4-star guard has Ohio State in top 9
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes get one step closer to securing another 2018 prospect.

Ayala’s top 9


Chris Holtmann’s OSU basketball program has been making moves on the recruiting trail. On Tuesday, the Buckeyes got a little bit closer to securing a four-star guard in the 2018 class, as Eric Ayala (Bradenton, FL/Putnam Science Academy) unveiled his final nine schools.


Ohio State finds themselves on the list, but the room is filled; Miami (FL), LSU, Arizona, Indiana, Oregon, Syracuse, Georgetown, and Maryland are also in the running for the No. 73 prospect in the class, according to 247sports.

On the 247sports Crystal Ball, eight predictions are in for Ayala. Of those eight, seven recruiting analysts have the Florida native heading to New York—more specifically, Syracuse. However, one prediction came in for the Buckeyes. That’s good news for OSU, as they made an offer to Ayala back in June, and according to 247sports, are one of the latest schools to make him an offer.

Ayala is also graded as the 10th-best prospect from Florida and the sixth-best combo guard in the country for the 2018 recruiting cycle.

If more news breaks on Ayala, we’ll be sure to have you covered.

Ahrens’ visit list includes OSU and UM


Staying on the hardwood, OSU basketball is trying to get another 2018 prospect to Columbus. Or in this case, trying to get him back to committing to the Buckeyes. Three-star small forward and former Buckeye commit Justin Ahrens (Versailles, OH/Versailles) is beginning to set his visit list, and so far, Ohio State and Michigan have reservations.

The No. 7 prospect from the Buckeye State won’t be alone on the visit, though. Four-star combo guard Dwayne Cohill (Cleveland, OH/Holy Name) will also be making the trek to Ohio State on Sept. 23. On Twitter, Cohill and Ahrens tweeted about each other—and made it a point for Buckeye nation to follow them on the social media site.


As things stand right now, the signs point to Ahrens leaning toward Michigan. The 247sports Crystal Ball predictions all vote, unanimously, in favor of the Wolverines . However, Cohill is seen to be an OSU lean.

If the visit goes well, Holtmann and the Buckeyes are still in the fight for Ahrens. OSU already has one commitment for the 2018 class in Torrence Watson, a three-star shooting guard. With a little more time before the Sept. 23 visit, Holtmann and his staff can improve on the rapport—helping their chances even more on securing a monster class by the time 2018 is all said and done.

Quick hits


• Wide receiver Elijah Moore committed to Georgia on Tuesday. The four-star prospect from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., had over 30 offers, including one from the Buckeyes.

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Visiting for the Oklahoma game. His dad is originally from North Ridgeville near Cleveland.
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Kurelic: OSU push for stud O-tackle; moving with Georgia stars - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Kurelic: OSU push for stud O-tackle; moving with Georgia stars
247Sports
The Buckeyes offered Jake early, and with his older brother and teammate 2018 offensive lineman Max Wray a Buckeye commitment, Jake is going to be seeing plenty of Ohio State in the coming years. Most recently Jake and Max visited Ohio State for Friday ...


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Horizontal passing game also key for Buckeyes' offense - 247Sports
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Horizontal passing game also key for Buckeyes' offense
247Sports
There has been a lot of talk about how Ohio State needs to prove its offense can at least showcase a solid vertical passing game this season. And rightfully so. The Buckeyes were dreadful in that area the last two seasons. However, first-year OSU ...
Is Ryan Day an even more important new assistant than Kevin Wilson? Ohio State football analysiscleveland.com

all 4 news articles »

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Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett ready to take more risks when looking for receivers
Ian Cuevas via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The redshirt senior QB might be throwing more interceptions this season but that could be a good thing.

“In the NFL, nobody's really open if you think about it. You think about third down and playing man-to-man, nobody's really open. What we do on defense here at Ohio State with the press quarters, it's challenging every throw. So with that, you have to do your best to give your guy the opportunity to touch the football.”

