Ohio State AD Gene Smith is looking forward to joining the CFP Selection Committee
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


After originally being apprehensive about the CFP, Smith’s tune has changed over the past few years.

“Now, I still feel we have too many bowls. That’s been lost to some degree. From a narrow point of view at Ohio State, they benefit from the BCS. We had more appearances [10] than anybody. I went into the CFP with apprehension. After seeing it, how it worked and seeing how committee set up selection process, I’m a fan now. I think it works.”

- Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith via Dennis Dodd, CBS Sports


As if Gene Smith’s plate wasn’t full enough with his position as Ohio State’s athletic director, this month Smith will begin a three-year term on the College Football Playoff selection committee. What makes Smith’s position on the committee so surprising is the skepticism he had for the playoff when it was first announced. With the third year of the College Football Playoff having been completed last month, Smith has changed his tune quite a bit. It certainly didn’t hurt that in the first year of the CFP, Ohio State was not only included in the playoff, but they went on to win the national title.

This won’t be Smith’s first time on a high-profile selection committee in college sports, as he has served on the NCAA Tournament selection committee in the past. While Smith does have past selection committee experience, he is hoping to talk with Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, who he is replacing on the CFP as the Big Ten representative, later this month at the Big Ten meetings. Just because he’ll be on the CFP committee over the next few years, Smith still plans to be at Ohio State games on Saturdays. Where his schedule will change a bit is on Sundays, when Smith plans to watch a lot of games he’ll have recorded. Even though he’ll be on the committee, Smith doesn’t plan to have to hear any lobbying from head coach Urban Meyer on whether or not Ohio State should be included. Hopefully the Buckeyes play will speak for itself the next three years.

“I just feel at peace that Coach Meyer and his staff, Coach Stud, are going to take care of their players... You used football to get your degree, now take your degree and make something.”

- Ohio State offensive lineman Thayer Munford via Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts


There was plenty of times where for Thayer Munford it must have felt like a pipe dream that he would be able to attend Ohio State. Munford’s journey to Ohio State has been a struggle, with plenty of twists and turns along the way, but hard work from the offensive lineman helped to earn him a scholarship offer from the Buckeyes late in the recruiting process. During his freshman year of high school, Munford’s head coach at Cincinnati LaSalle noticed the talent Munford had, but his grades quickly became an issue. Kevin Moore not only helped Munford to improve his grades, but to curb some of the weight issues that the teenager was dealing with.

After LaSalle won a state championship in Munford’s freshman year, Moore took the job as head coach at Massillon Washington. After Moore left, Munford began to fall back into some of his old habits in the classroom. Munford’s mother decided the best idea to help her son succeed would be to send Thayer to live with the Moores. The move did come at a bit of a price though, as OHSAA suspended Munford for seven games because they believed he was recruited to play at Massillon. Munford still did impress Ohio State coaches at Friday Night Lights, and he also was able to get his grades back in order. It has been quite a four-year journey for Munford, and it is exciting to see how he tackles the next four years in Columbus.

“Steph’s a great player and you don’t just put somebody else in there and replace her. But by committee with the other talented players that we have I think we can definitely do it.”

- Ohio State women’s basketball coach Kevin McGuff via Andrew Erickson, The Columbus Dispatch


After losing Stephanie Mavunga for an undetermined amount of time due to a foot injury, Ohio State was able to improve their Big Ten record to 12-1 with a 88-81 win over Iowa on Sunday. The Buckeyes currently sit a game and a half behind Maryland in the Big Ten standings, with a game against the Terrapins, who are currently ranked second in the country, slated for Monday night in Columbus. Before Ohio State can head into their showdown with Maryland, they have to travel to Nebraska tonight to take on a Cornhusker team that has won just one conference game this year.

While the loss of Mavunga might not show itself too much tonight, it likely will definitely be evident when Ohio State and Maryland clash on Monday night. The redshirt junior transfer from North Carolina was not only Ohio State’s leading rebounder this year, but also was the Buckeyes’ second-leading scorer. Head coach Kevin McGuff knows that it is going to take a total team effort to try and replace what Mavunga brought to the court for the Buckeyes. Shayla Cooper and Sierra Calhoun stepped up against Iowa, and Ohio State is going to need more from them to go along with Kelsey Mitchell’s outstanding play if they want to put a scare into Maryland on Monday night.

