No. 6 Ohio State hockey plows through Michigan State, 6-2
Matt Torino via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes won Game 1 of the Best of 3 series versus the Spartans in the Big Ten Tournament.

The No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes blew through the Michigan State Spartans, 6-2, to take Game 1 of their best-of-three series in the quarterfinals stage of the Big Ten Tournament.

The biggest advantage of finishing No. 2 in the Big Ten versus No. 3 was avoiding previously ranked Wisconsin in the first round. Michigan State is the consensus least talented team in the conference and Ohio State did what it was supposed to do on Friday night.

This one didn’t become the easy win it turned out to be early, however. The game would be tied at one apiece until there were under four minutes remaining in the second period. From thereon, Ohio State scored four consecutive goals and moved to within a game of advancing to the next round of the conference tournament.

Tanner Laczynski opened this one up for Ohio State, as he took a pass from Wyatt Ege on the powerplay and shot one in from the top of the right circle. The puck bounced around in front and somehow found its way in, with Laczynski credited with the score. It was anything but clean, but hey, still counts.


(I wouldn’t call that ripping one home, but to each their own I guess.)

Shots were 11-5 Ohio State in the first and it looked like OSU would assert themselves in this one. But Michigan State tied it up just 3:12 into the second as Patrick Khodorenko put one past Sean Romeo on a bizarre broken play involving an in place spinorama. But that’d be it for MSU on the night. There’d be no Zack Snyder sepia-infused stand in this one.

Matthew Weis would score what would turn out to be the game winner at 16:32 of the second on a pass from Laczynski, and, suddenly, OSU was up 2-1 heading into the second intermission.

The third period would be a parade of Ohio State goals. Mason Jobst would be the first, scoring at 1:54 of the third, with assists going to Tommy Parran and Matt Joyaux. He redirected a shot from Parran and OSU was up 3-1.

Sasha Larocque would then increase the OSU lead to three goals. He scored on a shot from the point, with assists going to Luke Stork and Sam McCormick at 6:36. John Wiitala really put this one on ice, as he scored to make it 5-1 in favor of Ohio State at 15:40 of the third, putting in a Brendon Kearney rebound.

With 4:20 left after the Wiitala goal, OSU was ready to blaze right through the green of Michigan State. Michigan State would add a goal to make it 5-2 with 1:22 left, but by that time, it was over. Christian Lampasso added a powerplay goal with one second left to finish this one off, as if there was any doubt at 19:59 of the third.

This one went pretty much according to script for the Buckeyes. They outshot the Spartans, they outscored the Spartans and ultimately won a game they’re supposed to win. They’ve given themselves two chances to close out this first round series and move onto the second round. A Big Ten tournament title is a real possibility this year and the Buckeyes started with a solid first step.

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NFL's evaluations on Combine Buckeyes - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


NFL's evaluations on Combine Buckeyes
247Sports
The NFL Combine is underway from Indianapolis as former college players from around the country hope to impress NFL personnel with measurements, interview skills and drills with no pads. But before the Combine, NFL.com evaluated each player on ...

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Game 9: Penn State tops Ohio State, again, advances to Big Ten tourney semis
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

This one took your breath away in what was the best game yet in the Big Ten tourney. Plucky Penn State, a No. 7 seed, took down No. 2 Ohio State, 69-68, to advance to the semifinals. It was the third time this season that the Nittany Lions toppled the Buckeyes.

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Penn State sweeps Ohio State with a 69-68 victory in the Big Ten Tournament
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Three was a magic number for PSU as they advance to the semis in Madison Square Garden.

The old saying goes, “It’s hard to beat a team three times in a season.” Well, the No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions (21-12, 9-9) did just that against the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes (24-7, 15-3). The third victory came in the Big Ten Tournament, by a score of 69-68. After winningat the buzzer in January, and then blowing the Buckeyes out last month, PSU completed the season sweep at Madison Square Garden, and gave themselves another impressive notch on their NCAA Tournament resume.

While it was a big of a slugfest for the majority of the game, as it came down to the wire, the best player on each team began to take control. Both Penn State’s Tony Carr and Ohio State’s Keita Bates-Diop showed why they are two of the best players in the conference, and in the country.

Earlier in the week, PSU head coach Pat Chambers announced that 6-foot-9 sophomore forward Mike Watkins would be unavailable for the B1G Tournament as he dealt with a knee injury. His absence should seemingly have allowed a bigger OSU team to impose their will in the paint, but that was not the case.

