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Google Upcoming chances to see the Buckeyes - Columbus Dispatch (blog)

Upcoming chances to see the Buckeyes - Columbus Dispatch (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Upcoming chances to see the Buckeyes
Columbus Dispatch (blog)
On Oct. 19, the Agonis Club will hold its annual fundraiser at Value City Arena and give fans opportunities to interact with the team including a chance to watch the Buckeyes practice. For $75 per person ($25 for children 13 and under), fans can watch ...
Ohio State Basketball's 'Buckeyes on the Blacktop' Event Scheduled For October 6Eleven Warriors
Get an early look at Ohio State basketball at 'Buckeyes on the Blacktop' eventcleveland.com

all 3 news articles »


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Google Buckeyes want more than turnovers - BuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)

Buckeyes want more than turnovers - BuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes want more than turnovers
BuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)
Just fort a little perspective, the Buckeyes only had 12 interceptions in 2015 and returned three for scores (13 games). In 2014, the national championship year, the Buckeyes were near the top of college football with 25 interceptions in a 15 game ...

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tBBC Heard Around the ‘Shoe – 9/28/2016

Heard Around the ‘Shoe – 9/28/2016
Ben van Ooyen
via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Welcome to your tri-weekly look at all things Ohio State recruiting. Let’s get started!

Buckeyes Lose First 2017 Commitment:

In case you were under a rock yesterday, Danny Clark, a 3-star quarterback and the first recruit to commit to the class of 2017 decided to reopen his recruitment yesterday. Clark decided that he wasn’t going to fit in with the Buckeye offense, and he is probably right. He is a pro-style quarterback, and Urban’s offense has always been a spread you out read-option type offense.

What does this mean for the Buckeyes? Probably nothing. They would have taken both in this class if it came down to it, but they will probably stick with Tate Martell this year and Emory Jones next year and be done with the quarterback position for the next two recruiting cycles.

What does this mean for Danny Clark? Quite a bit actually. You can tell he was heartbroken to have to decommit from his dream school. He grew up wanting to be a Buckeye and had made that dream a reality, but realized that it wasn’t in his best interest to keep pursuing that dream. Clark will get plenty of opportunities at other schools, and whoever gets him will pick up a hard working you man who will do great things for them. The projected leaders at this point are Kentucky and Indiana, but I expect a lot of teams to come calling now knowing that he is available.


Out of respect for coaches on OSU staff, I will not be answering any questions on this topic. Ever… pic.twitter.com/KCUR4ZzcaA

— 10 Weeks (@DClarkQB) September 27, 2016


New Jersey Star Cuts List to Six, Buckeyes Make the Cut:

Dayln Wade-Perry, a 3-star defensive tackle out of New Jersey announced his top six yesterday and the Buckeyes have made the cut. Wade reported 25 offers, and cut it down to OSU, Stanford, FSU, UCLA, Penn State and the home school Rutgers.



The Buckeyes already have commitments from Jerron Cage and Haskell Garrett at the defensive tackle position, and if they took one more it would probably be Jay Tufele or Marvin Wilson leaving Wade-Perry on the outside looking in.

Most experts have him pegged to Stanford currently, but don’t rule out Chris Ash and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.


Visitors for Rutgers Shaping Up:

As the Buckeyes prepare to host Rutgers this weekend, the Buckeye coaching staff is preparing for some recruits to make their way to campus this weekend as well. A couple of 2018 kids from Wayne High School from Dayton, Ohio will be on hand to watch the Buckeyes play the Scarlet Knights and interact with the coaching staff. Alex Reigelsperger, a 3-star defensive end and Moses Douglass, a cornerback out of Springfield, Ohio will be in Columbus to check in on the Buckeyes.

While neither of these athletes have an offer from the Buckeyes, both still remain high on Ohio State. Reigelsperger spoke with 11W about the trip and had this to say:

“I can’t wait. I’ve been waiting to get a chance to go up there,” he told Eleven Warriors. “I’m also excited to see Rutgers play since I have an offer from there, as well. So I’m excited.”

