Ohio State Football: Pat Elflein, Cam Johnston Could End Buckeyes Eight Year Awards Drought - Scout
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Ohio State Football: Pat Elflein, Cam Johnston Could End Buckeyes Eight Year Awards Drought
Scout
In 2008, Malcolm Jenkins took home the Jim Thorpe Award as the nations best defensive back, but since then the Buckeyes have gone through an eight year drought in terms of major individual accolades. This season however, a pair of Buckeye seniors are ...
Elflein up for major awards, still beaming from Michigan win247Sports

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18 former Ohio State players have made the 2017 NFL Pro Bowl ballot
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Five Buckeyes earned the honor in their rookie season.

With so many former Ohio State players earning first round — and late round — draft picks in 2016, it’s no surprise that the incoming rookies took the NFL by storm. Not only have these new players contributed, but they’ve excelled and broken records along the way. And it’s not just rookies, some Buckeye legends who are now considered veterans are still showing the young guys a thing or two.

Of the 38 Buckeyes on active rosters — not including those on IR (Cam Heyward and James Laurinaitis) — 18 made the ballot for the 2017 Pro Bowl. Of those, five earned the nod their rookie season.

Rookies

• Joey Bosa (Chargers), Taylor Decker (Lions), Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys), Michael Thomas (Saints) and Jalin Marshall (Jets).

This young group of potential Pro-Bowlers is anything but surprising. Each of them was expected to be NFL-ready upon leaving Ohio State -- three of the five being first round draft picks -- and have already proven just how valuable they can be at the next level.

Joey Bosa’s preseason contract dispute is a thing of the past as Chargers fans and teammates see the type of talent they got with their No. 3 overall pick. In eight games, the rookie defensive end already has 5.5 sacks, 9 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. It wouldn’t be a big surprise if Bosa finished his rookie season with some individual awards as well — maybe even Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Things have been a bit more up and down for Taylor Decker in his rookie season on the Lions offensive line, but he has been able to adjust along the way. He was put at left tackle almost immediately after the draft, and has slowly grown into the position, learning to better protect quarterback Matt Stafford’s blind side. With more snaps and more games under his belt, the former SLOB is regaining his confidence.

Ezekiel Elliott is currently crushing rookie season franchise and league records with weeks still to play. The running back leads the NFL with 1,285 rushing yards and ranks first in rushing attempts (263) and second in rushing touchdowns (12). The NFL announced Monday that Elliott leads the entire league with 681,361 votes — followed by Dak Prescott (607,621 votes) and Tom Brady (519,210 votes) in third. Not only is he a shoe-in for the Pro Bowl — although likely to miss it with a postseason run that could take Dallas to the Super Bowl — but he’s also vying for at least one individual award.

Another player competing for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award is wideout Michael Thomas. He may not have quite the stats that Zeke does -- few do — but he leads NFL rookies with 69 receptions, 831 yards and seven touchdown catches. Meaning the Buckeyes tout the leading NFL rookie in both rushing and receiving. Thomas has also outperformed all five of the receivers drafted ahead of him in 2016 — who have 1,394 yards combined.

Jalin Marshall earned his place on the Pro Bowl ballot as a return specialist -- which is ironic since he was stripped of his special team duties in Week 11 to focus on offense. This move is also surprising for any Buckeye who remembers — and has nightmares about -- all those dropped returns during his Ohio State days.

Veterans

• Alex Boone (Vikings), Kurt Coleman, Ted Ginn Jr., Andrew Norwell (Panthers), Johnathan Hankins (Giants), Carlos Hyde (49ers), Malcolm Jenkins (Eagles), Nick Mangold (Jets), Jack Mewhort (Colts), Mike Nugent (Bengals), Terrelle Pryor (Browns), John Simon (Texans), and Ryan Shazier (Steelers).

Many of the Buckeye veterans named to the Pro Bowl ballot are some of the most celebrated Ohio State football alumni. Seeing names like Hyde and Shazier would surprise few from the state of Ohio, but others have either been having questionable seasons or are stepping into brand new territory.

