Ohio State Recruiting: Buckeyes Close in on No. 1 Alabama - Scarlet and Game
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State Recruiting: Buckeyes Close in on No. 1 Alabama
Scarlet and Game
With five-star linebacker Baron Browning and four-star Pete Werner committing to Ohio State recently, the Buckeyes are right on the heels of the Crimson Tide for the top 2017 recruiting class. They are back up to 17 players committed as well. Alabama's ...
Ohio State football future schedules: See who the Buckeyes will play through 2024cleveland.com (blog)
What 4-star LB Pete Werner's commitment means for Ohio State's 2017 recruiting classLandof10.com
Ohio State football | Indiana LB commits to 2017 classColumbus Dispatch
247Sports -Bleacher Report -Campus Insiders
all 45 news articles »

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Six Buckeyes among 16 Big Ten players tabbed as AP All-Americans - Comcast SportsNet Chicago
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Six Buckeyes among 16 Big Ten players tabbed as AP All-Americans
Comcast SportsNet Chicago
Ohio State has been the Big Ten's best team this season, evidenced by its selection for the College Football Playoff. So it only makes sense that the Buckeyes would boast a host of AP All-Americans, six to be precise, twice as many as the next ...
Matta, on call-in show: OSU will reprise CBS Sports ClassicColumbus Dispatch (blog)
Watson, Clemson claim ACC title, await playoff berthThe Detroit News

all 43 news articles »

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2 Ohio State commits receive state Player of the Year honors
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes’ 2017 recruiting class now boasts the best player from Nevada and Florida.

Ohio State’s 2017 recruiting class is shaping up to be one of the best in the program’s history. With six five-star commitments, the Buckeyes have been able to successfully bring in players of an elite caliber. On Monday, two of the classes biggest members were recognized as the Gatorade Player of the Year for their respective states.

Four-star quarterback Tate Martell (Las Vegas, NV / Bishop Gorman) and five-star defensive back Shaun Wade (Jacksonville, FL / Trinity Christian Academy) were recognized as winners of the award, which were announced via HUDL.

For Martell, this is the second time he has been honored with the prestigious award. The four-star QB led the Bishop Gorman Gaels to a third-straight national championship this season and has accounted for more than 60 touchdowns in his renowned career.



The accolade was a first for Wade, who reaffirmed his commitment with the Buckeyes late Monday afternoon. The blue-chip prospect comes in as the fourth best DB in the country, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, and is the No. 22 player in the 2017 class. Wade originally committed to Ohio State in January 2015, but continued to visit other programs throughout the past two years. Alabama was seen as the best bet to flip Wade, but in the end, Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes prevailed.


Along with Martell and Wade, another big-time target for Ohio State in the 2017 class received the accolade for best player in the state. Five-star running back Cam Akers (Clinton, MS / Clinton) was the recipient of the award for Mississippi. While it would be surprising to see the No. 2 overall RB in the class and the fourth-best player overall choose Ohio State, the Buckeyes are still very much in play.

Donovan Peoples-Jones sets announcement date


The Buckeyes have already been able to secure two of the country’s top five wideouts in this year’s recruiting class, but it appears Urban Meyer is doing his best to add another one.

Meyer and Buckeye Nation would love to see the No. 1 wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (Detroit, MI / Cass Tech) join Tyjon Lindsey and Trevon Grimes. However, Michigan has been the team to beat in his recruitment for a while now, and it would be very surprising to see him commit anywhere else at this point.

That being said, Meyer has been able to pull off crazier things in the past, and he is doing his due diligence to try and pull off a miracle of sorts. As we reported earlier, Meyer and his coaching staff traveled to The State of North this past weekend for an impromptu in-home visit with Peoples-Jones and it seemed to go over well.

Fast forward to Monday and we are now in a recruiting dead period, meaning coaches cannot physically speak with recruits. With that in mind, Peoples-Jones confirmed that he will be announcing his decision this Thursday.


This is definitely one to keep an eye on, as People-Jones is one of the best overall players in this class and to secure three of the top five WRs in a class would be game-changing for an already elite program.

While Michigan is the likely choice, Meyer and the Buckeyes can’t be counted out.

Ohio State is all over the new Rivals Top100 for 2018


Rivals’ updated recruiting rankings for the 2018 recruiting class onMonday, and the list is littered with Ohio State commitments and targets.

Both of Ohio State’s commitments for the class were recognized as top 20 players, as five-star QB Emory Jones (Franklin, GA / Heard County) came in at No. 14 and four-star RB Brian Snead (Seffner, FL / Armwood) was listed at No. 18.

Also making the cut were plenty of Ohio State targets, including the No. 2 overall player in Jackson Carman (Fairfield, OH / Fairfield). Carman is a five-star offensive tackle and is a heavy Buckeye lean at this point. The Buckeyes will need to continue recruiting Carman though, as he has offers from pretty much every recognized program in the country.

There were also plenty of other Ohio State targets to make the list Monday. And as Mark Gilver of BuckeyeGrove.com put it, the Buckeyes have a realistic shot with at least 11 of the top 25 prospects.