Reigelsperger has offers from seven schools including Kentucky, Pittsburg, Iowa and Miami (OH), while Douglass has offers from ten schools including Kentucky, Bowling Green, Cincinnati and Iowa.





Okudah and Browning Making the Rounds:





Two of the highest remaining targets for the Buckeyes for 2017 are Jeffrey Okudah and Baron Browning, both 5-star recruits out of the state of Texas. While most are more optimistic about the Buckeyes landing Okudah than Browning, there was a point in time where both had Ohio State as their leaders.

Okudah will head to Athens, Georgia this weekend to watch the Bulldogs face off against Tennessee while Browning will travel to Michigan to watch the Wolverines take on the Wisconsin Badgers. Okudah visited Oklahoma two weeks ago when the Buckeyes invaded Norman, and is expected to make a trip to see the Buckeyes at the ‘Shoe sometime this fall. Browning is scheduled to visit Ohio State for the Michigan game on November 26th, and will make his decision a few days later.

The post Heard Around the ‘Shoe – 9/28/2016 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Google Ohio State Basketball's 'Buckeyes on the Blacktop' Event Scheduled For October 6 - Eleven...

Ohio State Basketball's 'Buckeyes on the Blacktop' Event Scheduled For October 6 - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State Basketball's 'Buckeyes on the Blacktop' Event Scheduled For October 6
Eleven Warriors
Your first chance to get an early look at the 2016-17 Ohio State men's and women's basketball teams is almost here. 'Buckeyes on the Blacktop' returns and is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 6, according to the school's Twitter account.

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Google BM5: Biggest '50/50' recruit left on OSU's board? - 247Sports

BM5: Biggest '50/50' recruit left on OSU's board? - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BM5: Biggest '50/50' recruit left on OSU's board?
247Sports
I think it's UCLA, Texas, or Ohio State in the end, with the Buckeyes needing to do work here. That said, landing Okudah will help for sure. I think a lot will be about how his parents feel after the official. But a decision so close after the visit ...

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tBBC Report the news, don’t create it

Report the news, don’t create it
Scott
via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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As a professional (snicker) journalist, I have always prided myself on two things: I never sensationalize and I never try and create the news.
I don’t write speculative stories. Never have. Never will. When there have been job openings, whether at city hall or in an athletic department, I won’t get into the game of naming who may get the job and who may be contacted and who is and isn’t a candidate. If I’m given a list of candidates, I print them. Otherwise, I don’t name names.
And I certainly won’t speculate on jobs that aren’t even open yet but are rumored or believed to be opening at some point in the near future.
Obviously we know where I’m going. With LSU firing Les Miles Sunday, one of the top jobs in the SEC and perhaps a top-10 job in the country is open.
The name game has already started. Prominent and currently employed coaches have been mentioned up as possible replacements.
LSU hasn’t — and may not — release any names of all coaches it will contact. Although the school will apparently contact OSU coach Urban Meyer according to online reports.
Experts on the radio and online think they already know who the candidates are.
Every blogger is presenting what he and/or she thinks is “the list.”
What all these so-called journalists are doing is trying to create the news in an attempt to be first to report it or speculate about it.
Makes no sense.
Wait until we know for sure. I would rather be correct than first. Although both is nice.
There is a domino effect this type of stuff creates that is unfair. Suppose Coach A at School A sees his name appear as a potential replacement for Coach B at School B.
He now has to answer questions about it every day. He has to try to ensure recruits and current players that he hasn’t been contacted and isn’t interested. And he has to get in front of the camera and say he is staying.
Then all of a sudden when the season is over he is contacted and he decides to interview and perhaps take the job. He is painted as a liar.
Then other coaches become candidates at School A if Coach A leaves.
And those coaches have to answer the same questions. And it goes around and around.
I’m not trying to be melodramatic here. And it’s OK for these conversations to happen at the water cooler (do offices still have these?) or via text messages with buddies.
But until the coaches are actually contacted or a school says, “Here are the coaches on our list,” it is not news.
And if it’s not news, it should not be reported.