Alex Boone was shuffled around to a few teams before landing in Minnesota in 2016. The guard has been moved all over the line this season with injuries affecting both him and teammates, but he’s been helpful wherever he plays. Even if he didn’t earn the spot with his talent, his unwavering ability to ‘tell it like it is’ makes him a fan favorite.

The Panthers are one of the most Buckeye-loaded teams in the NFL and three of those could be headed to the Pro Bowl. Ted Ginn Jr. finally scored his first touchdown of the season in Week 11, and followed that up with two more in as many game — including the longest touchdown reception of his career (88 yards) in Week 12. Safety Kurt Coleman has been much more effective in Carolina, stacking up 20 tackles, a forced fumble and interception in just two games, before being sidelined with a concussion. Left guard Andrew Norwell is the only player on the line to still be in the position he started the season, but his touch of consistency was enough to make the 2017 Pro Bowl ballot.

Johnathan Hankins is already in his fourth season with the Giants and shows no signs of slowing down. The defensive tackle has 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble — that was scooped up by teammate Jason Pierre-Paul for a touchdown -- and a blocked kick, all in addition to his 34 total tackles this season.

The third year running back started the 2016 season off strong with six touchdowns in the first five weeks of play. Unfortunately, Carlos Hyde was then sidelined with a shoulder injury until Week 10. In his 10 games this season, he’s rushed for 686 yards in addition to 126 receiving yards for seven total touchdowns.

Malcolm Jenkins has been the leader of the Eagles defense and plays just about every position in the secondary. He plays with more energy and passion than a host of rookies — even in his 8th season — and if his gloves were covered in Stick ‘Em he’d be on his way to double digit interceptions this season. Jenkins has recorded 60 total tackles, six passes defended, one sack and a Pick-6 so far this year.

The Jets’ longtime center sat out for a considerable stretch this season with an ankle injury -- even wearing a boot for a few weeks -- but that didn’t stop him from making the Pro Bowl ballot. Since he was drafted in 2006, Nick Mangold has been voted to seven (7!) Pro Bowls, making the trip every year from 2008-11 and 2013-15.

Colts starting left guard Jack Mewhort missed the first games of the season with a knee issue, followed by a tricep injury that kept him sidelined mid-year. He was able to return after the bye week, relieving immense pressure from a mismatched and injured offensive line. He was healthy enough by Thanksgiving to take 100% of the team’s 63 offensive snaps against the Steelers.

Kicker Mike Nugent making the Pro Bowl might be the biggest stretch in this entire list. After a very successful career, 2016 and the new kicking rules have not been kind to the Ohio State legend. This season he’s missed five field goals and five point after attempts — a far cry from his near perfect record in scarlet and grey. This might be Nugent’s last chance for the Pro Bowl, as it seems doubtful the Bengals will sign him to a new deal in the offseason.

This is the first nomination for Terrelle Pryor the wide receiver, and it’s not all that surprising given the kind of year he’s having despite the 0-12 situation in Cleveland. The former quarterback is on track to finish the season with over 1,000 receiving yards and already has four receiving and one rushing touchdown. He’s also one of the only non-rookie offensive threat the Browns have thanks to his 6’4, 223-pound frame.

When Texans fans learned that J.J. Watt would be out for the season, they had to look toward John Simon, who stepped up in ways that might have earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl. He was forced to sit out the past two weeks due to a chest injury, but is expected to be back by the end of the season. Sitting at 50 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble and two passes defended, the Buckeye is already having a career year.

The linebacker has been and continues to be one of the best at his position — and possibly one of the best defenders — in the the league. Ryan Shazier missed several games in October due to a lingering knee issue, but is still having a year that defies expectations. In just nine games this year, he’s amassed 56 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, seven stuffs for 31 yards, five passes defended, a forced fumble and an interception.

Still a chance

He might not have made the official ballot, but with fans and social media making up a third of the voting, Nate Ebner still has a chance to accomplish one more dream. Just months after making a run at Olympic gold in rugby sevens, he’s back with the Patriots and currently leads the NFL in special teams tackles. With so many accomplishments already under his belt, he’s hoping for a social media push to get him to the Pro Bowl.


