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LGHL Stop worrying about what position Curtis Samuel plays.

Stop worrying about what position Curtis Samuel plays.
Ian Hartitz
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Running back? Wide receiver? How about playmaker.

Curtis Samuel’s position has been a mystery ever since he was recruited out of Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn. Rivals called him a wide receiver. 247 called him a running back. Things cleared up a bit after Samuel’s commitment, as his unique combination of skills, placed in an Urban Meyer offense, inevitably led to Percy Harvin comparisons.

Samuel was featured at running back as a freshman, where he backed up Ezekiel Elliott. He showed flashes of brilliance — and there was no denying he had speed — but Samuel became an afterthought in the offense by the time conference play came around.

After being dubbed as one of Ohio State’s top-five playmakers by coach Urban Meyer prior to the 2015 season, Samuel was once again mostly relegated to a backup role after some explosive plays to start the season. Still, his hands and route-running ability had earned him more reps at H-back in addition to work at running back. The offense would lose Elliott, Braxton Miller, Michael Thomas and Jalin Marshall after the season, paving the way for Samuel to emerge as the offense’s featured playmaker. He wouldn’t disappoint.

A mismatch wherever he lined up on the field, Samuel averaged 125 total yards per game and scored 15 total touchdowns this season. His immediate excellence caught the nation by surprise, but his efficiency numbers weren’t all that different from past seasons. Samuel simply took advantage of his newfound surplus of touches in the Buckeyes’ offense:

Curtis_Samuel_stats.jpg


Samuel was arguably the most-explosive player in college football last season and he made the correct decision of declaring for the 2017 NFL Draft. This is where things could get tricky. Samuel may have done everything right this past season, but he’ll inevitably be nitpicked by draft experts for not having a true position.

He’s not the first athlete to declare for the draft without a true NFL position. What’s interesting is where previous hybrid players were selected in the draft:

Curtis_Samuel_Comps.jpg


Early mock drafts have Samuel going anywhere from the first round to the third. As is the case with most prospects, Samuel’s career will largely be shaped by which team picks him and how willing they are to utilize the First Team All-American. More and more teams have been looking for multi-dimensional running backs that can create mismatches all over the field. Look no further than the Super Bowl, where James White, Dion Lewis, Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman all excelled on both the ground and through the air.

Let’s take a look at what Samuel brings to the table and end any notion that Samuel’s position-less nature is a bad thing. Instead, let’s embrace just how electric he can be.

Curtis the Running Back


Samuel showed flashes of becoming an all-around playmaker during his first two seasons in Columbus, but he truly broke out as a Junior. Sure, plenty of his 97 rushes came on sweeps and plays that focused on getting Samuel outside (cc. Penn State and Oklahoma), but he proved over and over again that he is more than capable of rushing the ball straight up the middle of a defense.

Listed at 5’11” 200 lbs, Samuel is not big. In fact, that weight would place him outside of the top-100 running backs in the NFL terms of weight. But let’s stick with the idea that the league is trending towards smaller, more versatile running backs for a second. Plenty of smaller running backs made an impact this season, as Melvin Gordon, Devonta Freeman, James White and Theo Riddick all weighed less than 210 lbs. Jamaal Charles, Chris Johnson, Dion Lewis and Justin Forsett have all made an impact during recent years and they all weigh less than 200 pounds.

The important point here is that while Samuel’s weight isn’t ideal, he doesn’t play like he’s a small running back. He was never injured during his time at Ohio State and while he showed the ability to stretch the defense horizontally, he proved to be just as slippery between the tackles as he was in the open field:


Ohio State’s offense often schemed ways to get Samuel the ball on the second level with a one-on-one matchup against a defensive back, but he had his fair share of interactions with the front seven as well. Take the Oklahoma game, where he avoids a tackle for a loss to start the half and proceeds to outrun the defense to the edge:


This isn’t to say that Samuel should be a 20-carry back in the NFL. Frankly, there aren’t many of those backs left these days. Out of the 12 playoff teams last season, only the Texans, Dolphins, Steelers and Cowboys regularly featured just one running back in their offense. NFL offenses have continued to spread the field in recent years and players like Samuel who can attack the defense in multiple ways have become more valuable.

Whether you want to label Samuel as a running back with exceptional receiving ability, or a wide receiver with exceptional running ability, doesn’t matter. The point is that Samuel is a threat to make big plays whenever he gets his hands on the football, and his versatile skill-set makes getting him the football easy.

Curtis the Wide Receiver


Defenses will often be faced with a difficult decision when scheming for a player like Samuel. Does he count as a running back or a wide receiver? If they count him as a running back, Samuel possesses enough speed and agility to pose a massive threat out of the backfield against a slower linebacker or safety. If the defense counts Samuel as a wide receiver, he has the ability to skirt between the tackles against an undermanned box.

