Column: Justin Frye closes on in-state talent, creates momentum in OL recruiting
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Justin Frye came into a challenging situation, but by cleaning up on in-state talent he has built a foundation to take the offensive line to the next level

When it comes to in-state recruiting for the Ohio State Buckeyes, an offer is usually enough to gain a commitment from the best recruits in the state. The Buckeyes have landed the No. 1 recruit in the state every year since 2012 except for 2016 and 2018, according the 247Sports Composite rankings.

The reason those years stand out — besides missing on the best player in the state — is because in both years offensive line coach Greg Studrawa missed on the top linemen in the state who were also the No. 1 players in Ohio. Studrawa lost one of those battles for Tommy Kraemer out Cincinnati Elder, who chose Notre Dame, and the other to Clemson in the recruitment of Jackson Carman. With recruiting being the lifeblood of a program, this puts a clot in the potential ceiling on arguably the most important position group. This is something we are seeing with current depth concerns on the offensive line for the Buckeyes.

When you’re in a talent rich state like Ohio, the emphasis needs to be on building a fence around the border to secure the best players, which should be the utmost of priorities for a position coach. This is especially the case when the state you’re in puts out a high rate of elite players at the position group you coach.

Those two recruiting years makes what happened in recruiting this week that much more important. The Buckeyes received a commitment from the Austin Siereveld out of Lakota East (Middletown, OH). This commitment means that in his first recruiting class, Justin Frye landed the top-three offensive line recruits in the state, building the proverbial recruiting fence. With this hot start, there is a lot to look at when it comes the current state of the offensive line, but for the first time in a while there is major momentum, and the youthfulness of Frye has to be playing a big part in it.

The Buckeyes still have questions left that Frye will be tasked to fix, but his wins recruiting so far have created a lot of momentum for this position group moving forward, including depth, why the recruiting wins stand out and what this means for the position moving forward.

Current Offensive Line Depth


The obvious reason for the importance of recruiting the best in-state offensive linemen is the positional depth. Under Studrawa, the Buckeyes were able to recruit interior offensive linemen at a high clip, and he had quite a few major wins for elite tackles. His best out of state prospect at tackle being Nicholas Petit-Frere, and his best in state prospect being Paris Johnson Jr., who were both top-30 recruits.

The issue isn’t in his wins. The amount of losses began stacking up in his tenure, which is a significant reason a change was needed. After missing on some major tackle recruits in the last few classes, the depth at the tackle positions is not where it needs to be. The combined average player rating for the tackles on the roster who aren’t Paris Johnson Jr. is a 0.88 which is a three-star recruit. Now, Dawand Jones has developed into starter, but that is not always going to happen with every recruit in that range.

This is a significant reason there is concerns when it comes to offensive line depth on the roster. From a recruiting stand point, this means Studrawa was living with secondary options and taking flyers in hopes of elite development of lower ranked in-state prospects. That recipe was not successful as we look at the depth situation that was noted.

In this class, the average player rankings of the in-state offensive linemen is 0.937. This says two things – the talent in Ohio on the offensive line is better than the past two cycles, and Frye did his job establishing a foundation with in-state prospects in this class. By landing one elite tackle prospect in-state, this will allow Frye to reach out more nationally and find the depth this offensive line is currently missing.

Lost Battles In Recent Years


Ohio State does not lose often when it comes to in-state offensive line recruits, but there were some big names over the last half-decade that decided to go elsewhere. In 2016, the Buckeyes lost the top-two in state offensive linemen in Liam Eichenberg and Tommy Kraemer to Notre Dame. This would start a trend of less than acceptable recruiting losses on the offensive line.

Losing an offensive line recruit to Notre Dame isn’t unforgivable given their track record of putting offensive linemen in the NFL, but an unacceptable loss is losing a player to a southern school with no history recruiting in Ohio. This happened when Jackson Carman – a five-star recruit — chose to head to Clemson in 2018. By missing on these players it created an additional need for elite linemen in the following season.

A class with Nicholas Petit-Frere and Jackson Carman looks a lot different depth wise for the Buckeyes. This is why these losses added up, instead of having multiple elite players at the position, Ohio State would be lucky to grab one and hopefully a few players who developed into legitimate starters.

Moving forward, Ohio State won’t win every battle and that shouldn’t be the expectation, but lack of consistent in-state recruiting success is unacceptable. This is why what Frye accomplished in gaining commitments from the top-three in state offensive linemen this week is nothing to scoff at. By doing this, there is less pressure in landing an out of state prospect and more freedom to be selective with who they go after to finalize the 2023 class.

Justin Frye’s Recruiting Success So Far


In Siereveld’s recruitment, the final three teams were Alabama, Notre Dame, and Ohio State. When those two schools are trying to come into your state, that means the player is pretty special. By closing on this recruitment that gives Frye multiple wins over Notre Dame in his short tenure, and establishes him as a serious player in the Midwest. His first three commitments were Carson Hinzmann, Luke Montgomery, and Austin Siereveld — all of which will add immediate depth to a roster in need of it.

In those three battles, Frye beat out schools like Michigan, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Alabama, among others. All five of those schools have a history of sending elite offensive linemen to the NFL, and have all won battles against Ohio State for offensive line recruits. This is no small task, especially with Frye only being hired in January, and by winning these recruiting battles early he can continue to build momentum.

With these wins, Frye showed he has the chops to recruit against some of the larger programs that will be constant challengers when it comes to Ohio talent. The success of fending off other powerhouses is already a significant jump recruiting wise for the Buckeyes. Winning these battles is a way to measure success in the immediate. Frye beat out huge names to secure all three of his 2023 commitments, and that should be something that gets Ohio State fans excited for what’s to come.

Conclusion


Even with the wins so far, the job is not done for Frye, but closing on the top three offensive linemen in-state is an incredible start in his first full recruiting cycle. With the current state of the depth on the line, the interior offensive line is actually in a really steady place. The main concern is tackle depth. Both Dawand Jones and Paris Johnson Jr. are draft eligible this next season, and behind them on the depth chart is little certainty when it comes to who may be next. This has led to many people predicting that Donovan Jackson will move outside next season.

For the players who came in as tackles, not every one of them will share the same success as Dawand Jones – who was a lower-rated recruit that has developed into a potential first round pick. This is why Frye cannot afford to miss in this class. Frye will do his best to help the current players on the roster turn into the next Jones, but the future of the offensive line needs to rely less on long term development and get back to relying on elite recruiting plus development. By recruiting at a high level with in-state recruits, Frye will give himself an opportunity to look at national recruits like Alaus Olinen, Chase Bisontis, and Samson Okunlola. These are the type of players that can potentially replenish the room in one class.

Overall, landing all three Ohio recruits is an incredible start for Frye, especially in comparison to his predecessor who lost the top two offensive line recruits in his first season as the offensive line coach. Moving forward, the question will be if these three recruits are the new ceiling or a potential stepping stone to the level of recruiting we’ve seen at other positions. Time will tell, but the Buckeyes under Frye are off to a great start. Now it’s time for Frye to build on that momentum and take this room to the level expected by the Buckeye faithful.

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2024 four-star linebacker had ‘excellent’ visit to Ohio State
Charles Doss via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Four-star LB Kristopher Jones | Photo Via Kristopher Jones/@bigkris4422

We caught up with one of the Buckeyes latest visitors. See what the four-star prospect had to say about his time on the OSU campus, and more.

Visitors, visitors, visitors. It seems that almost everyday the Ohio State coaching staff is back at it showing many of the nation's top high school recruits around the historic Columbus campus this spring. One of the latest prospects to have a shot to see what the Buckeyes are putting together was four-star class of 2024 linebacker Kristopher Jones.

“The visit was excellent, and I was amazed at the things Ohio State had to offer,” the Mountain View (VA) standout sophomore stated to Land-Grant Holy Land soon after his trip to OSU last Friday.“I had a chance to take pictures in the uniform and we toured the shoe and the campus as well as the other facilities. Outside of just football, I really liked the Real Life Wednesdays they had for the team. It shows that the program cares about the players' future outside of football and their careers.”


While some of the staff were on the road either tracking down talent or celebrating now-former Ohio State greats such as Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave getting drafted, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Jones had the chance to meet up with a pair of the Buckeyes' newest hires.

“I spoke with Koy McFarland and coach Matt Guerrieri. Coach Day was in Las Vegas and Coach Knowles was on a recruiting trip in Florida. But Coach G says he loves the way I play and how athletic I am at the linebacker position and wants to see me at a camp which I’ll be going to in June.”

Holding over a dozen scholarship offers at the moment, Jones is starting to focus harder on where he’ll end up calling his home when he moves on to the collegiate level.

“The programs that are really sticking out to me right now are Virginia, Virginia Tech, Penn State, Arizona State, and Notre Dame. As of right now, I’m looking for a school that’s gonna develop me not only on the field but off the field, and somewhere I can grow and hopefully get to the next level.”

So where does OSU fit? Just starting to build their relationship, the Buckeyes have yet to dish out an offer Kristopher’s way, but if they do, it won’t be something that the Virginia native will take very lightly.

“When I would watch college football (growing up),” he said, “Ohio State was one of the schools I would watch. Ohio State is a top program in the Big Ten and I could definitely see myself playing there. If I did get that offer it would really mean a lot to me.”

Check out Jones’ Highlights:

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Final thoughts on the 2022 NFL Draft
David M Wheeler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


1st round pick Garrett Wilson should be a star with the NY Jets | Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

How did the Buckeyes fare?

The 2022 NFL Draft is over, and the dust has now settled (more or less). We know the current status of all of the Ohio State Buckeyes who were eligible for the draft. There’s nothing left now but to talk about it.

The Bucks had six players selected in the seven-round draft. That figure is one fewer than we expected, and a bit below the 10-year average of the Urban Meyer/Ryan Day era (7.6). Anything to be concerned about? No. Of the six, two were taken in the top 11 picks overall, and four were taken in the first three rounds. It’s not surprising that five of the six draftees were on the offensive side of the ball; the 2021 OSU defense just wasn’t that good.

Additionally, several of these players were in the Ohio State recruiting class that fell during the coaching transition year for the Buckeyes, and that recruiting year was sub-par for the Bucks.

Recruits are sure to look at draft results, but they look at a longer picture than a single year. Whether it’s a 10-year span or a forever span, Ohio State is at the top in sending its players to NFL teams.

The competition


Somewhat surprisingly, the Buckeyes didn’t lead the Big Ten in number of players selected. That honor belongs to the Penn State Nittany Lions, who placed eight in the seven rounds (fourth among all NCAA teams this year) — one in the first round, two in the second. In-state rival Cincinnati demonstrated that they had the talent to belong in the championship playoffs, as the Bearcats had nine players drafted, with five going in the first three rounds.

National champion Georgia set a new record with 15 Bulldogs drafted, besting the previous mark of 14, set by the Buckeyes in 2004. The draft was really enormous for Georgia; five Dawgs were gone by the end of the first round, and five more were taken in rounds two and three. The five first-rounders were all members of that vicious Georgia defense. LSU was second in number of players drafted with 10, followed by Cincinnati and Penn State. Alabama and Oklahoma had seven players each. Ohio State joined UCLA, Baylor, and Ole Miss with six. Other Big Ten teams: Michigan (five), Wisconsin (five), Michigan State (four), Minnesota (four).

Although Ohio State wasn’t at the top of the list, with two receivers going back-to-back in the first round and a tight end chosen in the third round, the Bucks can obviously use the results of the draft to promote its passing offense to the quarterbacks and receivers that it’s recruiting. All in all, a decent enough draft for OSU. Here’s how I see individual former Buckeyes’ NFL futures.

What we can expect

Garrett Wilson: 1st round, No. 10 overall pick — New York Jets


As we expected, the talented Buckeye receiver was the first Buck chosen. Although many draft observers expected Wilson to be the first wide receiver off the board, he wasn’t. With the No. 8 overall pick, the Atlanta Falcons opted for size and picked Southern Cal’s Drake London.

Wilson joins a Jets club that needs a lot of help. Frankly, they’ve needed a lot of help for a pretty long time. The Jets played a throng of quarterbacks as they went 4-13 in 2021, as injuries and poor performance necessitated some juggling. Three of those QBs are still on the roster and are likely to be when the season starts: Zach Wilson, Mike White, and Joe Flacco.

Flacco, at 37, played in only a couple of games last year and may be just about done. Zach Wilson, a young hotshot out of BYU, struggled in 2021, as reflected by his numbers. He completed only 55.6% of his 383 passes for 2334 yards, five touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. His average per attempt of 6.1 yards is low, by any standard, and the speedy Garrett Wilson might help out here. Mike White’s stats were a little better than Zach Wilson’s, but not the stuff from which boasts are made. Whoever starts — it’ll be Zach Wilson — is not going to be All-Pro, at least just yet.

At the receiver positions, the Jets feature Elijah Moore, Corey Davis, and Braxton Berrios. All are competent, and Moore may emerge eventually as a star. There’s certainly room for Wilson, though, and by mid-season, he may be the favorite Jets’ target.

Prediction: Day-one starter, with star potential quickly in his NFL career.

Chris Olave: 1st round, No. 11 overall pick — New Orleans Saints


For all of you discussing who would go first, Wilson or Olave, it was a tossup, as they went back-to-back. A great day for the OSU receiving corps. Olave becomes a Saint, as so many other Buckeyes have before him. He joins former Buckeye and current NFL superstar Michael Thomas. We’re all hoping that Thomas’s health issues are now resolved and that he’s full-go for 2022. If so, he and Olave will be perfectly complementary: the larger Thomas over the middle, the faster Olave going deep.

