2017 Look Ahead: UNLV at Ohio State - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


2017 Look Ahead: UNLV at Ohio State
Eleven Warriors
It appears Martin Jarmond and Gene Smith heard his cry, though this game was scheduled before the 2014 season began and the Buckeyes agreed to pay the Rebels a cool $1.3 million. Ohio State hosts Army (another opponent who runs the triple option) a ...


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Ohio State made some offers over the weekend
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes sent out offers to football and basketball prospects.

To say it’s been busy in Columbus, Ohio as of late would be more than an understatement. With camp season fully underway on campus for the football program and a newly hired staff starting their tenure for the men’s basketball team, there’s been little downtime. As this weekend brought a slew of top prospects to Ohio State’s football facility and the basketball program wasting no time in their recruiting efforts, there’s more than enough going on in the Ohio State athletics world.

Invading enemy territory


It’s no secret that Ohio State makes it a priority to recruit in-state Ohio players and the South especially for its football needs. However, when there is a top prospect in Michigan (behind enemy lines), Urban Meyer and Kerry Coombs have made it clear they’re going to do what it takes to fend off the Wolverines and Spartans. Fortunately, those two together have had a great deal of success up north.

This weekend, Ohio State hosted a one-day positional camp on Saturday that brought hundreds of prospects from Ohio and around the country to campus. With a whole celebrity style list of top prospects on hand, it’s always a great chance for Meyer and his staff to show off, easily, one of the top premier programs in the country.

Of the many visitors, Rashawn Williams (Detroit, MI / Martin Luther King) made the trek south to Columbus to camp for the Buckeyes and prove his talents are more than worth seeing. His trip to Columbus didn’t return void either as he took to Twitter to announce that his performance at camp was enough to land him his latest offer — and a big one at that from the Buckeyes.


A current high school freshman, Williams only has one year of prep football under his belt, but his abilities are much more mature than his experience. A 6-foot-1, 185-pound receiver, Williams already has impressive size. With six current offers, Ohio State joins Kentucky, Syracuse, Central Michigan and Bowling Green, but with an OSU offer now in his pocket, it’s only a matter of time before more top programs come knocking at his door.

Bucks make the cut for 2019 DE


If it seems that Ohio State is making the cut on recruits top schools lists on the daily, it’s no coincidence; they are doing just that. As many of the top guys in the country announce their final list of schools before making their college choice, Ohio State’s football program almost always makes the cut.

Yesterday, the same was true when 2019 defensive end Stephen Herron Jr. (Louisville, KY / Trinity) trimmed his top schools list to 10. That list included Ohio State, along with Michigan, Stanford, Kentucky, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Texas and Alabama.

According to the 247sports crystal ball predictions, Ohio State leads the way with Michigan as the only other school with any votes.


Ranked early as the top overall player in Kentucky for the 2019 class, Herron Jr. also checks in as a top 40 prospect at any position and the fourth best defensive end in the country. A composite four-star, Jr. will certainly be a huge “get” for whatever school he decides on, but luckily for Ohio State, things are sitting pretty well. Will Larry Johnson and his incredible reputation for defensive line recruiting continue? We will surely find out.

Another list, another success


In keeping with the trend, Ohio State made the cut yet again over the weekend when 2018 safety prospect, Isheem Young of Philadelphia, Penn. took to Twitter to announce his final six schools he will be deciding between when he commits on July 18.


Ranked No. 12 at the safety position and the fourth best player in all of Pennsylvania for the 2018 class, Young, a 5-foot-10, 200-pound stud has the ability to be a great coverage safety, but can also come down hill and be a serious run-stopper. With nearly 30 offers, making a list of six is a high compliment for the Buckeyes. Also making the cut included, Penn State, Maryland, Alabama, Clemson and West Virginia.

While Young may have listed Ohio State, it’s important to note that the Buckeyes currently hold commitments from two stars at the position: Jaiden Woodbey and Josh Proctor. Both ranked in the top 10 in the country at the safety position, that may be the writing on the wall that Young heads elsewhere. As things sit now, Penn State is running away with the odds of landing their in-state prospect when it comes to the 247sports crystal ball predictions.

Time will tell, but anything is possible in the ever changing world of recruiting.