Fan voting will continue through Tuesday, December 13, using the online ballot or via social media by using #ProBowlVote and the player’s first and last name on Twitter and Instagram. On Facebook, fans can comment on any official Pro Bowl Vote post by the NFL or a club.

Players will be announced live on the NFL Network on Tuesday, December 20. And the the game will be played on Sunday, January 29, 2017 from Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

The 2017 Pro Bowl will mark the return of the traditional AFC vs. NFC format following three years using an "unconferenced" structure.

Vote for your favorite Buckeye here

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The key to the Ohio State-Clemson game? Pressure.
Colton Denning via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Our podcast takes a closer look at the Xs and Os of the game.

One of the biggest question marks for Ohio State coming into the season was its new-look offensive line. With three new starters —including true freshman Michael Jordan— could the Buckeyes front provide the consistency that’s helped define Ohio State’s offense since Urban Meyer’s arrival?

To start with the good, the Buckeyes are proficient as ever on the ground. They rank 2nd nationally in Rushing S&P+, pushing around defensive lines (1st in Adjusted Line Yards and Power Success Rate), giving runners room to work with (2nd in Opportunity Rate), while keeping defenders out of the backfield (3rd in Stuff Rate). Basically, they’ve done everything on the ground you’ve come to expect from each previous iteration of ‘The Slobs.’ The same can’t be said for their work in pass protection.

The group ranks a less than stellar 79th in adjusted sack rate, and against the three best defenses they played this season —Wisconsin, Penn State, and Michigan— gave up a combined 16 sacks. That type of play probably won’t cut it against a Clemson defense that is very good at getting to the quarterback.

On this week’s Hangout in the Holy land, Matt Brown and Colton Denning discuss why keeping Clemson’s talented front seven away from J.T. Barrett holds the key to Ohio State’s offensive success in this year’s Fiesta Bowl, as well as other topics, including:

• Their thoughts on Championship Weekend, the committee’s playoff picks, and why they think the right four teams are in
• Whether Penn State fans were right to be upset about being left out
• Why generating pressure on Deshaun Watson will be just as important as keeping Barrett upright
• Going over each bowl game involving a Big Ten team, and whether or not you should watch (Hint: Don’t watch Iowa-Florida)

You can find the podcast on our iTunes page, and we strongly encourage reviews, comments, criticisms, etc. to help us deliver the best possible audio product. The more we hear from you, the better we can make it. We’re also on Soundcloud, the SB Nation podcast page, and you can subscribe via RSS on your Android and Windows Phone devices here.

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Ex-Wolverine Durkin says Buckeyes replay was too close to call - The Detroit News
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Ex-Wolverine Durkin says Buckeyes replay was too close to call
The Detroit News
The Buckeyes got the first down and scored the winning touchdown on the next play. Durkin toed the line. “Come on, man,” Durkin said Wednesday when asked for his opinion, drawing laughter. “We were playing at the same time, I've seen the replay, ...

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Texas or SMU according to 24/7.. Certainly not coming to Ohio State maybe Oklahoma

Ended up at Oklahoma

Ohio State DC Luke Fickell reportedly a candidate for Cincinnati head coaching gig
Luke Zimmermann via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The former Ohio State head coach is said to be ready to be a HC again.

Luke Fickell’s lone year as the head coach at his alma mater lives in a bit of an infamous state.

After being the unfortunate one to have to succeed Jim Tressel on virtually no notice, attempt to keep that coming winter’s recruiting class together with duct tape, and try to win some football games in the process, Fickell exited his short tenure at Ohio State with a 6-7 record and some soul searching to do.

Enter: Urban Meyer.

After being given a second chance as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator — along with getting the chance to collaborate with some great defensive minds in their own right in Chris Ash and Greg Schiano — Fickell’s gone through a bit of coaching rehabilitation and is suddenly in the mix for head coaching gigs once again.