The post Report the news, don’t create it appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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LGHL 2018 DE will be in Ohio State this weekend

2018 DE will be in Ohio State this weekend
Austin Kemp
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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More specifically, he is one of the elite players in the Buckeye State

News started out early on Tuesday morning as long-time quarterback commit Danny Clark decommitted from Ohio State. Clark was Ohio State's first commit in the 2017 class when he committed in 2013. This now means that the Buckeyes have an extra scholarship in this year's class and will be looking to fill that coveted spot over the next few months. You can read to full update on the Clark situation here.

Ohio State is hosting a number of prospects this weekend and two more were just confirmed on Tuesday. 2018 defensive end Alex Reigelsperger (Dayton, OH / Wayne) confirmed that he will be in Columbus. Reigelsperger does not yet have an Ohio State offer, but does hold some from Kentucky, Iowa and Pittsburgh. From Wayne High School, Reigelsperger is rated as the 17th best player in the state of Ohio. At nearly 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, he possesses great size and is stout against the run.

In order to gain an offer from the Buckeyes, Reigelsperger will have to continue to have a good sophomore season and then will probably have to camp in the spring and summer. Coach Greg Studrawa has taken the lead in this recruitment and will continue to push for him over the next year or so.

Below is a highlight reel of Reigelsperger.



Keeping things on the gridiron, another in-state star Moses Douglass (Springfield, OH / Springfield) will also be in Columbus for the Rutgers game. Douglass is a year younger than Reigelsperger, a class of 2019 athlete, and is a stand-out cornerback and receiver. At the moment, Douglass holds 10 offers, but that list does not include Ohio State. From Springfield High School, Douglass has not yet been evaluated from major recruiting sites, but that seems to be just right around the corner. Douglass will be a top prospect in the state of Ohio by the time his senior year rolls around and the Buckeyes are sure to be on him all the way to the end.


SW Ohio stars @a_reigelsperger and @MosesDouglass will be visiting #OhioState on Saturday for the Rutgers game https://t.co/abovQS4oEc

— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) September 27, 2016

On the hardwood, there was some mail being sent out to recruits. Coming out of the 2020 class, Josiah Fulcher from Pickerington Central (OH) got the coveted letter from Buckeye head coach Thad Matta.

Fulcher took to Twitter to tell the news.


Received my first D1 letter from THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY!! ⚪️#hardworkpaysoff pic.twitter.com/IVwJZblvve

— Josiah Fulcher (@jojo21__) September 27, 2016

With plenty of time left in his high school career, expect Fulcher to make some more noise around the basketball universe.

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Google Buckeyes play in honor of Dave Boston - Vinton County Courier (registration)

Buckeyes play in honor of Dave Boston - Vinton County Courier (registration)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes play in honor of Dave Boston
Vinton County Courier (registration)
LOGAN — Nelsonville-York quarterback Hunter Edwards turned and pitched the football to tailback Alex Mount on the first offensive snap for the Buckeyes in their game at Logan on Friday. Mount picked up six yards on pitch-18, a play that was certainly ...


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anyone from live in md or virginia?

Have you ever driven rush hour through Chicago, Atlanta, Miami? If not, then you are in for a real treat if you think Cinci and surrounding areas are bad since they don't hold a candle to the aforementioned, and DC is worse then those by a large margin.

doh! so im starting to rethink my strong opposition to self driving cars...
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Google Ohio State football | Rugby tackling still a hit with Buckeyes - Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State football | Rugby tackling still a hit with Buckeyes - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football | Rugby tackling still a hit with Buckeyes
Columbus Dispatch
The Buckeyes had been an average tackling team in 2013. Meyer wanted that to change, but when Ash introduced the rugby approach to him and Fickell, “both of us were very apprehensive,” Meyer recalled. “Actually, I said, 'No, we're going to do what we do.
Ohio State football: Buckeyes, Rutgers know each other wellUPI.com
Danny Clark Decommits From Ohio State BuckeyesCampus Insiders
A different homecoming for the BuckeyesBuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)
Mansfield News Journal -cleveland.com
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Google How will Buckeyes use LBs Jerome Baker, Dante Booker? Ohio State football depth chart...

