Who was on Buckeyes starting offensive line at third spring football practice? Ohio State offensive observations - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Who was on Buckeyes starting offensive line at third spring football practice? Ohio State offensive observations
cleveland.com
It's also important to remember that whatever combination of players we see on the offensive line this spring could change, because the Buckeyes are bringing in junior college tackle Malcolm Pridgeon this summer. You don't bring in a junior college ...
Ohio State men's basketball: Buckeyes bounced out of NITAkron Beacon Journal
Buckeyes' season concludes with with 74-66 loss to Florida in NITWaiting For Next Year
Matchup to Watch: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Florida GatorsBT Powerhouse (blog)
Ironton Tribune -Columbus Dispatch -The Ledger
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Buckeyes, Matta hoping for better days in 2016-17 - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes, Matta hoping for better days in 2016-17
247Sports
In his first nine seasons at OSU, Matta led the Buckeyes to five Big Ten regular season titles, four Big Ten tournament titles, five NCAA Sweet 16 appearances, three Elite Eights, two Final Fours and a spot in the 2007 national title game. Those teams ...


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Notre Dame to join Big Ten hockey conference in 2017-18
Matt Torino via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Big Ten just got a little harder for the Buckeyes as Notre Dame will be leaving Hockey East.

The No. 3 team in the consensus best hockey conference in America will be leaving to join the Big Ten hockey conference in 2017-18. And it's the team the Big Ten has always wanted...for football at least.



That's right: Notre Dame is finally going to become part of the Big Ten in at least some capacity starting in the 2017-18 season. The Fighting Irish are one of the powers of the Hockey East conference, that includes 2015-16 schools Boston College, Boston University, Providence and UMass-Lowell in addition to the tournament-bound Irish.

Notre Dame finished 15-5-2 in conference play and 19-10-7 overall with an overall +30 goal differential this season. They will immediately climb to the top of the projected Big Ten standings once they arrive, competing with Michigan, Minnesota and possibly even money-infused Penn State for No. 1 in the conference.

It would stand to reason that the Big Ten would look to add an eighth team to balance the conference -- if you have any good idea how to run a seven team conference tournament, you'd be the first. Arizona State is the hot name in hockey expansion as the Sun Devils are new to Division I hockey and have previously been rumored to be Big Ten expansion candidates.

Arizona is also one of hockey's newest hotbeds, producing the 2016 NHL Draft's likely No. 1 overall selection, Auston Matthews. California also has seen growth in youth hockey with the Kings, Ducks and Sharks' success recently. Adding Arizona State could presumably give the Big Ten a leg up on those emerging hockey markets.

Ohio hockey fans would likely love to see someone like Miami University or Bowling Green, both solid programs in their own right, join the conference but that doesn't seem likely at this point. I would bet my money on Arizona State being the eighth team based on the new recruiting grounds the Big Ten needs to compete with more established teams and conferences like Hockey East.

That's all speculation, though. What we do know now is that Notre Dame is a member of the Big Ten.

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OSUMG: OSU Finishes Strong in Lone Star Invitational
Ken via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


(Photo courtesy of Ohio State Athletic Dept)

In league with extraordinary gentlemen.

The Buckeyes traveled to Texas for the Lone Star Invitational, hosted by UT-San Antonio. The tournament is played at the Briggs Ranch Golf Course in San Antonio, TX. The course will play to 7,247 yards and a par 72. (That’s a lot of golf course). It has a USGA course rating of 75.7 and a slope of 139. (This is also a tough golf course. By comparison, my “home” course has a slope/rating of 72/123. Not even close in difficulty)

The format a three round, 54 hole event of ‘play five count four’, where a school fields 5 players, and the low 4 scores for each round are counted. This event has a seventeen team field: Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Houston Baptist, Little Rock, Louisiana-Lafayette, McNeese State, Miami (OH), Mississippi State, New Mexico, New Mexico State, North Texas, Ohio State, Rice, Southeastern Louisiana, Texas State, UTEP and (host school) UTSA. This is an interesting regional mix; one team from Mississippi, two from New Mexico, four teams from Ohio, four from Louisiana and 6 teams from Texas.

The participating players participating were: Will Grimmer, Tee-k Kelly, Caleb Ramirez, Sean Busch, and Josh Wick. Participating as the Individual was Grant Weaver. There were several lineup changes compared to the previous event. Caleb and Josh are new to the lineup, replacing Addison Coll and Clark Engle. Also, Grant is participating as an individual and Busch moved from Individual into the team lineup.

Overall


The Buckeyes again rode a strong final round (+5) to improve three positions to finish in T-8th, with a team total of 903 (+39).

The Buckeyes were led by Tee-k Kelly’s 211 (-5). Will’s score was good enough to place 8th in the 75 player field. His four “team” mates were bunched in scoring; Will Grimmer 231 (+15), Josh Wick 232 (+16), Caleb Ramirez 235 (+19) and Sean Busch 238 (+22). In the Individual category, Grant Weaver shot a 234 (+18).

Tee-k’s scoring earned him medalist honors in the field of 100 golfers. He finished 5 strokes clear of 2nd place Mario Carmona of Rice. In Individual competition, Grant finished T-4th place of 15 Individuals. Congratulations to both players. Well done.

This was an encouraging finish. They had a good first round, a horrible second round and, again, a very good third round.

Player round by round scores, below:

Lone Star Invitational 72 72 72 864
Par 72 Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Total To Par
Team 297 313 293 903 39
Will Grimmer 75 83 73 231 15
Caleb Ramirez 80 75 80 235 19
Sean Busch 79 84 75 238 22
Josh Wick 75 83 74 232 16
Tee-K Kelly 68 72 71 211 -5
Grant Weaver (I) 75 77 82 234 18
9 25 5 39 39

First Round

The rejiggered Buckeye got off to a pretty decent start; at the turn they were sitting at +4 and in 7th place. By the end of the round, they shot a team score of +9 and were lodged in 3rd place. The Buckeyes were led by Tee-k Kelly with a sizzling 68 (-4). Will Grimmer and Josh Wick shot 75’s (+3) and Sean Busch’s 79 (+7) rounded out the team score. Caleb Ramirez shot an 80 (+8). In Individual play, Grant Weaver shot a 75 (+3).

Tee-K got out of the blocks fast with 2 birdies on his front nine then went back-to-back with birdies on #13-#14 to get to -4. His five birdies led the Buckeyes in this round.

Will was a fairly steady +2 on his front side, then took us for a ‘Will the Thrill’ ride on the back nine. In a six hole stretch, he recorded 3 birdies and a triple bogey. That had to have been an interesting hour and fifteen minutes (or so) to witness.

Josh ‘steadied’ it around on his front nine of +3, then melded 2 birdies/2 bogeys for even par on the closing nine holes.

Sean took us on a ride that wasn’t quite as thrilling as Will’s. he had 2 double bogeys/1 birdie on the front side.

