Signed with Overtime Elite.

I picked stay at 14 since kick 2 or 4 out wasn't an option. I'm looking at you PSU, tsun, kNowledge.

Always love the countdown. Miss the program covers Lost Lassie posted in past years. Have we lost her?

Anyway, thanks for the memories. One of these days I'll get off my ass and locate more pics from the 50s and 60s.

So You Drafted A Buckeye: Josh Myers
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

The second Buckeye drafted in the second round, Myers was taken 62nd overall and he was drafted by the Packers. After Corey Linsley left for the Chargers, the Packers have replaced him with another Buckeye in Myers. Myers is a tough one and is very durable. We saw the impact of him being lost for a short time and it wasn’t pretty. Being like the rock on the offensive line, he brings experience that could translate instantly in the NFL.

Making calls at the next level would be tough for a rookie who is unfamiliar with the system but Bakhtiari will welcome him in and mentor him along the way. Like in Werner’s situation, he goes into an ideal situation to where he could also contribute right away. He has the tools and the knowledge to succeed but he would need to study the playbook and get stronger. Either way, his potential speaks for itself. He finds himself in an ideal situation that could blossom into a long career.




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So You Drafted A Buckeye: Pete Werner
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

Pete Werner was the first Buckeye defender taken in the second round. Werner was taken 60th overall by the New Orleans Saints joining former Buckeye Marshon Lattimore. Werner, a four star recruit according to 24/7 was an Inside Linebacker prospect that bloomed into a Swiss Army knife on defense. A linebacker with good coverage skills that could also blitz when called upon. Let’s say he’s in good company with him lining up alongside Demario Davis.

Werner is a gamer that will be asked to cover TE’s and if needed receivers. He won’t be asked to start but the current group aside from Davis leaves a lot to be desired. Werner is a sure tackler, but he does try to get that big hit in from time to time but when he makes contact, he shifts momentum fast. He sometimes takes risks on defense as well as bad angles but under the tutelage of Cameron, Davis and Lattimore, he will get right. Either way, he is a competitor and he should be able to secure a decent role on this aging defense.




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So You Drafted A Buckeye: Justin Fields
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

After an unceremonious pre-draft thrashing, Justin Fields slipped past QB-needy teams like the Panthers and the Broncos, and found himself donning a Bears hat. From being the clear-cut QB2, to getting drafted QB4, he lands in Chicago and behind newly signed Andy Dalton to begin his career. Dalton is on his third team after beginning his career in Cincinnati, a single season in Dallas, and now Chicago. Can Fields come in and contribute immediately? Or will he have to grind it out and wait for his time like Mahomes?

All the talk and the doubt have fueled him up to this point. He will let his play do the talking and I personally think he will reverse the QB trend in the NFL. Fields brings immediate competition for Dalton. Enough to be worried about but not until he dissects the playbook and learns the system. He brings toughness and that feistiness you like to see in a quarterback that coincidentally slipped in the draft. A huge chip lays squarely on his shoulders and he wouldn’t want it any other way. Beware. For the teams that passed on him, I feel like this gem will make teams regret it.




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Fandom Origins: RJ Tongohan
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

Fans often are so attached to teams and this fan is definitely addicted to anything Ohio State, but would it be crazy to know that I wasn’t always an Ohio State fans? Would it shock you to know that little detail about me, a writer that has been following and writing about Ohio State? Well believe it and here is my comic book-ish origin story for those who have followed me and have enjoyed my fan perspective content over the years.

So to set the stage, I was born and raised in Guam, a U.S. territory located in the Pacific Ocean. I was raised on basketball and knew little about football. The only teams I knew of were the Cowboys and the Dolphins in the NFL. I joined the military in 2005 and I became a Broncos fan by default when watching a Chargers/Broncos game on Turkey Day while attending tech school for my job in the Air Force. He was a Chargers fans and being me, I picked the other team and rolled with it.

Fast forward to my first duty stationed or base, I was stationed at Nebraska in December 2005 and I knew nothing about college football. The husker fans around me were annoying and I watched college football casually but I had no favorite team. Now after watching on and off, I tuned into an Ohio State game in 2006 and I was hooked on them instantly. #10, #7, #28, #33 and #2 reeled me in and that is how I developed my affinity for Ohio State everything.

The offense dazzled. I remember watching Troy Smith slinging and running it, Ted Ginn Jr’s electric skills every time he touched the ball and Beanie Wells dashing past and running over TTUN defenders. The defense was a forced to be reckoned with with stalwarts like James Laurinaitus being involved in every defensive play and Malcolm Jenkins shutting one half of the field down as a shutdown corner.

These are my fondest moments as a fan and it came with its highs and lows. Highs were defeating TTUN consistently, a streak that has few blemishes. I didn’t live through the Cooper years but I did my research and I pray I never see times like those. Demolishing Clemson last year was also another awesome moment and obviously the crowned jewel was winning it all in 2014.

The lows? I’ll start with 2011’s Fickell season and the last loss at the hands of TTUN. There were also the losses to LSU and Florida in the championship games. Add the Bama loss and the Clemson shutout to that, but it has never stopped me from switching teams.

I have been writing for five years and I have stayed loyal to a smaller, lesser known company in the Men Of The Scarlet And Gray or MOTSAG. I sometimes wish for an opportunity to join the ranks of a bigger company but it is unlikely and I’m okay with that. I cannot wait to see what is in store for me and the future but it’s been awesome and I’ve met some cool people on the way. Here’s to more content and I hope you enjoyed this little spin. Look for all my companions to follow suit.

#GoBucks





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You’re Nuts: What is the best Columbus pizza for game-night dining?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Rob Hardin / Columbus Alive via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.

Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.

In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.

Today’s Question: What is the best Columbus pizza for game night eating?


Matt and Jami were both huge fans of the dearly departed, south campus institution Catfish Biff’s. So if the pandemic hadn’t stolen them from us, at least one of them would have chosen the Biff’s.

Also, if you haven’t already, you need to pick up this generation’s seminal non-fiction tome “Columbus Pizza: A Slice of History” by Jim Ellison.

Jami’s Take: Tommy’s Pizza on Lane


It’s Game Day in Columbus, and you know what that means — you need to order the perfect game day pizza to feed your crew tonight. But which pizza place should you choose? Matt and I have you covered.

I’d like to take a moment to memorialize the late, great Catfish Biff’s, which Matt and I agree was the greatest pizza place to ever grace Columbus with its presence. Since our beloved Biff’s was a heartbreaking pandemic casualty, if you’re looking for game day pizza, there are only two remaining acceptable answers: Adriatico’s on South Campus and Tommy’s on Lane, depending on your geography.

If your reaction - like Matt’s - to reading that was “Jami, you’re wrong,” first of all, no I am not. I’m never wrong, and I have lived in both Chicago and New York, so I’m certainly never wrong about pizza. Matt, on the other hand, called Tommy’s “overrated” and “a generic knockoff of Donato’s” because he apparently lacks all taste. Arguably, he should be disqualified for even having an opinion on this topic if he can’t differentiate between Tommy’s - the pizza of the gods - and Donato’s - a fine option if cheap pitchers are what you’re really there for.

Adriatico’s and Tommy’s serve up two very different pizzas, but unfortunately, only one can be the best. Let’s see how they stack up in a variety of categories.

Value

I did the math - Tommy’s will cost you about $1.08 for each inch of pizza (it costs $16.25 for a large, 15” pizza). Adriatico’s, on the other hand, will run you about $1.03 per inch ($18.49 for a large 18” pizza). Adriatico’s also offers you more toppings and better sizing options (Tommy’s caps out at a 15” pizza, while Adriatico’s serves an 18”x24” Buckeye-size which is great for parties like the kind you might have on gameday). Each additional topping costs a little more at Adriatico’s than it does at Tommy’s, but overall, Adriatico’s has the better value.

Edge: Adriatico’s

Taste

This is all a matter of personal preference. The crust is the center of attention at Adriatico’s, but that means the flavor of the pizza is largely … bready, whereas Tommy’s flavors all come together into one cohesive pizza. I also prefer Tommy’s sauce and feel they have a better cheese-to-sauce-to-crust ratio.

Edge: Tommy’s

Crust

I personally prefer Tommy’s crust because I like a thinner, crunchier crust on my pizza. But at Adriatico’s, the crust really is the star of the show - it’s perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. That I tend to prefer thin crust pizza but still find myself dreaming about the pillowy goodness of Adriatico’s was enough for me to give them the edge. Tommy’s does a great crust if the thinner, crunchier crust is your thing. Adriatico’s does a great crust even if a doughy crust isn’t your thing.

Edge: Adriatico’s.

Toppings

Adriatico’s offers more variety by way of toppings, but in my experience, Tommy’s does a better job of nailing the ratio. If your heart is really set on putting turkey on your pizza (an option at Adriatico’s but not at Tommy’s), that’s not on Tommy. That’s on you for ruining your pizza. Tommy’s earns extra points in my book for their pepperoni. This might be a hot take, but Adriatico’s pepperoni doesn’t do it for me. Yes, I know it’s huge. I don’t want one giant pepperoni - I want lots of little pepperoni so they don’t slide off with one bite. The best pepperoni is the kind that curls up in the oven to form a small bowl - the ends get crispy and the grease sort of pools in the peps. Tommy’s is doing this all right, and Adriatico’s is a completely fine second.

Edge: Tommy’s

Ease of ordering

Both Tommy’s and Adriatico’s offer dine-in, pick-up, and delivery, but Adriatico’s doesn’t yet offer online ordering. You have to - gasp - pick up the phone and speak to a human (the horror!). Adriatico’s also charges a $2.00 delivery fee. Tommy’s, on the other hand, offers easy online ordering through DoorDash without any delivery fee or price markups on the menu. You can call if you prefer that, but I’m guessing most people don’t prefer that. They also have more than one location, which gives them a slightly wider delivery area.

To any college kids reading this - this is your friendly reminder to tip your delivery people. I know you’re broke. That’s not an excuse not to tip. Seriously. Scrounge up an extra $1 each among your friends to pay this person who is running around serving you food in your drunkenness.

Edge: Tommy’s

Overall winner: Tommy’s

Based on my very scientific analysis of these two very delightful pizza places, Tommy’s is the way to go. From easy ordering to taste you’ll dream about years after you leave Columbus, this is your best bet for all your game day pizza needs.

Matt’s Take:


According to the renowned pizza experts at Slice, Columbus style pizza is described as, “Columbus-style pies are built upon an ultra-thin crust that’s usually crispy, closer to a cracker than the typical pizza base. The toppings go all the way up to the very edge to maximize the real estate for the toppings. After baking, it’s cut into squares, rather than triangles.”

While it is similar in style to that of the St. Louis pie, Columbus style pizza uses more traditional pizza cheeses (mozzarella and parmesan) than our brethren in the Arch City do. Columbus pizza and Chicago thin-crust are very similar.

Now, as someone who hasn’t lived in Ohio in over 17 years, I can tell you that while there is certainly good pizza in other parts of the country, there is nothing like a good thin-and-crispy crust, Columbus-style large pizza that you can house in one sitting without ever realizing that you’ve had more than a couple of pieces.

