Kyle Snyder: Olympic Champion
Garth via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

In September, 2015, Steve Snyder was pensive as he headed to a celebratory dinner with family. Still a little stunned by what his 19 year old son had just accomplished, he could not help but fret for the future.

As a newly crowned World Wrestling Champion in Las Vegas, Kyle Snyder now faced the pressure that comes with a title in a year long run up to the Olympics, and dad Steve knew it. With more dread than joy in his voice, Steve concluded, “we all have to process what this is about.”


Kyle Snyder. Courtesy, wrestlingisbest.com


The year that followed was eventful: a convincing loss to menacing Russian Anzor Boltukaev in January preceded a joyous NCAA triumph in Madison Square Garden. Then a comeback win against reigning Olympic champ Jake Varner in the Olympic Trials preceded a close loss in Germany to Khetag Gazyumov, the man Snyder has just vanquished in the biggest match of Snyder’s young life.

2-1.

In becoming the youngest Olympic champ in American history (besting Henry Cejudo by a few months), Snyder showed the same things that has propelled his success: the ability to experiment and learn from defeat, the ability to out process an opponent’s thinking in the heat of battle and a motor that just never stops as those of opponents sputter.

The bout with Gazyumov was tense, power packed and strategic. No takedown was earned, yet Snyder struck when he could, resulting in a first point pushout, and backed out of danger when the single leg was not there. Kyle took heed of a warning, avoided the shot clock and earned the Olympic winner by putting his opponent on the clock.

The action was furious and maddening as the seconds ticked away. Everyone panicked except a 20 year old from Woodbine, MD.

It has been a wild year for Kyle Snyder–the highs were epically high. The lows were few and far between, almost like whispers of doubt and dread. But while hey caused anxiety among critics and those close to Kyle, the champ himself never let them factor into his focus on the mission.

Steve, the wait and weight are done and gone. Rest easy. Lightly lies the crown.




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AP Poll: Buckeyes start 2016 season at No. 6 - 10TV
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


AP Poll: Buckeyes start 2016 season at No. 6
10TV
The Associated Press has released its preseason and the Buckeyes are starting out at No. 6 going into 2016. Earlier this month, the Amway Coaches Poll placed Ohio State at No. 5. Much like the coaches poll, the AP Poll has Alabama and Clemson starting ...
Ohio State Buckeyes No. 6 in AP preseason pollDayton Daily News
Buckeyes make AP top 25WDTN
Ohio State football | Buckeyes ranked No. 6 in AP pollColumbus Dispatch
MyDaytonDailyNews -247Sports -Eleven Warriors
all 125 news articles »

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Ohio State will only see a few strong rushing attacks in 2016
Chad Peltier via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Defensive line is one of Ohio State's biggest areas of concern for 2016, but at least they won't see too many elite run games.

A few weeks ago we identified the three most important statistics that would determine the Buckeyes' 2016 season. Those were defensive adjusted line yards (the defensive line's ability to stop the run), passing PPP+ (the passing game's ability to create explosive plays and be efficient per-snap), and defensive passing PPP+ (the secondary's ability to limit explosive plays in particular).

Those three statistics tie back to three position groups that experienced a great deal of personnel turnover -- and the receivers and secondary in particular are where experience seems to be the most important.

Last week we looked at the pass defenses the Buckeyes will face this season — half of their opponents had statistically elite secondaries last year — but this week we’ll look at the opposing rushing attacks that the defensive line will have to prepare for.


The Buckeyes face five top-40 rushing attacks this season: Bowling Green (?!), Oklahoma, Indiana, Nebraska, and Maryland. Let's break these down a little further:

Bowling Green's third-ranked rushing attack


Bowling Green surprisingly had the third-best rushing attack in the country last season, so the Buckeyes will be tested right out of the gate. The caveat here is that they also lost a lot of personnel over the offseason, including head coach Dino Babers.

First, starting running back Travis Greene, a nearly 1,300-yard rusher, is gone. But his replacement, senior backup Fred Coppet had nearly identical per-play effectiveness last year, averaging the same highlight yards per opportunity (5.3) and just 1% lower opportunity rate (42%). So personnel-wise, the Bowling Green attack shouldn't see much of a drop-off, and should be at least decently efficient, if not the most explosive rushing attack possible. Further, sophomore Matt Domer only had eight touches last year, but was incredibly explosive, averaging 14.6 highlight yards per opportunity. With personnel losses at quarerback and the top two wide receivers, it's possible that the Falcons rely more on the run at least early on.

The Oklahoma offensive jugernaut


The Buckeye defense will obviously have a lot to worry about in week three. Once you get past Heisman candidate Baker Mayfield at quarterback, there's the running back duo of Samaje Perine (the current record holder for rushing yards in a game), and the higher-rated recruit Joe Mixon.

While the duo combines for one of the best backfields in the country talent-wise, they had a few distinct weaknesses. First, they were "only" 28th in rushing S&P+ last year. This was primarily due to relatively poor efficiency, ranking 58th in rushing success rate. As Bill mentions,


It also doesn't help that the Sooners lose their top two offensive linemen, both All-Big 12 picks.

However, their danger comes from explosiveness. Perine and Mixon average 6.3 and 7 highlight yards per opportunity, so if they do reach the five yard marker, they often turn that run in to an explosive play. That's the big concern for Ohio State -- keeping the pair from hitting big running plays.

Nebraska loses its line


Nebraska should be set at skill positions -- both quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. and senior running back Terrell Newby are decent options for last year's 32nd-ranked rushing unit. Neither is particularly efficient nor explosive, but they got the job done enough.

That was mostly due to a great offensive line that was 29th in adjusted line yards and 12th in adjusted sack rate -- but unfortunately for Huskers fans, they lose three starters along that line. The Buckeye defensive line, on the other hand, will likely have its rotation down by the time they face the Huskers in the last third of the season.

Maryland had a top-15 rushing attack?


Even using regular old dummy stats -- rushing yards per game -- the Terrapins were 31st in rushing last season, so it shouldn't be that much of a surprise. In fact, they were 12th in average yards per rush. You may not have thought of Brandon Ross as a superstar back, but he nevertheless averaged 9.5 highlight yards per opportunity. What the Terrapins lacked in consistency and efficiency (they were just 43rd in rushing success rate), they more than made up for in explosiveness.