Caleb pretty much rode the ‘bogey train’ in his round; he had 9 bogeys/1 birdie. It sort of looked like one of my rounds, except he played it on a longer (800 yards) and tougher course. The same, but different..

Grant had a steady, 3 birdie/6 bogey round. He did have a five hole stretch on his back nine with no pars; bogey-birdie-bogey-birdie-bogey.

For the round, all six Buckeyes had 17 birdies, 60 pars, 28 bogeys and 3 ‘others’. This was a good opening round. On to the 2nd round…



Second Round

As good as the opening round was, the afternoon round was a smoldering crater. The Buckeyes shot a team total 313 (+25), sliding them down eight spots into 11th place after this round. The Buckeyes were led by Tee-k Kelly 72 (E) and Caleb Ramirez 75 (+3). After that, the scorecards were pretty ugly. Will Grimmer and Josh Wick contributed to the team scores by shooting 83’s (+11). Sean Busch shot an 84 (+12) and didn’t. Grant Weaver, playing as an individual, shot a respectable 77 (+5).

Tee-K had 4 birdies/2 double bogeys in his round. After two rounds, Tee-k held the lowest score (medalist) of the 100 competing golfers.

Will’s first round Thrill Ride turned into a mid-round Demolition Derby on the 2nd round. He started out well enough (+3 through 7 holes), but then played holes #8 – #10 in 7 over par. He did recover to play his finishing 8 holes in a very solid 1 over par, but the damage had been done.

Josh had a very good start (-1) after four holes, then the wheels fell off. He bogeyed nine of his next 11 holes.

Sean did manage a birdie, but his two double bogeys and a triple bogey really torpedoed his round.

Caleb had a mid-round, seven hole stretch with no pars; 3 bogies, a double bogey, a triple bogey, a birdie and an eagle. After his triple bogey on the par-4 12th, he eagled the par-5 13th and birdied the par-4 14th. This would have been a fun hour or so to follow Caleb around.

Grant tied Tee-k for team lead with 4 birdies. not to be outdone by Caleb, he did have a mid-round seven hole stretch with no pars; 3 bogies, a triple bogey and 3 birdies in holes #7 – #13. After his triple on #11, he went birdie-birdie, so evidently #11 didn’t faze him too much. In the Individual competition, Grant stood at T-3, only one stroke out of 2nd place.

For the round, all six Buckeyes combined for; 15 birdies, 53 pars, 26 bogeys and 14 ‘others’.

This is the second consecutive tournament the Buckeyes failed to capitalize on a good/very good opening round by less-than-sharp play in the 2nd round. I’m not quite sure what the post-round team meeting was like; there isn’t much a coach can say after that. Probably the best approach would be “Relax, put that round behind us, enjoy dinner, get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow.” On to the 3rd round…

Third Round


It appears the Buckeyes settled in and reverted back to their opening round form. They Buckeyes shot a team 3rd round score of 293 (+5) to move them up three spots into the T-8th position. The Buckeyes were again led by Tee-K Kelly 71 (-1). Will Grimmer 73 (+1), Josh Wick 74 (+2) and Sean Busch 75 (+3) rounded out the team scoring. Caleb Ramirez shot a final round 80 (+8). In Individual play, Grant Weaver shot an 82 (+10).

Tee-K teeing off on the 8th hole, he got out of the blocks fast with 5 consecutive pars before going eagle-birdie on the next two holes. Tee-k was sitting at level par until he finished with a birdie on his 18th hole to go sub-par. This was Tee-k’s second consecutive tournament where he scored under par for the final round. I think that Coaches Moseley and Smith need to convince Tee-k that every round is a final round…

Will turned things around for his closing round with a relatively drama-free (at least looking at the scorecard) score of 1 birdie / 2 bogeys / 15 pars. Textbook stuff there; fairways, greens, 2 putts…

Josh had a very good round of 2 birdies/2 bogeys/13 pars until a double bogey on his last hole of the day, the tough par-4 9th. That is still a very solid round of golf. Well done.

Sean teeing off on #11, was 1-under par through 8 holes and 4 over through 13 holes. He double bogeyed #6, then birdied 3 consecutive holes, then finished with a par. For context, it takes me 3 rounds to score 3 birdies, or about 12-13 hours of playing time. Sean got his 3 birdies in a span of 30-40 minutes. Amazing.

Caleb had a rough start, shooting a 7 on the par-4 9th hole. It took him a few holes to get into sync, but he did finish his last seven holes in even par. That’s a good job of pulling it back together.

Grant had another five hole stretch mid-round with no pars; double bogey-birdie-double bogey-bogey-bogey.

For the round, the six Buckeyes combined for; 1 eagle (Tee-k), 13 birdies, 65 pars, 24 bogeys and 5 ‘others’. This was another very good finishing round.

Thoughts

In some respects, after seeing the participating schools, the final standings didn’t surprise me. There were 4 “Ohio” schools and 13 “southern” schools. Most, if not all of the southern teams have been in tournament play a month before the “Ohio” schools. The additional one or two events make a difference in performance this early in the season.

In Ohio State’s previous event, I commented that “Tee-k Kelly, to put it mildly, “under-performed” in his first two rounds. Then he had a stunning under-par 3rd round.” This week, Tee-k didn’t mess around in the first two rounds; he went pin-seeking and it paid off.

Sifting through the chaff, here is a “what happened” snap-shot. They played the par 3’s very well, scoring an average 3.33 (+20) ranking them T-1st. They played the par 4’s ‘sort of OK’, to an average of 4.36 per hole, +54 to par, ranking them 9th. They played the par 5’s to an average of 4.88 per hole, a total of -7 to par, ranking 7th.

In terms of “to par” scoring, Ohio State recorded 149 pars, placing them in 8th position in that measure. They recorded 36 birdies, placing them 7th. They scored 2 eagles, placing them tied for for 3rd place. Note: this is “team” statistics, so Grant’s 9 birdies are not included.

The team still needs to level out the 2nd round play. Obviously, this is not a profound observation that coaches Moseley/Smith are unaware of. This final round finish was a good performance to build for the rest of the Spring. The next couple months are going to be fun.

Up Next

The OSUMG team will return to Texas on April 2-3 for the Aggie Invitational in Bryan, TX.

Go Buckeyes!

The post OSUMG: OSU Finishes Strong in Lone Star Invitational appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Ohio State's big shoes to fill leave intriguing position battles for 2016
Ian Cuevas via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The running back and defensive end spots are vacant after departures from Ezekiel Elliott and Joey Bosa. Who has the inside track to replacing them?

"Ezekiel Elliott was only the Big Ten offensive player of the year in 2015, a guy who ran for more than 1,800 yards in each of the past two years and for 41 touchdowns the last two seasons combined. He was kind of a big deal."

