3-star athlete Craig Young commits to Ohio State
Patrick Mayhorn via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Just days after a great camp performance, Young is officially a Buckeye commit

College football recruiting is a strange, high pressure game, that never really stops or even slows down. Because it deals with coaches that need to succeed to keep their jobs, and teens making the most important decision of their loves, there’s a tendency for the recruiting world to be very volatile. With offers, visits, and constant contact, things can change in the matter of hours, and frequently do.

We’ve seen countless last second signing day flips, out-of-the-blue visits to rival schools, offers that change an entire recruitment, and pretty much anything imaginable. On Tuesday, Craig Young’s entire recruitment changed. Today, it ended.


Young, a 6-foot-4, 210 pound Fort Wayne (Indiana) product had his entire future drastically changed on Tuesday afternoon. He was in Columbus for Ohio State’s recruiting camp, and, according to every report out of the camp, put on an absolute show. Despite receiving an offer from Ohio State in January, and visiting campus twice since then, Young had not yet been given the green light to commit to Ohio State, his top school.

The third visit all he needed. With questions about his future at his listed position of receiver, Young moved all over the field at the camp, and showed out at defensive end, linebacker, and safety. He played just about every position Ohio State could think to put him at, and showed the coaching staff exactly what they wanted to see.

About halfway through the camp, he spent some time talking to Urban Meyer, Alex Grinch, and Mark Pantoni. That meeting was likely about him being given the green light to commit. Just two days later, Young is officially a member of Ohio State’s 2019 class.

Young is the 11th member of the class, and either the fifth or sixth defensive player in the class, depending on where Steele Chambers plays in college (my prediction is running back). He’s listed on 247Sports as a receiver, and sits at 684th nationally. I don’t think either of those will remain true over the summer.

It’s not clear yet where Young will play at Ohio State, but it’s safe to say he’ll likely be a defender. Based on size, and athleticism, linebacker would make a lot of sense for Young, but I wouldn’t rule out safety either. He’s a versatile athlete, and he’ll play wherever Ohio State thinks he fits best.

This switch to defense should have a positive impact on his ranking as well. If what Ohio State saw was enough to convince them that Young is worth taking, he’ll likely be able to show those skills off at various recruiting camps all summer. I think Young is more talented than his ranking, and wouldn’t be surprised at all if he picks up a fourth star sooner rather than later.

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Ohio State alum Ezekiel Elliott is learning how to be a better leader in the NFL
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Plus, one Buckeye should make a big push in this weekend’s U.S. Open and two others will compete in the track and field junior championships.

“I think the biggest thing I accomplished is just developing more leadership skills,” Elliott said. “That’s really what I focused on coming into this year, just becoming a better vocal leader with the loss of Dez and Witt.”

-Ezekiel Elliott via Schuyler Dixon, Associated Press


The Dallas Cowboys haven’t won a Super Bowl in over 20 years, and Jerry Jones isn’t getting any younger, which means that the team’s group of second- and third-year players will need to take on bigger roles in developing the future of the franchise.

The Cowboys (foolishly) decided not to re-sign veteran wideout Dez Bryant, and then after a bit of back and forth, tight end and locker room leader Jason Witten announced he was retiring. With those two offensive veterans now missing from the locker room, more of their responsibilities off the field will fall on Ezekiel Elliott.

The 2017 offseason and actual season were filled with distractions for the top-rated running back Elliott, but he’s got a new challenge this offseason — one that has nothing to do with legal woes.

There’s no questioning Zeke’s talent and ability on the field. Looking ahead at 2018, there’s no reason he shouldn’t continue setting and breaking new organization and league records — barring any suspension or injury. But whether or not the team has the kind of success this year that could carry them into and through the postseason is yet to be seen, and a lot of that will be decided by how players like Elliott and QB Dak Prescott step into leadership positions in the locker room.

“It’s a little bit tougher for me to be a vocal leader,” he said. “I like to go out there and work. I think it takes a little bit more extra effort to kind of encourage guys to come with you so it’s definitely something I have to work on.”

Elliott can now focus on nothing but football, and can really capitalize on this opportunity to take a leadership role over the running backs and offense. That sense of responsibility not only goes toward limiting off-field problems, but also creates a deeper sense of commitment to the team and teammates.

The weight of the world was on Zeke’s shoulders the second he declared for the NFL Draft in 2016, but he’s one of the few people who can probably shoulder the load so long as he keeps his head down and keeps grinding.

“Ohio State track & field freshmen Anavia Battle and Eric Harrison Jr. are set to represent the Buckeyes at the 2018 USA Track & Field Junior Outdoor Championships...”


-Ohio State Athletics

Two Buckeyes will compete this weekend in Bloomington, Ind. where they will look to secure a spot in the IAAF World U20 Championships next month. Athletes ages 14-19 are eligible, and the top three finishers in each heat or the next two fastest times will qualify to participate in Tampere, Finland on July 10-15.

