5-star Ohio State OLB target sets commitment date
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Baron Browning sets his commitment date for Nov. 29

With 16 commits, Urban Meyer's 2017 recruiting class may be his masterpiece. Because of this, space is limited and only the best will be invited. Despite this, five-star outside linebacker Baron Browning (Kennedale, TX/ Kennedale) is one of the few players Meyer will make sure this class has room for.

While his recruitment is still somewhat up in the air, one thing we do know now is when he will make his decision. Late Monday night, Gerry Hamilton at ESPN reported that Browning will announce Nov. 29.

The former Baylor commit received a scholarship from the Buckeyes in May of last year. Since then, he has taken an unofficial visit to the Buckeye campus and the coaches have been to Kennedale to visit him as well. However, Ohio State will be competing with some of the best programs in the country for the No. 8 overall player of his class. Schools such as Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame and Oklahoma have shown plenty of interest in Browning and hometown schools Texas, Texas A&M and TCU are all in the mix as well.

The Buckeyes already have secured a commitment from one OLB in four-star Antjuan Simmons (Ann Arbor, MI / Pioneer) but the addition of Browning would be huge. Look for the Buckeyes to continue to heavily pursue Browning and if they can get him to visit for the Ohio State vs. Michigan game, Meyer will have a golden opportunity to leave an impression of him three days before he commits.

Ohio State may be targeting its next elite TE


After signing two tight ends in the 2016 recruiting class, Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes will likely wait until 2018 before they put significant time into recruiting another one. If this is in fact what Meyer plans on doing, expect the coaches to heavily target four-star TE Mustapha Muhammad (Missouri City, TX / Ridge Point).

It is still early to be able to completely judge the kids in the '18 class because they are just that, kids. Muhammad still has two seasons of high school football before he has to make a decision on where to continue his career. Despite this, Muhammad is already looked at as one of the premier players in his class, as 247Sports has him listed as the No. 5 TE and he falls just outside of the top 100 players overall, being slotted at No. 101.

The four-star has shown play-making ability already and he has received an estimated 25 scholarship offers already. Programs such as Clemson, Michigan, Texas A&M, Alabama, Florida and Notre Dame have offered Muhammad, so Ohio State will again be competing with the best of them for the 6-foot-4, 230-pound TE.

Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts.com spoke with Muhammad recently, and the TE spoke highly of both the coaching staff at Ohio State and of the way the position is utilized on the field, along with the recent success Ohio State has had in getting its TE's into the NFL. He then went on to say that he plans on releasing a list of his top 10 schools near the end of his upcoming season for Ridge Point and that he expects the Buckeyes to be included.

If Meyer locks-in on Muhammad, expect the TE to make multiple visits to the school in the coming two years. Muhammad has yet to step foot in Columbus, but Kurelic noted he is working on making the trip in November for the Ohio State vs Michigan game.

Ohio State could be in for a BOOMing week


Next week will be one of the biggest weekends for Ohio State's 2017 recruiting class. Two five-star WR's will be announcing where they will be playing in college and the Buckeyes are the favorites to land both. Both Tyjon Lindsey(Corona, CA / Centennial) and Trevon Grimes (Fort Lauderdale, FL / St. Thomas Aquinas) have been Ohio State leans for a while now, but as those who follow recruiting know, nothing is ever a sure-thing.

Lindsey is set to announce first, as he scheduled to announce his decision via Bleacher Report, Monday. The relationship between him and the Buckeyes has increased by a great deal in the last year. To even sweeten the deal, Lindsey's former QB, Tate Martell (Las Vegas, NV / Bishop Gorman) committed to Ohio State this summer. Many expect the No. 5 WR in his class to commit to the Buckeyes. Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts.com is so confident he gave it a 75% chance of happening.

If Kurelic is confident Lindsey will commit to the Buckeyes, he is almost certain when it come to Grimes. The five-star will also be committing next week as he is scheduled to announce next Wednesday, just two days after Lindsey. Grimes has been connected to Ohio State for the majority of his recruitment. While Florida seemed like it could sneak in at one point, those talks have died down recently and Ohio State seems to be the clear favorite. Kurelic gives the Buckeyes a 95% chance at landing the No. 3 WR of the class.

Urban Meyer has already established what could be the best overall recruiting class in the programs history, if everything goes as planned next week, that could become definite.

Make sure to follow Land-Grant Holy Land next week as these two announce.

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OSU_Buckguy said:

i disagree. i think there are instances of true altruism, albeit extremely rare. in my opinion, true altruism is sacrificing one's life, knowing that you will necessarily die in order to save someone else. interestingly, i think this altruism is "heightened" if the person does not believe in the afterlife or if the one to sacrifice will knowingly suffer greatly while few, if any, others know.