New staff wastes no time


Chris Holtmann hasn’t been at the helm of the Buckeye men’s basketball program for more than two weeks, but in Division 1 basketball, there’s little time to waste when it comes to getting a team in order. After bringing his Butler staff to Columbus with him, Holtmann and his gang have hit the ground running in their recruiting efforts as they begin to make this the start of what hopefully will be a positive tenure for both parties.

Over the weekend, Holtmann got right on track as he sent out two new offers to Georgia’s Will Richardson and Michigan’s Marcus Bingham Jr. With some ground to make up, this new Buckeye basketball staff has the excitement and drive to do whatever it takes to jump-start this program, and it looks as if the momentum has just started.


With prospects like Richardson and Bingham Jr., it’s easy to see that talent is going to be the priority as Richardson is currently ranked as the No. 8 best point guard in the country – easily showing his four-star status. Bingham Jr. himself is no slouch either, as his is currently a top 100 player in the country at any position and his the third best player from a very talent-rich state of Michigan.


Time will certainly tell how the Buckeyes favor with the likes of these two stars, but as Holtmann and staff have only touched the surface of their recruiting, it could be a very exciting time to follow Ohio State hoops.

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The Hurry Up: Top-Rated Ohioan Recaps Camp Visit While Four-Star Defensive End Includes Buckeyes in Top 10 - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


The Hurry Up: Top-Rated Ohioan Recaps Camp Visit While Four-Star Defensive End Includes Buckeyes in Top 10
Eleven Warriors
I stood just a few feet away when Mathis threw a laser to his receiver and Day turned around and said to his coach they weren't going to let him leave the facility. He's that good, and I fully expect the Buckeyes to offer him a scholarship in the ...


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No surprise, this was supposed to be his commit timeline all along as a Father's day present

Emory Jones, Trey Knox, Noah Cain and more discussion from 1-Day camp at Ohio State - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Emory Jones, Trey Knox, Noah Cain and more discussion from 1-Day camp at Ohio State
Landof10.com
The Buckeyes were planning to host 4-star linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu this weekend, but those plans fell through, meaning all eyes were on Tucker (Ga.) 4-star Michael Harris on Saturday. Harris has been anything but shy about his plans since landing ...
4-Star OT Matt Jones Commits to Ohio State BuckeyesBleacher Report
Watch Ohio State QB commit Emory Jones work out for Urban Meyer, Ryan Day at Buckeyes campcleveland.com
Chris Holtmann, Urban Meyer looking forward to working together247Sports
BT Powerhouse (blog) -Eleven Warriors
all 45 news articles »

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Ohio State coach Urban Meyer shares his recruiting philosophy at Buckeyes' prospect camp - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State coach Urban Meyer shares his recruiting philosophy at Buckeyes' prospect camp
Landof10.com
While speaking at the Ohio State Buckeyes' camp, where numerous prospects flocked inside Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Saturday, coach Urban Meyer discussed his approach when offering scholarships. The quality of the high school matters to him, ...


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Could the Big Ten add Utah in lacrosse?
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


One report stays the two sides are at least talking about it.

Nothing knives through the dead period of the offseason like some good ol’ fashioned conference realignment speculation, right? Now, at least one report has the Big Ten at least talking about adding another member.

Relax. We’re just talking about lacrosse. But still.

Recently, the University of Utah decided to take the plunge and become the westernmost program to play D1 lacrosse, joining Denver and Air Force as the only programs west of the Mississippi.

That’s cool news for Utah fans and for student-athletes, but it also means Utah is going to need to find a conference home, since the Pac-12 doesn’t sponsor the sport. And according to the Salt Lake Tribune, Utah is in “early talks with the ACC, Big Ten and Big East to join a conference.”

Yes, we know that Utah is in Salt Lake City, about 1,700 miles away from Columbus. But this isn’t a crazy thought.

The Big Ten is no longer a stranger to affiliate memberships to strengthen other sports. After all, Big Ten lacrosse includes Johns Hopkins, who does not participate in any other league sport. Big Ten hockey also recently added Notre Dame, and reportedly at least kicked the tires on Arizona State.

Utah isn’t in the AAU, but it is a big state flagship research university which, institutionally, isn’t that different from several other Big Ten schools. Forget TV markets... Utah isn’t a Big Ten expansion candidate generally, and the TV market for lacrosse is so small that adding a team outside the footprint doesn’t appreciably change anything for BTN, but the league could decide that adding a program in a growing city, giving their league schools another pathway towards recruiting the West, and balancing out the league a bit could be a good idea.

