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Google Ohio State: After Michigan State drubbing, will Buckeyes stick with what works? - Landof10.com

Ohio State: After Michigan State drubbing, will Buckeyes stick with what works? - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State: After Michigan State drubbing, will Buckeyes stick with what works?
Landof10.com
All week long, our Land of 10 reporters following the Buckeyes will address pressing questions on the mind of the Ohio State fan base with our new daily feature. To ask Austin Ward a question, follow along on Twitter and pass along a topic right here.
Media likes Ohio State's College Football Playoff chances247Sports
There's no overlooking Louisville with high-scoring Asia Durr leading the wayESPN
No. 11 Ohio State 48, No. 13 Michigan State 3: Buckeyes run over SpartansChronicle Telegram
cleveland.com -Land-Grant Holy Land
all 82 news articles »


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LGHL Urban Meyer refuses to discuss Ohio State’s playoff potential at weekly press conference

Urban Meyer refuses to discuss Ohio State’s playoff potential at weekly press conference
Matt Tamanini
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Billy Price, Tuf Borland among this week’s players of the Game.

The rollercoaster that is the Ohio State football season had another exhilarating high on Saturday as No. 13 Ohio State Buckeyes knocked off the No. 12 Michigan State Spartans 48-3, in a game that wasn’t really even that close.

Coupled with a rash of highly-rated teams falling, the Buckeyes are... somehow... maybe... kind of still in the discussion for the College Football Playoff. However, for those conversations to happen, OSU needs to play like they did against MSU for the rest of the season, starting with the Illinois Fighting Illini this Saturday. The game will also serve as Ohio State’s 2017 Senior Day.

On Monday, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer met with the media to discuss Saturday’s blowout win and what it means for the rest of the season.

Michigan State Recap

Illinois Preview

  • Meyer said that he is very close to this year’s senior class. So this Saturday’s Senior Day will be important, and that the best way to show respect to them would be to win against Illinois.
  • He said that the Illini defensive line is very strong. He said that they are made up of big athletes, and they regularly penetrate the line.
Injury Report

  • Damon Arnette was pulled from the MSU game with a thigh bruise, but is expected to play on Saturday against Illinois.
Depth Chart

  • Meyer said that the offensive line has done an incredible job in recent weeks, and that they are moving in the right direction.
  • The coach said that Malik Harrison has earned more playing time at the linebacker position.
  • Meyer said that he thinks that their current running back depth is as good as they’ve ever had it, thanks in part to the offensive line.
Miscellaneous

  • There will be 19 seniors participating in this Saturday’s Senior Day.
  • Urban Meyer also apologized that he didn’t mention Veterans Day after Saturday’s game, and thanked all who have served, including his father and sister.
  • The head coach said that he doesn’t think that there need to be any changes to the targeting rule. If the replay official makes a mistake, he or she should be penalized, but otherwise, the players should know better.
  • Meyer said that you have to have a quarterback in every recruiting class, and you almost have to have multiple options just in case something changes with commitments.
  • He also said that this season could see two quarterbacks in the upcoming class, but those types of discussions are difficult because of the nature of the position.
  • Meyer said that there will be “zero conversation” about the College Football Playoffs in the building.
  • Meyer repeatedly refused to discuss much about past games, this team’s legacy, Big Ten championships, or potential playoff berths. Instead just saying that they needed to play well on Saturday.
  • When asked about Saturday being J.T. Barrett’s final game at the Horseshoe, he said that the fifth-year QB is a member of the Meyer family and the Buckeye family for the rest of his life, and Urban just wants him to have a good game on Saturday.

The Ohio State Buckeyes will be back on the gridiron this Saturday, Nov. 18 at 3:30 p.m. ET against the Illinois Fighting Illini. The Battle for the IlliBuck will be broadcast on ABC.



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Google Ohio State vs. Radford basketball: Bates-Diop leads Buckeyes to win - News-Herald.com

Ohio State vs. Radford basketball: Bates-Diop leads Buckeyes to win - News-Herald.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State vs. Radford basketball: Bates-Diop leads Buckeyes to win
News-Herald.com
C.J. Jackson added 19 points and Jae'Sean Tate had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Buckeyes (2-0), who led 44-34 at the half. OSU was up by 26 in the second half before Radford had a late flurry in the final four minutes but the outcome was not in doubt.


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LGHL Mike Weber’s performance against Michigan State earns him Big Ten co-offensive player of...

Mike Weber’s performance against Michigan State earns him Big Ten co-offensive player of the week honors
Geoff Hammersley
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


usa_today_10403709.0.jpg

162 yards and 2 scores will do that.

On Saturday, running back Mike Weber collected an abundance of real estate against the Michigan State Spartans. On his first carry of the game, he went for a 47-yard touchdown, igniting the Ohio State Buckeyes’ permanent lead against Sparty. By the time all was said and done, Weber scored again—this time from 82 yards—and ended the afternoon with nine carries for 162 yards.

That performance was still in the minds of many on Monday, as it was announced that the Detroit native received Big Ten co-offensive player of the week honors.


A career-best 162 yards rushing has earned Ohio State running back @mikeweberjr Big Ten co-offensive player of the week honors. https://t.co/qYIeEga6Lv

— Jerry Emig (@BuckeyeNotes) November 13, 2017

It’s the fourth time this season that a Buckeye has earned a Big Ten offensive player of the week honor. The other three occurrences happened in Weeks 1, 7 and 9—with quarterback J.T. Barrett being the one to earn a share of the accolade.

The Buckeyes are back in action at home this Saturday against Illinois. It’ll be the last home game of the year for OSU, and will kickoff at 3:30 p.m. ET.