Click to expand...

morgan freeman has a series on religion currently. one of the episodes i watched they did a study involving believers of multiple different religions and athiests. a couple of the very interesting tests involved the test subjects reactions to religious based cultural norms and a simple test involving saying an untruth out loud for money.

in the cultural norm one, they asked the test subjects to look at pictures and then do certain things. one of the most interesting involved a wedding photo of two people they didn't know. they asked them to cut up the wedding pictures. they all strongly objected to do so and i want to say a few refused. but the one i thought was really interesting was when they asked them a list of questions then asked them to answer untruthful for money. for example they asked them their favorite color. then they were offered money to say their favorite color was a different one. all agreed to. same with favorite food and a couple of individually personal things. i want to say it was kids names or something silly like that. but across the board 100% no one was willing to lie about what type of "faith" they had including the athiests. which i found very surprising. for thousands of dollars they couldn't even get the athiests to say, "i believe in god". maybe it was just "those" athiests. but it struck me as overly odd.

i also think that there are acts of true altruism that don't result in sacrificing one's life but instead are committed virtually without thought -- that is, a reflex. otherwise, i think there is almost always recognition or expectation of some kind of benefit.

Click to expand...

you may be correct, unfortunately we can't ask them at this point. but if its a reflexive action. is there a high probability they had time to look at the situation and make the determination that their actions would likely lead to their immediate deaths and truly accepted that possible reality? obviously i have no way to determine this one way or another. but my basic suspicion is that there is a good possibility they didn't consider that as an option in most cases. but still, putting your life on the line for someone you care about (no matter how real or immediate the threat) isn't without personal gain. remember, not all forms of "gain" have an intrinsic value.

ShowMeBuck said:

just because you feel good about yourself for doing something for others doesn't mean it's the only reason you are doing it.

Click to expand...

absolutely 100% no doubt completely correct and agreed. im not in anyway saying that personal gain is the only or even primary reason for doing anything. all im saying is that no matter how little there is on the table for you "reward" wise. and i use the term 'reward" literally as loosely as one can as what you believe to be a measure of gain i might view as completely worthless. all im saying is that im not certain any action anyone ever takes is that "value" ever 0 in their eyes. in fact, you may not even consciously realize you gained anything from what you did. doesn't mean you didn't though. there are all kinds of things that occur largely on the subconscious level that dramatically effect your day to day life =D.

i don't think the men and women of the police and fire departments were after their own gratification when they headed on over to one world trade. call me overly simplistic but i just think there are real heroes who know someone has to step up and they have the balls to do it......simply for the greater good.

Click to expand...

i think this is an excellent example of my point actually. outside of an order to do so, why do you think they hauled ass to that site? is it not likely that they wanted to simply make a positive difference on any level? don't get me wrong, my sister is a member of law enforcement. i absolutely respect them for what they do, the sacrifices they make and the almost always daily amount of shit they have to put up with. however, i gotta think thats pretty close to the bottom of the list for unrewarding jobs .

Highlights: Buckeyes dominate NFL preseason week 1 - 247Sports.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Highlights: Buckeyes dominate NFL preseason week 1
247Sports.com
With Ohio State having 16 rookies, as well as all of the NFL veterans from the school in the league, it's no surprise that former Buckeye stars would grab a few highlights during week one of the preseason. But what wasn't expected was that a former OSU ...
Cardale Jones slings dimes, Michael Thomas #shhh's the competition in NFL preseason debutsLand-Grant Holy Land

all 5 news articles »

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Watch: Will it be RB-by-committee for Buckeyes? - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Watch: Will it be RB-by-committee for Buckeyes?
247Sports
Will Michael Weber or Curtis Samuel eventually emerge as Ohio State's go-to running back? Or could the Buckeyes use RB-by-committee during the 2016 season? That was the topic Bucknuts editor Dave Biddle discussed with Nick Kostos of CBSSports.com ...

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Michael Jordan -- no, really -- jumping toward key role on Ohio State O-line - ESPN (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Michael Jordan -- no, really -- jumping toward key role on Ohio State O-line
ESPN (blog)
The Buckeyes' Michael Jordan is an offensive lineman brimming with promise. So much so that he's on target to become the first true freshman to start on the Ohio State offensive line since Hall of Famer Orlando Pace in 1994. Of course, he's also 6-foot ...

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2016 season preview: No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes - ESPN
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


2016 season preview: No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes
ESPN
The Buckeyes are the least experienced team in the country, but they've had the best recruiting class in the Big Ten each of the past five years, so talent isn't an issue. OSU ranks very well in all eight position units: In particular, the LBs (10th ...
Ohio State football | Hard work begins for BuckeyesColumbus Dispatch
Ohio State football: Dontre Wilson's plan as Buckeyes return man - 'Score some touchdowns'cleveland.com
Be patient? Young Buckeyes must grow up fastMansfield News Journal
Dayton Daily News -OSU - The Lantern -247Sports
all 175 news articles »

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Ohio State Buckeyes have four walk-ons from Dayton area - MyDaytonDailyNews
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State Buckeyes have four walk-ons from Dayton area
MyDaytonDailyNews
The Meadowdale High School graduate joined the program as a walk-on running back in the fall of 2015 and plans to play for the Buckeyes for three more seasons. Huguely could have played Division II or III football but had already decided to attend Ohio ...