STICK TO SPORTS

• The Columbus Zoo is offering free admission on Presidents’ Day.
• Wendy’s is spending $30 million to improve the quality of their chicken.
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• The Nokia 3310 is coming back.

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Wolverines, Buckeyes Coming Together For Autograph Session - CBS Local
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Wolverines, Buckeyes Coming Together For Autograph Session
CBS Local
ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 28: Jabrill Peppers #5 of the Michigan Wolverines eludes the tackle of Gareon Conley #8 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first half at Michigan Stadium on November 28, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory ...
Must-win and trap games of 2017: Michigan WolverinesESPN (blog)

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Four Buckeyes in PFF's top-10 returning Big Ten players - 247Sports
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Four Buckeyes in PFF's top-10 returning Big Ten players
247Sports
"Raekwon McMillan was the name brand of the Buckeye linebacker corps in 2016, but sophomore first-year starter Jerome Baker was every bit as strong a player in Columbus. Look no further than his performance in The Game, as he terrorized the Wolverines ...
Ohio State baseball 2017 season preview: Pitching staffLand-Grant Holy Land
What is Next for Ohio State's Defense? Improving From an Impressive 2016 Campaign With Seven Returning StartersEleven Warriors

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Stop worrying about what position Curtis Samuel plays.
Ian Hartitz via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Running back? Wide receiver? How about playmaker.

Curtis Samuel’s position has been a mystery ever since he was recruited out of Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn. Rivals called him a wide receiver. 247 called him a running back. Things cleared up a bit after Samuel’s commitment, as his unique combination of skills, placed in an Urban Meyer offense, inevitably led to Percy Harvin comparisons.

Samuel was featured at running back as a freshman, where he backed up Ezekiel Elliott. He showed flashes of brilliance — and there was no denying he had speed — but Samuel became an afterthought in the offense by the time conference play came around.

After being dubbed as one of Ohio State’s top-five playmakers by coach Urban Meyer prior to the 2015 season, Samuel was once again mostly relegated to a backup role after some explosive plays to start the season. Still, his hands and route-running ability had earned him more reps at H-back in addition to work at running back. The offense would lose Elliott, Braxton Miller, Michael Thomas and Jalin Marshall after the season, paving the way for Samuel to emerge as the offense’s featured playmaker. He wouldn’t disappoint.

A mismatch wherever he lined up on the field, Samuel averaged 125 total yards per game and scored 15 total touchdowns this season. His immediate excellence caught the nation by surprise, but his efficiency numbers weren’t all that different from past seasons. Samuel simply took advantage of his newfound surplus of touches in the Buckeyes’ offense:



Samuel was arguably the most-explosive player in college football last season and he made the correct decision of declaring for the 2017 NFL Draft. This is where things could get tricky. Samuel may have done everything right this past season, but he’ll inevitably be nitpicked by draft experts for not having a true position.

He’s not the first athlete to declare for the draft without a true NFL position. What’s interesting is where previous hybrid players were selected in the draft:



Early mock drafts have Samuel going anywhere from the first round to the third. As is the case with most prospects, Samuel’s career will largely be shaped by which team picks him and how willing they are to utilize the First Team All-American. More and more teams have been looking for multi-dimensional running backs that can create mismatches all over the field. Look no further than the Super Bowl, where James White, Dion Lewis, Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman all excelled on both the ground and through the air.

Let’s take a look at what Samuel brings to the table and end any notion that Samuel’s position-less nature is a bad thing. Instead, let’s embrace just how electric he can be.

Curtis the Running Back


Samuel showed flashes of becoming an all-around playmaker during his first two seasons in Columbus, but he truly broke out as a Junior. Sure, plenty of his 97 rushes came on sweeps and plays that focused on getting Samuel outside (cc. Penn State and Oklahoma), but he proved over and over again that he is more than capable of rushing the ball straight up the middle of a defense.

Listed at 5’11” 200 lbs, Samuel is not big. In fact, that weight would place him outside of the top-100 running backs in the NFL terms of weight. But let’s stick with the idea that the league is trending towards smaller, more versatile running backs for a second. Plenty of smaller running backs made an impact this season, as Melvin Gordon, Devonta Freeman, James White and Theo Riddick all weighed less than 210 lbs. Jamaal Charles, Chris Johnson, Dion Lewis and Justin Forsett have all made an impact during recent years and they all weigh less than 200 pounds.