According to ABC 6’s Clay Hall, Fickell’s under consideration for the vacant Cincinnati head coaching gig:


Dan Dakich, a friend of Urban and Shelley Meyer, tweeted something Tuesday evening that while dismissed by many, may actually have been sourced (or based on sourced) intel:


Dakich coached at Bowling Green at the same time Meyer did.

While Ohio State cornerbacks/special teams coach Kerry Coombs is practically Mr. Cincinnati (he was a long time successful high school coach there and previously coached at UC), it seems his star might not be quite as bright in the Queen City as some wishing him well may have thought it was.

You have to wonder, though, would Coombs have a chance to join Fickell, potentially as his defensive coordinator? His son remains on staff with the Cincinnati Bengals and he still has grandchildren there.

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BH: What's irking Urb? | Fickle about Fickell - 247Sports
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BH: What's irking Urb? | Fickle about Fickell
247Sports
The Buckeyes hosted their first official Bowl practice on Tuesday. Urban Meyer told the media afterwards there was a specific group of things needing improvement. We spoke to a source close to the team to find out just exactly what those "specific ...

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After an embarrassing loss, Ohio State basketball has difficult questions to answer
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


And they’re running out of time.

I double-checked this morning, but it’s true. It really happened.

A supposedly good Ohio State basketball team lost, at home, to Florida Atlantic.

Basketball seasons are long, and good basketball teams often lose games they shouldn’t, but let’s not sugarcoat this: This was a horrible loss for Ohio State. The Owls entered the game ranked 240 by KenPom, given just a 3% chance of a win. They had already lost to sterling programs like Texas State, SIU-Edwardsville, and Tennessee Martin. They’re not a good basketball team, at least not right now.

This is unquestionably the worst loss of the Thad Matta era at Ohio State, worse than losses to Texas-Arlington and Louisiana Tech last year. In fact, it’s one of the very worst losses from Ohio State basketball, period, in my lifetime. Maybe the season-opening loss to San Fransisco in 2003? A blowout loss to South Florida in 1997? A loss to a BYU team that won nine games that same season? It’s been a long time.

But a bad loss, even a really bad loss, isn’t the end of the world in a vacuum. Indiana loses to Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. Michigan once lost to Eastern Michigan and NJIT. You take the jokes on Twitter and the RPI hit, and you move on.

The trouble is, this loss isn’t in a vacuum for Ohio State. In many ways, it was a microcosm of what has been ailing this team for several seasons. And time may be running out to fix it.

Turnovers have killed Ohio State’s ability to create a consistent, efficient offense. And while they avoided too many of them during the game, the Buckeyes had chances to win this game in regulation and in OT. They failed to get a single shot off, turning the ball over both times.

The Buckeyes have been one of the worst free throw shooting teams in the country, and it isn’t just because their bigs are getting hacked. Even on a day when they shot relatively well from the stripe, they still left five points on the board at the line.

And in what has been an issue for more than just this season, the Buckeyes played to the level of their opponent. Sure, Ohio State played one of their best games in over year against Virginia, taking one of the best teams in the country, on the road, to the wire. But they also looked listless against Navy, beat North Carolina Central by only single digits, and battled nearly the entire game against Farleigh Dickenson. The Buckeyes lost to UT-Arlington, Louisiana Tech, and a not-up-to-usual-standards Memphis team last season, keeping them out of the NCAAs.

It’s that last trend that’s perhaps the most troubling. Losses to so-so teams last year could have been forgiven, given how young the Buckeyes were. But Ohio State isn’t that young of a team anymore. Marc Loving is a senior. Trevor Thompson is a redshirt junior. Basically everybody on this team besides Micah Potter is a returning starter. If they haven’t developed the ability to overcome adversity, if they haven’t figured out how to become consistent, when is it going to happen?

You can have a bad season. You can have two bad seasons, if you’re able to sell fans on an exciting future. But this is an experienced, vet-heavy squad for the Buckeyes, and they’re still making many of the same mistakes with turnovers, with defensive intensity, with free throw shooting, that they’ve been making. And it’s taking a toll on Ohio State fans.