The Buckeye offense went through Kaleb Wesson early on, as the freshman took OSU’s first two shots (making one), and got the assist to a streaking Bates-Diop in the lane. From there, the Ohio State offense got a little sloppy as they continued to focus in the lane. Jae’Sean Tate and Bates-Diop both missed shots in the paint.

The Buckeyes already were a bit careless with the ball early on as well. Kaleb Wesson put a little too much behind an entry pass to KBD, as it hit the rim and was rebounded by PSU. Then, Tate dribbled through the lane, and as he was turning to head back to the top of the key, he dribbled off of his foot, leading to a Penn State dunk for Lamar Stevens. After the second-seeded Buckeyes opened the game with the first two baskets, the Nittany Lions went on a 9-0 run heading into the first media timeout.


After Shep Garner hit a three-pointer from Staten Island, Andre Wesson broke the Buckeye scoreless streak, and after Micah Potter got a steal on the defensive end, he found Tate on the fastbreak, and the Buckeyes had suddenly cut the lead to just 12-9. On the next possession, Potter deflected a pass, and then blocked a Stevens layup attempt to force a shot-clock violation.

Making the most of his playing time, Potter knotted the game at 12 with a triple after a media timeout, then the Buckeye defense forces a backcourt violation, and C.J. Jackson made it count with a three-pointer of his own; two possessions later, Kam Williams hit one from downtown as well. An underhanded layup by Andrew Dakich put the Buckeyes on a 14-3 run.

From the opening tip, the Buckeyes played with an incredible amount of energy. While that allowed them to go on a 20-6 run, it also led to some missed opportunities and some overcommitments on defense. That manic energy resulted in a 28-28 tie with 4:00 left in the first half. While all eight of the Buckeyes that had seen the floor in the first half had hit at least one bucket, Stevens (12) and Carr (14) had combined for 26 of PSU’s 33 points. The Nittany Lions led the game 33-32 after the first half.

One of the areas in which Ohio State’s over eagerness proved to be a problem was that they were often not in position to rebound on the defensive end. In the first half, PSU had already collected nine offensive rebounds, leading to 14 second-chance points.

At the break, Bates-Diop (8) and Tate (7) were the only Buckeyes with more than three points. However, Ohio State was out shooting the Nittany Lions from the field, 41.4 percent to 37.5. The Buckeye bench outscored their PSU counterparts 8-1, but other than that, most of the stats were fairly close, as evidenced by the one-point score.

The second half opened like much of the first half, OSU missed a layup—this time it was Tate—but the Buckeye senior got his own board, along with the hoop and the harm. The free throw put Ohio State up 35-32.

However from there, the Nittany Lions went on an 8-0 run, as the Buckeyes missed shots (including more layups), put it up unnecessarily early in the shot-clock, and mishandled the ball. With Watkins out of the game, Chambers played four guards for a large portion of the game, creating significant match-up issues for the Buckeyes on defense.

With OSU struggling on offense, Penn State took advantage going on a nearly-seven minute, 12-2 run before Bates-Diop took it strong to the hoop and completed the old-fashioned three-point play. Garner got a triple and a layup during that span, and almost nothing worked for the OSU offense, while nearly everything did for Penn State.

However, with KBD’s basket, the momentum began to swing just a bit. After a Kaleb Wesson second-chance basket, Bates-Diop threw down a monstrous dunk, and Dakich got a hustle steal in the backcourt before calling timeout from the ground with OSU down 46-44.


After the break, Kaleb Wesson found Williams on a back-cut, and the senior finished with a nifty reverse layup to tie the game. However, Garner got a three on the subsequent possession to get into double-figures.

The action kept going as the younger Wesson tipped the offensive rebound to Dakich, who quickly got it to KBD who hit a straight-away three to even the game at 49. Then, the Big Ten Player of the Year stole the ball from Josh Reaves around mid-court, and was fouled in the process. For the first time since perhaps late-January, Bates-Diop was beginning to take over a game on both ends of the floor.

Undeterred by KBD’s emergence, Carr, who has dominated OSU all season, began to assert himself as well. With 8:39 remaining in the game, he hit a pair of free-throws to get to 21 points— one more than his season average.

On the next offensive possession, Tate was whistled for a reckless foul, his fourth of the game; he would return to the bench. With his fellow veteran leader out of the game, KBD continued to impose his will. After missing a shot in the lane, he tipped the rebound back in. Then on the next PSU possession, he blocked a Carr layup attempt, and then Jackson found him behind the arc for a three-pointer that tied the game at 57 with 5:25 remaining.

