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LGHL Figuring out which Ohio State coaches were being contacted for other coaching positions

Figuring out which Ohio State coaches were being contacted for other coaching positions
Geoff Hammersley
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


usa_today_10422486.0.jpg

This is like a less fun version of ‘Clue’.

On his weekly radio call-in show, Urban Meyer said that a couple of the coaches on his staff were being mentioned for other head coaching opportunities.


Urban Meyer says in recent weeks he's had two assistants approached about being head coaches, and one position coach asked to consider a job elsewhere as a coordinator.

— 97.1 The Fan (@971thefan) November 30, 2017

Right now, we know that one of the coaches was Greg Schiano, who was thought to be the next Tennessee Volunteers coach—until he wasn’t.

But who are the others?

Let’s take a guess, and figure out who had the best chance of being talked about for a coaching gig outside of Columbus.

One thing to keep in mind is that Meyer has been public about the fact that when he hires assistant coaches, he asks them to commit to being in Columbus for two seasons to provide the team continuity.

While it is unlikely that Meyer would stand in the way of one of his coaches making a move to a better situation, it is equally unlikely that someone Meyer has hired would go back on his word to one of the best, and most influential, coaches in the college game.

Kevin Wilson

Possibility: Very


Prior to his one season at Ohio State, Wilson was the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers. In six seasons at the helm, he compiled a 26-47 record. However, his final two years saw the most success, as he guided the Hoosiers to back-to-back bowl games.

Wilson, in comparison, did about as well as he could’ve done while in Bloomington. In the 16 years prior to his arrival, the Hoosiers only had one season where they broke a six-win threshold.

Before Indiana, Wilson was the mastermind behind, arguably, one of the most explosive offenses in college football history: the 2008 Oklahoma Sooners. That Sooner squad put up a then-record 716 points on the season, and had quarterback Sam Bradford earn a Heisman Trophy.

It wouldn’t be surprising at all if Nebraska, Texas A&M or Arkansas were the ones who took a look at Wilson. Fans like a good offense; Nebraska and Arkansas, back in the day, had some of the best offenses in the country. In recent memory, TAMU—in the Manziel era—was a team that put up a decent amount of points on the board.

Larry Johnson

Possibility: Low-Mild


Wherever Johnson has gone, the defenses have been exceptional. Recently, OSU has had some some of the best defensive linemen in the country. The likes of Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa, Tyquan Lewis and Sam Hubbard have devoured offenses en route to making the Buckeyes one of the best teams in the country.

But, would Johnson think about going somewhere else? It’s possible in theory, but it doesn’t seem likely. From 1996-2013, he was at Penn State; prior to that, he had stretches of time as being a high school football head coach.

In a world where a lot of coaches move around, Johnson hasn’t.

Ryan Day

Possibility: Very


Before joining the Buckeye staff for this season, Day came from the San Francisco 49ers. There, he was a quarterback coach under Chip Kelly. In 2015, he had the same role (with the same head coach) with the Philadelphia Eagles.

With Kelly being recently hired as the new man in charge of the UCLA Bruins, it wouldn’t be surprising at all if Day was called and asked about making the move out west in a coordinator role.

Making quarterbacks great is what Day can do. He helped mold Matt Ryan at Boston College, and made Sam Bradford an efficient QB in 2015.

It wouldn’t be surprising at all if the NFL came calling, too.

Bill Davis

Possibility: Above average


Davis has spent his two seasons in Columbus, and has a résumé full of NFL experience. Since 2010, he’s had stops with the Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles in either a linebacker or defensive coordinator role.

By being with one of the most successful coaches in the college game, it wouldn’t be shocking if Davis got a bigger role at another school—or even a big role for an NFL team.

Tony Alford

Possibility: Mild


In the past two seasons, Alford has made Ohio State’s backfield one of the most productive weapons in college football. Mike Weber rushed for over 1,000 yards as a freshman last season; this season, J.K. Dobbins did the same.

So, with all this success, it wouldn’t be too far out of the realm of possibility that another program would like to have the services of OSU’s running backs coach.

Before coming to Columbus, Alford was a RB coach at Notre Dame. Chuck Martin was the offensive coordinator at the time he was in South Bend, Ind., and Martin has now moved on to be the head coach at Miami (OH). The Redhawks struggled this season—going 5-7—and may need a rejuvenated offense for next season.

If you wanted an offense that could move the ball on the ground, it wouldn’t hurt to start with hiring someone who did just that at the flagship school of Ohio.

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Google College Football TV Schedule: What time, channel is Ohio State vs. Wisconsin? (12/2/17)...

College Football TV Schedule: What time, channel is Ohio State vs. Wisconsin? (12/2/17) Betting line, livestream ... - NJ.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


College Football TV Schedule: What time, channel is Ohio State vs. Wisconsin? (12/2/17) Betting line, livestream ...
NJ.com
Livestream: Fox Sports Go. Line: OSU -6.5. Series record: Ohio State leads 58-18-5. WHAT'S AT STAKE? The Badgers and Buckeyes are playing for a possible playoff ticket. Wisconsin also is trying to extend its school record undefeated season and claim ...
Badgers' Taylor could break Peterson's freshman mark against BuckeyesLeader-Telegram

all 17 news articles »


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Google Ohio State football podcast: Buckeyes' success amplified by misery of once-proud programs -...