Anavia Battle will compete in the 100m and 200m dash in the women’s competition. She qualified for the events thanks to her 11.47 run at the Big Ten Championships, where Battle finished No. 4 in the field. She’s also the No. 5-seed for the 200m dash after snagging the silver medal with a 22.94 time at the B1G Championships.

Eric Harrison Jr. is the new reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year thanks to his performance this spring, and will also be competing in the 100m and 200m dash races for the men. Harrison is the No. 2 seed in the 100m event, after snagging the bronze medal at the Big Ten Championships with a time of 10.28. He’s also the top-seeded competitor in the 200m, with his first place time of 20.39 at the B1G Championships.

It’s been a great year for the Ohio State track and field team, dominating both the indoor and outdoor Big Ten events. Now that the summer season is upon us, these two Buckeyes have another shot at adding to an already impressive 2018.

“Ohio State University alumna Julianna Iafallo signed a contract to continue her hockey career with the National Women’s Hockey League’s Buffalo Beauts, the NWHL announced on Thursday.”

-Ohio State Athletics


Coming off a pretty impressive four years as a Buckeye, Julianna Iafallo didn’t miss a single game during her time in Columbus, and finished her collegiate career having played 148 games, good enough to tie for second all-time in Ohio State history.

She also recorded 64 points on 22 goals and 42 assists — not to mention finishing fourth on the team during the 2017-18 Frozen Four run where she claimed 27 points from 12 goals and 15 assists. Iafallo served as a captain her senior season, helping to lead the team to the program’s first ever NCAA Frozen Four appearance.

Iafallo will be joining a friendly face in Buffalo, with Buckeye alum Lisa Chesson also playing for the Beauts. The team is one of the best in the somewhat smaller league, having competed for the Isobel Cup in all three years of NWHL’s existence — winning the Cup in 2017 and finishing No. 2 in 2016 and 2018.

The NWHL was established in 2015, and just added their fifth team to the league earlier this year. Teams compete for the Isobel Cup, named after the daughter of Frederick Stanley —the namesake for the Stanley Cup—, Lady Isobel Gathorne-Hardy.


So, the opening round of the 118th U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills was a bit of a mess, with top-name golfers finishing the day over par by double digits, and a slew of bogeys filling more than one golfer’s scorecard. One of the younger competitors who is still in the thick of things after Round 2, is Ohio State amateur Will Grimmer.

Grimmer finished his opening round with a very respectable 73 (+3 on the day) thanks to three birdies and nine pars. He was tied (with Rickie Fowler, among others) for 19th at the end of the day, and was just four strokes behind the leader.

“I really like this golf course and I had a really good feeling coming into today that I could play well,” Grimmer said. “We watched quite a bit of the coverage this morning and seeing some of the best players in the world struggle as they were, I thought Holy Smokes! But I knew I had a good game plan and I really wanted to stick to it. If anything, I think it gave me the mindset to hang tough because bogeys were going to happen.”

Friday’s second round started much earlier for the Buckeye, who teed off at 8:46 a.m., but he had another solid outing, finishing +2 on the day (+5 on the tournament) with two more birdies and 12 pars.

With guys like Tiger Woods sitting at +10 heading into Saturday, Grimmer should be proud of what he’s been able to accomplish so far, and get some confidence to push him through the weekend.

This woman is my new, personal hero


So, this happened today.

Ross Smith, a football player from Dayton, and his Grandma are YouTube famous thanks to hilarious videos of Granny doing weird things (like getting a lap dance) and meeting cool people (like OSU players).

The duo made their way to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Friday and spent some time posing with Chase Young and Mike Weber — and probably a bunch of others.

Enjoy.

STICK TO SPORTS

• California will be voting in November on whether the state will split into three states. Here’s everything you need to know about why and how that might happen.
• There was a bunch of strange scientific news this week.
• The reviews are in for Incredible 2 and you should probably make plans now to go see it.
• NASA’s record-breaking spacewoman, Peggy Whitson, — who has spent more time off planet Earth than any other human — has announced her retirement.

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Kurelic: Sky not falling after all; Maurer, Miller and Wilson - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Kurelic: Sky not falling after all; Maurer, Miller and Wilson
247Sports
Good evening Bucknuts subscribers! There is plenty going on with Ohio State football recruiting so let's get started! I will of course have plenty more throughout the night and tomorrow. 1) Weeks ago some Buckeye fans seemed near the edge of the cliff ...


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No ordinary OSU offer, 8th grade QB says 'surreal experience' - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


No ordinary OSU offer, 8th grade QB says 'surreal experience'
247Sports
Despite the successful career with the Buckeyes, Barrett was not selected in last spring's NFL Draft. He did sign an undrafted free agent contract with the Saints, where he is now teammates with Brees. Following rookie mini-camp, Barrett is now working ...