- J.T. Barrett via Doug Lesmerises, Cleveland.com


Many times in the past few seasons with J.T. Barrett at quarterback for Ohio State, there would be plays where it seemed like Barrett had nobody to throw to. In his mind, nobody was open. If there was a defender in the vicinity, Barrett considered his receiver covered and would often throw it away or tuck it and run. Now, it seems like quarterbacks coach Ryan Day has made an excellent impact on the redshirt senior as Barrett says he has a much different mindset when looking to throw to his wideouts this season.

In the article above, Day talked about explaining that throwing to receivers with defenders is fine, as long as Barrett throws to a spot where only the receiver can get to it. It’s a phrase that’s pretty common when watching the NFL or even high level college games. So it’s very possible we might see a few more interceptions from Barrett this season, but if the trade-off is a more explosive passing attack that can help balance the running game, then by all means, fire away.

“Barrett may not possess knock-you-on-your-back arm strength or blinding speed, but his all-around athleticism has helped him produce a school-record 100 touchdowns and 6,381 passing yards in his first three seasons.”

- Luke Knox, ESPN


Continuing with the J.T. Barrett theme, the senior quarterback was also included in ESPN’s list of ‘returning stars’ in their ‘College Football Year of the Quarterback’ feature. The ‘draft darlings’ category included USC’s Sam Darnold, Wyoming’s Josh Allen, and UCLA’s Josh Rosen. The returning stars included Louisville’s Lamar Jackson, Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield (who the Buckeyes play this season), Washington’s Jake Browning, and of course Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett. The final category was ‘the next wave’ which had the trio of Florida State’s Deondre Francois, Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham, and Alabama’s Jalen Hurts.

It’s no surprise that Barrett is included with these star quarterbacks, considering as a freshman Barrett finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting. He also has amassed a 26-4 record as a starter with the Buckeyes under Urban Meyer. While he’s had his ups and downs with injuries and sharing time with Cardale Jones, the three-time captain will certainly go down in school history as one of the best to ever do it in the scarlet and gray.

“We'd rather not use (Barrett) as much. That's not an indication things are going well. Sometimes you need to do it. But that's also a get-out-of-jail-free card when things aren't going as well. So right now the receivers are playing at a fairly high level. At times when we use (the quarterback run) too much, that's when things aren't clicking at other spots.”

- Urban Meyer via Bill Landis, Cleveland.com


Ever since Urban Meyer came to Columbus to become head coach of Ohio State, quarterback runs have been a staple of the Buckeyes’ offense. And for good reason, as Meyer has already won a Big Ten championship and national championship with this strategy. The numbers game when the quarterback is able to effectively run the football is advantageous in many ways, but it also has some risk involved. Braxton Miller had several injuries during his tenure at quarterback and J.T. Barrett suffered a season-ending injury in 2014, as well. In general, it’s nice to have the advantage but you don’t want your quarterback broken to pieces by the end of the season.

With Kevin Wilson coming from Indiana to become the offensive coordinator, there’s already been talk about limiting the amount of carries Barrett gets, and while we’ve heard this before in recent years, it is interesting to see Meyer actually come out and say that the quarterback running so much is not a good sign in relation to how the offense is performing. He views it as a ‘get-out-jail-free card’ which is likely true, and with that in mind it will be something worth watching this season if Barrett and the offense can not rely on his running ability to move the chains and score points like they have the past two seasons.

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ESPN to feature 'Megacast' for Ohio State vs. Indiana - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


ESPN to feature 'Megacast' for Ohio State vs. Indiana
247Sports
... will feel like you're there with all the different ways to watch this Big Ten matchup. What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Buckeyes newsletter now! Want daily inside scoop on the ...
Ohio State football vs. Indiana opener will be shown in ESPN Megacast: Reportcleveland.com
ESPN to give Ohio State-Indiana football season opener the Megacast treatmentLandof10.com

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‘Ohio State is definitely bound to be in the mix later on:’ 4-star CB Sheridan Jones talks recruiting, upcoming season
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Jones’ HS teammate and Buckeye commit Teradja Mitchell has already been in his ear a bit.