I personally think Utah is probably a better fit in the Big East or the ACC though, for whatever that’s worth.

The ACC, while full of historically excellent programs, only has five teams at the moment. While they’re not in danger of not sending squads to the NCAA Tournament, adding a team would give them the Tournament auto-bid that they lack at the moment.

The Big East has the closest thing to a geographic rival to Utah (Denver, who also happens to be a powerhouse), and has conference games that might be a little closer to Utah’s competitive level, at least to start, in teams like Georgetown or St. John’s. College Crosse, our lacrosse blog, agrees.

The Big Ten, on the other hand, may be the pound for pound best lacrosse league in the country, at least at the moment. Maryland is the defending national champ. Ohio State was the national runner-up, and looks poised to become a lasting power in the sport. Rutgers has been a Top-15 mainstay recently, Penn State has become excellent, and Hopkins is Hopkins. The only bad program in the conference has been Michigan... a school that isn’t exactly lacking for resources and could turn things around quickly.

Utah is going to face a stiff learning curve jumping to D1 no matter what, but a move to the Big Ten probably means a fair amount of Ls going Utah’s way in the short term.

As for the long term? There’s also the possibility that Utah could just join the Pac-12, should other schools follow their lead. From the Tribune, again:


That’s the other factor to consider. Utah is probably a few years away from contending for NCAA bids. In that time, other Western schools could decide to enter the fray, and give Utah a geographical partner, just like Arizona State would like for hockey. I’m not sure the Big Ten, Big East or ACC should look at Utah as a school that’s likely to stick around for decades to come.

Would Utah be a weird geographic fit? Yeah, but that happens in lacrosse. Ohio State used to play with Denver and Air Force, after all. But hey, maybe the Big Ten eventually becomes like the British Empire, where the sun never sets. Would they have a tough road in the short term? Probably, yeah.

But it might be fun. And Salt Lake is a cool city, no matter what you read on the internet.

And if nothing else, these conversations show the Big Ten is willing to think outside the box to help out their other sports. And that’s a positive thing, in my humble opinion.

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Gibson relishes chance to work out for OSU DL coach Johnson - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Gibson relishes chance to work out for OSU DL coach Johnson
247Sports
It depends what day it is. On game days, my primary position is to block people. But I like tackling people, too.” Gibson said he enjoyed getting that special attention from Johnson at the OSU camp – even if the Buckeyes have not come in with an offer ...


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Bucknuts Live: Recruiting roll continues - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Bucknuts Live: Recruiting roll continues
247Sports
Nobody is getting done right now like the Buckeyes. There were so many elite prospects on campus yesterday we had to spend a whole show discussing. Want daily inside scoop on the Buckeyes? Become a VIP right now and get two months of coverage ...


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Senators Protected List Unveiled For Expansion
T6S via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Better late than never.

In a rare blunder, the NHL released each team’s list of protected and unprotected players 30 minutes later than the originally planned 10:00 am ET revealing.

Although that led to some handwringing on the interwebs, it wasn’t long before NHL insiders were tripping over themselves to reveal lists ahead of the new 10:30 am deadline.

When the league officially revealed the lists, there weren’t any big surprises on the Senators’ end.

• Derick Brassard (F)
• Ryan Dzingel (F)
• Mike Hoffman (F)
• Jean-Gabriel Pageau (F)
• Zack Smith (F)
• Mark Stone (F)
• Kyle Turris (F)
• Cody Ceci (D)
• Erik Karlsson (D)
• Dion Phaneuf (D)
• Craig Anderson (G)

• Casey Bailey (F)
• Mike Blunden (F)
• Alexandre Burrows (F)
• Stephane Da Costa (F)
• Christopher DiDomenico (F)
• Nikita Filatov (F)
• Chris Kelly (F)
• Clarke MacArthur (F)
• Max McCormick (F)
• Chris Neil (F)
• Tom Pyatt (F)
• Ryan Rupert (F)
• Bobby Ryan (F)
• Viktor Stalberg (F)
• Phil Varone (F)
• Tommy Wingels (F)
• Mark Borowiecki (D)
• Fredrik Claesson (D)
• Brandon Gormley (D)
• Jyrki Jokipakka (D)
• Marc Methot (D)
• Patrick Sieloff (D)
• Chris Wideman (D)
• Mikael Wikstrand (D)
• Mike Condon (G)
• Chris Driedger (G)
• Andrew Hammond (G)

Following reports that Dion Phaneuf would not waive his no-movement clause and reports suggesting that Cody Ceci had been informed that he would be protected, that Marc Methot was available for selection did not come as a surprise.