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Carmody works out at new position for Ohio State coaches - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Carmody works out at new position for Ohio State coaches
247Sports
Despite the successful career with the Buckeyes, Barrett was not selected in last spring's NFL Draft. He did sign an undrafted free agent contract with the Saints, where he is now teammates with Brees. Following rookie mini-camp, Barrett is now working ...


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Friday Chat Transcript: Will Ohio State land Zach Harrison? - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Friday Chat Transcript: Will Ohio State land Zach Harrison?
247Sports
On Friday, June 15, I held a chat on The Front Row for Bucknuts users. Most of the conversation revolved around Ohio State 2019 recruiting efforts, if the Buckeyes will land their top target in the cycle, who will start on the offensive line, and more ...


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Buckeyes' search for next QB on uncertain path - Toledo Blade
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes' search for next QB on uncertain path
Toledo Blade
The Buckeyes don't have their answer at quarterback as of yet. Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer has said previously his preference is to sign one quarterback in every class, and doing so this cycle is proving tricky. Ohio State has offered 13 quarterbacks in ...
Ohio State men's basketball | CJ Jackson, Buckeyes looking for big things from Kyle YoungThe Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State recruiting: Buckeyes bring in Ohio's best for campsLandof10.com
How the NCAA's new redshirt rule affects the BuckeyesLand-Grant Holy Land
Massillon Independent -247Sports -cleveland.com -FBSchedules.com
all 48 news articles »

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FORMER OHIO STATE SAFETY COREY BROWN BUILDING CAREER AS A COACH AT SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY



Corey Brown wasn’t sure what he wanted to do next when he went unselected in the 2014 NFL draft and his career playing football came to an end.

Four years later, however, Brown’s passion for the sport has brought him back to the football field, and that’s where he expects to be for many years to come.

A safety for Ohio State from 2009-13, Brown had a tryout with his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014 but never played in an NFL regular-season game, thrusting him into the real world without a clear career path. Brown spent time working in management for the supermarket chain Giant Eagle, while also exploring jobs in real estate and sales. Eventually, though, Brown decided he wanted to be a football coach.

"After my playing career, I just had to step away from the game for a second, just to see exactly what I wanted to do in life and what I wanted to be my career," Brown said. "And I finally figured out that I wanted to get back to coaching and be around football, and once I got back around it, I fell in love with it again."

Upon that realization, Brown called Terry Smith – his former coach at Gateway High School, and now the assistant head coach and cornerbacks coach at Penn State – who recommended that Brown visit the website Football Scoop to search for openings. As it turned out, Slippery Rock University – a Division II school in western Pennsylvania, about 60 miles north of Pittsburgh – was looking for a graduate assistant to coach defensive backs, and Smith recommended Brown to Slippery Rock head coach Shawn Lutz.

Brown got the job, and after a year as a graduate assistant, he now has a master’s degree and is The Rock’s full-time defensive backs coach.

"I would have gone anywhere, but it just happened to favor me in my situation, because Slippery Rock’s an hour from my house," Brown told Eleven Warriors. "So it was a perfect distance for me to get going and get my feet wet."

In his first year as a coach, Brown says the biggest things he learned were how to connect with his players, getting them to buy in and get the most out of them. After playing for one of the most prominent and profitable college football programs in the country, Brown also had to learn how to work and recruit with fewer resources at the Division II level.

Brown felt prepared to be a coach, though, because of the coaches he learned from as a player, including Smith but also including Urban Meyer, Jim Tressel, Everett Withers, Kerry Coombs and Taver Johnson at Ohio State. Brown also said that Lutz, as well as the rest of Slippery Rock’s coaching staff, have done a great job showing him the ropes.

Having played at Ohio State has helped Brown as a coach, he said, not only because of what he learned being a Buckeye but also because it helps him command immediate respect from his players.

"They really look up to the fact that I played at Ohio State," Brown said. "(They think), 'He knows what it takes to be there,' so they really buy into what I’m saying and really buy into everything I’m coaching and trying to teach and help them out with, so it’s definitely helped me out along the way."

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...career-as-a-coach-at-slippery-rock-university

TCU News: Frogs' non-con matchup with the Buckeyes draws national notice, Mo moving on? - Frogs O' War
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


TCU News: Frogs' non-con matchup with the Buckeyes draws national notice, Mo moving on?
Frogs O' War
Football: The 10 best non-conference games of the 2018 season | 247 Sports. Yeah, this is going to be a big one - for both programs. But will it go over shadowed by Texasisback against USC? Date: Saturday, Sept. 15 (7 p.m., ESPN). Originally a ...

and more »

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Four Buckeyes make NFL's All-Under-25 team - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Four Buckeyes make NFL's All-Under-25 team
247Sports
It's nice to be young and successful, isn't? That's the case for a number of recently drafted former Ohio State players. The Buckeyes have always been somewhat of an NFL factory, but since Urban Meyer took over the program in 2012, the Scarlet and Gray ...


