Round One Recap: Buckeye WR’s go back-to-back
Shane Bailey via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



Ohio State had a successful first round of the NFL Draft.

It was quite the spectacle on Thursday night of the NFL Draft, as Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave showed up on the red carpet dressed like they were about to be starring in a buddy cop movie. The two close friends no doubt spoke about this for many years while in Columbus, but I doubt either of them thought they would be drafted so close together — much less back to back. They had such a great chemistry with Zone 6 for the Buckeyes, so I was glad to see the two teammates get to share in one last moment together before their lives were forever changed.


When I first saw the duo strolling on to the red carpet, I will admit I got a little bit nostalgic and sad, yet proud and optimistic about the future of two of the Buckeyes’ best and most popular wide outs in the history of Buckeye nation. All the time and battles gone through together led to this absolutely awesome moment of being able to be drafted with one of your best friends is next-level cool.

What made things even more storybook like is the fact the duo got drafted BACK-TO-BACK in the first round, going 10th and 11th overall in the draft. They not only got to experience the draft with their teammate, but celebrate on stage when they were picked less than 10 minutes apart from each other.

I mean, when Michael Irvin is the one getting your number you know you have made it


I wanted to take a quick look at the fit before the second round of the draft starts tonight, and how we can expect the two to perform in their rookie seasons, or at least what kind of situations they are stepping into.

Garrett Wilson was first off the board (but not the first WR, looking at you Atlanta) and was chosen to end up in the Big Apple with the New York Jets. Now, I know many of you claim the Jets are cursed, and while I do not disagree with that statement, if anybody can break a curse it’s our guy Garrett. He heads to New York to team up with the Jets’ first round pick last season, Zach Wilson, for the now patented Wilson-to-Wilson combo connection.

The Jets not so quietly had one of the best first rounds of the draft, which is to be expected when you make three picks. Garrett joins an offense without a true No. 1 wide out threat. Elijah Moore and Corey Davis are good players, but neither has the potential that can be had out of Garrett. I think he will vault to the top of that depth chart in training camp or by the latest the first month of the season. He will have ample opportunities for targets, and for you fantasy football dynasty players is looking pretty great to pick up for the long haul.

The offense he will entering is still a bit of a question mark, but he will be able to grow and development with the young QB already in place. Gaining chemistry and good practice habits is key to any rookie in the NFL, and with coach Brian Hartline’s discipline and work ethic instilled into our wideouts, I think that will be no issue for Wilson in his transition to the League.


Then we get to one of the most popular Buckeyes in my time on this earth, Chris Olave. The Columbus Saint.... errrr... excuse me the New Orleans Saints made their presence known once more in Ohio, as they swoop in to take one of our favorites. This is a very interesting situation Olave now finds himself in, and one I may be a bigger fan of than most people I have seen. I think Jameis Winston is a capable QB with good weapons, and he excels in throwing the ball deep down the field.

What does Olave do better than almost anyone in the draft class? Track and catch the deep ball. Olave will open up all kinds of space in the underneath routes for Michael Thomas (oh look another Buckeye in New Orleans) and their play styles will compliment each other so well.


Everybody always jokes about how Michael Thomas being the slant king, but with Olave taking the top off of the defense those slants will be even more wide open and the YAC will only increase this year if I was a betting man. Now of course that's a bunch of bologna how Thomas only runs slants, but just wanted to make sure how good Olave is going to be for Thomas’s game.

The first year without Sean Payton is going to be a good indicator what direction the Saints are headed in the coming years. If Jameis can play even average football with Olave now in the fold, their offense is a whole new animal. Kamara along with Thomas and Olave all healthy and on the field at once is a three-headed monster which I very much look forward to seeing.

There were obviously some very mixed feelings on the landing spots for Ohio State’s two stars, but that's the price you pay when you are elite and go higher in the draft to the teams who may not be as well established. They may not have landed in the perfect situations, but I am willing to bet that the two of them will make the situations perfect for themselves. We know how hard these two work at their craft and their will to be great, so why not believe their greatness will rub off on others around them? I don't see any reason why it can’t.

Call me a homer but these two studs are going to be All-Pros in no time.

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You’re Nuts: Drafting an Ohio State men’s basketball starting five since 2000
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Who would you vote for? And again, it is SINCE 2000.

It has been a busy couple of weeks for Ohio State basketball, as they have announced the return of Seth Towns, the addition of transfer guards Tanner Holden and Sean McNeil, and Malaki Branham announced he is officially staying in the NBA draft.

As always, the Bucketheads are keeping on with the debates and discussions and talking about all things Ohio State basketball related. This week, we are doing something a bit different. We are trying out a draft.

Last week, we talked about Ohio State hoops recruiting and the best way to go about it. This was prompted by this years recruiting class coming in, as it is one of the highest ranked basketball classes in Columbus in a long time. Connor went with keeping the talent in state, and Justin went with getting all the talent no matter where they hooped in high school.


Justin won in a close battle.


After 47 weeks:

Connor- 21
Justin- 18
Other- 6

(There have been two ties)


So this week we drafted teams. There were two stipulations. One was starting at the year 2000. No Jerry Lucas on this list. And the second one was this was strictly based on college success. What these guys have done professionally does not matter.

How it broke down...

Pick 1 (Justin): Greg Oden
Pick 2 (Connor): Evan Turner
Pick 3 (Justin): Keita Bates-Diop
Pick 4 (Connor): Mike Conley
Pick 5 (Justin): D’Angelo Russell
Pick 6 (Connor): Jared Sullinger
Pick 7 (Justin): Michael Redd
Pick 8 (Connor): Jae’Sean Tate
Pick 9 (Justin): Deshaun Thomas
Pick 10 (Connor): Kosta Koufas
Pick 11 (Justin): Aaron Craft
Pick 12 (Connor): E.J. Liddell

Today’s question: Who drafted a better all-Buckeye team?

Connor:

Mike Conley, Evan Turner, Jae’Sean Tate, Jared Sullinger, Kosta Koufos, E.J. Liddell

Set Number: X83958 TK1 R8 F56

I decided ahead of time that my first pick was going to be either Evan Turner or Mike Conley, because they were both so successful in college and also had pretty great NBA careers (I know this draft was only supposed to be based on college, but it’s still hard to get over Greg Oden’s NBA career). So when Justin took Oden first, it was a no-brainer to take the National Player of the Year, right? Easy choice for my first pick.

Once Turner was off the board, I figured Justin would take Conley — who is definitely held in higher regard by Ohio State fans than D’Angelo Russell, and who arguably has had a better career in the league, too. Justin opted for Keita Bates-Diop, which meant I was able to take both of my top two guys with my first and second picks, rounding out my backcourt right away.

With my backcourt all set, I was able to use my third pick on one of the most dominant big men of the past 20 years in Sullinger, who is also from Columbus. He also may be the best post player Ohio State has had since 2000 other than Oden, so it just made sense here. At this point I really felt like I was dominating this draft.

