What To Expect: Tight Ends
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 Tight End position at Ohio State is on the rise and they will be looking to make an impact come gameday. With the departure of Marcus Baugh, the position will feature a few familiar faces with Rashod Berry, Luke Farrell, and Jake Hausmann, walk-ons Davin Brock and Derrick Malone, and a once in a lifetime talent in true freshman Jeremy Ruckert.

The position would have two additional names, but life happened and it left A.J. Alexander, who was forced to end his playing career due to injuries and Kierre Hawkins, who will be transfering to Youngstown State, where a former Buckeye Head Coach Jim Tressel resides as President.

The Tight End position has been in flux compared to the previous seasons, and I believe it will be on the rise from here on out. The proof is in the way they used Baugh late in games, like how they leaned on him during that amazing home win against Penn State. The coaches have shown that if needed, they will lean on the Tight End to win the matchups against their opponents.

It may not be demonstrated right away, but they are certainly trending in the right direction, and with the number of weapons on the offense, everyone will just have to take their best shots when thrust into action or called upon.

Similar to Zone 6, the focus is on balancing the passing and running games to throw defenses off balance. This years offense has the potency that makes the fans salivate, and it has the potential to be one hell of a ride and season. Hopefully, it comes to fruition as the season draws closer.






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Ohio State updates from The Opening Finals day four - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State updates from The Opening Finals day four
247Sports
Edit; Slot to 247Sports Home; Slot to Ohio State Buckeyes Newsletter; Slot to Ohio State Links. The Opening Finals kicked off on Saturday in Frisco, Texas and there were plenty of updates coming out of day one, day two, and day... To read this article ...

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Selfless Isaiah Prince Willing to Stay at Right Tackle for Buckeyes - The Ozone
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Selfless Isaiah Prince Willing to Stay at Right Tackle for Buckeyes
The Ozone
When the 2017 season wrapped up in the Cotton Bowl, it was expected that Isaiah Prince would move from the right tackle spot where he had started for two years and take over left tackle following the departure of Jamarco Jones. Prince was looking ...


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Listen: Helwagen on Barrett's legacy, Burrow's transfer to LSU - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Listen: Helwagen on Barrett's legacy, Burrow's transfer to LSU
247Sports
When Dwayne Haskins was in high school he was considered to be someone who could help the Buckeyes in regards to recruiting other prospects to Ohio State. According to one of our sources who spends his share of time at the Woody Hayes Facility and ...


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Ohio State commits shine at Nike’s The Opening
Patrick Mayhorn via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The end of the camp brought plenty of accolades for Buckeye commits.

Nike’s annual super camp, “The Opening,” is officially over. Yesterday was the final day of the camp, as it concluded with the 7-on-7 championships, and the linemen competition. They named MVPs, handed out some accolades, and generated a ton of recruiting content— from highlights, to lists, commitments, and everything in between. For your convenience, we’ve got just about everything that should matter to Buckeye fans from this year’s event in one place.

Buckeye commits shine


It was a very good weekend for the four Buckeye commitments in attendance. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson, safety Jordan Battle and lineman duo Harry Miller and Doug Nester represented Ohio State in Dallas, and each of them put on quite the show. Leading the way was probably Miller.

Miller, according to just about every report out of Dallas, was fantastic. He was dominant all weekend, excelling in every drill he was put in, especially the one-on-one linemen competitions. He shut down elite pass rushers and massive defensive tackles, and his efforts earned him quite a few honors. Most importantly, Miller was named the offensive line MVP of the camp.


It’s not surprising at all to see Miller getting this kind of recognition. He’s as polished a high school lineman as I’ve seen, and there’s no real excuse for him not being the highest ranked lineman in the 2019 class. I imagine the rest of the country has caught on, and Miller should be in for a hefty jump in the 247Sports composite rankings. That means a fifth star could be on the way.

If Miller was leading the way, Garrett Wilson followed him about as close as possible. The Lake Travis (Austin, TX) receiver lit it up all weekend, showing off his excellent body control, elite hands, and making the game looking easy. Wilson is the most natural receiver in the 2019 class, and he proved that all weekend long, with incredible plays like this one.


That clip not enough? Here’s another angle of the 6-foot-1 Buckeye commit clowning two defenders at once.