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Google Big Ten rankings: Buckeyes, Badgers on collision course for Indianapolis - Toledo Blade

Big Ten rankings: Buckeyes, Badgers on collision course for Indianapolis - Toledo Blade
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Big Ten rankings: Buckeyes, Badgers on collision course for Indianapolis
Toledo Blade
1. Ohio State: What a difference a week makes. The Buckeyes found that out last week -- and again this week. 2. Michigan State: The Spartans' Big Ten championship hopes are over. 3. Penn State: It was interesting for the first quarter against Rutgers ...
How Ohio State can win the Big Ten East247Sports

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Google Ohio State men's basketball | Analysis: Buckeyes mixing and matching lineups liberally -...

Ohio State men's basketball | Analysis: Buckeyes mixing and matching lineups liberally - The Columbus Dispatch
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Ohio State men's basketball | Analysis: Buckeyes mixing and matching lineups liberally
The Columbus Dispatch
After Ohio State improved to 2-0 on Sunday with an 82-72 win against Radford, coach Chris Holtmann admitted to doing a little extra mixing and matching with his lineups. With so many unknowns on a team still learning its new coach, that's probably to ...


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Google Ohio State football: Buckeyes rise in polls; alternate uniforms previewed - Landof10.com

Ohio State football: Buckeyes rise in polls; alternate uniforms previewed - Landof10.com
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Ohio State football: Buckeyes rise in polls; alternate uniforms previewed
Landof10.com
Ohio State football is the No. 1 topic in Wake Up Sloopy every day — but we cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Ohio State football, recruiting, ...
Ohio State football and basketball host standout recruitsLand-Grant Holy Land
Buckeyes offer another 2018 QB247Sports

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LGHL Ohio State football and basketball host standout recruits

Ohio State football and basketball host standout recruits
Charles Doss
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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The Buckeyes played host to more than Michigan State this weekend.

After Iowa ran away with a huge victory over Ohio State last weekend, many fans and recruits were left wondering how the Buckeyes would bounce back against Michigan State.

They weren’t disappointed.

Flocking to Columbus to see what the Buckeyes would do against the Spartans, many future and potential Ohio State football players made their way to the Ohio State campus to see the game with their own eyes.

Having a great time, a number of recruits walked away from Columbus highly impressed with what J.T. Barrett, J.K. Dobbins, Mike Weber, and the Buckeyes put together at Ohio Stadium in the 48-3 win over Michigan State.

Want to know what some of the prospects had to say? Land-Grant Holy Land caught up with a few of the weekend visitors and grabbed their thoughts on the game and more:

RB John Branham Jr.


Class: 2019

Town: Columbus, OH/Northland

Offers: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Kent State, Toledo, et al.

Thoughts: “The visit was great. I had a good time. We came to the Oklahoma game earlier but this game you could see the intensity in warmup was much greater. As always tailgating was everywhere. Coach Wilson wanted me to come back after the Oklahoma game so we did. The stadium staff was very welcoming too.”

WR Rashawn Williams


Class: 2020

Town: Detroit, MI/Martin Luther King

Offers: Ohio State, Kentucky, Syracuse, Central Michigan, et al.

Thoughts: “The trip was good. The three hour drive gave me a chance to bond more with my coach and quarterback. I got to see a lot of players on both sides perform at a high level that are from Detroit The atmosphere was great, and the fans were great.”

ATH Kalil Branham


Class: 2020

Town: Columbus, OH/Northland

Offers: Cincinnati and Toledo

Thoughts: “We had fun. It wasn’t cold at all. The players were more hype than last time. It was a good game. I don’t like to see fans leave early, but I had a good time.”

2019 standout talks OSU visit, offer


On hand to see the start of a new era of Ohio State basketball, a pair of 2019 prospects left the 31-point win over Robert Morris on Friday with a chance to play for the Buckeyes.

“My visit was awesome. Very humbling experience and flattering to be thought highly of by a program like Ohio State,” 6’4 wing Harlond Beverly of Southfield Christian (MI) told Land-Grant Holy Land.

“I got to see the arena, the practice and training facilities. I really like the setup of the campus and how close everything is in terms of walking distance between classes,” Beverly added. The four-star standout averaged nearly 13 points a contest last season as a sophomore.

Starting to pick up new interest weekly, Beverly now holds offers from not just OSU, but the likes of Michigan State, Baylor, Missouri, and Xavier. While some teams might’ve beat them to the punch in terms of offering him a scholarship, the chance to play at Ohio State isn’t something Beverly is taking lightly after spending time with the Ohio State coaching staff.

“They were just telling me how they have offered a limited amount of kids so far in my grade and really feel I can contribute to the program. The offer from OSU means a lot to me especially because of their fast play style. With Coach Holtmann I really feel like I could excel in that type of system,” he said.


Blessed to say that I’ve received an offer to play basketball at The Ohio State University. pic.twitter.com/gArWATaXrT

— Harlond Beverly (@Harlond20) November 10, 2017

Holtmann and staff also offered Salpointe Catholic (AZ) small forward Majok Deng. A four-star recruit, the 6’5 Deng adds the scholarship from the Buckeyes to a list that already consisted of programs such as Arizona, California, UCLA, and Utah.


Considered the 29th small forward and 105th overall prospect in the 2019 class, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, Deng accounted for 15 points and eight rebounds a game as a junior to help pace the Lancers to an overall record of 21-10 and a deep run in the Arizona state playoffs.

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Google Buckeyes travel to Jackson to face Hornets - Athens Messenger

Buckeyes travel to Jackson to face Hornets - Athens Messenger
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes travel to Jackson to face Hornets
Athens Messenger
Nelsonville-York Buckeyes. Nelsonville-York head coach Rusty Richards celebrates after a touchdown last Friday at New Lexington. The Buckeyes are 12-0 and face Dawson-Bryant High School in a regional final on Friday in Jackson. Messenger photo by ...