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Urban Meyer breaks his own rule in hiring Greg Schiano
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Normally not one to mix friends and work, Urban Meyer took a gamble by bringing Greg Schiano on as defensive coordinator.

"I think our relationship is such that I trust him that way and he trusts me. But certainly you have to think about that stuff before you decide to do something like this because work is work. We gotta win games, and he’s the boss."

-Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano, via Nicholas Piotrowicz, the Blade


Urban Meyer has steered clear of his personal coaching faux pas for most of his career, as he has avoided hiring personal friends on his coaching staff. However, that philosophy was tested when Meyer brought on former Rutgers and Tampa Bay coach Greg Schiano as defensive coordinator.

Schiano, who had been out of coaching since being fired from the Buccaneers following the 2013 season, had been seeking out a new head coaching role, but coming on as an assistant for Meyer was too good of a fit to pass up. Meyer acknowledged that both share the same "philosophical views on how to run a program and how to treat players and what to expect out of your coaching staff," which ultimately help in creating a good fit for both sides.

Meyer and Schiano both earned their first head coaching jobs--Meyer at Bowling Green and Schiano at Rutgers--in 2001. They were also the two youngest coaches in Division I-A at the time. Both managed to revitalize their respective programs, and while Schiano opted to remain at Rutgers until accepting a head coaching position in the NFL, Meyer moved onto Utah and Florida, finding great success at both, before landing at Ohio State in 2012. Now, with the departure of defensive coordinator Chris Ash for Schiano’s former role at Rutgers, Meyer was able to bring on his longtime friend as a replacement, finally merging two careers that had diverged years ago.

While friendship was one concern for Meyer, another was the fact that Schiano has not been an assistant coach in many years. In fact, this will be Schiano’s first role as an assistant since leaving the defensive coordinator role at Miami (Fl) in 2000. Still, Meyer points to former Iowa State head coach Dan McCarney, who joined Meyer’s staff at Florida with great success. And Schiano says that he understands his role in supporting the head coach and easing the burden on the boss.

"I think they should be in the Big 12. I’m saying that without making all the research necessary to really make that comment...I couldn’t be happier for that city and for that school if they do get in the Big 12."

-Urban Meyer, via David Briggs, the Blade


While Ohio State has enjoyed an exclusivity in regards to recruiting that the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Michigan, Michigan State and pretty much everyone in the state of California can only dream about, it may have some competition in the near future in the form of the University of Cincinnati joining the Big 12. Ohio State is one of just two of the nation’s most populous states (New York, the other) with just one Power-5 school. Cincinnati joining the Big 12--a powerful and revenue-generating conference in its own right--could throw off the advantage that the Buckeyes have so long enjoyed.

Still, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer is not concerned, acknowledging that Cincinnati would be a good pick up for the Big 12, and that Cincinnati could benefit. The school recently completed an $86 million renovation to its football complex, and sits in a top-50 national television market. There is also the added bonus that bringing Cincinnati into the fold would help to align the Big 12 with West Virginia, which joined the conference as a full member in 2012. And, while not on a recruiting level with Ohio State, the Bearcats have averaged roughly nine wins per season over the last decade.

Even so, Cincinnati joining the Big 12 might not affect the Buckeyes as drastically as some might suspect. The region surrounding Cincinnati has been a tough recruiting nut to crack, as Ohio State competes against the likes of Notre Dame and others for the top recruits in the area. Bringing a Big 12 competitor into the area would make the landscape more complicated, but might not necessarily shift the balance too far from Ohio State. In the same way that Notre Dame might compete with Purdue geographically, the Buckeyes may have to face off for some recruits.

Still, Ohio State’s bottom line is in its favor, bringing in roughly four times as much revenue as Cincinnati last season. Combined with the prestige of its national championships and reputation for sending players to the NFL, it is unlikely that Ohio State will lose the top spot in Ohio.

"Losing 6,531 defensive snaps and 6,575 offensive snaps to the NFL is no easy task to replace, but Ohio State continues to bring in strong recruiting classes and their roster has plenty of promising players ready to take a step forward."

-Steve Palazzolo, Pro Football Focus


While there have been no actual games played to determine the talent level of the top teams in the country, the Ohio State Buckeyes have consistently found themselves in the top-10 of most preseason polls. Despite the loss of an ample amount of talent to the NFL, Pro Football Focus’s poll cites the power of a series of strong recruiting classes in keeping pace with the high-level of talent lost in this year’s NFL Draft.