Justin snagged Michael Redd with his fourth pick, which might’ve been the best value pick in this whole thing if we’re being honest. I went with my heart instead of my head and reached for Jae’Sean Tate with my fourth pick, just because I love him with my whole heart and am so damn proud of his journey. But in the grand scheme of things, he probably isn’t on the same level as some of these other guys. But I digress.

With my fifth pick I had to find a center, and I realized Ohio State really has not had many great centers since Oden. The options really come down to Byron Mullens, Kosta Koufos, and I guess... Kaleb Wesson? So Koufos was the pick. And then I tied it all up with an All-American in E.J. Liddell coming off the bench with my final selection.

Justin:

D’Angelo Russell, Michael Redd, Keita Bates-Diop, Deshaun Thomas, Greg Oden, Aaron Craft



With my first pick, I went with big man Greg Oden. I mean, I don’t have to actually explain this one do I? Dude was as dominant as anyone over the last 20 years and led Ohio State to the national championship game, where he put up 25 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks on 10-for-15 shooting.

With my second pick, I wanted to go with a position I thought was lacking a bit. So I went with Keita Bates-Diop at small forward. Bates-Diop will always hold a strong spot in a lot of Buckeyes fans hearts along with Jae’Sean Tate, because they made a year that was supposed to be pretty miserable a lot of fun. This was the first season under Chris Holtmann for the Buckeyes and they were coming off two missed NCAA tournaments in a row. However, in large part to Big Ten player of the year Bates-Diop, the Buckeyes ended up finishing third in the conference with a five seed in the NCAA Tournament. KBD averaged 19.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game during that historic season.

With my third pick, it was time for a point guard. D’Angelo Russell was the only choice here. Russell was not only one of the best players to come through Ohio State in the last two decades, but he was easily one of the most entertaining too. It felt like he could really do anything on the court. He had a triple-double as a Buckeye, basically single handedly won them a postseason game and made play after play that had the defenses heads spinning. He was the highest draft pick since Greg Oden for a reason. He averaged 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds per game and 5 assists per game in his only season in Columbus.

With my fourth pick, Michael Redd. Redd just barely made the cut as he was drafted in 2000, but he is an Ohio State great, nonetheless. Redd averaged 19.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game through his three year career with Ohio State. Just a pure scorer who crashed the boards surprisingly well. Weirdly enough, his scoring averages steadily decreased through his three years, as he averaged almost 22 points per game as a freshman and just over 17 points per game as a junior. Still, he put up some staggering numbers.

And finally with my fifth pick, Deshaun Thomas. Thomas was a guy who played with a lot of talent and still was able to carve out his own incredible lane scoring. The lefty killer was so vital to Ohio State in their success post William Buford, Jon Diebler and David Lighty and helped the Buckeyes still reach an Elite Eight and a Final Four. Thomas averaged 14.4 points and 5 rebounds per game for his career, but he averaged just under 20 points his junior season.

And off the bench, is there a better sixth man than Aaron Craft? Doubt it.

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Buck Off Podcast: Live NFL Draft Reactions, Ohio State transfers, first overall pick in 2022
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK

The guys watch the 1st round of the NFL draft and discuss some of the recent news surrounding Ohio State football

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio


On today’s episode of “Buck Off with Christopher Renne,” Chris and Jordan Williams discuss Ohio State’s draft-eligible Buckeyes and watch the NFL Draft.

To start the show, the guys get into some of their thoughts on the NFL draft including how they think the first round will go. We also discuss the ideal fits for Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave in the first round. Then we discuss the rest of the Ohio State potential draftees. Throughout the show they get into their live reactions of some of the NFL draft picks and make some predictions as the show goes on.

After that, they discuss the potential each Ohio State transfer has at their next destination in a little game called “Jamo or no more.” The guys predict if each transfer will find success or if we will never hear about them again as they go on to the next steps of their journeys.

Continuing on the guys get into C.J. Stroud being better than Bryce Young and the potential number one overall pick in 2023. We discuss the passing chart that blew up Twitter and get into the reasons why each quarterback might go first overall.

They close out the show discussing some questions about the Buckeyes they found on the internet and have some fun answering them.


Connect with the Show:
Twitter: @BuckOffPod

Connect with Chris Renne:
Twitter: @ChrisRenneCFB

Connect with Jordan Williams
Twitter: @JordanW330

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Florida Gators' Keyontae Johnson enters transfer portal with hopes of resuming college basketball career

Florida forward Keyontae Johnson, who collapsed during a game in December 2020 and hasn't practiced or played since, entered the NCAA men's basketball transfer portal Sunday with hopes of resuming his college career.

School officials confirmed Johnson's desire to move on from Florida following his graduation over the weekend. It's unclear what his ultimate intentions are, but it's possible the 22-year-old Johnson hopes to prove he's healthy before turning pro, which has been one of his goals for more than a year.
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From Norfolk, Virginia, Johnson would need to gain medical clearance to work out for NBA teams or attend the NBA combine before the draft. He also has a $5 million insurance policy that would pay out if he never plays again.

The policy allows him to take part in a handful of games to test his health. If he proceeds beyond the set number of games, any potential payout would be nullified.

Johnson's insurance policy went into effect in July 2020, five months before he fell face-first onto the court at Florida State. The Southeastern Conference's preseason player of the year in 2020 became a trauma patient on Dec. 12 of that year, crumpling to the court seconds after breaking a team huddle in the fourth game of the COVID-19-delayed season.
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Johnson's parents said last year their son's collapse was not related to a previous positive COVID-19 test, citing a consultation team that included experts from four highly respected schools of medicine. The family has not said what doctors believe caused the episode.

Entire article: https://www.espn.com/mens-college-b...rtal-hopes-resuming-college-basketball-career

I guess you really need to know exactly what his medical diagnosis was/is before commenting.

Honor&Glory said:

Cincinnati is still a basketball school at heart. But I think he was always gonna be a Bearcat regardless of NIL. Wes Miller is having a good start to his recruiting resume at UC. just has to start winning now.

Click to expand...

Yeah, and getting Landers Nolley out of the transfer portal recently was impressive, I am not sure if they had some connection working there for them or just a good sales pitch.

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CONNOR HEYWARD ON GETTING DRAFTED TO STEELERS…

Connor: “It's surreal. (I’m excited), my grandma (is excited), everybody's excited. My whole family's from Pittsburgh. I'm the only one born and raised in Georgia. But, you know, I have a Pittsburgh mentality and I'm ready to get to work.”

Cam: “Get ready to hold my shoulder pads. But you know, I think he’s gonna learn some things along the way. I’m gonna let him experience it as well. But you know, I'm gonna make sure I do whatever I can to make sure he has a great career.”

Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for April 29, 2022
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Gary Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.

Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.

Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.

You’re welcome!

For your Earholes...


Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio

#DevelopedHere


2022 NFL Draft: New York Jets select Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson in first round
Dave Biddle, Bucknuts

Buckeyes receiver Chris Olave selected by Saints in first round of NFL draft
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Three Former Ohio State Receivers Taken Consecutively in First Round as Jameson Williams Is Selected No. 12 by the Detroit Lions
Kevin Harrish, Eleven Warriors

What a picture!


Which former Ohio State wide receiver has the highest ceiling, and which current NFL stars could they possibly model their game(s) after?
Josh Dooley, Land-Grant Holy Land

Former Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins honored at NFL Draft with moment of silence
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

Ohio State Draft Primer: A last look at the Buckeye draft prospects
Chris Renne, Land-Grant Holy Land

If you think the recruits didn’t notice, you’d be mistaken:

On the Hardwood


Analyzing impact as Malaki Branham officially leaves Ohio State for NBA Draft (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Taking Redshirt Season Was “Best Decision” for Kalen Etzler, Who Is Eager to Get on the Court for Ohio State in Second Year
Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

You know you want to scream this dude’s name next season.

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Men’s Swimming: Hunter Armstrong Sets World Record in 50m Backstroke
Ohio State Athletics

Ohio State’s Andrea Kuhn, and Daniella Santos excel at Penn Relays
Staff Reports, The Columbus Dispatch

Men’s Lacrosse: Myers, Reid and Van Buren Receive All-Big Ten Honors
Matt Goldman, The Lantern

Losses mount for Ohio State baseball as team struggles in B1G play
David M. Wheeler, Land-Grant Holy Land

And now for something completely different:


Score one for the Buckeyes and the Bear!


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First round NFL Draft success for Buckeyes should help continue trend of elite receiver play
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Ohio State’s receiver position is in great hands for years to come thanks to more success in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Thursday saw the completion of the first round of the NFL Draft. With all eyes tuned in on the 32 selections last night, there wasn’t a ton of recruiting news to go out around. Ryan Day and his crew spent majority of their time focused on their players headed to the league, and though their attention was more so there than the recruiting trail, last night’s draft success for the Buckeyes was really all the recruiting effort needed.

The first round picks for the Buckeyes continued thanks to back-to-back selections for both Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. The proven track record the Ohio State staff has when it comes to developing their players for the NFL is the ultimate recruiting pitch, and a major reason as to why the Buckeyes continue to land elite talent at every position. Having the most players drafted since 2000 out of any program, Ryan Day and the rest of the staff really have all they need to say with those stats alone, and the positive outcomes in their recruiting efforts should reflect that and more.

Buckeyes on the verge of landing another top receiver?


Speaking of the receivers, the consecutive picks of Wilson and Olave going 10th and 11th overall last night had to have Brian Hartline grinning ear to ear. Further proof of coach Hart being the best receivers coach in college football, it’s pretty easy to see why top players at the position all over the country are wanting to suit up for Ohio State and be developed by not only a great coach, but someone who also played at the highest level.

Last night was just another testament and again, an incredible recruiting pitch for the top targets he and Ohio State have at the receiver position in the 2023 class. The millions of dollars made for former Buckeyes is all the noise that’s needed to be made, and you have to get the feeling that Hartline’s top targets were paying attention and seeing just why Columbus is the best possible destination when it comes to playing that spot. Fortunately, it looks pretty solid right now for one target starting to trend towards Ohio State.

North Carolina native Noah Rogers is currently ranked as the nation’s 10th-best receiver in the 2023 class and the 76th best player nationally per 247Sports. In this regard, Rogers this week has seen a bit of momentum in favor of the Buckeyes when he was Crystal Balled to Ohio State by Director of Recruiting for 247Sports, Steve Wiltfong. A major insight to where his recruitment is headed, any submission by Wiltfong should be taken pretty seriously.

Hartline has one receiver in the fold already, but there’s some major names out there and with Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss getting most of the attention, Rogers should certainly be in the conversation too. Being thought of as one of the very best products to come out of his home state in years by several analysts, the Buckeyes would be getting an absolute stud in Rogers. NC State is also a serious player in his recruitment, but if Noah was watching the draft last night, Ohio State is the easy pick between those two programs, bias aside.

Quick Hits

• Staying right with the Crystal Ball theme, yesterday another Crystal Ball prediction in favor of Ohio State was submitted by Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts for Austin Siereveld. Set to announce his commitment next Wednesday, the Buckeyes have to fend off Notre Dame and Alabama to land their top remaining in-state product, but all signs right now look to be good news for Ohio State to land their third in-state offensive lineman in the 2023 class.
• If you were wondering if the nation’s top ranked receiver, Brandon Inniss, was paying attention to the draft last night, take a look below and see that he clearly saw the benefits that come with Ohio State. That should further help Hartline’s chances of once again landing the top receiver in the country.

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Which former Ohio State wide receiver has the highest ceiling, and which current NFL stars could they possibly model their game(s) after?
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The three-headed monster has since split up, but all are expected to taken early in the same (2022) NFL Draft | Nick King/Lansing State Journal via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and even Jameson Williams are all expected to go in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Team, fit, and health will all play a role in their professional success, but here is a best guess at future potential.

Attempting to predict or hypothesize future NFL success is an exercise in futility. I know that, you know that, and every expert who tells you otherwise... guess what? They know it too. Draft prognosticators are a dime-a-dozen, with very few garnering Mel Kiper-esque respect and admiration from the football community. I could go into all the reasons why it is so difficult to try and guess which college players will transition well, but the truth of the matter is, it’s just really, really hard. There is no way to state it elegantly.


So with all of that being said, I’m going to take a stab at it! What a novel idea, right? And I’m going to try my hand at NFL player comps. But I only want to focus on three players and one position. Three former OSU wide receivers are expecting to hear their names called – all on Thursday night, according to mocks and projections – and all three could be viewed as having different, varied skillsets.

I think that there is plenty of overlap in their respective games, but to generalize (unfairly so): Garrett Wilson is the playmaker, Chris Olave is the technician, and Jameson Williams is the burner. How will these guys perform at the next level, and who should they look to as pillars of NFL success?

Jameson Williams

Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK
Williams took full advantage of the opportunity presented in Tuscaloosa

Yes, we still get to claim him as Buckeye... within reason. I had a difficult time deciding between Williams and Chris Olave, and predicting which player has the higher NFL ceiling. Fair or not, I used past precedent against Jamo, dropping him to the bottom of this extremely short list. But do not mistake my ranking for like/dislike or a prediction that Williams is not going to be a terrific NFL player. I think he is going to be a legitimate weapon. I’ve just seen more consistency from the guys who finished their college careers in Columbus.

Williams suffered an unfortunate injury during the CFP National Championship game, putting his immediate availability into question. Perhaps just as significant is the fact that it wiped out his ability to physically test in front of NFL talent evaluators at a combine or pro day. But here’s the good news: he is not the only one, and the injury will likely not drop him out of the first round. It would be crazy if it did, because he is a special talent.

