Helwagen Chat: In defense of ... J.T. Barrett - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Helwagen Chat: In defense of ... J.T. Barrett
247Sports
You're supposed to back the Ohio State Buckeyes. This is more than a fantasy football team where the numbers are all that matters. That used to mean something to some people. I guess it doesn't anymore. We get it ... you all know what's better for this ...


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Rockets end Buckeyes' win streak - Athens Messenger (registration)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Rockets end Buckeyes' win streak
Athens Messenger (registration)
WELLSTON — The Wellston Golden Rockets managed to do something no other team has done this season — score runs consistently against the Nelsonville-York baseball team. Wellston ended the Buckeyes' four-game winning streak, defeating N-Y 12-8 ...


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Three-Point Stance: Huge weekend for Huskers, Buckeyes - Rivals.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Three-Point Stance: Huge weekend for Huskers, Buckeyes
Rivals.com
Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell's thought-provoking Three-Point Stance is here with thoughts on a huge commitment weekend for two Big Ten programs, some other key commitments from the last week and finally the end of satellite ...


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Ohio State makes the cut for top recruits
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes managed to land in the top lists for two of the country’s top recruits.

Top Georgia DB includes Buckeyes in top 6


Ohio State lost multiple elite DB prospects to the NFL last year and is prepared to lose three more in this year’s draft class. Because of this, the Buckeyes coaching staff will need to bring in more elite secondary recruits again this year. The never-ending work again appears to be paying off, as one of the country’s top DBs wants to focus on the school going forward in his recruitment.

Chris Smith (Atlanta, GA / Hapeville Charter) has seen his recruitment take off as he enters his senior season. He has amassed a reported 30 scholarship offers from some of the top programs in college football, including Ohio State.

The Buckeyes only recently entered the race for Smith’s services however, presenting him with a scholarship offer March 30, following a successful weekend visit to the campus. Apparently, the visit went even better than initially expected, as Smith released his top 6 schools Monday afternoon and the Buckeyes were included.


Smith, who is listed as a 3-star CB by 247Sports, claims Ohio State is one of the six schools that he feels best fit his future, along with Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Alabama and Michigan. It is hard to argue with his decision as the aforementioned schools are all top programs.

The Buckeyes have been able to pick up commitments from two blue-chip safeties in this year’s class but have yet to wrap up a CB. While there is still plenty of time in Smith’s recruitment, the school has to like where they stand with him.

Top DT has Ohio State in top 8


Again, Ohio State is liking where they sit with one of the country’s best recruits in the 2018 recruiting class. Sticking with the defensive side of the ball, the Buckeyes recently learned that they are one of the final schools defensive tackle Tommy Togiai (Pocatello, ID / Highland) will consider committing to.


The four-star DT included Ohio State in his top eight schools, along with USC, Wisconsin, TCU, Washington, Utah, Penn State and Michigan in no particular order.

If Togiai were to choose Ohio State, the Buckeyes would arguably have the best haul at the position of any school in the country. Already earning a commitment from the top DT in the class in Taron Vincent, adding Togiai would be the icing on the cake.

The blue-chip prospect is seen as the No. 14 DT in the class and the No. 150 overall recruit. While he has reportedly viewed Ohio State as one of his top schools for some time now, Togiai has yet to make it to Columbus for a visit. Expect the Buckeyes coaching staff to change this in their efforts to build an elite defensive line.

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While maybe not the greatest certainly one of the greats. He defined three yards and a cloud of dust. No love for Jim Otis (OK, I had voted for Archie, may change it to Zeke. Didn't realize JO wasn't even mentioned>)?

Top 100 prospect high on Buckeyes after spring game visit - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Top 100 prospect high on Buckeyes after spring game visit
247Sports
Marc Loving's Ohio State career was never quite what he wanted it to be. His Portsmouth Invitational Tournament performance likely wasn't either. The former Buckeye averaged nine points in three games, shooting 32.1 percent from the field and 41.2 ...

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Marc Loving competes in Portsmouth Invitational Tournament - 247Sports
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Marc Loving competes in Portsmouth Invitational Tournament
247Sports
Marc Loving's Ohio State career was never quite what he wanted it to be. His Portsmouth Invitational Tournament performance likely wasn't either. The former Buckeye averaged nine points in three games, shooting 32.1 percent from the field and 41.2 ...


