in the 10th round, in the eighth round, and they come out a hidden superstar. Your placement in the draft doesn’t predict at all what you’re going to be.”

For Avampato, it gives her an opportunity to help fans look past the present and be hopeful about what the Kings’ future holds.

“Prospects and draft coverage have always interested me, because it gives you a chance to envision what your team will look like in the future,” Avampato said. “My background, too, education-wise is I have a degree in psychology, and I’m always fascinated as to what makes people tick. And sometimes the prospect stage is really fascinating for that, because you get to see how these 17, 18, 19-year-old kids respond under pressure and deal with adversity and who’s stepping up already as a leader and he’s only 17. You get to see a little glimpse of what kind of man they’re going to turn into.”

There are women doing amazing things right now in the draft and prospect analysis space. Emily Waldon of The Athletic not only focuses on minor league prospects, but also the pay inequality they face despite being a part of a billion-dollar industry. Hannah Stuart is one of the lone female voices in NHL draft analysis. Her work is excellent, but according to her Twitter bio, she’s not under contract with any outlet to produce it. Melissa Jacobs of The Football Girl has a running list of women who provide quality NFL Draft analysis (including our own Alexis Chassen) on her site, though it’s not terribly long.

For women who want to dive into draft analysis, the knowledge and passion are there. They just need opportunities.

“For many of us female sports writers, we have loved sports even when they did not love us,” McCarroll said. “Even when sports tell us we do not belong. We persevere. We love the game although there is a constant feeling of always trying to prove ourselves.”

The best advice for women who are interested in draft analysis, or sports journalism in general, came from Kelly Rodman, via Caruso.

“(She) basically said to me, ‘One of the best things we can do in this field is to make our own space and make ourselves present and not be afraid to take up that space,’” Caruso said.

And that, at its core, is what it will take to elevate women’s voices in draft analysis.

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Opinion: As Ohio State transitions to a new era, it’s time for an aesthetic update
Patrick Mayhorn via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


We’re due for some changes to Ohio State’s branding

As far as I can tell, it’s been 12 years since we’ve seen a significant change to Ohio State’s football aesthetic. After having issues with it for much of the 2006 season, Ohio State decided to replace their natural field grass with field turf prior to 2007. Since then, the field, Ohio State’s uniforms, and just about everything else about the way the Buckeyes look has remained the same.

It’s easy to understand why.

Ohio State has one of the most iconic uniform designs in all of college football, and there’s nothing wrong with the current look. It’s great. There’s nothing wrong with the field turf, the number of night games, or anything about the way the university brands itself. Ohio State is, after all, tremendously skilled at protecting and marketing itself.

However, the saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” doesn’t apply to college football aesthetics. The game is constantly evolving, both in actual gameplay and in the way that its teams present themselves. And it’s been more than a decade since Ohio State has evolved. With a new head coach, a fresh, young staff, and what seems to be a future filled with high flying offense, it’s time for the Buckeyes to update.

Uniforms


Now, before you go yelling at me on the internet, allow me to elaborate on what I mean by update. No, Ohio State shouldn’t become midwest Oregon, rocking 40 different combinations with numbers larger than the jersey. In fact, I don’t think that a uniform update has to even be “new” so to speak. The best way for Ohio State to move forward is to look backwards 13 years, just before the 2006 season.

That offseason, between 2005 and 2006, is when Ohio State abandoned its longtime gray shoulder stripe look for a more sleek, minimal design, with thin black and white stripes around a large scarlet stripe. Since then, Ohio State has stuck with that look, updating only as Nike does. The uniforms have become tighter, more breathable, and sleeker than ever, but at Ohio State, the design has remained for nearly 15 years.

Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images
A perfectly fine uniform

You know where I’m going with this. You know it’s correct, too. As the Buckeyes usher in a new coach, they should return to their roots, and break out those beautiful gray shoulder stripes, in an updated, modernized design. Of course, we know exactly what these uniforms would look like, because Ohio State teased us with them in 2014 during their College Football Playoff run.

Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Possibly the best uniforms Ohio State has ever worn

Obviously, a few small alterations are needed. Firstly, the diamond Nike swoop could probably change to scarlet on the road uniforms, and gray on the home. Secondly, the black numbers on the shoulders of the home version should be white, to match the number on the chest and back.