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kinch said:

On a better note, for much cheaper my dad and his wife, who are picky on this stuff due to back pains, etc., bought a very frugal mattress from some online place. It is similar to a tempurpedic. (sp?) It comes in a manageable package, and when you unseal it in unvacuums into a bed, kinda cool. They love it so much they recommend it to everyone. I can get the name if you want to google it and read reviews.

Click to expand...

Casper comes like that. We got one and are very happy with it. There are now several similar online companies.

Donovan Peoples-Jones sets announcement date, Ohio State commitments earn Gatorade honors, updated rankings ... - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Donovan Peoples-Jones sets announcement date, Ohio State commitments earn Gatorade honors, updated rankings ...
Landof10.com
Recruiting never stops, and if you take a day off, you fall behind. Join us every night for a daily recap of Ohio State recruiting news, insight on what's happening behind the scenes, and for a glimpse at what's coming next.

and more »

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Knock me over with a feather

J.T. Barrett has earned his place among the best Ohio State quarterbacks
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


He may be valued for his on-field leadership, but the Buckeye quarterback has thrown up some big career numbers.

“Such is life for a quarterback that is not without flaws playing behind an offensive line with a leaky right tackle and a group of true wide receivers that have largely struggled to emerge.”

-Chris Lauderback, Eleven Warriors


He may not be the flashiest player on the field, but there can be little doubt that J.T. Barrett is one of the top players to ever grace the quarterback position at Ohio State. This season alone, Barrett has thrown 24 touchdowns to five interceptions and run for another nine scores. He is second on the team in rushing behind running back Mike Weber with 847 rushing yards in the regular season. Individually, he is 35th nationally in total offense per game with 272.9 yards per game (that’s good for third in the Big Ten, too).

Even while splitting time with Cardale Jones last season, Barrett has, over the course of three years at Ohio State, planted himself firmly in the record books as a top performer in most statistical categories among quarterbacks. Entering 2016, Barrett held the school records for career average total offense per game (249.2) and career 300-yard total offense games (15). Already this season, Barrett has earned the top spot in:

• Career passing yards per game (178.8), overtaking Joe Germaine (172.2 yards per game in 37 games)
• Career 200 yard passing games (18), passing Bobby Hoying’s record (16)
• Career 200 yard total-offense games (26), overtaking Art Schlichter, Hoying, Steve Bellisari, Troy Smith and Braxton Miller
• Career completions (510), passing Hoying (498)
• Career touchdown passes (69), passing Hoying (57). Barrett has also thrown just 19 interceptions to Hoying’s 35 over the course of his run
• Career touchdowns responsible for (100), overtaking Miller (88)

This season, Barrett could also break Schlichter’s mark on career total yards of offense (8,850) with a 130 yard performance against Clemson. Next year, assuming Barrett’s return to Columbus, he would also be able to crack Schlichter’s career passing yards record (7,547) and possibly Germaine’s 300-yard passing games record (eight).

“Since Troy Smith won it in 2006, the closest any Ohio State player has come was when Braxton Miller finished fifth in 2012 and J.T. Barrett finished fifth in 2014.”

-Ryan Ginn, Land of 10


Quarterback Lamar Jackson brought home Louisville’s first-ever Heisman Trophy Saturday night, winning by the largest margin in 70 years of Heisman voting by more than 600 points over runner-up Deshaun Watson of Clemson. However, for the first time since 2011, no Ohio State player broke the top-10 of voting--a fact that particularly stings given that even Michigan linebacker Jabrill Peppers garnered a fifth-place finish.

Heading into the season, quarterback J.T. Barrett seemed to be the Buckeyes’ best hope for a Heisman in 2016. Especially given three stellar performances in non-conference victories early in the season (and then Rutgers), his stock was certainly on the rise heading into conference play. However, like the rest of the offense, Barrett entered a slump that lasted from Ohio State’s matchup with Indiana through to Wisconsin, Penn State and Northwestern. His Heisman stock went down and did not recover, even with near perfect performances against Nebraska and Maryland.

Next season, Barrett’s odds improve dramatically. He will have a more experienced offensive line, even with the loss of Pat Elflein, and a receiving corps that, so unlike last year, will have actually seen the field before. It doesn’t hurt that Barrett is also a third-year starter and the unquestioned leader of a championship-caliber team, which tends to help in the voting.

Beyond Barrett, H-back Curtis Samuel was the only player in the nation to record at least 700 receiving yards and 700 rushing yards on the season this year. One of the most dynamic players on the field, it seemed like Samuel couldn’t touch the ball enough this year. While he is electrifying on offense, Samuel also has the opportunity to rack up return yardage next season as Ohio State’s go-to man, which would certainly grab the attention of voters.

Running back Mike Weber and wide receiver Noah Brown also showed flashes of brilliance this season which, if improved and made more consistent heading into next year, could make them dark horses for the trophy by the end of the season.

“It seems like he’s calmed down a little bit more and has a great focus about how he’s playing. He’s starting to get a little more instinctive, especially on the defensive end, which is good to see. He’s not as robotic. He’s challenging shots and making big plays.”