After Tate’s bucket opened the second 20 minutes, Bates-Diop scored 13 of the Buckeyes next 20 points, keeping them in the game. After a Jackson rebound, Williams hit his own triple, giving the Buckeyes their first lead since the 19:37 point of half. Carr matched it with a banked three-pointer of his own on the next trip down the floor, but Williams answered immediately giving the lead back to the Buckeyes. With just over four minutes remaining, the there had already been 10 ties and six lead changes in the game.

Despite stretches of sloppy, uninspiring basketball in the first 30 minutes of the contest, the final 10 minutes of regulation found an extra level of intensity and execution, as both teams began hitting shots and causing havoc on the defensive end.

After back-to-back baskets by Bates-Diop, the PoY picked up his first foul contesting a Carr attempt in the lane. The Nittany Lion hit one of two free-throws to get the game to 68-65 in favor of the Buckeyes.

With less than 25 seconds remaining, KBD had the ball stolen, leading to Carr finding a streaking Reaves who slammed it home to put PSU up 69-68.

This Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET, Penn State will take on the winner of the No. 3 Purdue vs. No. 14 Rutgers quarterfinal matchup. That game will be broadcast on CBS.

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J.T. Barrett talks future of the Ohio State offense at the NFL Combine
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeye QB talked about the new Co-Offensive Coordinator situation and upcoming quarterback competition.

Ohio State’s only three-time captain in program history, quarterback J.T. Barrett took the podium for some questions from the media at the 2018 NFL Combine. The Buckeye has already undergone his medical exams, measurements and some team interviews, but before he suits up for the on-field portion of the four-day interview, he also talked about the future of Ohio State’s offense.

One of the recent changes since Barrett’s last snap was the promotion of QB coach Ryan Day to Co-Offensive Coordinator. Day is now expected to share the role with Kevin Wilson, a combination that Barrett seemed a little unsure of.


You can’t blame the guy for not going all-in on the new coordinator duo, he himself only had one year playing under either of them, and sharing duties can sometimes muddy the water. Regardless, Barrett seemed excited to see who would fill his shoes as the No. 1 QB for the Buckeyes next season, noting that all three candidates are solid options.


Whoever takes over his role will certainly have some big shoes to fill. In addition to being one of the most decorated quarterbacks to ever come through Columbus, Barrett is also the only QB to beat Michigan four times as the starter. Having never lost to the Buckeyes’ bitter rival is something he holds in high regard.


And if you’ve spent the past year or two wondering if there was any love lost between J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones following their QB competition in 2015, prepare to rest easy. It seems the two Buckeyes have kept in touch well after 12-gauge left for the NFL.


The 2018 season will be a big adjustment from the past several seasons, and with a new starting quarterback, a new era of Buckeye football will be ushered in. Let’s just hope they continue to be a College Football Playoff worthy team.

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Ohio State recruiting: Buckeyes offer QB visitor, several other ... - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State recruiting: Buckeyes offer QB visitor, several other ...
Landof10.com
Ohio State has extended a rash of new offers in the 2019 recruiting class, including to visiting Maryland quarterback Jalon Jones.
Buckeyes offer Maryland quarterback - Bucknuts - 247Sports247Sports
Skull Session: Buckeyes Hope for Third-Time Charm Against Lions ...Eleven Warriors
Ohio State continues to throw offers all over the placeLand-Grant Holy Land

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J.T. Barrett talks future of the Ohio State offense at the NFL Combine
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeye QB talked about the new Co-Offensive Coordinator situation and upcoming quarterback competition.

Ohio State’s only three-time captain in program history, quarterback J.T. Barrett took the podium for some questions from the media at the 2018 NFL Combine. The Buckeye has already undergone his medical exams, measurements and some team interviews, but before he suits up for the on-field portion of the four-day interview, he also talked about the future of Ohio State’s offense.

One of the recent changes since Barrett’s last snap was the promotion of QB coach Ryan Day to Co-Offensive Coordinator. Day is now expected to share the role with Kevin Wilson, a combination that Barrett seemed a little unsure of.


You can’t blame the guy for not going all-in on the new coordinator duo, he himself only had one year playing under either of them, and sharing duties can sometimes muddy the water. Regardless, Barrett seemed excited to see who would fill his shoes as the No. 1 QB for the Buckeyes next season, noting that all three candidates are solid options.