The important point here is that while Samuel’s weight isn’t ideal, he doesn’t play like he’s a small running back. He was never injured during his time at Ohio State and while he showed the ability to stretch the defense horizontally, he proved to be just as slippery between the tackles as he was in the open field:


Ohio State’s offense often schemed ways to get Samuel the ball on the second level with a one-on-one matchup against a defensive back, but he had his fair share of interactions with the front seven as well. Take the Oklahoma game, where he avoids a tackle for a loss to start the half and proceeds to outrun the defense to the edge:


This isn’t to say that Samuel should be a 20-carry back in the NFL. Frankly, there aren’t many of those backs left these days. Out of the 12 playoff teams last season, only the Texans, Dolphins, Steelers and Cowboys regularly featured just one running back in their offense. NFL offenses have continued to spread the field in recent years and players like Samuel who can attack the defense in multiple ways have become more valuable.

Whether you want to label Samuel as a running back with exceptional receiving ability, or a wide receiver with exceptional running ability, doesn’t matter. The point is that Samuel is a threat to make big plays whenever he gets his hands on the football, and his versatile skill-set makes getting him the football easy.

Curtis the Wide Receiver


Defenses will often be faced with a difficult decision when scheming for a player like Samuel. Does he count as a running back or a wide receiver? If they count him as a running back, Samuel possesses enough speed and agility to pose a massive threat out of the backfield against a slower linebacker or safety. If the defense counts Samuel as a wide receiver, he has the ability to skirt between the tackles against an undermanned box.

Ohio State would regularly take advantage of defenses who attempted to cover Samuel with a safety. He would line up as a running back and then motion out to the slot in order to create a one-on-one matchup. The below video doesn’t result in a touchdown, but it’s easy to imagine Samuel executing the same concept at the next level with a more accurate passer:


Once out wide, Samuel is a nightmare to handle. It’d be surprising if he doesn’t run the 40-yard dash in less than 4.5 seconds at this year’s NFL combine and there’s no debating the effectiveness of his fast-twitch agility. Still, he’s more than just a burner at wide receiver, as his route running improved by the season and he even showed the ability to split out wide in certain situations:


Samuel’s ability with the ball in his hands is well respected and his ability to make plays all over the field makes him a fit for any offense. Last season there were 19 different NFL players who received at least 50 carries and 50 targets. If featured in an effective NFL offense, it shouldn’t be hard for Samuel’s next offensive coordinator to add him to that list.

Curtis the Playmaker


At the end of the day, Samuel should be worthy of an early-round draft pick because he was the most-versatile and effective weapon on one of the country’s five-best teams. Ohio State played some pretty great competition this season, but one focal point remained steady on offense regardless of who lined up across the field: get Curtis Samuel the ball.

After all, when the season was on the line against a defense that was loaded with all-conference selections it was Samuel who emerged as the best player on the field:


Samuel will need to add some muscle if he hopes to have a consistent impact running the football. He’ll also need to improve his route running to consistently separate from top-NFL corners. Both of those issues are common for running backs and wide receivers alike, Samuel is just versatile enough that he qualifies for both categories and thus both rounds of criticism. We’ve seen NFL defenses, basketball and even baseball to an extent begin to embrace position-less athletes. Samuel represents the ideal athlete to plug into any system, as once you get him the ball, there really isn’t anything he can’t do.

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Worth Watching: Underrated Ohio Prospects Could Play a Role in the Buckeyes' 2018 Recruiting Plans - Eleven Warriors
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Worth Watching: Underrated Ohio Prospects Could Play a Role in the Buckeyes' 2018 Recruiting Plans
Eleven Warriors
The Buckeyes have extended offers to seven players thus far in the state of Ohio, and while it can be difficult to distinguish between an "offer" and a real offer, one thing that we've learned is that the in-state variety typically seems to mean a bit ...
BH: Dream deferred? | Mikey's mentor247Sports
Recruiting Reset: New York's Jeremy Ruckert tops the list, but Ohio State has options at tight end in 2018Landof10.com

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Ohio State baseball 2017 season preview: Pitching staff
Ben Martens via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes will lean on an experienced stable of arms this season.