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Kurelic: Hawkins 'reconsidering;' where was Tavion? - 247Sports
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Kurelic: Hawkins 'reconsidering;' where was Tavion?
247Sports
1) Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller defensive tackle Aeneas Hawkins was back in Columbus on Saturday, this time for the Buckeyes' spring game. “It looked like any other Ohio State event,” Hawkins began. “The fans will come out if Urban Meyer is doing (the event).
The Hurry Up: Offensive Tackle Commit Talks Decision While Florida Safety Recaps Spring Game Visit, Looming ...Eleven Warriors

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BH: Defense ahead for now | Direction needed out wide - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BH: Defense ahead for now | Direction needed out wide
247Sports
The spring game is in the books and certainly one of the Buckeyes that played well was wide receiver Johnnie Dixon. And that made us think about a couple of things one of our team sources had been telling us. Said team source had mentioned Dixon not ...

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Ohio State still doesn’t have a clear backup quarterback behind J.T. Barrett
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The spring game did little to solidify who is behind Barrett.

“I know it is very close. But I'm not prepared to say who is No. 2, who is No. 3, et cetera, yet.”

-Urban Meyer, via Austin ward of ESPN


Saturday’s spring game drew over 80,000 fans to The ‘Shoe...for a practice. It might not be a real game, but the implications for the players deep in the depth chart are very real.

Ohio State’s quarterback for the 2017 season is absolutely J.T. Barrett, but with Joe Burrow and Dwayne Haskins waiting in the wings, there is a bit of competition for the No. 2 spot. Both passers have stepped up as they prepare in Barrett’s shadow, but where each player ends up on the depth chart to start the season is very much still up in the air.

The backup role has become an increasingly important position given the oft-injured quarterbacks the past few seasons. The Buckeyes are in a good position with both Burrow and Haskins on the sideline, but the coaching staff is still hoping one creates a little bit of separation from the other as they get closer to the season opener.

“That's life as an incumbent starting quarterback in a spring game: Take a few snaps, make a few throws and get out of the game before something bad potentially happens to you.”

-Bill Landis, Cleveland.com


With Joe Burrow and Dwayne Haskins seeing the majority of snaps during the spring game, there wasn’t much to analyze from starting quarterback J.T. Barrett’s performance. The veteran saw less playing time than he normally does, but wasn’t about to try and get in for another series before handing over the reigns to the two young Bucks.

"When those young guys get in, especially the defensive line, they're jacked up. Mom and grandmom are in town, they gotta make plays, and I don't want them to take it out on me," Barrett said after the game.

While on the surface, Burrow and Haskins appeared to both have a better day than Barrett, that’s how it’s supposed to be. These types of experiences are meant to get the No. 2 and 3 guys ready to suit up in front of 100,000 screaming fans and be able to replace Barrett seamlessly. Another factor is play-calling. Urban Meyer and the coaching staff ran rather mundane plays with Barrett under center, and saved the complicated trick plays for the next generation of passers.

And despite Barrett’s brief appearance, from a broader perspective he threw quick, accurate passes that should hopefully foreshadow good things this fall.

“In the midst of being beaten down time and time again by injury, doubt occasionally crept in and won out. There were days where he’d miss a post-practice rehab. After all, even going all the time hadn’t always worked.”

-Ryan Ginn, Landof10


Buckeye wide receiver Johnnie Dixon has been on a roller coaster ride ever since joining the football team at Ohio State in 2014. Amid bouts of injury and rehab, he was faced with a tough decision at the end of the 2016 season — walk away from football or give it one more try.

After speaking with his coaches, Dixon decided he wanted one more shot. With a renewed dedication to his training and rehab, the wideout spent the offseason taking care of his knee and working toward a smart comeback.

And come back he did.

During Saturday’s spring game, Dixon -- the team’s most veteran receiver -- put up 108 yards and two touchdowns off just six receptions. Along with 11 rushing yards, Dixon’s 119 total yards of offense surpassed his entire career production at Ohio State.

STICK TO SPORTS

• April the Giraffe finally gave birth! It’s kind of gross and awesome at the same time.
• The Ohio State Dairy Farmers Club was on the Oval Monday, and some football players stopped to milk a cow.
• Don’t miss out on all the Tax Day freebies around Columbus tomorrow, April 18th.