In the past, the Buckeyes have done good things in The Old Dominion State. In the Urban Meyer-Ohio State era alone, Virginia standouts like A.J. Alexander, Matthew Burrell, Wayne Davis, and Jalyn Holmes have all made their way up to Columbus to become student-athletes at the university. As of now, two more prospects are set to join them officially in February as four-star linebacker Teradja Mitchell of Bishop Sullivan Catholic (VA) and four-star linebacker K’Vaughan Pope of Dinwiddie County (VA) are currently committed to the program.

Efforts like those are ones that could potentially help pave the way for someone like ‘20 CB Sheridan Jones, teammates with Mitchell, to wind up as a Buckeye as well. On Sunday, Ohio State offered the 6-foot-1, 265-pounder. Soon after grabbing that offer from the Scarlet and Gray, I caught up with the tremendous talent and spoke with him about his recruiting process and his sophomore season as a Crusader.

Land-Grant Holy Land: The way things look at this point, you will likely be listed as one of the elite talents in the 2020 recruiting class. How do you plan to temper the expectations that could come with that?

Sheridan Jones: They just dropped the rankings and I’m actually the No. 1 corner and I know that with that ranking, it’s going to come with a lot of hard work and dedication.

LGHL: Obviously many programs are in the mix early for you. Of all 12 of your offers, who are some teams that have your attention at this point?

Jones: I’m pretty much even right now because of how early my recruitment still is. But Ohio State is definitely bound to be in the mix later on.

LGHL: Have you ever been to Columbus to check out Ohio State? If not, do you have any plans to do so in the future?

Jones: No sir. I plan to visit some time this fall.

LGHL: Ohio State has had some recent success in Virginia in previous classes. How could something like that have an effect on your recruitment?

Jones: It shows that they love guys from our area, who also love it there. So that’s a positive.

LGHL: As we all know, you’re teammates with current Buckeye commit Teradja Mitchell. Has he been in your ear about getting you to join him at Ohio State?

Jones: Yes sir (laughs). He talks non-stop great things about Ohio State.

LGHL: Whether it be in college or in the NFL, who is someone you specifically pattern your game after and why?

Jones: I really like Patrick Peterson of the Arizona Cardinals. A nice, long DB who stays true to his technique.

LGHL: What are your current expectations for Bishop Sullivan Catholic (VA) this season? What are some individual goals you hope to accomplish?

Jones: I want to finish with an undefeated season and be a first-team Tidewater DB, and also an All-American again.

Jones is currently graded as the 34th best player in the 2020 recruiting class according to 247Sports. Not to be forgotten, Jones also has the grasp as the No. 1 cornerback in the class thus far and the third best player in the state of Virginia.

Right now, Ohio State seems to be in a good position for Jones. They are looking to outlast programs like Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Tennessee, and others who have already offered. Not a bad start for Jones and surely those offers will continue to pour in.

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Backup quarterback race heats up for Buckeyes - MyDaytonDailyNews
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Backup quarterback race heats up for Buckeyes
MyDaytonDailyNews
Quarterbacks coach Ryan Day tells the Ohio State Buckeyes in his room to practice every day with imagination. “Every time you take a snap, it's like being in the Horseshoe playing against Oklahoma on a Saturday night,” Day said. “It's being at Indiana ...
No backup QB named for the Buckeyes; and don't expect one247Sports
Ohio State football: Backup quarterback job remains up for grabsThe Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State football: Who belongs in the backup quarterback spot?Landof10.com
cleveland.com -Springfield News Sun -The Steubenville Herald-Star
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BM5: 'Is Wilson really running offense?' - 247Sports
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BM5: 'Is Wilson really running offense?'
247Sports
With two more freshmen getting their black stripe removed, is this class on its way to being an 'as advertised group?' Which Buckeye could end up being thought of as the team's best player even though he's not currently a starter? Spend 5ish with us ...


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Ohio State’s season opener at Indiana to get ESPN’s ‘Megacast’ treatment
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


As if College Game Day wasn’t enough...