Ohio State would regularly take advantage of defenses who attempted to cover Samuel with a safety. He would line up as a running back and then motion out to the slot in order to create a one-on-one matchup. The below video doesn’t result in a touchdown, but it’s easy to imagine Samuel executing the same concept at the next level with a more accurate passer:


Once out wide, Samuel is a nightmare to handle. It’d be surprising if he doesn’t run the 40-yard dash in less than 4.5 seconds at this year’s NFL combine and there’s no debating the effectiveness of his fast-twitch agility. Still, he’s more than just a burner at wide receiver, as his route running improved by the season and he even showed the ability to split out wide in certain situations:


Samuel’s ability with the ball in his hands is well respected and his ability to make plays all over the field makes him a fit for any offense. Last season there were 19 different NFL players who received at least 50 carries and 50 targets. If featured in an effective NFL offense, it shouldn’t be hard for Samuel’s next offensive coordinator to add him to that list.

Curtis the Playmaker


At the end of the day, Samuel should be worthy of an early-round draft pick because he was the most-versatile and effective weapon on one of the country’s five-best teams. Ohio State played some pretty great competition this season, but one focal point remained steady on offense regardless of who lined up across the field: get Curtis Samuel the ball.

After all, when the season was on the line against a defense that was loaded with all-conference selections it was Samuel who emerged as the best player on the field:


Samuel will need to add some muscle if he hopes to have a consistent impact running the football. He’ll also need to improve his route running to consistently separate from top-NFL corners. Both of those issues are common for running backs and wide receivers alike, Samuel is just versatile enough that he qualifies for both categories and thus both rounds of criticism. We’ve seen NFL defenses, basketball and even baseball to an extent begin to embrace position-less athletes. Samuel represents the ideal athlete to plug into any system, as once you get him the ball, there really isn’t anything he can’t do.

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Google Worth Watching: Underrated Ohio Prospects Could Play a Role in the Buckeyes' 2018...

Worth Watching: Underrated Ohio Prospects Could Play a Role in the Buckeyes' 2018 Recruiting Plans - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Worth Watching: Underrated Ohio Prospects Could Play a Role in the Buckeyes' 2018 Recruiting Plans
Eleven Warriors
The Buckeyes have extended offers to seven players thus far in the state of Ohio, and while it can be difficult to distinguish between an "offer" and a real offer, one thing that we've learned is that the in-state variety typically seems to mean a bit ...
BH: Dream deferred? | Mikey's mentor247Sports
Recruiting Reset: New York's Jeremy Ruckert tops the list, but Ohio State has options at tight end in 2018Landof10.com

all 3 news articles »


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LGHL Ohio State baseball 2017 season preview: Pitching staff

Ohio State baseball 2017 season preview: Pitching staff
Ben Martens
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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The Buckeyes will lean on an experienced stable of arms this season.

Ohio State baseball will take the field to open its 2017 season on Friday with big questions concerning where the team will get its offensive firepower from. As we pointed out yesterday, having to replace the entire starting infield and two-thirds of the starting outfield will do that. But in spite of the unknowns with the everyday lineup, seventh-year head coach Greg Beals has one position group he can count on: the pitching staff.

“I think the strength of the ballclub is going to be on the mound and it needs to be,” Beals said.

The Buckeyes will be without the services of last season’s Friday starter Tanner Tully, a former Big Ten Freshman of the Year and All-Big Ten selection who was drafted by the Cleveland Indians, Saturday starter John Havird, who graduated, and Michael Horejsei, one of the toughest left-handed relievers in the conference, who was taken by the Chicago White Sox last June. Every other arm that played a major role in 2016 is back, though, along with a veteran returning from injury, a pair of junior college transfers, and a sizable freshmen class.

Last season, Ohio State’s hurlers ranked third in the Big Ten in earned run average (3.35), and struck out more batters than any other staff in the conference, all while gaining valuable experience in big situations during the club’s run through to the Big Ten tournament title and berth in the NCAA tournament.

So Beals and pitching coach Mike Stafford should feel a high level of comfort with the pitching staff, though there are a few holes to fill. With back-to-back four-game weekends to open the new campaign, they’ll have plenty of innings to fill, and an opportunity to find out which players rise to the occasion and thrive on the pressure of the moment.

Let’s take a look at what to expect on the mound for the Buckeyes.

Getting things started


Despite the losses of Tully and Havird from the weekend rotation, Ohio State looks on paper to be set up well with its starters. The leader of this unit will be Adam Niemeyer, a redshirt junior who was voted co-captain by his teammates this year, and who manned the Sunday spot last season.

A right-hander, Niemeyer went 4-2 with a 4.31 ERA in 14 starts covering 71 innings despite being hampered by a lingering hamstring injury last season. The Minster, Ohio native’s strikeout-to-walk ratio of nearly 6-to-1 was excellent, as was his 1.21 WHIP.

Joining Niemeyer on the weekend will be sophomore Ryan Feltner, who came on strong at the end of his freshman season in 2016. The 6-foot-4 righty from Walsh Jesuit had a 3-4 record with a 4.06 ERA in 20 appearances that included 11 starts. Possessing a fastball in the low 90s, a sharp breaking ball, and a solid changeup, Feltner’s development will be critical if the Buckeyes are to remain a contender in the Big Ten.