The former Ohio State Buckeye and more recent Alabama Crimson Tide star has a specific calling card, and that is speed. Jamo might even be Tyreek Hill-level fast, as least while moving in a straight line. But Williams also displayed a well-rounded skillset once given the opportunity at Bama. He is nearly as quick as he is fast, can go up and make a contested catch, and showcased serious footwork for the Tide.

Any knock against Williams’ one-year production is debatable. Even if you do consider him to be a one-year wonder, you cannot argue that he was not one of the most dangerous players in college football last year. However, it is worth pointing out that we have seen plenty of guys put one great season on tape, only to fall off the map later. And he was behind Wilson and Olave (and JSN) on the depth chart for a reason. Playing for Alabama has a way of occasionally making a player look better than he really is.

I believe that Jameson Williams will eventually be a certified NFL stud, but it may take him some time. His rookie season will be impacted by the ACL injury. From there, he will need to prove that he can run all routes and beat sophisticated coverages. I found a comparison tough to come by, but eventually settled on a more-skilled version of Will Fuller or (much) smaller DK Metcalf. Sorry, I promise they will get better.

Chris Olave

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Olave set records at OSU, and now has his eyes set on doing the same as a professional

Admittedly, I do not know exactly what is going to happen for Olave in the NFL, but I have a very hard time believing that he will not be productive. He strikes me as a more-accomplished Terry McLaurin (college), but foreshadowing: Scary Terry is not my NFL comp. Olave is not the biggest, fastest, or strongest, but he is among the elite WR’s in this class when it comes to footwork, route running, and football IQ.

Similar to McLaurin, Olave initially made a name for himself by playing special teams. Although expected to perform by the staff, the Ohio State record-holder for career TD receptions put in extra time and became more than an active participant — Olave excelled in the third phase of the game. Over time, he honed his skills as a receiver and would go on to etch his name in the OSU history book. Olave’s work ethic directly influences my belief that he will succeed in the NFL.

I would describe Olave as a jack of all trades, master of none. Maybe that’s underselling his ability. Or overselling, I’m not sure. My point being, that he can do damage underneath and in short yardage situations, work himself open on a deep post or sideline route, and/or take the top off a defense. He is not Deebo Samuel with the ball in his hands, but he can do enough, and more importantly, he can produce from anywhere on the field and run any route.

All of the above are reasons why I think Olave will find success regardless of where he ends up. I see him as a No. 2 WR who eventually becomes a No. 1 or 1B. The NFL comp I settled on was another Chris: Chris Godwin. Godwin is not most athletic guy in the world, but he knows how to play the position, and he plays well in the presence of other weapons. Similar to Olave, both can play the 1B role, but also take over a game on occasion. If the former Buckeye were to end up in New Orleans or Kansas City – with a proven star WR/TE – he could settle into a complementary role right away. If Olave is not an 8-10 year player, I will be surprised.

Garrett Wilson

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Wilson has been pegged by many “experts” as a can’t-miss prospect

Wilson, according to many, is the safest bet and has the highest ceiling among this trio of stars. I do not disagree. While he might lack the top-end speed of Williams and/or the polish of Olave, Wilson is a dynamic do-it-all weapon. What he lacks in size, he makes up for with great footwork and his ability to make athletic, highly-contested catches. Similar to Williams, Wilson has a history of taking over games and appearing un-guardable. What seems to set him apart is the consistency with which he performed and made highlight-worthy plays. All of this should translate well to the next level.

Wilson stepped in as a freshman at Ohio State, and contributed right away. And then he just kept getting better. His year-to-year improvement is likely what excites many of the NFL teams looking for WR help. Williams went from 0-to-60 in his third year, whereas Wilson showed consistent, gradual improvement over time. Not to say that one is worse than the other, but consistency often creates a greater sense of comfort or confidence.

In today’s NFL, teams are looking for versatility, and that is another trait Wilson brings to the field. He can take reverses or screens and make something happen, or he can do significant damage running routes from either the slot or the outside. Wilson can also makes plays in the return game, although that seems to be a bit of a dying art. Whatever you need, this former Buckeye can do it all.

I compared Wilson to NFL superstar Stefon Diggs. Similar in size, Diggs gets it done in a variety of ways. He also lacks extreme size and elite speed, although both he and Wilson have plenty of NOS in the tank. Both 6-footers are just naturally-gifted receivers, capable of running through any opposing defense. Lastly, and why I really like the comparison, is that Diggs and Wilson both had room for improvement after college – despite being so dangerous on the field already. Diggs did not receive a ton of hype at Maryland, and was a 5th-round pick. He improved his game and grew alongside Adam Thielen, eventually achieving stardom.

Wilson probably needs to get stronger and work on his anti-jam techniques, but he is already leaps and bounds ahead of where Diggs was coming out of college. If he can improve in a similar manner, I believe he’s a 1,500-yard receiver before the age of 25.


That’s it, folks. Pick it apart. I did my best to prognosticate, and if I’m wrong, at least I won’t be the only one.

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All the important info you need to know ahead of tonight’s NFL Draft
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Where is the NFL Draft this year? What channels can you find it on? When could we some Ohio State players come off the board? We got all that info and more.

The 2022 NFL Draft is finally upon us. Even though the NFL regular season doesn’t start for more than four months, optimism flows throughout fans around the league, as they feel with the right mixture of picks, their team could be playing out in Glendale at the Super Bowl in February. Except you, Jacksonville. Even though you rid yourself of Urban Meyer’s boomer brain, you still likely won’t be sniffing the playoffs for a while.

Where is this year’s draft....and the 2023 draft....and the 2024 draft


This year’s NFL Draft will be held in Las Vegas for the first time. Originally the 2020 NFL Draft was slated to be in Sin City, but COVID-19 changed those plans. Instead the 2020 NFL Draft was held virtually, which gave us some hilarious moments, like when there was a cut to Bill Belichick’s home and we saw no sign of Belichick, and instead it looked as if his dog was making the picks for the Patriots. Then again, let’s not put that evil on the dog, since that very good boy probably would have made better draft picks that what the Patriots actually made in 2020.

From 1965-2014, the NFL Draft was held in New York City before the league finally came to its senses and decided to take the show on the road. Last year’s draft was held in Cleveland, while next year’s edition will be held in Kansas City. If Buckeye fans want to catch the draft but don’t want to go out to Kansas City next year, they’ll have a much shorter trip in 2024, since Detroit will be the host. Even though it might be tough to stomach cross over into That State Up North, 2024 could possibly see Buckeyes like TreVeyon Henderson or Marvin Harrison Jr. come off the board in the first round.

How to watch this year’s draft


There are a number of options on how to watch this year’s NFL Draft. Gone are the days when the only real option we had was Chris Berman making a bunch of strange sounds and workshop nicknames for the rookies. These days you have the option of watch the draft on ESPN, ABC, or NFL Network.