These are perfect uniforms. They’re modern, and minimal, but they’re loaded with tradition, and actually include one of Ohio State’s two main colors, unlike the current set. The haters would be furious to see the local team roll into the Horseshoe rocking the coldest uniforms in the country.

Kick the field turf


Okay, this one isn’t going to happen. However, this is my column, so I can do what I want, and I want Ohio State to bring back grass. The few grass fields that remain in college football belong to some of the best stadiums in the country. There are few things in college football better than a messy grass field at Penn State.

Just like the old uniforms, we’ve seen natural grass at Ohio State before, and there’s just something special about Ohio Stadium with that natural look. As I mentioned, this isn’t going to happen, so I will add a compromise to this specific change (this is the only time I will ever compromise online): keep the turf, but get rid of the endzone color. Make it gray font, with grass backing. No red. The way God intended.

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
The right way for an endzone to look
Play The Game at 3:30


This is one of my strongest held Ohio State opinions: nothing has ever looked better than the fourth quarter of Ohio State-Michigan, 2006. Starting the biggest game in football during the afternoon, and ending it under the lights is such an obvious no brainer.

I understand the tradition. I understand that Fox thinks people want to watch the best game of the day at noon. I also understand that giving such a massive game the appropriate level of importance and beauty is significantly more important than a time tradition. Ohio State-Michigan deserves a 3:30 p.m. start. While we’re at it, both teams should wear their home uniforms when they play each other.

(Do not even think about tweeting at me or emailing me over this correct opinion).

Will any of these changes actually happen?


Probably not! However, it could be so, so, much better—and with a new head coach, now is the perfect time for Ohio State to return to its uniform and field roots, and shake up the way the biggest rivalry in football is seen.

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Podcast: 3 Buckeyes in the FIFA Women’s World Cup
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


As the group stage winds down, let’s look at how the former Buckeyes are doing in France.

Outside the Shoe is a podcast that focuses on Ohio State sports that aren’t football or men’s basketball.

We’re back with another edition of Outside the Shoe! This week, Meredith Hein and Geoff Hammersley talk about the FIFA Women’s World Cup—and the three Buckeyes that are represented.

On Team Canada, Nichelle Prince and Lindsay Agnew are part of a squad that is headed to the knockout stage, but with one more match against the Netherlands, Canada can end atop Group E.

Another prolific Buckeye, Tiffany Cameron, is part of Jamaica’s squad. While it’s been a tough World Cup for the Jamaicans, they have a chance for a goal (and point) on the final match day.

Meredith then gives predictions for how the end of the group stage will go, and Geoff recaps the teams who’ve punched their ticket to the knockout round. Additionally, Geoff gives the broadcast/viewing schedule for the final group stage contests.

Podcast Breakdown


0:00 — Introduction
0:42 — Recap of the Buckeye presence
1:52 — Importance of Nichelle Prince for Canada
2:32 — Prince shining shouldn’t come as a surprise
3:11 — The Lindsay Agnew-Nichelle Prince journey
5:17 — What can Canada do to end atop the Group?
7:27 — Team Jamaica (and Tiffany Cameron) ahead of Group C finale
8:55 — Meredith makes group stage predictions
10:04 — Broadcast schedule for remaining group matches

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Ohio State offers 2021 DT
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The month of June keeps getting busier for Ohio State as the program sends out more offers and hosts more recruits.

If we are being 100 percent honest with ourselves, when Urban Meyer announced his departure from the Ohio State football program, even the most optimistic members of Buckeye Nation thought there could be a small drop-off when it came to recruiting. Well we are just barely through the midway point of the month of June, and Ohio State has already had one of the busiest recruiting months in recent history.

The Buckeyes are coming off two consecutive weekends where they hosted large groups of the country’s top talents and both resulted in a verbal commitment.

The way things are lining up this week, Ryan Day and company are not planning on slowing down.

Ohio State offers 2021 DT


We mentioned yesterday that a trio of 2021 recruits received offers to play for Ohio State over this past weekend and that did not end there as we learned Monday that the Buckeyes have now offered 2021 defensive tackle Taizse Johnson (Washington, DC / St. Johns College HS).


Johnson has yet to receive a composite grade in next year’s class but 247Sports has him listed as a 4-star talent and lists him as the No. 19 DT in the country and the No. 237 overall prospect.