The third weekend spot, as well as midweek duties, are up in the air, and several arms are competing for their chance. One will be redshirt junior Yianni Pavlopoulos, who last season served as the team’s closer. Pavlopoulos, returning from Tommy John surgery, led the Big Ten with 14 saves while limiting the opposition to a .229 batting average and averaging more than 10 strikeouts per nine innings. He’ll make his first career start opening weekend, and has the kind of stuff that can translate to a starting role.

Also in the mix will be redshirt senior Jake Post, who sat out 2016 after his own Tommy John surgery. In three years in Columbus prior to the injury, the right-hander was utilized both as a starter and out of the bullpen, amassing a 7-7 mark with a 3.48 ERA in 38 career appearances that include 13 starts. Now healthy, Post provides Beals and Stafford with solid experience and flexibility in usage, and will get a chance during the team’s first weekend to solidify his spot.

Another candidate to spot start in the weekend rotation, and to see a major workload in midweek games, is sophomore Connor Curlis. He appeared in four games as a freshman, yielding two earned runs and collecting 10 strikeouts in six innings of work. The advantage that Curlis has is that, unlike the other names mentioned, he’s a lefty, and can provide a different look to hitters than the other starters.

Ohio State also brought in a pair of pitchers from McLennan Community College in Texas, one of whom, the 6-foot-6 Reece Calvert, should see some innings as a starter. Calvert went 11-2 with a 3.70 ERA in 2016, with a fastball in the low 90s that has room for velocity growth.

The point is that Beals and Stafford have a number of options to start games, and despite the questions about the Buckeyes’ offense scoring runs, should have a good amount of confidence in the team’s ability to keep opponents off the scoreboard.

Finishing things off


Even as the starting pitching for Ohio State looks to be solid, the bullpen has the potential to be among the very best in the Big Ten. Even with a Pavlopoulos move into the rotation, the Buckeyes have the back-end arms to not skip a beat and continue making the late innings a nightmare for opposing batters.

The key cogs for Beals will be the side-winding duo of Seth Kinker and Kyle Michalik, both of whom played crucial roles in the scarlet and gray’s postseason run a season ago. Kinker, who has been named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Preseason Stopper of the Year Watch List, led the Big Ten with 38 appearances as a sophomore last season, going 6-1 with a 1.65 ERA and two saves in 54.2 innings. He held opponents to a .250 batting average and sported a WHIP of 1.10, and figures to slide into Pavlopoulos’ closer role.

Michalik was similarly nasty, making appearances in relief 19 times, and posting a 4-1 record with a 1.69 ERA and one save. The side-armer from Brunswick, Ohio limited opposing hitters to a .198 average and had an astounding 0.84 WHIP.

Calvert’s McLennan teammate Dustin Jourdan should complement Kinker and Michalik. The righty went 4-0 with a 1.14 ERA in 11 appearances at the JUCO level, covering 23.2 innings. Jourdan averaged over 10 strikeouts per nine innings and posted a 9-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

A fourth righty, and another arm that has experience both starting and relieving is redshirt junior Austin Woodby, who appeared 19 times, including three starts, in his first season in Columbus after transferring from Cincinnati. Woodby had his struggles, posting an ERA of 6.00 and a .323 opponents' batting average, but he went 5-1 and his 39 innings were fifth on the 2016 team.

Finally, redshirt sophomore Thomas Waning, a transfer from Xavier, has made a good impression since joining the program as a side-arming righty, and could also log innings out of the pen.

The only real question for Beals in the bullpen is how to replace Horejsei as the left-handed matchup guy with so many quality right-handed options. Redshirt senior Joe Stoll is the only southpaw outside of Curlis that has college experience. The Lakewood St. Edward standout tossed 19.1 innings of relief a year ago, allowing 11 earned runs (5.12 ERA), striking out 16, and walking eight.

Five members of the freshmen class are also pitchers, and if the fall ball season was any indication, they may need to be brought along carefully. The quintet of Andrew Magno, Michael McDonough, Jake Vance, Gavin Lyon, and Collin Lollar combined to allow 14 earned runs during the Scarlet and Gray Series.

Will it be enough?


Given the amount of offensive production the team has lost, Ohio State will need their pitching staff to perform as strongly as they appear capable of doing. There is championship experience both among the starters and the relievers, and several have the kind of stuff to garner All-Big Ten consideration.

The non-conference schedule, playing high-quality opponents away from home in Florida, Arizona, and North Carolina for the first month of the season, will challenge the team’s arms and allow Beals and Stafford to smooth out the rough edges before Big Ten play gets underway. If the staff comes together as they hope, it should at least keep the Buckeyes competitive as they attempt to find their way back to an NCAA regional for a second straight year.

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Google Buckeyes continue to recruit Texas hard, offer RB - 247Sports

Buckeyes continue to recruit Texas hard, offer RB - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes continue to recruit Texas hard, offer RB
247Sports
What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Buckeyes newsletter now! In addition to Ohio State, Ingram's list of offers includes Texas, TCU, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Baylor, Michigan, Notre Dame, ...