-Thad Matta, via Bill Landis, Cleveland.com


In a season which has already shown the inconsistency that plagued the Ohio State men’s basketball team last year, it seems that one player alone has risen above the noise to provide reliability for the 8-2 Buckeyes. Coming off the bench Saturday, big man Trevor Thompson scored 17 points alongside 17 rebounds for Ohio State against a strong UConn team, who had held the seven-foot center scoreless in last year’s meeting between the two teams.

Thus far, Thompson has been the most improved player on the Ohio State roster this season, averaging 11 points and a team-high 8.6 rebounds. He is also shooting nearly 67 percent from the field, which leads the team, and is one of the most reliable free throw shooters for Ohio State, hitting 26-of-33 from the line this season. Comparatively, he is averaging just over one turnover per game, which is low for a team which has been notoriously poor in that area.

Not only are his stats strong on the team for this season, they are also much-improved over his own performance last season. Through 10 games, Thompson has doubled his points, rebounds and blocks over the same 10 game stretch as last season. He has also increased his field goal percentage and spent more time--nearly five minutes per game longer--on the court this season.

Even so, Thad Matta cites focus as an issue for Thompson--something which plagued the big man last year and, at times, this season. Those momentary lapses in judgement have become less common, however, and Thompson has shown himself able to learn and rebound from those moments, putting himself and his team in a better position to make a play as a result. While the rest of the team has had its issues so far this season, Thompson has provided a reliable presence on the court.

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Shaun Wade, a 5-star cornerback out of Florida, reaffirms commitment to Ohio State over Alabama, Florida and others - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Shaun Wade, a 5-star cornerback out of Florida, reaffirms commitment to Ohio State over Alabama, Florida and others
Landof10.com
A 5-star cornerback out of Jacksonville's Trinity Christian Academy – where he won his fourth straight state championship on Saturday – Wade made his initial verbal pledge to the Buckeyes on Jan. 12, 2015. Since then, he's been rumored, at nearly every ...
The Buckeyes had to put in a lot of work to hold on to the five-star pledge of WadeBuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)
Shaun Wade, a five-star DB and Ohio State commit, reaffirms pledge to Buckeyescleveland.com (blog)
4-Star Cornerback Shaun Wade Reaffirms Ohio State CommitmentScout
247Sports
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2017 5-star CB Shaun Wade reaffirms commitment to Ohio State
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


(re-)BOOOOOOM!

It may not technically be a recruiting “#BOOOOOM”, but Ohio State just got some major recruiting news that will help solidify their epic 2017 recruiting class.

Shaun Wade, a current Ohio State commit, reaffirmed his pledge on Twitter today. Wade may have been committed to the Buckeyes for almost two years, but he was still taking other visits, including to Alabama, long considered a major threat to flip the five-star mega recruit.


Wade is the 22nd best prospect in his class, according to the 247Sports Composite, the forth best cornerback, and the fifth overall ranked prospect in the talent rich state of Florida. He picked the Buckeyes over Alabama, Florida State, Michigan, Florida, and virtually every other major program.

With Wade’s commitment more secured, the Buckeyes currently have six five-star prospects in their 2017 recruiting class, paced by recent linebacker commitment Baron Browning. There’s a good chance for the Buckeyes to grab at least one more five-star before it’s all said and done.

With expected attrition in Ohio State’s secondary, Wade could well have a chance to contribute early, if not very early.

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Power Rankings: Where does Jon Crispin have your team this week?
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network

It's time for BTN analyst Jon Crispin's latest Big Ten Power Rankings, presented by ArcelorMittal. The top three teams, once again, remain the same, but there is some movement toward the middle of the list. See Crispin's top 10 inside.

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Ohio State team develops smaller, cheaper portable UV lights. Here’s how: BTN LiveBIG
BTN.com LiveBIG Staff via Big Ten Network

A growing technology in more ways than one.

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Six Buckeyes named AP All-Americans; Elflein, Hooker, Samuel on first team - OSU - The Lantern
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Six Buckeyes named AP All-Americans; Elflein, Hooker, Samuel on first team
OSU - The Lantern
Six Ohio State Buckeyes were named to Associated Press All-American teams on Monday. Redshirt senior center Pat Elflein, junior H-back Curtis Samuel and redshirt sophomore safety Malik Hooker were named first-team All-Americans. Samuel was ...
Malik Hooker, Pat Elflein, Curtis Samuel Named AP First Team All-Americans; Six Total Buckeyes HonoredEleven Warriors

all 6 news articles »

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Audio: Listen to the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Teleconference
BTN.com staff via Big Ten Network

On Monday, the Big Ten men’s basketball coaches participated in a teleconference to take questions from the media. You can listen to what each coach had to say in the audio player below.Filed under: Audio

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The Chairman would have been 101 today, so put the Come Fly With Me LP on the Hi-Fi, pour youself some gasoline and swing baby.

