JCOSU86 said:

Like the article says, the pitching staff will be the strength of the team. Hopefully they will keep the team in games until the offense gels or the new guys come out of the gate swinging (pun intended).

Next freaking weekend! Can you believe it?

GO BUCKS

Click to expand...

im pumped thats for sure. gonna be interesting with all the newbies

Ohio State basketball: Why the Buckeyes are now entering the most important stretch of the season - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State basketball: Why the Buckeyes are now entering the most important stretch of the season
cleveland.com
For the Buckeyes (15-10, 5-7 Big Ten) to get on the bubble, they need more big wins. Beating Maryland would be the kind of win that would help, so would one on Tuesday night at Michigan State. A win in either of those games, and Ohio State would be in ...


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Important Buckeye recruiting weekend includes Carman - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Important Buckeye recruiting weekend includes Carman
247Sports
If the Buckeyes were to offer Abraham, the comparisons to Samuel would be through the roof. Abraham already hears it a bit, and takes it as a true honor. "It's great to be compared to such an athlete like him," he stated. "The things you see him do at ...


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Buckeyes are back to work, Ohio State spring game tickets on sale and more - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes are back to work, Ohio State spring game tickets on sale and more
Landof10.com
The Buckeyes begin spring football practices on March 7 and will entertain the masses with a spring football game on April 15. If you want to attend the spring game, like 100,189 people – a national record – did last year, you will be able to buy ...
Back-to-back wins give Buckeyes glimmer of hope for NCAA berth247Sports
Ohio State basketball: Why the Buckeyes are now entering the most important stretch of the seasoncleveland.com
Buckeyes Survive Sloppy Affair, Beat Rutgers 70-64Scarlet and Game
Ironton Tribune -Eleven Warriors -Land-Grant Holy Land
all 86 news articles »

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Ohio State 2018 TE target now ranked No. 1 at position
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


On top of that, Ruckert is now ranked No. 1 in his home state of New York.

With Ohio State in the heat of their winter workouts, the players are currently under the watchful eye of strength coach Mickey Marotti. With mat drills underway and a NCAA quiet period in effect until Apr. 15, one would think Ohio State's recruiting situation would be somewhat quiet. Well, maybe for some schools, but like Urban Meyer has stated time and time again: recruiting is a business that never stops. The Buckeyes ended 2017 with a huge bang and have hit the ground running in 2018 keeping the same pace.

Buckeye TE target skyrockets


Ohio State didn't need to sign a tight end prospect in their 2017 class with their terrific haul of in-state Ohio products Luke Farrell and Jake Hausman in the 2016 class. However, with a gap year without a tight end signee, the Buckeyes are determined to bring in a tight end that can present terrific run blocking skills and possess the abilities to be a legitimate threat in the passing game.

Ohio State found their guy in Jeremy Ruckert (Lindenhurst, NY / Lindenhurst Senior) and they've made it no secret. Easily the top target Urban Meyer and staff are recruiting for the position, the Buckeyes and Ruckert are certainly not strangers. In fact, the staff has made their presence at Lindenhurst Senior High School known as of late. Ruckert was also recently in town for Ohio State's junior day. It looks as if the Buckeyes are in excellent condition, as of right now, for Ruckert—and Ruckert himself continues to make the case for why.

Yesterday, via his Twitter account, Jeremy made it public that he was now the top ranked tight end in the country as well as the top overall prospect in all of New York. Obviously, with those rankings, it's easy to see why the Buckeyes are so high on Ruckert and are actively pursuing him daily.


Could Ohio State once again land their top target at a position of need? The 247sports crystal ball predictions certainly like their chances, as all five predictions have Ruckert going to the Buckeyes.

OSU commit gets his 5th star


Earlier this week the Buckeyes gained another 2018 pledge when California stud safety Jaiden Woodbey (Upland, CA / St. John Bosco) gave Ohio State his verbal commitment. At the time, Woodbey was "only" a four-star safety prospect. While that's certainly nothing to hang your head about, with the way Ohio State fared in 2017 with their defensive back pledges, a four-star would've been on the outside looking in—considering the amount of five-star pledges that the Buckeyes signed. Well, fast forward just two days and with the newest rankings update from 247sports, Woodbey is now a five-star.