Most of the high-ranking teams in this poll have either a large amount of returning players or a high-level returning quarterback. While some teams--like Oklahoma--have both, Ohio State is relying on quarterback J.T. Barrett to anchor the offense and linebacker Raekwon McMillan to do so on the defensive side. Alongside promising young players like defensive linemen Tyquan Lewis and Sam Hubbard, the Buckeyes should be able to get through their growing pains on both sides of the ball.

Alabama leads the poll, even having lost numerous players to the NFL as well. The Crimson Tide return eight players in the front seven who played at least 180 snaps. Though they will also need to replace Jake Coker at quarterback, Alabama returns several other key positions on offense including three members of their offensive line.

Behind Alabama, Oklahoma, LSU, Clemson and Michigan round out the top-five. The Wolverines return a top-rated defense behind cornerback Jourdan Lewis and linemen Chris Wormley and Maurice Hurst. Still, the offense will have some serious work to do in the fall behind a new and, as of yet, undetermined quarterback. Florida State, Tennessee and Ole Miss sit ahead of Ohio State in the poll, with North Carolina coming in at the No. 10 spot. Besides Ohio State and Michigan, Iowa is the only other Big Ten team to crack the top-25, at the No. 20 spot.

"In the punt return game, there’s a chance to make more happen. A year ago, that was all Marshall…"

-Doug Lesmerises, Cleveland.com


Ohio State fans caught a glimpse of the potential of Dontre Wilson early on in his career at Ohio State, but due to a series of nagging injuries, the speedster from DeSoto, Texas has remained largely limited in his role for the Buckeyes in recent years, filling in mainly on special teams. This year, however, as Wilson prepares to enter his senior season at Ohio State, his role appears to be broadening to include punt returns, according to Urban Meyer, who said that Wilson will be tops for both punt returns and kick returns come this season. This new role will inevitably give Wilson the opportunity to showcase his speed. Primarily used as a kickoff returner alongside Curtis Samuel last year, Wilson was not utilized extensively, mostly because the Buckeyes were not required to return many kickoffs in 2015.

Wilson will be filling the role vacated by now-New York Jet Jalin Marshall, who finished the 2015 season ranked third in the Big Ten with an average of 13.5 yards per return, and who just electrified the Jets camp with an 80-yard return in last week’s preseason match against the Jaguars. This year could offer a similar opportunity for Wilson, whose hopes of an NFL career have been somewhat sidelined due to injury. While Marshall opted to leave Ohio State early, he went undrafted in April, but still managed to make the Jets roster and turn heads in the preseason. Wilson had previously paired with Marshall in the punt return game in 2014’s national championship season before being sidelined due to a foot injury.

Samuel will likely remain alongside Wilson in kick returns, and freshman Demario McCall will probably see some playing time as well on special teams. Samuel took a little more than half the kickoffs (nine) for an average of 23 yards per return, while Wilson took seven, averaging 23.9 yards per return.

STICK TO SPORTS

• Watch the incoming freshmen learn the Ohio State fight song
• Check out these pets who are so excited to see their owners come home
• Good news! It could be a warmer than usual winter in Ohio

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Ohio State football: Watch Buckeyes assistant Luke Fickell mic'd up at practice - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football: Watch Buckeyes assistant Luke Fickell mic'd up at practice
cleveland.com
The Buckeyes have a good starting spot with Raekwon McMillan back in the middle, but Dante Booker, Chris Worley and Jerome Baker are looking to replace Joshua Perry and Darron Lee on the outside. Get a look at how Fickell is handling those position ...
Watch: Luke Fickell mic'd up at Ohio State practice247Sports

all 3 news articles »

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A Buckeye’s Road to Rio
Garth 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

Hope you are having a great summer and that you are especially enjoying the summer sports. We at Motsag are in the midst of a re-invigoration to become a premier destination of Buckeye related sports journalism. Until we re-launch we are keeping you up to date on all the interesting football camp tidbits we come across, for current and past Buckeyes.

This week we will be adding a daily piece as a lead up to one Buckeye’s quest for gold–wrestler Buckeye Kyle Snyder. You may or may not have noticed, but Motsag has been the most prolific news outlet covering Buckeye wrestling. Not only have we reported live from B1G and NCAA tournaments (including last year’s NCAA Championship at Madison Square Garden), but we have been at every single event leading to Buckeye Kyle Snyder’s ascension to become the youngest World Wrestling Champion in US history.

We covered the 2015 US Open when Kyle eschewed competing in the Junior World Division, beating the defending Olympic Champion (London 2012) Jake Varner. We were present in July, 2015 when Kyle repeated the feat at the US Team Trials sending him to the World Championships.

We witnessed one of the colossal feats of sport as teenager Kyle Snyder out-thought, cajoled and man-handled seasoned champions to become Champion of the World. In April, 2016 we were in Iowa City to see Snyder hold back the last reach for glory by Jake Varner at the Olympic Trials.