How will Buckeyes use LBs Jerome Baker, Dante Booker? Ohio State football depth chart analysis - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


How will Buckeyes use LBs Jerome Baker, Dante Booker? Ohio State football depth chart analysis
cleveland.com
When the Buckeyes lined up against Tulsa in Week 2, it was Baker who started alongside Raekwon McMillan and Chris Worley. Against Oklahoma in Week 3, Baker earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors for having seven tackles, 1.5 sacks and ...


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Google Danny Clark, recruiting realities and when an Ohio State tattoo isn't enough: Doug...

Danny Clark, recruiting realities and when an Ohio State tattoo isn't enough: Doug Lesmerises - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Danny Clark, recruiting realities and when an Ohio State tattoo isn't enough: Doug Lesmerises
cleveland.com
If someone could have willed himself to Columbus, on the sheer force of his desire to play football for the Buckeyes, Clark would be signing with the Buckeyes in February of 2017, matching his fax to his ink of two years earlier. The quarterback's ...
Buckeyes in the NFL: Week 3247Sports

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LGHL The biggest surprise in the Big Ten so far this season might be Ohio State’s secondary

The biggest surprise in the Big Ten so far this season might be Ohio State’s secondary
Ian Cuevas
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 Buckeye defensive backs have been lights-out in 2016.

“[Biggest surprises in the Big Ten this season?] Ohio State's secondary”

- Brian Bennett, ESPN


The writers over at ESPN covering the Big Ten went over the biggest surprises this season so far. Some of the choices included Jabrill Peppers’ outstanding performances to date this season, Northwestern’s ugly regression, the rise of Wisconsin with a new quarterback to boot, and the turnaround of Nebraska gunslinger Tommy Armstrong. One of the topics, however, was also Ohio State’s secondary. The Buckeyes’ defensive backs have been superb to date and that certainly came as a surprise to most, considering that two of its members are tied for the lead in the FBS for interceptions at three each.

Star safety Malik Hooker has certainly stolen the show when it comes to the secondary, despite tremendous performances by Gareon Conley and Marshon Lattimore at cornerback. Conley has locked opposing wide receivers down while Lattimore is one of the two defensive backs mentioned earlier. Hooker is the other player with three interceptions to his name. Between those three players and Damon Webb, the secondary has been at its best playing in their ball-hawking nature.

“[Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year] 1. Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett

- Austin Ward, ESPN


So far so good for Ohio State and its players. In the ESPN Big Ten award projections, the Buckeyes have a clean sweep for the Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year (J.T. Barrett), the Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year (Malik Hooker), and of course the Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year (Barrett again). The choices are no-brainers at this point in the season. Although its early to hand the award to anyone, these two Buckeyes have made their case in the first four weeks of the season. Barrett has been playing at the level he was two seasons ago in 2014, when he finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

Hooker, meanwhile, has emerged as a star safety for Ohio State’s defense and has three interceptions so far this season. He alongside the other defensive backs have been a terror for opposing quarterbacks including Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield. Should Hooker and Barrett continue to dominate in their respective fields, they should have no problem locking up the award lists at the end of the season. And Ohio State will likely find itself in a position to compete for a championship because of it.

“[Big Ten Bowl Projections] College Football Playoff: Ohio State”

- Brian Bennett, ESPN


Another round of Big Ten bowl projections has made its way around. ESPN’s Brian Bennett broke down which teams will end up where according to how the teams have looked thus far. Slotted into the College Football Playoff is Ohio State, led by Urban Meyer and J.T. Barrett. After the Buckeyes walloped Oklahoma on its home field, it makes sense for Ohio State to be the favorite to make it to the playoff after four weeks.