ECU WR on AP second team All-America squad; Tide, Buckeyes have most players chosen - WCTI12.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


ECU WR on AP second team All-America squad; Tide, Buckeyes have most players chosen
WCTI12.com
Jones was selected second team All-America by The Associated Press on Monday. He was also selected first team All-American by ESPN. Jones finished 2016 with 158 catches for 1,764 yards and eight touchdowns. He finished this season as the career ...
Lamar Jackson Wins 2016 Heisman TrophyEleven Warriors

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Curtis Samuel, Pat Elflein, Malik Hooker named 2016 AP 1st Team All-Americans
Luke Zimmermann via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Buckeye Grove’s getting even bigger this offseason.

After several Buckeyes received high praise from ESPN.com this morning for their outstanding play, a trio of Buckeyes added to their outstanding careers with recognition from arguably the most prestigious college football All-American team out there.

Already the winner of the Rimington Trophy, OSU center Pat Elflein was joined by teammates Curtis Samuel and Malik Hooker as first team 2016 Associated Press All-Americans. Fellow Buckeyes guard Billy Price, linebacker Raekwon McMillan, and punter Cameron Johnston were named to the AP’s second team.

Any OSU player named to a "reputable, mainstream” first team All-America team receives the honor of a Buckeye tree being planted just outside Ohio Stadium for their contributions to the football program. With the way the Urban Meyer era’s going to this point, Buckeye Grove’s certain to keep only getting bigger and bigger.

Here’s the complete 2016 AP All-American teams:

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback — Lamar Jackson, sophomore, 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, Louisville

Running backs — D'Onta Foreman, junior, 6-2, 249, Texas; Dalvin Cook, junior, 5-11, 213, Florida State

Tackles — Cam Robinson, junior, 6-6, 310, Alabama; Ryan Ramczyk, junior, 6-6, 314, Wisconsin

Guards — Cody O'Connell, junior, 6-8, 354, Washington State; Dan Feeney, senior, 6-4, 305, Indiana.

Center — Pat Elflein, senior, 6-3, 300, Ohio State

Tight end — Evan Engram, senior, 6-3, 235, Mississippi

Wide receivers — Dede Westbrook, senior, 6-0, 176, Oklahoma; Corey Davis, senior, 6-3, 213, Western Michigan

All-purpose player — Curtis Samuel, junior, 5-11 197, Ohio State

Kicker — Zane Gonzalez, senior, 6-1, 195, Arizona State

DEFENSE

Ends — Myles Garrett, junior, 6-5, 270, Texas A&M; Derek Barnett, junior, 6-3, 265, Tennessee

Tackles — Jonathan Allen, junior, 6-3, 290, Alabama; Ed Oliver, freshman, 6-2, 290, Houston

Linebackers — Reuben Foster, senior, 6-1, 228, Alabama; Zach Cunningham, junior, 6-2, 230, Vanderbilt; Jabrill Peppers, junior, 6-1, 205, Michigan

Cornerbacks — Jourdan Lewis, senior, 5-11, 186, Michigan; Adoree' Jackson, junior, 5-11, 185, Southern California

Safeties — Malik Hooker, sophomore, 6-2, 205, Ohio State; Minkah Fitzpatrick, sophomore, 6-1, 200, Alabama

Punter — Mitch Wishnowsky, sophomore, 6-2, 220, Utah

___

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback — Deshaun Watson, junior, Clemson

Running backs — Donnel Pumphrey, senior, San Diego State; Christian McCaffrey, junior, Stanford

Tackles — Connor Williams, sophomore, Texas; Orlando Brown, sophomore, Oklahoma

Guards — Billy Price, junior, Ohio State; Will Hernandez, junior, UTEP

Center — Tyler Orlovsky, senior, West Virginia

Tight end — Jake Butt, senior, Michigan

Wide receivers — Zay Jones, senior, East Carolina; John Ross, junior, Washington

All-purpose player — Quadree Henderson, sophomore, Pitt

Kicker — Daniel Carlson, junior, Auburn

DEFENSE

Ends — DeMarcus Walker, senior, Florida State; Harold Landry, junior, Boston College

Tackles — Carlos Watkins, senior, Clemson; Montravius Adams, senior, Auburn

Linebackers — Raekwon McMillan, junior, Ohio State; T.J. Watt, junior, Wisconsin; Tim Williams, senior, Alabama

Cornerbacks — Rasul Douglas, senior, West Virginia; Desmond King, senior, Iowa

Safeties — Budda Baker, junior, Washington; Jamal Adams, junior, LSU

Punter — Cameron Johnston, senior, Ohio State

___

THIRD TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback — Baker Mayfield, junior, Oklahoma

Running backs — Saquon Barkley, sophomore, Penn State; Aaron Jones, junior, UTEP

Tackles — Mike McGlinchey, senior, Notre Dame; Forrest Lamp, senior, Western Kentucky

Guards — Nico Siragusa, senior, San Diego State; Quenton Nelson, junior, Notre Dame

Center — Ethan Pocic, senior, LSU

Tight end — O.J. Howard, senior, Alabama

Wide receivers — Amba Etta-Tawo, senior, Syracuse; Austin Carr, senior, Northwestern

All-purpose player — Christian Kirk, sophomore, Texas A&M

Kicker — Gary Wunderlich, junior, Mississippi

DEFENSE

Ends — Hunter Dimick, senior, Utah; Jordan Willis, senior, Kansas State

Tackles — Christian Wilkins, sophomore, Clemson; Solomon Thomas, junior, Stanford