So after breaking our arm congratulating ourselves, who better to warm you up for witnessing what could be more history–something we do not take for granted. As good as Kyle is and has proven to be, winning a gold medal is a whole new mountain to climb.

We will not be taking a break from football. We are on the case. But you should know that football and wrestling have strong links. Buckeye grid iron stars such as Luke Fickel were wrestling champs. Luke is a frequent fixture at OSU wrestling events.

Matt Finkes, another wrestling champion actually works hard helping the Ohio Regional Training Center, which supports Kyle and other Ohio State greats, such as Logan Stieber, Reece Humphrey and JD Bergman. And let’s not forget Olympic medalist hopeful and honorary Buckeye (and new OSU assistant wrestling coach) heavyweight Tervel Dlagnev who has trained for years at the Ohio Regional Training Center.

During OSU’s epic 2015 run to its first national wrestling title, one of their biggest fans was Urban Meyer who was present on the floor and the bench in the Buckeye’s B1G Championship at St. John’s Arena two weeks prior.

And then there was this old, great wrestler and occasional football dabbler, Archie Griffin.

We turned down the opportunity to report from Rio–something I will surely regret in a few years, but we will have lots of live coverage and an occasional check-in from Buckeye Wrestling Coach Tom Ryan. Stay posted.




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Should the Browns have taken Ohio State Buckeyes in every NFL Draft round? Before you say no ... - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Should the Browns have taken Ohio State Buckeyes in every NFL Draft round? Before you say no ...
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Given that quarterback-turned-receiver and Buckeye-turned-Brown Terrelle Pryor has emerged as one of the most intriguing breakouts of preseason camp, let's exmaine the idea of the Browns having more Ohio State players on the roster ...

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Heard Around the ‘Shoe – 8/15/2016
Ben van Ooyen via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Welcome to your tri-weekly look at all things Ohio State recruiting. Let’s get started!

Injuries Are No Fun:

Currently committed to the Georgia Bulldogs, Richard LeCounte is still being recruited heavily by the Buckeyes to join the 2017 class. While participating in a scrimmage last Tuesday, he got injured and had to be taken off the field on a stretcher which made everyone there and on social media very worried.



LeCounte took to twitter later on Thursday to let everyone know that he was indeed ok.



Getting injured is part of the game, but you never like to see anyone take a shot to the head as we saw there with LeCounte.

LeCounte is the #26 overall prospect in the class of 2017, and while he is likely to stay committed to the Bulldogs, he will be making an official visit to Columbus later on this year. The Buckeyes are still in the drivers seat for Jeffrey Okudah, so the visit by LeCounte is probably happening because he is good friends with some of the Buckeye players, so the free trip is nice, and to assure himself that he made the right decision by picking Georgia.

Buckeyes Looking to Add Depth:

While the Buckeyes are able to keep 85 kids on scholarship each year, the football team usually has more than 105 players on the team total. Walk-ons and preferred walk-ons make up the difference in numbers, and can provide some much needed depth if injuries arise over the season. You can also see some of these guys make big contributions to the team like a Craig Fada and Joe Burger have over the past few seasons on special teams. The Buckeyes are always looking to add quality athletes to the roster and so they have made a couple of preferred walk-on offers to Darryl Sinclair and Alex Beck, both from the state of Ohio.



Sinclair is a defensive back, and Beck is a linebacker and neither has an offer to play Division I football currently. If they accept the offer they will be guaranteed a spot on the 105 man roster for the upcoming season. Regular walk-on’s must go through try outs during camp to have a spot at making the final roster.

The Curious Case of Jamel Dean:

If you remember back to the class of 2014, the Buckeyes signed Jamel Dean to play defensive back. However, when he got to campus and the doctors got a look at him they did not medically clear him to play for the Buckeyes. He injured a knee in high school, and it was determined that he was unfit to continue playing football. He sought out a transfer and decided to head to Auburn where he sat out last year due to the NCAA mandated transfer rules. He was thought to be a possible starting cornerback this season, but another injury has sidelined him indefinitely.

http://auburn.247sports.com/Bolt/Key-defensive-player-out-indefinitely–46745223

Maybe the Ohio State medical staff was on to something?

2018 TE Recruiting:

The Buckeyes landed Jake Hausmann and Luke Farrell in 2016 to play the Tight End position for the next few years, so they determined that it wasn’t necessary to recruit one for the class of 2017. Fast forward to the class of 2018 and the Buckeyes are in on quite a few high-caliber guys from across the nation.

Jeremy Ruckert recently put out his top 13 last week, and it included the Buckeyes who he visited during Friday Night Lights. Ruckert hails from the state of New York, which has provided Curtis Samuel and recently Jahsen Wint to the Buckeye program in the past few recruiting cycles. Ruckert holds 24 offers to date, and the Buckeyes are hoping to get him back on campus and make an impression on him.