Ohio State football podcast: Buckeyes' success amplified by misery of once-proud programs - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football podcast: Buckeyes' success amplified by misery of once-proud programs
Landof10.com
Ohio State is fortunate to have the success and stability under coach Urban Meyer, shown here with Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images. Kyle Lamb · @kylamb8. Posted 6 mins ago. COLUMBUS, Ohio — Get insight and reaction to Ohio ...
Three Ohio State Buckeyes assistants have been contacted about ...247Sports

all 5 news articles »


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LGHL Ohio State vs. Wisconsin 2017: Game preview, prediction, and 6 things to know

Ohio State vs. Wisconsin 2017: Game preview, prediction, and 6 things to know
Brett Ludwiczak
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Ohio State and Wisconsin square off in Indianapolis on Saturday night, hoping a win in the Big Ten Championship Game leads to a spot in the College Football Playoff

The stakes couldn’t be higher for Ohio State and Wisconsin on Saturday night in Indianapolis. Not only is the Big Ten title at stake, but a spot in the College Football Playoff could be given to the winner. If the Badgers beats the Buckeyes, Wisconsin will punch their ticket to the playoff. If Ohio State wins, the playoff picture isn’t quite as clear, but there are some out there who think the Buckeyes would be in with a win over Wisconsin.

Ohio State closed out their regular season on a high note last Saturday, beating Michigan for the sixth straight season. The 31-20 victory over the Wolverines didn’t come easy though, as not only did the Buckeyes have to navigate a 14-0 deficit early on, but Ohio State had to deal with a knee injury to J.T. Barrett. Details on how exactly the senior Ohio State quarterback was first injured are still murky, but Barrett tried this best to play through the pain before it was finally too much to handle in the third quarter.

Redshirt freshman Dwayne Haskins gave Ohio State fans some optimism for life after Barrett with his performance against the Wolverines. Haskins took over for Barrett with six minutes left in the third quarter, and just a few minutes later on third down, Haskins delivered a 27-yard strike to Austin Mack to move the sticks. Just two plays later, the redshirt freshman scrambled down to the 1-yard line, and J.K. Dobbins scored on the next play to give the Buckeyes the lead for good.

This will be Ohio State’s third appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game, and the second against Wisconsin. In 2014, Ohio State saw Barrett injured in the Michigan game, leaving Cardale Jones to start against the Badgers in Indianapolis. The rest is history, as the 59-0 win over Wisconsin propelled the Buckeyes into the College Football Playoff, where the combination of Jones and Ezekiel Elliott would power Ohio State to the first College Football Playoff title.

Ohio State has gotten the better of Wisconsin in the five meetings between the schools since 2011, but the Badgers haven’t made things easy for the Buckeyes. Four of those five meeting have been decided by seven points or less, with the 2012 and 2016 meetings going to overtime. The Buckeyes hold a 58-18-5 advantage in the series.

Wisconsin is one of just two undefeated teams left in the FBS this year, with UCF being the other team yet to lose. Dating back to last year’s Cotton Bowl, Wisconsin’s 13-game win streak is the longest active win streak in the FBS. A win over Ohio State on Saturday would match the longest win streak in school history for the Badgers.

The Badgers have become a fixture in the Big Ten Championship Game, with Saturday night’s game being Wisconsin’s fifth appearance in the seven-year history of the game. After winning their first two appearances, Wisconsin has lost the last two times they have played in the title game, falling to Ohio State in 2014, and Penn State last year.

Ohio State’s biggest advantages


Line up. If Ohio State wants to throw Wisconsin’s offense off track, they’ll have to find a way to put some pressure on Wisconsin quarterback Alex Hornibrook. So far this year the Badgers have done a good job at keeping their quarterback clean, only allowing 17 sacks this season, but Ohio State has some defensive linemen unlike any Wisconsin has seen this year.

After Tyquan Lewis won the award in 2016, Ohio State defensive lineman Nick Bosa was named the Big Ten’s Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year on Thursday. The sophomore led Ohio State with six sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss this year. Even though the stats might not be as glamorous as the ones his brother Joey put up in Columbus, they are still impressive considering the attention the younger Bosa drew this season.

It’ll be pick your poison for Wisconsin on Saturday night. If you devote extra resources to Bosa, it’ll leave Sam Hubbard, Lewis, and the other talented Buckeye defensive linemen with favorable matchups. The only knock on Hornibrook’s performance this year has been the 13 interceptions he has thrown. If Ohio State’s defensive line is able to put pressure on Hornibrook, it could force the quarterback to add to his interception total.

Ground and pound. As if Ohio State’s job didn’t have a hard enough task trying to find holes in a very tough Wisconsin defense, they’ll have to do so with a quarterback that isn’t 100% healthy. Even though it might not seem wise to test the nation’s top rushing defense, Ohio State is going to have to do just that if they want to win the Big Ten Championship.

Luckily, Ohio State has the combination of J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber at running back to try and soften up the Wisconsin rush defense. With all the talk of how great Jonathan Taylor’s freshman season has been, Dobbins has to feel slighted because he has put together a strong first campaign in Columbus. Dobbins is just the fourth freshman running back in Ohio State history to rush for over 1,000 yards, and is just 48 yards shy of breaking Maurice Clarett’s record of 1,237 yards rushing in his first year.

After spending the first part of the season dealing with a hamstring injury, Mike Weber has had some of the best performances of the season over the last three games. Not only did Weber rush for over 100 yards in wins over Michigan State and Illinois, but the sophomore’s 25-yard rushing touchdown sealed Ohio State’s win over Michigan. With the lack of action early on in the year, Weber is a lot fresher later in the season, which could help him do some damage against the Badger defense.

Wisconsin has been able to work through some injuries in their linebacking corps this season. The Badgers will be tested greatly on Saturday night as they haven’t seen an offense with the type of explosiveness that Ohio State possesses. When the Buckeyes get into trouble it is because they abandon to run, which wouldn’t be wise to do, especially with questions about the stability of J.T. Barrett’s knee.

Pressure packed. Ohio State may be the favorite according to Vegas on Saturday night, but all of the pressure will be on Wisconsin. If Ohio State wins, there isn’t any guarantee that the Buckeyes will make the College Football Playoff, while the same can’t be said for the Badgers, who will undoubtedly be a part of the playoff with a win over Ohio State.

Wisconsin fans might have a little more optimism about Saturday night’s contest if they were taking on any other team than Ohio State. The Badgers are just the eighth Big Ten team to start a season 12-0 and they need just one more win to make their first College Football Playoff, but to get there, they have to beat a team they have lost to five straight times.

