Ohio State Buckeyes: 2017 Season Outlook
Richard Tongohan 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



The Ohio State Buckeyes are coming off one of the worst defeats in the Urban Meyer Era. The loss at the hands of Clemson was one of the worst offensive displays in recent memory, dating back to 2011, when Ohio State finished 6-7 and it proved that wholesale changes needed to be made on the offensive side of the ball.
Coach Meyer made the necessary changes during the off season bringing in a new Offensive Coordinator Kevin Wilson and Quarterbacks Coach Ryan Day, and collectively his squad will be looking to improve the passing game and bring back the sizzle to the Buckeye offense. The offense will need to maintain a balance between the passing and the ground game to secure another playoff berth in the 2017 season.
The goal is set firmly in place, but the Buckeyes will have to traverse through a perilous road to secure another coveted spot in this years College Football Playoffs. The goal will be attainable because 7 of the 12 games will be played at home and the home field advantage in The Shoe, helps the Buckeyes chances. Unfortunately, 5 of the 12 games are going to be played away from home, far from the confines of Ohio Stadium.
According to Alexander P., odds maker at mytopsportsbooks.com, “Ohio State is the modest favorite to win the Big Ten despite losing three first-round talents to the NFL. While they have a tough schedule ahead, the fact that they get to host Penn State and Oklahoma is a massive advantage. Their toughest road game is against a Michigan team that’s arguably losing even more key pieces. The Buckeyes should be good for ten wins, if not more.”
It’s the 7 of 12 games on this season’s schedule that can shift the Buckeyes from being modest favorites, however. They’ll be taking place at home, at The Shoe. Home field advantage definitely helps the Buckeyes, but they will still be tested during those games.
The big games on the home slate will begin with a tilt with the Sooners. Oklahoma will come into town in week 2 looking for some revenge after the Buckeyes came to Norman and embarrassed them. The Buckeyes will welcome Penn State in week 9 to get some payback after they fell in Happy Valley a season ago. In week 11, Michigan State will visit after a down year to potentially spoil season for the Buckeyes.
This years non-conference home games providea decent level competition as well, with Army being the most dangerous of the bunch. Army finished 8-5 and they run the triple option, which will test the Buckeyes Defense. UNLV will be coming in after a down year, after they finished 4-8.
The Buckeyes will also welcome two up-and coming conference foes in Maryland and Illinois to The Shoe. Both coaches are looking for their signature wins, and what better opportunity that spoiling the Buckeyes chances at the Playoffs?
D.J. Durkin worked under Meyer at Florida before taking a job at Michigan over Ohio State. Lovie Smith has the NFL Head Coaching experience that could turn the program around. So the Buckeyes shouldn’t take these two teams lightly.
5 of the 12 games will be played away from home and at hostile stadiums across Big Ten country. The Buckeyes open the new season against an Indiana team that always gives the defense headaches. The kicker is the offensive genius in Kevin Wilson does not lead that program anymore and he now calls the shots on offense for the Buckeyes.
From there, the Buckeyes will face off against another former coach in Chris Ash. He is looking to resurrect a Rutgers program and will look for improvement in year 2 as the Head Coach.
The most intriguing away game will be played at Lincoln against Nebraska due to the heated Wide Receiver battles that both position coaches engage in on the recruiting trail. They constantly butt heads and it often ends with fireworks and subtweets between the two.
The Buckeyes will then travel to Kinnick Stadium for a gritty, Big Ten style game. The battles in recent memory have been low scoring affairs, and it will be interesting to see how they rebound after falling apart toward the end of last season.
The Buckeyes will cap their season off with a stopover at the Big House to engage in another installment of The Game. With both teams suffering losses to the NFL Draft and with graduations, this will be fascinating as new pieces will face off in another high-stakes game for all the marbles. The road to the Playoffs will run through The Big House and this clash will not disappoint.
The expectation is clear at Ohio State, but with key starters returning for redemption, the Buckeyes will look to build something special this year and for years to come. J.T. Barrett returns to lead the team in his last season to rebound after the Fiesta Bowl. He will have new pieces to play around and with new coaches on the staff, there is no reason to think good things are on their way.
Ohio State is has one of the deepest teams in recent memory and they certainly reload year after year, before and after the draft. The players on the two-deep projections and beyond can play anywhere in the nation as they anxiously await for their shot. They remaining players from last season are battle-tested and they will look to lead their younger teammates and their new starters.
The road will most certainly not be easy, but the overall schedule favors Ohio State with the majority of their games being played at home. The rest of the Big Ten however, will not cooperate and they will try to play spoiler to ruin another shot at a title for Coach Meyer and his squad, and they most certainly will not go out quietly.