Any quick glance at the TV during this early season games shows an awful lot of empty seats at Value City Arena, and it isn’t just because they’re playing a FAU type team. You only need to do a quick search on Twitter, or check the Facebook comments, or ask the Ohio State basketball fan in your life that has the good sense to stay off social media. Are they excited about this basketball team? Do they think it is going in the right direction?

There aren’t program-changing recruits on the horizon, at least not on paper. Ohio State’s highest ranked recruit from the last recruiting class, Derek Funderburk, is redshirting. The bulk of Ohio State’s last huge recruiting class has transferred, sometimes multiple times. The bulk of Ohio State’s last big recruiting class, the 2011 class that featured Amir Williams, LaQuinton Ross and Sam Thompson, also failed to live up to expectations.

Ohio State can still reach some of those high goals for this season, and restore some confidence, energy and momentum to the basketball program. They have two huge matchups coming up against UConn and UCLA, and even salvaging a split before Big Ten play will put them in a position to still contend for an NCAA bid. They’ll have plenty of chances to repair their damaged profile in conference play.

But if the team fails to make the NCAAs, or pick up a few big wins in Big Ten play, you’re looking at perhaps three big recruiting classes in a row that failed to achieve their promise. You’re looking at four full seasons since the Buckeyes made the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament, or were especially relevant nationally. And you’re already starting to see that those high four-stars aren’t coming to Columbus quite as often as they used to.

This is not a fire Thad Matta column. I’m not at that point yet, even though I know a lot of other Ohio State fans are. But the Buckeyes need to stop making these same mistakes and start taking a step forward towards the vision of this program. And if they can’t, there’s going to be some difficult questions to answer for Ohio State basketball.

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Ohio State Buckeyes College Football Playoffs Gear 2016 - Heavy.com
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Ohio State Buckeyes College Football Playoffs Gear 2016
Heavy.com
The Buckeyes have the No. 3 seed in the 2016 College Football Playoff and will face second-seeded Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Eve. And now you can get the latest Ohio State CFP and Fiesta Bowl gear thanks to online sports apparel retailers ...

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Malik Hooker, Pat Elflein named to SB Nation’s 2016 College Football All-America Team
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Another season in the books, and now it’s time for postseason awards.

With the regular season over, postseason accolades are starting to roll in for several Ohio State players. SB Nation’s 2016 College Football All-America Team was announced Wednesday, and it included Ohio State center Pat Elflein and Pick-6 machine, safety Malik Hooker. The Buckeyes -- and their rival -- also won Game of the Year for The Game, and Harbaugh’s hilarious broken headset was named GIF of the Year.

Elflein was the only draft-eligible lineman to stay at Ohio State his senior season, and with that came a position shift from right guard to center. As one half of the most experienced duo on the offense, the center has played a major role in the team advancing to the College Football Playoff, along with J.T. Barrett.

One of the more exciting players to watch on Ohio State’s defense is safety Malik Hooker, who is No. 1 in Pick-6s (3) in the country and No. 2 among safeties in interceptions (6). The red-shirt sophomore will be a big contributor in the playoff, especially with Deshaun Watson and his big play ability starting for Clemson.

Michigan vs. Ohio State was the biggest game of the year for a number of reasons and they all helped earn this rivalry the honor of SBNation’s Game of the Year. Not only was it a rivalry game, but it pitted the No. 2 and No. 3 teams against each other for almost a guaranteed spot in the CFP. This game had it all, including a double overtime finish and a GIF of Harbaugh’s broken headset that will live on in infamy — oh, and best of all, a Buckeye victory.


Award season is just getting started and this year’s group of Buckeyes is bound to walk away with a lot of hardware and accolades when it’s all said and done. This is just the beginning.

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USF is reportedly interested in Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano for head coach
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Ducks went in a different direction, but that might open another opportunity for Ohio State’s Schiano.

Earlier, it was reported that Ohio State DC Greg Schiano was a major candidate for Oregon’s head coaching job.

The Ducks have gone in a different direction, hiring USF head coach Willie Taggart instead. But one door closing means another door opens, as now the USF Bulls will need a new head coach, and according to one of the most plugged-in reporters in college football, Greg Schiano will be a candidate for that gig too.