Sports Illustrated just announced that ESPN will be doing a skinny version of their Megacasts for the Ohio State-Indiana season opener in Bloomington on Thursday, August 31st. Just weeks away from the 2017 season kick-off, not only will College GameDay make their annual debut at the Big Ten contest, but now fans at home will get an almost unreplicated experience.

Along with the main ESPN broadcast, six alternative options will available, including a Coaches Film Room on ESPNews, a homers’ broadcast on ESPNU, the debut of an All-22 broadcast on ESPN3 (including a Skycam perspective and DataCenter presentation).

Senior coordinating producer Lee Fitting told Sports Illustrated, “Ohio State comes into the season highly touted once again and will be immediately tested with a conference road matchup. The magnitude of the game, combined with limited viewing competition, availability of our other linear networks, and staffers and commentators that are not tied up with other events or game responsibilities resulted in the perfect scenario.”

ESPN’s coverage from Bloomington will start at 4:00 p.m., Thursday August 31, with College GameDay getting started at 6:00 p.m.

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2017 Ohio State Betting Preview: Buckeyes Odds and Betting Trends for Season - Bleacher Report
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


2017 Ohio State Betting Preview: Buckeyes Odds and Betting Trends for Season
Bleacher Report
The Ohio State Buckeyes made the College Football Playoff again last year but came up with a dud of a performance against Clemson in a national semifinal. This season, with as much returning talent as it's had in a long time, Ohio State once again ...
Ohio State offers top 2020 cornerback; Buckeyes waiting for 2019 quarterbacks to emergeLandof10.com
Ohio LB commits to Buckeyes as a preferred walk-on247Sports
Ohio insider explains why he thinks top UK target 'Blue' Smith will pick the BuckeyesLexington Herald Leader
Saturday Blitz -MyDaytonDailyNews -Eleven Warriors
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Haskell Garrett is fifth Buckeye to lose black stripe - 247Sports
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Haskell Garrett is fifth Buckeye to lose black stripe
247Sports
Running back J.K. Dobbins was the first player of fall camp to lose his black stripe followed by safety Isaiah Pryor and defensive end Chase Young. Ohio State has now welcomed five freshmen Buckeyes to officially be a part of the team. What's next for ...
Ohio State CB Jeffrey Okudah, DT Haskell Garrett lose black stripesLandof10.com

all 3 news articles »

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Chat Wrap: Will Barrett's improvement be for real? - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Chat Wrap: Will Barrett's improvement be for real?
247Sports
When the Buckeyes played top schools like Wisc. , Mich. & Clemson...JT passing game was very troubling, and that was why it was abandoned the last two years. No. 1... He was under throwing / over throwing wide open WR's... No. 2..did not do a good job ...


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ESPN's updated 2019 rankings feature future Ohio State lineman
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ohio State’s lone commit for 2019 made the cut, along with a plethora of Buckeye targets.

Urban Meyer has cemented his status as one of the best recruiters in college football during his time at Ohio State. One of the reasons he and his coaching staff have been able to compile top-rated recruiting classes year after year is their ability to recognize talent in the early stages of recruiting.

With this year’s recruiting class already having 16 verbal commitments, there are only a handful of targets that Ohio State can realistically add. Because of this, Meyer and the other Buckeye coaches have begun to shift more of their focus towards the future. And while Ohio State currently has just one commitment in its 2019 class, the list of recruits they are after is looking more and more impressive.

ESPN revealed its initial ESPNJr300 on Monday morning and the list included Ohio State’s lone commit in the 2019 recruiting class, along with multiple Buckeye targets.