This wasn’t just a one time thing for Wilson. He spent a good part of the last three days in the endzone, after outrunning and at some points, embarrassing defensive backs. He proved his ranking, and was named to the All-Tournament team. He also showed off his incredible athleticism, and leaping ability with this catch on Monday. Get excited for him, Buckeye fans.


Jordan Battle, not to be outshined, put on a show in Dallas as well. He pulled down several interceptions in the 7-on - tournament, as well as in individual drills, and, like Wilson, was named to the All-Tournament team. There was a bit of mix up with the school he’s attended, but his family cleared that up very quickly.


If there’s one guy that didn’t have a great weekend, it’s Doug Nester. The West Virginia lineman reportedly struggled at times in the various linemen drills, and showed issues that a lot of high school linemen have. Most of them revolve around a lack of experience in pass protection. His team doesn’t pass, so he just doesn’t have the development that other linemen do, and he struggled because of it.

He may see a bit of a rankings drop because of it, but I wouldn’t read too much into this. Ohio State is well aware of the development that needs to be done, and is ready and equipped to help improve Nester. They love his game, and his size, and he should be a future starter in Columbus, no matter what happens at a camp. That can be said for all these guys. While the highlights and awards are fun, it is all just a camp. Take it as it is.

Quick hits

• Ohio State was included in Erick Young’s top three. The Richmond, Texas safety is announcing his commitment tonight. Oddly enough, I don’t think it’ll be to any of these teams, and I have him projected to Texas A&M. This seems like Young having a bit of fun with his future fan base.

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Will Ohio State's 2020 recruiting class be the Buckeyes' best yet? Podcast - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Will Ohio State's 2020 recruiting class be the Buckeyes' best yet? Podcast
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State's 2017 recruiting class set the bar for Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes. That group was ranked No. 2 in the nation and included five five-star recruits. And then the 2018 class was also ranked No. 2 in the country. The 2019 ...
Ohio State Recruiting: New QB commit-Buckeyes a great fitScarlet and Game
What if Dwayne Haskins Struggles, Buckeyes Ride Along with Cops, and Minnesota's 8% Chance to Beat Ohio StateEleven Warriors
Future Buckeyes land big honors at The Opening247Sports
Saturday Blitz -Lettermen Row
all 56 news articles »

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Ohio State Recruiting: New QB commit-Buckeyes a great fit - Scarlet and Game
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State Recruiting: New QB commit-Buckeyes a great fit
Scarlet and Game
Jack Miller III deciding to join the 2020 Ohio State recruiting class means the Buckeyes appear set at the most important position on the field for the near future. Urban Meyer continued his hot streak on the recruiting trail Sunday. Scottsdale, AZ QB ...
Ohio State offers top 2020 DC prospect, makes the top 10 for another: Buckeyes football recruitingcleveland.com
What if Dwayne Haskins Struggles, Buckeyes Ride Along with Cops, and Minnesota's 8% Chance to Beat Ohio StateEleven Warriors
Future Buckeyes land big honors at The Opening247Sports
Saturday Blitz -Lettermen Row
all 55 news articles »

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Presenting the Buckeyes' 2019 recruiting class - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Presenting the Buckeyes' 2019 recruiting class
247Sports
Today in this by position gallery I give my thoughts on who fills those remaining spots and make my predictions on what the Buckeyes' 2019 class looks like come February. These predictions could and probably will change at least a little between now ...


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Husker schedule difficulty rankings: Buckeyes top the list - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Husker schedule difficulty rankings: Buckeyes top the list
247Sports
But there is this connected factoid for the time being: It's the last time the Buckeyes punted in a football game against Nebraska. Now, it's true Nebraska and Ohio State didn't play from 2013-15. But that still means the Buckeyes and Huskers have ...


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Future Buckeyes land big honors at The Opening - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Future Buckeyes land big honors at The Opening
247Sports
The 6-foot-4 and 310-pound Miller is a dominating offensive lineman who picked the Buckeyes over Georgia, Clemson, Stanford and Notre Dame, Miller's other finalists. Miller is a 4-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite. He is the country's No. 37 ...
Ohio State offers top 2020 DC prospect, makes the top 10 for another: Buckeyes football recruitingcleveland.com
Ohio State's Top Recent Players From The State Of MichiganEleven Warriors
Ohio State Football: 5 reasons Buckeyes will win 2018 national titleSaturday Blitz
Lettermen Row -Land-Grant Holy Land
all 49 news articles »

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Ohio State’s Chase Young ready for high expectations entering season
Ian Cuevas via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The sophomore defensive end has high hopes for how good he and the defensive line can be.