On paper, this would make a lot more sense for Schiano than Oregon. Prior to coming to Columbus, Schiano was the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and was the defensive coordinator at Miami (FL). He also recruited Florida, including the Tampa Bay area, while working as the head coach of Rutgers.

He’s been exceptionally successful at Ohio State this season, helping launch a fearsome secondary that helped the Buckeyes make the College Football Playoff, despite losing many big names to the NFL last season.

Schiano won’t be the only name on this list, of course. Our friends at SBNation.com report that Lane Kiffin will be the top target.

Between Kiffin, Charlie Strong and Schiano, the Bulls will have plenty of options for a quality coach. And given their recent recruiting, it should be an attractive opportunity as well. Whoever steps in to take this job will be in a position to win now, and even compete for the G5 auto-bid to a New Year’s Six bowl.

Schiano almost certainly isn’t going to stay at Ohio State for a long time. Will he be a one and done? It’s possible.

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Morning Roundup: Buckeyes have world's most-devoted college football fanbase | LeBron won't stay at Trump-branded ... - Columbus Business First
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Morning Roundup: Buckeyes have world's most-devoted college football fanbase | LeBron won't stay at Trump-branded ...
Columbus Business First
The Ohio State Buckeyes and LeBron James are in the top 10 in a new ranking of the most devoted fanbases in the world. Fansided examined the fandoms of everything from sports teams to pop culture, from celebrities to brands, Cleveland.com reports.


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Ohio State misses out on 5-star OT
Austin Kemp via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


On a better note: the Buckeyes seem to be on great terms with a 5-star RB.

In what didn’t come as a surprise to many, five-star offensive tackle Trey Smith (Jackson, TN / University School Of Jackson) committed to Tennessee. Smith was considered a Tennessee lean throughout his recruitment, but the Buckeyes made a late push after his official visit to Columbus, Ohio in late November reportedly went extremely well. Coach Greg Studrawa followed up with an in-home visit and Urban Meyer was at his school on Monday for one last effort. At the end of the day, it was too little, too late for the Buckeyes – and they can bank that scholarship for another player in an already loaded 2017 haul.


Who might that player be? With the Smith ship sailed, Ohio State could turn to in-state offensive lineman Thayer Munford. Though not as nationally recognized as Smith, Munford holds 16 total offers of his own, but Ohio State is not on the list. The four-star prospect is adamant about becoming a Buckeye, but the stars have not yet aligned. With Jake Moretti decommitting last month, one would think Ohio State would bring in another offensive lineman – which would give them three total this cycle. We will more than likely not find out if Munford will be in this class until mid to late January as Ohio State is sure to expand their search nationally.

However, if the Buckeyes do offer, Munford would likely jump into this class. Pittsburgh and Kentucky are the other two programs heavily involved with Munford at this point.

An update on the future ground game


Now, to the running back position. J.K. Dobbins (La Grange, TX /La Grange) is saying all the right things and appearing 100 percent solid to Ohio State. Recently on Twitter, Dobbins has retweeted and tweeted about the Buckeyes and thanking the OSU coaching staff for coming down to visit with him.


Since the Tweet with Meyer and running back coach Tony Alford, Dobbins has taken to the social media world to retweet the Buckeyes being in the College Football Playoff, as well as a tweet from Alford.


With Dobbins appearing to be in favor of OSU, it turns the attention to five-star target Cam Akers. Akers was in Columbus for the Michigan game and has been on campus multiple times over the past year. Highly acclaimed recruiting writer Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports recently wrote that he thinks Akers’ final three consist of LSU, Florida State and Ole Miss. If this is indeed true, it’s not totally shocking that a highly touted prospect from the South decided to stay at a program close to home.