- Brian Bennett, ESPN


There are several important players that Ohio State lost to the NFL draft, but perhaps the most key losses were running back Ezekiel Elliott and defensive end Joey Bosa. This offseason, the Buckeyes are tasked with trying to replace the two All-Americans at their respective positions. That means several current players are going to be fighting for those spots and for playing time in 2016. At defensive end, the obvious replacement appears to be Sam Hubbard who, as a true freshman, filled in at times for Bosa when he was off the field. Hubbard showed why he earned playing time, stepping up impressively in the times Bosa wasn't able to play. He also had several sacks over the course of the season and set himself up nicely for a potential breakout sophomore campaign.

The real position battle will come at running back. For now, it's assumed that senior running back Bri'onte Dunn will finally have his shot at the starting position, having backed up both Carlos Hyde and Ezekiel Elliott. Dunn had been in and out of the doghouse for Urban Meyer early on but has resolved any of those issues. Other than Dunn, freshman Mike Weber could make some noise if he plays well in spring and fall practices as one of the top recruits in Ohio State's 2016 class. And of course, it's already been well documented that Curtis Samuel will likely see some action at running back in addition to some H-back or wide receiver duties.

"You know what, in the secondary it might be [a benefit]. If we're going to introduce some new things, if a guy has been doing the same thing for three or four years, he might be like, ‘Why do we have to change it now? Why are we changing this thing?' Whereas guys who haven't had a lot of experience, they're just ready and fighting for a job and wanting to please and do everything they can."

- Greg Schiano via Austin Ward, ESPN


Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Greg Schiano made quite a splash when the Buckeyes hired him. Now in his first season in Columbus, Schiano went to work right away and has the task of preparing a young secondary to get up to speed to the college level. The Buckeyes only return one starter - cornerback Gareon Conley - from last season's secondary, leaving several spots open for the taking. Among the potential candidates for the opposite cornerback spot are Marshon Lattimore, Damon Webb, and Denzel Ward. But whoever doesn't win that spot may just end up seeing time at safety. The safety positions were left by Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell, and with Cam Burrows and Erick Smith on the sideline with injuries, Schiano has some decisions to make.

Malik Hooker and Eric Glover-Williams seem to be two of the popular names at safety with the injuries mentioned above, with Damon Webb also getting some playing time at the position. There likely won't be a clear-cut depth chart until the fall, but for now, the positions seem to be up for grabs. With a lot of those names without much experience, it will be crucial for Schiano to coach and teach these players in order to have them ready for 2016.

"He's truly grateful that he's the type of kid Ohio State took a chance on. He wasn't a blue chipper. He's a kid that I think is developing for sure, with his body size and his feel for the game. I think redshirting really helped him. I think the future is bright."

- Sonny Johnson via Bill Landis, Northeast Ohio Media Group


Ohio State center David Bell entered this season as a redshirt freshman and saw limited playing time. Bell played in 23 games and served as a third-string center of sorts in case Trevor Thompson or Daniel Giddens found themselves in foul trouble. He only averaged 1.1 points, 1.5 rebounds, and blocked six shots over the course of the season, but more importantly, he spent time developing and working to put himself in a good position for future seasons. Bell knows he could very well be a four-year player at Ohio State, considering the amount of centers both on the roster now and how many Thad Matta and the staff are bringing in the next couple of seasons.

After all, Bell only started taking basketball seriously in the eighth grade and was recruited as a project of sorts. But Bell is fully aware of his position on the team and is focused solely on improving his game in his time with the Buckeyes. It's up to him how much he can improve during his stay in Columbus and the coaching staff will surely work with him if the effort is always there. If Bell can make steady improvements consistently, there's no reason he won't earn more playing time or have a significant role on Ohio State in the future.

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Buckeyes taking a look at another Wood - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes taking a look at another Wood
247Sports
While shoulder injuries throughout his career in Columbus prevented Wood from living up to his high school billing, he did appear in 30 games for the Buckeyes and was a solid leader in the locker room for the team. Wood's name hasn't been mentioned ...


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Gene Smith doesn’t see Ohio State taking spring practice to Florida
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network

Who knows if college football teams will be permitted to take parts of spring practice to, say, Florida in the future, as Jim Harbaugh and Michigan did earlier this month. [ MORE: Like this post? Check out our full Gone Viral section ] If the rules allow for it, don’t expect Michigan’s fierce rival Ohio State to leave Columbus, Ohio, for spring break. Ohio State AD Gene Smith alluded to this while speaking to the media Tuesday. See his direct quite in the tweet above. Interesting take. So interesting, in fact, many think it might have been a jab at

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4 storylines to watch as Ohio State basketball enters its offseason
Grant Freking via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Baby Bucks enter a pivotal summer, one that will determine the coming course of the program.

Ohio State's tumultuous 2015-16 season finally ended Sunday with a 74-66 defeat at the hands of the Florida Gators in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament. Undone, at least in part, due to the absences of Keita Bates-Diop (mono) and Jae'Sean Tate (shoulder), the shorthanded Buckeyes appeared tired, lethargic, and just plain worn out at times opposite the more-inspired Gators.

"One of the biggest things is this should serve as a humbling experience and how we define humility is knowing your strengths and your weaknesses," Thad Matta said post-game. "I think all of us need to commit to getting better."

Now, the attention turns to a critical offseason, the most important summer in the recent history of Matta's program. With the exception of Marc Loving, the Baby Bucks were an all-underclassmen outfit in 2015-16. Now, the excuse well has dried up, and it's time for Ohio State to resemble something close to the Ohio State (finish in the upper half of the Big Ten, make the NCAA Tournament) we've grown to know under Matta's tenure following seventh, sixth, and fifth place finishes in the Big Ten and just one NCAA Tournament victory over the past three seasons. Here are four storylines to watch in the coming months:

Will any players leave the program?


It is feasible that the Buckeyes could return all 10 of their current scholarship players in 2016-17. But it's also possible that a player may decide to transfer, given that playing time at some position groups could become much harder to find.

David Bell, a self-admitted "project," found himself lower on the big man pecking order during the season, even when Ohio State's other two big men, Trevor Thompson and Daniel Giddens, fouled out. The Buckeyes also stand to add considerable size in the forthcoming two seasons. Thompson (17.9 minutes per game) owns two more years of eligibility and Giddens (18.2 minutes per game) could stick around for three more seasons. Four-star forward Derek Funderburk and three-star center Micah Potter will join the frontcourt fray next season, and four-star prospect Kaleb Wesson is slated to do the same in 2017-18.

Bell told Cleveland.com after Sunday's game that he plans on staying in Columbus. With all of those forwards and centers coming to Columbus, there's a chance that somebody could decide they're an odd man out.

There is no reason to suspect that any other Ohio State players would leave the program. After Sunday's loss, Giddens, Loving, Kam Williams, and JaQuan Lyle told the Columbus Dispatch that they will be back in 2016-17.


What will Ohio State do with its extra scholarship?


Let's do some quick scholarship math. The NCAA allots 13 scholarships for Division I men's basketball teams. Presuming Ohio State's five current freshmen (Bell, Giddens, A.J. Harris, Lyle, Mitchell), four sophomores (Bates-Diop, Tate, Thompson, Williams), and lone junior (Loving) return, the Buckeyes should bring back 10 scholarship players from the 2015-16 team. The additions of Funderburk and Potter up that total to 12.