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With camp season underway, Ohio State hosts top stars
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes continues to bring in a loaded slate for summer camps

The QB situation is ever changing


It’s been talked about time and time again, and rightfully so: When you consider the recruiting class for each year, the quarterback position is not only a headliner type of spot, but also (in many cases) the leader of your recruiting class. With so many responsibilities—like being in the ear of other top targets—the QB spot is one that you nail down early in the process. For Ohio State in 2019, it’s no secret it’s been a bit of a whirlwind in terms of who is actually thought to be the main QB target, and who will actually end up in the class when all is said and done. One thing that is pretty cemented though is the fact that the Buckeyes need a QB in this class and even though 2020 looks to be a little brighter in terms of talent and reciprocated relationships, the staff knows 2019 needs to provide some depth.

With camp season on campus in full effect, more than a few QBs will be talking and competing for the Buckeye coaching staff first hand. With the recent commitment to Arizona for one time Buckeye target Grant Gunnell, those QBs competing may be garnering a little extra attention since a few previous targets have decided to go elsewhere and/or stay committed to their current school of choice. Yesterday, for example, Graham Mertz, a Kansas native currently committed to Wisconsin, took to Twitter to make it clear that while he’s thankful for all of the coaches and programs who showed and continue to recruit him, he’s 100 percent committed to Wisconsin and not considering anyone else. This comes as a little bit of bad news for the Ohio State Buckeyes because Mertz is certainly a candidate the staff would love to “flip” considering he’s a high four-star prospect with a loaded ability at the ever so important spot.


Some good news, though, came through yesterday. Another 2019 QB, Brian Maurer of Ocala, Fla., took to Twitter to let Buckeye Nation know he would be in attendance next weekend for a two-day June 21-22 unofficial visit that will also see Brian camp and compete first-hand for the coaching staff.


A higher ranked three-star, Brian is the 18th best pro-style QB in the current cycle as well as a QB who currently holds nearly 20 offers. He doesn’t have an offer from the Buckeyes, but with the QB recruitment going the way it has (and maybe with a stellar camp performance), Maurer can impress enough to land the Buckeye offer. If so, look for Maurer to definitely start to trend in favor of Ohio State. Until then, the search continues on for the 2019 QB in Ohio State’s class.

Quick Hits:

• St. Louis four-star receiver Jameson Williams, Missouri’s third best prospect announced a final top-5 school list yesterday. Making the cut included Ohio State, Oregon, UCLA, Alabama and Nebraska. Fortunately, Ohio State is the clear front runner in this recruitment and owns all of the 247sports crystal ball predictions.
• Four-star 2020 defensive tackle prospect Alex Huntley of South Carolina will camp at Ohio State this weekend. The fifth best DT in the 2020 class does not currently hold a Buckeye offer, but a strong camp could change that very soon.
• A top 2020 receiver, AJ Henning of Illinois will visit Ohio State this coming weekend. A top-five receiver in the country, the Buckeyes would love to get a relationship with Henning trending in the right way.

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Watch: Jackson preparing hard for senior year with Buckeyes - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Watch: Jackson preparing hard for senior year with Buckeyes
247Sports
And one of the key pieces from that unexpected 25-9 season was point guard C.J. Jackson, who will be one of three senior scholarship players for the Buckeyes in 2018-19. (The others are former walk-on guard Joey Lane and Wake Forest graduate transfer ...


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For the second time in three seasons, the nation's top-ranked offensive lineman preps in the greater Cincinnati area. - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


For the second time in three seasons, the nation's top-ranked offensive lineman preps in the greater Cincinnati area.
247Sports
For the second time in three seasons, the nation's top-ranked offensive lineman preps in the greater Cincinnati area. The Class of 2018 had Fairfield's Jackson Carman. He was the No. 1 offensive lineman during most of his recruitment (Current Buckeye ...


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Ohio State recruiting: Buckeyes bring in Ohio's best for camps - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State recruiting: Buckeyes bring in Ohio's best for camps
Landof10.com
2 player in Ohio's 2020 class according to 247Sports, has already been offered by the Buckeyes, but he will participate in the camp nonetheless. Henry has landed 10 offers from Power 5 programs in the last two months, most recently from Clemson and ...
How the NCAA's new redshirt rule affects the BuckeyesLand-Grant Holy Land
Can Rutgers beat Ohio State? A 2.1 percent chance the Buckeyes ...cleveland.com
Crystal Ball pick: 5-star target to Ohio State247Sports
Eleven Warriors -Lettermen Row -Buckeye Wire
all 29 news articles »

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Watch: JT Barrett wins throwing competition over Drew Brees - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Watch: JT Barrett wins throwing competition over Drew Brees
247Sports
Despite the successful career with the Buckeyes, Barrett was not selected in last spring's NFL Draft. He did sign an undrafted free agent contract with the Saints, where he is now teammates with Brees. Following rookie mini-camp, Barrett is now working ...
Herbie Teope on Twitter: "#Saints are signing RB Terrance West, according to a source. West was among the veterans ...Twitter

all 123 news articles »

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Ohio State wide receiver Parris Campbell has some added motivation ahead of his senior season
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


After not being included on a list of the fastest players in college football, Campbell has something to prove

“But I definitely have a lot of potential that I haven’t even touched yet, and I feel like Ohio State is the best place to develop and push for that. I feel like once this season is over, all of those goals will be met.”