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Google Thayer Munford's untold journey to become a Buckeye - 247Sports

Thayer Munford's untold journey to become a Buckeye - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Thayer Munford's untold journey to become a Buckeye
247Sports
After the Buckeyes were interested in Thayer early on in high school, Ohio State backed off quite a bit due to the academic and weight issues. With those now under control after moving in with the Moores, Munford showed up to campus in June for a one ...

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Google Helwagen Chat Thursday 12-1 pm (Post Questions Here) - 247Sports

Helwagen Chat Thursday 12-1 pm (Post Questions Here) - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Helwagen Chat Thursday 12-1 pm (Post Questions Here)
247Sports
After the Buckeyes were interested in Thayer early on in high school, Ohio State backed off quite a bit due to the academic and weight issues. With those now under control after moving in with the Moores, Munford showed up to campus in June for a one ...

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Google Watch: Who will fill offensive voids for Buckeyes? - 247Sports

Watch: Who will fill offensive voids for Buckeyes? - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Watch: Who will fill offensive voids for Buckeyes?
247Sports
Who will be the new starters for the Buckeyes? That is what Dave Biddle discussed when he joined Nick Kostos of CBSSports.com in the embedded video. What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE ...


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Google Ohio State baseball | Buckeyes look to form new identity - Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State baseball | Buckeyes look to form new identity - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State baseball | Buckeyes look to form new identity
Columbus Dispatch
Those thinking they had a handle on Ohio State baseball will have to start from scratch with Ronnie Dawson, Nick Sergakis, Troy Montgomery, Troy Kuhn, Craig Nennig and Tanner Tully having gone from familiar names to going, going, gone. Last season, the ...
Baseball: Ohio State baseball prepares for season opener against Kansas State on FridayOSU - The Lantern
The 2017 Ohio State Baseball Team Looks To Discover Its Identity With The Season Opener ApproachingScout
Ohio State baseball 2017 season preview: Position playersLand-Grant Holy Land

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LGHL Ohio State tosses 4-star RB Keaontay Ingram an offer

Ohio State tosses 4-star RB Keaontay Ingram an offer
Bret Favachio
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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With the Buckeyes looking to add another back to the 2018 class, a new offer goes out.

Ingrams gets Buckeye offer


Despite having one running back already in the fold for 2018 in Brian Snead, Ohio State is still actively looking for the prospect to complete the duo in the backfield.

On Wednesday, the Buckeyes turned to a state where they had tremendous success in last year’s recruiting cycle: Texas. 2018 RB Keaontay Ingram (Carthage, TX / Carthage) was the latest to become a recipient of an Ohio State offer.


Blessed to receive an offer from Ohio State !!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/3CcmjEhwuu

— keaontay ingram (@keaontay_ingram) February 15, 2017

Ingram is a 5-foot-11, 190-pounder and is quickly closing in on 20 offers in his recruitment. Some schools that the Buckeyes will look to outpace in this race include Arkansas, Baylor, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M and UCLA.

Ingram is currently slotted as the nation’s 19th best running back and 40th best player from the state of Texas — where he is currently expected to remain for college. According to the 247Sports Crystal Ball, former Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman and the Longhorns are the current projected landing spot for Ingram.

More weekend visitors expected


What we already knew coming into Wednesday was that Ohio State was expected to host both '18 offensive guard Jalil Irvin of Stephenson (GA) and '18 inside linebacker Jack Sanborn of Lake Zurich (IL) — both blue-chip prospects.

What we found out yesterday was that three more are also going to be in Columbus this weekend. According to 247Sports' Bill Kurelic, the Buckeyes will also receive visits from '18 RB Iverson Clement, '18 quarterback Kevin Doyle, and '18 defensive end Travon King.

Obviously, the big one to watch here is Clement. He is the only one of the three that currently has an offer from the Scarlet and Gray under his belt. Clement is a four-star prospect and it is entirely possible that he gives his pledge to Ohio State, if the Buckeyes would accept it at this time.

However, as mentioned above, Ohio State already has a commitment from Snead at the position. With the possibility of adding someone like '18 RB Jaelen Gill and/or '18 RB Zamir White — the best back in the country — it wouldn't be shocking for Buckeyes to hold off on accepting the pledge for now.

In-state RB talks Buckeyes


Sticking to the script on running backs, '18 RB Tavion Thomas (Dayton, OH / Dunbar) is another to watch going forward despite not yet receiving an offer from Ohio State.

I caught up with Thomas on Wednesday morning and he relayed to me that the Buckeyes are showing interest. "We talked [on Tuesday]," Thomas stated. He continued by saying he speaks with offensive line coach Greg Studrawa and running back coach Tony Alford about every other day.

Thomas also revealed to Land-Grant Holy Land that he will be in Columbus on Saturday to visit. When asked what he was looking forward to seeing on the Buckeye campus, Thomas mentioned the academic side and meeting the big boss. "I'm just looking forward to having fun, meeting Urban Meyer, and meeting some of the players."

Right now, as stated above, Thomas does not have an offer from the Buckeyes. The programs that have offered include Cincinnati, Kentucky, Michigan State, West Virginia, Wisconsin and more.

When I asked Thomas what an offer from Ohio State would mean to him, he simply said, "Pretty much, it will be big."