With the ratings boost, Woodbey is now the third best safety in the 2018 class and the fourth best prospect in the entire state of California at any position. Grading out as the 26th prospect in the nation, Jaiden clearly earned his five-star status. It may be early on for Woodbey and the Buckeyes with his pledge coming just this past week, but he has already starting recruiting in favor of his future school. As Urban Meyer said on signing day, sometimes the best recruiters for your specific school are the players themselves. Woodbey looks to be well on his way.

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If Buckeyes want to win it all, stay away from starting true freshmen - Norwalk Reflector
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


If Buckeyes want to win it all, stay away from starting true freshmen
Norwalk Reflector
Freshman Shaun Wade is another five-star corner the Buckeyes told to be ready, but he's nearly 15 pounds lighter than Okudah and at first glance doesn't look as physically ready. Junior college transfer Kendall Sheffield will also arrive expecting to ...


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Back-to-back wins give Buckeyes glimmer of hope for NCAA berth - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Back-to-back wins give Buckeyes glimmer of hope for NCAA berth
247Sports
The urgency is real for an Ohio State program that saw its seven-year run of NCAA appearances snapped last season, when the Buckeyes were relegated to the NIT. OSU has not missed the NCAA as an eligible team in consecutive seasons since the final ...
Ohio State basketball: Why the Buckeyes are now entering the most important stretch of the seasoncleveland.com
Buckeyes Survive Sloppy Affair, Beat Rutgers 70-64Scarlet and Game
Buckeyes hold off RutgersIronton Tribune
Eleven Warriors -Land-Grant Holy Land -Landof10.com
all 82 news articles »

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Palaie Gaoteote getting familiar with Billy Davis, Fairfield stars visiting Ohio State, top RB target off the board? - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Palaie Gaoteote getting familiar with Billy Davis, Fairfield stars visiting Ohio State, top RB target off the board?
Landof10.com
That's especially important for a coach in his first month on the job as new Buckeyes defensive assistant Billy Davis is. And he's been talking regularly to one of Ohio State's top overall targets for 2018, Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman) Palaie Gaoteote ...


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If Buckeyes want to win it all, stay away from starting true freshmen - Norwalk Reflector
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


If Buckeyes want to win it all, stay away from starting true freshmen
Norwalk Reflector
Freshman Shaun Wade is another five-star corner the Buckeyes told to be ready, but he's nearly 15 pounds lighter than Okudah and at first glance doesn't look as physically ready. Junior college transfer Kendall Sheffield will also arrive expecting to ...


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Ohio State 5-star RB target Lorenzo Lingard commits to Miami - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State 5-star RB target Lorenzo Lingard commits to Miami
247Sports
Lingard's list of scholarship offers included Ohio State, Alabama, Florida State, Florida, Miami, Clemson, Auburn and Ole Miss. 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!

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Urban Meyer looks to revamp Ohio State’s passing game after 2016 struggles
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The head coach also is looking for improved play from the offensive line, who allowed 25 sacks last year.

“The season was unfortunate to end like that because that’s not -- I believe we were a year ahead of schedule. I did not envision that at the beginning of the season.”

- Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer via Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts


The last time Ohio State lost to Clemson it forced Urban Meyer to take a hard look at his team and make some changes. Those changes worked out pretty well as the Buckeyes went on to win the first-ever College Football Playoff the next season. Meyer is hoping that the embarrassing loss to the Tigers in the Fiesta Bowl might wind up having the same effect in 2017. Following the loss to Clemson in the 2014 Orange Bowl, Meyer shook up the defense. After this year’s loss, Meyer is looking to change how the offense operates.

Gone after Tim Beck and Ed Warinner and coming in are former Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson and NFL quarterbacks coach Ryan Day to try and get the Buckeye offense rolling again. Not like it is all bad on the offensive side of the football though, as Ohio State has ran for the most yards in the country over the past five years. Where the Buckeyes need to get better is in the passing game. Having quarterback J.T. Barrett returning for his senior season, along with a more experienced wide receiving corps, Ohio State certainly has the tools to rebound quickly.

“They said they wanted me to come in mentally ready to play as a freshman. And they’ll get me physically ready.”

- Ohio State defensive back Jeffrey Okudah via Doug Lesmerises, Northeast Ohio Media Group


It’s not all that often that a true freshman sees significant playing time in his first year at Ohio State, and it’s even more rare to see one start. While players like Ezekiel Elliott, Vonn Bell, and Raekwon McMillan did see a good amount of playing time in their first season in Columbus, they weren’t really called on to start during their freshman campaigns. Offensive lineman Michael Jordan was called on to start last year, but that was more of a necessity because of the depth issues on Ohio State’s offensive line. The 2017 season could see a true freshman start in the defensive backfield. Some of that is because of the exodus of talented defensive backs to the NFL over the past two years, but most of it is because he is extremely talented.