For more content or information on the projected Win/Loss total for every Big Ten Team please visit the link below:








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Back in Georgia, Buckeyes offer super linebacker - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Back in Georgia, Buckeyes offer super linebacker
247Sports
The Buckeyes have recruited the state of Georgia with plenty of success, doing particularly well with the Georgia class of 2018 with commitments from quarterback Emory Jones and defensive end Brenton Cox, two of the Top 5 prospects in Georgia ...


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Cade Stover impresses Ohio State, Mershawn Rice a name to know, Zeke Correll talks Buckeyes offer - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Cade Stover impresses Ohio State, Mershawn Rice a name to know, Zeke Correll talks Buckeyes offer
Landof10.com
Stover seems to fit perfectly into the Buckeyes system. He's a 6-foot-5, 220-pound tw0-sport athlete (he's a capable basketball player), and he spent all of camp Tuesday working with Ohio State linebackers coach Bill Davis. That is notable because ...

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Kurelic: Buckeye recruiting extends to Germany; Bama commit word - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Kurelic: Buckeye recruiting extends to Germany; Bama commit word
247Sports
1) In addition to the Ohio State staff, there are always coaches from many other colleges at the Buckeyes' camp sessions. In particular, the MAC is always very well represented. On Tuesday it was as usual, college coaches all over. And there was plenty ...
2017 MLB Draft results: Tre' Gantt to Cleveland in 29th round - Land ...Land-Grant Holy Land
Baseball: Three Ohio State players selected in MLB draft; one recruit also draftedOSU - The Lantern

all 7 news articles »

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2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft: View Big Ten draft picks
BTN.com staff via Big Ten Network

The 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft started Monday and concluded Wednesday night. View all of the Big Ten selections inside.

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Greetings;

I am looking for a non profit that is respected among Buckeye fans. This is for a proposed fundraising challenge for the OSU-Oklahoma game.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

Griffith drops top choices one day after Ohio State camp - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Griffith drops top choices one day after Ohio State camp
247Sports
Make sure you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Buckeyes newsletter now! The 6-foot-1 and 192-pound Griffith is a 4-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite. He is the country's No. 51 overall prospect, the No. 8 cornerback ...

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Neil’s Sens Career Ends & Other News and Notes
T6S via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



After accruing 1,026 regular season games, 112 goals, 250 points and 2,522 minutes in penalties, Chris Neil’s playing career might be over.

According to Postmedia‘s Bruce Garrioch, the veteran Senators forward met with general manager Pierre Dorion and assistant general manager Randy Lee on Monday and was told that “there’s no sense bringing him back if he’s not going to play and isn’t going to be happy with his role under (Guy) Boucher.”

Neither that the Senators were prepared to move on or that Neil was unhappy with his role should come as a surprise.

For the first time since the formative years of his career, the soon-to-be 38-year old Neil was frequently made a healthy scratch under Boucher.

Injuries and healthy scratches limited Neil to 53 games and career lows in goals (one) and points (four). This ineffectiveness led to Boucher encouraging management at the deadline to acquire depth at the trade deadline and the additions of Tommy Wingels, Alex Burrows and Viktor Stalberg helped cement Neil’s place in the press box.

Neil apparently wants to continue playing for one more year. His agent, Todd Reynolds, confirmed to Garrioch that Neil “wants to play and still believes he can play and he wants to try to play for another year.”

Of course, there’s no guarantee that Neil’s availability will generate much interest on the open market. Fighting no longer has the same place in the game and it’s not like Neil’s capable of bringing anything more than intangibles to the table at this point of his career.

Neil’s career began in 1998 when he was drafted in the sixth round (161st overall) and he has spent 15 seasons playing for the Senators.