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Google Wolverines rise in AP Poll, while Spartans drop at hands of Buckeyes - nbc25news.com

Wolverines rise in AP Poll, while Spartans drop at hands of Buckeyes - nbc25news.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Wolverines rise in AP Poll, while Spartans drop at hands of Buckeyes
nbc25news.com
Michigan jumped up two spots to number 19 with their 8-2 record and decisive win over Maryland. They have Wisconsin next on their schedule who is ranked fifth. After rolling Michigan State, the Buckeyes are ranked eighth and have caused the Spartans to ...

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Google There's no overlooking Louisville with high-scoring Asia Durr leading the way - ESPN

There's no overlooking Louisville with high-scoring Asia Durr leading the way - ESPN
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


There's no overlooking Louisville with high-scoring Asia Durr leading the way
ESPN
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Louisville women's basketball coach Jeff Walz shook his head as he walked toward the court for his game, which followed UConn's dominant victory over Stanford on Sunday. "Wow," he said. "That's about all I can say about that ...
Ohio State-Radford basketball score: Stats from 82-72 Buckeyes winLandof10.com
Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Radford Highlanders live score, updatescleveland.com
Ohio State vs. Radford basketball: Bates-Diop leads Buckeyes to winNews-Herald.com
247Sports -The Columbus Dispatch -Land-Grant Holy Land
all 131 news articles »


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LGHL Joey Bosa already added to Pro Football Hall of Fame, adds 20th sack in Week 10 of the NFL

Joey Bosa already added to Pro Football Hall of Fame, adds 20th sack in Week 10 of the NFL
Alexis Chassen
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


usa_today_10407218.0.jpg

It’s been a big week for Bosa, a bad week for Ezekiel Elliott, and more Buckeye news out of the League.

Saturday’s Ohio State win over Michigan State was fun, and it was followed up by some big days from Buckeyes in Week 10 of the NFL.

Buckeye alumni have captured headlines throughout the week leading up to the weekend’s matchups, with Joey Bosa sending some gear to Canton and Ezekiel Elliott serving the first game of his six-game suspension. Then on Sunday, two Buckeye powerhouses claimed over 100 yards of total offense each (Michael Thomas and Carlos Hyde) — although, neither made it into the endzone.

Here’s how former Buckeyes fared this week at the next level:

Bosa now part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame


Last week, Buckeye bad ass Joey Bosa made his 19th career sack (appropriately) against Michigan alumnus Tom Brady, setting a new NFL record in the process for most sacks in his first 20 games. It was no surprise that Bosa would be a beast when he left Ohio State to play in the pros, but he’s been an immediate contributor, and in just his second season has sent some hardware to Canton for display at Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“It’s pretty awesome to be in there already; I thought I’d have to wait a little bit longer!” Bosa said. “I think it’s further motivation to just keep it going. Ten games from now hopefully we’re talking about how I have the most in 30 games.”


Placed on display today at the Hall (Pt. 2): @Chargers DE @jbbigbear jersey & gloves from when he recorded his 19th career sack in 20 career games - a new @NFL record for most sacks by a player in their 1st 20 games to begin a career. pic.twitter.com/WmzfDk6AqJ

— Pro Football HOF (@ProFootballHOF) November 9, 2017

The Buckeye also added another sack to his stat line in Week 10 against the Jaguars, making him the second-youngest player in NFL history to notch 20 total sacks — just 83 days older than NFL legend Terrell Suggs.

It’s also nice to see Bosa keeping his signature shrug alive at the next level.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯


INGRAM + BOSA = pic.twitter.com/KsZrts50FT

— #LACvsJAX (@Chargers) November 12, 2017
Cowboys without Zeke


There was some good news and bad news for Buckeyes down in Dallas this week, with the announcement that running back Ezekiel Elliott would at least be forced to serve the first of his six-game suspension handed down at the onset of the season. After enough back-and-forths to make your head spin, the former Buckeye phenom ran out of time and was forced to sit out in Week 10.

It looks like Zeke expects to serve the entirety of his suspension, with news early on Sunday that the running back was leaving the country to get his mind right and train. (Why the need to travel across an ocean to do that? Your guess is as good as mine.)


As #Cowboys RB Zeke Elliott heads to parts unknown, Alfred Morris will start. But the team really likes Rod Smith as a wildcard. pic.twitter.com/ILJUmP45qB

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 12, 2017

One of his teammates, and another former Buckeye, who will benefit from Zeke’s suspension, is rusher Rod Smith. Buried on the depth chart, Smith hasn’t seen a ton of game time this season, but he’s had a few clutch plays to extend drives, and is having a career year. He saw considerable more game time in Week 10, finished with three carries for 14 yards and four receptions for another 15 yards.

Kicking legend Mike Nugent had a career revival following the injury to Dan Bailey, but with a missed kick on Sunday against the Falcons, he brought back memories of his not so great 2016 season. Nugent finished the day 0-for-1 in field goal tries, but went 1-for-1 in point after attempts.

Rookie receiver Noah Brown has yet to carve out significant playing time for the Cowboys this season, but with Dez Bryant aging, he could be the next in line after another offseason under his belt.

Browns made a move for Pryor


The Terrelle Pryor Sr. saga continues to be head-scratching. It was reported on Saturday that Pryor’s former team, the Cleveland Browns, had reached out to Washington about a possible trade for the receiver ahead of the league’s trade deadline last week. Despite having all but phased the Buckeye out of their offense over the past few weeks, Washington surprisingly wasn’t interested in sending him back to Ohio. (On Sunday against the Vikings, Pryor saw exactly zero targets.)

Oh, the irony. After having his only 1,000-plus yard season as a receiver with the Browns in 2016, Pryor wouldn’t accept their contract offer and instead tried his hand at free agency. The former quarterback finally settled on a one-year deal with Washington, in hopes of proving his value, and securing a big money, long-term deal in 2018. That’s far from the case at this point, and it’s a little surprising Cleveland was still in the market to get Pryor back -- although at this point, it’s very a “Browns” thing to do.