Jeffrey Okudah is Urban Meyer’s second-highest ranked recruit while he has been in Columbus, falling just behind defensive end Noah Spence. Okudah possesses the size that is similar to Marshon Lattimore and Gareon Conley, both of whom are headed to the NFL. While Okudah just recently arrived in Columbus for winter workouts, he is already in the mindset of being on the field for Ohio State when the Buckeyes open the season on August 31st against Indiana. Even though he knows that he still has work to do to catch up with some of his more seasoned teammates, Okudah believes he’ll be expected to shutdown the opponent’s top receiver. If he continues to progress and not only physically, but mentally, the cornerback from Texas will be making plays early and often in his freshman year.

“There’s a plan here that you just have to follow. I knew I could go to the league here, and [cornerbacks coach Kerry] Coombs is going to work my tail off and push me to be the best person I can before I get to the league.”

- Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade via Austin Ward, ESPN


Jeffrey Okudah isn’t the only incoming freshman who has the talent to make some waves in the Ohio State defensive backfield this season. Cornerback Shaun Wade is coming to Columbus as a five-star recruit, and was ESPN’s top-ranked cornerback in this recruiting class. Wade committed to the Buckeyes two years ago after Ohio State took home the national title, and even though there was interest from all the big programs around the country, Wade never wavered on becoming a Buckeye.

Wade enrolled at Ohio State early, which will allow him to participate in spring practices. The competition for the cornerback spots is expected to be heated with not only Denzel Ward coming back, but also signees Kendall Sheffield, Amir Reip, and Marcus Williamson in the mix. The cornerback from Florida has dreams of moving on to the NFL, and with players like Eli Apple, Gareon Conley, and Marcus Lattimore either already in the league or on their way to the lead, there is no reason to think the same isn’t in the cards for Wade. Much like Okudah, expect to be hearing Wade’s name a lot for at least the next three years for the Buckeyes.

“I think when Trevor is engaged, I think he’s as good as anybody. There’s moments where he can get out of sync, and as long as we can get him back in and he lets us coach him and get him back into the fold of what we’re trying to do, he’s very effective.”

- Ohio State men’s basketball coach Thad Matta on Trevor Thompson via Nicholas McWilliams, The Lantern


So far this season there hasn’t been a lot about Ohio State’s men’s basketball team to get excited about. In a year that has been filled with injuries and inconsistent play, the lone bright spot has been the play of Trevor Thompson. The Virginia Tech transfer is averaging nearly a double-double in his second season in Columbus. After averaging 6.6 points per game last year for the Buckeyes, this year Thompson is averaging 10.6 points per game, and is also averaging a team-high 9.3 rebounds per game.

Last night against Rutgers, Thompson recorded his second straight double-double by scoring 15 points and pulling down 13 rebounds in the 70-64 win over the Scarlet Knights. The double-double was the ninth of the season for the junior. Thompson’s growth hasn’t gone unnoticed by opposing players and coaches either, with Minnesota head coach Richard Pitino going so far to say that Thompson is the most improved player in the Big Ten this year. While there are still occasional mistakes on the court from Thompson, there is no question that he has been Ohio State’s best player so far this season.

STICK TO SPORTS

• BrewDog opens on February 20th in Canal Winchester.
• Trying to decide on what to have for dinner? Today is National Pizza Day!
• Speaking of pizza, the Mikey’s Late Night Slice and Hot Chicken Takeover mashup is back on February 21st to benefit the Columbus Diaper Bank.
• Verizon is rolling out a new program if you live in select areas and enroll in their total mobile protection plan, you can have your broken phone screen fixed at home.

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Ohio State football releases time, ticket info for Buckeyes 2017 spring game - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football releases time, ticket info for Buckeyes 2017 spring game
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State announced on Thursday the time, and ticket info for its 2017 spring game at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes will conclude spring practice with a scrimmage in Ohio Stadium on Saturday, April 15. The game will kickoff at 12:30 p.m ...


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Rumour: Senators to Ask Phaneuf to Waive NMC
T6S via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


OTTAWA, CANADA – JANUARY 26: Dion Phaneuf #2 of the Ottawa Senators skates with the puck against Sam Bennett #93 of the Calgary Flames during an NHL game at Canadian Tire Centre on January 26, 2017 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Francois Laplante/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)

Normally I don’t read Don Brennan articles, but when I do, there’s usually a good reason for it.

