Report: Former Buckeye QB/WR Torrance Gibson leaves JUCO - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Report: Former Buckeye QB/WR Torrance Gibson leaves JUCO
247Sports
Questions arose when the former Buckeye was not listed on the depth chart for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College's game Thursday night. According to Patrick Ochs of The Sun Herald, a team spokesman confirmed that Gibson “is no longer on the ...
Torrance Gibson, former Ohio State Buckeye, no longer on JUCO football team roster: Reportcleveland.com
Torrance Gibson No Longer with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Football TeamEleven Warriors

all 5 news articles »

Continue reading...

Buckeyes' Holmes ready for any challenge - Hillsboro Times Gazette
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes' Holmes ready for any challenge
Hillsboro Times Gazette
The Ohio State defensive end volunteered to play defensive tackle last weekend at Rutgers after starting defensive tackle Dre'Mont Jones was sidelined by a deep cut suffered in a freak accident in the locker room. While Jones was sincere in his offer, ...

and more »

Continue reading...

Report: Former Buckeye QB/WR Torrance Gibson leaves JUCO - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Report: Former Buckeye QB/WR Torrance Gibson leaves JUCO
247Sports
Questions arose when the former Buckeye was not listed on the depth chart for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College's game Thursday night. According to Patrick Ochs of The Sun Herald, a team spokesman confirmed that Gibson “is no longer on the ...
Torrance Gibson, former Ohio State Buckeye, no longer on JUCO football team roster: Reportcleveland.com
Torrance Gibson No Longer with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Football TeamEleven Warriors

all 4 news articles »

Continue reading...

Torrance Gibson, former Ohio State Buckeye, no longer on JUCO football team roster: Report - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Torrance Gibson, former Ohio State Buckeye, no longer on JUCO football team roster: Report
cleveland.com
He joined the Buckeyes in 2015, moved to receiver and redshirted. He was then suspended by the university before the 2016 season and then announced a transfer to Cincinnati last winter. Gibson first had to take classes at Cincinnati State to get in ...
Torrance Gibson No Longer with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Football TeamEleven Warriors

all 3 news articles »

Continue reading...

Despite recent success, J.T. Barrett is still facing questions about Ohio State’s passing attack
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Even though Ohio State’s passing attack is better off than last year, that isn’t enough for some.

“I am just really shocked why we keep on talking about it. How many did we complete? It’s like, ‘What’s up?’ I’m asking y’all.”

-Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett on his deep passing via Doug Lesmerises, Northeast Ohio Media Group


Can you really blame Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett if he is tired of answering questions about the Buckeye passing game? Aside from the Oklahoma game, Barrett has thrown at least two touchdown passes in every game this year. Over the last two games, Barrett has thrown eight touchdown passes, so there is no question the Ohio State passing attack is making strides.

The competition Ohio State has faced since the Oklahoma game hasn’t been the greatest, but it has been just what Barrett and the Buckeye wide receivers have needed to gain some confidence heading into their tougher Big Ten contests. All isn’t perfect with Ohio State’s passing game, but they are a lot better off than they were a year ago.

One reason Ohio State’s passing attack is improved is because of two guys who aren’t on the field. Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson and quarterbacks coach Ryan Day are having a lot more success than Ed Warinner and Tim Beck did last year, because they have a better understanding of how to use Barrett when it comes to throwing the football and are willing to make adjustments.

Ohio State has been completing more deep passes in practice according to Barrett, which gives them more of a reason to use it during the game. The same can’t be said of last year’s team, where they had issues with it in practice. The improvement is starting to show, and if the Buckeyes can continue to progress, they’ll be right where they want to be when it matters the most.

“Book is one of those guys we never had to worry about going hard. He’s a pleaser. He wants to do everything right. Sometimes you paralyze yourself because you overanalyze everything instead of just playing 4-to-6 (seconds).”

-Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer on linebacker Dante Booker via Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch


After missing last season due to a knee injury suffered in the season opener against Bowling Green, expectations were high for linebacker Dante Booker. Through the first few games of the 2017 season, Booker was largely invisible on defense. Last week against Rutgers, Booker started to show some of the potential he possesses.

Against the Scarlet Knights, Booker registered two tackles for loss, and an interception in the first quarter. Head coach Urban Meyer thinks Booker might have been pressing a little too much the first few games of the year. Meyer knows the outstanding things Booker can do on the field, so the Buckeyes never lost confidence in the linebacker even though he struggled early on.

While Booker says he was affected by trying to do too much, his passion and intensity for the game has never been higher. Early on in the season Booker was frustrated with his performance, but he tried not to let it show so as not to affect his teammates. Ohio State is going to need Booker at his best, with games against Penn State, Iowa, and Michigan still on tap for the Buckeyes.


It looked like Tracy Sprinkle’s Ohio State career might end before it even had a chance to really begin. In 2014, Sprinkle was dismissed from the Ohio State football team after being arrested at the Grown and Sexy Lounge in Lorain, Ohio. After pleading no contest to a lesser charge, and passing a drug test, Meyer reinstated Sprinkle.