Now, Tommy’s certainly falls into the Columbus style category, and were my dad to be writing this article, he might be inclined to agree with Jami, as he grew up one block away from the original Tommy’s location at the corner of Hamilton and Livingston. But, my dad’s not writing this article, and I have better taste than he does anyway (and obviously than Jami as well).

Being the elder statesman of LGHL, many of the on-campus pizza options have changed since I was in school, but I did always enjoy a good dose of Adriatico’s, especially when I was an R.A. or working for the Student Activities office, because you could order a Buckeye Pizza for an event and feed like 20 people for $12 on Tuesday nights. It was the Ohio State equivalent of feeding 4,000 people with a few loaves and fishes; a south campus miracle.

But, if we are talking about the quintessential pizza for an OSU game day, Adriatico’s is out, because it just doesn’t meet the qualifications of a Columbus-style pizza. Sorry, guys.

That also means that familiar brands like Pizza Hut, Dominos, Papa Johns, Gumbys (is Gumbys still a thing on campus?), Hounddogs’ (is Hounddogs’ still a thing on campus?), and others are out as well.

So, that brings us to three Columbus-style staples, the aforementioned Tommy’s, the OG Columbus-style pizza Massey’s, and the preeminent representative of the style, Donato’s. I’m clearly not going with Tommy’s, or that would defeat the purpose of this article, and to be honest, it is my personal least favorite of these three.

So, the question is, do I go with the virtual inventor of the Columbus-style in Massey’s or do a go with the ever-growing behemoth in Donato’s? Both are childhood favorites of mine; Massey’s with the added crunch and texture of the extra seasoning on top and their impossibly long and thin slices. Donato’s with their nearly perfect, thin pepperoni that curl up with a delectable crispness on the edges.

Having lived in the south for over 15 years, when I took a friend who was never much of a pizza fan before to Columbus and fed them Donato’s, they responded that it was like they put crack on pizza. That seems like a fairly ringing endorsement.

However, living in Florida, Donato’s is creeping down into the Sunshine State, in fact, they have a franchise about 45 minutes away from me; close enough to go get it when I’m craving it, but not close enough for delivery — a blessing and a curse. They thing is, it’s not exactly the same. The crust is a little too thick to be authentic Donato’s. Everything else tastes the same (although I think they need to leave the pies in the oven a little longer to get that perfect crispness), but it still isn’t the perfect Donato’s experience.

Massey’s on the other hand only has 15 locations and they are all in Central Ohio, making it the type of pizza that seems built for an Ohio State football viewing party.

But, if I’m being honest, Donato’s is still it for me. I know it’s cliche, but there’s a reason that McDonald’s bought them (and them sold them back to the original owners) and that they are expanding nationwide; they are just the best Columbus style pizza out there.

So, I might be a square (cut), but I am riding Donato’s for game night; but you better not eat my corner pieces, damnit.

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Bold Predictions: C.J. Stroud finds the end zone often in his first start as Ohio State’s quarterback
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

C.J. Stroud throwing four touchdowns, Jeremy Ruckert catching five passes, and a number of other bold predictions for tonight’s game against Minnesota.

Prior to each Ohio State game this year, LGHL is going to bring you some “bold predictions”. This will include somewhere around five predictions for the game, whether it be passing yards, points scored, sacks, or a number of other things that we could see happening during the game.

We’d love to hear your bold predictions. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your bold predictions in the comments.

C.J. Stroud will at least throw as many touchdown passes as Justin Fields did in his first start at Ohio State


When Justin Fields opened up his Ohio State career against Florida Atlantic in 2019, the Georgia transfer threw four touchdown passes against the Owls. Expect Stroud to at least match Fields’ debut total, and maybe even get to five touchdown passes, which is how many Dwayne Haskins threw in the season opener against Bowling Green in 2018.

It certainly makes things easier that Stroud has an insane collection of receivers to work with. Stroud is going to try and spread the football around, which will help to boost his touchdown totals not only tonight, but throughout the season. You have to figure that Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson will each haul in a touchdown pass, and smart money would be on Jeremy Ruckert catching one for a score inside the red zone. That just leaves one more touchdown that Stroud has to throw, and with guys like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Julian Fleming, and Emeka Egbuka, it shouldn’t be hard to connect with at least one of them for a score.

Jeremy Ruckert will catch at least five passes

Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

This number might sound a little high considering how Ohio State has sparingly used their tight ends over the last few decades, but look into it more and it makes a little more sense. Jeremy Ruckert has had three games over the last two years where he has caught at four passes in a game. One of those games was the 2019 season opener against Florida Atlantic, where two of those receptions were touchdowns.

There’s no doubt that Minnesota is going to be keyed in to trying to slow down the ridiculous collection of talent that Ohio State has at wide receiver. The Golden Gophers can’t cover everyone, which should leave players like Ruckert open. Also, Ruckert should provide a bit of a security blanket for Stroud if things start to breakdown in the pocket. When it doubt throw it to the man who has caught about everything thrown his way during his time in the scarlet and gray.

Ohio State will intercept at least two passes


The pressure that Ohio State will put on Tanner Morgan will force the Minnesota quarterback to make some risky decisions. This will backfire against an opportunistic defense that will be looking to reassert their dominance after some shaky performances in 2020. Even with their struggles last year, the Buckeyes did intercept seven passes in eight games.

It also will help that Ohio State should be up by a couple scores in the second half, which will lead to the Golden Gophers throwing the football a little more than they would like to. As time in the game goes on and the clock dwindles, Minnesota will get more desperate, meaning Morgan will make some more suspect decisions that Ohio State will take advantage of.