Ross is now gone, but there are options. The veteran is senior Wes Brown, but he had Ross's efficiency (just 38%), but not his explosiveness (just 3.4 highlight yards per opportunity). Without efficiency or explosiveness, the Terrapins might need a spark from sophomore Ty Johnson (averaged nine highlight yards per opportunity in limited action last year) and their quarterbacks, Perry Hills and Caleb Rowe, who were statistically among the most efficient and explosive runners on the team. Much like Oklahoma -- albeit with a distinct talent difference -- the concern for the Buckeyes will be the quarterback run game and the backs' explosiveness.

Overall, the schedule looks much more manageable when it comes to opposing running backs. There aren't many household names outside of the Oklahoma game, but there are a few sneaky-good rushing attacks in Indiana, Maryland, Bowling Green, and Nebraska.

Finally, they didn't make my arbitrary cut at the top-40 rushing S&P+ programs, but Penn State has both Saquon Barkley and top running back recruit Miles Sanders in Joe Morehead's new offense. If I had to guess, I'd put the Nittany Lions second to Oklahoma for best rushing attacks on the Buckeyes' 2016 schedule.

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Ohio State football: Watch Buckeyes assistant Zach Smith mic'd up at practice - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football: Watch Buckeyes assistant Zach Smith mic'd up at practice
cleveland.com
... 2016 season. The Buckeyes have a deep receiver room, but it's without any returning starters. Get an idea for how Smith is working with that group in the video below. Ohio State on Sunday released a video of Smith mic'd up during Buckeyes training ...
Buckeyes are all about championshipsGrand Island Independent
Ohio State football | Noah Brown raring to go after long layoffColumbus Dispatch
Four-star Smith likes practice tempo, impressed with Ohio State247Sports
Eleven Warriors -247Sports.com -College Spun
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Ohio State Buckeyes No. 6 in AP preseason poll - Dayton Daily News
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State Buckeyes No. 6 in AP preseason poll
Dayton Daily News
The Ohio State Buckeyes rank sixth in the Associated Press preseason poll, which was released Sunday. Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, Florida State and LSU make up the top five. Michigan ranks seventh. Michigan State is 12th. Iowa is 17th. Ohio State ...
Ohio State football | Buckeyes ranked No. 6 in AP pollColumbus Dispatch
Buckeyes make AP top 25WDTN
Ohio State Buckeyes ranked sixth in AP Top 25 preseason pollMyDaytonDailyNews
247Sports -Land-Grant Holy Land -Eleven Warriors
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Buckeye Kyle Snyder Wrestles for Gold
Garth via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Accomplishing what no other American male has done at these 2016 Rio Olympics Games 20 year old Ohio State Junior Kyle Snyder will wrestle for gold.


Kyle Snyder. Photo by Josephine Gartrell


Snyder overcame an early four point throw against sixth ranked Elizbar Okidaze of Georgia to earn the right to face Azerbaijani Khetag Gazyumov, ranked third in the world. Gazyumov, himself former world champ, narrowly beat Snyder in July in the German Grand Prix semifinals.

Snyder started his day with convincing wins, first 10-3 over 19th ranked Javier Cortina of Cuba, then 7 zip over Albert Saritov, the 15th ranked 2011 Silver medalist from Romania.

Those wins set up a semi encounter with Okidaze. Snyder needed a last second takedown in June to beat Okidaze by tiebreaks at the World Cup in Los Angeles.

Snyder has had to fend off repeated upper body throw attempts all day. Finally Okidaze connected, barely exposing Snyder’s back to the mat. Snyder trailed by 4 at the break. But then the 20 year old motor of the Ohio Regional Training Center prodigy took over. After three successive push out points it was obviously Snyder was taking control. Before I could tweet that observtion, Snyder had accomplished the go ahead takedown. Fighting off a dangerous scramble, Snyder nearly put Okidaze on his back, walking away with nine straight points to win 9-4 in a three minute pillaging of the defenseless Georgian.

As was true in the 2015 World Championships, Snyder truthfully has not had to contend with the toughest of brackets, though Okidaze is obviously a serious contender. But unlike the World Championships, there is some minimal seeding in 2016, and Snyder obviously earned his top seed. In Gazyumov he faces one of only two wrestlers to beat Snyder since the 2015 World Championships. It was widely thought Anzor Boltukaev, the other victor over Snyder would advance to face Snyder in the gold medal match. However, 30 year old Boltukaev of the doping plagued Russian Federation, was upset 8-5 in the round of 16 by eighth ranked Valeri Andriitsev of Ukraine.


Imposing Khetag Gazyumov of Azerbaijan awaits Kyle Snyder in the Olympic Gold medal match. Courtesy, Gettyimages


In Saturday’s action, Ohio Regional Training Center’s other medal contender Tervel Dlagnev gave a heroic effort but his chronically bad back stood in his way. After toying with his first two opponents and looking sharp, it was obvious he had been badly hurt in his semi-final match, giving up a quick takedown and four match ending gut wrenches. Really unable to go in the bronze match, he settled for an honorable fifth when the same fate awaited him in that bronze match.




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Ohio State football | Buckeyes ranked No. 6 in AP poll - Columbus Dispatch
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Ohio State football | Buckeyes ranked No. 6 in AP poll
Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State is ranked No. 6 in the preseason Associated Press media poll (http://collegefootball.ap.org/poll) released this morning. The Buckeyes, coming off a 12-1 season but having to replace 16 starters, are the highest-ranked Big Ten team. Michigan ...
Ohio State Buckeyes No. 6 in AP preseason pollDayton Daily News
Ohio State Buckeyes ranked sixth in AP Top 25 preseason pollMyDaytonDailyNews
Ohio State Football Ranked No. 6 In Preseason AP Top 25Scout
cleveland.com -Land-Grant Holy Land -CBS sports.com (blog)
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Ohio State ranked No. 6 in first AP Poll of 2016
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


Let’s get this season started.

Sunday afternoon, we took another step closer to the college football season when the AP released their initial poll for the 2016 season. In the poll, the Ohio State Buckeyes start at No. 6, and received one first-place vote.

Ohio State made history last season as the first unanimous preseason number one team in both major polls. So while polls are fun to look at and are accepted as a measure of who the best teams in the nation are, don’t necessarily let it help or hurt your expectations of this year’s squad.