As if the pressure of beating Ohio State wasn’t enough, Paul Chryst has to match wits with Urban Meyer, who has posted a 39-15 record against Top-25 foes in his coaching career, including an 18-5 record in those games while at Ohio State. Meyer’s teams perform even better as the pressure mounts, as evidenced by a 12-5 record against Top-5 teams with four wins in six games at Ohio State.

Wisconsin’s biggest advantages


Taylor made. Want to slow down Wisconsin? Stopping Jonathan Taylor is a good place to start. All you have to do is bottle up a running back who has rushed for 1,806 yards and 13 touchdowns this year. Taylor is Wisconsin’s most productive freshman running back since Ron Dayne, who rushed for 1,863 yards in his first season in Madison. Dayne added another 246 yards in the Copper Bowl, but in 1996, bowl game stats weren’t applied to season totals. Taylor is 120 yards shy of passing Adrian Peterson’s national record of 1,925 rushing yards as a freshman.

The New Jersey running back has rushed for at least 100 yards in nine games this year, and gone for over 200 rushing yards in three games. While most freshman wear down as the season goes on, Taylor has gotten stronger, rushing for at least 130 yards in each of Wisconsin’s last four games. The durability of Taylor has helped Wisconsin handle some of the injuries they have suffered in their receiving corps.

Wisconsin will be hoping Taylor won’t be slowed by the Buckeyes like Melvin Gordon was in the 2014 Big Ten Championship Game. Ohio State’s rush defense has been suspect at times this year, giving up at least 100 yards on the ground in half of their games. The low point came last month against Iowa, where Ohio State gave up 243 yards on the ground to the Hawkeyes. The Buckeyes have been plagued by inconsistent play from their linebackers this year, which could be a recipe for disaster if they aren’t at the top of their game on Saturday night.

Badgering the competition. A week after trying to crack a stout Michigan defense, Ohio State is going to have an even tougher task against Wisconsin’s defense. Despite suffering some key injuries before and during the season, the Badgers defense is tops in the country, allowing just 236.9 yards per game, and 80 rushing yards per game.

Points could be tough to come by for Ohio State on Saturday night, as Wisconsin is allowing just 12 points per game, which is second-best in the country. After closing out the regular season with a 31-0 win over Minnesota, the only team to score against the Wisconsin defense was Michigan, since Iowa’s 14 points came from the Hawkeye defense.

Ohio State’s offense is undoubtedly the toughest Wisconsin has faced this year, but the Badgers are so well-coached that it’s hard to image the Buckeyes coming close to the nearly 44 points per game they are averaging on the season. Linebacker T.J. Edwards is one to keep an eye out for on Wisconsin’s defense, as the junior has registered 11 tackles for loss and four interceptions, which is tied with defensive back Joe Ferguson for team-high.

Grit and grind. Wisconsin football isn’t all that pretty, but it gets the job done. The Badgers have made a habit of grinding teams down throughout the year. One of the most amazing stats in college football this year is Wisconsin hasn’t trailed at all in the fourth quarter this year.

Only once this year have the Badgers trailed at halftime, and that came when Northwestern took a 10-7 lead to the halftime break in late-September. Wisconsin is outscoring opponents 226-58 in the second half, and holds a 118-21 edge over opponents in the fourth quarter.

Even though Alex Hornibrook has been turnover prone at times this year, he still gives Wisconsin a steadying hand at quarterback. Between Hornibrook and running back Jonathan Taylor, the Badger offense slowly eats away at their opponents before the Wisconsin attack is too much to handle for the opposition in the second half.

Even though Ohio State does have depth that make them more equipped to handle what Wisconsin does than any other team the Badgers have faced this year, what the Badgers do is frustrating their opponents and force them into mistakes. If the Badgers can rattle Ohio State like Iowa was able to do a month ago, it could be a long night for Buckeye Nation.

Summary


F/+ Projection: Ohio State 27, Wisconsin 24

Win probability: Ohio State 56.3%

The unstoppable force versus the immovable object. Which will win out? Ohio State’s explosive offense or Wisconsin’s smothering defense. The numbers like Ohio State to dash Wisconsin’s hopes of a perfect season in a game that will come down to the wire in Indianapolis. The Buckeyes should be able to overcome the concerns about J.T. Barrett’s health to win their second conference title under Urban Meyer.

While the numbers predict a win over Wisconsin, whether Ohio State will make the College Football Playoff if they beat the Badgers remains to be seen. The loss to Iowa in early November will be tough to overcome when going for a spot against the likes of Alabama, but there are some that think Ohio State’s body of work will be too impressive to pass up if the Buckeyes are victorious in Indianapolis.

How to watch, stream listen to: Wisconsin v. Ohio State:


Game time: Saturday Dec 2nd, 8:00 p.m. ET

TV: FOX

Streaming: FOX Sports Go

Radio: 97.1 WBNS-FM

Know your enemy: Bucky’s 5th Quarter

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LGHL Ohio State already looking to bolster the 2019 defensive line

Ohio State already looking to bolster the 2019 defensive line
Caleb Houser
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Marcus_Hicks_2019.0.jpg

The Buckeyes extend an offer to a 4-star recruit from Kansas.

Tomorrow night the Buckeyes will take the field in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship for the third time since being under the direction of Urban Meyer. With a .500 record of 1-1 in Big Ten Championship play, the Buckeyes are back after a two year hiatus which seems longer than it should.

Being back on top of the Big Ten would certainly ease fans regardless of the College Football Playoff scenarios that seem to never end in discussion. One truth though is the fact that the Buckeye football program is seriously fortunate to see stability. With the coaching carousel that is taking place right now, Ohio State fans need to take a step back and see just how fortunate they are to have a program that not only competes for championships years in and year out, but also has a coach that has been loyal to this program since day one and in recruiting, relationships and loyalty is everything.