The safest option is probably to watch the draft on NFL Network. Despite being a Michigan Man, Rich Eisen is a pretty good listen as host of the broadcast. It certainly is an infinitely better option than ESPN, who continues to give America more Mike Greenberg even though we are begging them to stop subjecting us to that windbag. If you have to choose between ABC or ESPN for draft coverage, the safer option is ABC, since aside from Desmond Howard, the rest of the broadcast crew that is headed by Rece Davis and Suzy Kolber are strong professionals.

How the first two picks should shake out


Unlike many years when there are a few players that separate themselves from the rest of the players eligible to be drafted, this year’s draft is pretty wide open. What will likely be remembered most about this year’s draft is the absence of a true franchise quarterback, as well as the offensive and defensive line dominating the picks early on.

For the second year in a row, the Jacksonville Jaguars hold the first pick in the NFL Draft. The Jags didn’t have to make as tough of a decision last year, since Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence was the obvious top pick in the draft. This year with Doug Pederson in his first year as head coach in Jacksonville, the decision isn’t so simple. Although, it looks like Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker is likely to be who the Jaguars are targeting.

The second pick of this year’s draft is held by the Detroit Lions. If Jacksonville goes with Walker, the Lions should run their pick up to Roger Goodell and select defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. The Lions should be able to sell plenty of Hutchinson jerseys since the standout was not only born in Michigan, he went on to play his college football at the University of Michigan.

An impressive streak


Since 2016, Ohio State has produced 16 first round draft picks, although last year was the only year during that span in which the Buckeyes didn’t have multiple first round picks. Justin Fields was the lone Ohio State first rounder, going to Chicago after the Bears traded up to the 11th pick in the draft to select the quarterback.

Who is going first, Olave or Wilson?


This year we are pretty much certain that we’ll see two Buckeyes selected in the first round. What we don’t know is whether Chris Olave or Garrett Wilson will be the first Ohio State wide receiver selected. A couple months ago Wilson was the favorite to come off the board first, but Olave has impressed in the time since the season has ended, and we could possibly see Olave join Terry McLaurin in Washington.

If Olave is taken with the 11th pick, keep an eye on Wilson going to New Orleans with the 16th pick. Much like Olave, Wilson would also be teaming up with a former Ohio State wide receiver. Michael Thomas is a member of the New Orleans Saints even though it’s easy to forget that’s where Thomas is these days since he played in just seven games in 2020 and didn’t see the field in 2021 due to injury.

When either Olave or Wilson is drafted in the first round, it will snap a streak of 12 Ohio State wide receivers that were drafted, but not taken in the first round. The last time Ohio State produced first round wide receivers was back in 2007 when the Miami Dolphins took Ted Ginn Jr. with the ninth pick, and the Indianapolis Colts took Anthony Gonzalez with the final pick in the first round.

What other Buckeyes should be selected before the draft wraps up on Saturday?


During the three-day draft, we’ll likely see around seven Buckeyes drafted. After Olave and Wilson are drafted during the first round, the next likely Ohio State players to come off the board will be tight end Jeremy Ruckert and offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere on Friday night. By the time the draft wraps up on Saturday, defensive linemen Tyreke Smith and Haskell Garrett, as well as offensive lineman Thayer Munford look like they’ll hear their name called at some point.

What the NFL teams in Ohio will be doing on Thursday night


For fans of the two Ohio teams in the NFL, Thursday night likely won’t be much fun. The Browns decided to use their first round picks over the next few years to acquire quarterback Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans. On the other end of I-71, Cincinnati won’t pick until the 31st pick, since the Bengals made it all the way to the Super Bowl. Since Cincinnati addressed their offensive line issues in free agency, the Bengals could opt to trade out of the first round and acquire some more future draft capital.

No matter what your plans for the draft over the next three days are, the smartest move to keep track of all that is going on with Ohio State players in this year’s draft is to keep it locked here at Land-Grant Holy Land. Enjoy this year’s draft as we celebrate the Ohio State players that are drafted and keep getting closer to the start of the 2022 season.

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Ohio State Draft Primer: A last look at the Buckeye draft prospects
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Ohio State has a long list of draft eligible players, so we take a one last look at where they might end up.

This year’s NFL Draft is finally here, taking place in Las Vegas, and the Ohio State Buckeyes are looking to be well represented once again. Ohio State has seven former players projected to go in the seven rounds and three more draft eligible players who will be looking to find homes this weekend as well. For the Buckeyes, this is an opportunity to extend their lead in total first round picks, where they currently sit at 85, and will also look to add to their 473 total NFL Draft picks.

Ohio State’s list of projected players that will be selected in the draft includes: Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jeremy Ruckert, Nicholas Petit-Frere, Haskell Garrett, Tyreke Smith and Thayer Munford. Scouring the mock draft data base these seem to be the consensus draft picks this season for the Buckeyes. The former Buckeyes are projected to go all over the place, so this will be a three-day affair for the program as their next set of players head to the professional level.

Today we are going to go through the list of players, project their landing spots, and discuss some of the traits that will make the former Buckeyes successful at the next level.

Garrett Wilson


The All-American receiver is the first projected Buckeye to be taken in most mock drafts. Wilson left Ohio State with 143 receptions, 2,213 yards, and 24 total touchdowns. Throughout his career, Wilson used his athleticism to make spectacular catches as well as big plays in space after the catch. His skillset is versatile and his ability at the catch point makes him a definitive No. 1 receiver.

Wilson is projected to three teams, including the Atlanta Falcons, New York Jets, and Washington Commanders. Though he is not the consensus No. 1 receiver in the draft, there is no reason he should fall out of the top-15 picks. This selection will extend Ohio State’s first round NFL draft picks total to 86 players. We will not have to wait for long to hear Wilson’s name on Thursday.

Final Scouting Take: “Garrett Wilson is a dynamic receiver who has the lateral quickness and explosiveness to take any throw or handoff the distance. His foot speed and balance let him consistently miss the first defender with the ball in his hands and make him dangerous on underneath throws and screens to create yards after the catch.” - B/R NFL Draft Scouting Department

Round Projection: 1st Round, Pick 10 New York Jets | Full Scouting Report

Chris Olave


The Californian turned Ohio State all-time receiving touchdowns leader solidified himself as a first round pick with an impressive combine performance. Olave ran an official 4.39 40-yard dash and had decent jumping numbers in the other drills he participated in. In his career Olave was a touchdown machine and was a master at creating separation at the top of his routes. A team looking for a quarterback friendly receiver will find that in Chris Olave.

Not projected as consistently as Garrett Wilson, Olave has a list of team names with a lot of variety. When asked, he said the Packers were an interesting team and he thinks Aaron Rodgers is the greatest quarterback of all time. With projections to the Green Bay Packers, the New Orleans Saints, and the Dallas Cowboys, he will likely play for a competitive team in the NFL. Wherever he ends up, the Buckeyes will add one more to their all time first round picks total, and Brian Hartline will have an incredible recruiting pitch made for him.