Adding to this, Johnson has already built an impressive offer list, despite only entering his junior season of high school ball. With Ohio State being the 10th reported offer for Johnson, the Buckeyes will join the likes of Georgia, LSU, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Penn State in the race for his services.

Ohio State has yet to play host to Johnson yet but the way this summer has started, and the relatively close proximity to Columbus, an unofficial visit happening sooner rather than later is not out of the question.

Ohio State’s visitor list for next weekend grows


The Buckeyes are gearing up for what looks to be the busiest week in one of the busiest months in a long time. The visitor list for this upcoming weekend is massive and on Monday we learned two more of the nation’s top talent will be in town.

The news first came Monday afternoon when 2021 cornerback prospect Hunter Washington (Katy, TX / Katy) announced he would be making the long trek up to Columbus.


Washington has yet to receive a composite ranking, but 247Sports has him listed as a four-star CB and lists him as the No. 17 CB in next year’s recruiting class along with the No. 246 overall prospect.

The Buckeyes have yet to present Washington with an offer to suit up for the scarlet and gray but if he impresses this weekend, the team could join the likes of Alabama and Houston in vying for his commitment.

As was previously mentioned though, Washington was not the only recruit to announce a weekend visit to Ohio State. Ohio offensive tackle native Ben Christman (Richfield, OH / Revere) also took to Twitter Monday afternoon to let it be known he would be making his way to Columbus, albeit his trip is much shorter than Washington’s.


Christman, like most 2021 recruits, has yet to receive a composite ranking but 247Sports is really high on him. They have him listed as a 4-star talent and as the No. 3 OT and No. 22 overall prospect in next year’s class.

The Ohio native already holds an offer to play for Ohio State as well as offers to schools like Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame and plenty of others.

That being said, the 247Sports Crystal Ball Predictions favor Ohio State with 100 percent of all seven predictions favoring the Buckeyes. There is still likely more than a year before Christman makes a decision, but the Buckeyes could only separate themselves even more from the pack after a strong impression this weekend.

Quick Hit

• Four-star Ohio State wide receiver verbal commit Gee Scott Jr. has been making waves this summer making highlight play after highlight play at multiple summer camps. The stellar play has not gone unnoticed and Monday, Scott might have received the best praise yet as current NFL star CB Richard Sherman took notice at the Boise State Team Camp. Below you can find a highlight of Scott’s as well as Sherman’s take on his skills.

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kujirakira said:

Seeing the light or getting passed over and downgrading... im skeptical somebody leaving for Rutgers 'saw the light', or just wanted more playtime.

Click to expand...

Never underestimate the power of the dark side.

Strong possibility to be the second QB in the class of 2020:
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I love the simplicity of this announcement.

Depth Chart: Offensive Line
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 Slobs are a pivotal group on every team, but for Ohio State, it could make or break the offensive scheme and what the team wants to do. Considering what they had lost coming into the offseason, this group had so many questions after the bulk of their experienced players left for an NFL futures.

In a time where a new quarterback will lead the offensive huddle, the O-Line is leaned on to block and help him make the adjustments throughout the game. This years team will have to learn together after losing their starting Center Michael Jordan, Left Guard Malcolm Pridgeon, Right Tackle Isaiah Prince and then there is the Right Guard Demetrious Knox to the pros. It is definitely a bunch of huge shoes to fill, but I think the talent remaining in the room and the talent coming into the fold will surely be up to the task during the Ryan Day era.

After the exits, the few Slobs that are left still have the potential to pick up where the others left off at. Thayer Munford and Josh Alabi operated well at Left Tackle a season ago, Brandon Bowen was a great blocker at Right Guard before being taken out with a devastating leg injury, and Wyatt Davis blocked well in starting duties at Right Guard after Knox was injured late into the season. The one player to watch would the Grad Transfer Jonah Jackson who came in after a stellar career at Rutgers leaving them as an Honorable All-Big Ten performer. Jackson will have to adjust to the team scheme, but he looks to be a plug and play type of player after it is all said and done.

Behind them are players who operated while in mop-up duties, but this is surely a talented group headlined by a trio former five-stars in OT Nicholas Petite-Frere, OL Harry Miller, and OC Josh Myers. Then there are a ton of high-end players that could contribute right away like Gavin Cupp, Ryan Jacoby, Dawand Jones, Matt Jones, Max Wray, and Vimahi Enokk. Walk-ons like Nathan Brock, Jack Jamieson, Brandon Pahl, and Kevin Woidke are also viable options and the needed depth to help develop the scholarship players.