In the top 100 alone, Ohio State is in play for multiple elite prospects, including:

• No. 2 Four-star DE Zach Harrison
• No. 3 Four-star LB Owen Pappoe
• No. 9 Four-star OT Devontae Dobbs
• No. 10. Four-star WR Marcus Washington
• No. 13 Four-star S Josh Sanguinetti
• No. 16 Four-star LB Brandon Smith
• No. 18 Four-star ATH Daxton Hill
• No. 20 Four-star S Brian Williams
• No. 23 Four-star RB Noah Cain
• No. 25 Four-star LB Ge’Mon Eaford
• No. 27 Four-star ATH Isaiah Williams
• No. 30 Four-star ATH Ja’shawn Sheffield
• No. 32 Four-star ATH Horace “Bru” McCoy
• No. 34 Four-star OG Keiondre Jones
• No. 38 Four-star LB Shane Lee
• No. 41 Four-star LB Marcel Brooks
• No. 44 Four-star WR Julian Barnett
• No. 58 Four-star OT and Ohio State commit Doug Nester
• No. 63 Four-star WR Ronnie Hickman
• No. 66 Four-star QB Michael Johnson Jr.
• No. 79 Four-star DT Jowon Briggs
• No. 86 Four-star OT Quinn Carroll
• No. 96 Four-star LB Shammond Cooper

While ESPN does not assign a fifth star to recruits until later on in the process, it is apparent that Ohio State has hit the ground running in efforts to build another impressive recruiting class in 2019.

In-state LB commits to Buckeyes as preferred walk-on


Ohio State sent out multiple preferred walk-on offers to recruits in the previous week and the program is already beginning to reap the rewards.

Ohio native Jack Cappabianca committed to the Buckeyes Monday just days after being offered by the program.


Bill Kurelic of 247Sports spoke to Cappabianca yesterday and the linebacker didn’t appear to waver on the offer once presented with it.

“It will be an honor to play for Ohio State,” Cappabianca said in his conversation with Kurelic. “There is no hesitation.”

While it is easy to get caught up in star rankings while following college football recruiting, it is important to note that walk-ons make up the backbone of a college football program and Ohio State doesn’t take the opportunity lightly. Check out the video the official Ohio State Football team released via Twitter recently of this year’s walk-ons.

Ohio State’s 2019 recruiting class receives its moniker


Ohio State’s Assistant Director of Player Personnel took to Twitter over the weekend to announce the Buckeyes' 2019 nickname, and it's one of the best in the country (in our opinion).


Selecting #DYN19STY as the motto for a recruiting class comes with high expectations, but Ohio State’s recent history should be enough to prove the team is up for the challenge.

Ohio State’s previous three recruiting classes all were ranked in the top ten in the 247Sports class rankings and this year’s class currently sits at No. 1. While the Buckeyes have only one verbal commit in next year’s class, the recruits they are targeting are all seen as blue-chip prospects and if history repeats itself, the University will not be stretching in its moniker for next year.

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No backup QB named for the Buckeyes; and don't expect one - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


No backup QB named for the Buckeyes; and don't expect one
247Sports
The man who lost that job to start the year, J.T. Barrett, is still with the Buckeyes and he's the unquestioned starter heading into his fifth and final year in the program. But the backup quarterback battle this fall camp may be of equal interest, at ...
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Watch: What's going on with the Ohio State quarterbacks? - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Watch: What's going on with the Ohio State quarterbacks?
247Sports
Make sure you like our Facebook page for more Live updates such as this as well as our coverage of all things Buckeyes. What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Buckeyes newsletter now!


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Kurelic: Landing elite TE two years in a row? Georgia flip? More - 247Sports
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Kurelic: Landing elite TE two years in a row? Georgia flip? More
247Sports
1) The Buckeyes landed the No. 1 tight end on their 2018 board, Jeremy Ruckert who committed to Ohio State in mid-July. Ruckert is the country's No. 1 2018 tight end in both the 247Sports Composite and the 247Sports rankings. It is very possible the ...


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HabaneroBuck said:

https://www.sbnation.com/college-ba...-basketball-recruiting-tre-jones-tyus-brother

No surprises today. Duke is the choice.

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Whew. The suspense was killing me.