Another top Tight End target is Mustapha Muhammad from Texas. He recently spoke to 247Sports and told them that when he trims down his list Ohio State will make the cut.

“I talk to coach (Ed) Warinner pretty frequently,” Muhammad said. “Every time I talk to coach Warinner he suggests I talk to coach (Urban) Meyer too. I have his number as well. I either call coach Meyer or coach Warinner puts him on the phone if he is there.”

Muhammad is listed as the 5th ranked TE in the class of 2018, and right now has 25 offers and one early crystal ball to Texas A&M. He plans on making an official visit to Ohio State when the Buckeyes host Michigan this November.

“I talk to coach (Ed) Warinner pretty frequently,” Muhammad said. “Every time I talk to coach Warinner he suggests I talk to coach (Urban) Meyer too. I have his number as well. I either call coach Meyer or coach Warinner puts him on the phone if he is there.”



The post Heard Around the ‘Shoe – 8/15/2016 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Nike releases new training sneakers for four Big Ten schools
Sean Merriman, BTN.com web editor via Big Ten Network

Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State fans have some new Nike school-themed schools available. The Nike Train Speed 4 AMPT sneakers hit the open market today, and fans of the Wolverines, Spartans, Buckeyes and Nittany Lions can order the new, fresh looking kicks featuring the colors of their college team. The shoes were released for 14 total schools. The other school-specific shoes include: Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and USC. Check out pictures of Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State’s new sneakers below. What do you think, Big Ten fans? Tweet

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If you love writing and Ohio State, Land-Grant Holy Land needs you
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Come write for the best Buckeye site to be a part of on the Internet!

We’re just a few weeks away from college football season, and in order to continue to make this an excellent place for free Ohio State coverage, analysis and discussion, we’re looking to expand our staff.

We’re happy to talk to individuals with a variety of interests, but we’re really looking for writers who can help with editorials, particularly about Ohio State football, and/or non-revenue sports coverage. Those with other interests, like recruiting, basketball, advanced stats, or others, may be considered as well.

To be a successful contributor here, you’ll need:

• To be very comfortable using social media, especially Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram
• The ability to write or research without a ton of hand-holding or supervision
• The ability to come up with story ideas
• A passion for Ohio State athletics
• The ability to consistently meet deadlines

Writing experience is nice, but not super required. A flexible schedule, including some occasional availability on evenings or weekends is also nice, but not required. We’re looking for the best voices, not necessarily the most experienced writers.

If interested, shoot us a writing sample and your Twitter handle to [email protected]

Come help us make one of the best Ohio State sites on the web that much better.

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Cardale Jones slings dimes, Michael Thomas #shhh's the competition in NFL preseason debuts
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


NFL football is back — Well, at least preseason NFL football is back.

While the warmup games may not lend much time to watching starters on your favorite NFL team, it is a good chance for rookies to see some live reps and get some game experience. Things move a lot faster in the NFL and the hits are a lot harder, but former Ohio State standouts performed well on their first weekend in the League.

Offense


Former Buckeyes showed off on offense during Week 1 of the preseason, including Cardale Jones (once again proving why his nickname is 12-Gauge), Braxton Miller (proving he can make tough catches) and Michael Thomas (who solidifies his role as a possible starter each time he takes the field). Nick Vannett is also working his way into the depth chart in Seattle, making two catches for 22 yards in his Week 1 showing.

Cardale Jones

The young quarterback went 11 for 21 during his preseason debut, recording 162 yards and a touchdown with the team’s third-team players. He helped the team launch an attempt to come from behind against the Colts, but ultimately came up a point shy. He came away from the game with the highest quarterback rating of the Bills’ three quarterbacks.


Braxton Miller

The quarterback turned wide receiver wasn’t too flashy during his debut with the Houston Texans, but a slick sideline snag supported his position switch ahead of taking his talents to the League.


Michael Thomas

The wide out has been a favorite of quarterback Drew Brees throughout OTAs and training camp, and finally everyone could see why. Thomas made a slew of catches in his debut that made Saints’ fans glad to have the Buckeye on their roster. No doubt a starter for the team, Thomas caught four of six targets for 64 yards — and did so in spectacular, and often diving, fashion.

Offensive line


A main reason the Buckeye offense was so dominate, was thanks to the big men up front. With three new Ohio State players looking to make their marks in the NFL on the line, only two of the three rookies are expected to be on a roster come the start of the regular season.

Taylor Decker is expected to contribute as a starter right away, and his first preseason game didn’t bode well for the young players’ confidence. He drew a holding flag during the Week 1 matchup against the Buckeye-loaded Steelers and failed to stand up James Harrison letting him get to Stafford and force a fumble. The Lions haven’t sounded the alarm yet, and are hoping to see steady improvements by Decker throughout the preseason.