Final Scouting Take: “The quiet storm of the Ohio State wide receiver corps, Olave is smooth, steady and makes things happen. His movements are fluid and easy from snap to the catch and all points between. He’s fast but efficient and plays with the bend and foot agility to uncover on all three levels.” -Lance Zierlein (NFL.com)

Round Projection: 1st Round | Full Scouting Report

Jeremy Ruckert


Ohio State’s tight end usage may hurt Ruckert in the end, but he still will be picked early in the draft. At Ohio State, Ruckert was a solid blocker as an inline tight end who brought physicality to the position in the run game. Despite only 54 career catches and 615 receiving yards, he showed he was reliable and has a solid resume of spectacular catches. The Buckeyes require their tight ends to be well rounded, and Ruckert has fit the mold better than any of his previous predecessors.

The consensus on Ruckert isn’t clear in the mock draft community, with some having him as first rounder. More likely than not he will not be a first round pick given his light resume, but many experts have called him a sleeper who will rise on Day 2 of the NFL Draft. This makes it hard to project where he might end up, but teams are always looking to add talented tight ends.

Final Scouting Take: “The ceiling is there for Ruckert to be a much better pro player than he is a college receiver. In the blocking phases of the position, Ruckert is used often in split-flow fits and has the mass necessary to crack the end man on the line of scrimmage effectively. That experience will prove helpful as he looks to acclimate to an NFL responsibility that is likely to ask him to play in the box.” -Kyle Crabbs (The Draft Network)

Round Projection: 2nd Round | Full Scouting Report

Nicholas Petit-Frere


A multi-year starter for the Buckeyes who played both tackle positions for Ohio State in his career. After coming in a little small for a tackle, it took time for the the Florida native to get on the field. Once he was on the field he became one of the best pass protectors in the Big Ten. His athleticism allowed him to be a powerful run blocker, and he was comfortable getting to the second level when his responsibility was to block linebackers or in screens.

Another Buckeye with quite a bit of range in his projections, but one of the most common ones is the Cincinnati Bengals at the end of the first round. The more likely scenario is a team snags him in the middle of the second round to the Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, or another tackle needy team. If Petit-Frere doesn’t end up starting right away, he will add a versatile depth piece with swing tackle potential.

Final Scouting Take: “Petit-Frere has the athleticism, violence, size, and urgency to be a scheme-versatile blocker, especially for teams that value run blocking. Even after an up-and-down 2021 campaign, there’s upside worth investing in. Late Day 2 or early Day 3, Petit-Frere can be a solid swing tackle early with starting potential.” -Ian Cummings (Pro Football Network)

Round Projection: 3rd Round | Full Scouting Report

Haskell Garrett


Garrett had a tumultuous obstacle in his career, but he did not stop let that stop him from accomplishing his goals of making it to the NFL. The former Buckeye does not have ideal size or athletic numbers for the scheme he is projected to play, but has a lot of production as a pass rusher with 7.5 sacks. A consistent player in the run game, he left something to be desired in consistent play strength against higher level IOL competition.

As a potential fit in the NFL, he will need to find a team that runs a 4-3 defense due to him being a traditional 3-technique defensive tackle. If he can prove that he can be a 3-4 end that could add a lot of value, but as of now he is projected Day 3 pick. A team looking to find a depth piece in late in the draft will find that in Garrett. He also brings a pass rushing skillset that isn’t common among interior defensive linemen.

Final Scouting Take: “Garrett provides alignment flexibility and versatility to a defense. He can align at the 1T, 3T, and 5T at any time. This fits his single-gap penetrating style of play. He offers special teams value. He plays on punt return and field goal block units.” -Damian Parson (The Draft Network)

Round Projection: 4th Round | Full Scouting Report

Tyreke Smith


Ohio State has not had a first round defensive linemen since Chase Young went second overall in the draft. This won’t start again with Smith who did not live up to his high recruiting ranking. He battled injuries throughout his career, but he was always a productive player when he was on the field.

Smith brings plus athleticism and that showed in his jumping ability at the combine with 34” vertical and 117” broad jump. He left a lot to be desired as a consistent pass rusher with only 7 career sacks. Smith is athletic which gives him the versatility to fit into a 3-4 scheme as a outside linebacker or a 4-3 scheme as a traditional defensive end. His projections have him in the fourth and fifth round to a variety of different teams.

Final Scouting Take: “Elastic, long-limbed edge defender whose unbridled, attacking style brings both highs and lows in every game. Smith’s urgent motor is an ingredient that gives him a chance to find some success in the pros, but his inefficiencies and lack of body control limit his ceiling.” -Lance Zierlein (NFL.com)

Round Projection: 4th Round | Full Scouting Report

Thayer Munford


Munford was the “Block O” number recipient for the 2021 season, and he brings a long list of intangibles into the draft. A multi-year starter at left tackle, he was moved to guard this past season. This gave him a lot of versatility, and with his age being on the older side for a rookie, his versatility will be a major separating factor against other prospects.

As a projected sixth round pick, Munford will have to wait a little bit to live out his dream of getting his name called in the draft. Regardless, he brings a lot of experience and will be a great depth piece for the organization that selects him. Being able to play four positions on the offensive line makes him a valuable asset in the draft.

Final Scouting Take: “He’s got the strapping frame to be an NFL tackle if need be, but his most recent play has cast some doubt on a projection there. Munford now, with a successful career at Ohio State behind him, will be an option for NFL teams who run a lot of inside zone concepts as the Buckeyes have offered him as both a tackle and guard.” -Kyle Crabbs (The Draft Network)

Round Projection: 6th Round | Full Scouting Report

Projected Undrafted Buckeyes


Not every draft eligible Buckeye will end up hearing their name called over the three day event, but Saturday night and Sunday are a huge day for the remaining Ohio State players. The list isn’t long, but the three other Buckeyes will find opportunities at the next level.

Master Teague III: Teague is a physical, one cut running back who has shown he can be an every down back. For Teague, his athleticism he displayed at Ohio State’s pro day could potentially get him drafted, but it might be better for him to pick his own team in free agency.

Demario McCall: McCall’s career at Ohio State was a roller coaster that took place on both sides of the football. McCall is an explosive athlete, but is a little undersized for any of the positions he might play at the NFL level. His return experience as well as other special team experience makes him an interesting potential fit for NFL teams.

Antwuan Jackson Jr.: Jackson impressed at his Ohio State Pro Day, but he still has not garnered much attention as a draft prospect. He can play both tackle spots and looked lean enough to be considered as a strong side defensive end. His work with Larry Johnson could pay long term dividends, but as of now he will just need to find the right fit to get started.


The NFL Draft is always a fun event, and even in a relatively down year Ohio State will be well represented as the former Buckeyes head to the next level. This years draft does not have a lot of consensus, so anything can happen. One thing we know for sure is a long list of Buckeyes will realize their dreams and become NFL players.