Saints’ quarterback Jameis Winston also had injury troubles in 2021, but when he played, he was good. He completed 59% of his passes and threw for 14 touchdowns with only three interceptions. Winston’s 102.8 passing rating is nothing to sneeze at, and Olave finds himself with a really good QB, other strong receivers (Marquez Calloway and Deonte Harris, notably, in addition to Thomas), and a superb running back in Alvin Kamara. A potent offense that should allow Olave to show his stuff.

Prediction: Immediate starter and solid-to-stellar performer for many years to come.

Nicholas Petit-Frere: 3rd round, No. 69 overall pick — Tennessee Titans


It’s no surprise that NPF was chosen as highly as he was. Third round was the prediction by just about everybody. The Titans are, of course, coached by former Buckeye, Mike Vrabel.

Last season, the Titans were a powerhouse and should be again this year. They went 12-5 with a very balanced offense that produced over 2,400 yards on the ground. Yes, Derrick Henry still carries the ball for the Titans. Petit-Frere will find that his run-blocking skills will have to be sharp if he’s going to crack this lineup.

Prediction: For the first couple of seasons, I expect Petit-Frere to play a lot of snaps and then become a starter in his third year, or so. He’ll need some fine-tuning.

Jeremy Ruckert: 3rd round, No. 101 overall pick — New York Jets


Yes, Ruckert and Garrett Wilson will still be on the same team. Ruckert grew up on Long Island and grew up a Jets fan. His excitement about the draft is genuine.

Some experts rated Ruckert the best tight end in this class, or at least the best blocking tight end. But we know that he can run routes and catch passes too. Ruckert has good size and speed and should vie for playing time from the get-go.

Prediction: Ruckert makes the roster easily and sees a lot of snaps after excelling in pre-season action. Maybe not a starter yet – but soon.

Tyreke Smith: 5th round, No. 158 overall pick — Seattle Seahawks


At Ohio State, Smith was a defensive end, or edge rusher. I had high hopes for Smith, and, although he showed flashes of brilliance, he was no Bosa or Chase Young. If reports are accurate, Seattle plans to use a 3-4 look more in the future and to put Smith at outside linebacker. It might be a really good fit. Smith is quick rather than overpowering.

Prediction: I’m stumped here and always have been with Smith. I’ve always liked him, but he’s been a bit disappointing. In the pros, he could be a star or a bust. Let’s go for star!

Thayer Munford: 7th round, No. 238 overall pick — Las Vegas Raiders


Most pundits had Munford going in the fourth or fifth round. It’s quite a drop to seventh. The rap on Munford was inconsistency — looking really good on some plays, not so good on others. The Raiders went 10-7 last year and should be in the hunt for a playoff spot again this year. Munford should make the roster, but will have to work hard in the camps.

Prediction: Marginal player with upside. Career as spot starter and fill-in at several offensive line positions.

Undrafted free agents


Master Teague signed on with the Chicago Bears. I like Teague’s chances of making a roster with somebody. He’s a decent running back and, with his speed and size, would make a good special teams player.

Defensive lineman Haskell Garrett signed with the Tennessee Titans. I’m sure that Garrett’s disappointed that he wasn’t drafted. Most expected him to go in the late rounds. His odds of making a roster are long, I would think. He’s going to have to show something to the Titans that he didn’t always show with the Buckeyes.

Demario McCall. I’m delighted to see that McCall signed a deal with the Bears. He brings versatility and speed to the table. I don’t know what Chicago has in mind for him, but at least he’s still in the game.

Antuan Jackson was invited to the NY Giants’ rookie minicamp, and Chris Booker was invited to participate in the Arizona Cardinals’ camp.

Good luck to all of these former Buckeyes as they begin their pro careers.

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This story was mentioned in one of the threads for the 2021 season in the college football forum a few months back. I guess that it was put in the archives. A new article on this story was published yesterday:

Father of High School Quarterback Robbie Roper Speaks Out About the Real Cause of Player's Death
It was initially reported that the talented player died due to complications from routine shoulder surgery but his family is now speaking out about what led to his tragic passing
By Olivia Jakie lMay 04, 2022 09:40 PM

https://people.com/sports/father-of...ie-roper-speaks-out-about-cause-of-his-death/

The father of Georgia high school quarterback Robbie Roper, who died in December at age 18, is speaking out about his untimely death.

It was initially reported that the talented player died due to complications from routine shoulder surgery, however, in a USA Today Sports interview published Wednesday, his father James Roper revealed the chain of events that led to his son's tragic death.

"I just wanted him remembered as a perfect kid. I just didn't want anybody thinking that he had some abnormality when they thought about him," James said when asked why he waited so long to address the cause of his son's death.

James told the outlet the 2022 college football recruit had urea cycle disorder (UCD), a rare genetic disorder that can result in elevated blood ammonia levels that become toxic, according to the Medical Journal of Australia. Something, he said medical professionals overlooked.

CREDIT: GOFUNDME

Patrick Moore, an attorney representing the Roper family who specializes in medical malpractice, told USA Today Sports that the disorder can be triggered by corticosteroids or can be set off by a surgical procedure – "fasting beforehand, anesthesia and physical trauma." Robbie underwent shoulder surgery on Dec. 14.

PEOPLE's request for additional comment from Moore was not immediately returned.


The weekend before Robbie's death, the family had traveled to St. Augustine, Florida for a family reunion, James told the outlet.


"He was fine,'' he said. "He was on the beach, laughing and carrying on and having a good time on Saturday. And then Sunday he started throwing up, and we just thought he had a stomach flu or something. You know, you don't rush to the hospital just for throwing up.''


When his condition worsened, Robbie's mom took him to urgent care, and then to a hospital. At the hospital – which the Roper family has declined to name – the medical staff allegedly insisted that Robbie was on drugs, even though the family said he was a good kid who never messed around with illegal substances.

"We called all of his friends and asked what did he use, and all of them said they'd never seen Robbie touch a drug. I mean, the kid was a straight arrow, 3.9 GPA. All the kid wanted to do all his life every day was play football and play Xbox. He never really hung out with friends and went to parties and all that. He was just a real quiet kid," said James.

While the drug tests came back showing nothing, additional tests showed that Robbie's ammonia levels were nearly four times the normal amount. He was then airlifted to Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida, where he was put on dialysis – but it was too late, according to James.

"If they would have been more aggressive in putting him on dialysis, he'd probably still be alive,'' James said of the first hospital.

"He was the biggest joy to our family," the statement read in part. "We are proud of the young man he has become. He will be missed by his friends and family dearly."

Robbie was a class of 2022 recruit. He had earned the interest of numerous schools including the University of Florida, Ole Miss, TCU, and the University of Michigan. He had also recently been offered a scholarship offer from the University of Massachusetts, according to Sports Illustrated.

"It's definitely been crazy. I mean the first game of the season, I think I put up 450 [yards] passing and about 70 on the ground, so I knew what season it could end up being," he told the publication of his star season in an interview published just two days before he died. "Lately it's just been crazy. I know it's a little late in the game, but there's still a lot of schools that have been very interested and Florida has definitely been one of them."

A GoFundMe set up by a member of Robbie's extended family has raised over $55,000 since it was created, with the hopes of setting up an athletic scholarship fund in his name.

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247 Profile
Rivals Profile
HUDL Highlights
Twitter: @JaydenBonsu



Class: 2023 (high school)
School: Hillside (NJ) St. Peters
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 205 lbs

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Oklahoma State Guard/Forward Isaac Likekele Transferring To Ohio State

The Buckeyes fill their final roster spot with a versatile veteran who has 110 career starts under his belt.

Oklahoma State guard/forward Isaac Likekele announced on Wednesday he is transferring to Ohio State, where he’ll have just one season of eligibility remaining after taking advantage of the extra year granted to all student-athletes amid the pandemic.

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A former three-star prospect from Mansfield (Texas) Timberview, the 6-foot-5 and 215-pound Likekele has played in 114 games for the Cowboys over the last four seasons, including 110 starts. He averaged 8.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 46.0 percent from the field and is the only player in school history to record 1,000 points, 600 rebounds and 400 assists in his career.

Entire article: https://www.si.com/college/ohiostat...a-state-transfer-guard-forward-isaac-likekele

As a sophomore, he was dubbed the "linebacker at point guard" by ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla.

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They managed to find one player who has proven he can do both. Oklahoma State transfer Isaac Likekele announced his commitment to the Buckeyes on Wednesday, giving them a 6-foot-5, 215-pound veteran who can help at both point guard and power forward.

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Hopefully he plays bigger than his height, I really think Ohio State will need some "front court help" this season against teams with a dominate "true center".

Column: Analyzing an NFL Draft that brought more parity than you expected
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by David Becker/Getty Images

And a Big Ten that’s, well, nicely rounded.

When all was said and done Saturday, the Georgia Bulldogs achieved what no program had in the modern draft era: finishing the weekend with 15 players drafted. It was a storybook end to a season that saw the Bulldogs’ first national title in 40+ years and a defeat of their bogeyman, Alabama.

The mark broke Ohio State’s record of 14 players selected in the 2004 NFL Draft (which LSU tied in 2020, when Joe Burrow was taken No. 1-overall). It’s also an indication of a shift in the direction this draft took overall which, in some ways, is a reflection of a college football landscape that might be changing more than we realize.

Some other shocking facts include:

• Ohio State was not the top team in the Big Ten with just six players drafted in seven rounds. (Of course, two were first-round receivers, so take it with a grain of salt)
• A Group of Five school — Cincinnati — had nine players drafted, trailing only Georgia and LSU
• Penn State (the top program in the Big Ten by draft picks) had eight players drafted, edging out Alabama
• Michigan had the fewest players drafted (5) of any program that made the College Football Playoff this year, despite having two first round picks, including the second-overall pick in Aidan Hutchinson
• Notre Dame had just two players taken in the draft. Texas had none

Beyond individual programs, when it comes to conference themes, the SEC ran away with things as they’ve done in recent years:

• SEC: 65 players drafted
• Big Ten: 48 players drafted
• Big 12: 25 players drafted
• Pac-12: 25 players drafted
• ACC: 21 players drafted

The gap between the SEC and Big Ten (yes, I’m lumping them together) and everyone else has grown into a gulf. That trend reflects the College Football Playoff this season (when the SEC and Big Ten were the only Power Five conferences represented) TV ratings and revenue (where the Big Ten is actually tops, followed by the SEC) and recruiting rankings (where the Big Ten and SEC hold five of the top-six spots for the 2022 class).

Moreover, in a trend that is really good for the conference at large, it’s not just Ohio State anchoring the Big Ten anymore. A dozen Big Ten programs saw multiple players drafted, and Northwestern was the only Big Ten team without a selection in this year’s draft — though it’s possible the Wildcats are still riding high from two first round selections last year, and they’re projected to have another first rounder in 2023 with Peter Skoronski.

The disparity between Ohio State and everyone else when it comes to the conference is dwindling and, while that might seem scary, it behooves the Ohio State team that can run the table and benefit from a strong schedule.

Further, the types of players drafted have bucked once and for all the decades-outdated reputation of the Big Ten for lacking speed. In fact, seven receivers from six Big Ten schools were taken in the draft, including three of six selected in the first round (well, 3.5 if you want to partially claim Jameson Williams). It’s a testament to how deep this receiver class is that Purdue’s David Bell fell to the Cleveland Browns in the third round. Yes, to repeat, the consensus First Team All-American receiver and former Big Ten Freshman of the Year fell to the third round.

When it comes to the others in the Power Five, we’ve known the Big 12 has been on the decline for awhile. Oklahoma, the pride of the conference (for the time being) netted out with seven players, but it would take the 32nd pick in the second round for the first Sooner to come off the board. However, what’s become salient this season is just how much the ACC was relying on Clemson as its anchor in recent years. The Tigers, for what it’s worth, had two picks last weekend.

The Big Ten West alone had almost as many players taken (20) as the whole of the ACC. While we’re on the subject, the Big Ten East beat out the Big 12 and Pac-12 with 28 players selected.

Which brings us to one of the other stories of the first round, when no Big 12 players were taken. As it turns out, Cincinnati, which boasted the No. 4-overall pick in Sauce Gardner, is going to be a much needed addition to the struggling conference.

Despite the Big 12’s struggles, the first round brought more parity than we’ve seen in a long time. The top-six picks represented five different conferences, including the AAC and Pac-12. In all, 25 different programs had players drafted in the first round. Beyond Gardner, other non-Power Five picks included:

• Trevor Penning (Northern Iowa)
• Tyler Smith (Tulsa)
• Cole Strange (Chattanooga)

The only schools with multiple players taken in the first round? Georgia (5), Ohio State (2), Michigan (2) and Alabama (2) — no surprises there.

Overall, the SEC boasted 12 first round selections from seven schools, while the Big Ten had seven picks from five programs. Rounding things out, the Pac-12 had four and the ACC three. And as mentioned, the Big 12 got a big fat zero. It’s a big deal, though, to see a sizable portion of players coming from outside the Power Five. Perhaps, like Cincinnati being part of the CFP this year, it means more of a chance for parity in college football moving forward.

What does all this mean for Ohio State? The downward trend in draft picks is reflective of a down season, just as Georgia’s cornucopia of selections reflects an outstanding one. Of course, Penn State has been taking steady steps to climb the ladder of the Big Ten East, and this solid draft — which included a first round pick Jahan Dotson — might be indicative of a formidable foe for years to come.

However, as alluded to, the major takeaway of the draft, when it comes to the Big Ten, is that the conference is a competitive and well-rounded one — and one that, both collectively and with individual programs like Ohio State, is poised to compete with the best in college football.