Arguably the biggest non-conference game of the season for the Buckeyes comes against Oklahoma, who is ranked No. 3 in the poll. That game will be played September 17 in Norman, and will be crucial for the Buckeyes’ College Football Playoff hopes.

Alabama came in at No. 1 in the poll, followed by Clemson at No. 2, the aforementioned Oklahoma Sooners at No. 3, Florida State at No. 4, and LSU to round out the top five. Michigan came in right behind Ohio State at No. 7. Big Ten foes Michigan State and Iowa came in at No. 12 and No. 17 respectively.

The season starts September 3 against Bowling Green, and we can hardly wait to get Buckeye football started back up. It’s been too long.

Here are the full results of the AP Poll:

1. Alabama

2. Clemson

3. Oklahoma

4. Florida State

5. LSU

6. Ohio State

7. Michigan

8. Stanford

9. Tennessee

10. Notre Dame

11. Ole Miss

12. Michigan State

13. TCU

14. Washington

15. Houston

16. UCLA

17. Iowa

18. Georgia

19. Louisville

20. USC

21. Oklahoma State

22. North Carolina

23. Baylor

24. Oregon

25. Florida

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Ohio State Buckeyes ranked sixth in AP Top 25 preseason poll - WHIO
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State Buckeyes ranked sixth in AP Top 25 preseason poll
WHIO
The Ohio State Buckeyes are ranked sixth in the AP Top 25 preseason poll. The Buckeyes, 12-1 last season, received one first-place vote and 1,224 voting points. The poll was released Sunday . Reigning national champion Alabama is the preseason No. 1.
Ohio State Buckeyes No. 6 in AP preseason pollDayton Daily News
Ohio State football ranked No. 6 in preseason AP pollcleveland.com
Ohio State ranked No. 6 in first AP Poll of 2016Land-Grant Holy Land
Eleven Warriors -247Sports
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The 10 most important Ohio State Buckeyes heading into 2016, Pt. 1 - Land-Grant Holy Land
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


The 10 most important Ohio State Buckeyes heading into 2016, Pt. 1
Land-Grant Holy Land
He has only started 13 games in his career, so although he will be the most experienced player in the young Buckeye secondary, he still does not have a great amount of experience as a starting cornerback. Also, he was helped greatly by two ballhawking, ...


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Meyer has big holes to fill as Buckeyes begin 2016 campaign - Defiance Crescent News (subscription)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Meyer has big holes to fill as Buckeyes begin 2016 campaign
Defiance Crescent News (subscription)
Ezekiel Elliot, one of the best running backs in Buckeyes history, departed early for the NFL, as did defensive end Joey Bosa. Both were stalwarts in the 2014 national championship run and right on through last season. Just six starters from last year ...
Buckeyes counting on WeberHighlands Today
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Weber keys OSU's running back corpMartins Ferry Times Leader

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Buckeyes to wear 'Chic Harley throwbacks' for Nebraska game - 247Sports
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Buckeyes to wear 'Chic Harley throwbacks' for Nebraska game
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! The rankings are based on a number of factors and are my projections for the impact each prospect is likely to have on the ...
Report: Ohio State Will Wear 1916 Throwbacks Against NebraskaCollege Spun
Ohio State to Wear Chic Harley Era Uniforms Nov. 5 Against Nebraska During Military Appreciation GameEleven Warriors

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The 10 most important Ohio State Buckeyes heading into 2016, Pt. 1
Christopher Jason via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Taking a look at the most important Buckeyes, beginning with numbers 10 through seven.

When looking at the 2016 depth chart compared to the 2015 depth chart, there are noticeable holes and questions regarding inexperience, due to the mass exodus of NFL departures and graduation. Using key departures, spotlighting players at important positions, leadership qualities and players switching positions, we came up with the 10 most important players on the team. They may not be the most heralded players, or even the best players, but they will be vital to this team’s on-field success.

This is the first of three installments, be sure to check back.

10. Sean Nuernberger


Why? In 2015, Ohio State scored 58 offensive touchdowns. Entering the 2016 season, Ohio State returns J.T. Barrett and Curtis Samuel, who scored only 14 of those 58 offensive touchdowns. So why is the kicker vital for this team’s success? Because even though they have a boatload of talent rising up the offensive depth chart, they won’t score as many touchdowns as they did in 2014 or 2015. They will have to settle for more field goals than the 15 they attempted last season, and they’re going to need to make more of them.

2015 performance: Sean Nuernberger didn’t have a great 2015. He lost out on kickoff, extra point and field goal duties to Jack Willoughby, a graduate transfer from Duke, after being the favorite heading into the season. When he did get a chance to see the field later in the season, Nuernberger connected on 17-of-17 extra points and 3-of-4 field goals.

Question marks: With kickers in general, one would have to always be concerned with their mental state. As a freshman on the National Championship team, the highly touted kicker was 13-for-20 kicking field goals and 89-of-89 on extra points, before losing his job to Willoughby in the preseason. Will Nuernberger have his confidence restored for 2016, or was his confidence shattered from losing his job?

Conclusion: The Kentucky native is a career 67-percent field goal kicker and has yet to miss an extra point. He won’t be looking over his shoulder this season and he should bounce-back from his tough 2015 campaign. The highly touted kicker will be counted on to be consistent and put points on the board for this young offense.

9. Gareon Conley


Why? Last year we ranked Eli Apple on this list. Apple started the 2014 season as a field corner across from Doran Grant, and although he impressed, no one had him pinned as a future NFL first rounder. If you go back through the list of boundary corners that Meyer has had at Ohio State, you’ll find two first round selections and a fourth rounder. Make no mistake about it, Conley will also be a future NFL draft pick. The boundary position is tougher and much more physical than the field position that Conley played last season. Ohio State typically rolls coverage to the field side, which will give more help to the corner playing across from Conley, and Conley will have to be more of a force player against the run game when the ball is ran into the boundary. It’s a key position in that defense and big names have started there in the past few seasons.

2015 performance: According to the guys at CFB Filmroom, Conley was the most targeted player on the team last year, with 58 targets (Apple was second with 54). Out of those 58 targets, he allowed only 21 completions, which was one less than Apple on four more targets. Conley was tied for the third most passes defended (five), picked off two passes and allowed 12 first downs through the air. As a tackler, Conley finished with 42 on the year, with only five missed tackles (Apple had 11 missed tackles).