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Div I / M: Ohio State Buckeyes tops Wisconsin Badgers 6-1 in the last home match - Tennis World
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Div I / M: Ohio State Buckeyes tops Wisconsin Badgers 6-1 in the last home match
Tennis World
Varsity Tennis Center in Columbus, Ohio, served as the last home match of the season for the second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, who defeated Wisconsin Badgers 6-1, to wrap up the share of Big Ten regular season title, for the 12th straight year.

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Dienhart: Five observations from Ohio State spring game
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

Ohio State continues to look for its championship mojo since winning the national title in 2014. The Buckeyes have come up short each of the last two years, failing to even play for the league title and getting eviscerated in the playoffs last year by Clemson.

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What we learned about Ohio State’s defense from the 2017 spring game
Ian Hartitz via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Spoiler: They’re still really, really good.

You may have heard that Ohio state didn’t really tackle for nearly the entire first quarter of their spring game this past Saturday. The first quarter’s “thud tempo” resulted in the game resembling more of a seven-on-seven matchup than a full-fledged war — but maybe that’s exactly what this veteran team needed.

While Ohio State’s secondary is still a work in progress, the entire front-seven is already filled with returning starters and players who are more than capable of thwarting opposing offense. The real question mark for this team is the passing game, and handcuffing the defense’s ability to create pressure and big hits allowed the offense to flourish.

For example, take a look at Joe Burrow’s early touchdown pass to Ke’Von Huguely:


In the stat book, this goes down as a 35-yard touchdown. In a real football game, Ohio State’s backup quarterback controversy could’ve been solved on account of Burrow’s untimely decapitation at the hands of Nick Conner, who strolled into the backfield completely untouched before peeling off at the last second.

Everything we just saw in the spring game should be taken with a grain of salt, but it’s not always a useless endeavor. Last year, we saw flash plays from eventual starters Jerome Baker, Malik Hooker and Denzel Ward. Let’s take a look at some of the defensive takeaways from this year’s spring game.

The No. 2 cornerback job is still open for competition.


Denzel Ward is locked in as the Buckeyes’ starting cornerback, but the team is still looking for someone to line up across from him. Damon Arnette has the early lead, but new-comers Shaun Wade and Kendall Sheffield are making noise as well.

So what did the spring game tell us? That it’s a lot harder to play quarters coverage without a pass rush. Ohio State had two excellent cornerbacks last season, but even they would struggle against a quarterback who has no fear of ever being touched in the pocket. We saw almost every cornerback get beat at one point or another, but they all still showed plenty of the raw ability that got them recruited to Ohio State in the first place.

Take, for instance, Sheffield absolutely demolishing a screen in the third quarter:


Sheffield does a great job deciphering the play and is rewarded with a kill shot on Antonio Williams. We already know that Ward can hit, and adding another cornerback that can hit like a safety would certainly be a frightening thought for offense’s around the country.

Of course, cornerback isn’t the only spot on Ohio State’s defense where they’ll need to replace a future draft pick.

Chris Worley may never be Raekwon McMillan, but he doesn’t have to be.


Worley had a great first season as a full-time starter, racking up 69 tackles with 4.5 coming for a loss and an interception against Michigan State. Still, he largely played the Darron Lee role as the defense’s strong-side linebacker. This season Worley will step in as the starting middle linebacker. No one questions his speed or playmaking ability, but at 6’2 230 pounds, he’s smaller than your typical in-the-box mike linebacker.

Well, size doesn’t really matter when you’re capable of stopping one of the Big Ten’s best running backs in their tracks:


Mike Weber probably would’ve scored on the previous play if it wasn’t for a quick whistle, but Worley made sure there was no doubt about this play. The middle linebacker is often the heart and soul of a defense and it was great seeing Worley show no fear in stepping into the A-gap to deny a touchdown at the goal line. Ohio State’s decision to value speed over size at linebacker has paid dividends in the past and it will continue to do so in the future as long as the country continues to embrace spread offenses.

Worley may be a different animal than McMillan, but he’s the same beast.

There’s still plenty of talent behind the starters.


Barring any injuries, Ohio State’s starting front-seven is essentially already decided for next season. Of course, shit happens and backups will inevitably need to step up and perform in pressure situations.

It looks like that won’t be a problem for Worley’s backup, Justin Hilliard:


Yes, Ohio State’s backup middle linebacker is also capable of running sideline-to-sideline to make impact tackles. Hilliard obviously benefited from being left unblocked on the above play, but it’s still not an easy task to run down a wide receiver on a sweep. The Buckeyes were among the best teams in the country at forcing stops in the run game last season and plays like this will go a long ways towards duplicating that feat this season.