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A way-too-early and destined-to-be-wrong look at Ohio State’s 2023 NFL Draft class
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Spoiler alert: Stroud and Smith-Njigba are likely to go very (very) early in the 2023 NFL Draft | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch via Imagn Content Services, LLC

It’s never too early to look ahead. But rather than give you a list of players, here are surefire predictions on where current Buckeyes will land in the future.

Just days removed from the completion of the 2022 NFL Draft, 2023 mock drafts are already circulating. Hell, they were being published, shared, or tweeted out before this most recent draft even took place. But I am here to add to the insanity, with Land Grant Holy Land’s Ohio State-centric version. The editors have been given assurances that most of these predictions will come true, and very few will be ridiculed during this time next year.


Ohio State should have a loaded 2023 draft class, depending on the progression of guys like Zach Harrison, Dawand Jones, and Ronnie Hickman, to name a few. But the same could have been said prior to last season, and it never really came to fruition. Harrison was a projected 2022 first-rounder, and Sevyn Banks’ name showed up in first-round mocks as well. Even a guy like Haskell Garrett – who went undrafted this weekend – was pegged as a second or third-rounder 12-18 months ago.

When all was said and done, only six Buckeyes were selected in the 2022 draft, with four of them coming off the board in the third round or later. I definitely expect a better showing from OSU in Kansas City next year (2023’s host city).

To try my hand at any sort of 2023 mock draft, I first had to take a stab at the order in which teams would select. I do not see many teams from this year’s “bottom 10” suddenly making a jump up, so I stuck relatively close to the 2022 draft order. Previous trades of 2023 first-round picks were taken into account, and I am only looking at the OSU players I consider most likely to go high(ish) in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Buckeyes will likely not come close to matching Georgia’s record of 15 players taken in a modern draft, but I would not be surprised if they approach double digits.

First round candidates


C.J. Stroud, Quarterback – 1st overall to the Atlanta Falcons

Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK
Stroud is currently one of the betting favorites to go first in 2023, and NFL talent evaluators already have an eye on him

I was torn on which team would be picking first overall, but I was never torn on who I thought they should take. C.J. Stroud is my pick for a variety of reasons, and I did not hesitate. Most 2023 mocks have the Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, or Jacksonville Jaguars earning this prize (or stumbling into a position to choose), but fortune favors the bold. I felt the need to go elsewhere. I have not seen many mocks with the Atlanta Falcons choosing first, but I have seen the team’s projected roster... Yikes.

Atlanta picked eighth overall this season, and arguably got worse during the offseason. Matt Ryan is gone, replaced by Marcus Mariota and/or Desmond Ridder. Also gone are players such as Russell Gage (second-leading receiver) and Foyesade Oluokun (192 total tackles, led the NFL). The Falcons added Casey Heyward and rookies Ridder, Drake London, and Arnold Ebiketie, but they are simply not a good team. Landing Stroud would give them a chance to expedite their rebuild. And having Ridder on the team should not dissuade them from going QB again in 2023. The former Cincinnati Bearcat was picked up in the third round, and will not be tied to a big-money contract.

For my money, Stroud is the best quarterback in the 2023 class (right now). Bryce Young could pass him, and maybe Spencer Rattler re-discovers what made him a 2021 preseason Heisman candidate, but I do not think either scenario is likely. What Stroud showed off last year should have NFL talent evaluators salivating. His accuracy is off the charts, and his ability to read the field improved with each game played. Helping his case is that fact that he will be surrounded by equal, if not better, weapons this season — which is almost ludicrous to say, having just watched Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave go in the first 11 picks of the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Falcons would also not hesitate to move on from Mariota, or keep him in the fold as a backup. This would not be an Alex Smith-Patrick Mahomes type of situation. Smith was a playoff winner and Pro Bowl performer. Mariota, on the other hand, owns a 62.8 career completion percentage, and has started just six games in the last three seasons (none since 2019). So, if Stroud (or Young) is available when they pick in 2023, it is hard to image the Falcons passing on a potentially generational talent. Stroud would give them a new franchise QB and hope.

Jaxon Smith-Njiga, Wide Receiver – 5th overall to the Chicago Bears

Perhaps you could call me a homer for having JSN this high. Or maybe... just maybe... you could see things from my point of view, and admit that the Chicago Bears might just hate Justin Fields. The former Ohio State Buckeye was supposed to be their franchise savior, but the organization has failed to meet even the lowest expectations when it comes to acquiring offensive talent. Fields’ top receiving options are Darnell Mooney and Byron Pringle, for crying out loud! Chicago has committed team-building malpractice, but JSN would give them a shot at redemption.

While I realize that No. 5 overall seems high for a wide receiver – especially one who does not have the physical makeup of a Randy Moss or Calvin Johnson – the Bears have to do something. And JSN is currently the top pass catcher projected to go in the 2023 NFL Draft. There is also some level of familiarity between these two former (in this instance) Buckeyes, making the pick even more of a no-brainer. Fields and JSN, while they did not share the field often, could potentially replicate the teammate connection and success currently enjoyed by Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase in Cincinnati.

JSN is a smooth operator, capable of playing inside or outside. I personally prefer him in the slot, and I believe he would excel in such a role for the Bears. As a young quarterback, Fields could use a security blanket capable of making plays after the catch. JSN is more than capable, and he would be a clear upgrade over any pass catcher currently on Chicago’s roster. So while the Bears would be making a huge investment, it would be at a position that they have largely ignored since 2015. It is imperative that they help their franchise QB.

Paris Johnson Jr., Left Tackle – 20th overall to the Dallas Cowboys

I have seen other mock drafts with Johnson (Jr.) going inside the top-10, but I am not quite there yet. I need to see him play, I dont know, one game at left tackle. I don’t think that’s asking for too much. But I do think that Johnson is going to be a stud sooner than later. The transition from interior mauler to outside blindside protector has already begun in Columbus, and I expect him be a hell of a bodyguard for Stroud this season.

I settled on Dallas, in the middle of the first round, for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, their offensive line has been picked apart by age, injury, and free agency. The Cowboys used to have the best line (and line depth) in the league, but Tyron Smith and Zack Martin are the only remaining pieces. This unit could use a makeover, and it starts here, with a talented Buckeye.

Beyond the overall health and wellbeing of the entire group, the Tyron Smith issue looms large for Dallas. His subtle drop-off and large salary were the biggest factors in making this decision. When healthy, Smith is one of the best in the league — and one of this most physically-intimidating human beings I have ever laid eyes on. Unfortunately, he has not played a full season since 2015, and carries a cap hit of $17.6 million in 2023. While not an enormous salary for a franchise LT, it far exceeds whatever the Cowboys would have to pay Johnson as the 20th overall pick.

Even if Johnson moves back to guard upon being drafted, it be worth the long-term investment. Both Smith and Martin are getting up there in age, so Johnson gives Dallas an option to replace whichever player falls off or leaves first. His positional flexibility is a luxury for any team looking to upgrade the offensive line. In this case, America’s Team adds another former OSU player to the roster, something they have been accustomed to doing over the years.

Dawand Jones, Right Tackle/Guard – 22nd overall to the Houston Texans

No, I do not think the Texans are sniffing the playoffs. But I am a man of my word, and I told you that 2023 trades were factored in here. This pick actually ends up in Houston as a result of the Deshaun Watson trade. Despite my dislike for the franchise (sorry, not sorry), I could see the Browns making a playoff run as long as Watson plays the majority of their games. Fortunately for Dawand Jones, he is not likely to end up on the Browns if he is indeed taken in the first round.

Projecting Jones to go in the first was definitely the biggest “swing” I took, but you simply can’t coach 6-foot-8, 360 pounds. He showed great progress as a first-year starter, and I could see him taking a leap forward under new offensive line coach, Justin Frye. Jones is more than just a mountain of a man. He moves extremely well for his size, and is a mauler in the run game. His pass pro needs to improve, but I believe he has early round potential.

The Texans need a little bit of everything, but they have a ton of picks to work with, and Jones would give them a monster of a tackle — even if he only has experience on the right side. I did not forget about Laremy Tunsil, but he is a free agent after the 2023 season and currently holds down the opposite side. Jones could start on the right and be groomed to protect the blind side starting in 2024. At the very least, he could be one of Houston’s bookends.

Day Two Potential


Zach Harrison, DE/OLB – 50th overall to the Tennessee Titans

Barbara J. Perenic / USA TODAY NETWORK
Harrison is looking to rebound from an uneven 2021, and he has all the tools to do so

Harrison was a projected first-rounder going into the 2021 college football season, but failed to meet those lofty expectations. That being said, the ceiling is still high for this Columbus, Ohio native, and Buckeye fans hope he is able to flourish under Jim Knowles. While we did not see him in OSU’s spring game, there is a thought that Harrison could alternate between DE and the Jack position(s), hence making him a potential fit for any NFL team running a 3-4 defense. That is where Mike Vrabel and the Titans come in.

Tennessee’s current base is the 3-4, and while they have one stud (OLB) in Harold Landry, the return on Bud Dupree has been disappointing. Here, the Titans are able to pick up a potential replacement with positional versatility. Harrison could replace Dupree if the team decides to move on after 2022, or get after the QB in four-down sets. Vrabel loves his Buckeyes, and Harrison could be a great value in the second round.

Ronnie Hickman, Safety – 60th overall to the Kansas City Chiefs

Something in my gut tells me that Hickman is going to be a defensive weapon for Knowles and the OSU coaching staff. He led the Buckeyes in total tackles last year, and now has access to a much better group of coaches — sorry, it’s true. He might not possess top-end speed, but he is a willing tackler, and the new staff should turn him into much more of a playmaker. If he is able to move around the defensive backfield, it will only help his stock as a draft prospect.

The Kansas City Chiefs love versatile safeties, and they have a couple of good ones in Justin Reid and Juan Thornhill. But in today’s pass-happy league, every NFL team needs to have three or four interchangeable players in the back end. Hickman could join KC’s safety group, or be a replacement for Juan Thornhill. Thornhill is slated to be a free agent after the 2022 season, and coincidentally was drafted by the Chiefs at the end of 2019’s second round (No. 63 overall).

Mid-round Vets


Tanner McCalister, 3rd round — Coverage safeties are in high demand, and McCalister has a ton of experience.

Josh Proctor, 4th round — Another versatile, experienced safety. If Proctor stays healthy, he could go even higher than Hickman and/or McCalister.

Cameron Brown, 5th round — A sticky corner when healthy. Much like Proctor, his draft position will be heavily influenced by health.

Taron Vincent, 6th round — Vincent flashed towards the end of 2021, and could make even greater strides this season. Will need to be disruptive on a consistent basis, and hopefully his efforts are aided by the talent around him.

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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for May 4, 2022
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.

Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.

Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.

You’re welcome!

For your Earholes...


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On the Gridiron


A look at Justin Frye’s recruiting thus far as Ohio State closes in on a trio of in-state offensive linemen in 2023
Caleb Houser, Land-Grant Holy Land

Progress Report: Evaluating Ohio State defensive ends after spring camp (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Transfer kicker Parker Lewis primed to compete, win job, details picking Ohio State over long list of offers
Bill Kurelic, Bucknuts

<eye balls emoji>


Ohio State Seeks Return of Big-Play Pass Defense
Chris Lauderback, Eleven Warriors

Column: Jeremy Ruckert’s draft story is a great one
Megan Husslein, Land-Grant Holy Land

How Each 2022 NFL Rookie from Ohio State Fits with His New Team
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

Former Ohio State receiver Johnnie Dixon named USFL Offensive Player of the Week
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Three Buckeyes in the top-13. That’ll do.


You’re Nuts: What former Ohio State players would have fared best in an NIL world?
Brett Ludwiczak and Meredith Hein, Land-Grant Holy Land

Haskins Family Foundation Announces Scholarship Fund in Dwayne Haskins’ Name
Kevin Harrish, Eleven Warriors

On the Hardwood


Column: How position-less basketball could work (or fail) for Ohio State this season
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land

The impact of Ohio State Women’s Basketball freshmen in 2021-22
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land

Love this.


How Buckeyes can benefit from Malaki Branham draft declaration (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Germany provided opportunities for Ohio State’s CJ Walker
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Outside the Shoe and Schott


OSU’s tennis teams reach NCAA tourney, will host matches this weekend
Staff Reports, The Columbus Dispatch

Olympic Recap: Swimming’s Armstrong Sets 50M Backstroke Record, Dorenkott Named to USA Swimming Staff, Buckeye Wrestlers Compete at U.S. Open
Chase Brown, Buckeye Sports Bulletin

Men’s Lacrosse: Buckeyes, Scarlet Knights Vie for Spot in Big Ten Tournament Title Game
Ohio State Athletics

And now for something completely different:


Yep, this got me.


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Decision day for Ohio State target, four-star offensive lineman
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Austin Siereveld | Dan Harker, 247Sports

The Buckeyes and offensive line coach Justin Frye hope for a BOOMing Wednesday in Columbus.

Ohio State enters today with the No. 6 ranked recruiting class in the country that is made up of nine prospects. The hope for the Buckeyes by the end of the night will be having one of their top offensive line targets on board as well, as he will reveal his decision later today. Plus, a new target emerges in 2025 for running backs coach Tony Alford as the scarlet and gray went to Georgia for their latest offer.

Decision day for Siereveld


After being named a finalist for 2023 four-star interior offensive lineman Austin Siereveld of Lakota East (OH) back in February, Ohio State is set to learn their fate with the Middletown native later today.