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Ohio State's shocking loss to Florida Atlantic leaves questions about Buckeyes - Columbus Dispatch (blog)
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Ohio State's shocking loss to Florida Atlantic leaves questions about Buckeyes
Columbus Dispatch (blog)
Cupcakes aren't supposed to taste like vermin on a moldy bun, but tell that to the Ohio State basketball team. On this morning after, the Buckeyes probably need a jar of antacid the size of Brutus' head after somehow losing to the lowly Florida ...
Ohio State football: Who will be the Buckeyes' next real Heisman Trophy candidate?cleveland.com
Buckeyes collapse late to fall in OTBuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)
Men's basketball: Late comeback falls short for Ohio State, Buckeyes lose 79-77 in overtime to Florida AtlanticOSU - The Lantern
Land-Grant Holy Land -247Sports -Xenia Gazette
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Ohio State football | Buckeyes wary of potent Clemson offense - Columbus Dispatch
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Ohio State football | Buckeyes wary of potent Clemson offense
Columbus Dispatch
Sam Hubbard flipped back and forth between the Big Ten and Atlantic Coast Conference championship games on Saturday night, with a critical eye on Clemson in the ACC. “I had a feeling that was who we were going to play,” the Ohio State defensive end ...
Sequel? Urban Meyer has another young team but knows way around CFPESPN (blog)
'Why the Buckeyes can win it': JT Barrett featured on Sports Illustrated cover10TV
No, Ohio State's 'brand' isn't why the Buckeyes made the College Football PlayoffLandof10.com
AthlonSports.com -Toledo Blade
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Video: FAU downs Buckeyes in last second - NBCSports.com
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Video: FAU downs Buckeyes in last second
NBCSports.com
Ohio State entered Tuesday night as winners of seven of eight, with a two-point loss to then-No. 6 Virginia as the only blemish on their record. That resume just added a pretty ugly bullet point. The Buckeyes dropped a home game to Florida Atlantic, 79 ...

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Ohio State Buckeyes 2016 Team Awards - AthlonSports.com
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Ohio State Buckeyes 2016 Team Awards
AthlonSports.com
Despite a three-point loss at Penn State on Oct. 22 that denied Ohio State the Big Ten East Division, Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer was able to keep his coaches and players focused on reaching the College Football Playoff. Ranked third heading into a ...
Buckeyes, Wolverines top All-Big 10Beloit Daily News
Ohio State football | Most Big Ten coaches in poll left Penn State out of top fourColumbus Dispatch
Ohio State football: Live updates from Urban Meyer after Buckeyes make College Football Playoffcleveland.com
MyDaytonDailyNews -ESPN (blog) -Dallas News (blog)
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Ohio State basketball: Everything Thad Matta said after Buckeyes loss to Florida Atlantic - cleveland.com
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Ohio State basketball: Everything Thad Matta said after Buckeyes loss to Florida Atlantic
cleveland.com
Matta: "We were 1-for-11 to start the game, and had some good looks. We let everything affect us. They outplayed us. When things happen, we've gotta be a little bit tougher. They bank a 3 in and cut it to five? Who cares? We didn't make them guard us ...


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Ohio State football | Jabrill Peppers has Raekwon McMillan's Heisman vote - Columbus Dispatch
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Ohio State football | Jabrill Peppers has Raekwon McMillan's Heisman vote
Columbus Dispatch
The Buckeyes played against three of the finalists, including quarterback Baker Mayfield and receiver Dede Westbrook of Oklahoma, and will go against a fourth, Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31. “I think I've played ...

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Sequel? Urban Meyer has another young team but knows way around CFP - ESPN (blog)
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Sequel? Urban Meyer has another young team but knows way around CFP
ESPN (blog)
All that inexperience certainly didn't do much to slow down the juggernaut Urban Meyer has built during the regular season. And that's exactly what makes the No. 3 Buckeyes so dangerous heading into the playoff as they report to their second training ...
The Wake-Up Call: Buckeyes need to 'play like our hair is on fire,' winter is coming and moreLandof10.com
How to go see the Buckeyes play in the Fiesta BowlColumbus Dispatch
Ohio State Buckeyes 2016 Team AwardsAthlonSports.com
Toledo Blade -247Sports
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Buckeyes Stunned In OT By Florida Atlantic - Scarlet and Game
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Buckeyes Stunned In OT By Florida Atlantic
Scarlet and Game
Trevor Thompson's two free throws at the end of regulation tied the game up at 71, temporarily delaying an embarrassing loss for the Buckeyes at home. Florida Atlantic's Nick Rutherford hit a tough jumper with a second left in overtime to give the Owls ...