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Google Pick 6: Kurelic picks six more Ohio State commitments - 247Sports

Pick 6: Kurelic picks six more Ohio State commitments - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Pick 6: Kurelic picks six more Ohio State commitments
247Sports
Pick 6: Kurelic picks six more Ohio State commitments. The Buckeyes currently have three 2018 commits and are looking for their first 2019 pledge. Today Bill Kurelic makes his predictions on six more prospects he sees as Buckeyes. Bill Kurelic - 11 ...

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Google Ohio State football: Eight Buckeyes invited to NFL combine - Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State football: Eight Buckeyes invited to NFL combine - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football: Eight Buckeyes invited to NFL combine
Columbus Dispatch
Eight Ohio State Buckeyes will participate at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis starting Feb. 28, the league announced today. Wide receivers Noah Brown and Curtis Samuel, cornerbacks Gareon Conley and Marshon Lattimore, center Pat Elflein, ...
8 Buckeyes invited to NFL CombineDayton Daily News
Eight Ohio State Buckeyes invited to NFL scouting combineEndZoneScore
Eight Ohio State Players Invited to NFL Combine, Second Most in the Big Ten Behind Michigan's 14Eleven Warriors
Land-Grant Holy Land -cleveland.com -SB Nation
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Google Football: Eight Buckeyes invited to 2017 NFL Combine - OSU - The Lantern

Football: Eight Buckeyes invited to 2017 NFL Combine - OSU - The Lantern
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Football: Eight Buckeyes invited to 2017 NFL Combine
OSU - The Lantern
Former OSU safety Malik Hooker (24) and redshirt freshman longsnapper Liam McCullough (49) high-five Buckeye fans after their 30-23 overtime victory over the Wisconsin Badgers on Oct. 15. Credit: Alexa Mavrogianis | Photo Editor. A total of eight ...


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Google Buckeyes Dress for success at Career Closet - OSU - The Lantern

Buckeyes Dress for success at Career Closet - OSU - The Lantern
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes Dress for success at Career Closet
OSU - The Lantern
Aisha Echols, a career-resource coordinator for Student Life and the event's lead organizer, said the event is for Buckeyes who might not have the budget to purchase high-end clothes for professional events. Echols said the entire OSU community was a ...


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Google Wrestling: Buckeyes look for big win against Big Red in Ithaca - OSU - The Lantern

Wrestling: Buckeyes look for big win against Big Red in Ithaca - OSU - The Lantern
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Wrestling: Buckeyes look for big win against Big Red in Ithaca
OSU - The Lantern
1 Bo Jordan of the Buckeyes against No. 3 Brian Realbuto is expected to have fireworks. Jordan returned to the lineup on Feb. 10 after aggravating a foot injury Jan. 27 against Iowa. “I didn't have a lot of chances to test myself this season, so this ...


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Google Ellis III, bench play lead Spartans to win over Buckeyes - The State News

Ellis III, bench play lead Spartans to win over Buckeyes - The State News
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Ellis III, bench play lead Spartans to win over Buckeyes
The State News
Senior guard Alvin Ellis III (3), right, and teammates help freshman guard Cassius Winston (5) up off of the court floor during the second half of the men's basketball game against Ohio State University on Feb. 14, 2017 at Breslin Center. The Spartans ...

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Google What We Learned: Michigan State Spartans 74, Ohio State Buckeyes 66 - BT Powerhouse (blog)

What We Learned: Michigan State Spartans 74, Ohio State Buckeyes 66 - BT Powerhouse (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


What We Learned: Michigan State Spartans 74, Ohio State Buckeyes 66
BT Powerhouse (blog)
Michigan State would look like it was going to pull ahead for good, but Ohio State battled back each time. Eventually though, the foul trouble got the best of the Buckeyes as Thad Matta had to ration minutes. The Spartans pulled out a key 74-66 victory.
Ohio State can't handle the Spartans, new Buckeyes kicks available and moreLandof10.com
Buckeyes Fall to Spartans, 74-66Scarlet and Game
Spartans top Buckeyes 74-66WDTN
Sporting News -247Sports -The Detroit News
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Google Ohio State hosting key players this weekend, in-state TE Jack Cravaack hearing from the...

Ohio State hosting key players this weekend, in-state TE Jack Cravaack hearing from the Buckeyes - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State hosting key players this weekend, in-state TE Jack Cravaack hearing from the Buckeyes
Landof10.com
That's where things get a touch interesting because right now a number of folks, including the Buckeyes themselves, have the idea that the nation's 25th-ranked athlete wants to commit to Ohio State this weekend. Clement himself isn't saying that, at ...
BH: Turning up the Ohio heat | Feelings about facility247Sports

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Google OSU attention on WR ratchets up; who leads, who is challenging? - 247Sports

OSU attention on WR ratchets up; who leads, who is challenging? - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


OSU attention on WR ratchets up; who leads, who is challenging?
247Sports
There are no pictures or video, at least not yet, so you can file this one in the rumor mill for now. If it did happen, Meyer certainly won't take losing another one lightly. Could this be more motivation come the fall? What's next for the Buckeyes ...