The 6-foot-5, 315-pounder initially narrowed his recruitment down to Alabama, Cincinnati, Iowa, Michigan, Notre Dame, and of course, the Buckeyes. However, Siereveld has since eliminated the Bearcats, Hawkeyes, and Wolverines which leaves three still in-play for his services.

Ohio State, who offered in October, was on the receiving end of one Crystal Ball prediction ahead of Wednesday's announcement. The latest prediction is just from one of the now five recruiting analyst that are expecting Siereveld to chose the Buckeyes.

The Ohio lineman will reveal his decision live on CBS Sports HQ at 3:00 p.m. ET. If it is Ohio State on the receiving end of the pledge, it would give the scarlet and gray their third offensive line pledge, with the other two already in the fold also being Ohio prospects.

Siereveld is currently graded as the No. 351 prospect overall and 20th highest graded interior offensive line in the class. Not to be forgotten, the Thunderhawks prospect also slots in as the seventh best player from the state of Ohio.

Johnson lands Buckeye offer


Ohio State delivered their eighth offer in the 2025 class on Tuesday as running back Donovan Johnson of Calvary Day School (GA) was the recipient of an offer from the Buckeyes.


Ohio State joins Arkansas, Florida State, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, and more as the early programs that have wasted no time awarding the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder with a schloarship opportunity.

Johnson is just the second running back prospect in the 2025 class that now holds an offer from Ohio State, joining Jordon Davison of Mater Dei (CA). Johnson also joins offensive tackle Mason Short of Evans (GA) and linebacker Zayden Walker of Schley County (GA) as the other Peach State prospects in the class with Buckeye offers.

According to 247Sports, Johnson showed off his skillset this past season where he tallied over 1,300 yards rushing and added ten touchdowns as a freshman with the Cavaliers.

Quick Hits

• 2023 five-star wide receiver Brandon Inniss of American Heritage (FL) and 2023 four-star linebacker Tackett Curtis of Many (LA) both were predicted to chose the Buckeyes by a pair of respected recruiting analysts on Tuesday. Inniss, the No. 1 WR in the country, was Crystal Balled by 247Sports' Steve Wiltfong, while Curtis, the No. 6 LB, was forecasted by Bucknuts' Bill Kurelic.
• Ohio State pledge and four-star offensive tackle Luke Montgomery of Findlay (OH) announced yesterday that he would be making his official visit on June 24th-26th, and he will be joined by another blue-chip target. 2023 four-star offensive tackle Olaus Alinen of The Loomis Chaffee School (CT) also revealed on Twitter that he will be using his official visit with the Buckeyes that same weekend.

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The impact of Ohio State Women’s Basketball freshmen in 2021-22
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

The Buckeyes’ two freshmen had differing impacts, but show signs of a strong future.

In a series recapping the 2021-22 Ohio State Buckeyes Women’s Basketball season, Land-Grant Holy Land’s focused on each class. Closing it out are a pair of freshmen. The youngest group of Buckeyes didn’t see a lot of the court, but as the season grew, so did the presence of one player.

Listed by order of minutes played, here’s how the first year Buckeyes performed in 2021/22. Transfer status is current as of publishing.

Taylor Thierry


Of the two first-years, forward Taylor Thierry impacted the B1G Regular Season Co-Champions the most. In a way, Thierry’s campaign is a perfect representation of the Buckeyes’ season. Thierry took time to find her footing, and then established herself as a player to watch.

Thierry began the year playing most of her minutes in Ohio State’s non-conference schedule. As the Buckeyes pulled away from teams like Bellarmine University and Mount St. Mary’s, Thierry had more chances to show her impact.

In the first 15 of Thierry’s 30 appearances on the season, she averaged 11 minutes per game. Once the B1G schedule began, it dropped to 7.25 minutes in eight games. At the turn of the calendar into 2022, Thierry’s B1G conference minutes shifted from giving starters a rest to entering the game to change the dynamic.

The Cleveland, Ohio native started coming off the bench halfway through the first quarter of games to give opponents a different look. When Thierry entered the game, she proved to be the most athletic player on the court, a line used often by head coach Kevin McGuff and her Ohio State teammates throughout 2022.

Thierry’s ability to leap for blocks, and the court awareness to put herself into positions to do just that, gave opponents a different look. While offensively, Thierry hit nine points as her season high, her impact defensively and on the boards put Ohio State into positions to win.

On the second to last game of the regular season, against the Penn State Nittany Lions, Thierry had six rebounds, with four coming on the offensive glass. Ohio State’s 78-55 win also included Thierry’s highest number of blocks in a game all season, stuffing six Penn State shots. In one case, Thierry leapt to block a three-point attempt, sending the ball into the stands.

Three days later, against the Michigan State Spartans, Thierry’s second half helped Ohio State put themselves into position for a trophy. With the Spartans in the lead with 3:33 remaining in the fourth quarter, Thierry grabbed an offensive rebound, three defensive rebounds and hit two free throws in the 61-55 victory.

At the final whistle, Thierry had 11 rebounds — her best rebounding game of the season. With the Iowa Hawkeyes defeat of the Michigan Wolverines on the same day, Thierry and the Buckeyes lifted their 16th regular season conference title.

With Thierry’s first season of collegiate basketball, it did come with some learning moments. Fouls were a problem at times. Thierry committed two early fouls against the Indiana Hoosiers in the semifinals of the B1G Conference Tournament. That led to Thierry playing only seven minutes, her only single-digit minutes game in the second half of the season.

During the NCAA Tournament, Thierry returned closer to her regular season form. The forward grabbed 7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals in three games.

The future is bright for the soon-to-be sophomore. Entering the 2022-23 season, Buckeyes fans might see Thierry’s name in the starting lineup with guard Braxtin Miller and forward Tanaya Beacham’s departure from the team.

Kaitlyn Costner


Guard was a tough position to break through during the 2021-22 Buckeyes season. The Scarlet & Gray started two First Team All-B1G guards in Jacy Sheldon and Taylor Mikesell. Behind them were two guards in Rikki Harris and Kateri Poole who saw most of the Buckeye’s minutes.

Kaitlyn Costner appeared in 11 games for Ohio State. In 59 minutes played, Costner had six points, five assists and a pair of steals.

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The 2023 NFL Draft will be the 88th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible players. The draft is scheduled to be held in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 27–29, 2023.

2023 NFL Mock Draft: Eagles finally address the secondary

1. Texans: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State: In his first season as a starter, Stroud did nothing to convince anybody he shouldn’t be the first overall pick in 2023. Stroud completed 72 percent of his passes, passed for nearly 4,500 yards and threw 44 touchdowns to just six interceptions. Unless you think Davis Mills is a budding star, Stroud has to be the guy.

4. Seahawks: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State: This is the guy who may be even a better prospect than former teammates Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Jameson Williams. Incredible that those four guys all came through the same program the last few years. Smith-Njigba caught 95 passes for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns this past season, his first year in OSU’s regular rotation, and becomes the Seahawks’ first first-round wide receiver since Koren Robinson in 2001.

11. Commanders: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State: Johnson has been playing guard for the Buckeyes, but this coming season he should be back at his natural left tackle spot, and if he performs as expected he could very well be the first offensive lineman off the board in the 2023 draft. The Giants need help big-time on the O-line, which they didn’t address in this year’s draft.

Entire article: https://sports.yahoo.com/2023-nfl-mock-draft-eagles-173556033.html

2023 NFL mock draft: C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young battling for top QB in latest projection

1. C.J. STROUD, QB, OHIO STATE (HOUSTON TEXANS)
4. JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA, WR, OHIO STATE (SEATTLE SEAHAWKS)
11. Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State (Washington Commanders)

Entire article: https://247sports.com/college/ohio-...-QB-in-latest-projection-187041081/#1889224_1


2023 NFL Mock Draft: B/R's Way-Too-Early Predictions

2. Atlanta Falcons: QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
17. Tennessee Titans: OT Dawand Jones, Ohio State
29. Kansas City Chiefs: OT Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State

Entire article: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2955668-2023-nfl-mock-draft-brs-way-too-early-predictions

Too Early 2023 NFL Mock Draft From Ryan McCrystal

1. Texans C.J. Stroud QB Ohio State
6. Panthers Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR Ohio State
10. Steelers Paris Johnson Jr. OT Ohio State
22. Ravens Dawand Jones OT Ohio State
28. Lions f/LAR Cameron Brown CB Ohio State

Entire article: https://www.sharpfootballanalysis.com/analysis/early-2023-nfl-mock-draft-ryan-mccrystal/

2023 NFL mock draft: Never-too-early 1st-round projections

1. Houston Texans | Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud
9. Chicago Bears | Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
11. Washington Commanders | Ohio State OT Paris Johnson Jr.

Entire article: https://draftwire.usatoday.com/list...j-stroud-bryce-young-will-anderson-1st-round/

2023 NFL Mock Draft: Will Anderson Jr. goes No. 1, C.J. Stroud first of six QBs off the board in Round 1

Round 1 - Pick 3: Lions
C.J. Stroud QB
OHIO STATE
Who knows how this QB class ends up? A year ago, we had Sam Howell, Spencer Rattler, Kedon Slovis and Desmond Ridder going in Round 1 and only Kenny Pickett ended up finding his way into the top 32, with none going in Round 2, and Howell falling all the way to Round 5, getting drafted after Bailey Zappe. So yeah.

Round 1 - Pick 6: Bears
Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR
OHIO STATE
Wide Receiver U continues to pump out wide receivers. Smith-Njigba is a silky smooth playmaker who was every bit as effective as Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave.

Round 1 - Pick 14: Eagles
Paris Johnson Jr. OL
OHIO STATE
Again, the Eagles absolutely crushed the '22 draft, and if Jalen Hurts can prove he's the long-term answer at QB, the team can continue to build around him. Johnson can play inside or out, though his NFL future will likely be at guard.

Entire article: https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft...ud-first-of-six-qbs-off-the-board-in-round-1/

There seems to be a consensus that Stroud will be 1st QB off the board and probably the 1st pick, Smith-Njigba will be the 1st WR picked, and Johnson will be a 1st round pick too.

You’re Nuts: What former Ohio State players would have fared best in an NIL world?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.

College athletics are so much different from what we saw even five years ago. Not only has the transfer portal allowed for more movement for student-athletes if they find the situation at the college they committed to isn’t quite what they were looking for, but NIL has totally changed the game for student-athletes.

We have already seen the effects of NIL here at Ohio State. It feels like Rick Ricart has supplied every Buckeye football player with a vehicle, which still feels weird after what happened to Maurice Clarett during his short time in Columbus. There also was former Buckeye offensive lineman Harry Miller, who donated his NIL earnings to humanitarian efforts in Nicaragua. It has been incredible to see not only the type of NIL deals that have been struck as we are approaching a full year now that NIL has been available to student-athletes, but also what some are doing with what they have earned from those deals.

What would have been really interesting would have to see how past Ohio State student-athletes would have fared in an NIL world. Just looking at some of the big names in football and basketball over the years, there was a lot of talent that came through Columbus that many local and national businesses would have been itching to throw some money behind.

Today’s question: What former Ohio State players would have fared best in an NIL world?

We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.

Brett’s answer: Archie Griffin


Just look at how popular Archie Griffin is in Columbus even to this day. The two-time Heisman Trophy running back still is in commercials for numerous local products and companies. Woody Hayes said of Griffin, “He’s a better young man than he is a football player, and he’s the best football player I’ve ever seen.” Not only was Archie Griffin amazing to watch on the football field, he was is the type of guy you wanted to be friends with.

This year will be the first chance we’ll get to see the effect that winning a Heisman Trophy has on NIL deals for a player returning to college, as Alabama quarterback Bryce Young wasn’t yet eligible to declare for the NFL Draft after winning the Heisman Trophy last year. Had NIL been around in the 1970s, I would have expected Archie Griffin to have cleaned up. You know that just about every business that could afford to around central Ohio would have been trying to get in business with Griffin, and there also would have been plenty of national advertising campaigns with their eyes on the running back, as well.

I know that C.J. Stroud has to be getting a ton of NIL offers after the huge season he had for Ohio State last year. I truly think what Stroud has had come across his desk would pale in comparison to what Archie Griffin would have seen. The biggest difference is that Griffin grew up and went to high school in Columbus, so he would carry even more weight around town.

Knowing Archie, he probably would have ended up taking less and putting it back into causes around Columbus. Maybe in terms of money, Griffin wouldn’t have made the most when it comes to past Ohio State players, but he certainly would have had the most interest from companies both locally and nationally that were looking to strike NIL deals with the outstanding running back.

Meredith’s answer: Eddie George


There’s something about running backs and NIL that makes a magic combination. For this week, I’m going to have to go with Eddie George. We’ve seen what he’s done during and after his NFL career, and we’re left to imagine what such a charismatic character would have managed in his collegiate days when it comes to capitalizing on his own name, image and likeness.

One of the differentiators for NIL is personality, something George has in spades. A true Renaissance man, he seems just as comfortable on the football field as on stage for an off Broadway musical, and we could see George leveraging his personal brand to promote any number of products, services or other businesses around Columbus. Heck, he could have been the OG RB for Arby’s.

It doesn’t hurt that, like Archie, George won the Heisman Trophy during his time in Columbus. Of course, George won the trophy after his final season with the Buckeyes, which would certainly have impacted his NIL earnings as a result.

Further, the fact George had a hot start to his pro career (including making four consecutive Pro Bowls) makes the idea of NIL investment during his college days even more valuable. He became a fixture as a public spokesperson in Tennessee, including as part of a campaign to prevent diabetes.