Even though he was welcomed back on the team, Sprinkle was on thin ice. The defensive lineman didn’t see the field during the 2014 season, but he was working hard in practice, trying to regain the trust of his teammates and coaches. Sprinkle started working his way back up the depth chart, getting some snaps in 2015 before impressing enough to be named a starter prior to the 2016 season.

Sprinkle’s time as starter didn’t last long though, as he too was injured in the season opener against Bowling Green, ending his season. At least Sprinkle knew if could come back from getting kicked off the team, he knew he could come back from the knee injury, and that is exactly what he has done.

The senior has impressed so far this season, and it’s possible the defensive tackle could have a future at the professional level. What is most impressive about Sprinkle is no matter how many times he gets knocked down, he keeps coming back stronger than before. Sprinkle’s hard work on and off the field hasn’t gone unrecognized either, as he was voted a team captain. Everything is shaping up for Sprinkle’s story at Ohio State to have a happy ending after what was a very difficult start.

“I am telling you right now, he is playing exceptional. He is at a high level, doesn’t make mistakes, he organizes things up front for all these guys. He gives Bowen and Jordan comfort to compete, because they are never not going to know what is going on.”

-Ohio State offensive line coach Greg Studrawa on center Billy Price via James Grega, Eleven Warriors


Ohio State has been one of the best rushing teams in the country so far this year, and a major reason for the success has been the play of the left side of the Buckeye offensive line, which is made up of Michael Jordan, Jamarco Jones, and Billy Price. The play of the left side is especially impressive considering over the summer Jones had his wisdom teeth removed and an appendectomy, which led to him losing 25 pounds.

The key of the offensive line is with Billy Price at center. After shifting over from guard following last season, Price is doing everything the Ohio State offense needs him to do. Price not only is playing at a high level, but he is also leading the offensive line. The confidence and strong play of Price has been contagious. If the offensive line continues to play this well, Ohio State’s running game will only improve, especially with the return of a healthy Mike Weber.

STICK TO SPORTS

• With Ohio State becoming an Apple Digital Flagship University, starting in fall 2018, incoming freshmen will receive an iPad Pro.
• The nominees for the 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class have been announced.
• Netflix is raising its prices next month.
• October has quite a collection of eclectic food festivals around the country.
• Austin Rogers is Jeopardy!’s newest star.

Continue reading...

Watch: Studrawa demands more from OSU offensive line - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Watch: Studrawa demands more from OSU offensive line
247Sports
The Ohio State offense has feasted on four outmanned opponents to average 49.3 points and 618.5 yards in its four wins. Unfortunately, it was famine for the Buckeyes when they faced then-No. 5 Oklahoma. OSU amassed 350 yards total offense in that tough ...


Continue reading...

Maryland’s Ty Johnson and D.J. Moore will be an interesting test for the Ohio State defense
Chad Peltier via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Terps may be down to their 3rd QB, but at least he has two top athletes to test the Ohio State defense

Maryland has had an up-and-down year so far. The good: beating Texas and going 3-1. The bad: losing two QBs to season-ending injuries and losing to UCF.

The defense has been much improved from last season, where they ranked 127th and 80th in rushing and passing S&P+ -- they’re now 58th overall. As you can see in the table below, returning 77% of their defensive production from last year has had a measurable impact on the defense. The offense may be down to their third QB in Max Bortenschlager, but they have two solid skill players in receiver D.J. Moore and running back Ty Johnson.

When Ohio State has the ball

• A couple of quick notes about Ohio State’s offensive progression through the first five games. First, the offense’s S&P+ percentile performance has improved each game since Oklahoma, from 37%, 81%, 95%, and to 96% last week against Rutgers. Second, Ohio State’s passing offense is now 25th in success rate and 31st in IsoPPP, meaning that it has been both efficient and explosive, without adjusting for opposing defenses. That in itself is a huge jump — Ohio State was 95th and 105th in these two unadjusted stats last year, and 29th and 66th in 2015. Third, Ohio State’s 41st ranking in rushing IsoPPP (again, opponent unadjusted) is better than last year’s at 84th. Ohio State was 43rd in unadjusted-IsoPPP in 2015 with Zeke. What all of this suggests is that Kevin Wilson and J.K. Dobbins really have had tangible effects on passing efficiency and in creating explosive running plays.
• You can also see J.T. Barrett’s progression throwing intermediate and deep passes in the table below from CFB Film Room. Sure, Army, UNLV, and Rutgers are worse teams than Indiana and Oklahoma overall, but 1) Rutgers might have a pretty decent defense, and 2) You have to be able to complete those passes against lesser opponents before you can do it against stouter defenses — and as last year’s passing IsoPPP showed, that’s not a given.