2019 DE receives coveted Buckeye offer


Yesterday, for the third year in a row an Ohio State defensive lineman was awarded the “Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year” award. A total credit of course to the talent at Ohio State and that position group, it still can’t go without noticing position coach Larry Johnson and the incredible work he has done with the Rushmen at Ohio State in his tenure. The amazing thing, that talent looks to continue stockpiling with the 2018 class coming in and even with the younger guys already on the roster.

On Wednesday, the Buckeyes may have made a step in adding another elite pass rusher to the fold when they headed to Kansas and extended an offer to Marcus Hicks of Northwest High School in Wichita. The 2019 prospect may be bit of a new name to Buckeye recruiting followers, but that won’t be the case for long as he already holds quite the impressive resume.

The 6-foot-5, 240-pound defensive end is currently ranked as the top player in the state of Kansas for the 2019 class, as well as being the 19th best player in the country at his position. Not only is he a composite four-star already as a high school junior, but Marcus also holds 11 offers to this point from schools such as Oklahoma, Texas, Notre Dame, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas State, and most recently Ohio State.

Of course, it’s still very early in the recruitment, but already there has been a 247sports crystal ball prediction in favor of the Buckeyes as Marcus Hicks’ eventual landing spot. Again, it is early in this process, but if Ohio State wanted to seriously be a factor for Hicks in the end, it looks like that relationship is only beginning to take off.

The uncertainty may be a positive aspect for Ohio State


College football right now is a hotbed of drama. With coaches either leaving programs to take over new teams and/or schools struggling to find a coach, there hasn’t been a second of down time in the college football scene this week. One aspect that is true, however, is the fact that some uncertainty in a program may bode well for another program when it concerns recruiting efforts.

A program that certainly comes to mind with what has come to pass this week is Florida State and the saga between their coach Jimbo Fisher and his rumored Texas A&M landing spot. It has not been finalized yet, but anyone who has been breathing this week has heard or seen news that Fisher to A&M is all but a done deal. The writing is certainly on the wall.

With the current Seminoles recruiting class starting to really see it’s luster being lost due to the rescinding of commitments, one program that can certainly benefit from the turmoil is Ohio State. Obviously with Meyer having the Buckeyes as a strong presence in the sunshine state, he has some pull, but with Florida State and Ohio State constantly going head to head for top recruits, that can help the Buckeyes chances now that there’s too much murkiness in the water to see the final outcome for Florida State.

You can guarantee though that Urban Meyer’s staff — while preparing for the Big Ten Championship game — is paying close attention to who they can appeal to now that Florida State is seeing the outcome of a potential coaching move.

Quick Hits:

  • Buckeye analyst Bill Greene submitted a crystal ball prediction in favor of Ohio State for Jacksonville, Florida star corner back Tyreke Johnson. A Buckeye pledge could come in the near future for this Trinity Christian prospect.
  • Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts issued a crystal ball prediction in favor of the Buckeyes tonight concerning 3-star QB prospect Mathew Baldwin, a current Colorado State commit the Buckeyes offered back on November 12.

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Google Ohio State-Wisconsin prediction: No perfection, but a Big Ten title for Buckeyes - Bill...

Ohio State-Wisconsin prediction: No perfection, but a Big Ten title for Buckeyes - Bill Livingston (photos) - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State-Wisconsin prediction: No perfection, but a Big Ten title for Buckeyes - Bill Livingston (photos)
cleveland.com
Ohio State vaporized the Badgers, 59-0, an impressive enough victory to jump the Buckeyes from sixth to fourth and into the College Football playoff, which they then won. A free spirit throughout the playoffs, Jones turned cartwheels in the background ...
Ohio State football: Buckeyes bag Big Ten awards; JT Barrett cleared to playLandof10.com
3 Buckeyes named as individual award winners from Big Ten10TV
Buckeyes Barrett, Price, Bosa win Big Ten awardsToledo Blade
ESPN -SB Nation -Mansfield News Journal
all 505 news articles »


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Google Ohio State football: Buckeyes bag Big Ten awards; JT Barrett cleared to play - Landof10.com

Ohio State football: Buckeyes bag Big Ten awards; JT Barrett cleared to play - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football: Buckeyes bag Big Ten awards; JT Barrett cleared to play
Landof10.com
Ohio State football is the No. 1 topic in Wake Up Sloopy every day — but we cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Ohio State football, recruiting ...
3 Buckeyes named as individual award winners from Big Ten10TV
Everything you need to know about the Big Ten championship gameESPN
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin, 2017 Big Ten Championship odds: Buckeyes favored over unbeaten BadgersSB Nation
Mansfield News Journal -NBC4i.com -cleveland.com
all 487 news articles »


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Google Buckeye QB offer Matt Baldwin decommits from Colorado State - 247Sports

Buckeye QB offer Matt Baldwin decommits from Colorado State - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeye QB offer Matt Baldwin decommits from Colorado State
247Sports
Kentucky and Minnesota have been reaching out to Baldwin, but the Buckeyes seem to be in a good spot. “I'm interested in Ohio State, there is no question about that,” Baldwin told Bucknuts. Lake Travis is currently in the state playoffs. The defending ...