Matta & Co. have been in possession of an open 13th scholarship since freshman guard Austin Grandstaff decided to leave the program in December. Post-game Sunday, Matta said Ohio State will "most definitely" use that open spot for the 2016-17 season. Matta's two options are to procure someone from high school or to add a transfer, whether that be a straight transfer (a player that would sit out next year) or a graduate transfer (a player that would be eligible solely for 2016-17).

As far as high school players are concerned, the Buckeyes are hot after Class of 2017 point guard Markell Johnson. The East Tech (Cleveland) product, who said he is "considering" reclassifying to the Class of 2016, visited Columbus for Ohio State's win over Iowa on Feb. 28 and recently included the Buckeyes in his list of top-five schools. The Buckeyes have also reportedly reached out to four-star Class of 2016 shooting guard Tyson Jolly, who earlier this week requested to be released from the letter of intent he signed with California.

In the transfer realm, Matta has a recent history with graduate transfers, securing a commitment from former Temple forward Anthony Lee prior to the 2014-15 campaign, and unsuccessfully wooing guards Sterling Gibbs and Trey Lewis prior to this season. Last offseason, Ohio State also lost out on Washington transfer Nigel Williams-Goss, who eventually selected Gonzaga and will have two years of eligibility remaining beginning next year. If the Buckeyes do look for a grad transfer, another point guard, or a scoring wing, seem like the most likely candidates.

Which Buckeyes are capable of making a leap into stardom next season?


Bates-Diop, Giddens, and Lyle. With apologies to Loving and Tate, these three have the highest ceilings of anyone on the team.

A reasonable argument -- with the support of some statistics -- could be made that Bates-Diop exhibited only marginal improvement (and even a few steps in reverse) from his freshman season. The only real area I found concerning relating to KBD's offense was the deep dive his 3-point shooting percentage took from 46 percent his freshman year to 32 percent in 2015-16. I tend to think that like many of his teammates, Bates-Diop simply struggled with a vastly increased workload. I'm still a believer in KBD's potential, though next year is a big one for him.


With Giddens, the game was simply too fast for him this season. Next year, it would be nice to see Giddens make headway at the foul line (44 percent ain't gonna cut it) and restraint (team-high 3.3 fouls per game). Giddens should model himself after DeAndre Jordan (sans the awful free-throw shooting) and focus on becoming Ohio State's intimidating defensive anchor and finishing anything and everything around the rim offensively.


As for Lyle, I went on the record in mid-February saying that he is the key to Ohio State's return to relevance. I still believe that. Lyle had his hands on the ball more than any other Buckeye regular this past season, and that's not likely to change moving forward. What does need to change is certain aspects of Lyle's game.


I'm not sure Lyle, who shot 40 percent from the field (25 percent from 3) in 2015-16, will ever become even a solid shooter in college, but improvements in decision-making (Lyle averaged a team-high three turnovers per game) would lead to a more fluid offense for Ohio State, which ranked 149th out of 351 Division teams in KenPom.com's offensive efficiency ratings. Progressions in maturity (limiting the pouting and ceasing the water bottle abuse) and physical conditioning could propel Lyle into first team all-Big Ten consideration in 2016-17.

Is a return to Big Ten title contention feasible?


Yes, if Ohio State hits a home run on player development. However, a more likely scenario is that the 2016-17 Buckeyes finish with the same or a similar conference record (11-7) as the 2015-16 team. That scenario could still be considered improvement from 2015-16; it just depends how the Big Ten's unbalanced league schedule shakes out and how early departures affect other teams. Right now, I'd peg Michigan State (major departures are coming, but one of Tom Izzo's best-ever recruiting classes is coming in), Indiana (if Thomas Bryant stays), Wisconsin (if Nigel Hayes sticks around), and Purdue (A.J Hammons is gone, but Caleb Swanigan should be around) as a cut above the presently-constructed Buckeyes.

Think of the 2016-17 team in a similar light as the 2008-09 team, which finished 22-11 (10-8 Big Ten) and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. On paper, the 2008-09 season wasn't much of a progression from the 2007-08 team, which went 24-13 (10-8 Big Ten) and won the NIT.

But, the 2009-10 Buckeyes (mostly sophomores and juniors) finished 29-8 (14-4 Big Ten), won a share of the Big Ten regular season title, and earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Even if Ohio State fails to develop a national player of the year like Evan Turner, this is a reasonable evolution to expect form the current bunch by 2017-18.

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Brugler mock: Buckeyes continue to be highly regarded - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Brugler mock: Buckeyes continue to be highly regarded
247Sports
Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com released his latest mock draft yesterday and once again, the draft expert has high evaluations of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Brugler's latest mock has five Buckeyes going in the first round, including two in the top eight picks.


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B1G shoes to fill: Ohio State Buckeyes - ESPN (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


B1G shoes to fill: Ohio State Buckeyes
ESPN (blog)
Spring football is a time for renewal. In programs around the Big Ten, new faces must emerge to fill the roles vacated by departed contributors. Few teams have as much to replace as Ohio State, which sent 14 players to the NFL Combine. There are ...

and more »

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Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer not planning on spring practices in Florida - ESPN
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer not planning on spring practices in Florida
ESPN
Meyer did leave the door open to potentially take his camp on the road at some point and reiterated that he'll continue to research new ideas, but he isn't planning on taking the Buckeyes to Florida during their break. "Somebody asked me a question ...


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Urban Meyer calls having J.T. Barrett and Pat Elflein back 'invaluable'
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


We're still a long way from the start of the season, but it's good to have some starters still in the fold.

The Buckeyes wrapped up their third official spring practice on Tuesday, and Urban Meyer took some time to talk to the media about injury updates and new depth chart developments. The team practiced in full pads for the first time in 2016, and welcomed a more aggressive atmosphere -- complete with a bloody wolf on the big screen.


Talking points


There has been a lot of buzz about some quotes Meyer had about training in Florida next spring break. He was asked to clarify -- and was glad he got a chance too -- saying, "I can't imagine taking spring break away from players." He is looking into the possibility, but is hoping to avoid taking away players' free time.

On whether Tom Herman reached out this offseason, Meyer said, "We talk often...I always enjoy talking to Tom, I think he's done a great job." Meyer noted that Herman has come under additional scrutiny, as all winning coaches eventually do.

On young guys filling in roster spots, Meyer noted there are some guys that haven't done a whole lot who are going to play. He's hoping that putting some pressure on them in the first padded practice will allow them to avoid issues when they face 100,000 fans in the fall.

On the process for Marcus Baugh, Meyer said, "He's very good. Tim Hinton and now coach Warinner have done a great job -- we're talking about a guy we were thinking of sending home." He went on to say Baugh is doing well in school now and is on par to graduate thanks to the work of he and his family.

With players, Meyer is a "half-full kind of guy", but the social issues and other issues kids go through can be tough. If they can get players through the transition to college, they can develop into men.