The good news is that the Senators protected an effective and inexpensive forward in Ryan Dzingel rather than protect one of their veteran forwards at his expense.

No one should bat an eye at Bobby Ryan’s unprotected status. Ryan even reflected on whatever fears he had for expansion, joking that no one would want to touch the five years and $37.25-million left on his contract.

Similarly, the decision to expose Clarke MacArthur is straightforward. When healthy, he’s a top-six forward on this team who can play an excellent two-way game, but the fact that he could potentially be one hit away from walking away from the game will probably scare Vegas from burning their claim on him.

Obviously the next few days will make for a long wait for Marc Methot, but there’s still time for the Senators to put a trade together to ensure that Las Vegas does not select in the expansion draft.

Not that I’d encourage the Senators to do that, mind you.

With Dion Phaneuf in the fold, Thomas Chabot on his way to the parent level and Fredrik Claesson playing well last season, the Senators should have enough depth to cover Methot’s absence in the even that he’s claimed. (As an aside, how much of a power move would it be for Phaneuf to refuse to waive his NMC, see Methot move on and then succeed him on the first pairing with Erik Karlsson?)

What Pierre Dorion has to weigh is whether it’s in the club’s best interests to keep Methot in the fold. Maybe the opportunity cost needed to ensure that Methot goes unclaimed will be too rich for Dorion’s blood and he’ll balk at doing whatever it takes to ensure Methot returns next season.

With two years and $9.8-million remaining on his deal, Methot’s a relatively expensive piece for this team, but the term of his contract does coincide with the Senators’ window of opportunity.

There’s no question that the Senators’ roster is structured to be competitive now and management may believe that Methot’s presence gives them more of an opportunity to win than to simply replace him with a Phaneuf or a significantly cheaper asset like Claesson. (Of course, replacing Methot with Claesson isn’t strictly a one-for-one kind of move. Once you consider the cash involved and difference in salary, the Senators could reallocate Methot’s money to plug other holes on the roster.)

Then again, maybe the Golden Knights balk at adding Methot and settle on selecting a Claesson or a Chris Wideman. Their interest in Wideman was chronicled throughout the season.

There is also the possibility that a third team could look at Methot’s availability and arrange a trade with Las Vegas wherein they trade a combination of draft picks and prospects so that Vegas claims Methot in the expansion draft and immediately trades him to this mystery team. Moreover, the Senators could also look at the list of players being made available to Vegas and work out trades with Vegas to bring another player into the fold. Already it’s easy to point out a number of players and defencemen who could help the Senators.

The good news is that the events leading up to the announcement of Las Vegas’ roster should create a ton of intrigue and possibilities.

We just have to wait a little bit longer for the events to play out.



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Chris Holtmann, Urban Meyer looking forward to working together - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Chris Holtmann, Urban Meyer looking forward to working together
247Sports
The Buckeyes certainly found a man who knows how to handle that weight on his shoulders and get the results expected at OSU in Urban Meyer. As for men's basketball, the coach must be able to deal with the pressure that comes with being at Ohio State, ...
Meet New Ohio State Recruiting Ace Ryan Pedon, A Columbus Native With Big Plans for the BuckeyesEleven Warriors
OSU Men's Basketball: In wake of upheaval, players rededicate themselvesThe Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State men's basketball notebook: New coach suspends Derek ...Ravenna Record Courier
Busting Brackets
all 17 news articles »

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Buckeyes Selected in 2017 MLB Draft - Norwalk Reflector
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes Selected in 2017 MLB Draft
Norwalk Reflector
In addition, senior Jalen Washington and junior Tre' Gantt as well as Xavier Moore and Seth Lonsway, members of the Buckeyes' 2017-18 recruiting class, also were taken in the draft. Washington was picked in the 29th round by the San Diego Padres while ...