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Google 3 Buckeyes named as individual award winners from Big Ten - 10TV

3 Buckeyes named as individual award winners from Big Ten - 10TV
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


3 Buckeyes named as individual award winners from Big Ten
10TV
Three players from the Ohio State Buckeyes were honored with individual awards from the Big Ten Conference Thursday. J.T. Barrett was named the conference's quarterback of the year for the third time. Barrett is third nationally in points responsible ...
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin, 2017 Big Ten Championship odds: Buckeyes favored over unbeaten BadgersSB Nation
POLL: Who wins, Buckeyes or Badgers?Mansfield News Journal
Barrett, 23 other Buckeyes named to all-Big Ten teamNBC4i.com
Landof10.com -WKYC-TV -Sporting News
all 416 news articles »


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Google McCurdy: Despite changes, basketball Buckeyes remain the same - Marion Star

McCurdy: Despite changes, basketball Buckeyes remain the same - Marion Star
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


McCurdy: Despite changes, basketball Buckeyes remain the same
Marion Star
COLUMBUS - The coaches are different. Some of the personnel is different. Yet the last two games have been eerily familiar for Ohio State's men's basketball team. Sunday in the finale of the PK80 Invitational in Portland, Oregon, the Buckeyes ...
Ohio State: Buckeyes need linebackers at their best against WisconsinLandof10.com
College basketball/Clemson 79, Ohio State 65: Buckeyes let 13-point lead slip away in loss to TigersAkron Beacon Journal
Ohio State basketball sees another lead squandered in 79-65 loss ...cleveland.com
The Columbus Dispatch -Live 5 News
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LGHL Dwayne Haskins gave Ohio State fans a glimpse of an offense without J.T. Barrett

Dwayne Haskins gave Ohio State fans a glimpse of an offense without J.T. Barrett
Brett Ludwiczak
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


usa_today_10436386.0.jpg

Saturday’s performance against Michigan showed the future is bright at quarterback with Dwayne Haskins

“I had the O-line, I had the receivers. Everybody else was behind me the whole entire way.”

-Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins via Mitch Stacy, Associated Press


Taking snaps late in blowout wins over the likes of UNLV and Illinois is one thing. Getting thrust into action in the third quarter of a tied football game against Michigan, in Ann Arbor, is a whole different animal. Redshirt freshman Dwayne Haskins passed his first true test as an Ohio State quarterback with flying colors on Saturday, as he was pressed into action after J.T. Barrett wasn’t able to continue after suffering a knee injury.

It is still unknown if Barrett or Haskins will take the snaps on Saturday in the Big Ten Championship Game against Wisconsin, but the performance from Haskins on Saturday was a glimpse for Ohio State fans at what life will could be like next year without Barrett. Even if Barrett starts on Saturday, his leash might be a little shorter than normal after what Haskins showed last week in a high pressure situation.

Wisconsin is preparing for both quarterbacks, which could work to Ohio State’s advantage. Instead of being able to prep solely for Barrett or Haskins, the Badgers will have to be ready for what both quarterbacks can bring to the table. Barrett brings a little more of a running attack to defenses, while Haskins has a stronger arm. No matter which quarterback ends up starting for Ohio State, the Buckeye offense will present Wisconsin with their toughest test of the season.


Kyle Snyder Named 2017 U.S. Male Olympic Athlete of the Year ---> https://t.co/HvBUA11VIy#GoBucks

— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) November 30, 2017

As he is in the midst of his senior season at Ohio State, Kyle Snyder has another award to add to his trophy case. Earlier today, Snyder was named 2017 U.S. Male Olympic Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Olympic Committee. Snyder is just the fourth wrestler to win the award, joining John Smith, who won the award in 1990, 2000 award recipient Rulon Gardner, and 2015 winner Jordan Burroughs.

Snyder won the award in large part because of his victory in the “Match of the Century” over Olympic champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev in the 97 kg final of the 2017 World Wrestling Championships, which helped the United States win the 2017 Freestyle World Team Title — which was the first for the United States since 1995.

Snyder might have some trouble finding space for this award, as he already has earned an Olympic gold medal, two world championships, two NCAA titles, and many other accolades. Even though he still has time to add a few more collegiate accomplishments to his record this year before graduating, Snyder is already one of the most decorated athletes to ever come from Ohio State, and he just turned 22 years old.

“It’s hard for sure. I’ve gotta probably ... I’m not very good at that. I’m not very good at being patient, certainly not good at handling this kind of stuff. I think our players probably need to see me handle that better.”

-Ohio State men’s basketball coach Chris Holtmann via Bill Landis, Northeast Ohio Media Group


Everybody knew there was going to be some growing pains for Ohio State’s men’s basketball team this year, but Chris Holtmann probably didn’t expect to see them this early on. After losing to Butler on Sunday in overtime at the PK80 Invitational, Ohio State squandered a double-digit first half lead last night to Clemson.

Losses like the last two aren’t foreign to the Buckeyes over the past few years. Early on in the 2015-16 season, the Buckeyes dropped three straight games to UT-Arlington, Louisiana Tech, and Memphis, all of which were winnable games. While the losses aren’t exactly the same, it could give Ohio State a glimpse into how the rest of the season might play out. The Buckeyes finished the 2015-16 season at 21-14, missing the NCAA Tournament.

What Ohio State is going to need if they are going to find success, not only this year but over the next few years, is more mental toughness. Wins like Friday night’s victory over Stanford give the team something to build on, but losses like Sunday afternoon’s (and last night’s) set the Buckeyes back.

While Holtmann is frustrated with losses like the one Ohio State suffered to Clemson, there still is no question he made the right move in coming to Columbus. There is going to be plenty of frustrating moments during the first year for Holtmann and his team, but there is no question he is building something big at Ohio State.

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Google Buckeyes Barrett, Price, Bosa win Big Ten awards - Toledo Blade

Buckeyes Barrett, Price, Bosa win Big Ten awards - Toledo Blade
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes Barrett, Price, Bosa win Big Ten awards
Toledo Blade
Barrett previously won the honor in 2014 and 2016, while Braxton Miller did so in 2012-13. Barrett, a finalist for the Davey O'Brien Award, has spearheaded the No. 4-ranked offense in the country, which is fifth nationally in scoring and 13th in ...
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin, 2017 Big Ten Championship odds: Buckeyes favored over unbeaten BadgersSB Nation
Ohio State football: Watch Big Ten title game hype video; Buckeyes have good playoff oddsLandof10.com
Barrett, 23 other Buckeyes named to all-Big Ten teamNBC4i.com
WKYC-TV -Leader-Telegram -cleveland.com -The Columbus Dispatch
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Google Three Buckeye assistants contacted about other coaching jobs - 247Sports

Three Buckeye assistants contacted about other coaching jobs - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Three Buckeye assistants contacted about other coaching jobs
247Sports
But according to Meyer, who spoke Thursday on his weekly radio show on 97.1 The Fan, Schiano is not the only Buckeye coach to draw interest from other programs. "We have had two coaches be contacted about becoming a head coach," Meyer said. "And then ...