Ohio State offers top 2020 cornerback, Buckeyes waiting for 2019 quarterbacks to emerge - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State offers top 2020 cornerback, Buckeyes waiting for 2019 quarterbacks to emerge
Landof10.com
While the Buckeyes have had their 2018 quarterback — Emory Jones — committed for more than a year, the search for the right fit at the position in 2019 continues. Over the spring and summer, Ohio State quarterbacks coach Ryan Day went coast to coast, ...
No backup QB named for the Buckeyes; and don't expect one247Sports
Ohio State turns attention to season openerMyDaytonDailyNews
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Buckeye related Crystal Ball picks: Like, love, or leave them - 247Sports
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Buckeye related Crystal Ball picks: Like, love, or leave them
247Sports
Buckeye related Crystal Ball picks: Like, love, or leave them. A look at predictions for some top Ohio State related prospects and what Bill Kurelic thinks of each prediction. Bill Kurelic - 94 minutes ago; 8; Tools. Edit; Slot to 247Sports Home; Slot ...

and more »

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Why I believe Ezekiel Elliott is Innocent Based On Evidence!
Jeremiah (SYR) via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

First, let me just be emphatic in this statement. I am an OSU fan through and through. I am as biased as they possibly come. I also have zero tolerance for violence of any kind. I detest it and truly believe their is no place in this world for any kind of violence. Having said that let me share what I have learned through a collection of the evidence provided by media and lawyers. Which is far less than the NFL and Prosecutors had access too no doubt.

So how did Zeke get here? Well you see he is as visible as anyone in the NFL right now. Zeke has made himself visible by his play on the field and his infectious smile off of it. He also has put himself in situations that are high risk of negative situations. That happens. To everyone. Being a member of the Dallas Cowboys also puts a spotlight on him like no other team in sports.

Is Ezekiel Elliott guilty of anything? The answer to the best of my knowledge is no. The actuality is though that it doesn’t matter. Society labels. They get out their pitchforks and create mobs out of thin air. He is a victim of society. Society says if a woman says you hit them then you absolutely did. Society says if you are accused of anything you and guilty until proven innocent. That is ass-backwards. Alas though this is the way society works and Zeke needs to learn that and do whatever he can to keep society off his back.

Let’s tackle this domestic violence situation now. The evidence provided by the accuser is suspect at best. She claims to have been beaten over 5 days several times and also claims these weren’t the only times he did it to her.
Battered women absolutely can and do return to their abusers. When they do though in general they are very submissive and hide the abuse. They don’t try to get their friends to lie and say that their boyfriend hit them in front of them. Which is exactly what this girl did.

You can go here to TMZ to see the alleged bruises. In the pictures you can see lots of bruises some appear much older than others. You can see a picture of her hand which is clearly the result of her punching someone. Which goes hand in hand with the accusation that she was in a bar fight the week before with another female. Look at the pictures and judge for yourself. They aren’t the typical pictures of a battered woman. They certainly aren’t the pictures of a 125 pound woman beaten several times over a week by a 225 pound athlete. They appear to me to be the result of a typical girl fight. Lots of grabbing and wrestling and very little punching.

Listen to the 9-1-1 call listen to her voice and her words. Tell me this is the response of a battered woman.

Read the text messages where she asks her friend to lie for her and say she saw Ezekiel Elliott grab her and drag her and beat her.

The totality of this situation leads me to honestly believe Zeke is innocent. Could he be guilty? Yes. Is there enough evidence to say he is by even a 51% to 49% basis? Nope. The Columbus Police and the Franklin County Prosecutors have said the case doesn’t warrant an arrest or trial. Why? Because they don’t believe the “victim”.

Lastly, Info has come out today that NFL commish Roger Goodale did not attend a single meeting with Zeke or the accuser yet still was the judge, jury, and executioner should send you into a rage. The NFL decided this case well before the alleged incident ever happened. The day they received criticism for their handling of Ray Rice they knew they had to fix that image and they are doing it on the back of Ezekiel Elliott.

Until the NFL produces some actual evidence to support their 6 game suspension there is only one thing to say. Shame on the NFL.




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Urban Meyer has a strong track record after losing bowl games
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


A national title could be in the cards for Ohio State, if history repeats itself...

“If you fail and something’s not going well, you change it. If things are going well, you don’t change and try to make it better.”