There are still plenty of questions for the Buckeyes’ defense to answer. Can Damon Webb step up as Ohio State’s best safety? Will Arnette hold off the Buckeyes’ new options at cornerback? Is Michael Hill or Tracy Sprinkle going to step in as a starter on perhaps the most talented defensive line in the country?

A 40-minute scrimmage wasn’t nearly enough time to answer any of those questions, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t learn anything. It was great to see the defense’s mike linebackers show plenty of toughness in the middle of the defense. Ohio State’s long, athletic cornerbacks made plays that we’d expect them to at #DBU. All in all it appears that Ohio State’s defense will once again be a helluva problem to solve for offense’s around the country, and now we’ll all wait for that day to come.

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Ohio State football spring game: For Buckeyes' early enrollees, the future is … - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football spring game: For Buckeyes' early enrollees, the future is …
Landof10.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio — With Ohio State's spring game in the books, 9 of the newest Buckeyes can officially lay claim to possessing experience inside of Ohio Stadium. Earlier this year, Ohio State welcomed 10 early enrollees on to campus from a 2017 ...
17-year-old in wheelchair scores for BuckeyesESPN
Major recruiting buzz at Buckeyes spring game247Sports
Best of tweets from recruits after huge OSU recruiting weekend247Sports
Sentinel-Tribune -Sporting News
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Ohio State's 2018 QB competition Buckeyes' best — and most important — battle of offseason - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State's 2018 QB competition Buckeyes' best — and most important — battle of offseason
Landof10.com
With J.T. Barrett back for his senior season, there's no question who the Buckeyes' starting quarterback will be in 2017. Even though Ohio State's passing game struggled a season ago, the reigning Big Ten co-MVP's status as QB1 in Columbus remains ...
17-year-old in wheelchair scores for BuckeyesESPN
Major recruiting buzz at Buckeyes spring game247Sports
Spring game shows Buckeyes' emphasis on throwing the ballSentinel-Tribune
247Sports -Sporting News
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Spring game shows Ohio State’s emphasis on throwing the ball
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer made it clear this spring that he wants to throw the ball deep again. Meyer needs quarterback J.T. Barrett to hook up with receivers for more momentum-changing plays downfield.

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Horn says Buckeyes 'high on my list' after first visit to OSU - 247Sports
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Horn says Buckeyes 'high on my list' after first visit to OSU
247Sports
2018 CB Jaycee Horn talks about his Ohio State spring game visit.

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Really nice pickup for the Huskers. Obviously OSU is doing great at safety this cycle but I think Brendan is a huge talent.

BM5: Will Brenton Cox commit to OSU? Spring game takeaways - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BM5: Will Brenton Cox commit to OSU? Spring game takeaways
247Sports
There is a lot to talk about regarding Ohio State recruiting and the Buckeyes' spring game. The Dean of Ohio State Football Recruiting, Bill Kurelic, joins Dave Biddle to discuss the following: * The commitments of high-four-star recruits Max Wray and ...

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Wolverines throttled by Buckeyes in Battle of the Big House - The Michigan Daily
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Wolverines throttled by Buckeyes in Battle of the Big House
The Michigan Daily
In the Battle of the Big House, the ninth-ranked Buckeyes (2-1 Big Ten, 11-2 overall) scored first, just 13 seconds into the contest. Their efficiency set the tone for the rest of the game en route to an 18-7 victory. The visitors kept their momentum ...
No. 10 Buckeyes Top Wolverines To Improve To 11 2Asia Cruise News

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Joke about "class act" and "Miami football" somehow being associated together by this recruit.

Ohio State spring game weekend ends with 2 commitments
Charles Doss via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Easter Bunny hooked the Buckeyes up this year.

Coming into the weekend most around the recruiting scene had a few prospects in mind that could end their recruitment and commit to Ohio State during the Buckeyes spring game on Saturday afternoon. Urban Meyer and the OSU coaching staff snatched up pledges from a pair of top 2018 prospects, but not from the any of the recruits many had pegged to do so.

Even though he wasn’t in attendance for the spring game, four-star offensive lineman Max Wray called up Meyer and company beforehand to let them know he wanted to be a Buckeye.