Question marks: It seems that every season there is a new leader of the secondary, and it is now Conley’s turn. He has only started 13 games in his career, so although he will be the most experienced player in the young Buckeye secondary, he still does not have a great amount of experience as a starting cornerback. Also, he was helped greatly by two ballhawking, veteran safeties in Tyvis Powell and Vonn Bell, and will not get that same amount of help by the two first year safeties in 2016.

Conclusion: The 6’0”, 195 lb corner has the size and possesses the physicality to flip over and play the boundary position in Greg Schiano’s defense. After a tough outing in 2014 when he replaced an injured Eli Apple for a series against Michigan State, fans were questioning his ability as a future starting corner. He responded by putting together a solid first season and he earned the opportunity to play on the tougher side of the field. If Conley puts up a solid season, he should be a household name by the end of the season and could make an Apple-like jump to the NFL.

8. Chris Worley


Why? Darron Lee came in as our No. 2 most important player last season, as he was observed to be the defense’s biggest playmaker prior to the season. Lee manned the SAM linebacker position, which is where the Swiss-Army knife is positioned on the Ohio State defense. The SAM linebacker spot needs to be athletic enough to cover tight ends, running backs and receivers, strong enough to be stout against the run and possess the ability to play in space against spread offenses. Remember Lee’s impact versus Oregon? Worley is replacing the biggest athletic freak on the 2015 Ohio State defense and will be asked to do a ton in his first year as a starter.

2015 performance: Worley played in 12-of-13 games for the Buckeyes in 2015. He registered 17 total tackles, 1 sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. He played mostly special teams and mop up duty, and didn’t see much time on the starting defense.

Question marks: People forget that Chris Worley actually started over Darron Lee as a freshman in the first game of the 2014 season versus Navy. He finished that game with 52 snaps on the starting defense and registered five tackles. Unfortunately for Worley, he has yet to start another game since that day, as Lee took the job and ran with it all the way to the first round of the NFL Draft. Worley is a physical clone of Darron Lee and will need to put it all together like his predecessor to have an impactful and playmaking 2016.

Conclusion: Worley has the size (6’2”, 228 lbs) and athleticism to succeed at the SAM linebacker position. He was neck-and-neck with Lee before Lee broke out as a player and later became a first rounder.

7. Marcus Baugh


Why? We put Marcus Baugh on this list last season, but for a completely different reason. Last season, Baugh was the backup tight end behind Nick Vannett, where he was featured in the always key 12 personnel (2 TE, 2 WR, 1 RB) grouping. If you think back to some of Ezekiel Elliott’s biggest runs of his career, they came out of a two tight end set. Flash forward to this season, there might not be a reliable backup tight end (maybe freshman Jake Hausmann) to run as many two tight end sets, so it might be up to Baugh to play almost every tight end snap. If you look back throughout Meyer’s career, he has always had a legit TE1 who has gone onto the NFL and Baugh will be next.

2015 performance: Per the team’s website, Baugh averaged 38 plays per game over the final eight games of the season. He only registered two receptions for 32 yards, but he was excellent as a blocker and came up huge on Elliott’s biggest runs.

Question marks: The Riverside, CA native is well-known for his off-field mishaps. It is now his turn to be a leader on the team and especially for his young positional group. He’s been able to hide behind Jeff Heuerman and Nick Vannett, but that is not the case anymore. If he stays in line, he arguably has more natural talent than those two guys who are currently in the NFL.

Conclusion: Baugh came to Ohio State highly touted and he now has the chance to put it all together. With the lack of known depth behind him, it looks like he will shoulder the majority of the load and if the spring game tells us anything, he will be highly involved in the passing game. Expect big things from Baugh in ‘16.

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Sunday Morning Coffee: October 26, 1919
jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Sunday morning breeze was brisk. A settling of coldness had dropped anchor on the region – hovering just a degree or two above the freezing mark. Quietness had descended in the early morning hours, only a distant rumbling of nature, a whisking wind, or a car not so near, managed to eke any semblance of noise.

Chic Harley stepped from The Edward Campbell House on Washtenaw Avenue in Ann Arbor and onto the porch. Half of the Buckeyes Football team was staying here, while the other half was on the other side of town at the Paul C. Freer House on Hill Street. It was a head game approach that the University of Michigan liked playing with their opponents when they came into town to play. “Split ‘em up!” The Wolverines Head Coach Fielding Yost would bark to the papers whenever the question arose as to why they did this to the teams that came to play. “Confuses ‘em!”

Chic smiled – almost laughing. He held a steaming hot cup of coffee as he looked out at the perfectly manicured lawn and hedges – wondering if the frost would kill them. “Michigan’s problem!” he whispered to himself as he put the cup of coffee to his lips.

The day before over at Ferry Field a full house, 26,000 or so, were treated to the unexpected. The previous meetings between the Buckeyes and the Wolverines were anything other than ‘glamorous’ for OSU. The Wolverines had dominated the Buckeyes over the past. They commanded a 15-0-2 advantage. The Buckeyes had never won against the Maze and Blue.

Just then Quarterback Gaylord Stinchcomb stepped out onto the porch with a steaming cup of coffee as well. He and Chic looked at one another, nodding. Nothing else was said. It was just passing six in the morning, both early raisers, couldn’t sleep in, just so unnecessary – especially after their historic game the day before.

The game began in the late morning, right before noon. Time was given for the fans to get there and seated, as it had been scheduled to start at eleven. The matchup was pretty equal. Michigan was always tough, lining up some of the best in the nation. Quarterback Cliff Sparks was a ‘fancy’ passer and he had ran his mouth prior to this matchup of how he’d make Chic and the Buckeyes regret they travelled to Ann Arbor. It made all the papers. There was also Archie Weston, William Cruse, and the brute Frank Culver. But that was all right – the Buckeyes had weapons too.

It started slow, no scoring. Bruises were being created. The aim to injure was a clear goal on both sides. But everyone, even those slow to get up, took a deep breath and did precisely that – got up. The Buckeyes began to gel in the second quarter.

“Your run around the left in the second was really nice.” Gaylord looked over at Chic before taking a sip of his coffee.
“Thanks.” Chic nodded as he too sipped at his coffee.