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Buckeyes Selected in 2017 MLB Draft - Norwalk Reflector
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes Selected in 2017 MLB Draft
Norwalk Reflector
In addition, senior Jalen Washington and junior Tre' Gantt as well as Xavier Moore and Seth Lonsway, members of the Buckeyes' 2017-18 recruiting class, also were taken in the draft. Washington was picked in the 29th round by the San Diego Padres while ...


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my years at OSU were the same as Dennis'. He was simply awesome. He was the best rebounder, ball handler, shooter, defender on the team. One of the best at all of those in a very tough BigTen. He even jumped center frequently .....at 6'5

The Football Fever: Barrett says Buckeyes are on schedule - ABC6OnYourSide.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


The Football Fever: Barrett says Buckeyes are on schedule
ABC6OnYourSide.com
The Buckeyes kickoff the 2017 season Aug. 31st against Indiana in Bloomington at 8 pm on ESPN. The Big 10 Football Media Days are July 24-25th in Chicago. The Bucks are expected to begin practice shortly thereafter. With two-a-day practices now ...


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Buckeyes Selected in 2017 MLB Draft - Norwalk Reflector
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes Selected in 2017 MLB Draft
Norwalk Reflector
In addition, senior Jalen Washington and junior Tre' Gantt as well as Xavier Moore and Seth Lonsway, members of the Buckeyes' 2017-18 recruiting class, also were taken in the draft. Washington was picked in the 29th round by the San Diego Padres while ...

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4-Star OT Matt Jones Commits to Ohio State Buckeyes - Bleacher Report
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


4-Star OT Matt Jones Commits to Ohio State Buckeyes
Bleacher Report
The Ohio State Buckeyes added a potentially dominant physical presence to their future offensive line Saturday when offensive tackle prospect Matt Jones joined their 2018 recruiting class. According to Tim Moody of Scout, Jones "had long been thought ...
Breaking: Buckeyes land pledge from coveted lineman Matt Jones247Sports
Commit Watch: Top Prospects Nearing Decisions as Ohio State's ...Eleven Warriors
2017 NBA Profile: Marc Loving (Ohio State Buckeyes) - BT ...BT Powerhouse (blog)
Landof10.com -cleveland.com
all 35 news articles »

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It doesn’t matter if Rutgers got a lousy deal from the Big Ten
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Whether Rutgers is making big bucks or not in the short term doesn’t change that adding them mostly stinks.

I didn’t expect to spend a summer weekend hollerin’ about Rutgers again, but here we are.

On Friday, Steve Politi of NJ.com took a look at the financials in the Big Ten, and took issue with the massive revenue disparity between the Ohio States, Michigans, and hell, Iowas, and Rutgers. Thanks to their shiny new TV deal, Michigan is projecting to earn a whopping $51.1 million dollars in 2018 from the league. That’s more than plenty of schools make in a year, period.

But not every conference school will share equally in that bounty, at least, not yet. Rutgers will make a paltry (in comparison, anyway) $11.6 million. Just like when other programs like Nebraska and Maryland joined the league, Rutgers won’t pull in a full revenue share until 2020-2021.

Politi argued that this was a bad deal for Rutgers, even if it was one they absolutely had to take. The rest of Big Ten internet responded essentially with, “yeah, but you’re Rutgers.”

Is Politi right? I don’t personally think so. But even if he is, I don’t think it matters. It doesn’t change the questionable rationale behind the Rutgers addition, and it certainly won’t quell any Big Ten fan upset about the addition.

The argument here, fleshed out a little more in a follow-up column from Politi, goes a little like this, if I am understanding it correctly: The Big Ten is now flush with even more cash thanks to their fancy new TV deal, aided in large part because of the addition of new TV sets thanks to a greater presence in the New York TV market. As far as BTN goes, the addition of Rutgers (and Maryland) has been a big success. Adding East Coast schools has made the league money. Other league schools profiting off of Rutgers, without sharing with Rutgers, may be what they were able to negotiate, but perhaps that’s not good for competitive balance.

And that’s especially true given that Rutgers entered the league dramatically behind when it came to infrastructure, from stadium renovations to facility upgrades, and would need even more money to help them catch up. A huge revenue disparity between Rutgers and the rest of the league makes it even harder for them to catch up, leading to more games like, well, this.