• OK, now to Maryland’s defense. The Terps have allowed 41 points to Texas (in a win) and 38 to Central Florida (in a loss). They’re much improved against the run, going from 127th in overall rushing S&P+ and 128th in adj. line yards to 50th in success rate and 16th in opportunity rate. They don’t get many stops behind the line (58th in stuff rate) and the successful plays they allow can be pretty big (73rd in rushing IsoPPP), but they do limit the number of 5+ yard gains overall (16th). The IsoPPP ranking is a little deceptive, because they’ve only allowed 11 runs of 10+ yards in four games (7th) — it’s just that two of those were 40+ yard runs. But I still expect at least a few 20+ yard runs from Ohio State, because the best rushing offense they’ve faced was either from Minnesota or UCF — and those are not good rushing teams.
• The Maryland pass defense is better at preventing big plays than limiting efficient passes, ranking 95th and 31st in success rate and IsoPPP. You can expect a similar gameplan to what we’ve seen the last few weeks — some explosive runs from Dobbins, some work for Weber and Barrett, and a pretty efficient passing performance. In fact, Maryland’s pass defense numbers are pretty close to Army’s, where Barrett threw for 270 yards at 8.2 yards per attempt. Other teams have followed that lead against Maryland, making their defense rank 96th in standard downs run rate, with runs on just 54.8% of standard downs.
• Ohio State’s receivers’ numbers are a little distorted because the first team offense has only been on the field for about half of each of the last two games. But the receiving corps really is running about 7-deep if you include Marcus Baugh in there, and some general tendencies are starting to emerge. The most-targeted receiver is K.J. Hill at 16% followed closely by Parris Campbell at 15.4%. Johnnie Dixon and Parris Campbell have emerged as the two explosive options, with Campbell as the yards-after-catch explosive target, and Dixon as the deep-ball target. Dixon is the seventh-most targeted receiver with just 13 this year, but is second on the team in receiving yards (228) because he averages an insane 28.5 yards per catch, which actually leads the country right now. I’d expect all of them to get a good amount of work against Maryland.

When Maryland has the ball

• Maryland’s offense is in a weird place. As you probably know by now, the Terps are down to their third-string quarterback, Max Bortenschlager, who was 18/28 for 154 yards against Minnesota last week. The Terps are 53rd overall in offensive S&P+ and 56th in passing success rate, which is much better than you’d expect for a team that’s already been forced to start three different quarterbacks this year. So far, Bortenschlager has been solid, but there’s been a huge dip in yards per attempt (Hill and Pigrome averaged over 10 yards per attempt, Bortenschlager averages 4.1 on more attempts than the other two combined). He also gets sacked much more frequently -- 11.1% of the time with 7 total sacks compared to just one for the other two QBs. Ohio State is 9th in overall havoc rate and 5th in defensive line havoc rate, so expect some sacks unless Maryland is able to get quick, short passes going.
• Ohio State’s secondary has been a major concern this season, and hasn’t really been tested for the past three weeks like Ohio State’s passing offense has. They might have improved, but it’s a little more difficult to tell. They’re up to 69th in passing success rate and 32nd in IsoPPP. Maryland has exactly two receiving threats: D.J. Moore (403 total yards), who accounts for an insane 48.2% of the passing game’s targets, and Taivon Jacobs (178 yards), at 25.3%. No other receiver has more than 11% of targets or over 43 receiving yards. That makes things easier for the secondary.
• You can also expect plenty of tackles for loss. Maryland ranks 100th in stuff rate (21.9%), while Ohio State ranks 16th. However, Maryland has some of the weirdest running stats you’re going to see: 100th in stuff rate and 72nd in success rate, but 8th in IsoPPP and 14th in opportunity rate. A lot of that has to do with running back Ty Johnson, who currently averages 8.9 yards per carry and 12.3 highlight yards per opportunity with a 45.7% opportunity rate. But there’s a big drop-off between him and running back Lorenzo Harrison III, who averages just 4.4, 3.3, and 39.1% in those categories — but who has the same number of carries. So when Johnson is on the field, the Terps are explosive, and he’s much more efficient as well. But overall, the offensive line is going to allow a fair number of run stuffs, while Johnson will create big plays whenever he gets an opportunity. Containing Johnson will be the number one key for Ohio State’s defense.

The 3 most important stats

1. Number of explosive runs allowed on defense. Ty Johnson is the real deal at running back, averaging 12.3 highlight yards per opportunity. Containing him will be the primary challenge for the defense.
2. Defensive passing success rate. Bortenschlager was productive enough to beat a pretty talented Minnesota team last week despite being the third QB to start for the Terps this year. The secondary hasn’t been tested since Oklahoma and might not again this week, but it’s worth watching nonetheless.
3. Offensive passing success rate. The offense has improved gradually since Oklahoma, and Maryland’s defense should be weaker against the pass.

Picks


I’ve started keeping track of how well the statistical projections are performing relative to the actual margins of victory.

• S&P+: Ohio State 42, Maryland 16. 93.5% win expectancy
• F/+: Ohio State by 22.3. 90.1% win expectancy
• Adj. S&P+: Ohio State by 33.9. 97.5% win expectancy
• Power Rank: Ohio State by 14.2. 85% win expectancy
• My Pick: Ohio State 48, Maryland 13

Continue reading...

B1G Number Crunching
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

We're putting numbers through the old cruncher today, with a big assist from @BTNStatsGuys! A few stats for each team to help you sound like an expert:

Continue reading...

To have a chance at the playoff, Ohio State would have to beat Wisconsin and Penn State, so that's not a worry.