Despite playing Week 1, center Joel Hale only saw 13 snaps and he, along with Chase Farris, aren’t expected to make their respective team’s 53-man roster.

Defense


Some of the Buckeyes best defenders made their way to the NFL in 2016, and some have already shown signs of greatness — and surprised a few people along the way. First-round pick for the Giants, Eli Apple, gave the team a scare following a hit to his knee during their preseason game against the Dolphins — following an MRI, everything is said to be fine, with he’s said to be taking it “day by day”.

Tyvis Powell

One of the bigger surprises from the NFL Draft was Powell not being taken during the seven round event. It wasn’t long after the close of the draft that the Buckeye was fielding offers from teams across the country, before ultimately signing with the Seattle Seahawks. Not that the lively player needed anymore fire to motivate him, but the draft snub is certainly ushering him to a spot on the final roster.


Powell is expected to make the roster for his abilities on special teams — a skill position Devin Smith never seemed to perfect — and with these highlights on defense his value has definitely gone up.

Darron Lee

The first-round pick has caught the attention of his coaches during OTAs and training camp and continued to show off during the Jets’ first preseason game. Lee recorded the teams’ second sack of the game and even put up some miles on special teams -- even if that’s not exactly where he’s used to being.

“I’m pretty tired from special teams, I’m not going to lie,” Lee said, according to the team. “But according to everybody else, that’s what a rookie has to do. I have to keep running down on special teams, but still go out and make plays regardless if you’re winded. But other than that, I had a lot of fun.”

Vonn Bell

Despite being a force in training camp, Bell struggled a bit during his preseason debut, getting embarrassed on a cut by Patriots’ Julian Edelman and missing a golden chance at a interception that seemed to slip right through his hands. Hopefully, he can show the team that his efforts in practice can rollover to game day, and earn his spot on the final roster.

Joshua Perry

Continuing as one of the best guys on and off the field, Perry — unlike Bosa — made his debut for the Chargers in Week 1 and was able to force a fumble in one of several impressive plays. He spoke after the game about areas of improvement, and admitted that going against the tough Arizona run offense in Week 2 will be a challenge, but one that he’s ready to tackle (pun intended).

Adolphus Washington

The Buffalo Bills are thanking their lucky stars to have gotten Washington in the third round, especially given the production he’s had in training camp and now in preseason. He’s already expected to start for the Bills at left defensive end, where he saw extended playing time during Week 1 of the preseason, with Coach Ryan lauding his addition to the d-line rotation.

Special teams


Sometimes rookies can make a 53-man roster for their special team abilities alone. Aside, from looking good on offense, Jalin Marshall continues to shine on kick returns. He proved his worth during the Jets’ first preseason game, with an 80-yard return.


Not all Buckeyes made their debut during Week 1 of the preseason, with Ezekiel Elliott forced to delay the Cowboys’ second-coming due to a hamstring issue sustained during training camp, but is expected to get some reps during the preseason as a lead-in to a carry-heavy rookie season. Joey Bosa was also noticeably absent, but not surprisingly given the way his contract negotiations have gone with the San Diego Chargers — offset language and bonus money payout schedule has kept the Buckeye from signing his rookie deal with the team.


So far, the latest batch of Buckeyes to head to the NFL are carrying on a long tradition of excellence in the League. We’ll see where they all land once the teams announce their final 53-man rosters, but there will certainly be a bevy of Buckeye talent to root for throughout the regular season.

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Should the Browns have taken Ohio State Buckeyes in every NFL Draft round? Before you say no ... - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Should the Browns have taken Ohio State Buckeyes in every NFL Draft round? Before you say no ...
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Given that quarterback-turned-receiver and Buckeye-turned-Brown Terrelle Pryor has emerged as one of the most intriguing breakouts of preseason camp, let's exmaine the idea of the Browns having more Ohio State players on the roster ...


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Film Study: How the Buckeyes Will Replace Ezekiel Elliott's Production in 2016 - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Film Study: How the Buckeyes Will Replace Ezekiel Elliott's Production in 2016
Eleven Warriors
But although Elliott didn't bring home the Heisman like Griffin or fellow running back Eddie George, he brought an even more important trophy to Columbus, leading the Buckeyes to a national championship in 2014 and cementing his place among the all ...


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Texas star says Buckeyes will make his cut, talks OSU visit - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Texas star says Buckeyes will make his cut, talks OSU visit
247Sports
Since then the Buckeyes have continued to stay in contact with Muhammad on a regular basis. “I talk to coach (Ed) Warinner pretty frequently,” Muhammad said. “Every time I talk to coach Warinner he suggests I talk to coach (Urban) Meyer too. I have his ...
Ohio State football | Warinner will direct offense from press boxColumbus Dispatch

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Big Ten Mailbag: New spread attacks, Maryland’s CB duo & more
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

Let’s answer some mail. Are new spread attacks at Penn State, Rutgers and Maryland different? Can Maryland start 6-0? How long before Michigan is battling for national titles? I look at those queries and more. Let’s go! [ MORE: Get all of Tom Dienhart’s summer football tour coverage ] Three Big Ten East teams are installing spread offenses this year. How do the spread offenses that Penn State, Maryland and Rutgers compare to each other? – Philip McCollum Having watched all three practice, I didn’t notice a big difference between the three. I asked cohort Gerry DiNardo for his option.

