Buck Off Podcast: Live NFL Draft Reactions, Ohio State transfers, first overall pick in 2022
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK

The guys watch the 1st round of the NFL draft and discuss some of the recent news surrounding Ohio State football

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On today’s episode of “Buck Off with Christopher Renne,” Chris and Jordan Williams discuss Ohio State’s draft-eligible Buckeyes and watch the NFL Draft.

To start the show, the guys get into some of their thoughts on the NFL draft including how they think the first round will go. We also discuss the ideal fits for Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave in the first round. Then we discuss the rest of the Ohio State potential draftees. Throughout the show they get into their live reactions of some of the NFL draft picks and make some predictions as the show goes on.

After that, they discuss the potential each Ohio State transfer has at their next destination in a little game called “Jamo or no more.” The guys predict if each transfer will find success or if we will never hear about them again as they go on to the next steps of their journeys.

Continuing on the guys get into C.J. Stroud being better than Bryce Young and the potential number one overall pick in 2023. We discuss the passing chart that blew up Twitter and get into the reasons why each quarterback might go first overall.

They close out the show discussing some questions about the Buckeyes they found on the internet and have some fun answering them.


Connect with the Show:
Twitter: @BuckOffPod

Connect with Chris Renne:
Twitter: @ChrisRenneCFB

Connect with Jordan Williams
Twitter: @JordanW330

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247 Profile
Rivals Profile
HUDL Highlights
Twitter: @DarronReed45



Class: 2023 (high school)
School: Columbus (GA) Carver
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 270 lbs

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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for April 29, 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


Gary Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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: New York Jets select Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson in first round
Dave Biddle, Bucknuts

Buckeyes receiver Chris Olave selected by Saints in first round of NFL draft
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Three Former Ohio State Receivers Taken Consecutively in First Round as Jameson Williams Is Selected No. 12 by the Detroit Lions
Kevin Harrish, Eleven Warriors

What a picture!


Which former Ohio State wide receiver has the highest ceiling, and which current NFL stars could they possibly model their game(s) after?
Josh Dooley, Land-Grant Holy Land

Former Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins honored at NFL Draft with moment of silence
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

Ohio State Draft Primer: A last look at the Buckeye draft prospects
Chris Renne, Land-Grant Holy Land

If you think the recruits didn’t notice, you’d be mistaken:

On the Hardwood


Analyzing impact as Malaki Branham officially leaves Ohio State for NBA Draft (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Taking Redshirt Season Was “Best Decision” for Kalen Etzler, Who Is Eager to Get on the Court for Ohio State in Second Year
Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

You know you want to scream this dude’s name next season.

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Men’s Swimming: Hunter Armstrong Sets World Record in 50m Backstroke
Ohio State Athletics

Ohio State’s Andrea Kuhn, and Daniella Santos excel at Penn Relays
Staff Reports, The Columbus Dispatch

Men’s Lacrosse: Myers, Reid and Van Buren Receive All-Big Ten Honors
Matt Goldman, The Lantern

Losses mount for Ohio State baseball as team struggles in B1G play
David M. Wheeler, Land-Grant Holy Land

And now for something completely different:


Score one for the Buckeyes and the Bear!


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First round NFL Draft success for Buckeyes should help continue trend of elite receiver play
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’s receiver position is in great hands for years to come thanks to more success in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Thursday saw the completion of the first round of the NFL Draft. With all eyes tuned in on the 32 selections last night, there wasn’t a ton of recruiting news to go out around. Ryan Day and his crew spent majority of their time focused on their players headed to the league, and though their attention was more so there than the recruiting trail, last night’s draft success for the Buckeyes was really all the recruiting effort needed.

The first round picks for the Buckeyes continued thanks to back-to-back selections for both Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. The proven track record the Ohio State staff has when it comes to developing their players for the NFL is the ultimate recruiting pitch, and a major reason as to why the Buckeyes continue to land elite talent at every position. Having the most players drafted since 2000 out of any program, Ryan Day and the rest of the staff really have all they need to say with those stats alone, and the positive outcomes in their recruiting efforts should reflect that and more.

Buckeyes on the verge of landing another top receiver?