Gaylord spoke of the lone touchdown of the game. Chic took a pitch out from Gaylord and ran to the left. The Buckeyes were on their own forty-four. Culver of Michigan sprang forward, arms outstretched, ready for a clinic on demolition. But Chic was way too fast for him. He turned the corner leaving a stumbling Frank Culver to fall face first without having any pleasure of touching any Buckeye, even a blocker. And off Chic went – scampering fifty-six yards untouched. The nearest Wolverine to him when he dropped the ball in the end zone was just passing the twenty.

Chic would drop kick the extra point, making it seven to nothing. That would be the score at the half. In the third Chic would continue running at will, but just could not get the ball back into the end zone. The Wolverines were completely focused on him. He would nail two field goals though – one in the third from fifteen yards out and one in the fourth from twenty-seven yards out. This would account for all of the points the Buckeyes would score that day. Michigan would manage a field goal in the fourth. The final 13-3.

What made it all the much better for Chic was the way he silenced Cliff Sparks and his overconfident mouth. On the defensive side, Chic – a safety – would intercept Sparks four times. Each time was on nice drives that clearly looked as if a score was destined. It had to be morally devastating for the entire Wolverine team – on each occasion.

“I can’t believe Yost there at the end.” Gaylord looked again towards Chic as he took another sip from his coffee mug.

“He only spoke the truth!” Chic solemnly responded, yet evidence of sarcasm shined. He winked at Gaylord.

They both laughed.

At the end of the game, with the Buckeyes winning for the first time ever against the Wolverines, now making their record against them 1-15-2 – Michigan’s Head Coach Fielding Yost spoke from a bull horn to the stadium, uncharacteristically congratulating OSU on their win. “You deserve your victory, you fought brilliantly,” Yost began. “You boys gave a grand exhibition of football strategy and while I am sorry, dreadfully sorry, that we lost, I want to congratulate you. And you, Mr. Harley, I believe, are one of the finest little machines I have ever seen.”

“Little machine?” Gaylord laughed.

“Probably meant oiled machine!” Chic offered.

“Let’s get more coffee before the others wake.” Gaylord headed back into the Edward Campbell House on Washtenaw Avenue in Ann Arbor.

Chic Harley looked out at the magnificently manicured lawn and hedges and smiled before turning and following Gaylord Stinchcomb into the large brick house serving as their quarters for only a few hours longer before they headed south to Columbus.

The post Sunday Morning Coffee: October 26, 1919 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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If you're trying to save money with AWS forget about it. AWS is more expensive than dedicated servers at a colo. The only solutions we opt for AWS is when we need to pay that premium because we have a solution that needs that elasticity to scale up and down, or if it is just a temporary solution so we don't need dedicated solution. For example, if its a site that could get a Reddit or Slashdot front page from time to time, then you need to be able to scale between that average, manageable load and the unmanageable load from a huge traffic surge. When you have a predictable traffic patterns, and I would imagine this forum does, having a dedicated server is the most cost effective approach and I would argue even less maintenance. A lot of savings comes in bandwidth. For instance the company I uses essentially has 100mpbs unmetered included for free on all servers by default. You can transfer at 1gbps, I'm just saying the bandwidth that is included for free would cost you over $2,000/mo with Amazon. For a dedicated server for a forum I would not be colo'ing my own hardware though. You really should be leasing the dedicated server itself.

As far as expenses, I will preface by saying I can't say for certain how much traffic you are getting, but I can try to estimate it based on the on the views against the age of the posts and assume a 50/50 split between registered and unregistered traffic. If my estimates are anywhere close you should be able to easily host this forum for about $400/mo, perhaps as little as $200/mo but no more than $600/mo all-in. Nothing to buy upfront or maintain. You would surprised just how much traffic you can push with modern hardware and a well configured web server with caching (I prefer nginx to Apache or Apache + Varnish for this site), not mention tuning the database. It does not take a cluster of servers to handle a forum of this size when setup well, a single server can be more than adequate.

If you are set on the cloud at give Google a look. GCE is cheaper than EC2 and GCE actually does some things better in the way you can manage storage and such with instances than EC2 does.

If you want drop me a PM and I can put you in touch with a company I've leased many servers from over the last 10 years. Their prices are some of the best around, zero problems and always good support. Heck, I depending on my backlog I could even volunteer to help you configure, migrate and stress test the hell out of it.

TFF: Michael Jordan could start as true freshman for the Buckeyes - ABC6OnYourSide.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


TFF: Michael Jordan could start as true freshman for the Buckeyes
ABC6OnYourSide.com
COLUMBUS -- Make sure you buy a program for that Buckeye season opener against Bowling Green Sept. 3rd in the Shoe. 16 new starters will be on the field for Urban Meyer's fifth Ohio State team. Michael Jordan is a true freshman offensive lineman for ...


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Buckeyes are all about championships - Grand Island Independent
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes are all about championships
Grand Island Independent
Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer celebrates with his team after the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Oregon Monday, Jan. 12, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. Ohio State won 42-20. The Buckeyes are always thinking about winning ...
Ohio State football | After detour to Notre Dame, Chase Hounshell back with Urban MeyerColumbus Dispatch

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The Dream 17: Urban Meyer’s Stranglehold on the Recruiting Game Part III and IV
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

THE DREAM 17: Urban Meyer’s Stranglehold on the Recruiting Game, Part III and IV​

The Buckeyes are just a mere two weeks away from their first game of the season against the Bowling Green Falcons and although they are currently in constant pursuit of the edge, recruiting will never truly become an afterthought because of all the potential playmakers the Buckeyes have set their sights on. We cannot just focus solely on the players that they are targeting and a lot of recruiting comes from maintaining a constant level of communication between the coaching staff and the players that have been committed for a long duration of time. Memories of Bruce Judson should be the most fresh in all of our minds, but the train moves on. Maintaining the relationships is important and although the staff is flexing their recruiting muscles for the whole nation to see, you could never fully keep the Ohio State staff away and with just 16 players committed out of potentially 20 or 21, I believe that the Buckeyes are just padding their stats and re-loaded at an unprecedented level that is adding toward their momentum.