The beauty about Coach Stud’s players is that they are interchangeable and they play where they fit–they will play the best five blockers and players regardless of their position. That is the beauty about the incoming 2020 class, they are mostly Offensive Tackles, but Coach Stud is pitching the idea of them playing all over the line. Headlined by five-star Paris Johnson Jr, he is joined by four-star OC Luke Wypler and a trio of highly talented three-stars, Trey Leroux, Jakob James, and recent Penn State flip Grant Toutant. They may or may not be done, but they could be picky with the one or two players left on their board.

The talent and depth that is building in this room is a great, competitive situation for the coaches to build upon and it is a great opportunity for the players currently in the rooms and for the inbound ones to develop against players of similar skillsets and talent. Iron sharpens iron and with the horses opposite of them, it will be fun to see the trenches strengthen each other for years to come.

Below isn’t set in stone, but I am just going off of experience and potential at specific positions. To me, the starters are solid, but they could be unseated by the younger players during summer camps, Friday Night Light and then fall camp, so buckle up Buckeye fans! It will be a grind for the slobs up until the season begins.

Projected Depth Chart:

LT: Thayer Munford, Branden Bowen, Kevin Woidke

LG: Jonah Jackson, Josh Alabi, Ryan Jacoby, Nathan Brock

OC: Josh Myers, Matt Jones, Harry Miller, Jack Jamieson

RG: Wyatt Davis, Gavin Cupp, Vimahi Enokk, Brandon Pahl

RT: Nicholas Petite-Frere, Max Wray, Dawand Jones

Future OL: 2020, Paris Johnson Jr, Luke Wypler, Jakob James, Trey Leroux, and Grant Toutant.




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Depth Chart: Tight End
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



If I could think of a position at Ohio State that is key, but is usually an afterthought, I would say Tight End. That isn’t a bad thing at all, so don’t misjudge my opening statement, but with all that talent, they are often underutilized in the passing game, but when they are used, it is like a punch that you cannot see.

Coach Wilson, the former Indiana head coach takes ownership of this group and he teaches them the importance of preparation and toughness to play without touching the football–which to me is very, very important in the Ohio State grand scheme of things. Think about it–without the Tight Ends sealing the edges or splitting out into the slot that is one less matchup nightmare for opposing defenses to worry about. Yes, they are barely called upon, but later in the 2018 season, they had a larger role and the players made the best out of their opportunities when called upon.

With 2019, I feel like the offense will evolve and this room will see an uptick in usage and see more opportunities in the passing game. The room did not lose a player from a season ago and Rashod Berry will be the clear leader in this group with a lot of talent behind him. A former number one player at his position in Jeremy Ruckert, Jake Hausmann and Luke Farrell make up the room with Cormontae Hamilton joining the team during the summer is quite the room, filled with high-end talent with an underrated, team-first player like Hamilton coming into the fold. And let us not forget the walk-on Brock Davin, who gives us more depth and flexibility to the Tight End room.

Like I stated earlier, this room is often underused, but the work we don’t see in the blocking game is a crucial piece of this offensive scheme that adds a ton of value to the offense. So what if they don’t get the stats, the heart of this room is evident and to me, they are as valuable as the offensive linemen.

Berry is often used as a lead blocker, playing in the long forgotten Fullback position. He excels at it and he and Hausmann often hurt the defenses downfield for huge chunks per reception and I think the gameplan for this season is to unleash the pass-catchers at the position. At a school like Ohio State, the position is usually not a part of a defensive gameplan, but it could be used to open up the offense and throw defenses off when the elements and the field conditions line up.

I could see Wilson pounding the table for his guys this year to bring more balance to the offense. If it happens or if it doesn’t, it won’t affect the work ethic of these players entrenched in the Buckeye culture. The players in this room are the unsung heroes of the offense and often the forgotten bunch, but their team-first attitudes will elevate their play of the other positional groups. Here is to hoping the Stoneburner shot plays resurface.

Projected Depth Chart:

TE 1: Rashod Berry, Luke Farrell

TE 2: Jake Hausmann, Jeremy Ruckert

TE 3: Cormontae Hamilton, Brock Davin

Future TE’s: No committed players.