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LGHL Ohio State will be well represented at the 2017 NFL Combine

Ohio State will be well represented at the 2017 NFL Combine
Harry Lyles Jr.
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


usa_today_9808365.0.jpg

Eight former Bucks have been invited to Indianapolis.

“This year the Buckeyes had eight players invited, which is fourth-most.”

- Bill Landis, Northeast Ohio Media Group


The NFL Combine is coming up at the end of the month and during the first week of March. Last season, Ohio State sent the most players of any school in college football with 14 players invited. This season, Ohio State will be sending eight players, the fourth most of any school. Ahead of Ohio State this year was Michigan with 14 participants, Alabama and LSU with 10, and Clemson, Miami, and Texas A&M sending nine each.

You can check out the full list of Buckeyes going to Indianapolis here. Out of all of the aforementioned players, Malik Hooker is likely going to be taken the highest. He’s drawn comparisons to Ed Reed, and has been projected to go inside the top 10 in some mock drafts. Behind Hooker is Marshon Lattimore, who isn’t too far behind in projections, like that of SB Nation’s Dan Kadar.

Three Buckeyes named to Pro Football Focus’s Top 101 list for 2016 NFL season


Three Ohio State rookies cracked Pro Football Focus’s Top 101 list for the 2016 NFL season. You could have probably guessed that Ezekiel Elliott, Joey Bosa, and Michael Thomas were the three Buckeyes, as they really impressed in their first season in the professional ranks. Elliott was the No. 22 player on the list, and at first glance, that might seem kinda low. Elliott was the best rusher in the NFL during the 2016 season, accumulating over 1,600 yards, and nearly breaking Eric Dickerson’s rookie record.

Bosa came in at No. 32 in PFF’s rankings. It seemed that his tenure with the Chargers was getting off to a horrible start. He held out for one of the longest times we’ve seen out of a rookie, and then a hamstring injury kept him out of the first four games. Yet when he finally got on the field, it was like he was never gone. He made the Chargers defense better, and helped them overcome a terribly slow start. Michael Thomas was also key in the Saints offense this season, and is a great young weapon for Drew Brees to close out his career with over the course of a few years.

“Jalin Marshall was an off-season star.”

- David Wyatt, Gang Green Nation


Most Ohio State rookies that got attention were the likes of Ezekiel Elliott, Joey Bosa, and Michael Thomas. Jalin Marshall however ended up having a pretty good season for how little was expected out of him. He had some flashes during the year, finishing with 14 receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns. He didn’t receive too many targets but was productive more often than not when he did receive the ball. He was also productive on special teams, with 13 returns for 324 yards.

As GGN points out, the concerns with Marshall are still the same as they were coming out of college. There’s some ball security issues, he needs to get off the line faster, and work on route running. Though it should absolutely be noted, the talent is there. He’ll be fighting for a roster spot going into next season, but he’s shown that he’s more than capable. He just needs some consistency, and on a team like the Jets who need talent wherever they can get it, he would be a welcome surprise in 2017.

“As a youngster, Hall left others muttering on the golf course.”

- Marc Hardin, Cincinnati Enquirer


Kevin Hall has been deaf since he was just two years old. The professional golfer from Cincinnati didn’t let his disability keep him from doing what he loved. He was a star golfer in high school, and had a great career at Ohio State where he won the 2004 Big Ten championship by 11 shots. He was the first African-American to play golf on scholarship in Columbus and was also a two-year captain.

“I have been blessed with a lot of wonderful life experiences, to be able to play golf and do what I do. Meeting amazing people along the way and making friends,” he wrote to Hardin. He’s also got a great attitude when it comes to being deaf, which happened after he was diagnosed with H-Flu Meningitis. “Sure I’d like to be able to hear,” he wrote. “But it’s the hand I was dealt and I’m not gonna complain about it.”

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Google Good news at home helps to spark JaQuan Lyle - 247Sports

Good news at home helps to spark JaQuan Lyle - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Good news at home helps to spark JaQuan Lyle
247Sports
COLUMBUS – After what he went through over the last several days, it was a surprise to see JaQuan Lyle on the court for the Buckeyes on Tuesday night. Following Ohio State's win over Rutgers on Feb. 8, Lyle got a phone call from his mother. His sister ...
After Difficult Week, JaQuan Lyle Receives Positive News on His SisterEleven Warriors
Ohio State men's basketball | JaQuan Lyle receives welcome news on sisterColumbus Parent

all 3 news articles »


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BTN Maryland tabbed 2017 Big Ten baseball favorite

Maryland tabbed 2017 Big Ten baseball favorite
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network

Maryland was voted the preseason favorite to claim the 2017 Big Ten Baseball Championship, as selected by the conference coaches, it was announced Wednesday. The coaches voted on the top six teams and also selected three students from their own squads to a Preseason Honors list.
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LGHL Ohio State baseball 2017 season preview: Position players

Ohio State baseball 2017 season preview: Position players
Ben Martens
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Ohio State lost a ton from its everyday lineup of a season ago. Can the Buckeyes fill the holes and score some runs?