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Google Ohio State: Buckeyes need linebackers at their best against Wisconsin - Landof10.com

Ohio State: Buckeyes need linebackers at their best against Wisconsin - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State: Buckeyes need linebackers at their best against Wisconsin
Landof10.com
Now, the flip side of that is Ohio State essentially was forced to make those adjustments against the Spartans when Jerome Baker and Dante Booker were ruled out with injuries. Why exactly did it take so long, and what would have happened if those two ...
McCurdy: Despite changes, basketball Buckeyes remain the sameMarion Star
College basketball/Clemson 79, Ohio State 65: Buckeyes let 13-point lead slip away in loss to TigersAkron Beacon Journal
Ohio State basketball sees another lead squandered in 79-65 loss to Clemsoncleveland.com
Live 5 News -The Columbus Dispatch -Sporting News
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Google Ohio State: Is CFP committee trying to stack the deck for Alabama over Buckeyes? - Landof10.com

Ohio State: Is CFP committee trying to stack the deck for Alabama over Buckeyes? - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State: Is CFP committee trying to stack the deck for Alabama over Buckeyes?
Landof10.com
Since there's no conference championship for the Crimson Tide to add to the equation, there really doesn't seem to be a solid case for excluding the Buckeyes if they win the Big Ten on Saturday and it comes down to a head-to-head conversation between ...
Buckeyes No. 8 in College Football Playoff rankingDayton Daily News
Buckeyes At No. 8 In Latest CFP Rankings; Clemson, Auburn, Oklahoma And Wisconsin Top 4CBS Cleveland
Playoff Rankings Preview: Final Debates as the Field Is Cut to EightSports Illustrated
ESPN -Eleven Warriors (blog) -The Ringer (blog)
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Clemson vs Ohio State: Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Jump on me all you want, the problem is conference pride. We, as fans, give 2 [Mark May]s less what the rest of the conference does. We root for Ohio State and that's it. I get the whole Michigan thing, but down here in the South, they hate the Big ten. Clemson just didn't want to beat Ohio State last year in football, they refused to lose to a big ten school. Plain and simple. Some of our asshat fans and ESPN tough guys have really given our University a bad reputation. Why do you think it's hard for us to beat the SEC? Same exact reason. They refuse to lose to a big ten school. I know we beat Alabama, but throughout the years, we have struggled. Believe it or not, all the jokes about hillbillies, toothless rednecks who live in trailers really gets old to the South. That makes them wanna kick our ass even more. Trust me. Our fanbase makes us look bad at times. We laugh at the whole SEC, SEC, SEC chant, but what our conference lacks is pride, and I don't get it. If Wisconsin beats us Saturday night, you can bet your sweet ass I'm rooting for them to win it all. Here in the South, they can't let go of the Civil War. They absolutely hate the North!

Amazing analysis. Well, I hate to spill the beans on my PhD research paper on this very subject but here goes. According to my exhaustive research, in the 2015 Sugar Bowl, it turns out that, in fact, the SEC chants were completely insincere and sporadic at best. Many of the Alabama fans were selfishly cheering solely for Alabama instead of directing their collective cheer power entirely and sincerely to the collective SEC. Because of their self-centered, egocentric, Alabama only focused words of encouragement, The Ohio State Buckeyes football team was able to capitalize on that Alabama only focused energy and snatch that victory away from Alabama thus defeating not only the Alabama Crimson Tide football team but The Ohio State Buckeyes thus defeated the entire SEC division that day.

It turns out that much was learned from that lesson that day. Alabama re-focused, re-energized and once again in 2016 was able to re-capture the title, why? 100% SEC focused cheer energy of course. I have graphs and databases that can chart all this out. Aha, but then what happened last year you say? Yes, you guessed it, according to my patented CD-2000 "Cheer Detector 2000" device that I've crafted to interpret cheers and filter conference focused cheers from team only directed cheers, I was able to determine that, once again, Alabama fans failed to direct their chants and cheers to the SEC as a whole. Once again, they forgot what happened the year before and they foolishly cheered only for Alabama instead of the entire SEC. Once they decided to focus some energy towards the SEC at the end, it was too late, Clemson stole that cheer energy and, much like what Ohio State in 2015 did, Clemson was able to win that game thanks to the lack of pure SEC only chanting.

Bravo and kudos to you fine sir!
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LGHL Forcing Alex Hornibrook into mistakes —or not— will decide the Big Ten Championship

Forcing Alex Hornibrook into mistakes —or not— will decide the Big Ten Championship
Colton Denning
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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The folks at Bucky’s 5th Quarter give us the lowdown on the Badgers.

Wisconsin hasn’t gotten a lot of respect this season. Despite being the only unbeaten Power 5 team left, it took until this past week’s College Football Playoff rankings for them to crack the top four, and even then, most people don’t see them as a credible threat to compete for the national championship.

Part of that is because of their lackluster non-conference schedule. Through no fault of their own, they also didn’t meet Ohio State or Penn State in Big Ten play. On the flipside, it also doesn’t help when you only beat Illinois 24-10, and Purdue 17-9. The Badgers aren’t flashy, but stick to their identity (BEEF ALONG THE LINES) and find ways to win. So do they have what it takes to beat Ohio State and make the College Football Playoff?


On this episode of The Hangout in the Holy-Land, Colton Denning chats with Jake Kocorowski of Bucky’s 5th Quarter about all things Badgers, and how they match up with the Buckeyes prior to Saturday’s Big Ten Championship.