Whoever takes over his role will certainly have some big shoes to fill. In addition to being one of the most decorated quarterbacks to ever come through Columbus, Barrett is also the only QB to beat Michigan four times as the starter. Having never lost to the Buckeyes’ bitter rival is something he holds in high regard.


And if you’ve spent the past year or two wondering if there was any love lost between J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones following their QB competition in 2015, prepare to rest easy. It seems the two Buckeyes have kept in touch well after 12-gauge left for the NFL.


The 2018 season will be a big adjustment from the past several seasons, and with a new starting quarterback, a new era of Buckeye football will be ushered in. Let’s just hope they continue to be a College Football Playoff worthy team.

Continue reading...

Ohio State recruiting: Latest news on Buckeyes' 2019 class - Palm Beach Post
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State recruiting: Latest news on Buckeyes' 2019 class
Palm Beach Post
Ohio State is just getting started with the 2019 recruiting class, but the Buckeyes are hot on the trail of many of the nation's top prospects. The Buckeyes have only two commitments to date, but plenty of top prospects have been visiting and staying ...


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Ohio State women’s basketball routed Rutgers to advance in the Big Ten Tournament
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, the women’s hockey team is looking to advance in the WCHA Final Faceoff.

“The four day lay-off didn’t do much to slow No. 1 seed Ohio State as the Buckeyes continued to roll, knocking off No. 9 seed Rutgers 82-57 in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament on Friday.”

-Ohio State Buckeyes


The basketball season is nearing its end, but not before the Buckeyes get a chance to compete in the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments. With the B1G Tourney getting underway on Friday afternoon, Ohio State’s women’s team already has a spot in Saturday’s semifinal with a win over Rutgers. This marks the fifth season in a row that the Buckeyes have made it past the opening game of the conference championship.

Four members of the Scarlet and Gray put up double-figures in the first round of the tournament, with living Buckeye legend Kelsey Mitchell leading the way with 22 points. Stephanie Mavunga followed close behind with 18 points, Sierra Calhoun put up 14 points, and making her first start this season, senior forward Alexa Hart claimed 10 points. Hart’s first-time start was in place of senior guard Asia Doss, who, thanks to an injury, missed the first game of her Buckeye career.

Ohio State will continue their campaign to win the Big Ten Tournament on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET against Minnesota.

“The No. 5 Ohio State University women’s ice hockey team heads to Minnesota this weekend for the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Final Faceoff.”

-Ohio State Buckeyes


The Buckeye women’s hockey team has been having a hell of a season, and many players have been honored throughout the year with WCHA weekly, monthly and, most recently, year-end awards. Now, the ladies for Ohio State will face the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the semifinal game of the WCHA Final Faceoff, Saturday evening at 6:07 p.m. ET.

(The puck always drops at :07 on the hour in women’s hockey and for the life of me, I can’t figure out why.)

The team is coming off a sweep against Minnesota State last weekend, with Maddy Field snagging her first career hat-trick, and Charly Dahlquist, Lauren Boyle and Emma Maltais scoring one goal in the first game of the series. The game also featured Amanda Zeglen’s first shutout of her career, with the Buckeyes winning 6-0. They went on to finish the weekend with a second victory of 5-2.

Should the Buckeyes win on Saturday, they’ll advance to Sunday’s Championship game, where they’d face the winner of Wisconsin-Bemidji State.

“Hyde’s representation are in attendance at the Combine and Lynch described it as a “good opportunity.””

-Jennifer Lee Chan, Niners Nation


Ohio State alumnus Carlos Hyde is a free agent for the first time in his NFL career. Having just finished playing on the last year of his rookie deal, El Guapo pulled off a career-high season in 2017, and could have helped secure a big money, long term deal. Whether or not that deal will be with the San Francisco 49ers is yet to be seen.

Hyde hasn’t had the best luck thus far on the West Coast, with the Niners having gone through three head coaches in his first three seasons in the league. San Francisco has seemingly made a long-term investment in new head coach Kyle Shanahan — who doesn’t seem to be in any rush to leave — and by bringing in quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, the team is putting in place a potentially formidable group in 2018.

The running back out of Ohio State was a critical piece of the gameplan in Shanahan’s first year as the Niners’ head coach, and my feeling is that him staying would be a win for both sides. But, just in case they aren’t able to work out a deal, the team is meeting with running back prospects at this week’s NFL Combine. Hyde’s representatives are reportedly there as well, and have begun discussions about a new deal, but the NFL is first and foremost a business, so nothing is for sure until both parties have signed on the dotted line.