Ohio State will extend its lead in first round daft picks, and the Buckeyes who get drafted will help with future recruiting. The players only have one thing left to do and that is wait until they hear their name called. Overall, this time of year is always exciting and now we wait and see where the former Buckeyes end up.

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Where is my mind.

Pixies

247 Profile
Rivals Profile
HUDL Highlights
Twitter: @Ian_Reed72



Class: 2023 (high school)
School: Austin (TX) Vandegrift
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 310 lbs

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buchtelgrad04 said:

I wanted to ask this very question myself, but I felt it wouldn’t be an appropriate question for a breaking news story such as death.

Give it a few days…I’m gonna ask lol.

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My bad lost my scruples a decade ago

ScriptOhio said:

In case anyone is interested:

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https://247sports.com/LongFormArtic...es-released-for-QB-class-186715660/#1885648_1

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Zappe goes about 4.5x Desmond Howard there. Well done.

billmac91 said:

Truth be told….we should be thankful for the portal come next year…..bc we will see multiple starters come from it. Just being honest….

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Let's just hope we aren't Old Mother Hubbard when we go to that cupboard.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/247spo...rns-Home-Commits-to-UNC-186777772/Amp/?espv=1

Back home to UNC.
I can always root for a kid going back home in the portal if their first destination wasn't meant to be. Just like Antonio Williams(RB)

Best of luck Jacolbe

Retired Villanova men's basketball coach Jay Wright leaves door open for possible move to NBA

Less than a week after retiring as head coach at Villanova, Jay Wright is leaving the door open to someday coaching in the NBA.

Appearing Tuesday on ESPN's Keyshawn, JWill & Max, Wright said he's not looking to coach right now, but added "I'd be lying" if he said he hadn't thought about coaching in the NBA.

"Not right now. That was something I always thought about," Wright said of his NBA ambitions. "My experience with the Olympics kind of scratched that itch. ... I kind of feel like I did it a little bit. And I loved coaching those guys."

Entire article: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...jay-wright-leaves-door-open-possible-move-nba

Oh for fucks sake!

brodybuck21 said:

headed to memphis

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Fitting that the lone player grinch bothered to recruit is following him to usc.

Recruiting Spotlight: Tayvion Galloway
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



For my first bit of content in a while, I want to re-introduce Tayvion Galloway. Tayvion is a four star Tight End prospect out of Chillicothe, Ohio. He is 6’6 and around 230 pounds and he refers to himself as the “Black Sheep”. Tayvion has 18 total Division 1 offers and is looking around to find the best fit for him. Here was a Q&A between the two of us.

RT: Which schools are standing out to you at this moment?

TG: Still building connections with coaches and really just getting to know them. I do believe LSU, Michigan, and Kentucky are definitely recruiting me the hardest.

RT: Which offer(s) are you working on earning at the moment?

TG: Not working on earning any offers. I’m just going to keep grinding and whoever takes their change on me is who I’m going to be looking to build a connection with.

RT: What is your “dream school”?

TG: One of my favorite teams growing up was the Miami Hurricanes.

RT: Which school(s) had/have the best developmental plan for you if/when you commit?

TG: Any school who produces NFL guys regularly.

RT: When do you think you’ll be narrowing your list of top schools?

TG: I will never make an official announcement of who I’ll narrow it down, but all the ones in my corner will know.

RT: When do you think you’ll complete your recruiting process?

TG: Whenever the time is right.

RT: Once committed, give me three players in your class who you want to join you?

TG: My cousin Quinlan Netter & close friend Zechariah Owens.

RT: As a Tight End, what are your strengths, your weaknesses and what are you striving to improve in your overall game?

TG: I believed my key strengths are my versatility and my athletic ability to allow me to make big plays along with not being scared to get dirty in the blocking game. I am trying to improve my strength and explosiveness.

RT: As a player, would you rather be developed (strength, conditioning, life after football, etc.) or would you rather get stats?

TG: I would definitely rather the development at the end of the day. I’m trying to be the best I can be, but I think both is possible.

RT: Can you explain what you bring to the table as a recruit and player?

TG: I believe I’m a leader and I always show better than I can tell. As a player, I believe I’m the guy that can make game winning type of plays.

My Impression: Tayvion Galloway is a born leader, who shows others with actions as opposed to using words. Scrappy and determined to get after it on plays, who isn’t afraid of crucial moments in the game. Galloway is not focused on the glamor of the recruiting game and whoever joins him along his journey does. Whoever doesn’t misses out on a special kid and player with unlimited potential. In an effort to be the best he can be, he remains confident yet humble as he builds relationships with coaches that see the potential in him. I honestly see the “black sheep” mantra as his strength. A lone wolf mentality that once introduced into the fold, has the ability to become the alpha on offense. You want a player like this on your roster and I hope he finds success wherever he goes.





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You’re Nuts: How important should in-state recruiting be for Ohio State men’s basketball?
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo courtesy of Steve Helwagen — 247Sports

Do you want the best players available, or do you want local stars? Fans usually want both — that’s not always possible.

Happy Friday to the work-from-homers, the message board lurkers, and the college basketball addicts. We’re back for another stimulating “You’re Nuts” debate, and we’re sticking with recruiting again, since that’s the most salient topic right now in college hoops.

But first, an update on Kansas State transfer Nijel Pack:

..... Just kidding, we’ve got nothing as of this moment. He visited earlier this week, and it sounds like Ohio State and Purdue are two of the heavy favorites. But other than that, we’re in watch and wait mode. He’d be a big addition, and we will share any news with you if and when we get it.

Last week, Connor and Justin explained which transfer they’d like to see Ohio State go after next and why. Connor went with Jalen Bridges, who has since committed to Baylor. Justin chose Nijel Pack, whom we obviously are keeping a very close eye on. Justin won in an absolute rout with 72% of the vote. Connor picked up 23% of the vote, and the remaining 5% went with “other.”

After 46 weeks:

Connor- 21

Justin- 17

Other- 6

(There have been two ties)


This week, we’re focusing on high school recruits, not college transfers. When Ohio players — regardless of their recruiting rankings — do well locally, Ohio State fans want the Buckeyes to pick them up. This is understandable. But when players like Mackenzie Mgbako show interest in Ohio State, fans also want those players to wind up in Columbus. However, there are only so many scholarships to hand out.

So this week we’re asking your opinion: is dominating Ohio and keeping in-state talent in-state more important than raw recruiting rankings? Or do you want the Buckeyes to go get the best players, even if that means not having many Ohio players playing at Ohio State?

Today’s question: Should in-state loyalty impact recruiting or no?

Connor: Try to recruit Ohio kids


I don’t think the state a player is from is the most important thing, but I think it should be a big factor in who Ohio State pursues. I’d rather see the Buckeyes be a great team with all non-Ohio kids than be awful with only in-state talent, but those aren’t the only options. The Buckeyes can compete with the best programs in the nation for top recruits while also keeping their eyes peeled on local talent. If two players are comparable, I think they should make the local kid(s) a priority. That’s pretty much where I stand.