Ohio State baseball will take the field to open its 2017 season on Friday with big questions concerning where the team will get its offensive firepower from. As we pointed out yesterday, having to replace the entire starting infield and two-thirds of the starting outfield will do that. But in spite of the unknowns with the everyday lineup, seventh-year head coach Greg Beals has one position group he can count on: the pitching staff.

“I think the strength of the ballclub is going to be on the mound and it needs to be,” Beals said.

The Buckeyes will be without the services of last season’s Friday starter Tanner Tully, a former Big Ten Freshman of the Year and All-Big Ten selection who was drafted by the Cleveland Indians, Saturday starter John Havird, who graduated, and Michael Horejsei, one of the toughest left-handed relievers in the conference, who was taken by the Chicago White Sox last June. Every other arm that played a major role in 2016 is back, though, along with a veteran returning from injury, a pair of junior college transfers, and a sizable freshmen class.

Last season, Ohio State’s hurlers ranked third in the Big Ten in earned run average (3.35), and struck out more batters than any other staff in the conference, all while gaining valuable experience in big situations during the club’s run through to the Big Ten tournament title and berth in the NCAA tournament.

So Beals and pitching coach Mike Stafford should feel a high level of comfort with the pitching staff, though there are a few holes to fill. With back-to-back four-game weekends to open the new campaign, they’ll have plenty of innings to fill, and an opportunity to find out which players rise to the occasion and thrive on the pressure of the moment.

Let’s take a look at what to expect on the mound for the Buckeyes.

Getting things started


Despite the losses of Tully and Havird from the weekend rotation, Ohio State looks on paper to be set up well with its starters. The leader of this unit will be Adam Niemeyer, a redshirt junior who was voted co-captain by his teammates this year, and who manned the Sunday spot last season.

A right-hander, Niemeyer went 4-2 with a 4.31 ERA in 14 starts covering 71 innings despite being hampered by a lingering hamstring injury last season. The Minster, Ohio native’s strikeout-to-walk ratio of nearly 6-to-1 was excellent, as was his 1.21 WHIP.

Joining Niemeyer on the weekend will be sophomore Ryan Feltner, who came on strong at the end of his freshman season in 2016. The 6-foot-4 righty from Walsh Jesuit had a 3-4 record with a 4.06 ERA in 20 appearances that included 11 starts. Possessing a fastball in the low 90s, a sharp breaking ball, and a solid changeup, Feltner’s development will be critical if the Buckeyes are to remain a contender in the Big Ten.

The third weekend spot, as well as midweek duties, are up in the air, and several arms are competing for their chance. One will be redshirt junior Yianni Pavlopoulos, who last season served as the team’s closer. Pavlopoulos, returning from Tommy John surgery, led the Big Ten with 14 saves while limiting the opposition to a .229 batting average and averaging more than 10 strikeouts per nine innings. He’ll make his first career start opening weekend, and has the kind of stuff that can translate to a starting role.

Also in the mix will be redshirt senior Jake Post, who sat out 2016 after his own Tommy John surgery. In three years in Columbus prior to the injury, the right-hander was utilized both as a starter and out of the bullpen, amassing a 7-7 mark with a 3.48 ERA in 38 career appearances that include 13 starts. Now healthy, Post provides Beals and Stafford with solid experience and flexibility in usage, and will get a chance during the team’s first weekend to solidify his spot.

Another candidate to spot start in the weekend rotation, and to see a major workload in midweek games, is sophomore Connor Curlis. He appeared in four games as a freshman, yielding two earned runs and collecting 10 strikeouts in six innings of work. The advantage that Curlis has is that, unlike the other names mentioned, he’s a lefty, and can provide a different look to hitters than the other starters.

Ohio State also brought in a pair of pitchers from McLennan Community College in Texas, one of whom, the 6-foot-6 Reece Calvert, should see some innings as a starter. Calvert went 11-2 with a 3.70 ERA in 2016, with a fastball in the low 90s that has room for velocity growth.

The point is that Beals and Stafford have a number of options to start games, and despite the questions about the Buckeyes’ offense scoring runs, should have a good amount of confidence in the team’s ability to keep opponents off the scoreboard.