If this is it for him, at least fans can appreciate the fact that Neil worked his ass off to get the most out of his limited talent that he could. For a third and fourth line aggressor to amass the volume of games played that he did for one club speaks volumes. I fully expect him to return to Ottawa and rejoin the organization once his playing days are over.

Karlsson Undergoes Surgery:

According to a media release, the Senators announced that Erik Karlsson underwent surgery today to repair torn tendons in his left foot.

In the release, general manager Pierre Dorion wrote:


I liked the offseason better when Dorion mentioned in his end of the season media availability that he didn’t anticipate any players having to undergo surgery this summer. With Derick Brassard (shoulder) and now Karlsson going under the knife, it will be interesting to see how much their respective injuries will affect their offseason training. Both players could potentially be without two of their better players to start the season. For a team that relies on the margins to win, the Senators can ill afford to have either player be unavailable or take time to work off the rust.

I’m not a medical doctor, so I have no idea whether any of these injuries are interrelated, but Karlsson’s left foot is the same one that had its Achilles tendon partially severed by Matt Cooke’s skate.

Senators Will Not Qualify Matt O’Connor



Just like the Senators’ 2015-16 home opener, Matt O’Connor was not qualified then and he apparently won’t be qualified now. Without a qualifying contract offer, the goaltender will now be allowed to test unrestricted free agency.

After signing with the Senators as a collegiate free agent after his career at Boston University, O’Connor spent the bulk of his Senators career in the minors.

O’Connor had two uneventful seasons in Binghamton, but he’ll forever be remembered for starting the Senators’ home opener on October 11, 2015. Shortly before gassing his head coach at the end of the 2015-16, Senators owner Eugene Melnyk infamously referred to Dave Cameron’s lineup decisions as “stupid” before hilariously citing O’Connor’s start as an example of it.



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Kyle Young torn between Butler commitment and Ohio State
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Massillon-native contemplating switch to Buckeyes.

“Kyle Young is torn over whether to keep his commitment to the Butler basketball program... Young was recruited to Butler by Holtmann and assistant coach Ryan Pedon, who is following Holtmann to Ohio State.”

- David Woods, IndyStar.com


Reading between the lines of what Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said surrounding the end of the Thad Matta era, it is easy to see that this off-season’s lack of recruiting success might have been the final straw in the basketball coach’s tenure.

With that in mind, new OSU coach Chris Holtmann told reporters on Monday that he was on the phone to recruits within an hour of being cleared by the school’s compliance office. Whom he contacted is not known, but if he is ultimately able to get Young, arguably the biggest commit in Butler history, to reconsider and come to Columbus, that would be an immediate boost to the Buckeyes’ depleted roster.

The Massillon-native was the second rated player in Ohio from the 2017 class, and the 77th best player in the country, according to 247sports. Young, who has yet to enroll at Butler, would need to be released from his National Letter of Intent to be able to play at OSU.

With at least four known open roster spots for the Buckeyes entering the fall, landing a player of Young’s caliber could put the upcoming season in a slightly different light.

“Urban Meyer's 2017 recruiting class was the best recruiting class ever assembled in Ohio State history, at least when it comes to ratings on paper. This year's class has a chance to be even better. That's not an exaggeration. ”

- Ari Wasserman, cleveland.com


It’s gotten to the point in recent years that any time a major football recruit decides not to accept an Ohio State scholarship offer, it is surprising. With 13 hard commits, 247sports currently ranks the Buckeyes’ class second nationally, behind only Miami, and with up to 12 more scholarships available, there is no doubt that Urban Meyer and staff will be adding more high-profile recruits through the first week of February.

Over recent years, the number of Ohio high school players on the OSU roster has dwindled a bit, as Meyer’s startling success on the field, and on draft day, has grown. However, Wasserman includes a handful of in-state players in his top-10 that are important not only for on-field success, but also in keeping the proverbial recruiting wall around the state.

Five-star offensive tackle Jackson Carman of Fairfield, four-star defensive end Tyreke Smith of Cleveland Heights, and 2018’s No. 2 athlete L’Christian “Blue” Smith of Huber Heights are all Buckeye-born players that would make a big splash for Meyer.

“Ohio State completed its strong spring scoring 566.25 of its total 1391.75 points to secure second place for the second consecutive year and third time in school history.”