Mohamed Ibrahim will record his ninth straight 100-yard rushing game

Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images

The Minnesota running back is one of the best backs in the country. Add in an experienced offensive line and it’s easy to see why Minnesota will want to hand the football off to Ibrahim early and often. With his usage rate, it might not seem like cracking triple digits is all that bold of a prediction. The reason that could make this a little spicy is because Ohio State has some of the best athletes in the country and is usually rather stingy against the run.

Ohio State has to replace all their starters at linebackers, which could lead to some miscues early in the season. While the Buckeyes will have an upgrade at one of the linebacker positions since they won’t have Tuf Borland and his snow plow speed at linebacker, there will still be some growing pains amongst the new starters.

A lot of the damage Ibrahim will do on the ground against Ohio State will come earlier in the game. As the game moves along, the Buckeyes will tighten up their run defense as they become more familiar with what Ibrahim and the Golden Gophers will throw at them. Also, Ohio State should extend the lead in the second half, which will make Minnesota rely more on the pass than the run.

Ohio State will score at least 50 points for the third time in four season openers under Ryan Day


I know it’s hard to put a whole lot of stock in 2020, but Minnesota did allow Michigan to score 49 points in their season opener in Minneapolis. Yes, that Michigan team that lost four of their next five games. While the Golden Gophers are definitely more experienced on defense this year, Ohio State has a lot more to offer than anyone Minnesota saw in 2020.

With Oregon on deck for next Saturday in Columbus, Ryan Day is going to want to send a message out west to the Ducks. Don’t expect Ohio State to take their foot of the gas pedal tonight, as with a new quarterback Ohio State is going to want to give C.J. Stroud and the rest of the offense as much confidence as they can going into the home opener against Oregon next week.

Even though this will undoubtedly be the toughest opponent Ryan Day and the Buckeyes have seen in a season opener during his time as a head coach (interim coaching duties from 2018 included), don’t expect the Golden Gophers to be able to keep Ohio State off the scoreboard. If Stroud throws at least four touchdown passes as predicted earlier, it shouldn’t be out of the question for the Buckeyes to find 22 points (assuming all extra points are converted) in other aspects of the game.

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LGHL’s 2021 Ohio State and college football season predictions
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Set Number: X163093 TK1

Our staff predicted every thing for the Buckeyes, the Big Ten Conference, and college football as a whole.

As the Ohio State football team prepares to embark on the 2021 college football season your favorite Ohio State SB Nation blog, no, not that one... not that one either... the other one. No, I’m talking about Land-Grant Holy Land. To get ready for the season, our panel of experts refuses to be silenced by the inevitable shaming at the hands of Freezing Cold Takes, and is putting their collective knowledge where their typing fingers are.

Fifteen LGHL writers and editors have made predictions about the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Big Ten Conference, and college football as a whole. Let us know who you are — and aren’t — agreeing with in the comments below. And don’t worry, we will be revisiting these come season’s end.

If you want to see how some of our returning LGHL prognosticators did in the 2020 season, check out the results from last season’s predictions.


Who will lead Ohio State in rushing yardage this season?



True freshman TreVeyon Henderson the clear leader in this predictions category.


Who will lead Ohio State in rushing TDs this season?



Despite Henderson taking the lead in the yardage question, veteran Master Teague is the presumptive leader in TDs. Henderson and Miyan Williams are close behind.


Will the coaching staff #FreeDemario this season?



I will never..... EVER..... give up on this. How dare you, person who is certainly not me who asked this question.


Who will lead Ohio State in receiving yardage this season?



No surprise here, Chris Olave leads the way with 60% of the vote, with Garrett Wilson close behind at 40%.


Who will lead Ohio State in receiving TDs this season?



Same thing as the question above.


C.J. Stroud Passing Stats Predictions


While there is some variance amongst the responses, most everyone is in the same, general range.


How many passing yards will Quinn Ewers have?


Not gonna lie, a lot more zeros in these predictions than I was expecting, but I respect Dante for going big. It’s a longshot, but if it hits, he’s gonna look like a genius.


Who will lead Ohio State in tackles this season?


Come on, Chris. Pick one. If Simon or Young ends up leading the team, you’re only getting half credit when we tally this stuff up.


Who will lead Ohio State in sacks this season?



Zach Harrison leading in a big way here. I hope 2/3s of us are right!


Who will lead Ohio State in interceptions this season?



Sevyn Banks and Lathan Ransom in the lead here, which makes sense.


How many combined punts and field goal attempts will Ohio State have this season?


This is the one that I am by far the most invested in.


Which true freshman will end up having the biggest impact this season and why?


I expected a little more for Henderson in here, but I love that there are so many optionsand that all are legitimately viable.


Which Buckeye that nobody is talking about will step up to make the biggest impact (non-freshman edition)?


Apparently the mileage on “that nobody is talking about” will vary, but good options, nonetheless.


Which player and brand will end up being the most ubiquitous example of the new NIL rules during the season?

I won’t list all of these, but I will share some of my favorites.

Connor Lemons: Dawand Jones and Buckeye Donuts.

Shane Bailey: Dawand Jones definitely needs a Big Thanos clothing line; although I’m sure Marvel would take issue with that. If no Big and Tall stores have reached out to Dawand yet they are missing out on a huge opportunity.

Gene Ross: Miyan Williams doing a meatball/pork chop ad for a restaurant.

Chris Renne: The OL, people love their linemen and we’re going to see a lot of group opportunities as well as individual. Plus the OL are crafty dudes who will find some great opportunities.


If no games are canceled, what will Ohio State’s regular season record be?


David and Josh, please report to my office immediately.


What will the score of the Ohio State vs. Michigan game be?