“We talk about it all the time. We can be and we will be the best D-line in the nation — the best tandem, the best triplets, whatever you want to call it.”

- Chase Young via Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch


The hype surrounding sophomore defensive end Chase Young has been tremendous since the moment he suited up in the Scarlet and Gray. When he first hit the field last season, it was obvious that Young was going to be a major player for the Buckeyes in seasons to come, just based off his sheer size and speed alone. That starts in 2018, and Young seems ready for the challenge. With a defensive line unit that should once again boast some of the best talent in the country, Young looks to be a leader alongside Nick Bosa as Ohio State tries to return to the College Football Playoff.

The Buckeyes did lose quite a bit of talent on the defensive line, including Sam Hubbard and Tyquan Lewis. But the reality is that Urban Meyer was prepared and has the defensive line ready to be reloaded with Bosa, Young, Jonathon Cooper, Jashon Cornell, and a handful of other players. Though Clemson has the strongest argument for the best defensive line in the country, don’t sleep on Ohio State’s young line.

“[First-Team All-Americans] Defensive lineman Nick Bosa”


- Sporting News

The Sporting News released its preseason All-Americans, and Ohio State was pretty well-represented on the list. Nick Bosa made the first-team at defensive line, and has probably the best chance to make the real list at the end of the season. Bosa had eight and a half sacks last season, in addition to 16 tackles for loss. The competition at defensive line is fierce this season, so Bosa is no shoo-in. But if he’s anything like his older brother (all signs point to that being the case) it shouldn’t be too much trouble to put up numbers or at least wreak havoc on the opposing team’s offensive line.

Bosa was the only Buckeye among the first team, however, a couple more members of Ohio State made the second team. Among them were running back J.K. Dobbins and offensive lineman Michael Jordan. Dobbins will likely be sharing the carries with Mike Weber who is also coming off a strong season. Both running backs have rushed for over 1,000 yards on their own in different seasons, which should be a nightmare for defenses to key in on.

“[Top 50 Ohio State football players for 2018] No. 21: Johnnie Dixon”

- Tim Bielik, Cleveland.com


The folks over at Cleveland.com are breaking down their top 50 Ohio State football players for the upcoming season and the list continued on with wide receiver Johnnie Dixon.

Dixon made the list at 21st overall, which is a step up for him from last season, where was ranked 37th overall. The redshirt senior was extremely sought after in high school but due to injuries, his first three years at Ohio State didn’t quite go as planned. Dixon didn’t see much of the field until last season when he finally was healthy, and it paid off, since he led the team in receiving touchdowns with eight, and became a vital part of the aerial attack. His speed helps separate him from a lot of the defensive backs, and he’s shown a knack for making big plays when it matters the most. Just go back and watch the Penn State game for proof.

In all, Dixon took a chance on himself to give himself another year with the Buckeyes and it worked out. Now he’ll look to expand his role in his final season in the scarlet and gray. With Dwayne Haskins at quarterback, he might see an increased role in the offense as well, with Hasksins’ ability to sling the ball around a lot more.

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• Self-driving cars are headed towards an AI roadblock.

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Ezekiel Elliott inducted into The Opening Hall of Fame - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ezekiel Elliott inducted into The Opening Hall of Fame
247Sports
Ezekiel Elliott is an Ohio State legend. But his fame extends beyond what he did for the Buckeyes. As a high school running back, Elliott was a four-star prospect and ranked the country's fifth all-purpose back. He may have been the 69th ranked player ...

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Ohio State offers top 2020 DC prospect, makes the top 10 for another: Buckeyes football recruiting - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State offers top 2020 DC prospect, makes the top 10 for another: Buckeyes football recruiting
cleveland.com
The Buckeyes might add up to four in 2019 after signing four the year before. Shortly after Jack Miller committed to Ohio State on Sunday, Jarrett tweeted out his reaction to the class OSU has so far. And after Jarrett got his offer on Monday, Miller ...
Future Buckeyes land big honors at The Opening247Sports
Ohio State's Top Recent Players From The State Of MichiganEleven Warriors
Ohio State Football: 5 reasons Buckeyes will win 2018 national titleSaturday Blitz
Land-Grant Holy Land -Lettermen Row
all 42 news articles »