Finishing things off


Even as the starting pitching for Ohio State looks to be solid, the bullpen has the potential to be among the very best in the Big Ten. Even with a Pavlopoulos move into the rotation, the Buckeyes have the back-end arms to not skip a beat and continue making the late innings a nightmare for opposing batters.

The key cogs for Beals will be the side-winding duo of Seth Kinker and Kyle Michalik, both of whom played crucial roles in the scarlet and gray’s postseason run a season ago. Kinker, who has been named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Preseason Stopper of the Year Watch List, led the Big Ten with 38 appearances as a sophomore last season, going 6-1 with a 1.65 ERA and two saves in 54.2 innings. He held opponents to a .250 batting average and sported a WHIP of 1.10, and figures to slide into Pavlopoulos’ closer role.

Michalik was similarly nasty, making appearances in relief 19 times, and posting a 4-1 record with a 1.69 ERA and one save. The side-armer from Brunswick, Ohio limited opposing hitters to a .198 average and had an astounding 0.84 WHIP.

Calvert’s McLennan teammate Dustin Jourdan should complement Kinker and Michalik. The righty went 4-0 with a 1.14 ERA in 11 appearances at the JUCO level, covering 23.2 innings. Jourdan averaged over 10 strikeouts per nine innings and posted a 9-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

A fourth righty, and another arm that has experience both starting and relieving is redshirt junior Austin Woodby, who appeared 19 times, including three starts, in his first season in Columbus after transferring from Cincinnati. Woodby had his struggles, posting an ERA of 6.00 and a .323 opponents' batting average, but he went 5-1 and his 39 innings were fifth on the 2016 team.

Finally, redshirt sophomore Thomas Waning, a transfer from Xavier, has made a good impression since joining the program as a side-arming righty, and could also log innings out of the pen.

The only real question for Beals in the bullpen is how to replace Horejsei as the left-handed matchup guy with so many quality right-handed options. Redshirt senior Joe Stoll is the only southpaw outside of Curlis that has college experience. The Lakewood St. Edward standout tossed 19.1 innings of relief a year ago, allowing 11 earned runs (5.12 ERA), striking out 16, and walking eight.

Five members of the freshmen class are also pitchers, and if the fall ball season was any indication, they may need to be brought along carefully. The quintet of Andrew Magno, Michael McDonough, Jake Vance, Gavin Lyon, and Collin Lollar combined to allow 14 earned runs during the Scarlet and Gray Series.

Will it be enough?


Given the amount of offensive production the team has lost, Ohio State will need their pitching staff to perform as strongly as they appear capable of doing. There is championship experience both among the starters and the relievers, and several have the kind of stuff to garner All-Big Ten consideration.

The non-conference schedule, playing high-quality opponents away from home in Florida, Arizona, and North Carolina for the first month of the season, will challenge the team’s arms and allow Beals and Stafford to smooth out the rough edges before Big Ten play gets underway. If the staff comes together as they hope, it should at least keep the Buckeyes competitive as they attempt to find their way back to an NCAA regional for a second straight year.

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Buckeyes continue to recruit Texas hard, offer RB - 247Sports
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Buckeyes continue to recruit Texas hard, offer RB
247Sports
What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Buckeyes newsletter now! In addition to Ohio State, Ingram's list of offers includes Texas, TCU, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Baylor, Michigan, Notre Dame, ...

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Thayer Munford's untold journey to become a Buckeye - 247Sports
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Thayer Munford's untold journey to become a Buckeye
247Sports
After the Buckeyes were interested in Thayer early on in high school, Ohio State backed off quite a bit due to the academic and weight issues. With those now under control after moving in with the Moores, Munford showed up to campus in June for a one ...

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Helwagen Chat Thursday 12-1 pm (Post Questions Here) - 247Sports
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Helwagen Chat Thursday 12-1 pm (Post Questions Here)
247Sports
After the Buckeyes were interested in Thayer early on in high school, Ohio State backed off quite a bit due to the academic and weight issues. With those now under control after moving in with the Moores, Munford showed up to campus in June for a one ...

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Watch: Who will fill offensive voids for Buckeyes? - 247Sports
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Watch: Who will fill offensive voids for Buckeyes?
247Sports
Who will be the new starters for the Buckeyes? That is what Dave Biddle discussed when he joined Nick Kostos of CBSSports.com in the embedded video. What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE ...