Jake drops some knowledge on what makes this Badgers group different from the 2016 team, how they’ve progressively gotten better as the season has gone on, and why they’re deserving of a spot in the College Football Playoff.

The guys then give their predictions for the game, why quarterback Alex Hornibrook’s mistakes—or lack thereof— may be the deciding factor, Ohio State needing to get J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber involved early on, and more!

(Jake is also the co-author of an excellent book about the history of Wisconsin Football’s storied walk-on tradition, which you can buy here)

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Google Alabama or Ohio State might make the Playoff, but they don't deserve to. Look at the...

Alabama or Ohio State might make the Playoff, but they don't deserve to. Look at the records. - SB Nation
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Alabama or Ohio State might make the Playoff, but they don't deserve to. Look at the records.
SB Nation
A losing Oklahoma would have two more wins over bowl teams than Big Ten champ Ohio State would, match the Buckeyes in top-25 record, and (since TCU would move up) match OSU's top-10 record. OU's losses would be by one score and to a team it blew out in ...
Buckeyes No. 8 in College Football Playoff rankingDayton Daily News
Buckeyes At No. 8 In Latest CFP Rankings; Clemson, Auburn, Oklahoma And Wisconsin Top 4CBS Cleveland
Playoff Rankings Preview: Final Debates as the Field Is Cut to EightSports Illustrated
Land-Grant Holy Land -Eleven Warriors (blog) -The Ringer (blog)
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LGHL Wisconsin tight end Troy Fumagalli will take advantage of Ohio State’s major weakness

Wisconsin tight end Troy Fumagalli will take advantage of Ohio State’s major weakness
Christopher Jason
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Wisconsin has the best tight end in the Big Ten.

The Buckeyes have faced the Big Ten’s second and third team tight ends, and they’re about to square off against the conference’s first team tight end, Troy Fumagalli.

Keeping the opposing team’s tight ends in check has been a real issue for the Buckeye defense, as they allowed Mike Gesicki to record 57 yards on six receptions and then Iowa’s Noah Fant to reach the end zone twice on four receptions. Overall, they allowed those two tight ends to rack up 111 yards and two touchdowns on 10 receptions. Those numbers don’t necessarily jump off the page, but the receptions came at clutch situations that extended drives or in Fant’s case, blew the game open.

Fumagalli is the most complete of the three tight ends, as he is a very solid blocker, a plus-route runner and possesses consistent hands. He’ll most likely land within the second or third round of the 2018 NFL Draft and will definitely be a three-down threat.

The 6’6, 248-pound tight end isn’t as athletic as Gesicki or Oklahoma’s Mark Andrews, but he finds a way to constantly move the chains and make the key plays for the Badger offense. He’s found a way to battle through a leg injury that has hampered him for parts of the season, but he’s still put up 471 yards and four touchdowns on 38 receptions in only 10 games.

When looking at his splits, 28 of his 38 receptions came in the first half, meaning they use the Fumagalli to get Alex Hornibrook into a groove — mostly with easy, high-percentage throws. But most importantly, of those 38 receptions, he’s moved the chains 23 times, which shows his importance to the offense. He’s either gaining first down yardage, or putting his offense in a short yardage situation.

This throw on third-and-five shows the faith that Hornibrook has in his tight end. Fumagalli was blanketed on his route, but utilized his size to box out the defender to make the tough catch and move the sticks on third down.


Here’s an example of how they get him open in the flats. They utilize play action to get the linebackers to flow to the running back, forgetting about Fumagalli who runs his route away from the flowing linebackers. Easy pitch and catch for the Badgers.


Fumagalli is more than just a pass-catcher, he’s a complete tight end. Below, he’s on the line of scrimmage and is asked to kick out the outside linebacker (#44). He engages with the OLB and uses his strength to violently strike the linebacker with his right hand and open the hole for his running back.


Here’s Fumagalli lined up in the flex tight end spot and is assigned the task to drive the strong safety out of the play. He fires off the ball, engages with the safety and completely blows the safety seven yards off the line of scrimmage. Fumagalli should have stayed engaged a little longer and tossed him out of bounds, but let up at the end. Either way, his strength is on display during this block.


With Ohio State’s defensive deficiencies on tape, Wisconsin is basically Iowa and Michigan on steroids. They possess a much better running back and a better tight end than both of those teams. There’s no doubt about it that Wisconsin will lean on Fumagalli in the pass game, which could lead to serious issues for the Buckeyes. The key to the game would be to get up early and force Hornibrook to beat them with his arm. If not, they’ll pound the rock and use play action to eat up yardage.

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Google Read between lines: Committee likes Buckeyes over 'Bama - Toledo Blade

Read between lines: Committee likes Buckeyes over 'Bama - Toledo Blade
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Read between lines: Committee likes Buckeyes over 'Bama
Toledo Blade
Call me an idiot — no offense taken — but if the debate for the final college football playoff spot comes down to Alabama and Ohio State, I'm now confident the Buckeyes are in. Is that not what committee chairman Kirby Hocutt all but just declared ...
College basketball/Clemson 79, Ohio State 65: Buckeyes let 13-point lead slip away in loss to TigersAkron Beacon Journal
Clemson 79, Ohio State 65 | Buckeyes stumble down the stretchThe Columbus Dispatch
Tigers Get Hot, Suffocate Buckeyes 79-65Live 5 News
cleveland.com -247Sports -Land-Grant Holy Land
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Google Ohio State: Buckeyes need linebackers at their best against Wisconsin - Dayton Daily News

Ohio State: Buckeyes need linebackers at their best against Wisconsin - Dayton Daily News
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State: Buckeyes need linebackers at their best against Wisconsin
Dayton Daily News
Now, the flip side of that is Ohio State essentially was forced to make those adjustments against the Spartans when Jerome Baker and Dante Booker were ruled out with injuries. Why exactly did it take so long, and what would have happened if those two ...
Ohio State football: Some helpful advice — wink, wink — as Sam Hubbard debates his NFL futureLandof10.com

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LGHL Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett reportedly underwent knee surgery on Sunday

Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett reportedly underwent knee surgery on Sunday
Matt Tamanini
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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The B1G’s QB of the Year is expected to play against Wisconsin.