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Google's map of popular recipes by state gave the buckeye to...Indiana? - The Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Google's map of popular recipes by state gave the buckeye to...Indiana?
The Columbus Dispatch
Who's searching Google for buckeyes? Not Ohioans, apparently. In honor of the Fourth of July, Google Doodle released an interactive U.S. map today featuring the top recipe searches in the 50 states and five territories. And some Ohioans aren't happy: ...
Google Doodle showed recipes for all 50 states. 'You done messed up,' says InternetSacramento Bee (blog)

all 19 news articles »

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What happens if Dwayne Haskins struggles in 2018? - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


What happens if Dwayne Haskins struggles in 2018?
247Sports
At least that's what Buckeye fans hope. Over the last few years, the Ohio State offense has become stale and predictable. Yes, the Scarlet and Gray has finished in the top 10 nationally in total offense three times in Meyer's six years in charge, but ...
Can Minnesota beat Ohio State? A 6 percent chance the Buckeyes could losecleveland.com
Ohio State's Recruiting Has Lead to Offensive and Defensive Lines Loaded With TalentEleven Warriors
Ohio State Football: 5 reasons Buckeyes will win 2018 national titleSaturday Blitz
Land-Grant Holy Land -Lettermen Row
all 32 news articles »

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Listen: Helwagen on EBSN talking OSU recruiting success - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Listen: Helwagen on EBSN talking OSU recruiting success
247Sports
Bucknuts.com's Steve Helwagen was a guest on Buckeye Live with George Lehner on the EB Sports Network (EBSN). They spent over 20 minutes talking about the recent success Ohio State has had in football recruiting with seven verbal commitments in a ...

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Gaston Buckeyes open youth football registration - http://www.rrspin.com/ (press release)
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Gaston Buckeyes open youth football registration
http://www.rrspin.com/ (press release)
Gaston Buckeyes open youth football registration. The Gaston Buckeyes of the Halifax/Northampton Midget Football League will hold open registration July 15th from 6-8 p.m.. Open registration will be on their home field at Northampton County High School ...


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Can Minnesota beat Ohio State? A 6 percent chance the Buckeyes could lose - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Can Minnesota beat Ohio State? A 6 percent chance the Buckeyes could lose
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Here's our schedule breakdown of the 2018 Ohio State football season, in which we assign each opponent a percentage chance to beat the Buckeyes. We'll continue multiplying those chances until we reach our final number, the chance ...
Forecasting The Chances For Each Of Ohio State's Current Or ...Eleven Warriors
Ohio State Football: 5 reasons Buckeyes will win 2018 national titleSaturday Blitz
Ohio State: Bond between three elite recruits will shape program's ...Lettermen Row
Land-Grant Holy Land
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Chat Wrap: Who finishes hoops class? OSU over UC in basketball? - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Chat Wrap: Who finishes hoops class? OSU over UC in basketball?
247Sports
Bucknuts.com's Steve Helwagen hosted his weekly Chat on Monday night on The Front Row message board. Below is the archive of the Chat: Ky Buckeye: I've been wondering about M.Barrow has there been anything said about his injury or his future as a ...


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Ohio State makes the cut for 2020 5-star OLB
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


2020 five-star outside linebacker prospect Mekhail Sherman included Ohio State among the schools currently leading his recruitment.

Ohio State had an extremely busy recruiting week last week. It was a week that saw the Buckeyes land five commitments, the coaching staff is hard at work in efforts to continue the momentum.

While this week may not be as fruitful, Ohio State will still find itself among the college football recruiting headlines. Monday was not short for news.

The week kicked off with a bang when the program learned it had made the cut for one of the top prospects in next year’s class. Five-star OLB prospect Mekhail Sherman (Washington, DC / St. John’s College HS) announced his top ten schools Monday morning and included Ohio State.


The road to Sherman’s commitment will not be easy, as Ohio State will be competing with some of the best college football programs in the country. Along with the Buckeyes, Sherman listed Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Auburn, Notre Dame, Clemson, Penn State, Oklahoma and Michigan.

Sherman has not visited Columbus. This will need to change soon if the Buckeyes are to be viewed as serious contenders for Sherman. And while there is still plenty of time before National Signing Day 2020, earning a pledge from a prospect with the talent of Sherman’s would be a huge get for the team. Therefore, expect the coaching staff to do their best to get him on campus multiple times in the coming years.