“Andrew being an All-Pro this year, that’s certainly raised the bar and deservedly so,” Rivera said. “Andrew had a terrific year and he’s been nothing but a solid player for us every season.”

-Via Joseph Person and Jourdan Rodrigue, Charlotte Observer


One of the most sought after NFL free agents this offseason is left guard Andrew Norwell, and while the Carolina Panthers would love to keep him on the roster, he might be a little too pricey for them to keep around.

The biggest issue for the Panthers is the bar they set last season signing teammate Trai Turner to four-year, $45 million contract back in July 2017. The deal set a new standard on the OG market, and set the stage for Norwell to secure a big-money, long term contract this offseason — unfortunately, it probably wont be with Carolina.

Norwell first signed on with the Panthers after going undrafted in 2014, but was quickly a constant feature on the depth chart, and snagged the starting role in 2015. Since then, he’s seemingly improved each season, and has been protecting Cam Newton better than most. He even finished the 2017 with a first-team All-Pro designation.

While staying with a team is great for comfort, Norwell shouldn’t be too upset if he soon finds himself packing his bags for another city. After all, the NFL is a business, and there is nothing more business-like than making a move to get the money you’re actually worth.

STICK TO SPORTS

• Ohio State University ranked No. 6 among large schools on the Peace Corps’ 2018 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities list, with 62 Buckeyes currently volunteering worldwide.
• It’s about that time to start your annual spring cleaning, and here’s a bunch of helpful tips and items to get ready for warm weather.
• The gamer world is really hoping that Blizzard’s Diablo will soon be available on the Nintendo Switch.

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Ohio State LB Dante Booker now expected to stay in Columbus, despite earlier report
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


So, maybe the Buckeyes aren’t losing the linebacker just yet.

UPDATE: Shortly after the initial report by BuckNuts that Ohio State would be losing another linebacker heading into the 2018 season, they retracted the story citing a team source saying there was no change in Booker’s status.

So, as of now, the Buckeyes can continue on trying to fill just two of the starting linebacker spots.


In a shocking report, BuckNuts’ Alex Gleitman is reporting that Ohio State’s starting linebacker Dante Booker is expected to transfer away from the program after graduating this spring. The Buckeyes lost starters Jerome Baker and Chris Worley to the NFL Draft, and will now apparently need to replace all three starting linebackers.

In three years at Ohio State, Booker has amassed 62 tackles, including six for loss, but now it appears that the Akron native will be taking his talents elsewhere, and will be able to play immediately, following receiving his degree in Sports Industry. He will have one year of eligibility remaining.

The linebacking corps was a bit underwhelming this past season under new coach Bill Davis, and Booker, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 2016 season-opener against Bowling Green, never found his stride in 2017. He accounted for 31 total tackles, including five behind the line of scrimmage. He also picked off one ball.

Off the field, Booker was a 2014 OSU Scholar-Athlete and a 2015 Academic All-Big Ten honoree.

With all three 2017 starting linebackers now gone, it will be up to Davis to find contributors to fill in at the second level. Younger players like Tuf Borland, Malik Harrison, Baron Browning, Keandre Jones, and Justin Hilliard will be asked to step up.

Good luck to Booker wherever he decides to conclude his collegiate career.

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What To Watch: Can Buckeyes break Penn State curse? - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


What To Watch: Can Buckeyes break Penn State curse?
247Sports
But the Buckeyes came up short in two meetings with seventh-seeded Penn State, whom OSU will face in a Big Ten quarterfinal match-up tonight (6:30 p.m., Big Ten Network). During the regular season, Ohio State was 0-2 against Penn State with losses at ...
Ohio State: 2019 OL Ryan Jacoby commits; Buckeyes to open Big Ten Tournament vs. Penn StateLandof10.com
Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals Preview: Penn State vs. Ohio StateBlack Shoe Diaries
Big Ten Tournament 2018 - SBNation.comSB Nation

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Buckeyes recruiting: Three they got right, three they got wrong - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes recruiting: Three they got right, three they got wrong
247Sports
Talk to any recruiting analyst or competing college coach in the country and they will tell you that Ohio State is among the best in the nation at not only recruiting top talent, but evaluating the players they bring in as well. BECOME A VIP MEMBER ...