Apropos of nothing, don’t forget that you can purchase our “Hang 100 on ‘Em” t-shirt here and have it in plenty of time for this year’s edition of The Game.


Please list your predicted order of finish in the Big Ten East (Top to Bottom)


I would have been pretty upset if anyone had gone off the map with their Big Ten East pick, to be honest.


Please list your predicted order of finish in the Big Ten West (Top to Bottom)


Lots of Badger love here at LGHL.


Who is your Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year?


We might be homers, but five of the last nine people to win this award have been Ohio State quarterbacks, so it seems like a good bet to go with Stroud.


Who is your Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year?


Who is your Big Ten Coach of the Year?


Of course we all wanted to pick Ryan Day, but we’ve been burnt too many times before.


What is your boldest, most out-of-left-field prediction for Ohio State this season?


What is your boldest, most out-of-left-field prediction for college football this season (non-Ohio State version)?


Lots of folks down on Bama, huh?


Who wins the Heisman Trophy?


Two people picked running backs? What decade are you living in, guys?


Will Ohio State have a Heisman finalist(s)? If so, who?


It’s ok, you can say it. We’re homers.


College Football Playoff Seeding Predictions


I’ll take my chances with these lists.


Who is your National Champion?


What do you want? I told you we were homers.

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Minnesota Defensive Player to Watch: Linebacker Jack Gibbens
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Jack Gibbens is wearing new colors, but will look to make a similar impact for the Golden Gophers | Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images

Minnesota had a rough 2020, exacerbated by their issues on defense. A small-school transfer should play a pivotal role in helping to turn the unit around this season.

Minnesota is not expected to be a defensive juggernaut. Let’s get that out of the way first. I could pick and choose stats all day long, but a few jumped out to me from their 2020 season: 206.7 opponent rushing yards/gm (99th in the county), 4.00% sack rate (114th), and 64.06% opponent completion percentage (92nd). On paper, you’re basically telling me they struggle to stop the run, they don’t pressure the quarterback, and the opponent is able to complete a high percentage of their passes due to said lack of pressure.

In reality, the 2020 version of the Golden Gophers lost a lot of talent from their 2019 defense (recurring theme for Minnesota). Antoine Winfield Jr. was an All-World defensive back, and Carter Coughlin could get after the quarterback. Similar to the offense, Minnesota’s defense was attempting to fill major holes from the previous season, and went up against a pandemic during an effort to do so. I am still not intimidated by what they do have coming back in 2021, but there are some good players on that side of the ball.

Guys like Coney Durr and Jordan Howden are returning starters in Minnesota’s secondary, and they will be tasked with trying to stop Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and others… average DBs, so don’t count on them being able to shut down Ohio State’s passing attack.

Boye Mafe is a breakout candidate at defensive end, but his production has not yet matched the hype. Eight sacks in 29 games (1/4 of which came against Illinois last year) means he is a capable pass rusher — not Lawrence Taylor. Additionally, P.J. Fleck brought in transfers to try and give his defense a much-needed boost, including former Clemson defensive tackle Nyles Pinckney. One of those transfers — and the player on Minnesota’s defense who could have a big impact on the unit as a whole — is newcomer Jack Gibbens.

Gibbens is a graduate transfer from Abilene Christian, and he may end up “quarterbacking” the Golden Gophers defense. He brings a ton of experience to a unit that struggled last year, and looks the part of a solid Big Ten linebacker. He also has the instincts and the intelligence to anchor a defense, as evidenced by his inclusion among the 2020 Campbell Trophy finalists. The Campbell Trophy has been nicknamed the “Academic Heisman,” and is open to FBS, FCS, and lower-division athletes. Gibbens has enough brain and brawn so that he should not be overwhelmed by his transition to the Big Ten.


Gibbens played four years at Abilene Christian, starting his final three. He somewhat surprisingly never earned all-conference honors (only Honorable Mention in 2018), but was productive nonetheless. He racked up 104 tackles as a junior in 2019, and totaled 22.5 tackles for loss, including seven sacks, and five interceptions during his time as a starter. He is coming off of a strong overall season in 2020 as well, albeit one that was shortened due to the pandemic. In six games, he accumulated 49 tackles, to go with 4.5 TFL, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, one interception, and one forced fumble. He was a force all over the field, and will bring some serious thump for the Golden Gophers.

The former Wildcat is 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds of bad intentions. He is one of, if not the biggest, linebackers on Minnesota’s team. Not that size is everything at the linebacker position, especially when going up against modern offenses, but Gibbens is no small dude. He has the ability to lay out a Buckeye ball carrier if the opportunity arises. Furthermore, he has played in certain pass-rushing packages during his career, so he could be used to create pressure on C.J. Stroud with a timely blitz. He is not a blazer (4.7+ speed), but at his size, all he needs is the element of surprise.

It is difficult to be too intimidated by, or concerned with, any player from a defense that performed so poorly last year, however, Joe Rossi’s unit has experienced plenty of success since he was named the interim defensive coordinator in 2018. He will also have the benefit of a traditional offseason. Sure, the talent was at a higher level in 2019, when they ranked tenth in total defense, but it’s not as if the Minnesota coaches abandoned the scheme(s) they had success with. They just lost talent… and a lot of it.

Gibbens brings a certain maturity to the Minnesota defense, and he is a proven playmaker. If he can direct traffic in the middle of the field, the Gophers’ experienced secondary stands a better chance of keeping the Ohio State wide receivers in-check. If the secondary holds its own, Mafe will have more time to penetrate the line of scrimmage. OSU has not had the luxury of their own defense being directed by a field general recently (or at least not a good one), but Minnesota might have an impact leader in Gibbens.