Even after his professional career ended, George continued to build up his personal brand. He completed his degree in landscape architecture from Ohio State and even got his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Now, George is head coach for Tennessee State, and has demonstrated his skills as a recruiter, selling Tennessee State to numerous transfer portal players who are opting to play for the Ohio State legend.

He’s the perfect spokesperson who always feels like the hometown hero, and if he were playing today, he’d be raking in sponsorship deals left and right.

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You Can Now Ask Google to Remove Your Phone Number, Email or Address from Search Results
April 29, 2022
https://krebsonsecurity.com/2022/04...il-or-address-from-search-results/#more-59639

Google said this week it is expanding the types of data people can ask to have removed from search results, to include personal contact information like your phone number, email address or physical address. The move comes just months after Google rolled out a new policy enabling people under the age of 18 (or a parent/guardian) to request removal of their images from Google search results.

Google has for years accepted requests to remove certain sensitive data such as bank account or credit card numbers from search results. In a blog post on Wednesday, Google’s Michelle Chang wrote that the company’s expanded policy now allows for the removal of additional information that may pose a risk for identity theft, such as confidential log-in credentials, email addresses and phone numbers when it appears in Search results.

“When we receive removal requests, we will evaluate all content on the web page to ensure that we’re not limiting the availability of other information that is broadly useful, for instance in news articles,” Chang wrote. “We’ll also evaluate if the content appears as part of the public record on the sites of government or official sources. In such cases, we won’t make removals.”

While Google’s removal of a search result from its index will do nothing to remove the offending content from the site that is hosting it, getting a link decoupled from Google search results is going to make the content at that link far less visible. According to recent estimates, Google enjoys somewhere near 90 percent market share in search engine usage.

KrebsOnSecurity decided to test this expanded policy with what would appear to be a no-brainer request: I asked Google to remove search result for BriansClub, one of the largest (if not THE largest) cybercrime stores for selling stolen payment card data.

BriansClub has long abused my name and likeness to pimp its wares on the hacking forums. Its homepage includes a copy of my credit report, Social Security card, phone bill, and a fake but otherwise official looking government ID card.

The login page for perhaps the most bustling cybercrime store for stolen payment card data.

Briansclub updated its homepage with this information in 2019, after it got massively hacked and a copy of its customer database was shared with this author. The leaked data — which included 26 million credit and debit card records taken from hacked online and brick-and-mortar retailers — was ultimately shared with dozens of financial institutions.

TechCrunch writes that the policy expansion comes six months after Google started allowing people under 18 or their parents request to delete their photos from search results. To do so, users need to specify that they want Google to remove “Imagery of an individual currently under the age of 18” and provide some personal information, the image URLs and search queries that would surface the results. Google also lets you submit requests to remove non-consensual explicit or intimate personal images from Google, along with involuntary fake pornography, TechCrunch notes.

This post will be updated in the event Google responds one way or the other, but that may take a while: Google’s automated response said: “Due to the preventative measures being taken for our support specialists in light of COVID-19, it may take longer than usual to respond to your support request. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and we’ll send you a reply as soon as we can.”

Update: 10:30 p.m. ET: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that people needed to show explicit or implicit threats regarding requests to remove information like one’s phone number, address or email address from a search result. A spokesperson for Google said “there is no requirement that we find the content to be harmful or shared in a malicious way.”

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A look at Justin Frye’s recruiting thus far as Ohio State closes in on a trio of in-state offensive linemen in 2023
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Ohio State looks like they’ll land three linemen from their own state in this class.

Football is a game that is won in the trenches. Speaking specifically about the offensive and defensive lines, more times than not a program’s success is defined by how those two units perform.

In regards to the offensive line, the Buckeyes have faired pretty well with their players overall, but the standard in Columbus every year is national title or bust, so of course there’s room for improvement. Development has been there, but again, if the goal is to be the best in the country, then the position group as a whole can always take the next step in performance. That’s not just on the players, but the coaches too.

That said, at the conclusion of the 2021 season, Ryan Day made a change in position coach for the offensive line unit. Moving on from the Greg Studrawa era and bringing in Justin Frye, the decision points toward the notion that there was a need for a new voice in the room and for overall improvement.

Coach Stud wasn’t a detriment to the team, as he did develop some great players, but if there’s one draw back from his tenure it was his recruiting resume. Sure, that can be a bit strange to some considering how much success Ohio State’s offense has had the last several years, but that points to how high the expectations are in Columbus for the Buckeyes. While there were some great wins on the recruiting trail, it’s no secret that coach Stud missed out on several top national players — especially at the tackle spot.

The addition of coach Frye was a bit of a youth movement. Certainly his age for one, but the way he teaches his players also gives way to a new method of doing things. His desire for tenacity is a welcomed presence, but the other major aspect the Buckeyes are hopeful for is his work on the recruiting trail as a younger coach who can relate to players, build relationships, lock down the state of Ohio, and also land the top national players that Ohio State has desired for its recruiting classes.

Coming from UCLA, Frye has proven to be a developer of talent and a schemer, but the recruiting piece will have to come along. UCLA wasn’t exactly in the mix for some of the top national players, to no fault of Frye’s. Still, his addition has given a jumpstart to this offensive line that last year saw a group of four tackles, with only two of those playing in their natural spots. Right or wrong, Frye’s top priority is landing elite talent and then having it pave the way for more offensive success.

All the above leads to the one major question: With this being the first recruiting class under coach Frye, are the Buckeyes in the position to see the desired upgrades on the offensive line? There’s a ton that goes into it, but before we see an on-field product, recruiting is going to be the first telling sign as to how Ohio State is doing in this post-Studrawa era.

2023 offensive line recruiting


Studrawa held his own on the recruiting trail, but he left some to be desired. Doing a good enough job isn’t going to cut it at Ohio State when the rest of the position coaches are bringing in top national products every cycle. In-state kids from Ohio will always be a priority, and Studrawa did a pretty good job there in his own right. In this current 2023 class though, the Buckeyes are in an interesting position when it comes to offensive line hauls. The two players currently committed at those positions are both in-state products, leaving you wondering if this is version 2.0 of not being in the mix for top nationally-ranked players.

First and foremost, this is only Frye’s first year at the helm of the position. It’s only fair that he gets his feet under him before any criticism is tossed for the national scene. On the other hand, it can be looked at as pretty convenient that when there’s a coaching change at a critical spot there’s in-state guys who are Ohio State caliber players and should be easy layups for Frye to land, regardless of how new to the program he is.

Fortunately, the Buckeyes have done just that. Thanks to commitments from the top player in Ohio and the fourth-best offensive tackle in the country, Luke Montgomery, as well as the third-best player in Ohio and the No. 6 interior lineman, Joshua Padilla, the offensive line recruiting hasn’t had to go too far to add talent. Both top 150 players nationally, this is a major feat for Frye to come in and get things rolling with his efforts out on the trail.

In-state triple threat


Additionally, on Wednesday the Buckeyes will be potentially adding yet another player along the offensive line who hails from Ohio in the 2023 class, when Lakota East product Austin Siereveld announces his commitment. The Buckeyes being the betting favorite here, Siereveld has a final three of Ohio State, Alabama, and Notre Dame.

The seventh-best player in Ohio for 2023, Austin is also considered as the No. 20 interior lineman in the class. At 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, Siereveld is a monster of an interior guy and would be a big addition for the Buckeyes who need to continue stockpiling depth, especially as following this 2022 season we could see some major pieces leave for the NFL Draft.

In all, it is interesting that Ohio State is depending on adding another in-state kid. Ryan Day and his staff make it a priority of course to build a wall around Ohio and keep their best players home, but they also want nationally ranked players, as that many times is what sets the Buckeyes apart from the rest of the Big Ten. Is another Ohio kid the answer here, or a sign of missing out nationally?

Conclusion


Ohio State’s 2023 recruiting class is beyond far from being a finished product. In terms of the offensive line, the Buckeyes have a ton of work still to do on the trail. Having two in-state players is great right now considering the caliber of that duo, and if they are able to in fact land Siereveld on Wednesday, it’s another guy the Buckeyes wanted.

That’s the key word there. Having a guy they want in-state is just a bonus. Yes, they’ll still look to recruit nationally in this current cycle. Whether they’re able to land those top national ranked guys is still yet to be seen, but if in the worst case scenario Frye is landing only in-state players in his first year, he’s got three talented guys that have offer lists that prove they were desired commodities by the other top programs around the country.

The Buckeyes are still in solid shape. Landing three in-state offensive linemen in this class is not an issue at all, and is actually a priority for this staff in addition to still working to land other big names outside state borders as well.

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Five-star WR pushes up Ohio State visit
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


2024 five-star WR Brandon Inniss via Andrew Ivins/247Sports

One of the nation’s best wide receivers schedules an official visit to Ohio State.

Recruiting never stops for the Ohio State football team, which is why year in and year out, the program is one of the nation’s best. The Buckeyes made the recruiting headlines again Monday, as one of the top wide receiver prospects scheduled his official visit to Ohio State and the Buckeyes offered a 2024 four-star safety. Not to be outdone, the men’s basketball team also offered two blue-chip prospects.

Five-star WR sets Ohio State official visit


Ohio State is good at producing elite wide receiver talent. No need to look any further than last week’s NFL Draft, which saw both Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave get selected in the first round.

The Buckeyes are once again set at wideout, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Julian Flemming, etc. coming back this season. The Buckeyes success at the position is due to Brian Hartline’s incredible ability to recruit and develop the position. Continuing with this trend, Hartline is once again targeting the nation’s top recruits and one of them will soon be making a return trip to Columbus.

2023 five-star WR Brandon Inniss (Fort Lauderdale, FL/American Heritage) took to Twitter Monday to announce his official visit schedule and the Buckeyes will be playing host to him June 17-19.


Inniss has long planned to use one of his five allocated official visits with the Buckeyes. Originally, he had planned to visit Columbus in November of this year, but the visit was moved up in Monday’s announcement. Inniss had originally planned to announce his commitment in December, but Monday’s news may mean he plans to now commit earlier.

The visit will also not be the first time Inniss has made his way to Columbus. The five-star WR unofficially visited the Buckeyes April 1-3 with a handful of his seven-on-seven teammates. The visit seemed to go as well as possible and now Inniss wants to return.

Inniss also has official visits lined up with Alabama and USC, who are the Buckeyes top competition for Inniss. USC is the current favorite in this one, but Ohio State is far from out of the running.

Inniss is the No. 1 WR in the 2023 class and is the No. 10 overall prospect. He is also the No. 4 recruit from the talent-rich state of Florida.

Ohio State offers four-star S


The Ohio State football team not only received news regarding Inniss’ visit Monday, but the team also found time to offer one of the best safeties in the 2024 recruiting class. Four-star S Corian Gipson (Lancaster, TX/Lancaster) announced Monday that he had received an official scholarship offer from the Buckeyes.


The arrival of Ohio State new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has resulted in the departures of multiple current Buckeye defensive backs. With a new style of defense for this year’s squad, Knowles is also busy ensuring the Buckeyes have success recruiting talents he believes will excel in his new system. It appears that Gipson is just that.

Gipson appears to be one of the best DB’s in his class and his recruitment has taken off as of late. The Buckeyes may be the newest offer for Gipson, but schools like Alabama, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Florida State, LSU, Notre Dame, Arkansas and more have offered him since the turn of the year.

While the Buckeyes are far from the first to offer Gipson, they are still getting in on this one early enough to become contenders as this one is still wide open.

Gipson is the No. 15 S in the 2024 class and is the No. 157 overall prospect. He is also the No. 22 prospect from Texas.

Basketball Buckeyes offer two guards


Switching from the gridiron to the hardwood, the Ohio State men’s basketball program reportedly offered two blue-chip prospects on Monday. Both 2023 four-star shooting guard Wesley Yates and 2024 shooting guard Jonathan Powell received official scholarship offers from the Buckeyes.


Yates has yet to make his way to Columbus, but if the Buckeyes are to have any chance in securing a commitment from him, they will need to find a way to get him on campus. Powell on the other hand, received his official scholarship offer after completing a visit with the men’s basketball program.

The shooting guard position is one of need that the Buckeyes were not necessarily planning on. Former Ohio State SG Malaki Branham recently made the decision to keep his name in the NBA Draft after projections have him in the first round of this year’s draft. The Buckeyes probably never expected Branham to be on the roster for four season, but they likely also weren’t prepared for only one season.

However, Branham’s success creates an impressive recruiting tool for the Buckeyes, as the team will likely send two first-round picks to the NBA shortly, with E.J. Liddell also projected into the first round.

Chris Holtmann has proven on multiple occasions that he can recruit with the best programs in the country and now he has proven Ohio State can develop recruits into NBA talent. Expect the Buckeyes to continue targeting shooting guards and with more tools than before, success should follow.

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Column: Jeremy Ruckert’s draft story is a great one
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

As a Jets and Buckeyes fan myself, I had the best draft experience. However, it turns out Jeremy Ruckert did, too.

Anytime a player gets drafted by the team they have been rooting for their entire life, it makes for a great story. However, I’m not sure if it’s just because I’m a Jets fan or because Jeremy Ruckert is such a great guy (probably a little bit of both), but his draft story is a little extra special.

Ruckert grew up in Lindenhurst, New York — 50 miles away from MetLife Stadium where he would attend Jets games as a kid. He made the choice to come to Ohio State because he knew what kind of players the program produces. He has most certainly become one of those players.

Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

The tight end is extremely selfless and willing to do whatever it takes to help his team win, even if it means sacrificing individual spotlight and gaudy stats. During his four years as a Buckeye, he only had 54 catches for 615 yards and 12 touchdowns. These numbers aren’t overly impressive. However, he helped his team succeed in so many different ways that these stats do not show.

Going to Ohio State certainly was risky for Ruckert, as he did not get as many receiving opportunities as he might have else where. However, when you’re in the same receiver room as Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba... do I need to say anymore? Ruckert’s blocking definitely made these receivers shine, even if he himself stayed in the dark.

Sometimes, Ruckert did step into the spotlight. While he only scored 12 touchdowns, a few of those were extremely impressive and important. The first that comes to mind is the dazzling one-handed grab in the end zone against Wisconsin in the 2019 Big Ten Championship Game.


Justin Fields connected with Ruckert once again in the 2020 College Football Playoff Semifinal against Clemson, where the TE caught the ball in a tight window to extend the Buckeyes’ lead 35-14 before the half.


It was quite heartwarming to see Ruckert make some of these catches, finally getting some recognition for the dirty work he does game in and game out. Now, he’ll have this opportunity with the New York Jets, as he will line up alongside fellow Buckeye Garrett Wilson (yay!) and former Bengal TE C.J. Uzomah to receive passes from Zach Wilson.

Ruckert has an incredible skillset that I’m praying the Jets utilize to his fullest potential. We will get to find out this fall. For now, let’s just enjoy how excited he is. His favorite team traded up to get him in the draft, and he got to celebrate with his entire family, who are also Jets fans. I think the look on his dad’s face says it all. Congratulations to Jeremy Ruckert— all of Buckeye nation is rooting for you (especially me)!


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You’re Nuts: Most ideal landing spot for Ohio State’s NFL draftees
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Which former Buckeye is best set up for success?

Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.

In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.

This week’s topic: Most ideal landing spot for Ohio State’s NFL draftees.

Josh’s Take: Chris Olave (Saints)


The 2022 NFL Draft produced a mixed bag of emotions for former Ohio State football players. Six former Buckeyes were drafted, with Garrett Wilson leading the way. He was selected 10th overall by the New York Jets, and followed immediately by Chris Olave and Jameson Williams at 11 and 12. Of course, Williams was not included among the six OSU draftees, but I still wanted to give him a quick shoutout. If we’re looking at the positives, three former Ohio State wideouts going in succession was definitely one of the cool stories of the weekend.

On the other end of the spectrum, Thayer Munford fell all the way to the seventh round (Las Vegas Raiders), and Haskell Garrett surprisingly never heard his name called. The two big men were both such great teammates and leaders, but each saw their NFL Draft stock plummet due to inconsistency and/or injury during the 2021 season. The odds of contributing early at the next level are now stacked against them, but fans of the scarlet and gray have seen Munford and Garrett overcome different obstacles before.

The players in-between all went in the neighborhood of where they were projected, but we’re only talking about three other guys! Nicholas Petit-Frere and Jeremy Ruckert both came off the board in the third round, and Tyreke Smith was taken in the fifth. All in all, Ohio State was out-classed by a number of other schools, including Cincinnati. Luke Fickell’s Bearcats had nine players selected, further cementing their status as a legitimate contender. So Gene, while this was far from a historic OSU draft class, I do think most or all of these former Buckeyes landed in a position where they have a chance to succeed.

But the player with the greatest chance to experience individual success and contribute to a winning team – in my opinion – is Chris Olave. He landed in an ideal spot, in the inferior conference, with a solid team, and he has another former Ohio State wide receiver to mentor him early on. It’s almost too good to be true, and Olave should be able to enjoy multiple “luxuries” not often afforded to other rookies.

Many people, including myself, had mocked Olave to the New Orleans Saints at No. 16 prior to Thursday night, but with two other wideouts coming off the board at No. 8 and No. 10, New Orleans did not want to risk losing their guy. The Saints made a significant trade to move up five spots, and snagged Olave with the 11th pick — a move which some viewed as giving up too much draft capital. But the team’s investment in Olave says a lot about how they view his potential, and I think their confidence is more than warranted.

Right off the bat, Olave will not be expected to come in and carry the offense. The Saints can lean on Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas while Olave learns the ropes. I don’t think it will take long for the organization’s most recent OSU draftee to acclimate, but he will be afforded time. Whereas, in New York, I think Wilson will be expected to come in and perform at a high level right away.

In addition to being surrounded by multiple All-Pro skill players, Olave will presumably be playing with a proven veteran quarterback. Say what you will about Jameis Winston, but he has been in the league for seven seasons, and has a 5,000-yard season on the back of his football card. Winston has had time to work on his own game in New Orleans, likely maturing from the interception machine he one was in Tampa Bay. When healthy last year, he threw 14 touchdowns to only three interceptions — and that was with a rag-tag group of weapons around him. Winston could really flourish with Kamara, Thomas, and now Olave, all in the fold. The rookie wide receiver should benefit as well.

We also can’t forget that New Orleans plays in the NFC South, which is basically a two-team division. The Atlanta Falcons are in the midst of a full-on rebuild, and the Carolina Panthers just... aren’t any good. The Saints will face stiff competition from the cyborg-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but overall, the NFC is the weaker conference. I’m not saying that any team in the NFL is a pushover, but at least Olave will not be playing in a loaded division.

Generally speaking, Olave just landed in a great situation. Often times, the best rookies in the class end up on some of the worst teams. That is not the case here. Sure, the Saints lost a guy or two, and they are not the team that was a perennial contender with Drew Brees, but they have a ton of vets and a ton of talent. I barely mentioned the fact that Olave will be tutored by Thomas (who is looking to re-establish his greatness), while also being surrounded by other former Buckeyes such as Marshon Lattimore and Pete Werner. New Orleans has become Ohio State South (Southwest?), and OSU’s all-time leader in touchdown receptions is yet another piece that they’ve added to the puzzle.

I expect Chris Olave to eventually be a star in New Orleans. It might not happen right away, and if it doesn’t, I don’t think he will or should feel any pressure. That’s why I love the spot in which he landed. He can go in and play Robin to Thomas’ Batman, and possibly become “the guy” by year two or three. Olave is surrounded by familiar faces and a solid roster, so I believe he is destined to succeed.

Gene’s Take: Jeremy Ruckert (Jets)


Growing up on Long Island, one of my favorite stories of the NFL Draft was Jeremy Ruckert ending up with the New York Jets — the team he grew up rooting for as a kid.

Ruckert is a native of Lindenhurst, NY, a town located about 25 minutes from my own hometown and about an hour or so (without traffic, which rarely happens) away from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. If you follow recruiting even a little bit, you will know that New York in general isn’t exactly a high school football factory, and that is especially true on Long Island. To see someone not only make it to a place like Ohio State from my area but then also get to play in the NFL for one of the two local teams, and the one he is a fan of at that, is incredibly special.

We all know about the tight end position at Ohio State. Especially with the insane amount of wide receiver talent that has come through the program under Brian Hartline, even a guy as talented as Ruckert wasn’t exactly the focal point of the passing game. Still, the 6-foot-5, 250 pound athlete was able to haul in 54 receptions for 615 yards and 12 touchdowns during his time in Columbus. Not shown in those numbers were the handful of insane one-handed grabs he made, including a critical one in the B1G Title game against Wisconsin in 2019, and how much he showed up in the team’s biggest games, including a pair of TDs against Penn State in 2020 and of course his two TDs against Clemson in the Sugar Bowl.

Looking at the Jets’ roster, it seems like Ruckert will have some time to get his feet wet in the league before being expected to take over any sort of TE1 responsibilities. This offseason, the Jets signed former Cincinnati Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah to a three-year deal. Uzomah racked up nearly 500 yards and five TDs last season with 49 catches, so he will be the No. 1 guy at the position. Behind him is likely Tyler Conklin, whom the Jets also signed to a three-year deal this offseason having played the last four years in Minnesota. Conklin isn’t quite the receiving threat of Uzomah, but is coming off a career year wherein he totaled 593 yards and three scores.

That puts Ruckert as the third guy in the room, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him overtake Conklin if the former Viking is unable to replicate his stellar 2021 season. Either way, with the amount of two tight end sets NFL teams love to use, we will surely get a chance to see Ruckert playing a good amount of snaps in his rookie season without the added weight of being a team’s top option. We know what he brings to the field in terms of his pass-catching abilities, and his run blocking was really overlooked at Ohio State. It isn’t he best asset by any means, but if he can continue to hone those skills at the next level, he can become a huge talent for the Jets.

I think a guy like Ruckert will need a little time to adjust to an offense that actually uses its tight ends, especially after the way he was utilized with the Buckeyes. That being said, if his number is called earlier than expected whether due to injury or poor play for the guys ahead of him, he will be ready to become a hometown hero. Even as a Giants fan myself, I am very excited to see what Ruckert is able to do at the next level. The Jets have been a laughing stock for a while now, but they have done a tremendous job in these last few drafts at crafting a talented roster, and Ruckert (as well as Garrett Wilson, of course) is another piece to keep the franchise heading in the right direction.

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I-70 Football Podcast: Recapping NFL Draft for former Ohio State, Big Ten Players
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The 2022 NFL Draft has ended and Dante and Jordan get together to discuss the Big Ten players selected

Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s I-70 podcast. On this show we talk all things Big Ten football and basketball. After every week of action, we will get you caught up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players that you should be paying attention to in the next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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The 2022 NFL Draft has ended marking another year that the “Big Two” ran laps around the rest of college football. Forty-eight Big Ten players got their names called and a multitude of others signed undrafted free agent deals and accepted invites to mini camps.

The SEC continued to dominate with 65 total selections, including a record-breaking 15 from the National Champion Georgia Bulldogs. After the B1G’s 48, the next closest conference had 25 selections while “blue bloods” Clemson and Texas combined for two total players drafted.

Penn State lead the Big Ten with eight players drafted followed by Ohio State with six. Every team in the Big Ten had at least one player drafted aside from the Northwestern Wildcats. With the Nittany Lions leading the Big Ten in draft selections including a first-round pick and multiple second-round picks, Jordan wants to know if Penn State failed by only going 7-5 in 2021. Overall, the Big Ten had seven — eight if you include Jamison Williams — first-round picks. A showing the conference should be very proud of.

With their weekly pitstops, Dante highlights the USFL and their entertaining football games. Jordan agrees and hopes that it succeeds and becomes to the NFL what the G-League is to the NBA.

Jordan thinks the Colts SHOULD win the AFC South for the first time since 2014. They’ve had a solid off-season so far so here’s hoping it translates to the field.


Connect with us on Twitter:
Jordan: @JordanW330
Dante: @DanteM10216

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Column: How position-less basketball could work (or fail) for Ohio State this season
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports

Tanner Holden at point? How about power forward Justice Sueing? Odds are you will see both this season at some point.

As we’ve learned over the five seasons that Chris Holtmann has been at the helm of the Ohio State men’s basketball program, he absolutely loves versatility. He loves having multiple players who can guard multiple positions, play different roles on offense, and just generally fill in wherever needed. His recruiting — especially lately — reflects this. But Ohio State looks ready to completely embrace the “position-less basketball” theory during the 2022-2023 season.

There was a mass diaspora from the 2021-2022 Ohio State men’s basketball team for a myriad of reasons. Meechie Johnson and Justin Ahrens both chose to transfer. E.J. Liddell and Malaki Branham are headed to the 2022 NBA Draft. Cedric Russell, Jimmy Sotos, Joey Brunk, Kyle Young, Harrison Hookfin, and Jamari Wheeler are all too old to play and ran out of eligibility. This year’s roster is going to look completely different with just five returning players.

But while the mass exodus was unfolding, a wave of young talent and experienced transfers simultaneously rolled in. Ohio State’s incoming freshmen class — which is No. 11 in the nation — includes five players, four of whom are top-100 players and two of which are in the top-50. Then there’s the two transfers that have joined the program — Tanner Holden and Sean McNeil.

Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

The Buckeyes accrued a nice collection of talent here, but the way the pieces fit positionally is a bit puzzling. As it stands, Chris Holtmann has exactly one point guard on the roster —freshman Bruce Thornton. There are seven or eight players who play either the two or three (shooting guard and small forward) positions:

• Bowen Hardman (Redshirt is also a possibility)
• Roddy Gayle
• Brice Sensabaugh
• Justice Sueing
• Seth Towns
• Gene Brown
• Tanner Holden
• Sean McNeil

Kalen Etzler is probably the only “true” power forward on this roster, but after a full-season redshirt last year there is essentially a 0% chance he starts at that position — or any position — this season. And then Zed Key and Felix Okpara are your low post players/centers.

So you’ve got a solid center in Key, who jumped from 5.2 PPG as a freshman to 7.8 PPG as a sophomore. I think he’ll make a similar jump into his junior season and should be a solid double-digit scorer this year.

You have a phenomenally talented young point guard in Thornton, although as a freshman there will be bumps and growing pains. There will be some head-scratching mistakes and some games where Ohio State fans will turn on him, even if just for a moment. But don’t worry, Thornton will be a very solid player. However, do we want to push a freshman into 30+ minutes per game as the floor general? It’s not ideal.

And then, as I stated earlier, you’ve got about eight players who could start at shooting guard or small forward. Simple math says all eight cannot start. But at this point, the Buckeyes only have one scholarship remaining. It isn’t going to be a guard, so what you see is what you get with OSU’s point guard situation. It’s likely to be a power forward or center, but we’re not sure if it’ll end up being an impact player who starts right away, or more of a depth guy off the bench — at this stage of the game, my money is on the latter.