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Buckeyes offer Maryland quarterback - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes offer Maryland quarterback
247Sports
The 6-foot-3 and 180-pound Jones completed 67 of 106 passes (63%) during his junior season. He threw for 1,162 yards and 10 touchdowns with just one interception. Jones also rushed for 1,087 yards on 94 carries and scored nine times. Jones is a 3-star ...

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Billy Price on Combine injury: 'I will come back from this' - 247Sports
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Billy Price on Combine injury: 'I will come back from this'
247Sports
The 6-4, 312-pound Price was a four-year starter for the Buckeyes, logging three years at guard before moving to center as a senior. Price, a native of Austintown, Ohio, is listed as a second-round pick in the CBSSports.com database. He is ranked No ...
NFL Scouting Combine Preview: 11 Buckeyes Look To Improve Their Draft Stock In IndianapolisEleven Warriors

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Buckeyes reach out to DB and make scholarship offer - 247Sports
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Buckeyes reach out to DB and make scholarship offer
247Sports
Truly ????blessed and honored to receive my 13th offer from the Ohio State Buckeyes ????? #GoBuckeyes?? #Outta252 ???? ?? pic.twitter.com/nZ0mKCRoXx. — Shyheim Battle (@ShyOutta252) March 1, 2018. Be sure to enjoy VIP access to Bucknuts.com with our ...


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National Championship odds for Ohio State men’s basketball increase to 40-to-1
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Just a month ago, the Buckeyes were sitting on 66-to-1 odds of winning it all.

Yesterday, Bovada, a leading online sportsbook, listed their odds for who they thought would win the Big Ten Tournament. Today, the listing of national championship odds were released.

The Ohio State Buckeyes have the 18th best odds at the moment, sitting at 40-to-1. Like their B1G Tourney odds, the Scarlet and Gray’s chances of winning the whole shebang ranks fourth best among Big Ten teams.

Michigan State is tied with Virginia for the best overall odds to win it all. Tom Izzo’s team, which won the regular season crown for the conference, holds 11-to-2 odds. While the Spartans are leading the way, those odds are a drop from Feb. 1, where they had 5-to-1 odds.

Purdue is tied with Kansas for the fifth best odds at 10-to-1; Michigan has just slightly better odds than OSU at 33-to-1.

Below is a table of 11 teams that have the best odds to win the natty, according to Bovada.


The sportsbook wasn’t done with their evaluations. They also listed the leading candidates for the AP Player of the Year. To little surprise, Oklahoma’s Trae Young, who recently set the Big 12 regular-season record for most points scored, leads the way with 1-to-2 odds.

Keita Bates-Diop, who was a 14-to-1 favorite on Feb. 19, is now off the board for AP PoY contention.

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Big Ten women's tournament: Buckeyes begin with rout of Rutgers - The Columbus Dispatch
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Big Ten women's tournament: Buckeyes begin with rout of Rutgers
The Columbus Dispatch
INDIANAPOLIS – All coach Kevin McGuff had to do was look to his left along the Ohio State bench to see the potential disaster waiting for his team before a Big Ten women's basketball tournament quarterfinal. Senior guard Asia Doss, who had started 134 ...
Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament PreviewEleven Warriors

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Ohio State LB Dante Booker to transfer, per reports
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes will now have to replace all of its starting linebackers from last season.

In a shocking report, BuckNuts’ Alex Gleitman is reporting that Ohio State’s starting linebacker Dante Booker is expected to transfer away from the program after graduating this spring. The Buckeyes lost starters Jerome Baker and Chris Worley to the NFL Draft, and will now apparently need to replace all three starting linebackers.

In three years at Ohio State, Booker has amassed 62 tackles, including six for loss, but now it appears that the Akron native will be taking his talents elsewhere, and will be able to play immediately, following receiving his degree in Sports Industry. He will have one year of eligibility remaining.

The linebacking corps was a bit underwhelming this past season under new coach Bill Davis, and Booker, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 2016 season-opener against Bowling Green, never found his stride in 2017. He accounted for 31 total tackles, including five behind the line of scrimmage. He also picked off one ball.

Off the field, Booker was a 2014 OSU Scholar-Athlete and a 2015 Academic All-Big Ten honoree.

With all three 2017 starting linebackers now gone, it will be up to Davis to find contributors to fill in at the second level. Younger players like Tuf Borland, Malik Harrison, Baron Browning, Keandre Jones, and Justin Hilliard will be asked to step up.