According to the Columbus Dispatch’s Tim May, Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on Sunday to remove a piece of ligament that had torn off of his meniscus. Barrett reportedly had been dealing with the injury throughout the season, but it was exacerbated following a pre-game collision with a cameraman on the sideline before last Saturday’s game against Michigan.

Though Barrett played into the third quarter, he eventually had to be replaced by backup Dwayne Haskins.

Despite leaving last week’s game, and his subsequent surgery, Barrett is reportedly on schedule to play in the Big Ten Championship game on Saturday against the Wisconsin Badgers.

An Ohio State team spokesman would not confirm any of the above facts to May, but, despite no previous mention of the surgery, everything seems to fall in line with what had been said publicly by Barrett and Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer.

Ohio State takes on Wisconsin at 8:17 p.m. ET on Saturday night in Indianapolis. Fox will broadcast the game.

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LGHL J.T. Barrett, Billy Price, and Nick Bosa earn Big Ten Player of the Year honors

J.T. Barrett, Billy Price, and Nick Bosa earn Big Ten Player of the Year honors
Matt Tamanini
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Barrett is a three-time winner of the award.

With a shocking loss to Iowa at the beginning of the month, Ohio State’s post-season plans are anything but secured as they enter this Saturday’s Big Ten Championship game against the Wisconsin Badgers. However, one thing that is for sure, is that their talent is still extraordinary.

After getting a total of 16 players selected to the Big Ten’s All-Conference teams as selected by the coaches (seven on offense, nine on defense and special teams), not to mention a handful of honorable mentions, on Thursday, the B1G announced their individual award winners for various players of the year.







Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year: J.T. Barrett


For the third time in his four year career (previously in 2014 and 2016), Barrett has been selected as the Big Ten’s best quarterback. With nearly three dozen school and conference records under his belt, the Wichita Falls, Tex. native just might be the most under-appreciated player in college football history.

This season, Barrett has accounted for 2,728 passing yards and 672 rushing yards, racking up 42 total touchdowns. His 33 through the air are just one shy of his career high; a mark that, should he be healthy enough to play again this season, he should be able to break. His passing total was second most in the Big Ten behind Penn State’s Trace McSorley, while his touchdowns through the air led the B1G and currently sit at fifth nationally.

Despite his literally unparalleled success, his lack of “big-play ability” has led many to question throughout his career if he was the right man for the job. Undaunted, the QB is Ohio State’s first three-time captain, and the first starting quarterback to collect four victories in the 114-year history of the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry.

Putting all the whispers and calls for his job aside, Barrett is on the brink of leading his team to the College Football Playoff for the third time in his storied four-year career, and he has yet another well-deserved accolade to add to his legacy.

With Barrett’s third win in this category, it marks the fifth time in the award’s seven-year history that it has been won by an Ohio State quarterback. Braxton Miller previously won in 2012 and 2013.

Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year: Billy Price


Having already been a first-team All-American performer at guard, Price returned to Ohio State for his senior season to continue the long line of heralded Buckeye centers. A two-time captain, Price followed in the foot steps of Pat Elflein who moved from guard to center, and immediately into a starting position in the NFL.

With Elflein, and Taylor Decker before him, Price becomes the third consecutive Buckeye to win the award, named in part for Ohio State legend Orlando Pace. The late Korey Stringer won the award twice in 1993 and 1994 and was immediately followed by Pace’s two wins in 1995 and 1996 (obviously before the award was named for him). Buckeye LeCharles Bentley also took home the prize in 2001.

Earlier this month, Price set the school record for consecutive starts in a career, a total that currently sits at 53. Price is also on pace to tie Elflein for the most games played by a Buckeye, and should Ohio State make the College Football Playoff, barring injury, Price would be able to claim the mark for himself.

Though the starters have played sparingly in the second half in much of the season, Price has been one of the leaders on the offensive line that has allowed the Buckeyes to have the most productive offense (593.5 ypg) in the conference, and fourth nationally.

Similarly, OSU has rushed for the most yards (250.33 pg) in the B1G, while allowing just 4.33 tackles for loss per fame, the best in the conference, and 1.58 sacks per game, good for third in the B1G.

Already named to the All-Big Ten team, Price has been an vocal leader for the Buckeyes, especially following their loss to Iowa in early November. A two-time OSU Scholar-Athlete, and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, this marks another piece of history that Price will carry with him into what is sure to be a first-round selection in the spring’s NFL Draft.

Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year: Nick Bosa


Following in the foot steps of his legendary big brother, Nick Bosa won the 2017 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year award, just as Joey did in 2014 and 2015. In fact, Nick Bosa’s award marks the fourth straight for Ohio State with Tyquan Lewis receiving the honor in 2016. John Simon also claimed the prize in 2012.

With the philosophy of Ohio State’s defensive line coach Larry Johnson to rotate through as many high-performing players as possible to keep the front line fresh, it is difficult for any Buckeye to accumulate standout stats, but Nick Bosa has recorded 12.5 tackles for loss in his sophomore season, good for eighth best in the league; a ranking that his six sacks match.

However, what separates little Bosa (and all of OSU’s rushmen for that matter) is his ability to disrupt what the offense would like to do even before the ball is snapped. An absolute freak of an athlete, #97 must be accounted for at all times. So even if the play-call is simply to run away from Bosa, his mere presence has impacted the play, making it easier for one of his teammates to make a stop.

After being a Freshman All-American and OSU Scholar Athlete last year, Bosa was named to his first All-Conference first team earlier this week, and with at least one more year in Columbus (we assume), it seems clear that the Fort Lauderdale-native will have quite a few more honors to compare to his brother’s when all is said and done.

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