Plays of the Week

Ryan Shazier


One of the former Silver Bullets keeping Ohio State’s LBU reputation safe is Steelers’ LB Ryan Shazier. On his way to a career-high season in tackles and interceptions, the Buckeye had another big game in Week 10 against the Colts, claiming five total tackles, two pass breakups and and another pick.


Alright...

A lot of stuff just happened.

So just in case you weren't following along...@RyanShazier did this... pic.twitter.com/cKfsJZfmSR

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 12, 2017

Mike catches up with @RyanShazier on the field to talk about battling through adversity, his big interception and more. pic.twitter.com/XS4JbgLqlI

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 12, 2017
Michael Thomas


Saints’ wideout Michael Thomas had his first 100-plus receiving game of 2017 with 117 yards -- his third highest career game — on Sunday, but hasn’t seen the endzone in the past five games. He may not be a big part of New Orleans’ red-zone package, but Thomas has been a huge factor in extending drives with big plays.


.@DrewBrees + @CantGuardMike! #GoSaints pic.twitter.com/UGAz06GhRG

— NFL (@NFL) November 12, 2017

Michael Thomas delivered once again today pic.twitter.com/55wu4WqYYz

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) November 12, 2017
Other Notes

  • Several Buckeyes will be featured in Week 10’s edition of Monday Night Football when the Carolina Panthers (Kurt Coleman, Andrew Norwell, Curtis Samuel) take on the Miami Dolphins.
  • Niners running back Carlos Hyde claimed over 100 total yards of offense in San Francisco’s first win of the season — albeit against the Giants — but didn’t find the endzone in the 31-21 victory
  • Former Ohio State DT Adolphus Washington was benched just a few weeks ago by the Buffalo Bills, but it was just the motivation he needed to step up his game. Reinvigorated, the Buckeye has earned back his spot in the starting lineup — though, he only claimed one tackle in the team’s 47-10 loss to the Saints on Sunday.
  • Seahawks TE Nick Vannett had a season-high 22 yards in this week’s Thursday Night Football game against the Cardinals.
  • We already know that Saints CB Marshon Lattimore is setting himself up for a nice NFL career, but he’s already earned several Rookie of the Week awards and is one of the top candidates for Defensive Rookie of the Year — won last year by Buckeye Joey Bosa. Lattimore is also really fun to watch, and isn’t afraid to get a little vocal with some of his opponents. (Heh.)
Injury Report and Inactives

  • After being placed on the Detroit Lions’ IR before the start of the regular season, and undergoing knee surgery, second-year OT Taylor Decker was activated from the PUP (physically unable to perform) list ahead of Week 10’s slate of games.
  • The Colts continue to miss their Buckeye players on the grid iron. Linebacker John Simon is still sidelined with a neck injury, and a week after being placed on IR, rookie Malik Hooker underwent surgery on his torn ACL on Friday.
  • Quarterback Cardale Jones remained a healthy scratch for the Chargers this week.
Which Buckeyes are on Bye?


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Google Ohio State football: Buckeyes gain votes in Land of 10 Power Poll - Landof10.com

Ohio State football: Buckeyes gain votes in Land of 10 Power Poll - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football: Buckeyes gain votes in Land of 10 Power Poll
Landof10.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State gained votes in the latest edition of the Land of 10 Power Poll after an overwhelming 48-3 victory against Michigan State on Saturday. The Buckeyes remained No. 2 in the standings but were unanimously so this week, ...
Buckeyes show pride after fallSouth Bend Tribune
Michigan State at Ohio State score: Buckeyes crush Spartans, lead ...CBSSports.com
Niyo: Buckeyes' wave crashes Spartans' title hopesThe Detroit News
cleveland.com
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Google Ohio State recruiting: The QB carousel could soon be in full swing, updates from Buckeyes...

Ohio State recruiting: The QB carousel could soon be in full swing, updates from Buckeyes recruiting weekend - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State recruiting: The QB carousel could soon be in full swing, updates from Buckeyes recruiting weekend
Landof10.com
Ohio State hasn't offered, but there's a sense that the Buckeyes soon could. The concern is obviously his throwing shoulder, because torn labrums don't always heal equally. Nonetheless, the Buckeyes are interested, and Martinez and his parents spent a ...

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Google Buckeyes pound Spartans; reclaim driver's seat in Big Ten East - Richland Source

Buckeyes pound Spartans; reclaim driver's seat in Big Ten East - Richland Source
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes pound Spartans; reclaim driver's seat in Big Ten East
Richland Source
Without question the 13th-ranked Buckeyes (8-2 overall, 6-1 in the Big Ten) earned their share of the raspberries after last week's 55-24 debacle at Iowa. But Meyer, who is 46-4 in all Big Ten games, has set the bar so incredibly high at Ohio State ...

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Google Ohio State-Radford basketball score: Stats from 82-72 Buckeyes win - Landof10.com

Ohio State-Radford basketball score: Stats from 82-72 Buckeyes win - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State-Radford basketball score: Stats from 82-72 Buckeyes win
Landof10.com
The Buckeyes thrashed Robert Morris on Friday night, and they did it in a way that has been pretty rare in recent years. Once Ohio State got a comfortable lead, it never surrendered a big run from the Colonials. In past years the Buckeyes have been apt ...
Kelsey Mitchell, Stephanie Mavunga power No. 5 Ohio State past No. 10 StanfordESPN
Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Radford Highlanders live score, updatescleveland.com
In Chris Holtmann's first game as Ohio State head coach, the ...Land-Grant Holy Land
247Sports -The Columbus Dispatch
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LGHL Double-double outputs from Keita Bates-Diop and Jae’Sean Tate help Ohio State defeat...