Good luck to Booker wherever he decides to conclude his collegiate career.

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Buckeyes' Billy Price suffers partial pectoral tear, draft stock not expected to plummet - The Athletic
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes' Billy Price suffers partial pectoral tear, draft stock not expected to plummet
The Athletic
INDIANAPOLIS — Ohio State center Billy Price, the epitome of durability in college football, spent Thursday night concerned about his future in the game. Hours earlier the All-America lineman and potential first-round pick suffered a left pectoral ...

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Ohio State football: Where does Shaun Wade fit in Buckeyes secondary? - Landof10.com
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Ohio State football: Where does Shaun Wade fit in Buckeyes secondary?
Landof10.com
First and foremost, the Buckeyes expect him to be healthy. That's obviously key coming off that full year on the sideline, and new position coach Taver Johnson has already seen enough to praise Wade's mindset ahead of the 15 spring workouts that start ...

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PodcastL For the first time in a few years, Ohio State heads into the postseason with optimism
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


With a week off, OSU comes into the B1G Tourney rested for the first time in a long time.

Now that Ohio State’s basketball regular season has ended, on the latest episode of the Hangout in the Holy Land, Matt Brown and Matt Tamanini take a quick look back on all that’s transpired before turning their attention to the Big Ten Tournament. They talk about the potential matchups for the Buckeyes, and Brown makes a bold prediction about tonight’s rematch against Penn State.


The two look at the contributions from this year’s standout players, Keita Bates-Diop, Jae’Sean Tate, Kaleb Wesson, Andrew Dakich(?), and more; as well as how the long layoff between the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament could work to the young and inexperienced roster’s advantage.

Still more than a week before Selection Sunday, the Matts also discuss what might be for the OSU hoopsters in the Big Dance— pending potential matchups, of course. They also get into the Big Ten reversing course on the condensed conference schedule, why having the tournament at Madison Square Garden means almost nothing to today’s players, and what the 2018-2019 season might look like for Chris Holtmann’s squad.

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Ohio State LB Jerome Baker’s 2018 NFL Combine results and draft projection
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeye could be the next in a long line of successful LBs out of Columbus.

One of only three players out of Ohio State to decide to declare for the NFL early, linebacker Jerome Baker had a good reason to make the jump to the pros: He’s expected to be a first or second round draft pick. The Buckeyes have a reputation for producing some of the top linebacker talent in the NFL, and the next round of rookies should continue that streak.

Baker was hidden in the depth chart his freshman year, but was a two-year starter in Columbus, and finished his collegiate career with 25 starts in 33 games played. In his final two seasons at Ohio State, the linebacker amassed 155 total tackles (87 solo) — including seven sacks for 51 yards and 17.5 tackles for loss — two interceptions and a forced fumble. His production dipped a bit in 2017, but he was still a critical component in the Buckeyes winning the Big Ten title.

Like several Buckeyes before him, Baker was known to step up in critical moments. Notably, in 2016 against rival Michigan, the Buckeye not only had a then-career-high 15 tackles, but also snagged a third-quarter interception to keep the Wolverines from extending their 10-point lead — Ohio State came back to win, in large part to this momentum shifting play. Baker would best his 15 tackles from that game a year later in 2017, when he claimed 16 total tackles against Wisconsin in the 2017 Big Ten championship game.

Now, Baker will try and show he’s among the top of the class at the 2018 NFL Combine, where he’ll join position-mate Chris Worley in front of scouts and media members.

Scouting Report


Here’s what the pros are saying in his NFL Combine Scouting Report:

Player schedule

• Day 1 (Thursday, Mar. 1): Travel, registration, hospital pre-exam, orientation, interviews
• Day 2 (Friday, Mar. 2): Measurements, medical exams, interviews
• Day 3 (Saturday, Mar. 3): Psychological testing, NFLPA meeting, media, bench press
• Day 4 (Sunday, Mar. 4): On-field workout and position drills

Stay tuned to Land-Grant Holy Land for performance and quote updates throughout the NFL Scouting Combine.

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Ohio State LB Chris Worley’s 2018 NFL Combine results and draft projection
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Another Buckeye from Glenville is looking for his chance to compete at the next level.

One of the latest in a long line of players that have taken the Glenville to Columbus pipeline, linebacker Chris Worley looks to join players like Donte Whitner, Ted Ginn Jr., and Marshon Lattimore as NFL successes from the Cleveland high school. He started his post-Buckeye career by playing in the East-West Shrine Game, and will now look to impress scouts at the NFL Combine.