Linebackers — Kendell Beckwith, senior, LSU; Jimmie Gilbert, senior, Colorado; Ben Boulware, senior, Clemson

Cornerbacks — Teez Tabor, junior, Florida; Cordrea Tankersley, senior, Clemson

Safeties — Nathan Gerry, senior, Nebraska; Weston Steelhammer, senior, Air Force

Punter — Michael Dickson, sophomore, Texas

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Dienhart: Ranking the 2016-17 Big Ten bowls, from 1-10
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

Pressed for time during the holiday season? Sure you are! Who isn’t? What with the trip to Toys “R” Us to buy a Mr. Microphone and surfing the web for a good deal on a Zamfir pan flute CD, we all are busy. That’s why I’m here. Let me prioritize the Big Ten bowls for you, from best to worst. You’re welcome. 1. Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State vs. Clemson. Good luck trying to find a better postseason matchup than this. This playoff game between No. 2 seed Clemson and No. 3 Ohio State, the first team to make the playoff

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Ohio State football future schedules: See who the Buckeyes will play through 2024 - cleveland.com (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football future schedules: See who the Buckeyes will play through 2024
cleveland.com (blog)
Ohio State football future schedules: See who the Buckeyes will play through 2024. Ohio Stadium. Wondering who Ohio State football will be playing through 2024? Check out the Buckeyes future schedules here. (Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com). Print Email.


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Women's basketball: Buckeyes hot shooting torches Canisius 89-56 - OSU - The Lantern
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Women's basketball: Buckeyes hot shooting torches Canisius 89-56
OSU - The Lantern
Behind 51.5 percent shooting and a solid defensive effort, the No. 12 Ohio State Buckeyes downed the Canisius Golden Griffins 89-56 on Sunday afternoon. “I thought our effort, our attention-to-detail was better than it's been,” OSU coach Kevin McGuff said.
Buckeyes Beat Lady Griffs 89-56WGRZ.com
Buckeye Basketball: McCoy's double-double leads OSU women past Canisius, 89-56ABC6OnYourSide.com
Game preview | Ohio State women's basketball vs. Canisius ...Columbus Dispatch
Land-Grant Holy Land -Buffalo News -Eleven Warriors
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3yardsandacloud said:

Don't vape, but can we talk about CrossFit and the Paleo diet?

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Screw that, I'm vegan. We really need a vegan thread. I have so much to share.

Fiesta Bowl preview: Ohio State vs. Clemson semifinal should be epic
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

Find a better postseason matchup than this. I dare you. You can’t. So don’t try. This playoff game between ACC champ and No. 2 seed Clemson and No. 3 Ohio State, the first team to make the playoff without winning a conference championship, should … be … epic.

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Playoff Preview: Ohio State (11-1, BIG 8-1) vs Clemson (12-1, ACC 7-1) Part 1
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Playstation Fiesta Bowl Playoff Semifinal:


As the season winds down and as bowl games have been dispersed to deserving teams around the nation, the casual college football fan cannot hide their excitement for the upcoming playoff semifinal matchups, along with the New Years Six matchups. There will be many great and exciting matchups, and I think that the Playstation Fiesta Bowl matchup between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Clemson Tigers will be the game to watch. That isn’t to downplay the matchup between Alabama and Washington because that will also be another good matchup and a test for Crimson Tide Defense that will see a crop of talented receivers that the Huskies. The pundits are predicting a rematch of last season’s Championship Game, with Alabama and Clemson. Will we see another rematch this year or will we get a surprise matchup? Only time will tell as we count down. We all know that you shouldn’t count Urban Meyer out of it, and Clemson would not be smart if they did. Although the Buckeyes are a slight 3-point favorite, I won’t be surprised if by the time the game rolls around, the Buckeyes end up as the underdogs because everyone seems to like the rematch from last year.

The Quarterbacks:


The Quarterback position is the most important position in football and they are what makes the offense function to move the chains. For both teams, they have two battle-tested Quarterbacks who have won a lot of games and this is what makes this matchup so exciting for the fans of the game. On one side you have Deshaun Watson, who has a high octane offense that is capable of scoring in a ton of ways and on the other, you have an offense struggling to find their identity and they are searching for additional playmakers outside of Curtis Samuel, who can consistently separate from opposing corners and get open.



Deshaun Watson was a highly coveted Quarterback prospect out of Gainsville, Georgia. He was heavily targeted by Ohio State for the duration of his recruiting venture before he ultimately decided to stay in the south. This was one of the few misses Urban Meyer has had on the recruiting trail. The rest is history as now he is set to face-off against Meyer once again. For those who don’t remember (or choose not to), Clemson handed Urban Meyer one of his 5 losses in the 2014 Orange Bowl in which they won 40-35 in a shootout. The Quarterback was not Watson, but he eventually committed to Clemson. Watson is a Dual-Threat Quarterback who can sling the rock and run it, if necessary. He has a variety of weapons at his disposal and he is dangerous for opposing defenses. For the season, he is 329 for 487 and he has thrown for 3914 yards and has 37 touchdown passes. He rushed 129 times this season for 529 yards for 6 scores. He is capable of turning the game around in Clemson’s favor, but he has a single weakness, ball security. This season, he has thrown 15 interceptions, which is a career high for him. He will look to keep turnovers to a minimum against a greedy Ohio State Defense, who excels at taking the ball away from opposing offenses. You could say that it is strength versus strength, but we will have to see how it all unfolds.