Maybe it’s nothing or it could be something, but in buried in the depths of an article in yesterday’s Ottawa Sun, Brennan wrote, “it’s widely believed the Senators will protect Cody Ceci and Marc Methot along with Erik Karlsson, and ask Dion Phaneuf to waive his no-move with the thinking Las Vegas won’t touch the latter’s hefty contract.”

Ignoring the assertion that the Senators would shittily neglect to protect Chris Wideman – who they could obviously guard by exposing a more expensive veteran like Marc Methot or through trading an overvalued commodity like Cody Ceci – the idea that the Senators likely will ask Dion Phaneuf to waive his no-movement clause (NMC) makes a lot of sense (and really, it makes sense for tons of clubs around the NHL who are in a similar spot).

As unpalatable as Phaneuf’s contract is for Vegas, the Senators can use it to their advantage to protect a Ceci or a Methot, or an effective and inexpensive player like Wideman, who likely would fall victim to an expansion draft claim.

For the Senators, it should be a relatively easy sell.

For Pierre Dorion, it’d probably go something like this:


For all the parties involved, waiving the NMC makes sense.

Whether or not that happens remains to be seen, but it can be mutually beneficial and I can’t think of any reason(s) as to why Phaneuf wouldn’t be amenable to the idea, unless waiving the NMC in this instance means that the Senators will no longer be bound by it moving forward. In other words, if Phaneuf waives his NMC, could the Senators trade him at a later date because he waived his NMC for the purpose of the expansion draft?



Maybe it doesn’t even matter. The the likelihood of a team wanting to absorb the remaining four seasons and $25.5-million in real dollars (carrying a $7.0-million cap hit) on Phaneuf’s contract is small.



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Ohio State basketball is improving, but even the NIT is far from a lock at this point
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


It’s good to win some games, but the Buckeyes better win some more if they want to make the postseason.

For the first time in nearly a month, Ohio State basketball is on a winning streak.

It wasn’t easy, but the Buckeyes held off Rutgers last night, 70-64, to extend a winning streak to a whopping two games, thanks to their earlier road win over the hated Michigan Wolverines. Ohio State hasn’t won three games in a row since they beat Marshall, back in November.

With the win, Ohio State has improved to 15-10 on the year, and gave themselves a little bit of space from the basement in the Big Ten. Given how mushy the middle of the conference is right now, with a strong finish, Ohio State could easily finish 7th, or close, in the conference.

Of course, if your aspirations are to finish in the middle of the conference, an NCAA Tournament bid is a longshot. Even with back-to-back wins, Ohio State’s profile would need major, extensive renovations if they hope to make the Big Dance. The Buckeyes would probably need to win five of their next six, plus make some noise in the Big Ten Tournament, just to get back in the conversation for an at-large bid. After an embarrassing 0-4 start to Big Ten play, that ship pretty much sailed a long time ago.

But that doesn’t mean Ohio State’s hopes for the postseason are shot. There is, after all, still the NIT.

Of course, even that isn’t a guarantee at this point. The Buckeyes made last year’s NIT as a #3 seed with 20 wins, and no major conference team grabbed an at-large spot with fewer than 18. The Buckeyes might only be favored in two remaining regular season games this season (at home against Nebraska, on the road at Penn State), and if their play this season has proven anything, absolutely nothing should be taken for granted. After all, Ohio State hasn’t won a game by double-digits since Youngstown State. That was in December.

So 18 is probably the magic number for Ohio State, and given that their best win of the season is probably against Michigan State, getting to 19 would probably be a good idea. Their chances of extending Thad Matta’s 20 game win streak don’t look very good at this point.

Does it even matter? NIT bid or not, Ohio State doesn’t look like a team that’s ready to make a deep run in March, no matter what tournament they’re playing in. The Buckeyes have already been shorthanded thanks to Keita Bates-Diop being lost for the season, and with JaQuan Lyle looking a little beat up, the Buckeyes may not have the horses to bring home any trophies this season.

But, even if it doesn’t end in another banner, and even if it doesn’t capture the imagination of Buckeye fans, extra basketball games are still better for the team. If an NIT bid gives players like Andre Wesson and Micah Potter a chance to appreciate what postseason basketball is like, and ideally a few more minutes of shine, it might help give momentum into what will be a critical offseason for the program. The next time Ohio State basketball is truly good, they’ll need the youngest players in the program now to really step up; so the extra time to shine may be good for them.

