Jake Cook Brings Violent Mentality to Bison Package That Ohio State Will “Continue to Build On”​

By Lyle Alenstein on September 24, 2026 at 12:09 am

• OSU Football

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When Jake Cook trotted onto the field wearing No. 81 with no nameplate against Kent State as the sixth offensive lineman in Ohio State’s “Bison” package, Ian Moore got excited.
"I love it. I love seeing Jake Cook next to me," Ohio State’s starting left tackle said Wednesday after practice. "I mean, his mentality, I hate to swear, but it's just 'fuck it, I'm running.' And I love it. I love it."

Saturday was the first time Cook played a significant role with the first-team offense in his Ohio State career. He played only 17 snaps as a freshman last year, with 16 of those coming against Grambling State. But Cook has shown his coaches that he can be an asset in the Bison role, even though Ryan Day said there are still things the entire offensive line and tight ends need to clean up in that package.
"I thought there was some good things that he did. Not to get too technical about how that all played out, but they need to work together better in that situation. But that's why we tried to get into those situations to work through a game rep of it and figure out where we're at," Day said. "I think it's something that we're not going to major in, but I do think that there was enough on film to lead us to believe that we should continue to build on it and be an option for us personnel-wise."

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Ohio State has struggled in short-yardage situations this year, so getting an extra offensive lineman in Cook on the field could be a way to combat that. Moore believes it’s a role that suits Cook’s game well because of the simplicity of what the Buckeyes are asking him to do in the Bison package.
"A lot of the plays he's in, they're pretty simple for him to understand. It's not like a bunch. He's not gonna start motioning into a slot set and going out for a route," Moore said. "He knows his job. He knows what he's doing. And it's,'fuck it, I'm gonna run.'"



Time will tell how much the role grows for the 6-foot-4, 310-pound sophomore, but if there's one person who's certainly excited about what Cook brings to the table, it's Moore.
"Jake just brings physicality, man," Moore said. "If he messes up, I know he's running hard, and I know he's gonna knock somebody out. It might not be the right person, but I know he's knocking somebody out. So I mean, just that juice, that energy, it's always amazing."......

WAY TO GO, CARSON. Carson Hinzman is getting some well-deserved recognition off the field.

The Ohio State center was named a semifinalist for the 2026 Campbell Trophy on Wednesday, an award often referred to as the “Academic Heisman” that recognizes college football players for their success in the classroom, on the field and as leaders.

Recent Buckeyes to be named semifinalists for the award include Lorenzo Styles Jr. (2025) and Seth McLaughlin (2024), with McLaughlin advancing to the finalist stage two years ago.

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Hinzman is one of a record 206 semifinalists for this year’s award. Collectively, the group boasts a 3.64 GPA, including seven players with perfect 4.0s, 98 bachelor’s degree holders, 24 All-Americans and 130 team captains.

Not bad company.

Some notable names have also won the Campbell Trophy over the years, including Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow. Former Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers took home the award last season.

The National Football Foundation will announce 12 to 16 finalists on Oct. 21. Each finalist will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship, while the Campbell Trophy winner will receive an additional $7,000 when the award is presented at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner in Las Vegas on Dec. 8.

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305Buck 22 hours ago
Removed from this weekend:

https://247sports.com/player/jameer-miles-46162585/

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305Buck 22 hours ago
Removed from this weekend:
https://247sports.com/player/zaiden-jernigan-46143131/

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305Buck 22 hours ago
Added for this weekend: Illinois

https://247sports.com/player/deandre-bidden-46149889/

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Byaaaahhh 22 hours ago
Karlos May is visiting for the Maryland game.

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KYBuck4858 32 minutes ago
Should be getting some more clarity at CB after this weekend, with 3 top targets visiting. Including longtime top target Langston Pridgeon, which is shaping up to be a very tight ND vs OSU battle. Also reported earlier this week that we are still in the pole position for Cobbins.

McDonald came out of nowhere from outsiders' perspectives. Hoping Moore has a similar trajectory.

Jaxbuck said:

Who on the list of voters is qualified to do much more than flip burgers if they weren't a sportswriter/media personality?

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If your question is rhetorical, then you make a good point.

If your question is supposed to be answered, I'll answer it. I don't even recognize most of the names on that list. Here's the blokes I do know:
Rece Davis - An SEC homer, but I think he isn't as much of a homer as most people accuse him of being. He's okay on that list.
Nicole Auerbach - I don't know much about her. I think she works for ESPN, so she must have passed her SEC test. I'm neutral on her.
Adam Lichtenstein - I don't know him at all. But with a name like that, he should be on the list. Lichtenstein. Awesome.
John Johnson - I don't know him, but just as I dig Adam Lichtenstein on the list, get this effer off the list. His parents couldn't be at least a little more creative? Eff those effers.
Mike Hill - I know a dude named Mike Hill. But I don't care otherwise.
Lia Assimakopoulos - I'm guessing this is a woman? She belongs on the list, too, and her job is to order lunch for everyone. Put it under your name. Then we take bets to see if they spell her name correctly.
Chris Carter - Why is he spelling his name with an H? Cris Carter. Jerks. He's cool.
David Jablonski - Sounds like a good dude to take to the strip club. He might disappear for 30 minutes, but that's because he's paying for 5 strippers to give him lap dances at the same time.
Randy Johnson - You gotta give a spot to the Big Unit.

So, I know it isn't a full sample of the guys, but I've graded 8 of the voters (including McMurphy, but not including Auerbach or Mike Hill) and decided that 6 can stay. So extrapolate that to me agreeing that 25% of the list of voters should be fired. 75% can stay in some capacity or other.

I really can’t wait to see this kid in the next few years. He’s going to be 6’5 245 or so just like Sonny.

He just might be the player to force us into a 3-4 or to at least play more linebackers.

wolves2002 said:

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This is not far from where I live, it is not an exaggeration.

Thump said:

Yawn……

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They keep trying to put new lipstick on the same pig every so often. Maybe one of these days they'll get it.

Deep fried naked > every other version cooked every other way.

Bestbuck36 said:

Maybe he thought he knew the play? Shit gets hard when you don't eh

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His last year there were some plays he was noticably ball hunting and sometimes got lucky with a pick. So I could see him guessing a quick out and being fucking toast for it

Lmao, he said "Def Leppard sucks"

ORD_Buckeye said:

Phil Knight just gave the school one beeeelion dollars. Perhaps they can now claw their way up to the middle of the B1G academically.

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He ain't give that money to play school

Edit - Shockingly, he actually did