To this I say, yes, both of those things are probably true. But so what?

Does Rutgers need that money? Sure. But let’s not pretend that Rutgers would suddenly be a financial peer even if they were getting closer to a full share right now. Rutgers’ athletic department had a whopping $39 million dollar SHORTFALL in the 2016 fiscal year. The school is already borrowing against future Big Ten money, to go along with a massive subsidy from the school itself.

Rutgers may get a full share in a few seasons, but it won’t be able to plunk down big checks like the rest of the league for years after that. Assuming Big Ten revenue levels remain at this very high level (which, after the TV deal expires just two seasons after Rutgers starts getting a full share, is no guarantee), we’re looking at potential decades before their financial house is truly in order.

This school was added to be a cash grab. So might as well grab that cash while you can, if they’re going to be behind the eight ball no matter what.

And while we’re talking about cash grabs, which Rutgers has indisputably helped, we need to answer a more important question.

Why should anybody care?

Yeah, adding Rutgers over say, Kansas, or some other non NJ/NY area program, probably leads to each Big Ten school getting an extra five or six million dollars a year (remember, league payouts would have likely increased if the Big Ten had added somebody other than Rutgers, too) over the course of this (short) deal. But so what?

Are Big Ten programs adding new sports thanks to their largess? It hasn’t happened yet. Are they kicking that TV increase back into the general scholarship fund? Does the difference between $51 million in conference payouts and $43 million in conference payouts change the fan experience, or even the trajectory of football or basketball programs in a meaningful way? It’s very hard to argue it does, especially if you’re a fan of an already rich program, like say, Ohio State.

Nobody gets a bowl invitation because they got the biggest conference check. There is no trophy for it. It’s a meaningless thing to brag about.

But the addition of Rutgers does impact the fan experience and day to day performance of football and basketball programs. It means fewer games between traditional opponents for your favorite teams. It means an RPI anchor in basketball and baseball. It means an expensive road trip. And it means a lot of unwatchable games.

We must be fair, Rutgers does not suck at all sports. They boast a solid men’s lacrosse program that has given the Big Ten near unmatchable depth in the sport, and could compete for a deep tournament run next season. They’re a very respectable wrestling program in what is an outstanding league. They’re a good women’s soccer program.

But in the sports that most fans care about, football, men’s basketball and baseball, Rutgers absolutely sucks. And they’re not likely to improve any time soon.

Will that vaunted New York TV market matter in a world where geographic market density is less important, as the rights market moves towards a more digital direction? The league better hope so. Maybe it will. Maybe it won’t.

I get that Rutgers fans are in a tough spot. They didn’t ask for decades of institutional and administrative neglect towards their athletic department, making a rise to athletic competence a long, hard road. Maybe the best course of action is to just embrace that scorn. But chanting “TV MARKET” won’t do much good to assuage a fan who is mad that they won’t play Nebraska or Maryland in baseball because they have to play Rutgers, or that they have two games with a sub 120 RPI basketball program, or that they have to watch this on BTN.

Maybe the TV deal was bad. Maybe it was good. But big picture wise, it doesn’t really change much. Unless you’re a Rutgers athletic administrator, a fan who lives in New York that wants a short trip, or a lacrosse fan, this move still doesn’t have many reasons to be excited about.

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4-Star OT Matt Jones Commits To Ohio State Buckeyes - Scout
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


4-Star OT Matt Jones Commits To Ohio State Buckeyes
Scout
Jones, who had long been thought to be an Ohio State lean, committed while at a one-day camp in Columbus which was also attended my numerous other Buckeye targets and commits, including four-star quarterback Emory Jones. The New York native ...
Breaking: Buckeyes land pledge from coveted lineman Matt Jones247Sports
2017 NBA Profile: Marc Loving (Ohio State Buckeyes)BT Powerhouse (blog)
Commit Watch: Top Prospects Nearing Decisions as Ohio State's Friday Night Lights Camp Fast ApproachesEleven Warriors
Landof10.com -FanRag Sports (blog) -cleveland.com
all 17 news articles »

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With Jones pledge, Buckeyes have nation's top recruiting class - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


With Jones pledge, Buckeyes have nation's top recruiting class
247Sports
Despite not having as many recruits early on, Ohio State has been inching their way closer to the Miami Hurricanes for the number one spot in the 247Sports Team Rankings. The Buckeyes (14 commits) still don't have as many pledges as the Hurricanes (17) ...