- Learfield Director’s Cup


Following a men’s volleyball national championship and strong showings in men’s and women’s tennis and men’s and women’s track and field in the spring semester, for the second year in a row, the Ohio State Athletic department will finish second in the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics’ Learfield Director’s Cup.

Stanford took its 23rd consecutive Cup with 1,536.00 points. Ohio State finished the year with 1,391.75, a difference of 144.25. In 2015-2016, the Buckeyes finished 220.5 points back; so the gap is closing!

The Buckeyes bested Michigan, who finished fourth overall, to take the Big Ten title by 217.5 points. Penn State (7th) and Wisconsin (15th) also finished in the top 20.

The cup is considered a reflection of the strength of an entire athletic department during an academic year, and while Ohio State has advantages that are nearly unmatched in collegiate sports, on the heels of what appears to be another successful coaching hire, it might be time to appreciate just what a fantastic job Gene Smith has done during his tenure at Ohio State.

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2017 MLB Draft results: Tre’ Gantt to Cleveland in 29th round
Ben Martens via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes junior outfielder was a bright spot in a tough 2017 season.

After watching six of its players get selected in the Major League Baseball draft in 2016, Ohio State baseball did a lot of waiting around this year. The Buckeyes did not have a player picked until the third day, but once recruit Xavier Moore and senior Shea Murray went off the board, things moved quickly.

Junior Tre’ Gantt watched as teammate Jalen Washington was taken near the top of the 29th round, and then quickly heard his own name called. Gantt went with the 882nd pick to the Cleveland Indians at the bottom of the 29th round.

Perhaps no Ohio State player improved more than Gantt in 2017, who had played his way into regular time as a freshman and sophomore, but became a mainstay in his third season. Splitting time between the leadoff spot and two-hole, the Fishers, Indiana native slashed .314/.426/.426 with 13 doubles, two triples, two homers, 18 RBIs, and 14 steals. He led the team with 64 hits and 46 runs scored, and proved to be solid patrolling the outfield.

Gantt had appeared in 84 games prior to this past season, and has to this point slashed .294/.381/.376 with 13 doubles, two triples, two home runs, 18 runs batted in, and 26 stolen bases. It was thought that he was a likely candidate to take over for Washington as a team co-captain next year, but his being drafted now throws that into doubt.

After a disappointing season that saw the Buckeyes fall from Big Ten tournament champions to an 8-16 conference record, Gantt was one of the few bright spots offensively. All-Big Ten accolades are not outside the realm of possibility if he were to return for his final season of eligibility, and his draft stock could improve as well. He entered 2017 as Baseball America’s 19th rated draft prospect in the conference.

Ohio State has now seen three players from last year’s team go in the draft in addition to two recruits. Despite what was often a frustrating season for the Buckeyes, player development has proven to continue to be a strength.

We wish Gantt well as he decides on what his future will hold.

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2017 MLB Draft results: Jalen Washington to San Diego in 29th round
Ben Martens via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes’ co-captain is taking his game to the next level.

After finishing his career in scarlet and gray in the grandest of fashion, Ohio State baseball’s Jalen Washington added to his resume on Wednesday, being selected by the San Diego Padres in the Major League Baseball draft. A two-time team co-captain, Washington was taken in the 29th round with the 858th overall pick.

This marks the fourth player with Ohio State ties to be drafted this year, following Shea Murray, who went in the 18th round to Pittsburgh, and a pair of recruits in Xavier Moore and Seth Lonsway.

Washington improved over his junior season in 2016, making the transition from catcher to shortstop, and moving to the top of the order from the bottom. The Twinsburg native slashed .266/.350/.468 while starting every game. His five triples and 38 RBIs were both team-highs, while his 14 doubles, seven home runs, and 14 stolen bases all tied for club-best.

He was without a doubt the beating heart of the team, and it’s scary to think how much worse Ohio State would have finished without his leadership and steady demeanor.

After claiming a Big Ten tournament title and NCAA tournament berth in 2016, the Buckeyes had a disappointing season in 2017. The club finished with a 22-34 record, the worst mark during head coach Greg Beals’ tenure at the helm, going 8-16 in conference play and missing out on the Big Ten tournament.