Click to expand...

Who writes this shit? We don't even play Wisconsin...

A ranked West Virginia-TCU clash highlights Week 6’s national College Football betting lines
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The battle between the Mountaineers and Horned Frogs is one of two games between ranked teams, with Louisville-NC State on Thursday night being the other.

Last week ATS: 6-5 (3-2 National, 3-3 B1G)

Season ATS: 40-33-1 (14-11 National, 26-22-1 B1G)

Last week may not have been as fruitful as the week before, but it’s hard to be mad at a positive result. Hopefully this week will be able to put a little more distance on .500.

National games (All games Saturday unless otherwise noted):


No. 17 Louisville (-4.5) v. No. 24 NC State - Thursday 10/5 8:00 PM EST - ESPN

After their loss to Clemson a few weeks ago, Louisville got a chance to get their feet back under them with a couple layups. The Cardinals beat Kent State and Murray State, but now the competition ramps back up as they travel to Raleigh. Louisville will be trying to break a streak of recent dominance by the Wolfpack, with NC State winning six of the last seven games against the Cardinals.

Had it not been for a season-opening loss to South Carolina, the Wolfpack would likely find themselves ranked higher than the Cardinals right now. Ryan Finley still hasn’t thrown an interception this year, and that streak could continue since Louisville safety Jaire Alexander’s status is up in the air for this game.

I know picking against Lamar Jackson is a dangerous proposition, but the Wolfpack have a number of playmakers on defense who could slow Jackson down, most notably defensive end Bradley Chubb. North Carolina State keeps rolling, while another Louisville loss could only add to the rumblings Bobby Petrino could trigger his buyout after this year is over with the recent changes in the athletic department at Louisville.

NC State 28, Louisville 24

No. 5 Georgia (-18) v. Vanderbilt - 12:00 PM EST - ESPN

Georgia continues to keep rolling along, and with each win they put themselves in a better position to earn a spot in the SEC Championship Game against what will likely end up being a scary Alabama squad. Last week, the Bulldogs beat Tennessee so badly that I was surprised the Volunteers didn’t fire Butch Jones at halftime.

Vanderbilt has to wonder when they’ll catch a break. After a 3-0 start, the Commodores have had to square off against Alabama, Florida, and now Georgia. Kyle Shurmur has thrown 11 touchdowns and just one interception this year, but he’ll need a lot of help on offense if Vanderbilt has designs on beating Georgia for the second straight year.

There are plenty of reasons to be excited about Georgia the rest of the season, but I’m wondering if they might be playing a little too good right now. Somewhere there is going to be a struggle, and I get the feeling this week might be when it happens. The Bulldogs won’t get upset here, but they get a tougher fight than many might be expecting.

Georgia 31, Vanderbilt 21

No. 23 West Virginia v. No. 8 TCU (-13.5) - 3:30 PM EST - FOX

Can we just cancel the Big 12? Nothing ever makes sense in this conference, and it is easily the conference I have the most trouble picking. A few weeks ago I thought TCU would get rolled by Oklahoma State, and that obviously didn’t happen. This week I just assume that whatever I pick is going to be terribly wrong, so I wouldn’t blame you for picking the opposite.

West Virginia is still a relative unknown. The Mountaineers have stability at quarterback with Florida transfer Will Grier, but it’s hard to gauge how good West Virginia is since they’ve played some pretty terrible teams so far. The season opener against Virginia Tech was a tough contest, but since then, the Mountaineers have feasted on East Carolina, Delaware State, and Kansas. I can smell the dumpster juice just looking at that portion of West Virginia’s schedule.

TCU was very impressive two weeks ago in Stillwater against Oklahoma State. Kenny Hill looks like he has rebounded from last year’s inconsistent season, while the defense for the Horned Frogs has been strong, at least when it comes to Big 12 defensive standards.

As I said before, the Big 12 is a crapshoot. I think the safest play here is to take the points, even though we don’t know exactly what we are getting quite yet with West Virginia. I could see this being a two touchdown game late, and a touchdown from Grier gets the Mountaineers a late cover.

TCU 45, West Virginia 38

No. 13 Miami (FL) (-3.5) v. Florida State - 3:30 PM EST - ESPN

It almost feels like somebody doesn’t want Miami and Florida State to play this year. After having their game a few weeks ago pushed back due to Hurricane Irma, now another disturbance in the gulf could bring some gnarly weather to Tallahassee. Last year’s game nearly was impacted by Hurricane Matthew, and I remember a few games in the past which have been played in heavy rain, most notably in 2003 where Miami wide receiver Roscoe Parrish was obliterated by a Florida State defender.

Miami has looked good so far this year, but I’ll refrain from saying they are “BACK” until they are able to navigate Florida State. The Seminoles have won seven straight against the Hurricanes, with four of those last six wins coming by less than a touchdown. Miami is going to need running back Mark Walton Jr. to be fully healthy if they want to finally take down Florida State.

Florida State’s season feels like it was ruined soon after it began, following the injury to quarterback Deondre Francois. Freshman James Blackman won his first start last week against Florida State, but it came right down to the wire. The Seminoles are going to need even more out of safety Derwin James if Florida State is going to slow down Walton and quarterback Malik Rosier.