Double-double outputs from Keita Bates-Diop and Jae’Sean Tate help Ohio State defeat Radford, 82-72
Geoff Hammersley
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


usa_today_10402562.1510522182.jpg

The Buckeyes are now 2-0 for the season.

The Chris Holtmann era started off with a win on Friday against Robert Morris. On Sunday against Radford, the Ohio State Buckeyes kept on with their winning ways by defeating the Highlanders, 82-72.

C.J. Jackson set a career mark in points with 19. Keita Bates-Diop also put up points, scoring 22. In both games this season, Bates-Diop has hit the double-figure mark in scoring. Later in the second half, the forward reached the 10 rebound mark, accomplishing a double-double. (He did the same against Robert Morris.)

Not being left out of the double-double party, guard Jae’Sean Tate reached the accolade, too. Tate put 13 points on the board off of 5-of-12 shooting, and had 10 rebounds. For Tate, it’s his 11th double-double.

With the win, the Buckeyes improved to 15-0 versus Big South opponents.

Let’s take a look at how this game went.


Starting off, Jae’Sean Tate put the Buckeyes up first, scoring the first five points in the game. However, as quick as the Scarlet and Gray were to get out a lead, Radford answered back with a mini 6-0 run of their own.

But the quick scoring runs for either team was about to be met with a field goal drought. With the score 13-10 in favor the of Buckeyes at the 11:46 mark in the first half, both teams went over three minutes without getting a basket to fall. In the case of the Highlanders, the drought included a stretch of four missed shots.

Shortly thereafter, another TV timeout was taken. And the that timeout helped break up the slump from the Buckeyes. A Kaleb Wesson jumper gave the home team a 15-10 lead with just over 11 minutes left in the half. The first 15 OSU points were only split amongst three players: Wesson, Keita Bates-Diop and Jae’Sean Tate. Scoring from the Highlanders was opposite to what the Buckeyes were doing; in their first 14 points, five different members hit a basket.

Unlike Friday night against Robert Morris, the Buckeyes couldn’t pull away from Radford early. Going into the under-eight minute media timeout, OSU held a 22-14 lead on the visitors from Virginia. The 8-point lead came off a 7-0 scoring run for the Scarlet and Gray, combined with another drought from Radford—like last time, this drought carried on for over two minutes.

At this point, the floodgates began to creak open. Ohio State carried on their scoring run, eventually getting it to a 14-2 break. The shots were falling, too. Five-of-seven shots were drained for OSU, while missed jumpers and turnovers plagued the Highlanders’ chance of cutting into the lead. In one case, C.J. Jackson played a big part in the Buckeyes getting to a double-digit lead. However, he also played a role in giving Radford chances to get back into the game, by committing four turnovers.

With just under five minutes left in the first half, Ohio State had a 36-24 lead. That 12-point deficit didn’t faze Radford, as they pressed on to get within single digits. Sinking 7-of-9 shots during a stretch, the Highlanders got within six, 38-32, with 1:07 left before the halftime break. The mini comeback was assisted by Ohio State going on a scoreless slump that lasted nearly three minutes. (Fortunately for OSU, a Kam Williams dunk would stop the slump.)

Bates-Diop would get the Buckeyes back up to a double-digit lead by hitting a layup that went high off the glass. That layup make also drew an and-1 call. After converting on the free throw, Ohio State lead 43-32 with under a minute left in the half. Right before halftime, a Radford foul on Devonnte Holland put Wesson on the line for a pair of free throws.

Wesson would split the freebies, and would give the Buckeyes a 44-34 halftime lead. At the break, Ohio State was shooting 52 percent from the field, and had a five rebound advantage (20-15) over Radford. Bates-Diop had 12 of the team’s points, while Jackson topped off at 10—second most for the Scarlet and Gray. Donald Hicks and Randy Phillips were the scoring leaders from Radford; both had 8-points outings in the first half.

Droughts were a theme throughout the first half, so it would make sense that it would rear its head in the second half, too. After Bates-Diop dropped a three-pointer on the Bucks first possession, they would go nearly 2:30 without getting another point. Jackson’s layup at the 17:19 mark of the half broke up the drought, and pushed OSU’s lead out even further, 49-34.

Once Jackson hit the layup, the floodgates broke open for OSU. A 10-0 run mixed with another Radford two-minute scoring drought put the Buckeyes up even more. In the first 6:33 of the second half, Chris Holtmann’s team outscored the opposition 17-1. Of those 17 points, Jackson was responsible for 10 of them.

Jackson crossed the 19-point mark, and accomplished one of his best games in a Buckeye uniform.


C.J. Jackson has a career high 19 points on 7-11 shooting.

— Dan Wallenberg (@OSUADAthComm) November 12, 2017

Even though two more multi-minute scoring droughts found their way to the Buckeyes, the Highlanders couldn’t bust the Scarlet and Gray’s lead. While they weren’t trailing by 26, a margin that occurred with 14 minutes left in regulation, Radford was still hovering around a 20-point deficit. A rough second half beyond the arc (3-10 in the half) prevented the visitors from making a late surge in Columbus.

With the OSU starters being sent to the bench, Radford did what they could to get the deficit down. In the final 2:11, the Highlanders went on a 13-1 run; at the same time, Ohio State was, again, in a shooting drought. This drought, however, would last the rest of the game—but it didn’t matter.

Carlik Jones led the Highlanders with 19 points and three assists, while Ed Polite Jr. led his team with six rebounds.

Up next for Ohio State will be Texas Southern. That game is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Thursday. BTN is slated to broadcast.