On recruiting, Meyer was asked about out-of-state commits who haven't visited yet. He quipped that his wife, Shelley Meyer, says it best, "big deal" and that it only matters when they sign. He does note, however, that the recruiting process is getting faster and faster, which leads to kids committing before they've had official visits.

On turnovers with offensive players and how important is it to have Barrett back on and off the field, Meyer simply stated, "invaluable." Meyer added that he would include Pat Elflein in that same category. Trying to break in a new QB and center, "you have no shot", but with some stability the team has "a good shot to be good on offense."

This is one of the first times that Barrett is participating on the field in the spring, Meyer noted. "His value is so much more than running and throwing. One of the best leaders we've ever had."

Meyer is seeing some good things from young guys, too. He's anxious to see Joe Burrow perform in Saturday's scrimmage, noting the quarterback's release has improved, but there is still an issue with arm strength. Meyer also commented on Malik Hooker being really good in practice, and the cornerback trio (Denzel Ward, Marshon Lattimore and Gareon Conley) that should be great this fall.

On trying to replace Ezekiel Elliott and his production, Meyer said Dontre Wilson and Curtis Samuel will carry the ball in 2016. As they are available health-wise, they'll start participating in tailback drills. He's hoping to have a Carlos Hyde/Ezekiel Elliott tandom with the two this fall.

One position group Meyer is already not happy with this spring is the offensive line, noting there is no right guard set as of yet, and there needs to be big improvements over the coming weeks and months.

The Buckeyes head coach said it's too early to compare this year's class with the young Bucks from 2014, but when Meyer wrote down all the newcomers from 2014, he was surprised at how many great players emerged.

Since pro day, NFL scouts have reached out to Meyer about two players the most: Cardale Jones and Braxton Miller. Meyer called them the "two wildcards" and acknowledged there are more questions because the two also have less game tape than others.

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Ohio State football | Meyer: No spring-break practice trip for Buckeyes - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football | Meyer: No spring-break practice trip for Buckeyes
Columbus Dispatch
He was speaking moments after putting his team through a 2-1/2-hour practice Tuesday morning, the third of the spring for the Buckeyes (the first in full pads), and the first since the players returned from their spring break. That's the schedule as it ...
Ohio State football: Recap from Urban Meyer after Buckeyes third spring practicecleveland.com
Ohio State Football: Buckeyes Spring Practice ObservationsScout
Buckeyes offer Ohio two-sport star247Sports
Mansfield News Journal -Akron Beacon Journal -Waiting For Next Year
all 199 news articles »

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Ohio State football: Live updates from Urban Meyer after Buckeyes third spring practice - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football: Live updates from Urban Meyer after Buckeyes third spring practice
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer will address the media after the Buckeyes third practice of the spring on Tuesday morning. Meyer is expected at the podium around 11 a.m.. Get live updates and comments from Meyer in the ...
Buckeyes offer Ohio two-sport star247Sports
News Journal Classic: Ex-Buckeyes driven to make an impactMansfield News Journal
Ohio State men's basketball: Buckeyes bounced out of NITAkron Beacon Journal
Waiting For Next Year -Ironton Tribune -BT Powerhouse (blog)
all 190 news articles »

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Buckeyes best spring football battle is second starting cornerback: Ohio State defense observations - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes best spring football battle is second starting cornerback: Ohio State defense observations
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Marshon Lattimore will make the difference. If he's healthy, the Ohio State battle to start at cornerback opposite Gareon Conley will be filled with stars - and the most dynamic battle of the preseason. The Buckeyes returned from ...
Practice report: Buckeyes back in action after spring break247Sports

all 5 news articles »

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Wright State needs a new basketball coach. Could they target Ohio State's Jeff Boals?
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


#JeffBoals4WrightState? Could Ohio State lose an assistant coach?

Now that the season is over for most college basketball programs in the country, the coaching carousel is starting to really heat up. This year's season may not have a ton of blue-chip programs open (the biggest names right now might be Pitt and Stanford), and there doesn't project to be much more movement in the Big Ten (now that Rutgers has hired Steve Pikiell), but that doesn't mean the carousel can't impact the Buckeyes.

One of the more surprising positions to open up was Wright State, who let Billy Donlon go after six seasons. According to the Dayton Daily News, one name the Raiders could potentially take a look towards is an all-too-familiar name for Land-Grant readers.

That's right. Jeff Boals.

On paper, this does make a lot of sense. Boals is still relatively young (he's only 43), and he has extensive experience coaching in Ohio. He's been on the sidelines with Thad Matta for seven seasons, and coached at Akron and Ohio prior to that. He has strong credentials as a defensive minded coach, he knows Wright State's natural recruiting territory, and he'll probably fit in WSU's budget. That's a lot of prospective boxes to check.

A few of the other names on the Dayton Daily News' list are current head coaches, like Ron Hunter at Georgia State. Convincing another successful low-major coach to make the jump to Wright State feels a little unlikely, unless the athletic department is prepared to make major investments in the basketball program. Per the USA TODAY Database, Wright State's athletic department is one of the smallest in the Horizon League. Donlon also saw some real success at Wright State, as he lead the Raiders to three 20+ win seasons during his tenure (and to 19 wins in another). Sure, there wasn't an NCAA bid during those years, but in a challenging Horizon League, NCAA or Bust is a daunting goal.

The other assistant coach named on the list is Xavier's Travis Steele, who would probably also make a solid choice.

If Boals wants to become a head coach, Wright State could be an attractive job. Given Ohio State's struggles these past few seasons, Boals' star might have dimmed a tiny bit, and there aren't too many jobs in Ohio that have potential, but would also consider a candidate who hasn't been a head coach before. For as difficult a gig as Wright State could be (it isn't even the best program in Dayton!), it's probably a better job than say, Youngstown State.

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11 OSU Fencers Prepare for NCAA Championships
jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


(photo courtesy www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com)

The Ohio State University Fencing team is in preparations for the 2016 NCAA Championships which this year will be conducted at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. The Buckeyes have qualified eleven out of the maximum twelve fencers, the men’s and women’s fencing committee announced Tuesday March 15th. The Buckeyes who finished fifth place in the 2015 NCAA Championships, having qualified ten fencers in that event, are aiming for the top this year.

There will be 144 fencers in completion between March 24-27 at the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center at Brandeis University. Of the eleven qualifiers for the Buckeyes this year nine will be returning to the championships for a second – even a third time. Competition will include individual events in men’s foil, men’s epee, men’s sabre, women’s foil, women’s epee, and women’s sabre. Two fencers will represent Ohio State in all weapon categories but women’s sabre.

The competition will follow a round-robin format of five-touch bouts. Following the round robin, the top-four finishers will enter into 15-touch bouts for the semifinal round. The winners of these semifinal round(s) will go head-to-head; fencing in order to determine the winner and second place, the non-advancing fencers will tie for third place.