JAKE MORETTI:

Jake is a mammoth Offensive Tackle at 6-5, 285 lbs. He was highly regarded and a key piece to Coach Meyer’s Offensive Line, but he suffered a torn ACL at a Buckeyes Camp and has been shelved temporarily. While still being in the Buckeyes plans, Moretti is planning to enroll early so that he can get a head start on getting his mind, body and spirit right for his journey as a Buckeye. He is an elite tackle prospect and although he is shelved, he still garners the respect by being in the Top 100 player in the nation. Sure we won’t see him in action because he is unable to, but Coach Meyer and company know exactly how to revive a players career and get the utmost best out of them.

BRENDON WHITE:

Brendon White is the #2 rated Athlete in the nation due to his ability to make a play on both sides of the ball. Just like Urban Meyer does, he stockpiles players that fit the mold of a multipurpose playmaker, who could impact either side of the ball game. White is 6-1.5 and is a stout 200 lbs. He can play Wide Receiver and Safety and until he makes it through the strength and conditioning program, we will just have to see. Coach Meyer and his crew develop their players into more than the recruiting sites thought they would be and it’ll be fun to see if he can develop into a Darron Lee on defense or a lethal offensive weapon like Curtis Samuel. We can only hope, but he provides a sure set of hands and the ability to catch on unsuspecting defenders and he could lay opposing players as a hard hitting, run stuffing safety. Ah, hybrid players are indeed the best!

AMIR RIEP:

Amir Riep feels like one of those impact players to be and I am excited for his development as well as the rest of the current Buckeyes and the Buckeyes to be, but there is something about Riep and his rise after good showings at showcase events. Ohio State received a commitment from a 5-11, 185 lb player who is projected to play cornerback. Now, I don’t mean to rub it in or anything, but Ohio State has produced a pretty good amount of NFL caliber DB’s so… You know where I am going with this. Riep has that fluidity in his hips that will help him smother opposing players and Coach Meyer got a good one who has the potential to be great. Ever since he blew up on the recruiting trail, the Buckeyes have their man and successfully fended away those pesky Spartans. This was well worth the wait and we will see how Coach Coombs develops him.

MARCUS WILLIAMSON:

Do you notice a trend yet? Defensive Backs just want to be coached up at Ohio State and the rich get richer! Marcus Williamson was one of the first few to commit and he has helped the Buckeyes on and off with recruiting while at the IMG Academy, a Buckeye pipeline located in Florida. Projected at Cornerback, at 5-9, 180 lbs he is a bit undersized, but the talent pretty much speaks for itself. He may be a work in progress, but the talent is there and it is up the coaching staff to develop him into a NFL Cornerback. Being undersized isn’t that bad either, Damon Webb is around the same height and weight and look at him after the strength and conditioning program. Webb is also in the midst of earning some playing time as well so there is nothing remotely wrong with his measurable statistics. He brings speed and the mirroring ability that Riep brings and he will be another player to watch.

JERRON CAGE:

Does the last name ring a bell? His older brother was high on the Buckeyes list in 2014 before he decided to play for the Fighting Irish. Although he plays the same position as his brother at Defensive Tackle, the younger Cage sits at 6-1.5, 275 lbs and is in fact smaller than his older brother during their Senior years, but John Simon wasn’t a huge guy and that did not stop him from wreaking havoc all around the Defensive Line. Cage has a quick first step and he can occupy space and make space for Linebackers to get to the Quarterback. He also has a few nifty go to moves in which he will develop under the tutelage of Coach Johnson and Coach Fickell. He will be a key cog and will be utilized if he can turn some heads when he arrives on campus and Ohio State needs depth along the D-Line anyway and that is why Cage will be one out of potentially three Interior Defensive Linemen that the Buckeyes will take this cycle.

ANTJUAN SIMMONS:

Antjuan Simmons is a blessing in disguise for the Buckeyes. He comes from That State Up North and right in That Team Up North’s back yard. Literally! That is what makes this recruiting victory so sweet. Living in that territory can be rough, but he will be in good hands with Coach Meyer and company and I look for him to continue the tradition of Linebacker U while at Ohio State. As the only Linebacker commit, he will be looked at to replace Raekwon McMillan on the interior or Chris Worley or Dante Booker on the outside, but at 6-1, 215 lbs he looks like a rock solid addition to the proud tradition. Although ranked as the 289th overall player nationally, he will contribute as soon as that black stripe comes off and he looks like a monster. With Ohio State chasing other Linebackers to come join Simmons, we can only wait and see, but it is so exciting to see playmakers come in droves to want to play for the Buckeyes.

DANNY CLARK:

Mr. Buckeye, the Prototype himself Danny Clark is Quarterback commit #2 and he isn’t backing down from competition after the commitment of fellow Quarterback prospect, Tate Martell. I like his tenacity during Friday Night Lights as he competed fiercely the entire night. I think it is safe to safe, barring any last-minute flips that the Quarterback position is one of the many deep position groups that the Buckeyes have. Clark will add to the depth and he will looks to surprise some people. At 6-5, 223 lbs, he is a Pro Style Quarterback, opposite of Martell who is the top Dual Threat Quarterback prospect. Clark is quick on his feet, but he can throw the ball with velocity and accuracy. Most of his passes were on the money and he will look to compete at Ohio State with one of the most crowded groups or units. With time, I think he will develop and potentially become the Cardale Jones or the Kenny Guiton of the team and be that leader from the bench or the one who saves the day after numerous, unplanned injuries. We will see and I for one am hoping that he stays on board.

BLAKE HAUBEIL:

You know how Coach Meyer loves his Special Teams? Yeah, he used one of the spots in this years class for a Special Teamer who so happens to be the #1 Kicker in the nation. It is some serious business and we need it. Sean Nuernberger is in his Junior season and we need a player to fill in once he departs and it so happens to be Haubeil, at 6-3, 200 lbs. He is willing to pay for the first semester at Ohio State to add a scholarship to add a key player so he may forgo the grayshirt and just pay until his scholarship is guaranteed. I love this kid already. A truly selfless act and he should be a good player in the future. He has a leg that is capable of routinely nailing 30-45 yarders and who knows, he may be able to hit from downtown too. All we have to do is wait and see, but I am confident that he will be game ready when the time comes.

GO BUCKS !!!​

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State Department of Athletics mourns the loss of Buckeye baseball legend Steve Arlin, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 70.

“We are saddened by the news that we lost Buckeye great Steve Arlin,” head coach Greg Beals said. “His family and loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers.”