Even without Francois, Florida State still has plenty of talent which can give Miami fits. Also, the Seminoles have the Hurricanes’ number recently, which is hard to ignore. Doak Campbell Stadium is going to be rocking for this game, and the Seminoles put forth a huge effort to earn the win.

Florida State 30, Miami (FL) 27

No. 11 Washington State (-2.5) v. Oregon - 8:00 PM EST - FOX

Washington State had one of their biggest wins in school history last week when they outlasted USC on Friday night. Now the Cougars hit the road for the first time this year as they travel to Eugene to face a beaten up Oregon team. Last week’s win over the Trojans has Washington State fans wondering if the College Football Playoff could in the future for Mike Leach and the Cougars.

Despite being 4-1 in Willie Taggert’s first year with the school, the Ducks are really hurting right now. Quarterback Justin Herbert broke his collarbone last week against Cal, and running back Royce Freeman is questionable with an arm injury. True freshman Braxton Burmeister could be in line for his first start at quarterback, which would have Hercules Mata’afa and the rest of the Washington State defense licking their chops.

Normally I would see this as a prime letdown spot for Washington State after the win against USC, but Oregon is just way too injured right now. Luke Falk adds to his lofty career totals as the Cougars navigate their first road test of the season.

Washington State 48, Oregon 31

Stanford (-6) v. No. 20 Utah - 10:15 PM EST - FS1

One of the stories of the first month of the college football season has been Stanford running back Bryce Love. The junior rushed for 301 yards last week against Arizona State, and has nearly 1,100 rushing yards through five games this year. Love has rushed for at least 160 yards in each game this season.

Utah is still undefeated after beating Arizona two weeks ago, but they might have taken a loss with the injury to quarterback Tyler Huntley. At least if Huntley can’t play against the Cardinals, Utah has Troy Williams, who started all 13 games last year, to take the snaps.

Love can’t run like this all year, can he? My money is on no, as I see the running back coming down to earth a bit against a Utah defense that is giving up less than 100 yards per game on the ground this year. Even with Utah’s questions at quarterback, give me the ranked home team as an underdog.

Utah 24, Stanford 21

Continue reading...

Is Maryland the 4th most talented team in the Big Ten?
Colton Denning via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Come yell at us for this hot take on our latest podcast.

Recruiting in the Big Ten has drastically changed over the last five years. Coaches like Urban Meyer, Jim Harbaugh, and James Franklin have brought a different flavor to the conference, and the results of their strong recruiting speaks for itself. It isn’t a question that Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State are the three most talented teams, but who’s next in line? Maryland, according to the 247Sports Composite.

Now, before you get upset and tell us that recruiting rankings are overrated because A.J. Hawk was once a three-star prospect, (people forget that) it’s important to note the distinction between “best” and “talented.” Maryland is by no means the fourth best team in the Big Ten, but their quick turnaround last year under new Head Coach DJ Durkin, coupled with their strong start this year has them on the right track. With another strong class heading to College Park this year, Maryland is a lot closer to breaking into the upper echelon of the Big Ten than you think.

On this episode of The Hangout in the Holy Land, Colton Denning and Matt Brown discuss Maryland’s surprising recruiting, and preview Ohio State’s upcoming game with the Terps. The guys break down everything you need to know on Saturday, including:

• Why stopping Maryland’s explosive running game being the key to the game.
• Whether the Terps’ quarterback issues will force them into a gameplan that favors Ohio State.
• Expecting another big day from the Ohio State offense, and more!

Colton also goes on a rant about fans complaining about 50-point wins, and the guys take a look at everything else going on around the country on Saturday.

You can find the podcast on our iTunes page, and we encourage reviews, comments, criticisms, etc. to help us deliver the best possible audio product. The more we hear from you, the better we can make it. We’re also on Soundcloud, and you can subscribe via RSS on your Android and Windows Phone devices here.

Continue reading...

BH: Quarterback recruiting carousel? | Dixon's next step - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BH: Quarterback recruiting carousel? | Dixon's next step
247Sports
If you haven't noticed, each important recruiting weekend for the Buckeyes during the football season there is at least one committed prospect making an official visit to Ohio State. That is not by accident. Nothing happens by accident when it comes to ...


Continue reading...

Jeffrey Okudah playing a lot for Buckeyes, could play even more - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Jeffrey Okudah playing a lot for Buckeyes, could play even more
247Sports
The 6-foot-1, 193-pound Okudah made the Buckeyes' two-deep as the No. 4 corner, and he is getting some playing time when the game is on the line. Bucknuts mentioned to OSU cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs Wednesday evening that Okudah is playing ...


Continue reading...

Who can make a playoff run after an early-season loss? - ESPN
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Who can make a playoff run after an early-season loss?
ESPN
In 2016, Penn State and USC suffered two losses in September. But that didn't derail their seasons; they met in the Rose Bowl after getting hot and knocking off multiple ranked opponents down the stretch. In 2014, Ohio State lost its second game to ...