OSU MEN’S COMPETITORS


Ohio State’s men’s squad has qualified six fencers, two from each weapon category. Lewis Weiss (Epee), Marc-Antoine Blais Belanger (Epee), Stas Sudilovsky (Foil), Maximilien Chastanet (Foil), and Fares Arfa (Sabre) will all be returning for a second time after competing at NCAA Championships in 2015.

Sabre fencer Hector Florencia, sophomore, is debuting in this year’s NCAA Championship after placing fifth at the Midwest Regionals. Florencia also played a key role at the Midwest Conference Championships, placing third in individual competition – assisting the Buckeyes sabre unit to reaching first place.

WOMEN’S COMPETITORS


Four of the Buckeyes women’s selections for the NCAA Championships are absolutely no strangers to the competition. Alanna Goldie (Foil) and Eugenia Falqui (Epee), both were in the 2014 and 2015 competitions. Eleanor Harvey (Foil) and Alexa Antipas (Sabre) are returning to the NCAA competition for a second time.

Emma von Dadelszen (Epee) is the only freshman fencer to receive a selection to compete. Emma finished out in the Midwest Conference Championships in sixth place and finished the Midwest regionals in fourth place.

The whole event will be available on ESPN3 – check out your local listings.

Coach Vladimir Nazlymov since his arrival in Columbus fifteen years ago has transformed the landscape in the Fencing Program. The Buckeyes have won NCAA Championships in 2004, 2008, and 2012. They are quite capable of making it 2016 as well. Be sure to tune them in on ESPN3.

Go Buckeyes.


The post 11 OSU Fencers Prepare for NCAA Championships appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Did The Ohio State Buckeyes Have A Successful 2015-16 Season? - BT Powerhouse (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Did The Ohio State Buckeyes Have A Successful 2015-16 Season?
BT Powerhouse (blog)
In 2004 Thad Matta took over for Jim O'Brien as the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Coming off of two disappointing seasons under O'Brien, Matta's first team didn't return to the NCAA Tournament (they were ineligible for the postseason) but they ...

and more »

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Ohio State hosting multiple recruits this week, including 4-star DT commit
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


It will be a busy week for the Buckeye coaching staff, as Ohio State is set to host top talent from in and out of state.

As Ohio is gladly welcoming Spring, college football recruiting begins to intensify. This holds true for the Ohio State coaching staff, as the Buckeyes are set to have a plethora of recruits on campus this week. The biggest of them is four-star DT commit Haskell Garrett.

Garrett, who plans to be in Columbus the entire week, according to 247Sports, committed to the Buckeyes in early February, without ever visiting the school. Because of this, his commitment caught many off-guard and immediately people questioned the strength of the commitment.

However, the 6'2, 298-pound defensive lineman will now be able to solidify his commitment as he spends the majority of his spring beak in Columbus. The No. 4 DT of the 2017 class (according to the 247Sports Composite rankings) will take a five day visit to Ohio State. A visit of this length is uncommon for obvious reasons, but because Garrett currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, he likely won't find time for another visit until the summer.

Garrett is the Buckeyes' highest rated DT commit of the last two recruiting classes for Ohio State, making his commitment that much more important. He is joined by fellow four-star DT Jerron Cage, but DT is a position with little depth and Urban Meyer may be looking to add a third to this class. If this is in fact his intention, look for the Buckeyes to make a strong push for the top rated DT of the class, Marvin Wilson, who Ohio State offered last week.

OSU offers 2-sport star Smith


L'Christian "Blue" Smith, a four-star WR out of Huber Heights Wayne, received an offer from Ohio State yesterday, as was confirmed by Land-Grant Holy Land's own Caleb Houser. Smith, who is still a sophomore, is looked at as a four-star WR, according to 247Sports. Despite his youth, he already holds offers from programs such as Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Florida State, Oregon and Texas. This impressive list is likely due to his knack for making plays.

Standing at 6'6, 205 pounds, Smith is tough for defenders to bring down. Making it even tougher for opposing defenses is his motor, as Smith never stops moving his feet. He also possess good speed and is surprisingly agile, allowing him to make defenders miss in the open field.

Smith is also an impressive basketball player, holding offers from top-tier programs such as Kansas, Michigan State and Indiana. Two-sport athletes are hard to come across but Smith seems to be working hard to succeed in both. Look for the Buckeyes to increase their interest in Smith, as he is likely to become one of the top athletes of his class.

Buckeyes to host 4 local recruits


Four in-state recruits will be visiting Ohio State today, including four-star TE Trenton Gillison. Only a sophomore in high school, Gillison will be joined by his Pickerington Central teammates Morgan Ellison, Jeremiah Wood, and Xavier Henderson. Recruiting databases tend to shy away from ranking players this young, but 247Sports has Gillison rated as the fifth-best TE in the 2018 recruiting class and the sixth-best recruit in the state of Ohio.

Securing in-state commitments has become a priority for Urban Meyer, who has the luxury of being able to recruit talent from anywhere in the U.S. This will be even more important this year, as Jim Harbaugh has made it known that he wants to steal more recruits out of Ohio.

Quick Hits

• Offensive lineman Blaine Scott, of Portsmouth Sciotoville East in Ohio, will be visiting the Buckeyes this week.
• Five-star WR Tyjon Lindsey is set to visit Ohio State this weekend.
• A teammate of Blue Smith, Alex Reigelsperger, will be visiting Ohio State today.

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Buckeyes offer Ohio two-sport star - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes offer Ohio two-sport star
247Sports
Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne wide receiver L'Christian Smith-Cochran has added a big scholarship offer on the football side of things. Smith-Cochran has landed an offer from Ohio State. Smith-Cochran also a list of football offers that includes Michigan, ...

and more »

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News Journal Classic: Ex-Buckeyes driven to make an impact - Mansfield News Journal
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


News Journal Classic: Ex-Buckeyes driven to make an impact
Mansfield News Journal
Founded by Hall and fellow Buckeye Antonio Smith in 2008 — Hall's rookie year with the Indianapolis Colts — Driven fosters a never-say-die mentality through food distributions, mentorships and specialized events for at-risk youth and families in need.


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Ezekiel Elliott could be the best player in the 2016 NFL Draft
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Plus, what to expect from Ohio State basketball come the fall, the ACC dominates the Sweet 16 field and the Horseshoe plays host to European soccer. All your Ohio State news, in one helpful place.

"I think he might be the best overall player in the whole draft. I don’t think I’m overstating that. I think his tape shows that."

-NFL media analyst Brian Baldinger, via Chase Goodbread, NFL.com


It seems like a foregone conclusion that former Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott will be selected with a first-round pick in next month’s NFL Draft, but it is becoming even more probable that such a selection could be earlier than expected, with some analysts predicting that Elliott could go as high as No. 4-overall to the Dallas Cowboys. Initially, it seemed as though the New York Jets might select Elliott, who is widely considered the best running back in this year’s class, at the N0. 20 spot, but Elliott’s stock has continued to rise since January.