The blue-chip recruit is listed as the No. 2 OLB in the 247Sports Composite Rankings, and is the No. 17 overall recruit, despite position.

Ohio State offers 2020 4-star WR


Ohio State may lose a lot of talent at the WR position following this season and the coaching staff is well aware of this. The position has been one of the major focuses in this years class and will easily continue to be a priority in 2020. Fortunately, the Buckeyes have earned a commitment from one of the best wideouts in this year’s class in five-star WR Garrett Wilson and appear to be leading for multiple others.

However, the team has yet to secure a commitment from the position in 2020. Ohio State is working to fix that though as they offered one of the country’s best at the position Monday.

Four-star WR prospect Rakim Jarrett (Washington, DC / St. John’s College HS) took to Twitter Monday afternoon to announce he had received a scholarship offer from the Buckeyes.


Like his teammate Sherman, Jarrett is being courted by some of the top college football programs in the country. Following the coveted Ohio State offer, Jarrett now holds a reported 22 scholarship offers from schools like Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Texas A&M, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Wisconsin and plenty of others.

Unlike Sherman, Jarrett has yet to make it known which schools he is most interested in at this point in his recruitment. But there is one Ohio State commit that is working to get him to Columbus.

Recent 2020 five-star OT commit Paris Johnson Jr. reached out to Jarrett almost immediately following the announcement of his received scholarship. And if Johnson is working on Jarrett, you know he is trying to get Sherman as well.


Jarrett is listed as the No. 9 WR in the 2020 recruiting class and is the No. 47 overall prospect, despite position.

Quick Hits:

• In Monday’s State Secrets, we mentioned that Ohio State defensive end prospect David Ojabo was set to announce his commitment that afternoon. In an expected move, Ojabo chose Michigan over the Buckeyes.

• We are currently in the middle of one of the most prestigious college football camps, Nike’s The Opening. Plenty of future Buckeyes and Ohio State targets are competing in the event and below are some video clips:

Ohio State five-star WR commit Garrett Wilson


Ohio State four-star C commit Harry Miller


Ohio State five-star DE prospect Zach Harrison


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now has offers from TTUN and PSU

https://247sports.com/Article/The-O...ive-combination-of-size-and-speed--119527886/

Presenting the Buckeyes' 2019 recruiting class - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Presenting the Buckeyes' 2019 recruiting class
247Sports
Today in this by position gallery I give my thoughts on who fills those remaining spots and make my predictions on what the Buckeyes' 2019 class looks like come February. These predictions could and probably will change at least a little between now ...
Forecasting The Chances For Each Of Ohio State's Current Or ...Eleven Warriors
Ohio State Football: 5 reasons Buckeyes will win 2018 national titleSaturday Blitz
The personal rivalry that nearly got between Ohio State and 5-star ...cleveland.com
Lettermen Row -Land-Grant Holy Land
all 17 news articles »

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Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Nick Bosa (97) rushes the passer against the Southern California Trojans in the ... - Black Hills Pioneer
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Nick Bosa (97) rushes the passer against the Southern California Trojans in the ...
Black Hills Pioneer
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Nick Bosa (97) rushes the passer against the Southern California Trojans in the 2017 Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports. Jul 2, 2018 Updated 8 min ago; 0 · Facebook · Twitter · Email ...


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Gabriel's early 2019 NFL draft breakdown: Ohio State DE Nick Bosa - Wahpeton Daily News
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Gabriel's early 2019 NFL draft breakdown: Ohio State DE Nick Bosa
Wahpeton Daily News
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Nick Bosa (97) rushes the passer against the Southern California Trojans in the 2017 Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports. TownNews.com Content Exchange. Facebook · Twitter · Email ...

and more »

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Ohio State’s offensive line strength could be the difference against one rival
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes dismantled the Spartans on the ground last season. But can they do it again this season?

“As for Ohio State, the Buckeyes lose key starters in Billy Price and Jamarco Jones from an offensive line that manhandled MSU’s young defensive line last year.”


-Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press

Ohio State’s over-the-top win over Michigan State last year has become something of an afterthought. It came just a week after Iowa handed Ohio State a 31-point loss and two weeks before Ohio State’s regular season finale against Michigan. The 45-point win over the Spartans was decisive from all sides, but came in stark contrast to how things have gone in recent years when the two teams square off. Before this past season, the largest margin of victory in the past six seasons has been 12, when the Buckeyes defeated the Spartans on their way to a College Football Playoff victory. More common are finals in which neither team has been able to reach 20 points.