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DirecTV is having a Free Premium Weeekend starting the 17th.
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Ohio State baseball | Buckeyes look to form new identity - Columbus Dispatch
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Ohio State baseball | Buckeyes look to form new identity
Columbus Dispatch
Those thinking they had a handle on Ohio State baseball will have to start from scratch with Ronnie Dawson, Nick Sergakis, Troy Montgomery, Troy Kuhn, Craig Nennig and Tanner Tully having gone from familiar names to going, going, gone. Last season, the ...
Baseball: Ohio State baseball prepares for season opener against Kansas State on FridayOSU - The Lantern
The 2017 Ohio State Baseball Team Looks To Discover Its Identity With The Season Opener ApproachingScout
Ohio State baseball 2017 season preview: Position playersLand-Grant Holy Land

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Ohio State tosses 4-star RB Keaontay Ingram an offer
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


With the Buckeyes looking to add another back to the 2018 class, a new offer goes out.

Ingrams gets Buckeye offer


Despite having one running back already in the fold for 2018 in Brian Snead, Ohio State is still actively looking for the prospect to complete the duo in the backfield.

On Wednesday, the Buckeyes turned to a state where they had tremendous success in last year’s recruiting cycle: Texas. 2018 RB Keaontay Ingram (Carthage, TX / Carthage) was the latest to become a recipient of an Ohio State offer.


Ingram is a 5-foot-11, 190-pounder and is quickly closing in on 20 offers in his recruitment. Some schools that the Buckeyes will look to outpace in this race include Arkansas, Baylor, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M and UCLA.

Ingram is currently slotted as the nation’s 19th best running back and 40th best player from the state of Texas — where he is currently expected to remain for college. According to the 247Sports Crystal Ball, former Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman and the Longhorns are the current projected landing spot for Ingram.

More weekend visitors expected


What we already knew coming into Wednesday was that Ohio State was expected to host both '18 offensive guard Jalil Irvin of Stephenson (GA) and '18 inside linebacker Jack Sanborn of Lake Zurich (IL) — both blue-chip prospects.

What we found out yesterday was that three more are also going to be in Columbus this weekend. According to 247Sports' Bill Kurelic, the Buckeyes will also receive visits from '18 RB Iverson Clement, '18 quarterback Kevin Doyle, and '18 defensive end Travon King.

Obviously, the big one to watch here is Clement. He is the only one of the three that currently has an offer from the Scarlet and Gray under his belt. Clement is a four-star prospect and it is entirely possible that he gives his pledge to Ohio State, if the Buckeyes would accept it at this time.

However, as mentioned above, Ohio State already has a commitment from Snead at the position. With the possibility of adding someone like '18 RB Jaelen Gill and/or '18 RB Zamir White — the best back in the country — it wouldn't be shocking for Buckeyes to hold off on accepting the pledge for now.

In-state RB talks Buckeyes


Sticking to the script on running backs, '18 RB Tavion Thomas (Dayton, OH / Dunbar) is another to watch going forward despite not yet receiving an offer from Ohio State.

I caught up with Thomas on Wednesday morning and he relayed to me that the Buckeyes are showing interest. "We talked [on Tuesday]," Thomas stated. He continued by saying he speaks with offensive line coach Greg Studrawa and running back coach Tony Alford about every other day.

Thomas also revealed to Land-Grant Holy Land that he will be in Columbus on Saturday to visit. When asked what he was looking forward to seeing on the Buckeye campus, Thomas mentioned the academic side and meeting the big boss. "I'm just looking forward to having fun, meeting Urban Meyer, and meeting some of the players."

Right now, as stated above, Thomas does not have an offer from the Buckeyes. The programs that have offered include Cincinnati, Kentucky, Michigan State, West Virginia, Wisconsin and more.

When I asked Thomas what an offer from Ohio State would mean to him, he simply said, "Pretty much, it will be big."

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Pick 6: Kurelic picks six more Ohio State commitments - 247Sports
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Pick 6: Kurelic picks six more Ohio State commitments
247Sports
Pick 6: Kurelic picks six more Ohio State commitments. The Buckeyes currently have three 2018 commits and are looking for their first 2019 pledge. Today Bill Kurelic makes his predictions on six more prospects he sees as Buckeyes. Bill Kurelic - 11 ...