- Ohio State wide receiver Parris Campbell via Austin Ward, Letterman Row


Wide receiver Parris Campbell surprised a lot of Ohio State fans when he announced that he would forego the NFL Draft and return to Columbus for his senior season. Campbell caught 39 passes last year and averaged 15.1 yards per reception, and turned plenty of heads with three touchdowns of at least 50 yards.

Apparently Campbell didn’t get the attention of everybody though, as he was recently left off an NFL.com countdown of the 18 fastest players in college football. The omission could cause big trouble for Ohio State’s opponents this year, as Campbell now has some extra motivation to showcase his speed.

While Campbell now has plenty of motivation to prove the doubters wrong, he returned to Ohio State because he knows that there are still some goals that have yet to be accomplished. The biggest of those goals is to win a national title, and he wouldn’t have returned if he didn’t think that he and his teammates had a shot to do so this year.

“The coaches sent me to be a leader for this team.”

- Ohio State guard C.J. Jackson via Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch


With the losses of Jae’Sean Tate and Keita Bates-Diop, Ohio State knows they are going to need somebody to step up and lead the basketball team. Chris Holtmann and his staff are banking on guard C.J. Jackson being the next leader for the Buckeyes. Jackson recently attended the Athletes In Action leadership retreat, with hopes that it would help Jackson to grow as a leader much in the same way that it did for Tate and Bates-Diop, who attended the event prior to last season.

The junior-college transfer has appeared in 66 games for Ohio State, starting 40 of them. Jackson finished last year with a couple of his best games as a Buckeye, averaging 19 points and six rebounds in two games of the NCAA Tournament. Holtmann and the coaching staff are hoping the performances against South Dakota State and Gonzaga are a sign of things to come in the 2018-19 season.

Aside from Jackson, there isn’t a lot of experience on the Ohio State roster, which made it an easy choice to send the guard to the Athletes In Action retreat. While Jackson knows some of the reason that he was sent is because he is the most experienced Buckeye, he also knows it is his time to lead, and he is embracing the challenge. If Ohio State can get some strong leadership and production from Jackson, it will help the Buckeyes to recover quicker than some are expect from the losses of Tate and Bates-Diop.


It isn’t taking former Ohio State basketball star Kelsey Mitchell much time to make a name for herself in the WNBA. After finishing her Ohio State career with the second-most points in NCAA history, Mitchell was taken with the second pick by the Indiana Fever in the 2018 WNBA Draft. Through nine games, Mitchell is averaging 17.4 points per game for the winless Fever.

One of the few bright spots in a tough start to the season for the Fever has been the play of Mitchell. The Buckeye legend has already claimed some ankles with a couple of highlight-reel crossovers; including on Tuesday night, Mitchell crossed over the only women’s college basketball to score more points than her, Kelsey Plum. The crossover gave Mitchell the space needed to hit a three-pointer, but Plum’s Las Vegas Aces had the last laugh, winning 101-92 in overtime.The other highlight-reel crossover came on Friday, when a move from Mitchell sent Dallas’ Kaela Davis to the floor and allowed Mitchell to hit a three-pointer.

Even though Indiana is still searching for their first win this year, at least Ohio State fans can not only watch Mitchell take the WNBA by storm, but the Fever roster also includes Mitchell’s Ohio State teammate Stephanie Mavunga, who is averaging 3.4 points per game in limited minutes in her rookie season.


The 2018 World Cup kicked off today in Russia, and while it isn’t quite the same without the United States being a part of it, there still are plenty of ways to enjoy the tournament. If you are having a tough time choosing a team to support, there is a pretty good comparison when it comes to college football to help you sway your rooting interests.

Four years ago “La Albiceleste” made it to the World Cup Final, and it doesn’t hurt they have one of the best players to ever play the game in Lionel Messi. Along with Messi, Argentina has a couple other talented strikers in Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain, who is the brother of Columbus Crew SC star Federico Higuain.

With their storied history and immense talent, it’s hard not to root for Argentina if you are an Ohio State fan. Messi’s squad will play their first game in Russia against Iceland on Saturday, and while “La Albiceleste” should make it out of their group, they’ll see the competition ramp up in the knockout stage with possible matches against Spain and Germany. Maybe Argentina can put together a magical run much like the Buckeyes did in the 2015 College Football Playoff.