Gibbens’ role is still up in the air, so identifying him as a player to watch out for is a bit risky. However, if you look back at what Minnesota did on defense last year, should we feel confident about anybody else outside of perhaps Mafe? Remember, Mafe will be going against Thayer Munford, Nicholas Petit-Frere, or Dawand Jones — not Illinois. Even if Gibbens is part of a rotation, he is already more experienced (and I would say more proven, despite the level of competition) than his peers.

Minnesota’s defense should be improved in 2021… they almost have to be. Much like Oho State, they were breaking in a lot of new starters and were forced to deal with unusual circumstances last year. I still like the Buckeyes to put up 35 plus, but keep an eye on Gibbens. He could bring a much-needed stability to their linebacker rotation, and his presence should be a positive for the Golden Gophers.

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What can we expect from C.J. Stroud based on recent OSU first-time starters?
David M Wheeler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


C.J. Stroud impresses in buckeye spring game. | Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

Expectations run high as Buckeye season opens, but are those expectations fair?

It begins tonight. The Ohio State season opener against Minnesota. The beginning of the C.J. Stroud era for Buckeye football; or at least that’s the plan.

So, what can we reasonably expect from the Buckeye quarterback who’s never thrown a pass in a college game? We didn’t see much of Stroud in the shortened 2020 season, he played in only one game, carrying the ball only once. But on that one run, he galloped 48 yards for a touchdown. We all watched with our eyes open wide.

For comparison, let’s take a look at how J.T. Barrett, Dwayne Haskins, and Justin Fields performed in their starting debuts. Note that I’m leaving out Cardale Jones, we all know how he did in his first start against the Badgers in the Big Ten Championship Game. But Jones’ start came at the end of a season. He was more experienced than these others first-time starters.

Aug. 30, 2014 | Ohio State vs. Navy: J.T. Barrett’s first start

Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

Barrett starts at quarterback after Braxton Miller’s injury seemed to doom the season before it started. How did Barrett do?

First of all, and most importantly, he won, 34-17. He completed 80% of his passes (12-of-15) for 226 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Barrett also rushed nine times for 50 yards.

All in all, his first start brought a strong sense of relief to the Buckeye faithful and a return of hope for the season as a whole. Barrett wasn’t outstanding, but he was good, very good, as we would see as the year unfolded.

Sept. 1, 2018 | Ohio State vs. Oregon State: Dwayne Haskins’ first start


We get our first look at Dwayne Haskins as a starter against the Beavers, and wow! Haskins led the Bucks to 723 offensive yards in the jaw-dropping 77-31 victory over the other OSU.

Haskins completed 22 of 30 passes (73.3%) for 313 yards, five touchdowns, and an interception. He also carried the ball twice for 24 yards. Had we ever seen an Ohio State passing attack like this one? Probably not, but we’d see plenty more of it before the 2018 season ended.

Aug. 31, 2019 | Ohio State vs. Florida Atlantic: Just Fields’ first start


Transfer quarterback Justin Fields makes his Buckeye debut against the Owls a little over two years ago. Again – Wow! Ohio State won as Fields threw 25 times and completed 18 of his passes (72%) for 234 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also proved that he could run, too: 61 yards gained on 12 rushes.

The game was a sign of really good things to come over the next two seasons — and likely more, if you are a Chicago Bears fan.

Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

What did these three opening starts have in common? All three were OSU victories. All three QBs completed at least 70% of their passes. All three played really well and launched the season positively.

Sept. 2, 2021 | Ohio State vs. Minnesota: C.J. Stroud’s first start


After winning a heated battle to the top of the depth chart, Stroud makes his first start tonight. Compared to the other three recent examples above, there are several differences this time that we notice immediately. The game is on a Thursday night. The game is against a conference opponent. That opponent is of higher quality than Navy, Florida Atlantic, or even Oregon State.

Naturally, as Ohio State fans, our expectations are sky-high for Stroud, who’s loaded with talent. He looked great in the spring game, he’s got the best corps of receivers in the country, his offensive line may also be the best in the country. Also, we know that Ryan Day can coach quarterbacks and get them ready to play.

Stroud has a strong arm, and I think that he’ll be allowed to use it in this game. He’ll throw 15-yard sideline patterns; he’ll throw deep balls. He’ll also give the ball to his three running backs and watch them roll behind that line.

Anything to worry about? Sure. Stroud’s young and inexperienced. He’ll make some misreads of the defense, make some bad throws. He may even show some panic when he’s rushed.

One thing to watch for is how easily he gives up on a pass play as pressure mounts. We know that he can run — as evidenced by his TD scamper last season — but you want to see him trust his line and receivers enough to let routes develop.

If you watched Saturday’s Nebraska-Illinois game, you would have seen Adrian Martinez scramble way too often and way too soon. Yes, he gained some yards, and the Huskers weren’t having much success otherwise, but his scrambling put an end to the Nebraska passing game. It frustrated his receivers, who soon became less focused on their routes. It also adversely affected the line’s blocking on pass calls and led to some penalties. Stroud needs to stick to the call — unless he’s about to be sacked. And I don’t see that happening much.

All in all, I think that Stroud will do just fine, just as his predecessors have. The first priority, obviously, is to win the game. He needs to limit his mistakes (misreads, penalties, turnovers) and let his excellent supporting cast do their stuff.

Secondly, he needs to pass well enough to build his confidence going into a tougher game in Week 2. He needs to complete, say, 60 to 65% of his passes, throw at least a couple of touchdown passes, and rack up 250 yards of passing offense. He should also show that he can run on designed quarterback rushing plays. Stroud needs to display poise and leadership and demonstrate that he’s genuinely next in line to those who have come before him and worthy of defining a Buckeye “era.”