Ohio State's first two-time All-American, Arlin posted a 24-3 record in his two years with the Buckeyes. A two-time member of the College World Series All-Tournament team, Arlin fanned 57 hitters while tallying a 0.96 earned-run average in 47.0 innings in his College World Series career. In the 1965 College World Series, Arlin set two College World Series records against Washington State by striking out 20 batters in 15.0 innings pitched. In 1966, Arlin posted an 11-1 overall record, earning College World Series MVP honors while leading the Buckeyes to the national championship. The right-hander pitched in five of the six days of the 1966 College World Series, striking out 12 while allowing just two hits in a 1-0

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more at http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/081916aaa.html

Greatest baseball player ever at The Ohio State University.
Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.

Miamisburg's Myers, Lamb tackle dual challenges - MyDaytonDailyNews
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Miamisburg's Myers, Lamb tackle dual challenges
MyDaytonDailyNews
It's not a stretch to envision Myers playing a similar role for the Buckeyes. He comes from an established athletic family: his father Brad played football at Kentucky and brother Zach is a senior offensive lineman at UK. His mother, Alter grad Julie ...

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What you need to know about Oklahoma before Ohio State plays them
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Surprise: It’s going to be a tough game.

The Ohio State football season will be here before you know it, and even if you’ve only been paying semi-close attention this offseason, you’re probably aware of the major storylines with the program. This is going to be an exceptionally young, but talented and athletic team. There’s a lack of proven production at wideout, running back, and defensive back. They return the best QB in the conference, and should at least compete for a Big Ten title.

But you may not know a lot about the specific teams on Ohio State’s schedule. We’ll get into a lot more detail before the actual games, but you may want a primer so you can sound smart at the bar, or at the barbecue, or in the grocery store checkout line.

So take a look at Ohio State’s opponents this year. Next up, perhaps the biggest non-conference game of the entire dang season, Oklahoma.

This biggest non-conference game of the season? Is that hyperbole?


Maybe not. Other writers at SBNation.com wrote that Ohio State-Oklahoma would be the biggest non-conference game this year, and even though Week 1 is chock full of awesome games, it’s hard to think of another compelling candidate. Florida State-Ole Miss? Alabama-USC? Stanford-Notre Dame? If it isn’t at the top, it should be close. This will feature two teams with storied histories and project to be in the playoff conversation. Should be fun.

So why is Oklahoma in the playoff conversation this year? I mean, besides the fact that they were literally in the playoff last year.


It all starts with their quarterback, Baker Mayfield. Mayfield, a legit Heisman contender himself, was the triggerman for an offense that scored at least 30 points in every game but two. Mayfield completed a staggering 68.1% of his passes, tossing 38 TDs against only 7 picks, while picking up 3700 yards. With Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon returning in the backfield (the two combined for over 2,000 yards rushing last season), the Sooners have an argument for the best backfield in the entire country.

Leading wideout Sterling Shepard is gone, as are two outstanding offensive linemen, but as long as Mayfield stays healthy, the Sooners offense should have the weapons needed to wrack up yards and points in a hurry. They’ll be a handful for anybody on their schedule, including Ohio State.

Okay, but what about the defense?


The two teams that managed to beat Oklahoma last season, Texas and Clemson, were able to execute on the one important thing, running the dang ball. As Bill Connelly points out in his Oklahoma preview, the Sooners’ defensive scheme sacrifices some bulk for speed, leaving it a bit vulnerable to a power rushing attack.

Not too many teams in the Big 12 have the personnel to really attack this system, so Oklahoma was still able to win a lot of football games. That’ll probably be the case this season. The Sooners will need to replace a slew of talented linebackers, as well as defensive end Charles Tapper, so their pass rush might take a step back this season.

But the Sooners return a bunch of excellent defensive backs, even though Zach Sanchez is gone as well. Ahmad Thomas and Steven Parker are solid, experienced safeties, and Jordan Thomas could be a very solid cornerback. If the Sooners can get a strong pass rush, they should have the bodies to have effective secondary play, even in a pass-happy Big 12.

Okay, everybody is talking up Oklahoma as a playoff contender. How possible is that, really?


Pretty dang possible. Outside of TCU, there doesn’t look another team in the Big 12 capable of really challenging Oklahoma for a conference title (although that didn’t stop Texas from beating them last season). Oklahoma’s conference road schedule is tricky, with road trips to TCU, Texas Tech and West Virginia (plus Texas on a neutral site), but it’s still set up in a way where the Sooners could potentially lose to the Buckeyes and still be in decent position to make the playoff.

What’s the all-time record between these teams?


You’d think that two teams with as much history and success as Oklahoma and Ohio State would have played more often, but Winsipedia only has two previous meetings. The series is tied 1-1, with the Buckeyes winning in Norman back in 1983 (24-14), and Oklahoma grabbing a win in Columbus back in 1977, (29-28). The road team winning every meeting might be a nice omen for the Buckeyes, who have to play in Norman this season.

How worried should Buckeye fans be about this game?


Pretty dang worried. Michigan will be a difficult game, of course, but the Sooners are probably the most complete team Ohio State will face this season, and it’s on the road, and relatively early in the year. The Buckeyes may have the personnel to run right at Oklahoma, slow the game down a bit and wear them down physically, like Texas and Clemson did. But Ohio State’s new secondary will absolutely be getting a workout.

The smart money is on the Sooners picking up the win this year. We’ll have to see if the money is right.

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Watch 2 more Buckeyes lose their black stripes
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Are you fired up yet?

As training camp draws to a close, two more young Buckeyes, one from the 2015 class, and one from the 2016 class, have lost their black stripes, officially joining the program. And from the looks of this video, their units are awfully excited for them.

Joining the ranks of the stripeless are 2016 H-Back Demario McCall, and 2015 defensive lineman Rashod Berry.



Berry, a three-star recruit with offers from Michigan State, Iowa and others, had a bit of a slow start to his Ohio State career as it wasn’t totally clear what position he’d play. After a short stint at tight end, Berry has moved to the defensive line and seems to have really found his footing.

McCall, one of the highest ranked prospects of the 2016 class, may play this year, and certainly figures to be in Ohio State’s offensive plans for the future.

Congrats to both players.