-Urban Meyer, via Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors


Urban Meyer has had to live with the memory of a 31-0 shutout loss to Clemson since December 31. Now, just weeks away from the start of the 2017 season, Meyer and the Buckeyes finally have their shot at redemption after eight months of waiting.

But this situation, while not altogether unfamiliar, is still unique for Meyer, who had previously lost just two bowl games heading into the offseason. In those instances, however, Meyer led his teams back to the field better than before and, on both occasions, won national titles the following seasons. The first time in 2007, Meyer, then at Florida, fell to Michigan in the Capital One Bowl after a relatively lackluster, 9-4 season (he was coming off his first national title with the Gators in 2006). He then led a new-and-improved Florida squad back in 2008 for a second championship. The second, more familiar time was in 2013, when Meyer and the Buckeyes lost to Clemson by a 40-35 margin in the Orange Bowl. Offseason changes, including bringing Chris Ash in to improve the defensive secondary, helped to boost Ohio State to its 2014 national title.

Now, the Buckeyes have a similar opportunity to that of 2014. With high expectations all around, including a top-three rating in the preseason coaches poll and the second-highest odds of winning the national title this season, there is a buzz about what this team is capable of, even after a crushing loss to conclude last season. Meyer has made similar adjustments to those he did post-2013, including adjusting the coaching staff to fix known problems. While there will surely be growing pains as the team adjusts to the new changes (think the Virginia Tech game in 2014), Meyer has shown that he can continue to grow and develop teams into championship contenders throughout the season.

“I think a lot of people felt internally that they were maybe a year ahead of schedule a year ago, and this would be the team that could make some noise and make a run.”

-Kirk Herbstreit, via Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch


Kirk Herbstreit will have a busy start to the college football season. In addition to the usual Saturday morning College Gameday show, this time held September 2nd in Atlanta for the matchup of Alabama and Florida State, Herbstreit will also broadcast Ohio State’s opener against Indiana August 31, and will stay in Atlanta for Tennessee’s matchup against Georgia Tech on Labor Day. That makes three games in five days for the former Ohio State quarterback. And given the high caliber of the games--Alabama, Ohio State and Florida State take the top-three spots in the preseason coaches poll--Herbstreit will have a lot of prep work to do leading into the weekend.

While it is common practice in other conferences to open with a conference game, Ohio State has not done so in more than 40 years. Making matters more intriguing is that the Buckeyes are beating the rush and playing their opening matchup on a Thursday. And though Ohio State opened away from home in both 2014 and 2015, this season marks just the 15th time in program history that the Buckeyes have been away from Columbus for their home opener. The Buckeyes will also be seeking a reprieve from their last time on the field--a 31-0 loss to Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl.

Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson will be facing off against his former team in his first game with the Ohio State program. Under Wilson, Indiana often played closer games than expected against the Buckeyes, putting up huge numbers on offense, though allowing for ample scoring on defense by Ohio State. Still, the Hoosiers have not beaten Ohio State since 1990.

Indiana quarterback Richard Lagow acknowledged to Herbstreit that the Hoosiers could be a “surprise team in the Big Ten” this season. With an experienced defense, and Lagow, a junior college transfer, returning for his second year as a starter, Indiana could prove better than the experts think.

“But just below J.T. Barrett in that pecking order is where the fun starts--both for this season and in beginning to project the future at that all-important position for the Buckeyes.”

-Austin Ward, Land of 10


While senior quarterback J.T. Barrett has his position on lockdown heading into the fall, the question remains about who his backup will be. Redshirt sophomore Joe Burrow is entering his third season with the program, while Dwayne Haskins is a redshirt freshman. While the competition would seem to be limited to these two, true freshman Tate Martell, a four-star recruit from Las Vegas, could also get in the mix.

Haskins looks a lot like the quarterback of the future for Ohio State. Just as Cardale Jones was favored for his ability to air out the passing game, Haskins brings an arm that is more in line with where the offense is likely heading in coming years under Kevin Wilson. With more vertical passing and less scrambling by the quarterback, Haskins would seem to bring the right skillset to the offense. And, like Jones, Haskins, at 6-foot-3, 214-pounds and growing, could provide that needed power when he does need to use his feet.