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All Parking and Stadium vendors are going cashless this year. If you don't have an event parking pass, parking for cars will be $20 payable only by credit card this year. Apple, Samsung, and Google Pay are not accepted.

colobuck79 said:

That's tough stuff. Be well, and good luck. Ditto for sticking around here! And for the record, I have worked with several husker engineer graduates over the years and they were top notch.

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She'd better be top notch with all the I'm dropping down there. She has scholarships, but dang.

Clifford Heffelfinger would be proud: the Jablonka boys helped keep the Book Loft around for another generation!

https://www.dispatch.com/story/busi...an-village-sold-surprising-buyers/5654070001/

NFBuck said:

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You just made me wake my entire family up at 5:15am and I have a whole damn house full of them. Bahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

Here's to Mac Jones falling flat on his stupid punchable face.

Unfortunately any time I go to create a new banner, I get an error & it's not letting me save it.

Give up jwins....he thinks the original discussion was that Nike and Oregon would never spill a penny over a single recruit, so in his mind he's already pwned the rest of the internet.

I would play.

Tongohan’s 6 Spring Tings
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



Spring games are used to build players and to showcase their progress after the winter workouts have concluded. Now after the spring game, players are vying for starting positions and trying to separate themselves among the pack. With multiple starting positions up for grabs, you could expect to show out—and a few players caught my eye. I am no pro scout or anything but as a fan, I am pleased with what I saw for the future. Here’s how we saw it a MOSTAG.

1. Quarterback Battle Intensifies

Stroud, Miller and McCord all have the tools to become the heir to Justin Fields’ vacant starting gig. Hear me out. Stroud and Miller have a slight leg up while learning under Fields and they have some in-game experience, but neither has thrown a pass as a Buckeye. McCord is a true freshman with the capacity to learn quickly and urgently to overtake the two redshirt freshman, but it’s too easy to tell and this battle should bleed into the fall.

Stroud, the odds favorite to succeed Fields had an efficient game and finished with over 100 passing yards and a touchdown strikes to Marvin Harrison Jr and Joe Royer. The poise and confidence was there but Miller and McCord proved their cases as well.

Miller started efficiently as you could. He brought his team up into the red zone but was picked off by Watts after forcing a pass to Wilson. After the pick, his decisiveness resurfaced but he was held to 100 yards and no touchdowns. Mistakes happen and the future cannot be predicted. Miller needs to take it all in and push forward like his competitors.

Finally, McCord started with a bang. A 40 or 50 yard bomb to Wilson who ended up getting the wind knocked out of him on what to me was one of my favorite plays of the game—and what a way to introduce yourself young man! McCord brought that sauce and he too went for 100+ yards with a strike to Smith-Njigba. He is a gamer that could surprise folks.

The scout team players also got some play and Andrade and LaRoe flexed their skills. Both were efficient and it looked cerebral at times. Sure, it was against other scout players and a few scholarship players but to cap off the game LaRoe hit Wiglusz for a spinning walk-off score to end the day. What a tremendous play and way to send fans out on a high note.

2. Hartline’s War Chest

Brian Hartline is by far the best recruiter on the Buckeye staff and he has proved it over the last 3-4 recruiting cycles as he seamlessly stockpiles and develops his talent at the wide receiver position. For perspective, in 3 of 4 of these years, he reeled in at least one big fish each cycle. By big fish, I mean a five-star fish and Egbuka (2021) Fleming (2020), Smith-Njigba (2020) and Wilson (2019) are the big fish that he has stockpiled in recent classes. This season, he has Olave and Wilson so he can afford to get these younger players ready for their time after the aforementioned two depart for the pros.

Out of all the receivers, I’d say that Egbuka and Harrison showed out with a combination of tough catches and route running prowess. For Egbuka, his run after catch talent was evident and Harrison’s polished route running makes the future bright for the offense and for zone 6.

3. Cadillac Backs

So the running back position struggled a bit after the departure of JK Dobbins. Injuries have ravaged the position, but with fully recovered players in Chambers and Crowley, a returning mayhem meatball (Williams), and two talented true freshman in Henderson and Pryor—the future is bright for this group as well.

Henderson stood out as a pass catcher, Chambers broke off a sizzling run, mayhem meatball didn’t stray away from contact and Pryor’s effort to make plays stood out. Pryor did not have any wow plays, but none the less he showed up.

4. The Jack Sawyer Show

So tap football was different but Sawyer had himself a day. He was disruptive and as he reeled in 4-5 sacks with one being a strip sack that would’ve led to a turnover. He did not play last season, but he is as advertised. He set-up his pass rush moves and got to his target occasionally.

Although Smith and Harrison are ahead, I can see him in sub packages to spell either of the two. He is too valuable to leave off of the field and although it’s a spring game—he was an impressive player. A high motor, relentless type of player that could be the next rushman star of the future.

5. Secondary Flashes

With Shaun Wade leaving, a hole remains in the secondary. Johnson and Banks remain, but they were not playing today. Watts and Burke got some reps and they did well enough to be mentioned. Watts picked off Miller in the first quarter and Burke got best here and there but he got some valuable reps.

Ransom flashed again and nearly picked off a pass one-handed while in zone coverage. Although they weren’t perfect, the future is still bright. The Buckeyes have a couple of more defensive backs that have yet to show up, so we won’t truly know what we have in that room. All I know is they have the talent to be better in pass defense after getting torched last season and finishing 116th in the nation. I feel like they will have a massive chip of their shoulder to reclaim the BIA title.