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BOOM! 3-star 2020 defensive lineman Ty Hamilton commits to Ohio State, per report
Matt Tamanini 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 loading up in the 2020 class.

Following an official visit to the Ohio State campus over the weekend, Pickerington Central rising-senior Ty Hamilton officially committed to play his college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes on Sunday afternoon. Hamilton becomes just the second defensive commitment to the Buckeyes’ 2020 class joining safety Lejond Cavazos.


Hamilton had been considered a Buckeye lean for the past month after Ryan Day extended an offer just a few weeks back on May 28. Once that offer came through, then question was when — not if — the Pickerington star would commit to Ohio State. It seems that his weekend visit to Ohio State answered any questions he had, and convinced him to pull the trigger and join Ohio State’s 2020 class.

Hamilton is currently a three-star prospect, currently rated as the 31st best player coming out of the state of Ohio in the 2020 recruiting class. In addition to the Buckeyes, he was entertaining offers from Michigan, Penn State, Kentucky, Michigan State, Vanderbilt, and another dozen schools.

Ty Hamilton is the younger brother of OSU senior defensive tackle Davon Hamilton.

Check out Hamilton’s junior year highlights here:

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Ohio State men’s basketball set to lean on talent of Kaleb Wesson, leadership of Andre Wesson
Patrick Mayhorn via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


It’ll be a family effort for the Buckeyes in the upcoming season

“I don’t have a ring,” Wesson said. “That’s something I really want, a ring, whether it’s Big Ten regular season or the tournament championship. That has been in the back of my mind.”


- Andre Wesson, via Stephen Means, Cleveland dot com

Ohio State’s success in the 2019-20 season is going to depend pretty heavily on the Wesson brothers. That seemed pretty unlikely a few years ago, as Stephen notes early in his piece, establishing the humble beginnings that Andre Wesson arrived at Ohio State from. Now, four years later, he may be the most crucial part of Ohio State’s roster, as the lone senior, and easily the most natural leader of the bunch.

I would expect that Andre will serve as a leader in the same way that Keita Bates-Diop did in 2017, keeping the team from ever getting too high or too low, and remaining a bit of a steadying force whenever the Buckeyes need it. There are more vocal leaders, and more experienced leaders, as mentioned in the piece, but Andre’s demeanor kept Ohio State calm last season, and should play an even bigger factor in his senior year.

If he can step up and continue his development as a scorer, that dream of a ring seems well within reach for Wesson and the Buckeyes.

“All you have to do to know the value of Wesson is look back to last season when he was suspended for three games. Ohio State lost them all. He came back and the Buckeyes beat Indiana to essentially earn an NCAA tournament bid. Wesson flirted with the NBA draft. He’s back and with him the Buckeyes should be in the NCAA tournament again. Without him, they would not.”


- Andy Katz, NCAA

While I’m not sold on Katz’s assertion that Ohio State would miss the tournament with Kaleb Wesson, I certainly agree that Kaleb is one of the most important players in the Big Ten, and on this list, he checks in at third, just behind Cassius Winston and Anthony Cowan Jr.


Just like with his big brother’s leadership, Ohio State will certainly need Kaleb to be the best version of himself if they want to compete for a Big Ten Championship, and perhaps even a national championship. The team will be significantly better around Kaleb this year than it was last year, but he is still an extremely dominant force, and having him on the court makes everything flow much smoother.

That last part, having him on the court, will be key. If Wesson can keep the fouls to a minimum, and avoid any suspensions, he could be in for an All-American caliber season. If not? The Buckeyes may be headed for the NCAA tournament bubble for a second straight season.

Lonsway grabs another award


Buckeye freshman phenom pitcher Seth Lonsway has been recognized quite a few times already for his excellent play this past season, but yesterday he picked up another accolade, as he was named a Freshman All-American by Rawlings. This is his fifth postseason accolade, according to Ohio State Buckeyes dot com.

He has also been recognized as a second team Freshman All-American by the NCBWA, on the Big Ten All-Freshman team, Third-Team All Big Ten, and on the Big Ten All-Tournament team. In just his first year of college baseball, as a redshirt freshman, Lonsway made quite the impression, leading the Big Ten in strikeouts and putting up an 8-4 record with a sub-4 ERA. He’ll be one of the core pieces of Ohio State’s rotation next season.

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