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Google Ohio State's linebackers were injured -- and better than ever ... - cleveland.com

Ohio State's linebackers were injured -- and better than ever ... - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State's linebackers were injured -- and better than ever ...
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Jerome Baker and Dante Booker missed Saturday's 48-3 win over Michigan State, and Ohio State didn't notice. The Buckeyes' linebackers ...
Ohio State football | Buckeyes will battle Michigan State without Baker, BookerThe Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State LBs Jerome Baker, Dante Booker miss rout of SpartansESPN
Jerome Baker, Dante Booker will not play for the Ohio State ...247Sports
Land-Grant Holy Land -Eleven Warriors
all 16 news articles »


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LGHL Ohio State’s offensive and defensive lines eliminated any chance of a Spartan upset

Ohio State’s offensive and defensive lines eliminated any chance of a Spartan upset
Chad Peltier
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Ohio State rebounded, showing their crazy-high ceiling.

Ohio State’s rebound win over Michigan State proves that the Buckeyes’ ceiling is definitely top-3 in the country. The problem is that week-to-week consistency — because their floor is (hopefully) a blowout loss to Iowa.

Michigan State seemed to be well-positioned to deal the Buckeyes their second-straight loss, based on their advantages stopping the run and throwing the ball against a questionable secondary and linebacker corps. But they negated those supposed advantages through superior play on both lines.

Mark Dantonio’s Spartans have always played Ohio State close, with multiple games decided by a field goal or less in recent years — but this year the Spartans caught Ohio State following a loss, and you should never bet against Urban Meyer following a loss.


In the table above, scoring opportunity efficiency looks at the average points scored per scoring opportunity -- drives with a first down past the opponents' 40-yard line. Drive efficiency looks at the percentage of drives that were scoring opportunities. Rushing opportunity rate is the % of runs that gained five or more yards. Rushing stuff rate is the % of runs that were for no gain or a loss. Explosive plays are 12+ yard runs and 20+ yard passes here.

Garbage time kicked in at halftime, when the Buckeyes took a 35-3 lead into the break.

Here are the takeaways that I said would be most important in the game preview:

  1. The Spartans defense excels against the run, ranking 6th in rushing S&P+.
  2. Their relative defensive weakness is against the pass, ranking 38th, and 48th in passing success rate.
  3. Lewerke leads the third-best passing offense overall and on passing downs.
  4. Ohio State should have a huge advantage stopping the Spartans ground game (5th vs. 101st in rushing S&P+)
Offense: No disadvantage in the run game


Michigan State’s defense was 6th in defensive rushing S&P+ heading in to the game, allowing just a 32.7% rushing success rate and a 31.1% rushing opportunity rate per game (12th and 6th in the country). The Spartans held Notre Dame to 4.55 yards per carry and Penn State to 3.1 yards per carry. Iowa had 25 carries for 19 total rushing yards.

But the Buckeyes weren’t deterred by the numbers, combining numerous swing passes to J.K. Dobbins with a healthy dose of Dobbins, Weber, and Barrett on the ground for an astounding 70% rushing success rate (close to their 75% rushing success rate last week against Iowa). Dobbins and Weber essentially traded roles in this game, with Dobbins as the steady efficiency back and Weber as the explosive one. Weber had 8 first half carries, and three of them were for 15+ yards, with the 82- and 47-yard touchdown runs. The offensive line deserves a ton of praise this week — not only was the rushing opportunity rate 59% against a defense that allowed just a 31.1% opportunity rate coming in, and they really didn’t allow a single stuffed run all half, but the holes they opened up were often huge.

The passing game was more of a mixed bag, especially as the game went on. J.T.’s 56% passing success rate was based on only nine passing attempts (there were 11 total, but the other two were pass interference calls on passes to Johnnie Dixon) in the first half, five of which were successful. Barrett’s passes were almost all short, horizontal passes, and Barrett accepted increased risk as the game went on and the scoring margin grew. Of the 11 total passes called, 5 were to Dobbins, 2 were to Campbell or Hill, 2 were to Dixon (with interference), and then one was to Baugh. That’s 7/11 to the slot or running back in the first half.

Defense: Shut down Lewerke


Stopping Lewerke was the key to the game, and by far my biggest concern heading in. Lewerke had come off of consecutive 400+ yard passing games and led the third-ranked passing S&P+ offense. Ohio State’s passing offense has notably struggled with passes to tight ends and running backs all season.

But unlike last week when Iowa made the Buckeyes defensive line a non-factor, Ohio State’s defensive line harassed Lewerke all afternoon, forcing a 16% havoc rate that included two sacks, a fumble and an interception on 38 first-half plays. For the entire game, the defense had 6 sacks and 9 total tackles for loss, and Lewerke had just a 24% passing success rate in the first half, completing just 50% of his passes on the whole day and averaging 3.6 yards per pass with two interceptions. It was about as good of a day for the pass defense as you could have hoped for.

Michigan State’s running backs weren’t expected to be much of a factor unless Lewerke really got going (the Spartans were 101st in rushing success rate heading in to the game), and they totaled just a 29% rushing success rate in the game.

Now Ohio State turns to Illinois, who ranks 114th in the S&P+, with the 122nd-ranked offense and 105th-ranked S&P+ run defense.

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LGHL Ohio State moves up to No. 8 in latest AP Poll

Ohio State moves up to No. 8 in latest AP Poll
Alexis Chassen
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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The Buckeyes made the jump back into the Top 10 with their win over MSU.

After the madness that was Week 11 in college football, let’s take a look at what the new rankings look like. Not that they matter much, since the College Football Playoff committee rankings come out on Tuesday, but nonetheless, the Ohio State Buckeyes demolished the Michigan State Spartans moving up to No. 8.


Georgia lost big to Auburn. Washington lost on Friday night on the road to Stanford. Notre Dame was embarrassed by Miami (FL) in primetime. Oklahoma finished with a win over TCU. And, Mississippi State was thiiiiiis close to a huge upset over Alabama.

There’s only two weeks left in the regular season for Ohio State to make its case for the CFP, and it’s a long shot. But, with the shakeup coming off a big Week 11 weekend, anything is possible.