Moreover, NFL media analyst Brian Baldinger says that Elliott could be the best player overall in this year’s draft class, and would make a great fit in Dallas where the lack of running game proved to be its downfall in 2015. With the loss of Demarco Murray following the 2014 season, when the Cowboys had the second-best rushing offense in the league, the Cowboys were bound to fall off in 2015. Though Darren McFadden totaled over 1,000 yards on the season, it was just the second time he was able to complete a 16-game schedule without injury. With McFadden’s future uncertain given his history of injuries, the Cowboys are in need of a "stud" at running back, in Baldinger’s words. Elliott would be set up for success behind one of the most physical offensive lines in the NFL, and a veteran quarterback who would finally be healthy after missing most of last season due to injury.

If Elliott goes to the Cowboys, it would be the first time a running back was selected with a top-five draft pick since the Cleveland Browns took Trent Richardson No. 3-overall in 2012.

"I think there were some strides made. We knew this was going to be a challenging season, no question about that. I hope our guys have a sense of what college basketball is about now, you can’t just show up and play, say ‘I’m gonna get my game on.’ It just doesn’t work in college basketball."

-Ohio State basketball coach Thad Matta, via Bill Landis, Cleveland.com


We all knew going in that this was going to be a rough year for the Ohio State Buckeyes men’s basketball team. With multiple seniors graduating, and point guard D’Angelo Russell being drafted No. 2 overall by the Lakers following his freshman season, there was bound to be some serious rebuilding in store to prepare for the following season. Now, with Ohio State having lost to Florida in the second round of the NIT, next season is already here.

Despite being eligible for the NCAA Tournament, the Buckeyes did not make the big dance for just the third time under Matta’s tenure at Ohio State, owing likely to several bad losses early in the season to the likes of UT Arlington and Louisiana Tech that could not be made up for with massive upsets over Kentucky and Iowa.

There is a lot to improve upon for the upcoming season, from being able to start quicker to improving a stagnant defense. Still, much of the criticism surrounding the 2015-16 campaign was a lack of effort by many of the young players on the court, a sentiment that was echoed by Russell last week. Even current players are getting into the conversation, with freshman guard JaQuan Lyle commenting that he doesn’t "know why any of them would say they’re hungry for next year when we had a game today and we came out flat in both halves." The lack of effort on the court could be attributed to a lack of leadership. With Jae’Sean Tate out at the end of the season, there wasn’t a clear person to act as the on-court motivator in his absence.

Nonetheless, there are some critical pieces in place. There is talent, and now the young team has a year of college experience under their collective belt. Assuming these pieces fall into place, next year could spell a different story for the Buckeyes.

"Well, we knew it was a hard conference. We were in it all year...We struggled in the conference for the most part because we were playing good teams, really good teams, and it’s hard to judge a conference during the year."

-Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim, via Nicole Auerbach, USA Today Sports


With a record six teams in the Sweet 16 of this year’s NCAA Tournament, the ACC has proven to be the most dominant conference this tournament season, and perhaps one of the most dominant conferences ever in college basketball. Even more impressive is the fact that just one of the conference’s teams has fallen, with Pittsburgh being knocked out in the first round at the hands of Wisconsin. Even 10-seeded Syracuse managed two wins thus far to make the third round. Two of the remaining teams are No. 1 seeds (North Carolina and Virginia). It could be argued that one of the ACC’s better teams was not even present at the tournament, as Louisville was carrying out its self-imposed post-season ban.

The seven ACC teams who made the tournament have amassed a 12-1 record through the first two rounds. Comparatively, the other major conferences have the following records:

• Big Ten (seven teams): 8-4
• Big 12: (seven teams): 6-4
• Pac-12 (seven teams): 3-6
• Big East (five teams): 5-4
• SEC (two teams): 3-2

Three teams in the Big Ten remain alive in the Sweet 16, including five-seeds Indiana and Maryland and seventh-seeded Wisconsin. The Big 12 likewise has three teams left in the tournament, while the Big East, Pac-12 and SEC have just one team remaining each. Gonzaga, of the West Coast Conference, is the only team remaining from a non-power conference in basketball.

"The 105,000-seat venue will play host to an International Champions Cup exhibition game, likely in July or early August. It is expected to pit one of the world’s super-clubs against another top team, most likely French giant Paris-St. Germaine."

-Shawn Mitchell, The Columbus Dispatch


Ohio Stadium will once again play host to professional soccer this summer. Specifics for dates and matchups for the exhibition series for the International Champions Cup are expected to be announced tomorrow both for the game at Ohio Stadium and for other venues across the country, as well as other matchups in Australia and China.. Previous matchups in the series, which pit some of the world’s top clubs against one another for exhibition matches, have included the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Barcelona. A 2014 match at Michigan Stadium between Manchester United and Real Madrid drew a record crowd for soccer in the U.S., with more than 109,000 fans in attendance. Last year, five matches played in football stadiums drew crowds greater than 60,000, including one game with more than 93,000 fans at the Rose Bowl.

Given the size of the stadium, it is expected that the Horseshoe will receive a premier matchup. The field will be outfitted temporarily with grass to cover the turf. The Columbus Crew, which had played at the Horseshoe until their stadium was built in 1999, is expected to be involved in this year’s event, but will not be playing at Ohio Stadium this year.

STICK TO SPORTS

• Check out these adorable cheetah cubs from the Cincinnati Zoo
• Ever wonder what spring looks like from space?
• Here is a brief history of Twitter in Tweets
• Just for kicks. here are some not-funny-but-sorta-funny puns

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In case you didn't know, you can't guard Mike Thomas
Ian Hartitz via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Mike Jordan, Mike Tyson, Mike ...Thomas?

Welcome to Part 9 of our look at Ohio State's 2016 NFL Draft prospects. All of our previous Buckeyes' breakdowns can be found here.

A relatively unheralded recruit out of Woodland Hill, California, three-star Michael Thomas was more known for being former number one overall pick Keyshawn Johnson's nephew than he was for producing on the football field. Things changed when Thomas chose to take his talents to Columbus.

If it were only that easy. Thomas joined former Buckeyes quarterback Cardale Jones at Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy in the fall of 2011 prior to joining the Buckeyes, and even upon getting to Columbus, Thomas failed to make much of an impact outside of April. April? Yes, April, AKA when Ohio State has always held their spring game, and coincidentally this seemed to be the time that Thomas decided to really get down to business.

12 catches in the 2012 spring game was followed by seven more receptions and a touchdown in 2013, and collectively Buckeyes fans everywhere were forced to take notice of the athletic 6'3, 200 pound wide receiver. But this was all it was: taking notice. With just three catches to his name prior to the 2014 season, it was time for Thomas to become more than just a spring game hero.

While there were many memorable Mike Thomas moments from the 2014 season (one particular leaping catch which will be touched on later), it was one catch against Maryland that truly cemented Thomas' status as a freak wide receiver worth watching.