Which means yes, Ohio State is going to roll out some funky lineups this season that don’t exactly go by the book. Thornton is not going to play 35 minutes per night, which means other players — who are not point guards by trade, not even a little bit — will handle the rock at times.

Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Two seasons ago when CJ Walker was injured, 6-foot-7, 215-pounds Sueing was asked to run point a bit. It wasn’t a huge success, but it wasn’t a failure, either. He got the job done despite not really being much of a creator for others. Certainly, he’s more useful in other ways.

Holden primarily played small forward at Wright State, but most databases classify him as a shooting guard at 6-foot-6 and 175 pounds. Could he carry some of the point guard load when Thornton is not? Yes, and I think Holden is one of the biggest candidates to do so despite his lack of experience with it previously.

And then at the power forward position, is Sueing, Towns, or Brown the answer? Could it be Sensabaugh down the line? Ohio State doesn’t have one player who really fits the by-the-book definition of a big, bruising, (but relatively mobile) power forward. But someone has to start there, right? It very well could be the mystery transfer that gets that 13th scholarship. But until that spot is filled, we have to work with what we have.

Right now, hammering down a starting lineup is nearly impossible without knowing what the coaching staff is planning for these guys. But if I had to guess, the most likely lineup is:

• Bruce Thornton
• Sean McNeil
• Tanner Holden
• Justice Sueing
• Zed Key

So in essence, you have a traditional point guard, a traditional center, three guys who can slide back and forth from shooting guard to small forward, and nobody who really seems like a true power forward.

Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Again, nailing a starting lineup on May 2 is about as easy as predicting the weather for Memorial Day weekend on May 2. But what’s abundantly clear is that the staff trusts that several players on this roster are skilled enough to contribute in multiple roles — even if they are roles they haven’t played before. It could lead to a really fun, explosive brand of basketball where the best players flourish because of their versatility. Or, it could expose the positional holes on the roster as well as its youth.

Scenario 1: It works like a charm


Thornton adapts to college basketball seamlessly and averages 12.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists (vs. just 1.7 turnovers) per game while averaging 27 minutes per contest. Holden averages 17 points per game while mostly playing small forward, and Sueing is a second-team All Big Ten honoree after averaging 16.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3 assists per game at power forward.

The team doesn’t have one great rebounder, but as a unit they crash the glass well for their size. They rank somewhere between sixth and eighth in the Big Ten in rebounding, and rarely cough up the basketball. When Thornton is out, Holden and Sueing share point guard duties. They don’t dish out many assists between the two of them, but they take care of the basketball and get it past half court without incident more times than not, which is all you can ask. Ohio State finishes top-four in the Big Ten and earns a 4-seed in the NCAA Tournament in large part thanks to their versatility.

Scenario 2: Teams expose Ohio State due their size, lack of ball-handlers


Thornton gets off to a rocky start and has a 1:2 assist-to-turnover ratio through the first eight games of the season, two of which Ohio State loses. Thornton is benched in favor of Sueing, who slides up to the point guard spot despite that not being his natural position. Sensabaugh suddenly takes Sueing’s place at power forward, despite only averaging 4.2 points and 3 rebounds per game at that point in the season.

Teams begin to trap and press Sueing at every opportunity, knowing he’s not playing his natural position. The Buckeyes begin to turn the ball over at a frustratingly high rate, giving away points off turnovers frequently. Big Ten teams with large centers (Michigan, Purdue, etc.) manhandle Ohio State on the glass — especially on the offensive end. Things begin to break down due to the instability at the point guard position and the Buckeyes’ inability to keep people off the offensive glass. Ohio State scratches and claws their way to a 10-10 record in Big Ten play and earns a 9-seed in the NCAA Tournament, setting them up to play a 1-seed in the second round, should they advance.


I would not be shocked if the 2022-2023 season turns out more like scenario one. Several people have told me they think this year’s team could be Holtmann’s deepest one yet —even if there isn’t one Liddell or Branham-caliber player on it. Lots of folks think that — as long as the coaching staff doesn’t complicate things too much — several players could step in as point guard, or slide over to the power forward position. I still think rebounding could be an issue, but the prevailing logic still checks out. Get your best players on the floor, and let the rest work itself out. Texas Tech has been following this model the last several seasons, and they’ve been wildly successful. Villanova did the same under Jay Wright. Position-less basketball can absolutely work.

I also would not be shocked if the 2022-2023 season plays out more like scenario two. Ohio State was 12th in the Big Ten last year in both overall rebounding and offensive rebounding last season. To make it worse, their leading rebounder is now off to the NBA, and Ohio State has not added an impact post player who can replace any of those rebounds. Holden and McNeil are fine players, but they’ll combine for what, a max of eight rebounds per game? Maybe Key averages six or seven, and Sueing does the same. Rebounding could be a more severe problem than last season.

As we saw last season at times, letting teams dominate you on the glass saps a team’s energy and is emotionally draining when defensive stops go for naught, because the other teams just keeps corralling their own misses. That issue could be even more crucial than who is playing point guard on any particular day. Just get the ball over half court without coughing it up — that’s the bare minimum and most players on this roster can do that.

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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for May 2, 2022
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.

Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.

Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.

You’re welcome!

For your Earholes...


Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio

#DevelopedHere


2022 NFL Draft: Ex-Ohio State TE Jeremy Ruckert overjoyed to join Jets with Garrett Wilson
Isaac Trotter, Bucknuts

Nicholas Petit-Frere selected by Tennessee Titans in NFL draft
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch

Love this energy from NPF:


Tyreke Smith taken No. 158 in fifth round by the Seattle Seahawks in NFL Draft 2022: Ohio State football
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

OSU OL Thayer Munford picked by Las Vegas Raiders in seventh round
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State has had some undrafted free agents step up big in the NFL
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Gran Holy Land

Ohio State’s Master Teague signs with Chicago Bears as undrafted free agent
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Ohio State football’s Haskell Garrett reaches agreement with Tennessee Titans as undrafted free agent
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

Where do Ohio State’s newest NFL Draft picks fit in at the next level?
Colin Gay, Scarlet and Gray Report

Ohio State has had some undrafted free agents step up big in the NFL
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land

Former Buckeye Demario McCall Signs with Bears
Chase Brown, Buckeye Sports Bulletin

Antwaun Jackson Invited to New York Giants Rookie Minicamp
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

Chris Booker Invited to Arizona Cardinals Rookie Minicamp
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

First round NFL Draft success for Buckeyes should help continue trend of elite receiver play
Caleb Houser, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Gridiron


Ohio State football adds Kent State to 2026 schedule
Stephen Means, cleveland.com

It’s easy to root for a guy like this:


Ohio State Will Pay Youngstown State $800,000 for Game at Ohio Stadium in 2023
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

Parker Lewis finds winning situation with Ohio State transfer (paywall)
Jeremy Birmingham, Lettermen Row

Can’t Lose!

On the Hardwood


Chris Holtman Says Loss of Malaki Branham “Completely Changes the Complexion” of Ohio State Roster, Even Though it was Anticipated
Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

You’re Nuts: Drafting an Ohio State men’s basketball starting five since 2000
Connor Lemons and Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Men’s Lacrosse: Ohio State Advances in B1G Tourney with 16-10 Win Over Michigan
Ohio State Athletics

Men’s Swimming and Diving: Buckeyes Break Two School Records to Close US International Team Trials
Ohio State Athletics

Women’s Tennis: No. 10 Buckeyes Fall to No. 20 Wolverines in B1G Tournament Final
Ohio State Athletics

Men’s Tennis: Buckeyes Fall Short in B1G Championship
Ohio State Athletics

And now for something completely different:


As the kids say, this is cringe:


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Four-star defensive lineman includes Ohio State as a finalist
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Stephiylan Green | Rusty Mansell, 247Sports

The Buckeyes remain firmly in the mix for a blue chip defensive prospect from SEC territory.

While most of the weekend involved a host of Buckeyes realizing their dream by making it to the next level, Ohio State also saw optimistic developments on the recruiting front as a defensive lineman included the program in his top group. Plus, another defensive lineman becomes a name to watch going forward with the Buckeyes seemingly in good standing.

Six remain for Green


Despite only beginning their pursuit for four-star defensive lineman Stephiylan Green of Rome (GA) back in February when they offered, Ohio State seems to have done enough to impress the Peach State prospect.

The 6-foot-4, 267-pounder has garnered over 20 schloarship opportunities thus far, and on Saturday he was prepared to narrow down his recruitment.


Among the programs that remain in the running for the Top 300 prospect in the class was defensive line coach Larry Johnson and the Buckeyes. Green also has Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Tennessee, and Ole Miss as potential options.

Green, who is fresh off of a visit to Columbus in mid-March, comes in regarded as the No. 291 overall prospect in the class. The Wolves standout also slots in as the 42nd highest graded defensive lineman that the class has to offer and the 29th best player from Georgia.

Buckeyes leading for Florida DL?


Another player along the defensive front that now should be monitored closely with the Buckeyes is 2023 four-star defensive lineman John Walker of Osceola (FL). On Sunday morning, well-respected 247Sports recruiting analyst Bill Kurelic casted a Crystal Ball prediction in favor of Ohio State landing the 6-foot-3, 310-pounder.

Walker, a Kissimmee native, was offered by the Buckeyes way back in November of 2020 and was on campus for a visit back in June of last year. In February, Walker did tell 247Sports' Andrew Ivins that Ohio State (along with Michigan and USC) would get official visits and according the his profile on 247Sports, that visit will happen in late June.

While the Buckeyes have already had plenty of success in the class with Florida prospects, Walker would certainly have to be considered one of the more important targets from the state for the program. Ohio State has already welcomed four Sunshine State talents to their class, and Walker a host of others remain very much in-play.

If Johnson and the Buckeyes can outlast the competition that includes Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami (FL), Notre Dame, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and USC, it would land them the No. 95 prospect in the class. Walker also slots in as the 13th best defensive lineman and the 20th highest graded player in Florida.

Quick Hits

• Ohio State officially announced the addition of West Virginia transfer guard Sean McNeil on Saturday. The Kentucky native who averaged just over 12 points per game for the Mountaineers pledged to the program last week.
• The Buckeyes picked up a transfer pledge on the gridiron as well as USC kicker Parker Lewis announced his move to the scarlet and gray on Friday. Lewis netted 17 of 22 field goal attempts last season as a Trojan.
• 2023 four-star shooting guard Rayvon Griffith of Taft (OH) announced his commitment to Cincinnati last night. The No. 1 player in the state chose the Bearcats over Alabama, Kansas, Ohio State, and UCLA.

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Ohio State has had some undrafted free agents step up big in the NFL
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



Over the years, a number of Ohio State players not drafted in the NFL Draft have gone on to make their way into the league and play big roles.

While every college football player hopes to one day hear their name announced in the NFL Draft, in the end they just hope to somehow make it to the NFL. Just because a player isn’t drafted in the annual draft, it doesn’t mean their professional football career is over even before it has a chance to start. Those players that aren’t drafted don’t have long to be disappointed that they weren’t chosen because often they are taking calls from multiple teams and have to decide where they want to start their career as an undrafted free agent.

Undrafted free agents know they have to work a little harder to earn a spot in the NFL. There have been plenty of players over the years that have gone from being undrafted to becoming a top player in the NFL. After Kurt Warner went undrafted in 1994, the Northern Iowa quarterback won the NFL MVP award in 1999 and 2001. Priest Holmes wasn’t drafted out of Texas, but from 2001-03 the running back eclipsed 2,000 total yards in each of those seasons, winning the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award in 2002. Tony Romo, Wes Welker, and Arian Foster are a few other undrafted players that went on to have successful NFL careers.

Ohio State saw six players drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft. Even though it has to be upsetting for Haskell Garrett, Master Teague, and a few other Buckeyes that were eligible to be drafted to not be picked, they can look to some past Ohio State players as inspiration. Around this time of year, the number of players Ohio State has seen drafted always gets mentioned, but the Buckeyes have seen a lot of players become solid NFL players after not being drafted. We are going to take a look at some notable overlooked Buckeyes.


Lou Groza

Obviously when Lou Groza played college football, things were a lot different than they were now. The drafts during the mid-1940s actually had more picks, with 330 picks being made, but there was also many players that were forced into military service because of World War II. Groza played just one year at Ohio State, making five field goals as a Buckeye in 1942.

Groza enlisted in the army in 1943, eventually being sent to the Pacific as a surgical technician. While in service, former Ohio State coach Paul Brown sent Groza a package with a contract to play with the Cleveland Browns, who Brown was coaching at the time. The kicker agreed to join the Browns after the war ended in 1946.

The list of accomplishments for Groza during his NFL career was impressive. The kicker hit 234 of his 405 field goal attempts over 216 games. Groza was a four-time NFL champion, four-time First team All-Pro selection, two-time Second team All-Pro choice, a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, and a member of the NFL’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. Not bad for a guy that made just five field goals in Columbus.


Bill Willis

Would Groza and Bill Willis go undrafted out of college today? Willis definitely would have been selected had things not been as they were in the 1940s. Along with the country being involved in World War II, no African-American had played in the NFL since 1933 because of a “gentleman’s agreement” was made when segregationist George Preston Marshall entered the league as owner of the Boston Redskins.

After graduating from Ohio State in 1945, Willis actually was the head coach at Kentucky State College for a year before Cleveland Browns head coach Paul Brown offered Willis a tryout in 1946. After impressing at the tryout, the Browns offered Willis a contract, which allowed Willis to join a group of three other African-Americans in the league to break football’s color barrier as the first black players in the league.