The Buckeyes continue to hold the No. 1 spot in Bill Connelly’s S&P+ ratings, where they’ve remained steady since early on in the season.

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LGHL Running game, special teams paved way for an Ohio State victory vs. Michigan State

Running game, special teams paved way for an Ohio State victory vs. Michigan State
Max Littman
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Mike Weber, J.K. Dobbins, and the special teams unit are definitely things to buy in this week’s edition of Stock Market Report.

A top-25 matchup in mid-November is a big game, and one in which you expect to have to fight for and work for. A week after getting rolled over by Iowa, the Buckeyes decided that they didn’t want to fight Michigan State for it. Instead they busted out to a 21-0 lead and didn’t stop there, completely dominating the game in every single area. This Ohio State team was in no way the same as last week, looking confident and flexing its offensive and defensive muscles all over Michigan State.

For the Spartans and the Buckeyes, this was a must win game to play for a Big Ten Championship. If everything next week against Illinois goes as expected, this monster win sets OSU up for the trip to Indianapolis, against Wisconsin, to play for the title. Perhaps some madness could make that game even more important with playoff implications flowing out.

That will all depend on which OSU shows up, because this one looks as if they can beat anyone in the country. After playing a game that has no other real comparison outside of 2014’s Big Ten Championship Game, fans have to be feeling much better about the Bucks. If the solid play continues, and the defense continues to look as dominant as they were, it seems the Bucks could be unstoppable.

Blue chip stocks


Mike Weber, RB: Wow. Mike Weber came out with a purpose and had a game that will not soon be forgotten. Throughout his career, one of his main criticisms was that he couldn’t break-through for the Zeke-esque touchdown run. That changed today with not one but two breakaway TD rushes—showing that he is one of the best backs in the game. Weber put the doubters, and people still wondering if he was injured, away with a performance for the ages. Weber made his biggest statement with a 82 yard touchdown run that was simply outrageously good. On only nine carries, Weber put up a ridiculous 162 yards with two touchdowns. He simply could not be stopped.

J.K. Dobbins, RB: Yes, I just listed both Ohio State running backs but after the game they both deserve every bit of recognition. Dobbins earned his spot here not just with a great game, but by passing 1,000 rushing yards on the season. This is even more impressive considering the true freshman only has 137 carries, which averages out to 7.6 yards per attempt. Against Michigan State, Dobbins again had a great game, picking up 124 yards on 18 carries and being the consistent, shifty, and explosive back that he has proven himself to be all season.

Ohio State Special Teams: This might have been the biggest surprise of the day. After weeks and weeks of sloppy kickoffs, bad kickoff coverage, punting mishaps, and everything else under the sun, special teams finally had their game. On seven kick returns, Michigan State averaged just 12.4 yards against a surprisingly good Ohio State special teams. Sean Nuernberger was also 2/2 on field goals and 6/6 on extra points— another good showing from the kicker. On top of Nuernberger, sophomore punter Drue Chrisman had a great, albeit limited, game averaging 48.5 yards on two punts. All in all it was the performance the unit needed to keep building off of and be strong headed into the final few games.

Solid investments


Tuf Borland, LB: With Jerome Baker and Dante Booker out against Michigan State, the Buckeyes needed their young linebackers to step up against the Spartans. Borland proved that once again he was up to the challenge and the redshirt freshman was sensational, flying up and down the field to make plays and capping off an impressive defensive performance. With 11 tackles, a sack, and two tackles for loss, Borland was invaluable and truly seemed to lead the defense. This was also seen in the Spartan run game, with high powered running back L.J. Scott held to 30 yards on 8 carries the silver bullets, led by Borland, showed that last week was behind them and that they know what to do.

Junk Bonds


Not Applicable.

Buy/Sell


BUY: The Offense. Taking out the second half, where the Buckeyes slowed down somewhat intentionally, the offense was firing on all cylinders. They needed to do well to give the Buckeyes a chance—and they did just that, coming in hungry and blowing the pants off what was supposed to be a very good Spartans defense. Against a team ranked third in the nation against the run, it was a bit surprising to see them run straight through them. While running the ball was the main focus point, J.T. Barrett still made plays in the air, uncorking two touchdown passes.

BUY: The Defense. Playing a ranked opponent that many believe to be just as good as you is a challenge, and then holding that team to just three points is dominating that challenge. With sacks galore, two interceptions, and a fumble recovered, the unit was on lockdown and led the way. After getting absolutely gouged against Iowa, it was refreshing for them to not give up the same big plays, and hopefully for Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes they can continue to have the opponents on lockdown.

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LGHL Ohio State has a reputation for developing elite linebackers, but it’s not always easy

Ohio State has a reputation for developing elite linebackers, but it’s not always easy
Alexis Chassen
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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The Buckeyes have established a pipeline to the NFL for their LBs, but it makes it hard for Ohio State to keep reloading at the position.

Ohio State football has been known for many things over the years, from Tressel Ball to Urban Meyer’s spread offense, but one constant for the Buckeyes was the linebacker group. Dubbed the Silver Bullets and earning the ‘Linebacker U’ moniker, OSU has produced consistently dominant NFL linebackers year-after-year.

What’s happening at linebacker for Ohio State?


The linebacker corps this season has been spearheaded by two-year starter Jerome Baker, in addition to Dante Booker and Chris Worley. The performances have been a bit up and down throughout the 2017 season, with the most questionable coming against Iowa in what was seen as one of the worst losses ever by an Urban Meyer coached team.

Certainly there are some growing pains to be expected with a new coach for the LB group, Bill Davis, but the Iowa game showed some real deficiencies. Tackles couldn’t be made and the Hawkeyes’ two tight ends feasted against the Buckeye linebackers to the tune of nine receptions for 125 yards and four (!) touchdowns. (It was ugly.)