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Ohio State football: Eight Buckeyes invited to NFL combine - Columbus Dispatch
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Ohio State football: Eight Buckeyes invited to NFL combine
Columbus Dispatch
Eight Ohio State Buckeyes will participate at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis starting Feb. 28, the league announced today. Wide receivers Noah Brown and Curtis Samuel, cornerbacks Gareon Conley and Marshon Lattimore, center Pat Elflein, ...
8 Buckeyes invited to NFL CombineDayton Daily News
Eight Ohio State Buckeyes invited to NFL scouting combineEndZoneScore
Eight Ohio State Players Invited to NFL Combine, Second Most in the Big Ten Behind Michigan's 14Eleven Warriors
Land-Grant Holy Land -cleveland.com -SB Nation
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Football: Eight Buckeyes invited to 2017 NFL Combine - OSU - The Lantern
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Football: Eight Buckeyes invited to 2017 NFL Combine
OSU - The Lantern
Former OSU safety Malik Hooker (24) and redshirt freshman longsnapper Liam McCullough (49) high-five Buckeye fans after their 30-23 overtime victory over the Wisconsin Badgers on Oct. 15. Credit: Alexa Mavrogianis | Photo Editor. A total of eight ...


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Buckeyes Dress for success at Career Closet - OSU - The Lantern
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Buckeyes Dress for success at Career Closet
OSU - The Lantern
Aisha Echols, a career-resource coordinator for Student Life and the event's lead organizer, said the event is for Buckeyes who might not have the budget to purchase high-end clothes for professional events. Echols said the entire OSU community was a ...


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Wrestling: Buckeyes look for big win against Big Red in Ithaca - OSU - The Lantern
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Wrestling: Buckeyes look for big win against Big Red in Ithaca
OSU - The Lantern
1 Bo Jordan of the Buckeyes against No. 3 Brian Realbuto is expected to have fireworks. Jordan returned to the lineup on Feb. 10 after aggravating a foot injury Jan. 27 against Iowa. “I didn't have a lot of chances to test myself this season, so this ...


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Ellis III, bench play lead Spartans to win over Buckeyes - The State News
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Ellis III, bench play lead Spartans to win over Buckeyes
The State News
Senior guard Alvin Ellis III (3), right, and teammates help freshman guard Cassius Winston (5) up off of the court floor during the second half of the men's basketball game against Ohio State University on Feb. 14, 2017 at Breslin Center. The Spartans ...

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What We Learned: Michigan State Spartans 74, Ohio State Buckeyes 66 - BT Powerhouse (blog)
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What We Learned: Michigan State Spartans 74, Ohio State Buckeyes 66
BT Powerhouse (blog)
Michigan State would look like it was going to pull ahead for good, but Ohio State battled back each time. Eventually though, the foul trouble got the best of the Buckeyes as Thad Matta had to ration minutes. The Spartans pulled out a key 74-66 victory.
Ohio State can't handle the Spartans, new Buckeyes kicks available and moreLandof10.com
Buckeyes Fall to Spartans, 74-66Scarlet and Game
Spartans top Buckeyes 74-66WDTN
Sporting News -247Sports -The Detroit News
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Ohio State hosting key players this weekend, in-state TE Jack Cravaack hearing from the Buckeyes - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State hosting key players this weekend, in-state TE Jack Cravaack hearing from the Buckeyes
Landof10.com
That's where things get a touch interesting because right now a number of folks, including the Buckeyes themselves, have the idea that the nation's 25th-ranked athlete wants to commit to Ohio State this weekend. Clement himself isn't saying that, at ...
BH: Turning up the Ohio heat | Feelings about facility247Sports

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OSU attention on WR ratchets up; who leads, who is challenging? - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


OSU attention on WR ratchets up; who leads, who is challenging?
247Sports
There are no pictures or video, at least not yet, so you can file this one in the rumor mill for now. If it did happen, Meyer certainly won't take losing another one lightly. Could this be more motivation come the fall? What's next for the Buckeyes ...

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Ohio State will be well represented at the 2017 NFL Combine
Harry Lyles Jr. via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Eight former Bucks have been invited to Indianapolis.

“This year the Buckeyes had eight players invited, which is fourth-most.”