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Florida Atlantic upsets Ohio State, 79-77, in overtime
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network

Adonis Filer notched a season-high 23 points and Florida Atlantic handed Ohio State their first home loss of the season, 79-77 in overtime on Tuesday night.

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Ohio State vs. Florida Atlantic 2016 final score: Buckeyes upset by the Owls, 79-77, in OT
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


If you keep playing down to your level of competition, eventually, you’re going to lose.

Playing down to inferior competition is embarrassing. You know what’s worse? Losing to it.

That’s what happened to Ohio State, as the team shot 4-20 from downtown, gave up nine threes, and struggled mightily with FAU, eventually losing in overtime, 79-77. KenPom gave the Buckeyes a 97% chance to win, but hey, that’s why you play these games.

The Buckeyes had a chance to win the game in regulation, but failed to get a shot off with six seconds left as JaQuan Lyle lost the ball while driving to the basket.

The teams traded baskets all during overtime, with the game tied at 77 with 21 seconds left. Marc Loving mishandled a pass, giving the Owls the final possession, which they converted.

Buckeye fans hoping for a fast start after watching Ohio State struggle in the first half against woeful Fairleigh Dickinson would be disappointed again.

The Buckeyes opened the game shooting 1-9, while also letting the Owls get multiple open looks from three, a point of emphasis for their offense, as FAU took an early eight point lead. Ohio State quickly battled back, but was unable to gain any distance, thanks to timely Owl three-balls and Ohio State’s inability to finish near the basket. The Buckeyes shot only 36.7% in the first half, and lead 32-31.

The two teams continued to trade baskets into the second half, with Ohio State nursing a tiny 41-40 lead with 15:32 left in the game. It looked like the Buckeyes would finally blow the game open, as they started to finally utilize their size advantage, pushing inside for higher percentage shots. But the Owls charged back on a 19-4 run, thanks to the Buckeyes settling for jacking up threes and with the Owls hitting a few tough shots. FAU lead 66-62 with four minutes left, and despite an Ohio State rally, it wasn’t enough.

Ohio State was putrid from downtown, and really, all over the court.

JaQuan Lyle was mostly very good, dropping ten points, seven boards and nine dimes. Five Buckeyes finished with at least ten points. But his teammates struggled, as nobody else scored more than 16. That player was Trevor Thompson, who fouled out in overtime.

Adonis Filer lead all scorers, with his 23 points for the Owls. Frank Booker added 15, as the Owls shot 43% from the floor.

Three things we learned:

1. Ohio State continues to play down to their level of competition. The good news for Ohio State fans is that there’s really only one more true cupcake left on this schedule, when Youngstown State comes to town. But FAU was another example of the Buckeyes failing to put away a team where they had an overwhelming talent advantage. FAU was picked to finish near the bottom of Conference USA, and had already lost to teams like Texas State and Hawaii, but thanks to Ohio State defensive lapses and a failure to match any sense of intensity, they were able to get a massive upset. The Buckeyes now really need to beat either UConn or UCLA, or this game will be an albatross around Ohio State’s RPI.
2. Ohio State is a better team with Keita Bates-Diop. KBD missed the last several games as he recovered from an ankle sprain, and came off the bench against the Owls, but one could already see what he brings to the table, even in limited minutes, against inferior competition. KBD added five points in the first half, and finished with 10 on the night, as his length caused problems for FAU on offense. When he’s healthy and engaged, KBD provides floor spacing for Ohio State, the ability to defend multiple positions, and high upside that other players don’t have. They’ll need that more and more as they get later into the season.
3. Look. Ohio State just lost in OT against Florida Atlantic. Let’s just agree to not talk about this game ever again.

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Dotting the 'Eyes: Trey Smith picks the Vols, Florida State making a play in Texas, Shaun Wade update and more - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


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via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


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