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What does Matthew Jones bring to Ohio State?
Patrick Mayhorn via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


One of the most versatile lineman in America is headed to Columbus.

In every recruiting class, there are a number of players that seem like locks to end up at a specific school. We’ve seen it in Ohio State’s 2018 class already, with Jaelen Gill, Taron Vincent, and Dallas Gant all committing to Ohio State after months of speculation. Matthew Jones had been in the same situation for the better part of his recruitment, and at Ohio State’s star studded camp today, he finally pulled the trigger.

Jones has been on commitment watch for months, and the prevailing thought was that if he didn’t commit at today’s camp, he would at the annual Friday Night Lights camp next month. Jones had no reason to wait past today, and just minutes ago, he made his commitment to the Buckeyes official.

Jones has been one of the top targets for Ohio State ever since they offered back in May of 2016. With Greg Studrawa and Greg Schiano both recruiting him very heavily, Ohio State had been in the driver’s seat for months. Let’s take a look at what Jones brings to the table, and why he’s been such a hot commodity in this recruiting cycle.

ON THE FIELD


Jones is unique, because he’s one of those rare players that could excel playing a number of positions at a school like Ohio State. He plays on both sides of the line for his high school, Erasmus Hall, and truly has the talent to play offense or defense at the next level. While Larry Johnson and Greg Schiano would certainly love to have him at defensive tackle, he’ll likely start his career in Columbus at offensive guard or center, because of the depth Ohio State currently has on the defensive line.

Jones spends most of his time at tackle right now, but has the perfect size and athleticism to move inside to guard or center. True centers are few and far between coming out of high school, so finding a player with the size of Jones (6-foot-4, 315) and the mobility needed to play center is a big deal for any school.

When it comes to his on the field play, Jones is one of the most refined offensive lineman in the entire 2018 class. He uses his legs extremely well, and often over powers defenders with his strength. If there’s anything Jones needs to work on, it’s his pass protection, as Erasmus prefers to run the ball, but that’s pretty common with high school lineman. He’s not bad in pass protection, he’ll just need to work on reading the defense and leverage related things. That’s what Greg Studrawa is for, and that’s something they’ll spend a ton of time working on.

Barring any injuries, Jones shouldn’t have to start as a true freshman, and that time to grow and learn the system will be extremely valuable to his development. Once Jones does see the field at Ohio State, he should be ready to go, be it at guard, or center.

IN THE CLASS


Jones is the 14th recruit to join Ohio State’s 2018 recruiting class, and the second offensive lineman, along with Max Wray. Ohio State brought in three offensive lineman in the 2017 class, in Wyatt Davis, Josh Myers, and Thayer Munford, and wants to bring in two more in this class.

With Jones making his pledge official, Ohio State now holds the number one class in America. The second best class, Miami, holds commitments from three more players than Ohio State, and trails the Buckeyes average recruit rating by nearly four points on 247sports.

Jones is the seventh highest ranked player in Ohio State’s class now, according to the 247sports composite rankings, behind Teredja Mitchell, but ahead of the aforementioned Wray. Ohio State holds commitments from 13 top-300 players, and that number should jump to fourteen once Master Teague gets his well deserved rankings bump. Miami is the only school anywhere close to that number, with 12. No other school in the top ten has more than 8.

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2018 four-star lineman Matthew Jones commits to Ohio State
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Another big New York BOOOOOOOM! for the Buckeyes

Ohio State just picked up another massive addition to their 2018 recruiting class.

Matthew Jones, a four-star lineman out of Brooklyn, informed the OSU coaching staff of his commitment while camping at Ohio State today. Alex Gleitman of 247 Sports tweeted out the news.


Jones, who hails from the same Brooklyn high school as Curtis Samuel and Jahsen Wint, is the top-ranked recruit in the state of New York, and the 53rd prospect nationally, according to the 247 Sports Composite. He’s a big get, and not just because he’s 6-4, 315 pounds.