Baseball America ranked Washington the No. 10 draft prospect in the state of Ohio despite his only serving two seasons as an everyday player. As a junior, Washington started 61 of the team's 65 games behind the plate, putting together a .249/.352/.343 slash line, with 11 doubles, three home runs, 38 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases.

The transition to middle infield enabled Washington’s athleticism to be put more thoroughly on display, though his position in the pros may still be something of a question after committing a team-high 21 errors. He could stick to the middle infield, but also certainly has the speed, arm, and baseball IQ to transition to the outfield if need be.

Regardless of where he plays, Washington’s work ethic, leadership, and positive attitude will no doubt serve him and his organization well as he moves on to the next level.

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Report: Dion Phaneuf “not expected” to waive no-movement clause
T6S via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


OTTAWA, ON – MAY 6: Dion Phaneuf #2 of the Ottawa Senators celebrates a third period game tying goal scored by teammate Derick Brassard #19 (not shown) against the New York Rangers in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canadian Tire Centre on May 6, 2017 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***

Following reports that the Ottawa Senators had asked Dion Phaneuf to waive his no-movement clause (NMC) for the purpose of exposing him in this summer’s expansion draft, TSN’s Bob McKenzie indicated that Phaneuf is not expected to waive his NMC.

https://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie/status/874655229811273730

Obviously words like “not expected to” aren’t definitive and leave the door open for the possibility that Phaneuf could change his mind. He has until Friday, June 17th at 5:00 pm ET to agree to make a final decision on whether to waive his NMC.

The Senators still have time to reach a trade agreement with Las Vegas to ensure that they would not select an exposed Phaneuf, which could lead to Phaneuf agreeing to waive his NMC, but if a deal cannot be struck and Phaneuf refuses to waive, it wouldn’t really be a huge surprise.

Even though the four years and $25.5-million in real dollars ($7.0-million average annual value) that remain on his contract should deter the Las Vegas Golden Knights from selecting him in the expansion draft, Phaneuf would essentially be protecting his own interests by using a mechanism that was negotiated into his contract.

Just like the Senators were protecting their own interests by asking the player to waive, so they could essentially protect an extra defenceman in the expansion draft, no one should really blame a player whose team just reached the Conference final for wanting to stay or displace his family to play for an expansion team that realistically shouldn’t be expected to contend over the remaining four years of his contract.

Some have openly criticized and hung blame on the organization for the fact that this process wasn’t kept hidden behind closed doors, but for me, it’s a non-issue.

Just as much as its Phaneuf’s right to waive his NMC, it’s the Senators’ right to do what’s in their best interests.

Considering the competitiveness within sports media to break information and the fact that so many other teams have asked veterans in similar positions to do the same thing, the information was bound to get out anyway. I mean, once a trade broke or the protection lists were made publicly available, it would have been difficult to piece together the sequence of events and arrive at a different conclusion than Phaneuf must have refused to waive his NMC.

But perhaps most importantly, it’s not like the Senators want to expose Phaneuf for the purpose of dumping his contract. They like the player and did it to ensure that they could protect another one of their defencemen.

I can understand the rationale of fans, media and or management for wishing that Phaneuf would waive his NMC because it would be in the team’s best interests if he did.

Thanks to his decline and the diminished returns on his contract, the likelihood of Phaneuf getting claimed is small. A refusal to waive his NMC essentially forces the Senators into a situation wherein they will have to expose some combination of Marc Methot, Cody Ceci, Chris Wideman and Fredrik Claesson.

Phaneuf’s refusal to waive could force the Senators to trade one of their top-four defenceman and thanks to the imposed deadlines, the Senators essentially lose leverage in trade negotiations because their trade partner recognizes that the Senators can’t risk losing a player for nothing to expansion.

Better something than nothing, but if the Senators can’t find a trade partner because teams are too concerned with their own players to make an opportunistic trade and upgrade a position of need, I can’t imagine the Senators protecting Methot at the expense of Ceci.

Based on Ceci’s age, cost, handedness, positional depth and pedigree, I would be shocked to see it happen. For these same reasons that I just mentioned, it wouldn’t a surprise to see the Senators look to move Ceci because he’s the player that they can maximize the value on in a trade.

All Phaneuf’s decision does is force the Senators’ hand.