6. Kicking Woes

So With Haubiel and Chrisman departing for the pros, enter Jake Seibert and Jesse Mirco to replace them. Mirco had no issues but the Seibert went 0-2, missing wide on both field goal attempts. His extra points were good but the kicking game should be better than that.

You never know when a game would rest on the leg of the kicker and I think he needs some work to build confidence during crunch time. Special teams and field flipping are staples of the Ohio State game plan—so moving forward, I think Day will focus on this aspect of the game.






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Marvin Harrison Jr., TreVeyon Henderson, stars in the making
Mike 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

Coming to a program like Ohio State as a highly ranked recruit is enough pressure for young collegiate athletes, but living up to the hype and making a name for yourself early on is another thing.

Former 4-star WR Marvin Harrison from St. Joseph’s Prep High School and 5-star RB TreVeyon Henderson from Hopewell High School are doing just that — living up to expectations.

Marvin Harrison Jr.

From the minute Harrison Jr. stepped onto campus Ryan Day was impressed with his ‘more’ defined physique, and he didn’t disappoint on the field either. — Harrison Jr, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, was the first freshman from the offensive side of the ball to lose his black stripe. You saw why from the Ohio State Football media team post ”Throw it up. Marv will catch it” (@OhioStateFB) as Harrison Jr. caught three INCREDIBLE passes, one being a tough catch in the back of the endzone for a touchdown thrown by quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Coach day had high praise for the freshman WR:

“Excellent attention to detail with his routes,” said Day. “Somebody who cares a lot. He’s in here after hours. He’s here early in the morning. He takes a lot of pride in his work, and he’s making plays.”

Reports say Harrison Jr. lined up with the second-string offense, along with junior Jameson Williams and fellow freshman Emeka Egbuka.

TreVeyon Henderson

Being ranked the #22 player in the country, and #1 ranked running back — you’re going to have a lot of eyes on you, and Henderson didn’t disappoint anyone with his performance in camp thus far.

Henderson did not get to play his senior year of high school football at Hopewell due to the COVID-19 pandemic but seems to have left off right where he started — Henderson rushed for 2,424 yards and 45 touchdowns his junior season.

Henderson is the first freshman running back to lose his black stripe in spring practice since Urban Meyer introduced the routine in 2012. (He was the third player to lose it this spring — (Sawyer, Harrison Jr)

Coach Day met with the media this past week and stated that Henderson is doing all the right things early:

“He’s had a good attitude. He’s got a good work ethic. He’s done everything right so far,” Day said. “Now he’s still gotta play more and learn every day. He needs a million reps. But the talent is there. The work ethic is there. I think he’s going to have a really bright future here. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do so far.”

Day went on saying: “He’s flashed at times already,” Day said. “So excited to see what that looks like during the spring game.”

It’s too early to say Harrison Jr and Henderson are going to be immediate factors for the Buckeyes offense this season, as they have a LOADED WR and RB room, but there’s no denying the future for these two freshmen are BRIGHT, and they will see the field sooner rather than later.




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Spring Ball Updates
Mike 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

Stroud Leads QB battle

• The notable discussion this offseason for the Buckeyes was the three-way quarterback battle between C.J. Stroud, Jack Miller, and Kyle McCord. Ohio State opened practice to the media for the second time and reporters noted Stroud was the first quarterback in the passing order followed by Miller and then by true freshman McCord.
• Reports note Stroud is building momentum due to his “big arm, underrated athleticism, and strong personality.”

Jeremy Rucket

• Buckeye nation loved the news when Jeremy Ruckert announced he was returning for his final season with the Buckeyes and he looks to dominate
• Ruckert will be a big-time weapon for Ohio State’s offense this year. Kevin Wilson thinks he can be “the most complete TE in the nation.”

Master Teague

• Teague is back and ran an UNREAL 4.35 40 yard dash this offseason. That’s very impressive for a guy that’s 5-11 226.
• The other RB’s to note are Miyan Williams and true freshman 5-star TreVeyon Henderson

WR core

• We all know this unite of Zone 6 is ELITE with studs Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson returning but some freshman have been making some noise
• Reports note Emeka Egbuka (5-star #1 ranked WR) is FAST
• @OhioStateFB posted a video of Marvin Harrison Jr. catching three TOUGH passes against the Buckeyes secondary
• This unit also has Jameson Williams, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Julian Fleming returning

Center Position

• With Harry Miller sidelined this spring, Day says “Matthew Jones, Luke Wypler and Jakob James have been taking the reps at center.”
• Luke Wypler is looking like the guy at center during spring ball per reports
• Wypler has been getting first-team reps and making big improvements heading into his second year with the Buckeyes

Secondary

• A big topic heading into this season is how the Buckeyes’ secondary will play after a ‘disappointing’ year this past season:
• Kerry Coombs says Lathan Ransom is practicing at the cover safety/slot position right and from videos posted by the Ohio State social media team (@OhioStateFB) he’s looking to have a breakout sophomore season for this secondary
• Coombs also noted Josh Proctor started the spring as the first-team deep safety and has been playing “really well.”
• The coaches have been IMPRESSED with the true freshman defensive back from Arizona, Denzel Burke. Ryan Day says that he has already “flashed” and is making plays in practice. Defensive backs coach Matt Barnes says he’s been “blown away” by Burke thus far. The 6-0, 189 Burke has a bright future for the Buckeyes
• Another name that keeps coming is Ryan Watts. Reports note Watts had a very productive winter off-season in the weight room. Watts is showing his potential and could be a HUGE contributor to the secondary this upcoming season

Tyleik Williams

• The 6-3, 330 freshman DT from Manassas, VA. has been getting some high praise from his teammate this spring
• Zach Harrison says Williams looks “really good” and “really promising” so far

More to come:




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