STICK TO SPORTS

• Ohio State has started distributing iPads to incoming freshmen.
• O Patio is the latest campus bar casualty. The bar formally know as Zigs and Four Kegs will close on June 30th.
• Grandview Yard will have a new breakfast spot opening up in mid-August.
• This very good dog got to have a bit of fun at “Bark at the Park Night” in Tulsa.
• Ryan Adams doing the weather in Denver was just as ridiculous as you would expect it to be.

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Micah Potter enjoyed his brother's recruitment by Urban Meyer - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Micah Potter enjoyed his brother's recruitment by Urban Meyer
247Sports
He went through the recruiting process and had offers from the Buckeyes, Iowa, Clemson, West Virginia, Miami University and North Carolina State, among others. Ultimately, Potter committed to Thad Matta and the Scarlet and Gray, but his experience was ...


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Ohio State among top five schools for 4-star receiver Jameson Williams: Buckeyes football recruiting - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State among top five schools for 4-star receiver Jameson Williams: Buckeyes football recruiting
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Receiver is one of the biggest needs Ohio State has in the 2019 recruiting class. The Buckeyes already have committed in five-star Garrett Wilson. They are getting closer to landing another after four-star prospect Jameson Williams ...

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Taosman said:

The end of the once great Rubber Bowl is in sight so let's just take a moment to honor it's passing.

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Billy Graham saved souls there. Karl Wallenda once walked on a tightrope above the gridiron. The Rolling Stones performed there in 1972, getting fans so worked up that a couple dozen got arrested. And there was football. Lots of football.
https://apnews.com/c4c9a587ea72480a8e3ed97fdbca4c59

Click to expand...

Went to a lot of HS games there (and played a few there) including an infamous playoff game between Kenmore and Garfield that turned into an on field brawl with fans charging in from the stands; Acme Zip games, Browns-Vikings exhibition game...didn't go to any of the concerts that summer (it funded their god awful astroturf which I played on when it was new. One can only imagine how much worse it got in later years) but knew a lot of people who did. Really surprised it was still around.

Ohio State staff's personal touch won Harry Miller's commitment - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State staff's personal touch won Harry Miller's commitment
247Sports
Reaching into Georgia for the nation's second highest-rated center was no easy task for Ohio State, but four-star Harry Miller's commitment over the weekend marked another major win for the Buckeyes in the 2019 cycle, a class that's picking up steam ...


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How the NCAA’s new redshirt rule affects the Buckeyes
Chad Peltier via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The rule opens up new options for roster management that could benefit the Buckeyes late in the season.

By now you’ve probably heard — the NCAA did something good: football players can now participate in up to four games without burning their redshirt years. Players still have five years to play four, but now student athletes can also play a third of a regular season and still take a redshirt.

This creates a whole new set of strategic roster management options, particularly for freshmen who otherwise wouldn’t play until their second year on campus.

Meyer has always said that his goal is for every freshman to play and to use redshirts minimally. That’s never really happened, but now, barring injury, a freshman is almost assured of at least some playing time during his first season on campus, even if they are ultimately redshirt-bound.

Coaches can now take advantage of this rule by:

• Using otherwise redshirt-bound players in up to four cupcake games. Cupcake games can essentially be previews for the next season (or even next-next season), where freshmen can get valuable game reps. Conveniently for Ohio State, the Buckeyes play four teams this season that are ranked 80th or worse in the S&P+ projections (Oregon State, Rutgers, Tulane, and Maryland). Not only will this make next year’s team better when these freshmen have playing experience outside of scout team work, but it is also a preview for fans.
• Saving players for late in the season or the postseason. Imagine if Tua had come off the bench for Alabama in the national championship game, but he still redshirted last year. Under the new rule, a player could not play the entire season, then play in the last game of the regular season (i.e., Michigan), then in a conference championship (i.e., Wisconsin), and then in the playoff, but still take a redshirt. This is ideal for players who are insanely talented, but have established starters ahead of them, or for players who need some time to learn the system or add/drop some weight. If the light starts to come on for a freshman during the regular season, then there’s no harm in using them as essentially a secret weapon during the postseason.
• Using it as injury insurance. Now a late season injury doesn’t have to mean that an otherwise redshirt-bound player automatically loses their redshirt if they replace the injured starter.
• Of course, coaches have to be careful with using a player’s four games early in the season, because they might be needed as a late-season injury contingency or for the postseason. The Buckeyes face Oregon State (110th in the S&P+), Rutgers (84th), and Tulane (94th) in the first four games — there are likely to be significant opportunities for freshman to get some playing time early on. But then again, you might want to save their four games for when Ohio State faces Michigan State, Michigan, and any potential post-season opponent(s).
• This doesn’t just impact freshmen. While rare, sometimes upperclassmen will take a redshirt year depending on other depth chart concerns. Let’s say a true sophomore or junior wins a starting job out of fall camp, but then gets out-played by a younger player during the first four games of the season. That benched upperclassman could then still be redshirted if he loses his starting job.
• As a result, we’re likely to see more fall camp competitions get resolved during the regular season through live game action. Can’t decide who to start at right guard or at quarterback? Assuming they haven’t already used their redshirt year, let the players battle it out during those first four games. For Ohio State, TCU (22nd in the S&P+) should be the only challenge, and the player that ends up as the backup could still be redshirted.
• It’s especially huge for quarterbacks. Barring serious injury catastrophes, Matthew Baldwin isn’t going to play this season as Ohio State’s third-string quarterback. But now he can get playing time in at least four games to prep for potentially being in the two-deep next year. If this rule had been in place last season, Tate Martell could have played in four games and still redshirted instead of being a totally green second-stringer this year.
• Players with injuries from their previous seasons could recover for most of the regular season — like Master Teague or Matthew Baldwin — and then play when they are fully healthy.
• Run trick plays during big games. As we saw with Evan Spencer’s pass to Michael Thomas during the 2014 Sugar Bowl, Urban Meyer (or at least Tom Herman) isn’t above pulling out a trick play in critical moments. Now a team could play a player — who an opposing defense wouldn’t have any game film on — for a single trick play or in a special package. This could have been very effective with Tate Martell last season, and could be used for any player who played quarterback in high school but moved to a new position in college.
• There are a number of freshmen destined for special teams roles who would burn redshirts anyway. But there are also a number of players who won’t play on special teams, like some linemen, who can now get playing time while redshirting.

Here’s how the rule could impact specific players:

Tyreke Johnson and Josh Proctor


With Damon Webb off to the NFL, safety is one of the team‘s biggest concerns for 2018. No one seized the job through spring practice, despite Isaiah Pryor being the favorite. But Tyreke Johnson (.9876 in the 247 Composite) is a five-star defensive back and Josh Proctor (.964) is close behind him in the safety rankings. Either player could take all the time they need to learn the system, then take over a starting job later in the year, but still redshirt.

Jaelen Gill


One of the most explosive players in the Buckeyes‘ 2018 class, Gill would probably be headed for a redshirt absent this rule. Parris Campbell, KJ Hill, and Demario McCall (who is a good comparison for Gill in terms of skill sets and rankings as all-purpose backs) are ahead of him at slot back. But now, Gill could be used later in the season as a “ringer” — an elite offensive weapon who could provide a spark towards the end of the season.

Master Teague


I mentioned this above, but Teague suffered a big injury during his senior season. While he participated in spring practice, recovery is an ongoing process. Now Teague can take more time to heal, with Dobbins and Weber entrenched in front of him, then be used later in the season to take some of the load off the co-starters at running back. This could work similarly to Georgia’s D’Andre Swift behind Nick Chubb and Sony Michel — Swift (who didn’t take a redshirt) really started to come on late in the season, gashing Auburn for a 64-yard touchdown run in the SEC Championship. Now Teague could fill a similar role but still have four more years of eligibility.

Matthew Baldwin


Similarly to Teague, Baldwin was injured during the Texas state championship game. Now Baldwin can recover throughout the season but still get extremely valuable playing time in his likely redshirt year.

Jeremey Ruckert


It’s easy to imagine a world where Ruckert gets on the field early and does enough to justify burning his redshirt. Ruckert is Urban Meyer’s best tight end recruit at Ohio State, with pass catching skills unlike any other tight end on the roster. But unless Ruckert is used as a second, flexed-out tight end, Luke Farrell and Rashod Berry are likely ahead of him on the depth chart. But now Ruckert has a little wiggle room for playing while still preserving a redshirt.

Tommy Togiai and Taron Vincent


Defensive tackle is now as deep as it’s ever been during the Meyer era. Dre’Mont Jones, Robert Landers, JUCO transfer Antwuan Jackson Jr., Haskell Garrett, and Davon Hamilton are all excellent players who should help form the best Buckeye defensive line in years. But Tommy Togiai and Taron Vincent were two of the top three players at the position in the 2018 recruiting class. With so many talented players ahead of them, they could be saved for later in the season, providing even more depth and playmaking ability for Ohio State’s big late season games.