There’s not a ton of NIT Bracketology out right now, but NYC Buckets, one of the few sites that does the prognostications, had Ohio State as a #3 seed back on January 30th, facing Utah in a region that also included Memphis, Alabama and Rhode Island. But since conference regular season champions are guaranteed spots in the NIT, a run of upsets in one-bid conferences wreck havoc to other mock NIT brackets.

Ohio State probably isn’t going to be in the running for a top seed, so if you’re looking for the Buckeyes to get an invite, root for chalk in conference tournaments, and hope that the Buckeyes are able to find at least two, and ideally three, more wins down the stretch. Anything is possible, but even an early exit in the postseason is better than not getting a bid at all. And after an up-and-down season, Ohio State basketball could use any bit of positive momentum that they can get.

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Buckeyes completely dominate CB for two 'priority' targets - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes completely dominate CB for two 'priority' targets
247Sports
Urban Meyer has told them they are “priority” recruits for the Buckeyes' 2018 recruiting class – running back Jaelen Gill and offensive lineman Jackson Carman. With a recent Ohio State prediction coming in for Gill, the Crystal Ball now has 15 ...


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Ohio State football spring game tickets go on sale on Friday
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


With major contributors heading to the NFL, the spring game will be provide a glimpse of OSU’s future.

On Thursday, The Ohio State University athletic department announced that tickets for the 2017 football spring game would go on sale at 10:00 a.m. EST on Friday, February 10th. The game is scheduled for Saturday, April 15th at 12:30 p.m. EST at Ohio Stadium. Parking for the game is free, and general admission tickets are just $5. Additionally, there are a limited number of $15 reserved club seats available as well. Children under six-years-old and current Ohio State students get in free.

Tickets can be purchased here or by calling 1-800-GOBUCKS and selecting option 3.

The 2016 spring game boasted an NCAA record 100,189 fans in attendance, an improvement from the previous national record of 99,722, which was set at OSU’s 2015 spring game.

Coming off of a second College Football Playoff appearance in three years, and a second straight NFL Draft likely to feature a whole host of Buckeyes, this year’s spring game will give Urban Meyer the chance to see which of his recent big-time recruits are ready to compete for playing time come fall.

Ohio State will kick off the 2017 season on August 31st in Bloomington, IN against the Indiana Hoosiers.

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Marcus Hooker ready for another look at Ohio State - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Marcus Hooker ready for another look at Ohio State
247Sports
12, 2015. If that date sounds familiar to Buckeye fans, it should. Ohio State was just a few hours away from playing Oregon for the national championship when Wade pledged his allegiance to the Buckeyes. However, almost from the moment Wade committed, ...
Grading Ohio State's 2016 Season: The Defensive BacksScout
Ohio State football mock draft roundup 2.0cleveland.com

all 4 news articles »

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BTN to air eight Big Ten Winter Championships and Hockey Tournament in 2017
BTN Communications via Big Ten Network

BTN will televise eight winter Big Ten Championships in 2017, including the entire Big Ten Hockey Tournament, wrestling, men’s swimming & diving, women’s swimming & diving, men’s and women’s indoor track & field and men’s and women’s gymnastics. Television coverage begins with the Big Ten Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships from Purdue on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 10:30 a.m. ET and continues with Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships at 10:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 26, from Ohio State. The opening night relays and preliminary rounds for both women (Feb. 15-18) and men (Feb. 22-25) can be viewed live on

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Grading Ohio State's 2016 Season: The Defensive Backs - Scout
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Grading Ohio State's 2016 Season: The Defensive Backs
Scout
Starting safety Malik Hooker and cornerbacks Gareon Conley and Marshon Lattimore were all stellar throughout the season, and each came up with huge plays to keep the Buckeyes in the hunt for a national title. Conley impressed with a game-clinching ...
Ohio State football mock draft roundup 2.0cleveland.com

all 3 news articles »

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Ohio State podcast: What is Terrelle Pryor's Buckeyes legacy? - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State podcast: What is Terrelle Pryor's Buckeyes legacy?
Landof10.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio — On this #ThrowbackThursday edition of the “Inside the Shoe” Ohio State podcast, Ben Axelrod and Jeremy Birmingham revisit Terrelle Pryor's time with the Buckeyes. You can listen to the entire show in the embedded SoundCloud player ...
In Star-Studded 2017 Class, Ohio State Safety Isaiah Pryor Seems To Be OverlookedEleven Warriors

all 2 news articles »