Continue reading...

Maryland’s Max Bortenschlager is not a typical 3rd string quarterback
Christopher Jason via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Maryland’s former third string quarterback led the Terps to a road upset last week.

It’s funny how things work out.

Max Bortenschlager was committed to Buffalo and was expected to sign there until a highly touted Maryland native decommitted from his hometown Maryland Terrapins to sign with a Big Ten rival. That highly touted quarterback? Dwayne Haskins.

Bortenschlager then decommitted from Buffalo and signed with the Terrapins once Maryland needed another quarterback to fill out the class. Bortenschlager surprisingly started a game as a true freshman, but began the 2017 season as the team’s third string quarterback behind Tyrrell Pigrome and Kasim Hill. Three games and two season-ending knee injuries later, Bortenschlager is now the starter for the Terps.

After being pressed into duties against Central Florida — Maryland’s lone loss of the season — the third stringer bounced back during his first start of the season last week against Minnesota. Known as a pass-first quarterback, Bortenschlager was able to make the defense respect his legs, which made the Gophers’ defense adjust from keying primarily on stud running back Ty Johnson. Sure, he only registered 18 yards on four carries, but his decision making gave the defense another option to defend.

“They started out the game pretty aggressive, trying to not cheat but get an edge on our running backs,” Bortenschlager said. “That first run I had when I pulled it, [the defensive end] came in super hard. After that, he kind of stayed in his place. I think managing the guys in the box really helped the running backs.”

It may not look like much, but his 11-yard run (below) on the Terps’ first drive of the afternoon opened things up for the rest of the offense. Minnesota now had to account for the quarterback in the run game and could no longer key on Johnson in the zone read. Below, the end crashed down hard on the running back, expecting the quarterback to hand it off, but instead he kept the ball and moved the chains.


Ty Johnson went on to gash the Minnesota defense, carrying the ball 18 times for 130 yards and a touchdown — including the game winning 34-yarder. As seen below, instead of keying on Johnson and filling the open hole, the linebacker decided to slow-play the run and engage with the Maryland lineman, leaving a gaping, game-winning hole for Johnson to explode through for six.



As we saw in 2015 against Maryland, quarterback Perry Hills racked up 170 yards and two touchdowns on the talented Buckeye defense. Bortenschlager is not some dynamic athlete, but he should garner the respect of the Ohio State defense, which could open up holes for Ty Johnson and the passing game. Bortenschlager was efficient through the air, completing 18-of-28 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns, and did not turn the ball over. He also added another score on the ground, on a 7-yard designed quarterback draw.

“Those runs he made, they were effective,” said Ty Johnson. “He got a first down. He got a touchdown. You got to take into account for any QB that’s going to tuck the ball and run. That kind of made them rethink their defensive strategy a little bit.”

Continue reading...

BM5: Wiltfong on Cook, Jones, Togiai, Walker and more - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BM5: Wiltfong on Cook, Jones, Togiai, Walker and more
247Sports
247Sports Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong is here to provide an update on who could be joining the nation's top collection of talent. We go in-depth on: * Anthony Cook - Texas now even with Buckeyes? * Tommy Togiai - Visiting Washington this ...


Continue reading...

Three Ohio State football players lose their black stripes - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Three Ohio State football players lose their black stripes
Landof10.com
Williamson a corner from Westerville, Ohio who played his high school ball in Florida at IMG Academy came to the Buckeyes as a 4-star recruit. He was listed as the No. 5 prospect out of Florida and the No. 24 corner in the nation. The 5-foot-10, 180 ...
Dever, Raterman lose black stripes247Sports

all 4 news articles »

Continue reading...

Ohio State's best play keeps working, and Buckeyes are prepared for when it stops working - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State's best play keeps working, and Buckeyes are prepared for when it stops working
cleveland.com
The Buckeyes know defenses will adjust, but there are seven or eight variations that can occur off this play. Take away Dixon, and maybe Barrett hits one of those short crossers. Have a safety suck up to take away Dixon, and that opens up a deeper ...


Continue reading...

4-star DE Ani Izuchukwu set to visit Ohio State this weekend
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes are hoping to beat out the Crimson Tide for their next great pass-rusher.

Izuchukwu set to visit


For Ohio State and every other program in the country, the recruiting focus is primarily set on this year's recruiting class. However, that doesn’t mean the Buckeye coaching staff isn’t putting together massive amounts of effort toward next year's cycle.

Right now, ‘19 OT Doug Nester of Spring Valley (WV) is already a pledge to the Scarlet and Gray. The high four-star prospect committed to Ohio State back in August and definitely got the ball rolling on what is expected to be yet another impressive Urban Meyer haul.

This weekend, the Buckeyes will have an opportunity to impress yet another highly-touted prospect in hopes of ultimately bringing them to Columbus. According to Andrew Lind of Eleven Warriors, ‘19 DE Ani Izuchukwu of Davidson Academy (TN) is scheduled to take an unofficial visit to Ohio State to check out the battle in The ‘Shoe against in-conference foe Maryland.