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Watch: Meyer announces McCall, Berry are now officially Buckeyes - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Watch: Meyer announces McCall, Berry are now officially Buckeyes
247Sports
Running back, slot receiver Demario McCall and defensive end Rashod Berry are the latest Buckeyes to have their black stripe removed. Urban Meyer made the announcement via his Twitter. Awesome way to end fall camp! Demario and Rashod welcome to ...

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Ohio State’s Raekwon McMillan is the best defensive player in the Big Ten
Ian Hartitz via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


In a league full of talented defensive players, his production sets him apart.

If every single Big Ten football player got together for a game of backyard football, Raekwon McMillan would be the first defensive player picked. No, this wouldn’t be due to assured captain J.T. Barrett choosing his teammate over everyone else; there just simply isn’t another defender in the mid-west with a better combination of production and pure talent.

This is not a discussion on who is the ‘most valuable’ defensive player in the Big-Ten, rather the best defender in the Big Ten. Potential is great, but as Urban Meyer has said, “After you’ve been here six months if you’re tagged with the term, ‘you have a lot of potential,’ that’s really a bad thing. That means you’re not very good, but you should be.”

Who is the best defender in the Big Ten? You already know my answer, but let’s give the other deserving nominees credit as well. CBS sports recently released their preseason All-American list, and while I refuse to accept that The Big Bang Theory is actually America’s most watched television series, the CBS college football team is great. On the first and second teams, six Big Ten defenders were named. Let’s take a look at the contenders for the Big Ten’s defender championship belt.

No. 6: Jabrill Peppers - Cornerback/Safety/Linebacker/Running Back/Receiver - Michigan


I recently touched on why Jabrill Peppers may be the best player Ohio State faces in 2016, and this point still holds true: Peppers is extremely talented and is poised for a fantastic season. But as far as ‘best’ goes, Peppers simply doesn’t have the collegiate production to challenge for this title.

Peppers off-season noise has vastly exceeded his in-season production. Heisman talk is abound, and people just cannot stop gushing about Michigan’s freak athlete who can do it all....except create big plays on defense, which you’d think would be a prerequisite for getting this kind of attention. I’m half-joking - Peppers made plenty of big plays in 2015 - but this is serious: Peppers has yet to record a collegiate interception, sack, forced fumble, or fumble recovery. It’d be shocking if this is still the case three months from now, but for the time being, Peppers is more hype than reality.

No. 5: Malik McDowell - Defensive Lineman - Michigan State


Malik McDowell is the guy who got credit for blocking Cameron Johnston’s last punt during the 2015 Ohio State - Michigan State match-up, but more importantly: McDowell has more career interceptions and defensive touchdowns than Jabrill Peppers. In all seriousness, McDowell is an athletic beast that Michigan State can utilize all over the defensive front, and his 12 solo tackles for a loss tied for seventh in the Big Ten in 2015. With Shilique Calhoun gone, McDowell is now the Spartans’ ace on the defensive line, a role that could lead to even more production.

No. 4: Anthony Walker - Linebacker - Northwestern


The Big Ten’s 2015 leader in tackles for a loss, Anthony Walker knows a thing or two about making plays in the opponent’s backfield. A former high school safety turned linebacker, Walker totaled 10 tackles (3 for a loss) against Stanford, and was the main catalyst behind forcing Christian McCaffrey into his worst game of 2015.

Walker is entering his third (and likely final) season with the Wildcats, but will be tested against the Big Ten’s elite for the first time in his career. After not facing either Michigan State or Ohio State in his first two seasons, Walker will get to show just how good he really is on the road against two likely top 20 opponents.

No. 3: Jourdan Lewis - Cornerback - Michigan


It’s almost a little shocking how overlooked Jourdan Lewis has been this off-season. His inclusion as a first team All-American obviously doesn’t typically denote “overlooked”, but we’re talking about a guy who was Michigan’s best secondary player a season ago. For all the talk about how versatile Peppers is, Lewis recorded more tackles than his teammate in 2015, and also produced 2 interceptions, 20 pass deflections (Peppers had 10), a forced fumble and a really pretty pick-six.

Lewis has a very real case as one of America’s best secondary players, but his smaller stature (5’10” 175 lbs) has been his undoing against some of the country’s bigger wide receivers. New Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown loves to bring pressure, so don’t be shocked if Lewis finds a way to match his 4 career interceptions in 2016 alone.

No. 2: Desmond King - Cornerback - Iowa


With 8 interceptions in 2015, Desmond King finished tied for second in the entire country - but first in the hearts of America as King won the Jim Thorpe Award, annually given to the nation’s top defensive back. The Hawkeyes’ three-year starting corner, King has never totaled less than 64 tackles, and he even served as Iowa’s kick and punt returner in 2015. Despite being considered a potential first round pick in the 2015 draft, King decided to return to Iowa City.

King could easily be first on this list, but again: we are looking for the single best defensive player. King does what he’s asked to do in Iowa’s defense, and that is to be an electrifying ball hawk. Still, King had six games in 2015 where he didn’t record a single tackle, and more or less stayed put as Iowa’s boundary corner. King has the ability to potentially play either safety or corner at the next level, but as of right now: King can be avoided by simply not throwing to his side of the field. This cannot be said for the final player on our list:

No. 1: Raekwon McMillan -Linebacker - Ohio State


Raekwon McMillan is an absolute beast. A potential top-10 pick in the 2017 NFL draft, McMillan combines incredible productivity with even better physical traits. At 6’2 240 lbs., McMillan has speed that had Wisconsin among other schools calling the former 5-star recruit to talk about playing running back. McMillan was rarely asked to blitz in 2015, instead he roamed sideline-to-sideline, racking up 119 tackles along the way: the 4th most in the Big Ten.

On a defense with three first round picks, it’s fair to wonder if McMillan’s productivity was a result of the talent around him. In reality, McMillan often cleaned up the mistakes of his talented teammates, and was the middle-man for a defense that gave up just 3.38 yards per rush. 2016 may bring out the best in McMillan, as the Junior captain will now be the undisputed leader of the Silver Bullets.

Cornerbacks and wide receivers often steal the show with big plays and touchdowns, but football will always be won in the trenches. The Big Ten boasts some of the brightest defensive stars in the entire country, but one man’s production and pure talent stands shines the brightest: Raekwon McMillan ‘The Chosen One’.

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