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Ohio State basketball: Why the Buckeyes are now entering the most important stretch of the season - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State basketball: Why the Buckeyes are now entering the most important stretch of the season
cleveland.com
For the Buckeyes (15-10, 5-7 Big Ten) to get on the bubble, they need more big wins. Beating Maryland would be the kind of win that would help, so would one on Tuesday night at Michigan State. A win in either of those games, and Ohio State would be in ...
Off season for football Buckeyes? Not hardly247Sports
Buckeyes Survive Sloppy Affair, Beat Rutgers 70-64Scarlet and Game
Ohio State vs. Rutgers 2017 final score: Buckeyes hold off the ...Land-Grant Holy Land
Eleven Warriors -The News Center -Landof10.com
all 48 news articles »

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4-star DB Leon O'Neal Jr. pulls in Ohio State 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


O’Neal has a chance to be part of the Buckeyes’ 2018 class.

O'Neal gets OSU offer


Just days after adding 2018 safety Jaiden Woodbey (Upland, CA / St. John Bosco) to the fold, Ohio State went right back to the defensive secondary for their latest offer that came about on Wednesday. The newest recipient of that Buckeye offer is '18 S Leon O'Neal Jr. of Cy Springs (TX).


The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder had 18 offers under his belt prior to the Buckeyes joining the picture yesterday. While there is a long while until O'Neal Jr. has to make a final decision, Ohio State will have to beat out programs like Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA and more if they want to pair him with Woodbey in the Scarlet and Gray.

O'Neal Jr., a four-star prospect, is currently penciled in as the 223rd best overall player in the class, according to 247sports. The Cypress native can also be found as the 18th highest graded safety and the 26th highest graded prospect in the state of Texas.

With Ohio State jumping into the mix for the blue-chip defensive back, we will see if the staff can now convince him to come to Columbus to check out the campus in the near future.

Cali to Columbus movement?


As mentioned above, Ohio State reeled in their third pledge for this year’s recruiting class when Woodbey of St. John Bosco (CA) announced his commitment to the Buckeyes. The four-star prospect is currently slotted as the fourth best player in the state and he believes he isn't going to be the last from California to head to Columbus and suit up for the Buckeyes.


For now, there's four Cali prospects other than Woodbey that have secured offers from Ohio State—and all but one plays on the offensive side of the ball. 2018 running back Maurice Washington, a four-star prospect, could ultimately become a candidate to partner up with '18 Florida RB Brian Snead, who has been committed to the Buckeyes since July 2016. The other two would be '18 wide receivers Jalen Hall of Hawkins (CA) and Amon-Ra St. Brown of Mater Dei (CA) — two of the nation’s best pass-catchers. The lone defender outside of Woodbey is '18 linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu of Claremont (CA).

Obviously, the state is full of talented players and new offers could go out to more names in due time. It will be interesting to see if the commitment of Woodbey could turn California into the Texas of the 2017 recruiting class.

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Buckeyes expected to make Top 5 for country's No. 3 DE - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes expected to make Top 5 for country's No. 3 DE
247Sports
Buckeyes expected to make Top 5 for country's No. 3 DE. The country's No. 3 strong-side defensive end will announce his Top 5 in a month and Bucknuts is told Ohio State will be on the list. Bill Kurelic - 6 hours ago; VIP; 13; Tools. Edit · Slot to ...


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Changes are already happening at OSU; some obvious, some not so - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Changes are already happening at OSU; some obvious, some not so
247Sports
If the Buckeyes were a year ahead of schedule in the 31-0 lost to Clemson in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl, that means it's time to get back on schedule. In Meyer's mind, 2017 was always the year for OSU to take the college football world by storm, but ...
Texas wide receiver talking with Ohio State, Buckeyes offer recent Penn State commitment and moreLandof10.com
Jaiden Woodbey to Ohio State: Buckeyes Land 4-Star Safety ProspectBleacher Report
Ohio State football: How will Wyatt Davis, Josh Myers shake up Buckeyes' offensive line?cleveland.com
Columbus Dispatch -Land-Grant Holy Land -AthlonSports.com
all 113 news articles »

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Ohio State holds off Rutgers behind Williams’ career night
Alex Roux, BTN.com editor via Big Ten Network

Kam Williams scored 23 points to lead Ohio State past a resilient Rutgers squad, 70-64. The win boosted the Buckeyes to 15-10 and 5-7 in conference play.

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