For years, even with the inclusion of Phaneuf, I’ve preached that this organization improve its top-four and this could potentially be the mechanism that sees the Senators shake things up.

With two years and $9.8-million left on his contract, Methot carries a large price tag and turns 32 years old in one week. He’s been Erik Karlsson’s regular partner for the past few seasons, but as the evidence suggests, Karlsson’s never experienced difficulty playing with different partners.

That’s not to say that Methot is an ineffective player or isn’t valued. It is just evidence that supports the fact that Karlsson as a generational player who plays well irrespective of is defensive partner. The Senators’ surplus of left-shooting defencemen may lead them to believe that one is capable of stepping into Methot’s role or a top-four and provide replacement level value at a fraction of the cost – while allowing the Senators to reallocate this salary to improve the roster and/or re-sign the key core pieces in the near future.

It may be naïve to pencil Fredrik Claesson in and expect immediate dividends since his sample size of success at the NHL level isn’t very large, but Phaneuf is a player who could step into top pairing minutes and allow a Claesson or maybe even a Chabot to log second pairing minutes.

Or maybe the Senators elect to move Ceci in hopes that it’s still a seller’s market for young right-shooting defencemen. Unlike with Methot, the Senators do not have a ton of right-defence depth, but Phaneuf has played his off-side in the past and could do so again. The Senators could also elect to sign an unrestricted free agent like Cody Franson to fill the void.

On the surface, in a strictly one-for-one vacuum scenario, replacing a Methot with a Claesson or a Ceci with a Franson seems sexy. But in each situation, there’s added context because of what the Senators could potentially add by moving either defenceman. In other words, if Pierre Dorion could get similar performance or above-replacement performance from these spots on the roster while giving the team the opportunity to improve other spots on the roster.

Phaneuf’s decision may not have been the best one from a team perspective, but it does not preclude the Senators from improving the team through some creative roster decisions. If anything, it could help be a catalyst that helps move this team forward.



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Clark, Orewiler finish big seasons for Buckeyes - Marion Star
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Clark, Orewiler finish big seasons for Buckeyes
Marion Star
As a freshman for the Buckeyes, she batted .324 with 10 doubles, 27 RBIs and 27 runs scored. Playing second base for the first time, she finished the season with just two errors for a .989 fielding percentage. She was also a Big Ten Freshman of the Week.


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2017 MLB draft results: Xavier Moore to Texas Rangers in 16th round
Ben Martens via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


A Buckeye commit could bypass Columbus and go pro.

Ohio State baseball entered the offseason with optimism despite its disappointing 2017 campaign. The 2017 Buckeyes went just 22-34, 8-16 in conference play, and missed out on the Big Ten tournament, but head coach Greg Beals and his coaching staff put together a quality recruiting class to help bolster the 2018 squad.

That class may have taken a hit on Wednesday, as pitcher Xavier Moore of Amherst (OH) Steele High School was selected in the 16th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Texas Rangers. The 6-foot-3 right-hander was the 494th overall player selected.

Moore, the fifth-ranked high school player in the state who Prep Baseball Report says is a “wiry-athletic frame, long limbs, wider shoulders, plenty of room for physical development,” sits in the low-90s with his fastball, and can touch the mid-90s. He also possesses a sweeping slider and a splitter, and PBR notes “with his frame and athleticism, it’s easy to dream on more velocity in the coming years.”

Beals echoed those sentiments in November when next season’s class was announced, saying, “Xavier is a long and lean athletic guy on the mound. He has a very fast arm and tight breaking ball. Xavier’s length and athleticism and fast arm are a great combination for a pitcher.”

Joining Moore in the Ohio State freshman class of ‘18 is also lefty Seth Lonsway (drafted in the 19th round). The pair formed an enticing tandem for the program, one that could mature and develop together to eventually lead the Buckeyes’ rotation.

That bright future may be in doubt now for the scarlet and gray with both players being drafted. While the signing bonus value of Moore’s pick does not have an assigned value by MLB because it falls outside the first ten rounds, a player with his high ceiling could command a decent amount.

Regardless of whether Moore finds himself in rookie ball or on campus in Columbus, we wish the young man the best of luck in his career.