As for the other slots, Wisconsin was chosen for the Rose Bowl while Michigan landed in the Capital One Orange Bowl. Nebraska is currently projected for the Outback Bowl, with Michigan State in the Holiday Bowl. Iowa finds itself in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, and Minnesota gets in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. Penn State gets slotted into the Foster Farms Bowl, while Maryland fills in at the Quick Lane Bowl.

STICK TO SPORTS:


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tBBC Watch: Ohio State’s Official Highlight Reel vs Tulsa

Watch: Ohio State’s Official Highlight Reel vs Tulsa
tBBC Staff
via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Ohio State Buckeyes silenced any disaster the Golden Hurricane presented during week two of the college football regular season.

Despite a sluggish start, Ohio State put together a 48-3 win behind the defensive excellence of Marshon Lattimore and Malik Hooker, who scored on interceptions late in the second quarter to give the Buckeyes a 20-3 lead heading into the locker room.

The offense did the rest in the second half, scoring four touchdowns behind the leadership of J.T. Barrett, who scored two rushing touchdowns in the second half. Mike Weber, Curtis Samuel, and Barrett combined to rush for 225 yards and three scores.

Watch the official highlight video of the Ohio State football program above.

The post Watch: Ohio State’s Official Highlight Reel vs Tulsa appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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LGHL Ohio State RB Mike Weber is filling Ezekiel Elliott’s shoes nicely

Ohio State RB Mike Weber is filling Ezekiel Elliott’s shoes nicely
Christopher Jason
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 redshirt freshman has impressed through three games.

By now, we all know the storyline. Ohio State had to replace 3,961 yards and 43 touchdowns from Ezekiel Elliott. Once Elliott got selected fourth overall in the NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, redshirt freshman running back Mike Weber was next-in-line for the “Cadillac position in college football.”

Through three games, Weber has fit right in and has exceeded expectations of Buckeye fans. Not only has he demonstrated the power that was advertised, but he has shown pretty good vision, acceleration and agility to make defenders miss at the second level.

He’s shown his power. Per CFB Film Room, out of Weber’s 350 rushing yards, a whopping 121 of those yards have came after contact, which equals 2.3 yards per contact, per attempt. Remember how Elliott was never stuffed at the line of scrimmage and always found a way to gain a first down on third or fourth-and-short? Well, out of his 53 carries, the Detroit native has only been stuffed at the line or behind the line of scrimmage on two of those carries.

Weber has also shown his surprising shiftiness by forcing 16 missed tackles. By comparison, Curtis Samuel — who has gained Percy Harvin comparisons — has forced 12 missed tackles on 31 carries. Pretty good for a “power back.”

Most importantly, Weber has moved the chains on 20 of those 53 carries.

Below, Weber shows his vision and acceleration. It seems as though the game has already slowed down — after just three games — for the redshirt freshman, which is extremely rare. One could argue that Weber is ahead of where Elliott was through his first three games as a starter.


His ability to see the crease slightly open up, cut on a dime and accelerate through the hole is extremely special.

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Below, the play is designed to go through the A-gap. In one of the few plays where the Ohio State offensive line failed to create a hole against Oklahoma, Weber used his instincts and speed to get to the edge and make something out of nothing. His ability to accelerate after his feet have stopped is pretty impressive.


If there has been one so-called “issue” with Weber so far, it has been his inability to break the big run that Buckeye fans were so used to with Elliott. There have been a number of shoestring tackles in the secondary that have brought down Weber, that could have gone for six. Out of his 53 carries, two of those have gone for 20-plus yards and 12 of those carries have gone for 10-plus yards. He’s gotten to the second level often; he’s just an arm tackle away from breaking the big one.

Here’s an example:


Overall, for a 5’10”, 212 lb. running back, Weber has showed a lot more than power as a runner. He has a bowling ball-like stature and a thick lower body, which reminds people of Carlos Hyde. But just like Hyde, he possesses great vision and acceleration, which makes him more than just an in between the tackles runner.