Baker and Booker both sustained undisclosed head injuries during the matchup and subsequently didn’t suit up in Week 11 against Michigan State. In their stead, young guys like Malik Harrison and Tuf Borland stepped up to make plays.

Strangely, the energy that was seemingly missing against Iowa, was reignited with young talent against the Spartans. Borland, who saw some playing time earlier in the season, led the defense with 11 total tackles (8 solo) and a sack, and Harrison had six total tackles (4 solo) and a sack.

It’s good to see some of the younger Buckeyes stepping up into such demanding positions when needed the most — especially with a few of the current starters expected to make their way to the NFL following the 2017 season.

Next set of LBs headed to the NFL


The starting lineup for the Buckeyes will look a lot different at linebacker in 2018, because this year’s set of starters already has NFL draft analysts salivating. Even aside from their film reels, the reputation for LBs coming out of Ohio State has been so proven over the years, that they’re always a position group being watched by scouts.

Chris Worley may not have been a starter until this season, but he’s carried a load for the Buckeyes over the past few years. Part of the 2014 National Championship run, he’s totaled 135 tackles (88 solo, 9.0 for loss), three forced fumbles and an interception. He also claimed a sack against Michigan State on Saturday.

In 2016, Jerome Baker boasted 83 total tackles (9.5 for loss), 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and one Pick-6. Through nine games this season, Baker is tied for second-most tackles for the Buckeyes at 44 (4.5 for loss) and 2 sacks -- he also recorded a forced fumble and recovery.

Dante Booker on the other hand, missed the 2016 season after sustaining a knee injury in the opening game against Bowling Green, and wound up taking a red-shirt. Through his nine games this year, the linebacker has 31 total tackles (5 for loss), 2 sacks and an interception.

Worley has already garnered NFL attention, and was among nine Buckeyes named to the Reese’s Senior Bowl 2018 Watch List. Though they still have eligibility left, there’s a real chance that Baker and/or Booker make the decision to declare early for the draft following the end of the season. If that’s the case, they may not be first round selections, but they would certainly be in the running to be drafted.

Pretty big shoes to fill


From guys like A.J. Hawk and James Laurinaitis to Ryan Shazier and John Simon, Ohio State linebackers have had a reputation of translating well to the NFL. It’s no surprise some of the top talent comes by way of the Buckeyes, given their penchant for recruiting, but even when it takes a year or two to catch on, these LBs tend to have long, successful careers at the next level.

Under Urban Meyer, players who have only seen the field for a year are suddenly draft eligible. Meyer has fostered a program that touts its success in the NFL while trying to manage and limit player turnover.


It’d be crazy to expect the Buckeyes -- or any college football program — to replace that kind of talent on almost a yearly basis, yet here we are. While the current set of LBs is inching their way toward continuing the #LBU tradition, there’s nothing wrong with one or more of them taking another year to increase their draft stock.

With Worley looking like a potential pick in 2018, and the quality of talent on Ohio State’s roster behind him, the Buckeyes should have linebackers participating in the next couple of NFL drafts.

Coaching contributions and changes

The Luke Fickell-factor


The man who stepped in and carried Ohio State through the “transition” following Jim Tressel’s departure from the university, stayed on through the first four years under Urban Meyer. We all knew Luke Fickell would eventually move on to his own head coaching gig, but his influence over the defense — and specifically the linebackers — was perhaps taken for granted.

Originally hired on to the Buckeyes staff as the special teams coach in 2002, he was moved to linebackers coach in 2004 and gradually earned additional responsibility as Co-Defensive Coordinator in 2005. Time moves fast, but Fickell led Ohio State’s defense for over a decade (!) and was the bridge between what will arguably be two of the program’s most successful eras.

Fickell drew ire from fans who questioned whether he was the right guy to continue the Silver Bullet tradition. Especially in the post-Tressel era, his defensive knowhow was called into question. But now in his absence, we’re left to wonder if he was the guy keeping the reputation alive.

Mike Vrabel deserves Honorable Mention


When the whole Jim Tressel #TattooGate scandal broke, the Buckeyes had a knight and shining armor at the ready to come in and contribute to the coaching staff. Former Ohio State linebacker Mike Vrabel stepped away from the NFL (as a player) to join a Buckeye coaching staff in transition.

Vrabel stayed on through the first few years of the Meyer era, before heading back to the NFL as a linebackers coach for the Houston Texans. Not just a mentor to the college players, Vrabel continued to coach Buckeyes like John Simon at the next level and continued to improve on the Silver Bullet tradition and reputation.

Bill Davis is now the LBs go-to guy


Now, with Vrabel back in the NFL as a coach and Luke Fickell wading the waters as a head coach at Cincinnati, the Buckeye linebackers are in the hands of Bill Davis. Davis’ coaching resume spans over 25 years and nine NFL teams, most recently as a Defensive Coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2013-15.

In his first year at Ohio State, Davis seems to be getting to work under DC Greg Schiano, and settling into his role as Linebackers coach. He’s got big shoes to fill, and the last bit of college coaching experience he claims was as a Graduate Assistant at Michigan State in 1991.

The linebackers are the heart of the Buckeye defense, and have been for years. If Davis can continue the tradition of #LBU for Ohio State, he could find himself with a new career trajectory at the college level. If not, his time in Columbus won’t be nearly as long as Fickell’s was.


Following an era of elite coaching and performance at the linebacker position for Ohio State, standards are sky-high for the incumbents — for both players and coaches. That’s one of the natures of the beast in Columbus. But it’s also why some of the most talented high school players in the country look to play in the Scarlet and Grey.

Recruiting definitely isn’t a problem for Ohio State. The difference maker in whether or not the Silver Bullets continue producing high-octane linebackers will be the coaches. If what we’ve been seeing with some of the younger Buckeyes like Malik Harrison and Tuf Borland is any indication of the plans Bill Davis has for position, than the future of the NFL pipeline should be safe.

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