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2017 MLB Draft results: Ohio State’s Shea Murray to Pittsburgh Pirates in 18th round
Ben Martens via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes’ pitcher-turned-outfielder was the first player off the board for the program this year.

In something of a surprise, Ohio State baseball’s Shea Murray became the first Buckeye selected in the Major League Baseball draft on Wednesday. Murray, a 6-foot-6, 240-pound redshirt senior, went in the 18th round, No. 538 overall, to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

After redshirting in 2013, Murray spent the next three seasons seeing very little action as a relief pitcher. In total, he appeared in 13 games, allowing 15 earned runs in just 12.1 innings of work, good for a 10.95 earned run average. Opposing hitters batted .362 against him, and he sported a 2.68 WHIP.

Prior to his final year of eligibility, the Defiance, Ohio native made the decision to convert to the outfield. Ohio State had just watched juniors Ronnie Dawson and Troy Montgomery exit the program via the draft, and had little in the way of experience to roam the alleys of Bill Davis Stadium. Despite not having played in the field or swung a bat in a game during his time in Columbus, Murray filled in quite admirably, eventually playing his way into the starting lineup.

For the 2017 season, he started 36 games and appeared in 50, putting together a .252/.329/.449 slash line, with 10 doubles, three triples, three home runs, and 17 runs batted in. Murray also showed a penchant for big plays in the outfield, using his athleticism and long strides to get to balls others might not have.

The Buckeyes finished 2017 with a 22-34 record, the worst mark since head coach Greg Beals took over the program. Going 8-16 in conference play, the team missed out on the Big Ten tournament and an opportunity to defend its title from the season prior.

Murray was announced as a pitcher when the Pirates made the selection, and is said to have hit 99 mph on the radar gun in bullpen sessions thrown after the season. You can’t teach size or athletic ability, and he has both in spades.

We wish Murray luck as he embarks on his professional career.

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Could Buckeyes lose prized baseball recruit to Reds? - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Could Buckeyes lose prized baseball recruit to Reds?
247Sports
The good news for Ohio State is that MLB teams seem to believe Lonsway will stick with his Buckeye commitment, since he was projected to be as high as a third-round pick. The Reds could throw a lot of money at him to get him to sign, but Cincinnati ...

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2017 MLB Draft results: Seth Lonsway to Cincinnati Reds in 19th round
Ben Martens via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes’ top recruit has a tough decision on his hands.

After a mostly forgettable season in 2017 for Ohio State baseball, the club’s 2018 prospects may have taken a hit on Wednesday as Seth Lonsway, the top prospect in the Buckeyes’ incoming recruiting class, was selected in the Major League Baseball draft by the Cincinnati Reds. A left-handed pitcher, Lonsway was taken in the 19th round, No. 557 overall.

The signing bonus value of Lonsway’s pick does not have an assigned value by MLB, as it falls outside the first ten rounds. After being projected as high as the third round, the question is now whether or not his slide down the draft board will be enough to land the young man in Columbus.

Generally speaking, high school pitchers selected early in the draft tend to end up passing on college to get into a pro system and begin the years-long process of developing towards the big leagues. Is the 19th round high enough in this case? Or could Lonsway determine that his stock will rise with a little college experience?

Ranked the top high school draft prospect in the state of Ohio by Baseball America, and the 148th prospect overall according to MLB Pipeline, Lonsway’s commitment to Greg Beals and the Ohio State program represented a major recruiting victory. After a year in which the Buckeye pitching staff was battered to the tune of a collective 5.32 earned run average, the 6-foot-1, 160-pound southpaw from Celina, Ohio figured to make a push from day one to be a part of the weekend rotation.

As Beals said when Lonsway signed with the Buckeyes, “I see Seth making an immediate impact to our pitching staff.”

That now rests on Lonsway’s decision.

"If everything doesn't work out as planned, I'll go to Ohio State and be a Buckeye," Lonsway told Colin Foster of The Daily Standard, a publication based in Celina, prior to the draft. "I'll get a good scholarship at Ohio State and have three good years, and then hopefully get drafted my junior year out of Ohio State.”

Lonsway sits in the low 90s with his fastball and can touch the mid 90s, has a 12-to-6 curveball with good depth, and a “filthy” slider, according to Prep Baseball Report. That would be a welcome addition to a staff that must rebound next season if the Buckeyes hopes to return to contention in the Big Ten.