Buckeye fans should be exited for what’s to come with Weber, because although he hasn’t hit a home run yet, he has shown certain traits that would suggest him breaking one in the near future.

With the mix of the offensive line opening gaps for Weber, expect him to keep wearing down defenses and moving the chains. Fans obviously won’t forget Elliott, but Weber has made the transition much easier than most expected.

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Google Cougars Battle Buckeyes Wednesday - SIUE Cougars Official Athletic Site

Cougars Battle Buckeyes Wednesday - SIUE Cougars Official Athletic Site
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Cougars Battle Buckeyes Wednesday
SIUE Cougars Official Athletic Site
SCOUTING THE BUCKEYES: Ohio State is 3-6 and 2-2 in their last four games. The Buckeyes are 3-2 at home this season. Danny Jensen has three goals and three assists to lead the team with nine points. Parker Siegfried has played all nine games in goal ...


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LGHL QB Danny Clark’s decommitment is a sign of the times at Ohio State

QB Danny Clark’s decommitment is a sign of the times at Ohio State
E.L. Speyer
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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This isn’t your slightly older brother’s Buckeyes.

A funny thing happened in the world of Ohio State recruiting this morning.

Quarterback Danny Clark, an Ohioan who had been committed to Urban Meyer’s program for nearly three years, renounced his pledge to Ohio State ... and many fans viewed it as a win for the Buckeyes.

The Danny Clark saga is a microcosm of the recruiting super power that Meyer has built in Columbus, and it should make Buckeye fans should feel excited, optimistic and uneasy all at the same time.

For the longest time, Clark epitomized the stereotypical boy-dream of a kid who grew up in the shadow of Ohio Stadium. “I truly felt I was born to play for the Buckeyes,” he expressed in his decommitment letter on Twitter.


Out of respect for coaches on OSU staff, I will not be answering any questions on this topic. Ever... pic.twitter.com/KCUR4ZzcaA

— 10 Weeks (@DClarkQB) September 27, 2016

Reading that passage, it’s easy to envision a young Clark playing catch with his Dad in the backyard, donned in a loose-fitting jersey of Scarlet and Grey. Only in Clark’s mind, he wasn’t tossing the ball around with his Dad, he was throwing strikes to Teddy Ginn or Santonio Holmes in front of 100,000 screaming fans.

It appeared that Clark’s lifelong dream would be realized when he committed to Meyer in December of 2013. So why was his storybook ending rewritten today?

For one, the 6’4 quarterback isn’t the best fit for Ohio State’s offense. Clark admitted this much. The quarterback run has always been a staple of Meyer’s spread option attack, and Clark is better suited for a more traditional pro-style approach.

But that was the case in 2013 as well.

In truth, the Ohio State program has changed more in the last three years than Clark has. In the late-winter of 2013, the Buckeyes were recovering from a devastating loss to Michigan State in the Big 10 title game. Yes, that was OSU’s first loss in 25 games under Meyer, but the program didn’t have the national cache it does today.

Everything changed when Ohio State won the first College Football Playoff National Championship in 2015. The postseason wins against Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon served as a month-long infomercial for the Buckeyes’ recruitment brand. Blue-chip talent from across the country began to recognize that Columbus was a destination to realize college football glory. That notion was only further emphasized last Spring when five Buckeyes were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Meyer has always been an elite recruiter. Ohio State has always been a prestigious school. Yet the recent success has created an environment that has likely never been seen in the Midwest before; the OSU staff isn’t recruiting talent as much as it’s selecting it.

Unfortunately this means that sometimes even the most devout Buckeye supporters get left behind.

We’ll likely never know what transpired between Meyer and Clark leading up to today. Clark tweeted that he’ll never answer questions about the matter, out of respect for the coaches. The coaches are not even permitted to speak about specific recruits until national signing day in February.

Reading between the lines, it’s fair to assume that Clark didn’t develop into the player Meyer thought he’d be as a high school freshman. Ohio State has never signed multiple quarterbacks in a recruiting class under Meyer, yet the coaches actively pursued other options for the 2017 class well after Clark’s commitment. This summer Tate Martell, the second-ranked dual threat quarterback in the country, verbally committed to the Buckeyes.