Not every single kid in Ohio grows up wanting to play for Ohio State, but a lot do! And there’s something special about having home-grown talent suiting up to play for the state university. When you look down the roster for a state school, it’s always nice to see scattered names of players from Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo, Dayton, and so on. Years and years ago, college basketball teams were made up of almost exclusively in-state players. Now with recruiting booming on a national scale, it’s common to find a team with only a few in-state players on the roster.

I don’t think Ohio State should pass up on five-stars from other states to give scholarships to three-star Ohioans. If Mgbako had chosen Ohio State last week, for example, I’d have been fine with letting some other recruits know that unfortunately that spot has been filled. But when splitting hairs between three and four-stars, or two guys with comparable rankings, what are we really arguing about? Take the Columbus kid, damnit.

For example, there are three forwards the Buckeyes are currently involved with in the 2023 cycle: Dailyn Swain (Columbus), Devin Royal (Pickerington), and Scotty Middleton (Wichita, KS). According to 247Sports, Royal is a three-star and the No. 123 player in the country. Swain is a four-star and the No. 64 player in the country. Middleton is a four-star and the No. 41 player in the country. The Buckeyes appear to be more heavily involved with the local kids, Swain and Royal, but are on Middleton’s list of final five schools as well.


If only one can be a part of the 2023 recruiting cycle, they should lock up one of the Ohio kids. There should be some added motivation to keep Columbus kids who are good enough to play at Ohio State... at Ohio State.

Fans will bash the coaching staff if they let Royal or Swain go elsewhere and they play well at another school — especially if it’s a Big Ten school. They’ll also bash the coaching staff if they recruit the lower-rated Ohio kid and let someone like Middleton walk, only for the Ohio kid to struggle and Middleton excels elsewhere. It can be a damned if you do, damned if you don’t decision, but I just think there’s something special about having a strong Ohio influence on Ohio State’s roster when there’s talent in your own backyard.

Justin: Recruit the best players regardless of where they’re from

Andrew Jansen/News-Leader / USA TODAY NETWORK

Hey man, call me crazy, but I like to bring in the best talent possible. In Ohio State’s defense and in years past — especially during the Thad Matta era — there was great talent coming out of Ohio with guys like Jared Sullinger, William Buford, Aaron Craft, BJ Mullins, Kosta Koufas, and others. Recently however, the top players in Ohio have still been very good, but clearly have not been amongst the best in the nation.

The top Ohio recruit in the 2022 class is Sencire Harris, who is the number 101 recruit in the country, according to 247 Sports. Ohio State has four players in the 2022 recruiting class ranked higher than the top guy in Ohio. In the 2023 class, there are only two guys ranked in the top 100 in Rayvon Griffith (42) and Dailyn Swain (98), and Ohio State’s top recruit is George Washington III from Louisville, Kentucky who is ranked 47th.

If the Buckeyes were only using in-state guys for recruiting, they would be nowhere close to getting the top guys in the country and would struggle to bring in many top-100 players. People will say stars don’t matter, but they do for fan interest and for other recruiting purposes.

Currently, according to 247 Sports, Duke, Arkansas, Alabama, Kansas, and Indiana have the top five recruiting classes in the 2022 cycle (Ohio State currently sits at sixth). Between those five teams, they have 25 commits total; just five of those prospects are from the state they signed to play college basketball in and three of those five are from Arkansas. If you take Arkansas out of the equation, there are 19 commits and just two of them are staying in state.

The numbers speak for themselves. Ohio State fans are excited for the recruiting class that the Buckeyes have coming in and that is because the coaches went out of the state and got four of the top 60 guys in the country and two players who won Mr. Basketball in other states — Bruce Thornton in Georgia and Brice Sensabaugh in Florida.

Get me the best players and let the rest work itself out.

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BREAKING: Seth Towns to return to Ohio State for 2022-23 season
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

Towns will don the scarlet and gray for one more season, hoping to finish his Ohio State career on a high note.

As the off-season drug on and Ohio State’s roster situation became less foggy, one player with eligibility remained pretty silent. E.J. Liddell is off to the NBA, Malaki Branham almost certainly is too. Justin Ahrens chose to be honored on Senior Day despite having eligibility left, so we knew his career was a Buckeye was finished even before he entered the transfer portal. Justice Sueing announced two weeks ago that he will return next season for one more year. Tanner Holden transferred in from Wright State after three exceptional seasons in the Horizon League.

But until today, we had not heard anything about Seth Towns’ basketball future. Well, according to The Columbus Dispatch’s Adam Jardy, the Northland High School product will be returning to Ohio State for one final go-round this fall — his seventh season.


It will be Towns’ seventh year academically, but anyone who has followed the Buckeyes the past few seasons knows that Towns has been unbelievably unlucky when it comes to injuries and availability. He played two seasons at Harvard from 2016-2018, including winning Ivy League Player of the Year in 2018. Knee surgery cost him the entire 2018-2020 seasons. He then transferred to Ohio State in 2020 and played in 25 games for the Buckeyes — although he averaged just 10.8 minutes per game. He averaged 3.8 points and 2.2 rebounds per game while shooting 42.1% overall from the floor.

Heading into the 2021-2022 season Towns said that his knee felt the best it ever had, but then a back injury led to back surgery before the season, and he did not end up playing at all. So of Towns’ six seasons, three of them were spent on the bench rehabbing from injuries. At this point, 23-year-old Seth Towns has actually played fewer collegiate basketball games than 21-year-old E.J. Liddell in twice the time.

At his best, Towns is a three-level scorer and an old soul with a fundamentally sound offensive game. He’s a 40.7% three-point shooter in his career, but also loves to step back and use the glass on mid-range jumpers. In fact, he’s the only player I can think of right now who chooses to use the glass on his jumper. But hey, it works for him!


The obvious question is what will Ohio State actually get from Towns? When he had his back surgery last summer, the expectation was that he’d be back in December — which never happened. Are the Buckeyes using a scholarship for purely goodwill and nostalgia on a local product who will once again sit the bench for five months? Could the coaching staff have urged Towns to move on and use that scholarship on a safer option?

Or will Towns return in the fall, fully healthy for the first time since 2018? Coming off the bench, a healthy Seth Towns could be Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year. Having a former Ivy League Player of the Year in your second rotation would be an asset few teams could match. If he’s ready to go and can play 15-20 minutes per night, Towns could be a key asset to an Ohio State team trying to make their first Sweet Sixteen in a decade.

Towns returns to a frontcourt that will also feature returnees Zed Key, Sueing, Kalen Etzler, and Gene Brown. Don’t be shocked if Ohio State adds another wing via the transfer portal in the coming weeks as well.

Welcome back, Seth!

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