What position Jones is going to play isn’t totally clear. A defensive tackle in high school (and a very good one, he’s rated the 3rd best in the country), Jones is most likely to play offensive line for the Buckeyes, either at guard or tackle, at least to start. But should depth or team needs ever change, perhaps he could switch back to the other side of the ball.

Jones is the 14th commitment in Ohio State’s class, which will overtake Miami (FL) as the top ranked recruiting class in the country.

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Breaking: Buckeyes land pledge from coveted lineman Matt Jones - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Breaking: Buckeyes land pledge from coveted lineman Matt Jones
247Sports
The 6-foot-4, 315-pound Jones plays both defensive and offensive tackle for the Dutchmen, but will primarily be recruited as a guard or center for the Buckeyes. The staff is definitely leaving the door open at defensive tackle down the road, as well ...
2017 NBA Profile: Marc Loving (Ohio State Buckeyes)BT Powerhouse (blog)
Commit Watch: Top Prospects Nearing Decisions as Ohio State's Friday Night Lights Camp Fast ApproachesEleven Warriors
5 Ohio State football numbers that should be retiredLandof10.com
FanRag Sports (blog) -cleveland.com -Rotoworld.com
all 20 news articles »

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Report: Senators to Protect Cody Ceci
T6S via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



According to Bruce Garrioch’s sources, Cody Ceci is expected to be protect by the Ottawa Senators for the upcoming expansion draft.

The reasoning behind such a decision is pretty straightforward. Not only is Ceci the youngest regular on the team’s blue line, thanks to the combination of his salary, pedigree, handedness and localness, it’s not really in the Senators’ interest to expose Ceci in the expansion draft.

Inevitably there’s going to be some consternation because it feels safe to assume that barring a prearranged trade, the Senators stand to lose Marc Methot or better and cheaper alternatives like a Fredrik Claesson or a Chris Wideman.

For most of the season, reports suggested that Las Vegas was keeping a close eye on Wideman, but it’s hard to imagine them passing on the opportunity to select Methot considering he logged significant minutes playing against tough matchups. If he can’t help Vegas, one would have to imagine that they would not have a hard time flipping him for more assets, especially since Senators general manager Pierre Dorion acknowledged that there has been expressed interest in Methot by his counterparts.

At the same time however, with the $9.8-million that is owed to Methot over the next two seasons, maybe that price tag is large enough to persuade Vegas to take one of Ottawa’s cheaper alternatives.

It would be disappointing to see Vegas take a Claesson or a Wideman, because both players are not only less expensive but enjoyed better years than the maligned Ceci.

A little more than a year ago, the Senators were so concerned with Ceci’s performance during the 2015-16 season that they acquired Dion Phaneuf as part of a nine-player deal in February of 2016. The belief was that Ceci’s struggles stemmed from his lack of a quality veteran partner, but despite increased ice time and responsibilities, the Senators have still spent a disproportionate amount of time defending within their own end whenever Ceci has been on the ice.

In a perfect world, Phaneuf would have helped nurtured Ceci’s development and helped make him a better player. Unfortunately, it seems like the problems are rooted a little deeper. Despite possessing many of the physical tools that made him such a highly thought of prospect, Ceci’s shortcomings as a player are simply a function of his hockey IQ and his inability to make sound decisions quickly.

With all this being said, protecting Ceci at the expense of better alternatives is going to rankle some fans, but just because the Senators are protecting him now doesn’t preclude the team from moving him later this offseason. For the same reasons that the Senators will protect him, rival front offices will overrate his ability and believe themselves to be smart enough to get the most out of Ceci’s tools. From an asset management perspective, Ceci’s probably the defenceman that the Senators can fetch the biggest return for. Knowing that, it doesn’t really make sense to trade or expose him now because teams are worried about protecting their own assets before the expansion draft and perhaps most importantly, the Senators probably want to line up an external replacement for Ceci before cutting ties.

As opposed to replacing a Methot internally with options like Phaneuf or Claesson, the Senators don’t enjoy the same amount of right-handed internal depth on the blue line. To replace Ceci, the Senators would inevitably have to go outside the organization and although there are some intriguing names like Cody Franson out there, there’s no guarantee that he would even come here.

The best thing the Senators can do with Ceci’s market is wait and by the looks of it, that’s what the organization is willing to do.

Rather than complain about what’s going on now, it’s probably best to take a step back and wait to see how the dust settles.





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