Committing to OSU nearly a week after making the trek up from the Franklin, Tenn. area, Wray, the older brother of elite 2020 lineman Jake Wray, decided on calling Columbus home over many other opportunities to suit up on the college level. Before his commitment he was thinking over accepting a scholarship offer at programs such as Alabama, LSU and Tennessee.

“We knew (it was Ohio State) as soon as we left (last week),” the former Georgia pledge stated to Jeremy Birmingham of LandOf10. “We felt like today was a good day to announce it just to get some momentum going for the spring game with all of the guys up there.”

A very fundamentally sound lineman with great size, standing 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds, Wray could be the next offensive lineman to see early action in the Scarlet and Gray, following in the footsteps of Isaiah Prince, Michael Jordan and others.

Proctor is a Buckeye


Still riding the high of Wray’s decision, he and the five other OSU commitments had a new classmate just a few hours later. Surprising most with his announcement, four-star safety Josh Proctor tweeted out his commitment while on the Ohio State campus to check out the Buckeyes in action during the spring game.


After missing most of his junior football season with a torn meniscus, Proctor bounced back from the injury to lead the Owasso High basketball team with 17 points per game.

An Oklahoma native, many thought the 6-foot-2, 190-pounder would stay put and play for Bob Stoops and the Oklahoma Sooners. Getting a chance to mingle with the coaches, current and future players at Ohio State over the weekend, quickly put those rumors to rest.

Considered the seventh safety and 87th overall prospect in the class of 2018, per the 247Sports Composite Rankings, Proctor also held scholarship offers from Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Nebraska and many other top notch schools from across the country.

Want to know more about these future Buckeyes? Make sure to check out our commitment pieces on Wray and Proctor.

Prospects invade Columbus


While Ohio State might’ve only landed a pair of commitments over the weekend, a number of potential Buckeyes were among the crowd at Ohio Stadium for the spring game.

Loving their time on the OSU campus many of the recruits took to social media to share their excitement. Below are just some of the tweets from prospects on hand for the 44-31 Team Scarlet victory over Team Gray on Saturday.

4-Star S Jaiden Woodbey


Class: 2018

Town: Fontana,CA/St. John Bosco

Size: 6’1/210

Offers: Ohio State commit

4-star QB Emory Jones


Class: 2018

Town: Franklin,GA/Heard County

Size: 6’2/195

Offers: Ohio State commit

5-star DE Micah Parsons


Class: 2018

Town: Harrisburg,PA/Harrisburg

Size: 6’3/235

Offers: Penn State commit

4-star DE Brenton Cox


Class: 2018

Town: Stockbridge,GA/Stockbridge

Size: 6’4/247

Offers: Ohio State, Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, etc

4-star WR Jordyn Adams


Class: 2018

Town: Cary,NC/Green Hope

Size: 6’2/175

Offers: Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson, North Carolina, TCU, etc

4-star ILB Solomon Tuliaupupu


Class: 2018

Town: Santa Ana,CA/Mater Dei

Size: 6’3/230

Offers: Ohio State, Alabama, Arizona, USC, Washington, etc

4-star DT Aeneas Hawkins


Class: 2018

Town: Cincinnati,OH/Moeller

Size: 6’3/265

Offers: Ohio State, Alabama, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Penn State, etc

4-star CB Sevyn Banks


Class: 2018

Town: Orlando,FL/Jones

Size: 6’1/180

Offers: Ohio State, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Tennessee, etc

3-star OLB Brian Asamoah


Class: 2018

Town: Columbus,OH/St. Francis DeSales

Size: 6’0/205

Offers: Cincinnati, Kentucky, Michigan, Penn State, Pittsburgh, etc

4-star WR Ronnie Hickman


Class: 2019

Town: Wayne,NJ/DePaul Catholic

Size: 6’1/200

Offers: Boston College, Maryland, Michigan, Penn State, Rutgers, etc


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Ohio State Buckeyes football talk on Bucknuts.com - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State Buckeyes football talk on Bucknuts.com
247Sports
Bucknuts.com's Steve Helwagen will host a Chat session at 8 p.m. Eastern on Monday. With Ohio State's spring practice complete, Steve will be available to ...

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Best of tweets from recruits after huge OSU recruiting weekend - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Best of tweets from recruits after huge OSU recruiting weekend
247Sports
A big Ohio State recruiting weekend resulted in two huge commitments for the Buckeyes, offensive lineman Jake Wray and safety Josh Proctor. So, when it comes to tweets Ohio State fans want to see we have to start with Wray and Proctor's commitment ...

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