Much like Groza, Willis was very successful with Cleveland, winning a title with the team in 1950, and becoming a four-time First team All-Pro, and three-time Pro Bowl selection. Willis is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as well as the College Football Hall of Fame. Ohio State not only retired number 99 in honor of Willis, Ohio State also designated the number 0 jersey to be worn by a different player each year in recognition of Willis.


Mike Tomczak

If you plugged Tomczak’s stats into college football today, there is no way he is even getting considered as a undrafted free agent. Luckily for the former Buckeye quarterback, the game was a little different in 1985. Tomczak lucked into a great situation when he signed with the Chicago Bears as an UDFA right before the Bears would go 15-1 and win the Super Bowl.

Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images

Tomczak would go on to start 31 games for the Bears before leaving for Green Bay in 1991. The quarterback would spend one year with the Packers, and one year with Cleveland before finding a comfortable spot in Pittsburgh, where he would play from 1993-99. By the time his career was over, Tomczak started 73 games, threw for 16.079 yards, 88 touchdowns, and 106 interceptions.


Alex Boone

Had it not been for alcohol issues coming out of college, Alex Boone would have definitely been drafted at some point in the 2009 NFL Draft. Just two months before the draft, Boone was arrested for an incident where he was jumping on car hoods, yanking on a tow truck cable, and trying to break a window. Had it not been for that, there’s no way a First team All-Big Ten player in 2008 isn’t getting drafted.

Even though the San Francisco 49ers signed Boone as an undrafted free agent, it still took nearly two seasons for Boone to see his first NFL action. The guard would go on to become a key starter on the offensive line for the 49ers. Following the 2015 season, Boone would go on to sign a four-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings worth $26 million, but he was released prior to the 2017 season for refusing to take a pay cut. Boone would sign with the Arizona Cardinals, and start 13 games. By the end of his career, Boone had started 86 games in the NFL.


Jake McQuaide

Sometimes to make it in the NFL you have to get a little creative. If you asked most people who Jake McQuaide was, they’d have no idea. Hardcore football fans would know because he is one of the best long snappers in the game. After not being drafted in 2011, McQuaide caught on with the Rams, who were in St. Louis at the time. McQuaide has played in 177 games since then, earning Pro Bowl selections in 2016 and 2017.


Corey “Philly” Brown

Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

It was surprising to see Corey Brown not selected in the 2014 NFL Draft after catch 63 passes and scoring 10 touchdowns in 2013. The Carolina Panthers scooped up Brown after the draft, and it took like time for the Buckeye to make an impact. Brown scored Carolina’s first punt return touchdown since 2003 when he housed a punt in October. The receiver would go on to catch 79 passes for 1,019 yards, and seven touchdowns over his three years with Carolina, which included an appearance in Super Bowl 50, where he led Carolina with 80 receiving yards in the 24-10 loss to Denver.


Andrew Norwell

Another Buckeye that fell into Carolina’s lap in 2014 was Andrew Norwell, who was a two-time First team All-Big Ten selection. By the seventh week of the 2014 season, Norwell was starting at guard for Carolina, and was a rock for the Panthers for the next three seasons. Norwell earned First team All-Pro honors in 2017, which led to him becoming the highest-paid guard in football when he signed a five-year, $66.5 million dollar contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. After spending the last four years with Jacksonville, Norwell signed a two-year contract with the Washington Commanders this offseason.


Cameron Johnston

Technically Cameron Johnston didn’t go undrafted professionally, since he was taken by the Melbourne Football Club with the 63rd selection of the 2011 AFL Rookie Draft. After his AFL career didn’t go as planned, Johnston made his way to the United States to punt at Ohio State, where he was the Big Ten’s Punter of the Year in 2016.

Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images

After going undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Johnston, but they would waive him before the start of the season. Johnston kept at it though, making the Eagles roster in 2018, and since then he has started every game. Following last season, Johnston signed with the Houston Texans, where he would have plenty of opportunities to punt during the 2021 season, leading the NFL in punting yardage.

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Round One Recap: Buckeye WR’s go back-to-back
Shane Bailey via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



Ohio State had a successful first round of the NFL Draft.

It was quite the spectacle on Thursday night of the NFL Draft, as Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave showed up on the red carpet dressed like they were about to be starring in a buddy cop movie. The two close friends no doubt spoke about this for many years while in Columbus, but I doubt either of them thought they would be drafted so close together — much less back to back. They had such a great chemistry with Zone 6 for the Buckeyes, so I was glad to see the two teammates get to share in one last moment together before their lives were forever changed.


When I first saw the duo strolling on to the red carpet, I will admit I got a little bit nostalgic and sad, yet proud and optimistic about the future of two of the Buckeyes’ best and most popular wide outs in the history of Buckeye nation. All the time and battles gone through together led to this absolutely awesome moment of being able to be drafted with one of your best friends is next-level cool.

What made things even more storybook like is the fact the duo got drafted BACK-TO-BACK in the first round, going 10th and 11th overall in the draft. They not only got to experience the draft with their teammate, but celebrate on stage when they were picked less than 10 minutes apart from each other.

I mean, when Michael Irvin is the one getting your number you know you have made it


I wanted to take a quick look at the fit before the second round of the draft starts tonight, and how we can expect the two to perform in their rookie seasons, or at least what kind of situations they are stepping into.

Garrett Wilson was first off the board (but not the first WR, looking at you Atlanta) and was chosen to end up in the Big Apple with the New York Jets. Now, I know many of you claim the Jets are cursed, and while I do not disagree with that statement, if anybody can break a curse it’s our guy Garrett. He heads to New York to team up with the Jets’ first round pick last season, Zach Wilson, for the now patented Wilson-to-Wilson combo connection.

The Jets not so quietly had one of the best first rounds of the draft, which is to be expected when you make three picks. Garrett joins an offense without a true No. 1 wide out threat. Elijah Moore and Corey Davis are good players, but neither has the potential that can be had out of Garrett. I think he will vault to the top of that depth chart in training camp or by the latest the first month of the season. He will have ample opportunities for targets, and for you fantasy football dynasty players is looking pretty great to pick up for the long haul.

The offense he will entering is still a bit of a question mark, but he will be able to grow and development with the young QB already in place. Gaining chemistry and good practice habits is key to any rookie in the NFL, and with coach Brian Hartline’s discipline and work ethic instilled into our wideouts, I think that will be no issue for Wilson in his transition to the League.


Then we get to one of the most popular Buckeyes in my time on this earth, Chris Olave. The Columbus Saint.... errrr... excuse me the New Orleans Saints made their presence known once more in Ohio, as they swoop in to take one of our favorites. This is a very interesting situation Olave now finds himself in, and one I may be a bigger fan of than most people I have seen. I think Jameis Winston is a capable QB with good weapons, and he excels in throwing the ball deep down the field.

What does Olave do better than almost anyone in the draft class? Track and catch the deep ball. Olave will open up all kinds of space in the underneath routes for Michael Thomas (oh look another Buckeye in New Orleans) and their play styles will compliment each other so well.


Everybody always jokes about how Michael Thomas being the slant king, but with Olave taking the top off of the defense those slants will be even more wide open and the YAC will only increase this year if I was a betting man. Now of course that's a bunch of bologna how Thomas only runs slants, but just wanted to make sure how good Olave is going to be for Thomas’s game.

The first year without Sean Payton is going to be a good indicator what direction the Saints are headed in the coming years. If Jameis can play even average football with Olave now in the fold, their offense is a whole new animal. Kamara along with Thomas and Olave all healthy and on the field at once is a three-headed monster which I very much look forward to seeing.

There were obviously some very mixed feelings on the landing spots for Ohio State’s two stars, but that's the price you pay when you are elite and go higher in the draft to the teams who may not be as well established. They may not have landed in the perfect situations, but I am willing to bet that the two of them will make the situations perfect for themselves. We know how hard these two work at their craft and their will to be great, so why not believe their greatness will rub off on others around them? I don't see any reason why it can’t.

Call me a homer but these two studs are going to be All-Pros in no time.

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You’re Nuts: Drafting an Ohio State men’s basketball starting five since 2000
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Who would you vote for? And again, it is SINCE 2000.

It has been a busy couple of weeks for Ohio State basketball, as they have announced the return of Seth Towns, the addition of transfer guards Tanner Holden and Sean McNeil, and Malaki Branham announced he is officially staying in the NBA draft.

As always, the Bucketheads are keeping on with the debates and discussions and talking about all things Ohio State basketball related. This week, we are doing something a bit different. We are trying out a draft.

Last week, we talked about Ohio State hoops recruiting and the best way to go about it. This was prompted by this years recruiting class coming in, as it is one of the highest ranked basketball classes in Columbus in a long time. Connor went with keeping the talent in state, and Justin went with getting all the talent no matter where they hooped in high school.


Justin won in a close battle.


After 47 weeks:

Connor- 21
Justin- 18
Other- 6

(There have been two ties)


So this week we drafted teams. There were two stipulations. One was starting at the year 2000. No Jerry Lucas on this list. And the second one was this was strictly based on college success. What these guys have done professionally does not matter.

How it broke down...

Pick 1 (Justin): Greg Oden
Pick 2 (Connor): Evan Turner
Pick 3 (Justin): Keita Bates-Diop
Pick 4 (Connor): Mike Conley
Pick 5 (Justin): D’Angelo Russell
Pick 6 (Connor): Jared Sullinger
Pick 7 (Justin): Michael Redd
Pick 8 (Connor): Jae’Sean Tate
Pick 9 (Justin): Deshaun Thomas
Pick 10 (Connor): Kosta Koufas
Pick 11 (Justin): Aaron Craft
Pick 12 (Connor): E.J. Liddell

Today’s question: Who drafted a better all-Buckeye team?

Connor:

Mike Conley, Evan Turner, Jae’Sean Tate, Jared Sullinger, Kosta Koufos, E.J. Liddell

Set Number: X83958 TK1 R8 F56

I decided ahead of time that my first pick was going to be either Evan Turner or Mike Conley, because they were both so successful in college and also had pretty great NBA careers (I know this draft was only supposed to be based on college, but it’s still hard to get over Greg Oden’s NBA career). So when Justin took Oden first, it was a no-brainer to take the National Player of the Year, right? Easy choice for my first pick.

Once Turner was off the board, I figured Justin would take Conley — who is definitely held in higher regard by Ohio State fans than D’Angelo Russell, and who arguably has had a better career in the league, too. Justin opted for Keita Bates-Diop, which meant I was able to take both of my top two guys with my first and second picks, rounding out my backcourt right away.

With my backcourt all set, I was able to use my third pick on one of the most dominant big men of the past 20 years in Sullinger, who is also from Columbus. He also may be the best post player Ohio State has had since 2000 other than Oden, so it just made sense here. At this point I really felt like I was dominating this draft.

Justin snagged Michael Redd with his fourth pick, which might’ve been the best value pick in this whole thing if we’re being honest. I went with my heart instead of my head and reached for Jae’Sean Tate with my fourth pick, just because I love him with my whole heart and am so damn proud of his journey. But in the grand scheme of things, he probably isn’t on the same level as some of these other guys. But I digress.

With my fifth pick I had to find a center, and I realized Ohio State really has not had many great centers since Oden. The options really come down to Byron Mullens, Kosta Koufos, and I guess... Kaleb Wesson? So Koufos was the pick. And then I tied it all up with an All-American in E.J. Liddell coming off the bench with my final selection.

Justin:

D’Angelo Russell, Michael Redd, Keita Bates-Diop, Deshaun Thomas, Greg Oden, Aaron Craft



With my first pick, I went with big man Greg Oden. I mean, I don’t have to actually explain this one do I? Dude was as dominant as anyone over the last 20 years and led Ohio State to the national championship game, where he put up 25 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks on 10-for-15 shooting.

With my second pick, I wanted to go with a position I thought was lacking a bit. So I went with Keita Bates-Diop at small forward. Bates-Diop will always hold a strong spot in a lot of Buckeyes fans hearts along with Jae’Sean Tate, because they made a year that was supposed to be pretty miserable a lot of fun. This was the first season under Chris Holtmann for the Buckeyes and they were coming off two missed NCAA tournaments in a row. However, in large part to Big Ten player of the year Bates-Diop, the Buckeyes ended up finishing third in the conference with a five seed in the NCAA Tournament. KBD averaged 19.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game during that historic season.

With my third pick, it was time for a point guard. D’Angelo Russell was the only choice here. Russell was not only one of the best players to come through Ohio State in the last two decades, but he was easily one of the most entertaining too. It felt like he could really do anything on the court. He had a triple-double as a Buckeye, basically single handedly won them a postseason game and made play after play that had the defenses heads spinning. He was the highest draft pick since Greg Oden for a reason. He averaged 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds per game and 5 assists per game in his only season in Columbus.

With my fourth pick, Michael Redd. Redd just barely made the cut as he was drafted in 2000, but he is an Ohio State great, nonetheless. Redd averaged 19.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game through his three year career with Ohio State. Just a pure scorer who crashed the boards surprisingly well. Weirdly enough, his scoring averages steadily decreased through his three years, as he averaged almost 22 points per game as a freshman and just over 17 points per game as a junior. Still, he put up some staggering numbers.

And finally with my fifth pick, Deshaun Thomas. Thomas was a guy who played with a lot of talent and still was able to carve out his own incredible lane scoring. The lefty killer was so vital to Ohio State in their success post William Buford, Jon Diebler and David Lighty and helped the Buckeyes still reach an Elite Eight and a Final Four. Thomas averaged 14.4 points and 5 rebounds per game for his career, but he averaged just under 20 points his junior season.

And off the bench, is there a better sixth man than Aaron Craft? Doubt it.

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