Izuchukwu is a 6'4, 230-pounder that has compiled over a dozen offers in his recruitment thus far. Ohio State, who offered back in April, is one of a few major programs hoping to land the Volunteer state standout. Alabama, Clemson, LSU, Michigan, and Tennessee are amongst the others.

As of now, Izuchukwu is currently projected on the 247Sports Crystal Ball to wind up in Tuscaloosa donning the Crimson and White for Nick Saban. The Nashville native is fresh off of a visit to the Alabama campus this past weekend as he watched them roll over Ole Miss by a final score of 66-3. We will see if the Buckeyes can give the Terrapins a similar beatdown come Saturday.

Izuchukwu is currently listed as a four-star prospect in his class. Additionally, he is pegged as the 175th-best player for next year's cycle. Not to be forgotten, Izichukwu is also the 11th-best weak-side defensive end in the country, for the time being, and the seventh-best player from the state of Tennessee.

Chatfield still in play?


Sticking to the defensive end position, a name that may be familiar to Buckeye fans across the country is ‘18 DE Andrew Chatfield of American Heritage High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Chatfield, a four-star prospect, was once committed to Ohio State. The 6'2, 221-pounder originally made his pledge to the Buckeyes back in June of this year. However, just days after making that verbal commitment, Chatfield decided to camp at Miami (FL). A little over one month later, he would then make a stop in Gainesville to participate in a camp with the Gators.

Chatter on whether Chatfield would ultimately be a member of the Buckeyes class began to grow louder and louder. Just one week into the month of August, Chatfield announced that he was backing off of his pledge to Ohio State and re-opening his recruitment.

That brings us to today, and Chatfield has yet to give his pledge to any other program. In fact, it almost seemed like a matter of time until Florida received a commitment from 16th highest-graded weak-side defensive end in the class. As you can see, that has yet to happen. So, could the Buckeyes actually still be in play for the one-time pledge?

In a piece by Landof10.com’s Jeremy Birmingham, Chatfield is quoted telling Sam Speigelman of SEC Country that “they’re still open” to having him. Birmingham says that an official visit to Ohio State has been talked about and I would imagine that unless that happens, the possibility of Chatfield being a Buckeye is slim.

It was also revealed in the piece by Birmingham that Florida, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Oregon are the programs who communicate most with the Sunshine State prospect.

Continue reading...

Of Buckeyes and Butternuts: 29 States with Weird Nicknames for Their Residents - Mental Floss
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Of Buckeyes and Butternuts: 29 States with Weird Nicknames for Their Residents
Mental Floss
Tracing a word's origin and evolution can yield fascinating historical insights—and the weird nicknames used in some states to describe their residents are no exception. In the Mental Floss video above, host John Green explains the probable ...


Continue reading...

Buckeyes' Weber getting back on field - Akron Beacon Journal
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes' Weber getting back on field
Akron Beacon Journal
Weber, the leading returning rusher for the Ohio State Buckeyes entering the 2017 season, lost his starting job to freshman J.K. Dobbins because of a preseason hamstring injury. Coach Urban Meyer even got a question about Pipp when Dobbins broke an ...
Will Ohio State's defense let down the offense? Buckeyes football analysiscleveland.com
More on Ohio State and Emory Jones, familiar DE still talking with BuckeyesLandof10.com
Ohio State Football: 4 Predictions for the Buckeyes in OctoberScarlet and Game
The Columbus Dispatch -247Sports
all 45 news articles »

Continue reading...

More on Ohio State and Emory Jones, familiar DE still talking with Buckeyes - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


More on Ohio State and Emory Jones, familiar DE still talking with Buckeyes
Landof10.com
I realize that we've been talking a lot about Ohio State commit Emory Jones lately, but I think most people reading this understand that he's a pretty important piece of the Buckeyes' top-ranked recruiting class, and realize that I'm kind of obligated ...
Will Ohio State's defense let down the offense? Buckeyes football analysiscleveland.com
Ohio State Football: 4 Predictions for the Buckeyes in OctoberScarlet and Game
Ohio State football | Jack Looks Back: '57 Buckeyes celebrate 60th anniversary of national titleThe Columbus Dispatch
247Sports -Youngstown Vindicator
all 46 news articles »

Continue reading...

Ohio State Football: Buckeyes set for trap game at home vs. Terps? - Scarlet and Game
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State Football: Buckeyes set for trap game at home vs. Terps?
Scarlet and Game
Rolling over their last 3 opponents by a combined 148-28 margin, No. 10 Ohio State sets sights on Maryland. While the Buckeyes steamrolled the Terrapins last season, the 2017 pairing seems much more daunting. This time last season if I told you there ...
Terrapins QB set to start against BuckeyesYoungstown Vindicator
Know The Enemy: Maryland247Sports

all 7 news articles »

Continue reading...