Burrow, meanwhile, was the de facto backup last season, and has now defeated Barrett in two spring games, for what it’s worth. The sophomore’s skillset is much more in line with what Barrett currently brings to the table, making him an ideal backup for this season with Barrett at the helm. Burrow also has a year more experience in Ohio State’s system over Haskins. If Barrett were to be injured, Burrow could step in with minimal disruption to the offense, while Haskins may require some adjusting to.

While the quarterback battle next spring is certainly the more intriguing question, especially if Martell winds up in the mix, the backup spot for this year really is about security for Ohio State, and who will be able to provide the most consistent play to keep the offense moving should Barrett be unable to play.

STICK TO SPORTS

• Sorry, Londoners...Big Ben will be undergoing maintenance. For four years.
• But the wait is over for Pokemon Go fans, since MEWTEW HAS FINALLY ARRIVED!
• And astronauts on the International Space Station will finally have real ice cream.

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Ohio insider explains why he thinks top UK target 'Blue' Smith will pick the Buckeyes - Lexington Herald Leader
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio insider explains why he thinks top UK target 'Blue' Smith will pick the Buckeyes
Lexington Herald Leader
With L'Christian 'Blue” Smith's commitment date fast approaching, those fans who follow UK's football recruiting efforts are hanging on every development related to the Wildcats' pursuit of the highly touted wide receiver. Smith — a 6-foot-6, 205 ...
Ohio State turns attention to season openerMyDaytonDailyNews
Predict the class, offensively: Emory Jones, Jaelen Gill lead the way as Ohio State builds top-ranked classLandof10.com
Five Questions Entering Ohio State's 2017 Football SeasonEleven Warriors
Land-Grant Holy Land -cleveland.com -247Sports
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Iowa could win the Big Ten West. They could also go 8-5 again.
Colton Denning via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Black Heart Gold Pants joins our latest podcast to discuss some hot KIRK FERENTZ IOWA FOOTBALL.

Having an identity is key in college football. Whether it comes in the form of a strong defense, a high-tempo offense, or targeting certain skill sets in players, knowing what you want —and who you are— goes a long way in the success of a program. For better or worse, we know what Kirk Ferentz’s Iowa Hawkeyes program is.

The Hawkeyes are going field-tough on defense with mostly under-recruited players. They’re going to play ball-control on offense and punish you with a mammoth offensive line, and tough running backs. They’re probably going to win about eight games per season. Iowa’s identity is pretty set under Ferentz.

The Hawekeyes head into the 2017 season with a new Offensive Coordinator, a dynamic transfer running back, and a strong defense, but can they repeat their magical 2015 season and get back to the Big Ten title game, or is another five-loss season on the horizon?

On this episode of The Hangout in the Holyland, Ben Ross of Black Heart Gold Pants joins the show to discuss everything about the 2017 Hawkeyes, including:

• The criticisms of Ferentz, and where he has the program right now.
• Whether the offensive philosophy will change under new Offensive Coordinator Brian Ferentz.
• The quarterback battle, having arguably the best running back duo in the conference, and uncertainty at wide receiver.
• The strength of the Hawkeyes defense, and replacing key players in the secondary
• Iowa’s place in the Big Ten West, expectations for 2017, and more!.

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.

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Ohio State turns attention to season opener - MyDaytonDailyNews
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State turns attention to season opener
MyDaytonDailyNews
On Monday, the Ohio State Buckeyes saw three words as they walked outside for the 15th preseason practice: “Get game ready.” This week, Ohio State starts to turn its attention toward preparation for the season opener against the Indiana Hoosiers in ...
Predict the class, offensively: Emory Jones, Jaelen Gill lead the way as Ohio State builds top-ranked classLandof10.com
Five Questions Entering Ohio State's 2017 Football SeasonEleven Warriors
Ohio insider explains why he thinks top UK target 'Blue' Smith will pick the BuckeyesLexington Herald Leader
cleveland.com -247Sports -Land-Grant Holy Land
all 32 news articles »

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