The hands, body control, and physicality are all on display during this unreal catch, and despite being surrounded by future NFL receivers Evan Spencer, Devin Smith and Jalin Marshall, it was Thomas who was the Buckeyes' leading receiver at the end of this championship season. 11 catches for 119 yards and one crucial touchdown combined against Alabama and Oregon later, all of a sudden everybody knew who Michael Thomas was.

But, in the off chance you didn't know who Mike Thomas was, you found out pretty quickly during Ohio State's 2015 opener at Virginia Tech.


I'm still not sure what the best part about this tweet is. If I had to rank it, I'd go:

5. Thomas' patented #shhhhhhhh hashtag

4. Thomas proclaiming that someone has to "Call God" after this play

3. Former Ohio State point guard and current Los Angeles Laker D'Angelo Russell tweeting that he taught Thomas this move

2. Thomas' ridiculous stutter step that took Jordan Fuller (one of the top corners in the country) to the ground

1. Him tweeting the hashtag #Cornerbackslivesmatter

What followed this play was a season that demonstrated the same point over and over: you can't guard Mike. Look no further than Thomas' Twitter handle to find out this sad truth, and no soul was saved over the course of the 2015-2016 season. Not even Jourdan Lewis could come away unscathed, arguably the Big Ten's best corner and hated enemy of everyone in the great state of Ohio.


While Thomas was always one to make plays in style, the quarterback carousel that was the first half of Ohio State's 2015 season prohibited Thomas from truly capitalizing on the stat sheet.



Not that these numbers are anything to be ashamed of, but for a wide receiver who is widely considered near the top of his class, it may be a bit surprising to not see more domination on the stat sheet. So what is it that makes Thomas such a heralded wide receiver prospect? Let's find out.

Strengths: Route running, hands, run after catch


Watch any game of Mike Thomas' career and there are three quick traits you'll notice. Thomas runs great routes and really puts a lot of work into this important detail. Thomas rarely drops a pass (only five in 2014 and 2015), and Thomas regularly makes the first man miss after a catch. Thus, what better play to breakdown than one that exhibits all three of these great qualities?



Ohio State is driving on Notre Dame and looking to capitalize in the red zone. While the offense was rightfully criticized for its lack of creativity in play calling for much of the season, it's play designs like this that show what the Ohio State offensive coaches are truly capable of.

Running back Curtis Samuel motions from the backfield to the other side of the field, seemingly setting up a screen opportunity for the Buckeyes. The real goal of Samuel motioning however was to remove the Notre Dame linebacker from Thomas' side of the field, leaving Thomas all alone, matched up one on one.



Thomas demonstrates his savvy route running here, as after a Barrett pump fake to Samuel freezes the safety in the middle of the field, Thomas creates separation with great footwork and a pretty head fake to sell the Fighting Irish corner.



Upon getting separation, J.T. Barrett puts the ball on the money and Thomas demonstrates his good habit of catching the ball with his hands away from his body. This trait is important because receivers who tend to catch the ball closer to their body are usually more prone to drops.



But Thomas isn't done. Another nifty display of footwork leaves the Notre Dame safety on the ground and gives Thomas an angle to the end-zone that he was sure to make good use of.


And make good use of it Thomas did. Sometimes we lose ourselves in a big wide receiver by simply watching highlights of them out-jumping inferior competition over and over again. Thomas is the rare breed who is able to combine his outstanding play-making ability with the preciseness of a slot receiver in terms of running his routes and making guys miss.

Weaknesses: Production, speed


As touched on before, Thomas didn't exactly have the most productive career at Ohio State. Nearly 800 yards and nine touchdowns a year are nothing to be ashamed of obviously, but for a guy who many say should be drafted in the first round, Thomas' numbers are lower than most of his peers.

Additionally, Thomas was clocked at a 4.57 40 yard dash at the combine. This time was lowered to somewhere in the 4.4 range during Ohio State's pro day -- funny how players always seem to lower their times at their pro day -- but the point remains that Thomas doesn't really possess that second gear that guys like Braxton Miller and Devin Smith have. This fact is backed up on film as Thomas was rarely used as a vertical threat to stretch defenses, and it is yet to be decided whether or not Thomas can consistently beat defenses down the field.

Best Case NFL Comparison: Keyshawn Johnson


Don't freak out. Yes, this comparison is maybe a tad forced, but when an uncle and nephew are actually similarly built wide receivers with the same style of play, the comparison needs to be made. In Johnson's 11 year NFL career he surpassed 1,000 yards four times, and was usually good for 8-10 touchdowns during his prime. Thomas won't be the number one pick like Johnson was, but with Thomas' best case scenario perhaps being an overqualified second wide receiver on a good passing offense, these types of numbers should be seen as Thomas' ceiling.

Worst Case NFL Comparison: Mike Williams


While Williams has size Thomas does not, there is a case to be made that Thomas could be a bust if he fails to be a viable vertical threat in the NFL. Williams was unbelievable in college as part of the mid 2000s USC powerhouse that ruled college football. However, Williams' NFL career lasted just five seasons, and he was consistently plagued by his inability to produce and make big plays. Even a reunion with college coach Pete Carrol in Seattle couldn't save the former first round pick.

At Ohio State Thomas was rarely used on vertical routes, mostly because the Buckeyes didn't need him to run these routes. NFL scouts have recognized this and haven't simply assumed Thomas cannot be a vertical threat, but if this turns out to be the case, it could be a quick fall for Thomas. NFL corners facing off against wide receivers without great speed or separation skills feast. Not having to worry about the guy you're guarding running straight past you must be a nice luxury for a corner, and Thomas will need to prove he can consistently create separation at an NFL level in order to not fall into the same failed career that Mike Williams did.

NFL Draft Projection: Late first round, early second


While some (most notably Matt Miller from Bleacher Report) have Thomas as the outright number one wide receiver in this class, the general consensus seems to be that Thomas will settle in as a mid 20s pick or early 30s. Every team in the NFL could use another great outside wide receiver with size, and Thomas may be the most NFL ready wide receiver of the group.

Most "Michael Thomas" Play


Big game. Great coverage. High pass. Sideline near. Did it matter? Nope, because you can't guard Mike.

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Chris Spielman-Joey Bosa, Otto Graham-Joe Thomas highlight second-round Buckeyes and Browns matchups - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Chris Spielman-Joey Bosa, Otto Graham-Joe Thomas highlight second-round Buckeyes and Browns matchups
cleveland.com
Chris Spielman-Joey Bosa, Otto Graham-Joe Thomas highlight second-round Buckeyes and Browns matchups. BosaSpielmanGrahamThomas. Joey Bosa (top left) vs. Chris Spielman (top right) and Otto Graham (bottom left) vs. Joe Thomas (bottom right) are ...


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Buckeyes bring home the title - Winnipeg Free Press
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes bring home the title
Winnipeg Free Press
The Buckeyes offence was a team effort, with eight players scoring at least five goals during the 22-game regular season. They were led by Zach Hutchison who scored 15 goals and chipped in 11 assist to lead the team in scoring during the regular season.


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