Ohio State podcast: Buckeyes basketball delivers on promise to beef up schedule - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State podcast: Buckeyes basketball delivers on promise to beef up schedule
Landof10.com
Ohio State basketball coach Chris Holtmann has delivered on a pledge to beef up the Buckeyes' schedule. Ryan Ginn/Land of 10. Kyle Lamb · @kylamb8. Posted 3 hours ago. COLUMBUS, Ohio — Get your Ohio State football fix on Inside the Shoe, brought ...
Who are the champions? Ohio State football's consistently best playerscleveland.com
UC Bearcats to open renovated Fifth Third Arena vs. Ohio State Buckeyes in 2018Cincinnati.com
Depth Chart: Maryland - Plenty of changes for the Buckeyes247Sports
The Columbus Dispatch -Inside the Hall -MyDaytonDailyNews
all 130 news articles »

Continue reading...

Yes, it’s been against weak competition, but Ohio State’s offense really is improving
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Hear me out, this is more than just seeing the team through Scarlet and Gray colored glasses.

“Ticked off J.T. Barrett is the best J.T. Barrett and he's the reason you're reading this. It's about the pass game again. The improved pass game again. Please don't throw things.”

- Doug Lesmerises, Cleveland.com


Buckeye fans, perhaps more than most other fandoms, tend to be divided into two distinct camps, the “Glass Full” side and the “Glass Empty” side; the proverbial “halves” tend to be few and far between with our bunch.

So, it is no surprise that following Ohio State’s embarrassing beat-down at the hands of the Oklahoma Sooners in Columbus last month, that many fans moved to the doom-and-gloom side of the continuum. However, as Lesmerises points out, there are reasons to be optimistic about the Buckeyes’ offense, beyond the fact that they’ve feasted on lesser opponents.


As CFB Film Room points out in the graph above, not only has quarterback J.T. Barrett improved his downfield passing throughout the season, he has done so dramatically. And while many of those naysayers will point to the defensive deficiencies of Army, UNLV, and Rutgers, Lesmerises brings up a good point.

He said, “A year ago, the pass game seemed much more the same from week to week, and all that changed was whether the opposing defense was lousy or not.”

That is likely where the most optimism comes from for the OSU offense, the fact that new offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson and quarterback coach Ryan Day have been able to make adjustments on a week-to-week basis, adding in new elements and concepts, that can (hopefully) be the foundation of an effective, diverse offensive gameplan when the back-loaded schedule kicks in on Oct. 28 against the No. 4 Penn State Nittany Lions.

So, while there will still be plenty to be concerned about until Barrett and company can do it against the likes of PSU, Michigan, and a potential Big Ten Championship game opponent, you don’t need Scarlet and Gray-colored glasses to feel good about the Buckeyes’ prospects.

“It took a scholarship slot that suddenly came open, when blue-chip prospect Dwayne Haskins flipped his commitment from Maryland to Ohio State, to send Terrapins offensive coordinator Walt Bell to Indianapolis to try to convince Bortenschlager to consider jumping to Maryland.”

- Roman Stubbs, The Washington Post


While the jokes about Max Bortenschlager’s last name sounding like an exotic dish you would order at Schmidt’s in German Village are funny, after losing their top two quarterbacks to injury, the Maryland Terrapins are now being led by a QB who only ended up in College Park because OSU’s QB2 didn’t.

Despite the unusual route from decommitting from Buffalo to starting for Maryland against Ohio State, Bortenschlager has an uphill battle against the Buckeyes this weekend. He went 18-28 for 154 yards passing in their win over Minnesota last Saturday, but Greg Schiano and Larry Johnson are likely to turn up the pressure on him to force the inexperienced signal-caller into difficult situations this week.

Bortenschlager was not sacked on Saturday, nor did he commit a turnover, and he marched the Terps down the field on an eight-play, 74-yard drive to beat the Gophers. While I’m not sure that he will be able to do anything similar against the Buckeyes, he is a quarterback coming into the biggest game of his young career with a decent helping of momentum.

“I thought about letting this Detroit Free Press column about Michigan State becoming a bigger rival to Michigan than Ohio State pass, but I just couldn’t do it.

This is not only a laughable premise now but doesn’t figure to age well because Michigan State’s time as a national powerhouse is probably over. ”

- Marcus Hartman, Dayton Daily News


Look, I get it. Being called “little brother” all of the time is annoying, but with the Michigan State Spartans sliding back in the pack of the Big Ten, claiming that they, in fact, are Michigan’s biggest rival is a bit ridiculous. It screams of sports media trolling, looking to espouse the hottest take possible solely for clicks and the inevitable “Ratio.”

While beating the Maize and Blue is certainly the cure for all Buckeye ills, I am not one that feels like OSU’s success needs to always be defined in relation to UM’s. Also, given the Buckeyes’ record against TTUN over the past decade-and-a-half, I don’t feel the need to punch down at either the Wolverines or the Spartans, especially while the latter has fallen on hard times (I’m still grateful to Mark Dantonio for the 2002 title, after all).

So, I will just say this; Keep trying Sparty.

STICK TO SPORTS

• Everything that a beginner needs to know about FIFA ‘18.
• So, @Jack’s been back at Twitter for two years. He hasn’t fixed it yet.
• The 2017 Nobel Prize in chemistry, explained in 500 words.
• The best 38 restaurants in the Midwest.
• Tina Fey serves cheese fries in Times Square to celebrate “Mean Girls” Day.

Continue reading...