J.T. Barrett was a moderately pursued Quarterback out of Texas in 2013, who wanted to play at the next level at Texas. Luckily, the offer he wanted the most, never came and Texas’ loss is Ohio State’s gain. Barrett was another Dual-Threat Quarterback, who is also capable of shredding opposing defenses through the air and on the ground. This is why this matchup will be exciting and fun to watch. Barrett isn’t as accomplished as a passer when being compared to Watson’s numbers, but he has provided his team with leadership and the ability to will his team to victory. We all saw it during the Michigan game, The Game, and I don’t expect anything less this game. Barrett is 214 for 346 for 2428 yards and 24 total touchdowns through the air and he rushed 194 times for 847 yards and 9 scores. Unlike Watson, he has been known to take care of the ball, as he has only thrown 5 interceptions all season. Turnovers and offensive production will be the determining factor for this contest. You really don’t know what will unfold, and with the Jekyll and Hyde offense that Ohio State has, you never know what you will get until the game is on the line and in the hands of Barrett. This will be a matchup to watch.

Running Backs:


Wayne Gallman was recruited out of Grayson High School out of Loganville, Georgia. He wasn’t a highly rated recruit, but he was recruited as a four-star Outside Line Backer prospect and ended up signing his letter of intent with the rest of the 2013 recruiting class. Gallman stands at 6-0 feet tall and a solid 210 lbs. He doesn’t shy away from contact and that effort has put him over the 1,000-yard rushing mark with 1,002 yards total for the season and he has 15 rushing touchdown’s to go along with it. He has shown the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, but he has only managed to reel in 16 catches for 103-yards with no touchdown receptions. This may surprise you, but his job is to pound the rock and get the first down yardage when faced with short yardage situations. That doesn’t mean that he isn’t fast because he is. He can get outside if he finds a lane, and that is what makes him dangerous. He will be used to grind out the clock and to keep the Ohio State Defense honest. He will look to rack up the yardage on the Ohio State front seven, but it could be a contest of wills and determination.

Mike Weber was heavily recruited by the Midwest Powerhouses, such as Michigan and Michigan State before eventually signing with Ohio State after some drama toward the end, close to signing day. When the dust settled, Coach Harbaugh did not get his man and Weber embraced the Scarlet and Gray. Weber went to high school at Cass Tech, a well-known recruiting pipeline for Michigan. Weber is the third player from Cass Tech, who has picked Ohio State as the Buckeyes look to keep their presence there to establish their very own pipeline. Weber is 5-10, 212 lbs, but he plays like a former Buckeye, Carlos Hyde. He runs with an aggressive and punishing style that leaves defenders bruised and battered. Like, Gallman, he has the ability to run away from people, but he does not have the breakaway speed like Zeke has, but Hyde 2.0 is not a bad thing to have in the backfield either. Weber has racked up 1072-yards on the ground on 177 attempts for 9 touchdowns and he has reeled in 2o catches for 87-yards. His touches have been sporadic as of late, as the staff has been concentrating on splitting the touches between J.T. Barrett and Curtis Samuel. Whenever he has the opportunity to touch the ball, sparks usually fly, as he makes the best of it. He wears defenses down with his aggressive running style and has shown the power and the ability to block when asked to do so. This game will depend on their ability to control the clock and get the offense humming.

This game will depend on their ability to control the clock and get the offense humming. Both teams have the talent and the weapons to do so at the Quarterback and Running Back positions, but it is a matter of consistency and willpower to show up come game day. That is it for this preview, on the next installment, I will be previewing the Wide Receivers and the Offensive Line. Until then enjoy the suspense while you can. Go Bucks!

Recruiting Recon:


Boom! The staff has added another blue-chip recruit with a high ceiling in Indiana’s four-star and #2 overall prospect, Pete Werner. Werner is an Outside Linebacker prospect who was once committed to Notre Dame. Werner is talented and hard working and he is certainly capable of growing into a Middle Linebacker after working with Coach Marotti and his staff during the offseason. He needs to improve his strength, but his ability to diagnose a play quickly and his ability to pursue the ball carrier is second to none. He is very instinctual and very fast for his 6-3, 220-pound frame, he is a sure tackler and he can also lay the boom as well. The Buckeyes are getting a player that is ready to assume a role on Special Teams as he works his way up the depth chart.

Baron Browning, like Werner is an Outside Line Backer prospect, but of the five-star variety out of Kennedale, Texas. He committed before Werner, so this Linebacker group will be a good one. Brendan White, who is listed as an Athlete, could eventually grow into a Linebacker, but that is still up in the air. Browning flashes the speed and the tenacity to shed blocks at will and to blow by slower linemen to get into the backfield. He is another sure tackler, that has a high ceiling. He committed to Ohio State knowing that they might possibly lose some starters from this season and that the staff can help him grow, both on and off the field. He is also in line to play on Special Teams.