In addition to the Glenville pipeline, Worley also joins a long list of successful Buckeye linebackers to make a run at a career in the NFL. Along with position-mate Jerome Baker, Worley will look to continue a streak that includes only two seasons in the past decade that Ohio State didn’t have a linebacker drafted in one of seven rounds.

The linebacker finished his collegiate career with 154 total tackles (99 solo), 11 tackles for loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception. Worley was named a team captain for his senior season, and saw playing time in 50 games for the Buckeyes, starting 24 times.

“He’s just a really, really smart football player; he’s a guy who understands the game at a very high level,” defensive coordinator Greg Schiano said, according to Ohio State.

He lined up at all three linebacker positions in 2017, and despite missing three games due to a foot injury, still managed to finish fifth on the team in tackles with 56. The linebacker is good for more than just bringing down receivers and running backs, in 2017 he managed four quarterback hurries, behind only DE Nick Bosa.

Scouting Report


Here’s what the pros are saying in his NFL Combine Scouting Report:

Player schedule

• Day 1 (Thursday, Mar. 1): Travel, registration, hospital pre-exam, orientation, interviews
• Day 2 (Friday, Mar. 2): Measurements, medical exams, interviews
• Day 3 (Saturday, Mar. 3): Psychological testing, NFLPA meeting, media, bench press
• Day 4 (Sunday, Mar. 4): On-field workout and position drills

Stay tuned to Land-Grant Holy Land for performance and quote updates throughout the NFL Scouting Combine.

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Ohio State DE Jalyn Holmes’ 2018 NFL Combine results and draft projection
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


He had to fight to get on the field from day one in Columbus, and now he’s gonna fight to prove his ready to play in the NFL.

The Ohio State defensive line has been an embarrassment of riches for a number of years. That’s great for the team as a whole, and certainly helps when it comes to the NFL Draft, but it does mean that some considerable talent is going to have to fight to see the field.

While Jalyn Holmes played in every game for the Ohio State defense from 2015 through this January’s Cotton Bowl, he only made nine starts in his career, all in the 2017-2018 season. That being said, he certainly made an impact for the Buckeyes as he was selected by both the Big Ten media and coaches as an All-Big Ten honorable mention during each of his last two seasons in Columbus.

During his junior year in 2016, nine of Holmes’ 33 tackles were for loss, and he recovered two fumbles. His senior season showed a downturn in his tackles for loss (3), but he still accounted for 30 stops, including 18 solo. However, when you look at the film of Ohio State’s defense, often times ends were designed to eat up blockers in order to open space for other blitzers, severely limiting the DEs’ ability to compile stats.

Despite his lack of eye-popping numbers, there is no doubt that Holmes will fight to prove that he is ready to compete at the next level.

Holmes, who is 6’5 and 270 pounds, has a frame that could still add some substantial muscle, making him even more difficult to block at the point of attack. His spin move is impressive, and should help make up for his lack of top-line speed. If he shows some unexpected burst and athleticism at the NFL Combine and his subsequent pro day, Holmes could be a solid day-three selection.

Scouting Report


Here’s what the pros are saying in his NFL Combine Scouting Report:

Player schedule

• Day 1 (Thursday, Mar. 1): Travel, registration, hospital pre-exam, orientation, interviews
• Day 2 (Friday, Mar. 2): Measurements, medical exams, interviews
• Day 3 (Saturday, Mar. 3): Psychological testing, NFLPA meeting, media, bench press
• Day 4 (Sunday, Mar. 4): On-field workout and position drills

Stay tuned to Land-Grant Holy Land for performance and quote updates throughout the NFL Scouting Combine.

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Ohio State recruiting: Latest news on Buckeyes' 2019 class - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State recruiting: Latest news on Buckeyes' 2019 class
Landof10.com
Ohio State is just getting started with the 2019 recruiting class, but the Buckeyes are hot on the trail of many of the nation's top prospects. The Buckeyes have only two commitments to date, but plenty of top prospects have been visiting and staying ...
Mentor OL Ryan Jacoby commits to Ohio State: Buckeyes football recruitingcleveland.com
Bucks Hope for Third-Time Charm Against Nitts, Holtmann's Conference Tournament Struggles, and Pedon Makes Dad ...Eleven Warriors
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Land-Grant Holy Land -247Sports -Suburbanite
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