In these defensive struggles, Michigan State has been able to give Ohio State trouble. In fact, Mark Dantonio holds the best record of any Big Ten team against Urban Meyer-led Ohio State teams, recording two wins in six seasons (2013, 2015). Last season’s uncontested victory was an anomaly in how this series functions, and it is probable that Dantonio will once again built up a defense which can, to a degree, match Ohio State’s own.

Last season, the balance of power favored Ohio State on both sides of the ball. A strong offensive line for the Buckeyes, led by Billy Price and Jamarco Jones, overcame a down Michigan State defensive line, paving the way for 335 rushing yards by Mike Weber, J.K. Dobbins and J.T. Barrett. On the flip side, the best defensive line in the country controlled Michigan State’s offensive line, limiting the Spartans to just three points.

Once again, Ohio State’s matchup with the Spartans comes just two weeks before Michigan. This year, with the loss of Price, Jones and a significant portion of the defensive line, Michigan State looks to be better matched up heading into the fall.

“For Ohio State, it’s a good problem to have, as the Buckeyes now have a handful of strong candidates to lead their offense over the next five to seven years.”


-Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

The lineup of potential quarterbacks for Ohio State has certainly gotten much more interesting over the last week. First, four-star Dwan Mathis committed to the Buckeyes as part of the class of 2019. The future looked even more secure when, days later, four-star Jack Miller joined the class of 2020.

Heading into this fall, however, the lineup looks rather more stable, with Dwayne Haskins locked in as the starter at least for the opening of the 2018 season. Tate Martell, a commit from the class of 2017, looks to be Haskins’ backup, while Matthew Baldwin sits at third string. All three current quarterbacks came to Columbus as four-star recruits. With the latest commitment of Miller, Urban Meyer and company will have a highly-rated quarterback in five successive classes, giving the Buckeyes an edge at the position for at least the next five season and demonstrating a consistency in recruiting for quarterbacks.

Haskins had a distinct edge heading into this season, having been the only quarterback outside of J.T. Barrett to take meaningful snaps in 2017. This, along with his continued competition throughout the spring, earned him the starting job moving forward, though it is by no means the permanent solution. Chief among Haskins’ competitors is Tate Martell, who, according to Meyer, still has an opportunity to compete for playing time with Haskins as the 2018 season progresses.

While the quarterback situation is set for this season, the staggered classes of both current and incoming quarterbacks means that all will likely have a chance to compete for a starting role at some point in their careers at Ohio State. Though getting beaten out may induce a transfer a la Joe Burrow this past spring, building a strong quarterback competition year in and year out should force all candidates to elevate their respective games.

“His leadership, his presence about him, he’s a good athlete, he’s played a lot of competitive football and he’s handled this camp very well...He certainly was worthy of being drafted and he’s done a good job here.”


-New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, via Patrick Murphy, 247Sports

It is true: J.T. Barrett never really seemed like an NFL-caliber quarterback. He lacks the powerful arm that is still favored for the most part in the NFL and is a bit on the short side for a professional quarterback. However, what has remained remarkably consistent for Barrett in both his five seasons at Ohio State and his rookie minicamp with the New Orleans Saints is his innate leadership ability--something that has already been picked up on by Sean Payton, his new head coach, among others. That leadership may prove to be the critical factor in Barrett making an NFL roster to start the season.

Currently, however, Barrett is in a tough spot. Drew Brees is the de facto starter as he enters his 13th season with the Saints. Taysom Hill, a second-year player out of BYU, is the current backup and heir apparent to Brees, despite going undrafted in 2017. Tom Savage, who spent his previous three NFL seasons in Houston, is also in the mix. As the least experienced quarterback on the roster, it looks like an uphill battle for Barrett to make the team this fall.

However, NFL experts see Barrett’s current position as a good one. Dan Shonka, who worked with Barrett through the East/West Shrine Game this past season, says that “He’s going to be hard to cut.” He cited an example of Barrett’s leadership on the East’s squad, when he entered the room and everyone stopped to listen to him. “It was just like ‘Holy cow, this guy has got a presence about him.’” Shonka also credited Barrett’s level-headedness and his ability to remain cool under pressure. These traits made Barrett a excellent game manager at the college level and, if given the chance, could prove to be an asset on an NFL roster.

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