When Ohio State baseball steps onto the field to open its new season on Friday, it will do so with a team that bears only a scant resemblance to the one that won 44 games, claimed a Big Ten tournament title, and secured the program's first berth in an NCAA regional since 2009 last spring.

“When I walked into the locker room the first time in the fall, I felt like the stranger,” said redshirt senior Zach Ratcliff to Greg Hoard of Press Pros Magazine. “It was like, ‘What’s up? Who are these guys? Where is everybody?’”

Seventh-year head coach Greg Beals must replace his entire starting infield and two-thirds of his starting outfield, not to mention many key reserves from last season’s championship squad, which begs the question: does Buckeye baseball rebuild or reload?

In all, the offense is losing 80 percent of its hits, 80 percent of its doubles, 86 percent of its home runs, 83 percent of its total extra-base hits, and 77 percent of its runs batted in after seeing six players taken in last June’s Major League Baseball draft and losing a sizable senior class.

The 2017 Ohio State team has a large crop of new faces wearing scarlet and gray, 17 newcomers in all. The task of keeping the program on the ascent will not be a small one with a challenging schedule and a conference that continues to improve from top to bottom. Among national publications like Baseball America and Perfect Game, there is very little buzz surrounding the team, but that doesn’t seem to faze them.

“I think everyone in this locker room, the coaching staff, everyone expects us to be in the hunt for another Big Ten Championship, and we all believe we can accomplish that goal,” redshirt junior pitcher and co-captain Adam Niemeyer told Edward Sutelan of The Lantern.

Opening Day is so close, you can almost taste it. Let's take a look at what to expect from the everyday guys of this year's Buckeye nine.

Known knowns


With so much to replace, the one comfort for Ohio State among its position players is the presence of solid veteran leadership. Along with Ratcliff, Beals has senior Jalen Washington, who was voted a co-captain by his teammates for the second straight year, and junior Tre Gantt, who has seen plenty of action in his first two seasons in Columbus.

Washington will be making the transition from catcher to shortstop in 2017, a move that puts him back at his natural position and should help showcase his speed and athleticism as well as keep his legs fresher as the schedule wears on. As a junior, Washington put together a .249/.352/.343 slash line, with 11 doubles, three home runs, 38 runs batted in, and 14 stolen bases, all while starting 61 of the team’s 65 games behind the plate.

Gantt will also be on the move, sliding over to center field from right to take over for Troy Montgomery, who was an eighth-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Angels. In 47 games that included 38 starts after being slowed early in the season by a shoulder injury, Gantt slashed .255/.311/.314 to go along with eight doubles, 13 RBIs, and a 7-for-9 clip in steals. The Fishers, Indiana native, who Baseball America has rated the No. 19 draft prospect for 2017 in the Big Ten, figures to be a perfect fit for the leadoff spot.

The elder statesman of the team is Ratcliff, who redshirted last season after accruing just 41 at-bats. A product of Columbus Academy, Ratcliff has never quite reached his potential as a middle-of-the-order run producer, hitting just five homers and driving in 30 runs while striking out nearly a quarter of the time in 88 career games. He will have one last crack at it in 2017, largely as the designated hitter, and the Buckeyes desperately need him to help make up for some of the firepower they have lost.

Manning third base will be sophomore Brady Cherry, who in his first collegiate season a year ago showed glimpses of power with five longballs and 23 RBIs in 40 games that included 35 starts. But Cherry’s long swing also led to a 35 percent strikeout rate, prompting a great deal of offseason work to reshape it. If that work pays off and the strikeouts fall, he should join Ratcliff in providing pop from the middle of the order.

The final returnee from last season’s club is sophomore Jacob Barnwell, who will take over for Washington behind the dish. A catcher with plus receiving skills and a powerful arm, Barnwell was just 3-for-24 in limited action as a freshman, but saw tremendous progress in summer ball for the Lima Locos of the Great Lakes League. In 27 games, the Kentucky native slashed .316/.448/.408, with five doubles and 15 RBIs, and was chosen for the league’s all-star game.

Ohio State’s known knowns should form a foundation for the 2017 campaign, particularly with Washington and Ratcliff supplying leadership and Gantt poised to break out. But the success of the team and whether or not Beals can put a contender on the field game-in, game-out will depend to a much greater degree on what we don’t yet know.

Known unknowns


Among the unfamiliar faces on the Buckeyes’ roster are nine true freshmen, two redshirt freshmen, five junior college transfers, and a handful of others who have yet to see any meaningful action in their college careers. Plugging the holes in the lineup brings with it enormous uncertainty for Beals.

“I’m cautiously optimistic about this year, but we’re unproven,” Beals commented to Sonny Fulks of Press Pros.

Two names that have garnered buzz since the fall ball season are Noah McGowan and Dominic Canzone. McGowan, a transfer from McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas, figures to find a home in the middle of the lineup after slashing .393/.511/.674 with 13 doubles, seven home runs, and 38 RBIs in 2016. He will be Washington’s double-play partner at second base, and had a 6-for-15 showing in October’s Scarlet and Gray Series.