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How the NCAA's new redshirt rule affects the Buckeyes - Land-Grant Holy Land
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


How the NCAA's new redshirt rule affects the Buckeyes
Land-Grant Holy Land
Conveniently for Ohio State, the Buckeyes play four teams this season that are ranked 80th or worse in the S&P+ projections (Oregon State, Rutgers, Tulane, and Maryland). Not only will this make next year's team better when these freshmen have playing ...
Can Rutgers beat Ohio State? A 2.1 percent chance the Buckeyes ...cleveland.com
5 things to know about Ohio State football's 2018 scheduleLandof10.com
No. 1 prospect in Minnesota 'absolutely loved it' at Ohio State247Sports
Lettermen Row -Eleven Warriors -isportsweb.com (blog)
all 18 news articles »

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Watch: JT Barrett wins throwing competition over Drew Brees - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Watch: JT Barrett wins throwing competition over Drew Brees
247Sports
Despite the successful career with the Buckeyes, Barrett was not selected in last spring's NFL Draft. He did sign an undrafted free agent contract with the Saints, where he is now teammates with Brees. Following rookie mini-camp, Barrett is now working ...

and more »

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Watch: Jackson preparing hard for senior year with Buckeyes - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Watch: Jackson preparing hard for senior year with Buckeyes
247Sports
And one of the key pieces from that unexpected 25-9 season was point guard C.J. Jackson, who will be one of three senior scholarship players for the Buckeyes in 2018-19. (The others are former walk-on guard Joey Lane and Wake Forest graduate transfer ...


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Recruits breakdown Ohio State football summer camp experience
Charles Doss via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Hear from some of the high school talent that recently camped with the Buckeyes.

It’s that time of the year again where college coaches from across the country play host to hundreds of prospects. Yup! You got that right, it’s summer camp season.

Just like every other college football program, Urban Meyer and the Ohio State staff have been hard at work helping high school prospects and potential Buckeyes get better at their craft.

Wanting to get you a closer look to the summer camp experience, Land-Grant Holy Land caught up with the following recruits and grabbed their opinion on what it was like to get coached up by one of the top overall staffs in college football.

4-star CB Adonis Otey


Class: 2019

Town: Murfreesboro,TN/Blackman

Size: 5’11/180

Offers: Ohio State, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida State, Michigan, etc

Thoughts: “Camp was great. I was just working out seeing the tempo of how the coaches coach and what they expect from the players. I had a meeting with my position coach and coach Meyer, and they said I was high on the board so it’s all on me.”

3-star TE Brenton Strange


Class: 2019

Town: Parkersburg,WV/Parkersburg

Size: 6’5/210

Offers: Ohio State, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Maryland, Purdue, etc

Thoughts: “Ohio State’s camp was really good. I learned of bunch of stuff and came away with an offer. A win/win.”

3-star QB Justin Fomby


Class: 2019

Town: Lawrenceville,GA/Central Gwinnett

Size: 6’4/185

Offers: Missouri, Georgia State, South Alabama

Thoughts: “It was good. I learned or reworked rather putting velicity on the ball while dropping it over a linebacker, the 1-inch throw. That throw is effective and working it at the camp really helped out my game. I talked to Coach Day, and he said he’ll take a look at the film they took from the camp and evaluate it and get back with me. He said I looked good from what he saw and he should be keeping in touch with me later on.”

3-star TE Justin Stephens


Class: 2019

Town: Dayton,OH/Trotwood-Madison

Size: 6’7/235

Offers: Boston College, Cincinnati, Iowa, Kentucky, LSU, etc

Thoughts: “It was great. I actually went again (6/12/18). I learned a lot of receiver tips and blocking tips. I talked to coach Wilson, coach Meyer and coach Hinton, and they said that I could be a great player. (A scholarship) would mean a lot. Growing up in Ohio I’ve always watched them. It would be a little like tradition.”

4-star RB Michael Drennen II


Class: 2020

Town: Dublin,OH/Coffman

Size: 5’11/190

Offers: Boston College, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Indiana, Louisville, etc

Thoughts: “Camp was great. There was great competition there. While I was there coach Alford and I did a few reaction drills and he helped me with bag work. Great coaches.”

3-star OT Trey Leroux


Class: 2020

Town: Monroeville,OH/Monroeville

Size: 6’8/300

Offers: Toledo

Thoughts: “The camp was amazing. I learned many new ways and different form for my pass set along with a few pointers working with my punch and explosion for run blocking. I talked to coach Stud (Greg Studrawa) for quite a while. He said that he was impressed with my movement while being the size that I am as well as stating that he would like to further get to know me and get my recruitment in gear by going to the Friday Night Lights camp. I also got to talk to coach Meyer for a bit.”

OG Rocco Spindler


Class: 2021

Town: Clarkston,MI/Clarkston

Size: 6’4/250

Offers: Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Toledo

Thoughts: “The Ohio State camp was great. It really showed how to compete with the other top prospects around the country. Even though I’m young I’m very advanced than the other guys and I feel like the Ohio State coaching staff saw that and my potential and future in this sport. What I learned was even though the coaches ask you to go 10-yards they actually wanted you to go +2 more yards making it actually 12 yards. Even though they only asked 10 yards. And if you add up all the +2 yards to each thing that you do that’s separates you from a decent player to a great champion type of player. I had a great time with each of the coaches there, and I hope to see them soon.”

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