Kerry Coombs committed to the Buckeyes after rumors began swirling due to the potential hiring for Cincinnati of Luke Fickell. Days after the official announcement Coach Coombs took it to social media, officially committing to the Buckeyes. The Buckeyes lucked out because Coombs is the door to Michigan’s recruiting fields. Not to mention that he is well-liked and respected by the local coaches. He also recruits everywhere and he is loved in Cincinnati because he used to coach at Colerain High School. Coach Coombs is like the spark plug for the team, the proverbial energy bunny who can recruit like no other. He is fifth in the 24/7 recruiting list with a total of 6 recruits that he assisted on or single-handedly brought in. Those recruits are Amir Riep, Isaiah Pryor, Marcus Williamson, Jerron Cage, Blake Haubeil and recent commit, Pete Werner. His best recruit to date? Vonn Bell, Eli Apple, Damon Webb and Justin Hilliard. Pretty good player and talents, but now he has his eyes set on Donovan People-Jones, during a winter storm. He, accompanied with Coach Meyer made it to gauge his interest or the Buckeyes chances. He is another highly ranked recruit and if they steal him (not likely), they will do it after Michigan thought they had the last visit and he will be a part of a Wide Receiver class that already has a five-star and a high four-star in Trevon Grimes and Tyjon Lindsey. That would be a three-headed monster that would spell trouble for defenses, but once again, it is highly unlikely. The other Buckeye coach who ranks higher? Mr. Zone 6, Zach Smith who is ranked #1 with recruiting wins as he sealed the deal with Nick Bosa and Jalin Marshall and currently in the 2017 class, he convinced the aforementioned Lindsey and Grimes, Wyatt Davis, Haskell Garrett and the recruiting machine, Tate Martell. Each member, especially Coombs is a valuable recruiting asset and from a continuity point of view, he will receive an expanded role with the departure of Coach Fickell. He will looks to continue his efforts to building recruiting classes in 2017 and beyond.

Thanks for everything Coach Fickell:


If you haven’t paid attention, Coach Fickell just received a 6-year deal to become the next Head Coach at Cincinnati. He will take over a program that is suffering a bit after Tommy Tubberville had decided to step down. The Bearcats signed a defensive minded coach that has seasoned himself under the tutelage of Coach Tressel and Coach Meyer. He endured one of the worst seasons prior to Coach Meyer being hired and was retained after the higher ups recommended it. It certainly has paid off as he got the defense back on track and has developed his players with his passion and knowledge of the game that he loves. This is what you are getting and you should be happy with it. It is truly a huge loss for the Buckeyes as they search for a suitable replacement. Another thing the Buckeyes will miss is his recruiting prowess, on being able to spot diamonds in the rough. He earns the trust of all those involved in recruiting and as he moves on, he will assume control of the Queen City where he helped find a Notre Dame Lacosse commitment playing dodge ball, who eventually grew into a starter for the Buckeyes. He is valuable, but he needed to grow outside of Ohio State and what a perfect opportunity it is for him to stay in Ohio and grow. Also, Jerimiah, I do agree with you that the one’s who said #FireFickell, this is a huge loss and I too, cannot forgive them nor forget about the travesties that occurred that season. You certainly will be missed, good luck and God bless you and your family in your journey as Head Coach.




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Eli Apple, Johnathan Hankins hand Ezekiel Elliott first true road loss since high school
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Buckeyes are eyeing the NFL postseason with just a few weeks left to play.

There are only three weeks left in the 2016 NFL regular season, and playoff spots are starting to be filled with teams that host a lot of talent out of Ohio State. In Week 14, some Buckeyes faced former college teammates, and others continued their campaign for a spot in the Pro Bowl. And Terrelle Pryor continues to get no respect.

‘Sunday Night Football’


After an electric season for the Dallas Cowboys (Ezekiel Elliott, Rod Smith), this week’s NFC East rivalry matchup against the Giants (Eli Apple, Johnathan Hankins) was flexed to primetime. The League is starting to capitalize on what Buckeye Nation has known for years — Zeke is incredibly exciting to watch.

The Giants were able to do what only one other team has been able to this far into the season — stop Zeke and beat the Cowboys — coming up with a big 10-7 win against a Dallas team riding an 11 game winning streak. The Giants are still in the playoff hunt with a 9-4 record, and this win in their division will go a long way toward getting them into the postseason. Plus, they make Dallas fight one more week for a victory that will secure a first week bye and home field advantage in the playoffs.

Despite not getting into the endzone in Week 14, Ezekiel Elliott still rushed for over 100 yards, and still leads in votes for the 2017 Pro Bowl. This was the rookie’s first true road loss since his freshman year of high school — thanks to the superb record of Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer.


Buckeye Johnathan Hankins is a big reason the Giants have one of the best defensive interiors in the league and a big factor in holding the Cowboys to only seven points. He suffered a burner late in the game and was not able to return.