- Bill Landis, Northeast Ohio Media Group


The NFL Combine is coming up at the end of the month and during the first week of March. Last season, Ohio State sent the most players of any school in college football with 14 players invited. This season, Ohio State will be sending eight players, the fourth most of any school. Ahead of Ohio State this year was Michigan with 14 participants, Alabama and LSU with 10, and Clemson, Miami, and Texas A&M sending nine each.

You can check out the full list of Buckeyes going to Indianapolis here. Out of all of the aforementioned players, Malik Hooker is likely going to be taken the highest. He’s drawn comparisons to Ed Reed, and has been projected to go inside the top 10 in some mock drafts. Behind Hooker is Marshon Lattimore, who isn’t too far behind in projections, like that of SB Nation’s Dan Kadar.

Three Buckeyes named to Pro Football Focus’s Top 101 list for 2016 NFL season


Three Ohio State rookies cracked Pro Football Focus’s Top 101 list for the 2016 NFL season. You could have probably guessed that Ezekiel Elliott, Joey Bosa, and Michael Thomas were the three Buckeyes, as they really impressed in their first season in the professional ranks. Elliott was the No. 22 player on the list, and at first glance, that might seem kinda low. Elliott was the best rusher in the NFL during the 2016 season, accumulating over 1,600 yards, and nearly breaking Eric Dickerson’s rookie record.

Bosa came in at No. 32 in PFF’s rankings. It seemed that his tenure with the Chargers was getting off to a horrible start. He held out for one of the longest times we’ve seen out of a rookie, and then a hamstring injury kept him out of the first four games. Yet when he finally got on the field, it was like he was never gone. He made the Chargers defense better, and helped them overcome a terribly slow start. Michael Thomas was also key in the Saints offense this season, and is a great young weapon for Drew Brees to close out his career with over the course of a few years.

“Jalin Marshall was an off-season star.”

- David Wyatt, Gang Green Nation


Most Ohio State rookies that got attention were the likes of Ezekiel Elliott, Joey Bosa, and Michael Thomas. Jalin Marshall however ended up having a pretty good season for how little was expected out of him. He had some flashes during the year, finishing with 14 receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns. He didn’t receive too many targets but was productive more often than not when he did receive the ball. He was also productive on special teams, with 13 returns for 324 yards.

As GGN points out, the concerns with Marshall are still the same as they were coming out of college. There’s some ball security issues, he needs to get off the line faster, and work on route running. Though it should absolutely be noted, the talent is there. He’ll be fighting for a roster spot going into next season, but he’s shown that he’s more than capable. He just needs some consistency, and on a team like the Jets who need talent wherever they can get it, he would be a welcome surprise in 2017.

“As a youngster, Hall left others muttering on the golf course.”

- Marc Hardin, Cincinnati Enquirer


Kevin Hall has been deaf since he was just two years old. The professional golfer from Cincinnati didn’t let his disability keep him from doing what he loved. He was a star golfer in high school, and had a great career at Ohio State where he won the 2004 Big Ten championship by 11 shots. He was the first African-American to play golf on scholarship in Columbus and was also a two-year captain.

“I have been blessed with a lot of wonderful life experiences, to be able to play golf and do what I do. Meeting amazing people along the way and making friends,” he wrote to Hardin. He’s also got a great attitude when it comes to being deaf, which happened after he was diagnosed with H-Flu Meningitis. “Sure I’d like to be able to hear,” he wrote. “But it’s the hand I was dealt and I’m not gonna complain about it.”

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Michigan paces 51 Big Ten players invited to 2017 NFL Combine
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

The NFL released names of the players invited to the 2017 Combine, to be held February 28-March 6 in Indianapolis. And the Big Ten is well represented with 51 players invited. Michigan leads the way with 14 invitees.

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Good news at home helps to spark JaQuan Lyle - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Good news at home helps to spark JaQuan Lyle
247Sports
COLUMBUS – After what he went through over the last several days, it was a surprise to see JaQuan Lyle on the court for the Buckeyes on Tuesday night. Following Ohio State's win over Rutgers on Feb. 8, Lyle got a phone call from his mother. His sister ...
After Difficult Week, JaQuan Lyle Receives Positive News on His SisterEleven Warriors
Ohio State men's basketball | JaQuan Lyle receives welcome news on sisterColumbus Parent

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