Ohio State finished 2017 with a 22-34 record, its worst mark during Beals’ tenure at the helm. Going 8-16 in conference play, the team failed to qualify for the Big Ten tournament and an opportunity to defend its title from the season prior.

Now the program waits on its biggest recruit in the past four classes.

We wish Lonsway the best of luck regardless of what his decision ultimately turns out to be, and hope he puts together a long, successful career.

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Butler signee Young working through process with Holtmann at OSU - 247Sports
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Butler signee Young working through process with Holtmann at OSU
247Sports
But that comes with the territory. He knows that coaches move for reasons. “I've talked to Coach Holtmann, Coach Pedon and all of those guys. They are excited to come over and be Buckeyes.” Debevec said the newly hired Butler coach Jordan has also been ...
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Ohio State football: The game in 2017 that should put the Buckeyes on upset alert - Landof10.com
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Ohio State football: The game in 2017 that should put the Buckeyes on upset alert
Landof10.com
Which game on the 2017 schedule could be the one that trips up the Buckeyes? Let's set aside Oklahoma and Penn State, a pair of teams likely to begin the season in the top 10. Those are two crucial showdowns, both at Ohio Stadium. Michigan's ceiling in ...
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Eight Buckeyes to go into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame - 247Sports
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Eight Buckeyes to go into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame
247Sports
As part of the "Thad Five" recruiting class in 2006 that included Greg Oden, Daequan Cook, David Lighty and Othello Hunter, Conley helped lead the Buckeyes to a national championship game appearance in 2007. He was a first-team All-Big Ten point guard ...
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Watch: Is Trevon Grimes a legend in his hometown? - 247Sports
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Watch: Is Trevon Grimes a legend in his hometown?
247Sports
Ohio State fans may not all know the name Trevon Grimes yet, but the Buckeye receiver hopes they will soon. He's certainly known in his hometown. It appears there was a little bit of a debate in the OSU locker room between Grimes and receivers coach ...


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Ohio State Athletics announces eight new Hall of Fame members
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


LeCharles Bentley and Mike Conley heading to the Hall.

Today, the Ohio State University announced the 2017 class of the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame. The group will be inducted on October 6th and introduced during halftime of the October 7th football game against Maryland.

The class includes for Buckeye football player LeCharles Bentley, current NBA star Mike Conley, Tom Byers (track and field), Chelsea Davis (diving), Pete Hanson (men’s volleyball), Bryce Keough (wrestling), Christina Manning (track and field), and Nancy Pearson (women’s swimming).

Bently will be the 122nd OSU football player enshrined in the Hall of Fame since it was established in 1977, and Conley will be the 39th member of the basketball program. The first women were inducted in 1993, and Manning will mark the 12th member of the women’s track and field program inducted.

Bentley was a four-year letter winner at Ohio State and a consensus All-American as a senior. He went on to earn two Pro Bowl selections in the NFL before injuries ended his career.

In Conley’s one season at Ohio State he was the Big Ten Tournament MVP and helped guide the team to an NCAA Championship appearance. As a member of the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies, he’s been named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team while becoming one of the best all-around point guards in the league.

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The biggest question facing Ohio State for 2017 - 247Sports
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The biggest question facing Ohio State for 2017
247Sports
"The Buckeyes' passing game seemed to make some strides in the spring game, but it's hard to gauge real progress on a single intersquad scrimmage. Johnnie Dixon, K.J. Hill and Terry McLaurin are all potential options to stretch opposing defenses in ...
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Dienhart: Top non-con games for each Big Ten team, ranked 1-14
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

There is nothing like a good non-conference game to test a program before the rigors on league play kick in. And each Big Ten school has at least one stern test looming this fall.

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Photo Gallery from Tuesday's Ohio State 1-day camp - 247Sports
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Photo Gallery from Tuesday's Ohio State 1-day camp
247Sports
The Ohio State staff welcomed in some outstanding talent at their second 1-day camp session of the summer. The staff spent plenty of time working with campers from all over the country on a partly-sunny day in Columbus, Ohio. What's next for the Buckeyes?
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