Ohio State has a space issue, and this isn’t the year to spend two scholarships on a position where only one player can start. There are 17 prospects committed to OSU at the moment, but only six scholarship seniors set to leave the program after this season.

This means that the Buckeyes will need to shed at least 11 scholarship athletes from the current roster, through transfers or early entrees to the NFL. And that’s assuming Ohio State only signs 17 athletes this February, an unlikely scenario when the Buckeyes are considered to be leaders for a pair of five-stars, per 247sports, and in contention for other top-ranked recruits.

This is not a new scenario for the Ohio State coaching staff. The Buckeyes lost a commitment earlier this year from 4-star running back Todd Sibley, after he was asked to grayshirt in light of the numbers crunch. Sibley happens to be Clark’s teammate at Archbishop Hoban. It’s possible that the option to delay college enrollment for a year was presented to Clark, as well.

Even if Clark were to greyshirt, there was still no guarantee that he would ever play a meaningful down for his beloved Buckeyes. Emory Jones, the top-ranked dual threat signal caller in the class of 2018, is already in the fold for next year. He and Martell both seem better suited to succeed as Ohio State’s quarterback.

“Sometimes the writing is on the wall, and you just have to see through the tears to read what it says,” wrote Clark.

The writing is a list of four and five-star recruits from every corner of the country, destined to bring more championships to Columbus.

It’s OK to celebrate that. But don’t look past Danny Clark’s tears.

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BTN Polls: It’s time to pick your Week 5 Big Ten winners

Polls: It’s time to pick your Week 5 Big Ten winners
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network

Every week during the 2016 football season, the BTN.com team makes its Big Ten game predictions. We also provide polls for Big Ten fans to select their winners, and to compete with BTN’s Tom Dienhart and Brent Yarina all season long. See our Week 5 predictions below, and scroll down to vote for your winners. Tom Dienhart (@BTNTomDienhart) 2016 record: 37-8 Week 5 picks: Ohio State 51, Rutgers 0; Iowa 27, Northwestern 17; Maryland 33, Purdue 31; Minnesota 31, Penn State 24; Wisconsin 28, Michigan 27; Nebraska 49, Illinois 6; Michigan State 35, Indiana 24 Big Ten fans 2016 record:
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LGHL Will Ohio State’s Mike Weber break away this week against Rutgers?

Will Ohio State’s Mike Weber break away this week against Rutgers?
Matt Tamanini
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’s freshman RB has been close to busting through all season.

After a week off following their triumphant trip to Norman, the second-ranked Buckeyes are preparing to welcome an old friend back to the ‘Shoe in the form of new Rutgers Head Coach, Chris Ash. The former Ohio State Defensive Coordinator has guided the Scarlet Knights to a 2-2 (0-1) record in his first four games at the helm, coming off of a late 14-7 setback against Iowa last week. Despite an early .500 record, Rutgers has already had an up-and-down season.

Following an opening week blowout at the hands of Washington (now ranked in the AP Top-10), the Knights struggled early before pulling away against Howard and New Mexico ahead of dropping a heartbreaker against the Hawkeyes.

The betting line for this Saturday’s matchup opened at an absurdly wide margin, and the Buckeyes have outscored their first three opponents 170-37. So, conventional wisdom would dictate that the Ohio State offense will have its way with the Scarlet Knights. While that might eventually prove to be the case, Rutgers has allowed only 362.5 yards per week this season; a far cry from the 545.3 that the Buckeyes have averaged offensively.

While early season statistics aren’t always the best indicator of a team’s true identity, Ash will undoubtedly get his offensive units up to speed on the players that he coached in Columbus for the past two seasons. However, one of the most interesting aspects of the game will be on the other side of the ball, and how running back Mike Weber is used against Rutgers’ beat up front four.