Canzone is a true freshman who hits the field with the pedigree of a Louisville Slugger High School All-American at Walsh Jesuit. After a fall session that saw him go 6-for-15 as well, Canzone followed up by staking his claim to the starting right field spot in preseason workouts. There’s always a question of how quickly a young player will acclimate to college pitching, but he has the makings of a day one impact player.

A pair of JUCO transfers figure to round out the starting lineup, with Bo Coolen at first base and Tyler Cowles in left field. Coolen, who is from Honolulu, Hawaii and put up a .343/.396/.414 slash line in 44 games at Cypress College in California last season, was 4-for-17 in the fall games.

Cowles, a Grove City, Ohio native, attended Sinclair Community College, and had a monster 2016. He had a .364/.471/.636 slash line with 17 doubles, 13 home runs, 51 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases in 65 games for a Tartan Pride club that placed third in the NJCAA Division II World Series. Cowles, a junior, was 5-for-20 with a home run, two runs scored, and seven driven in during the fall, and looks to be a real wild card for Ohio State’s offensive fortunes.

The bench for Beals is really anyone’s guess at this point. Collectively, there are just 12 collegiate at-bats among the reserves, and some five freshmen who have never seen action at this level. Outfielder Ridge Winand, a redshirt sophomore, and catcher Andrew Fishel, a sophomore, collected all 12 of those at-bats last year, producing one hit between them. There is also fifth-year senior Shea Murray, who is converting to the outfield from the pitcher’s mound, and hasn’t swung a bat since high school.

The great unknown


2016 was a fun ride for the scarlet and gray on the diamond, and the most successful in years. In many ways, it was vindication for Beals, who has dealt with his share of criticism since taking over the program. But as is always the case in baseball, the victories of days gone by stay anchored in the past, and the future beckons with the promise of the great unknown.

“We had a great year last season, but a new year brings a new hunt,” Beals said. “There’s a lot to like about this ball club. There is some caution in the optimism with the lack of experience, but these guys are talented.”

Can the Buckeyes score enough runs to compete at a championship level once again? That remains to be seen. There is a lot of potential, though. If veterans like Washington and Gantt make the kind of jumps the coaching staff is hoping for and the more inexperienced players such as Canzone, Barnwell, and Cherry grow up quick, Ohio State could once again make its doubters look foolish.

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LGHL 8 Ohio State standouts invited to 2017 NFL Scouting Combine

8 Ohio State standouts invited to 2017 NFL Scouting Combine
Alexis Chassen
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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En route to an NFL career, several Buckeyes will get their first try-out in front of scouts.

The 2017 NFL Scouting Combine will kick-off in Indianapolis on Feb. 28th and continue through March 6th. In those few days, 330 draft prospects from around the country will be competing in skills challenges and putting their strength on display in front of hundreds of NFL coaching staffs and front offices -- as well as meeting with teams and the media. This year, 8 former Ohio State players earned the chance to follow in the footsteps of those legendary Buckeyes before them for their first real tryout at the next level.

Ohio State punter Cameron Johnston was the first Buckeye to announce he had received his invitation to participate in this year’s combine. The 198-pound Australian finished his final season in Columbus with 56 punts for a career-high 2,614 yards — averaging 46.7 yards per kick.

Several Buckeyes participating in the combine are those who decided to declare early for the draft, including: WR Noah Brown, CB Gareon Conley, CB Marshon Lattimore, LB Raekwon McMillan, and H-back Curtis Samuel. Brown was the first of the early-departed to announce that he had received a formal invitation to the NFL Combine.

Safety Malik Hooker was invited, but will miss the opportunity after undergoing surgery in late-January to repair a torn labrum and hernia that he played with at the end of the 2016 season.

Center Pat Elflein was the only other Ohio State graduate — along with Johnston — invited to Indianapolis, after turning down an earlier invite to play in the Senior Bowl last month.


Not all NFL hopefuls out of Ohio State got an invite to perform at the combine, but they will still get their chance to show off in front of scouts at Ohio State’s Pro Day. Last year’s event drew over a hundred personnel from all 32 NFL teams, and with the rookie class’ success, there’s no doubt teams will be interested in the next round of talent.

Wide receiver and special team player Dontre Wilson never got his invite to Indianapolis, but isn’t going to let that keep him from going after his dream.


No Senior Bowl invite. No Combine Invite. More Motivation for me . Odds stacked against me yet again. God on my side = Success

— Dontre Wilson (@treydayy_) February 2, 2017

Each position group will follow a four-day schedule once they arrive in Indy, with each player having an opportunity to get in front of teams, doctors and the media. Some players may elect to sit out of one or more of the on-field workouts as they get closer to the event, but will still have a chance to perform them later on at their Pro Day workout should they so choose.

  • Day 1: Registration, Pre-Exam and X-rays, Orientation and Interviews
  • Day 2: Measurements, Medical Exams and Interviews
  • Day 3: Psychological Testing, NFLPA Meeting, Media, Bench Press and Interviews
  • Day 4: On-Field Workout (timing, stations, skill drills)

There is a lot of pressure on the NFL prospects that follow the record-tying 2016 Ohio State draft class, but there are seven Buckeyes — excluding Hooker — who are going to do their best to live up to the hype.

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