Things did not go so well for Eli Apple, whose hit from Tyron Smith is making it’s way GIF debut across the internet. The cornerback made two total tackles and defended a pass in his team’s win over Dallas, but will largely be remembered for being Smith’s ragdoll in this matchup.

Smith’s 2016 debut


Second year player Devin Smith (Jets) was supposed to go into the league in 2015 and be a breakout receiver, providing his NFL team with a deep threat and possible special teams contributor. Instead, he struggled on kick returns and spent the majority of his rookie season with few targets (28) and even fewer receptions (9) for 115 yards and a touchdown.

He started his rookie year with a rib injury and finished it in Week 14 with a torn ACL. After spending much the 2016 regular season recovering from the ACL surgery, he was able to come off the bench in the same week exactly a year after his injury. He started the day on special teams, but didn’t see an offensive snap the whole game.

Chargers vs Panthers


Lots of Buckeyes faced off when the Carolina Panthers (Corey ‘Philly’ Brown, Kurt Coleman, Ted Ginn Jr., Andrew Norwell) hosted the San Diego Chargers (Joey Bosa, Joshua Perry). The Panthers came away with a 28-16 win.

Safety Kurt Coleman finally returned after clearing concussion protocol, and was right back to work, snagging eight total tackles and an interception — his third of the season. Teammate Ted Ginn Jr. ended his streak of games with a touchdown, recording just 21 yards Sunday, and Philly Brown finished with just eight receiving yards.


Defensive end Joey Bosa went out with a neck injury on a Cam Newton sack that left the rookie lying flat well after the play. Bosa was initially looked at for a potential concussion, but was ruled out due to his neck.

Football weather


This time of year, several of the games are snow covered battles, but they aren’t new to former Ohio State players. Buffalo produced some impressively snowy conditions Sunday, when the Bills (Cardale Jones, Adolphus Washington) hosted the Steelers (Ryan Shazier) in a close 27-20 Pittsburgh win.

Debt owed


The greatest rivalry in sports has made way for a few additional traditions, like alumni from both Ohio State and Michigan making wagers on The Game with their teammates and rivals in the League. Following this year’s Buckeye win over that team up North, Malcolm Jenkins made Eagles teammate Brandon Graham rock a J.T. Barrett jersey and now the Buckeye Panthers are making their Wolverine teammate pay up.

Plays of the week


Carlos Hyde

The running back had one touchdown and 141 rushing yards in just the first half of Sunday’s game — surpassing all of his other games this season. Having lost all but one of their games this year, the Niners have relied heavily on ‘El Guapo’ and it’s been working in their favor.


He came close to a second trip to the endzone early in the game, but was taken down just shy of a score. The 47-yard breakaway was Hyde’s longest rush of the season. He finished the game with 200 total offensive yards — 193 rushing — and a touchdown.

Other notes

• This week’s ‘Monday Night Football’ game will only feature one Buckeye when the New England Patriots (Nate Ebner) take on the the Baltimore Ravens.
• After re-injuring his ankle last week, center Nick Mangold (Jets) was placed on IR and will miss the remainder of the season. That makes three Buckeyes sitting out the rest of the year, including Cam Heyward (Steelers) and James Laurinaitis (Saints).
• The Texans were down both of their Buckeyes with Braxton Miller and John Simon sidelined with injuries. Simon has been rehabbing 12 hours a day to get back on the field before the end of the season. Rookie receiver Michael Thomas (Saints) missed practice Wednesday with a foot injury and ended up missing Sunday’s game as well. Mike Adams (Bears) was out in Week 14 with a back injury.
• Jack Mewhort (Colts) went out Sunday against the Texans with a knee injury, that could keep him out the rest of the season.
• Tyvis Powell (Seahawks) and Jalin Marshall (Jets) were both inactive (non-injury) this week.
• Some people still won’t show Terrelle Pryor (Browns) any respect as a wide receiver, and that includes rival Pacman Jones. Pryor finished the in-state battle with only three receiving yards — and the Browns are still win-less.

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Buckeyes to hold CFP on-campus 'media day' Thursday - CBS sports.com (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes to hold CFP on-campus 'media day' Thursday
CBS sports.com (blog)
It will be the first time any Ohio State assistant coach has been interviewed since the Buckeyes' win over Michigan. Well, not counting Fickell's introductory presser as Cincinnati's head coach. Fickell will remain as OSU's co-defensive coorindator ...
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3 Ohio State Match Ups For The Buckeyes' Defense In The Fiesta BowlFactory Of Sadness
Cheer on the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Fiesta Bowl with PrimeSportScarlet and Game
Eleven Warriors -The Seattle Times
all 41 news articles »

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Buckeyes: Peanut Butter Fudge Dipped In Chocolate [Vegan, Gluten-Free] - One Green Planet
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes: Peanut Butter Fudge Dipped In Chocolate [Vegan, Gluten-Free]
One Green Planet
Buckeyes are a classic Ohioan dessert named for its resemblance to the nut of the state tree: the Ohio buckeye. It consists of peanut butter fudge dipped in chocolate, leaving some peanut butter visible. This version swaps out the traditional cream ...


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