Rutgers gave up 193 yards rushing against Iowa last week on 38 carries, most of which came before senior defensive end Quanzell Lambert suffered a season-ending knee injury. The team also lost one of the best playmakers in school history, wide receiver Janarion Grant.

So, while it is possible, and perhaps even probable, that given Ohio State’s dominating offensive line that many of the team’s running backs could be successful this week, it will be instructive to see how Weber responds in his first taste of Big Ten action, especially in advance of more bruising games on the horizon. It will also be telling how and where Offensive Coordinators Ed Warinner and Tim Beck choose to get him his touches. For that reason, Mike Weber is this week’s offensive player to watch.

The stats


Name: Mike Weber
Number: 25
Position: Running Back
Year: RS Freshman
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 222 lbs.

The first-year running back has instantly become a vital cog in the Ohio State offense, racking up 351 yards rushing and a touchdown in his first three collegiate games. While he has not yet shown the breakaway speed that Buckeye fans became accustomed to from Ezekiel Elliot and Carlos Hyde, Weber has proven that he is an effective between-the-tackles runner, who is able to get to the second level and occasionally make defenders miss.

While Weber has yet to break through with a signature long run, like Hyde’s against Michigan or Elliot’s against Alabama, he has appeared on the doorstep of breaking one off on multiple occasions, only to be tripped up at the last second by a defender. Given two weeks to recuperate following his first true game action since his high school senior season in 2014, perhaps this could be the game in which Weber has his moment.

Opposition research

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Jim O'Connor-USA TODAY Sports
Quanzell Lambert (22) and Cardale Jones (12) when Ohio State traveled to Rutgers in 2015.

Rutgers’ first four opponents have been incredibly well balanced offensively, passing for 723 yards and rushing for 727. However, the Scarlet Knights have not yet faced an offense as explosively balanced as Ohio State. The Buckeyes lead the Big Ten in scoring offense (56.7), total offense (545.3), rushing offense (306/gm), and yards per play (7.1).

In the best-case scenario, Rutgers’ defense would be thoroughly tested by the OSU offense, but late in the game against Iowa, Lambert, one of the team’s defensive leaders, suffered a knee injury that will cost him the balance of his season. Lambert had a total of 15 tackles on the year, including 1.5 for loss, and he led the team with four quarterback hurries.

This week’s depth chart shows that RS junior Darnell Davis will take over on the right side of the Rutgers line. Though not as experienced as Lambert, Davis does have eight tackles thus far in 2016, including two behind the line of scrimmage.

Davis will most often be going up against Ohio State’s left defensive tackle Jamarco Jones, who created a number of massive holes for Weber to run through against Oklahoma.



What to watch for


It’s unlikely that Ohio State will need a Herculean effort from Weber to defeat the Scarlet Knights, but with more potentially taxing games on the horizon, it will be interesting to see how the Buckeye coaching staff uses the freshman back, and how he responds.

Given the attention paid to quarterback J.T. Barrett’s efficiency and H-back Curtis Samuel’s playmaking ability, Weber has become a bit of an under-the-radar weapon; chipping away at defenses for small chunks of yards at a time. Averaging 6.4 yards per carry, Weber is nearly always a threat to tear off a big gain, but hasn’t had many opportunities to make a spashy impact on the offense yet.

So far this season, Weber has seen the ball almost exclusively via the zone-read, and against Oklahoma, those runs were almost always designed to go up the middle; even though he did have success bouncing outside to extend plays and pick up extra yardage.

However, in previous games the play calling did allow for opportunities for the freshman to get to the outside via counters, sweeps, and screens.



Though Ohio State’s explosive playcallers have H-backs Samuel and Dontre Wilson at their disposal, it will be telling to see if they find opportunities to get Weber in space in order to allow him to not only show off his speed, but to also prevent him from taking as many hits as he has in the season’s first three games.

The Rutgers defense has only allowed three runs of 23 or more yards this season, two of which went for touchdowns, and while he has been tantalizingly on more than a few times, it would be nice to see Weber have a break away run and a breakthrough game this weekend.

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