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5-star Ohio State target shines in scrimmage
Charles Doss via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


A potential Buckeye sure didn’t disappoint over the weekend.

Football is back. Pro and college players aren’t the only ones gearing up for the upcoming season, so are thousands of high school athletes across the country.

Weeks away from the start of the season, schools are starting to set up scrimmages to see how their squad fares against stiff competition. On Friday, key class of 2018 Ohio State target Jaelen Gill (Westerville, OH / Westerville South) and his teammates took on the Comets of Central Crossing High School.

Proving once again that he isn’t just one of the elite prospects in the Columbus area, but the entire country, Gill put some rather eye popping numbers against the Central Crossing defense.

According to Bucknuts recruiting analyst Bill Kurelic, Gill made nearly every one of his five touches count. Accounting for around 240 total yards, and three touchdowns for the Wildcats, every one of Jaelen’s trips to pay dirt came from at least 70 yards out.


With offers from Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Tennessee, UCLA and many other stellar programs from across the country under his belt, Gill, the second all-purpose back and 23rd overall prospect in the class of 2018, per the 247Sports Composite Rankings, definitely feels to the love from the hometown Buckeyes.

“Growing up a big Buckeye fan and knowing how they feel about me and everything. I like them a lot. They are a school that is high on my list. I talk to them probably twice a week. I talk to coach Meyer, Fickell, Alford all of them,” the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder stated to Kurelic.

Although some see Gill as a Buckeye lean at the moment, he isn’t ready to shut down his recruitment in the near future.

“Definitely no time soon. But I would like to make a decision maybe right before my senior season so I can focus on my team and school,” Gill said.

Wilkes names top 5


When you recruit at a high level, such as Ohio State, you definitely win some, and lose some. With all the hype surrounding the new look basketball squad, OSU received some disappointing news over the weekend.

On Sunday afternoon one of the remaining targets left on Thad Matta and the Buckeyes’ class of 2017 big board announced Ohio State is no longer in consideration for his college commitment.

Naming a top five of Indiana, Illinois, UConn, UCLA and Xavier, the Buckeyes aren’t the only school that five-star small forward Kris Wilkes (Indianapolis, IN/North Central) cut from his perspective college list. Recently releasing a top 11, Arizona, North Carolina, Butler, Washington and arch rival Michigan joined the Buckeyes on the outside looking in for the 6-foot-7 Wilkes.


With Wilkes no longer in play for the Buckeyes, Matta and his crew of assistant coaches will turn their attention fully to standout senior recruits such as Troy Brown (Las Vegas,NV / Centennital), and Kyle Young (Massillon, OH / Jackson) to add to the 2017 fold alongside four-star big man Kaleb Wesson (Westerville, OH / Westerville South).

Quick Hits

• Ohio State has offered class of 2017 cornerback Darryl Sinclair (Solon, OH / Solon) a preferred walk-on opportunity with the football squad. Bowling Green, and Fordham are among the reported programs that the Buckeyes join in the pursuit of the 5-foot-11, 165-pound, All-Conference selection.
• Per Michael Clark of Scout.com, four-star 2017 linebacker Ellis Brooks (Richmond, VA / Benedictine), a former Duke pledge, hopes to visit Ohio State, and Michigan soon.

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TFF: Buckeyes lose two lineman to season-ending injuries - ABC6OnYourSide.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


TFF: Buckeyes lose two lineman to season-ending injuries
ABC6OnYourSide.com
Meyer said the Buckeyes continue to bring true freshman defensive end Nick Bosa along slowly. Bosa, the younger brother of NFL draftee Joey Bosa, has not yet competed in a scrimmage. As for defensive back Gareon Conley, Meyer said "he's an NFL corner ...
Ohio State DE Darius Slade, OL Malcolm Pridgeon out long term with injuriesLand-Grant Holy Land
OSU offensive, defensive lines hurt by injuries - The BladeToledo Blade
Instant Analysis: Pridgeon and Slade Injuries | tBBCThe Buckeye Battle Cry
Campus Sports
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Love Authy. Also, I agree that 30 days is harsh. It's core code within Xenforo so I don't have control, but I'm definitely going to go squawk to the devs.

Ohio State football | Important week of practice on tap, Meyer says ... - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football | Important week of practice on tap, Meyer says ...
Columbus Dispatch
Urban Meyer laid it on the line Sunday in terms of how critical the next week of practice is for his 2016 Ohio State football team. “This will make or break us this ...

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