Speaking of the receivers, the consecutive picks of Wilson and Olave going 10th and 11th overall last night had to have Brian Hartline grinning ear to ear. Further proof of coach Hart being the best receivers coach in college football, it’s pretty easy to see why top players at the position all over the country are wanting to suit up for Ohio State and be developed by not only a great coach, but someone who also played at the highest level.

Last night was just another testament and again, an incredible recruiting pitch for the top targets he and Ohio State have at the receiver position in the 2023 class. The millions of dollars made for former Buckeyes is all the noise that’s needed to be made, and you have to get the feeling that Hartline’s top targets were paying attention and seeing just why Columbus is the best possible destination when it comes to playing that spot. Fortunately, it looks pretty solid right now for one target starting to trend towards Ohio State.

North Carolina native Noah Rogers is currently ranked as the nation’s 10th-best receiver in the 2023 class and the 76th best player nationally per 247Sports. In this regard, Rogers this week has seen a bit of momentum in favor of the Buckeyes when he was Crystal Balled to Ohio State by Director of Recruiting for 247Sports, Steve Wiltfong. A major insight to where his recruitment is headed, any submission by Wiltfong should be taken pretty seriously.

Hartline has one receiver in the fold already, but there’s some major names out there and with Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss getting most of the attention, Rogers should certainly be in the conversation too. Being thought of as one of the very best products to come out of his home state in years by several analysts, the Buckeyes would be getting an absolute stud in Rogers. NC State is also a serious player in his recruitment, but if Noah was watching the draft last night, Ohio State is the easy pick between those two programs, bias aside.

Quick Hits

• Staying right with the Crystal Ball theme, yesterday another Crystal Ball prediction in favor of Ohio State was submitted by Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts for Austin Siereveld. Set to announce his commitment next Wednesday, the Buckeyes have to fend off Notre Dame and Alabama to land their top remaining in-state product, but all signs right now look to be good news for Ohio State to land their third in-state offensive lineman in the 2023 class.
• If you were wondering if the nation’s top ranked receiver, Brandon Inniss, was paying attention to the draft last night, take a look below and see that he clearly saw the benefits that come with Ohio State. That should further help Hartline’s chances of once again landing the top receiver in the country.

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Which former Ohio State wide receiver has the highest ceiling, and which current NFL stars could they possibly model their game(s) after?
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The three-headed monster has since split up, but all are expected to taken early in the same (2022) NFL Draft | Nick King/Lansing State Journal via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and even Jameson Williams are all expected to go in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Team, fit, and health will all play a role in their professional success, but here is a best guess at future potential.

Attempting to predict or hypothesize future NFL success is an exercise in futility. I know that, you know that, and every expert who tells you otherwise... guess what? They know it too. Draft prognosticators are a dime-a-dozen, with very few garnering Mel Kiper-esque respect and admiration from the football community. I could go into all the reasons why it is so difficult to try and guess which college players will transition well, but the truth of the matter is, it’s just really, really hard. There is no way to state it elegantly.


So with all of that being said, I’m going to take a stab at it! What a novel idea, right? And I’m going to try my hand at NFL player comps. But I only want to focus on three players and one position. Three former OSU wide receivers are expecting to hear their names called – all on Thursday night, according to mocks and projections – and all three could be viewed as having different, varied skillsets.

I think that there is plenty of overlap in their respective games, but to generalize (unfairly so): Garrett Wilson is the playmaker, Chris Olave is the technician, and Jameson Williams is the burner. How will these guys perform at the next level, and who should they look to as pillars of NFL success?

Jameson Williams

Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK
Williams took full advantage of the opportunity presented in Tuscaloosa

Yes, we still get to claim him as Buckeye... within reason. I had a difficult time deciding between Williams and Chris Olave, and predicting which player has the higher NFL ceiling. Fair or not, I used past precedent against Jamo, dropping him to the bottom of this extremely short list. But do not mistake my ranking for like/dislike or a prediction that Williams is not going to be a terrific NFL player. I think he is going to be a legitimate weapon. I’ve just seen more consistency from the guys who finished their college careers in Columbus.

Williams suffered an unfortunate injury during the CFP National Championship game, putting his immediate availability into question. Perhaps just as significant is the fact that it wiped out his ability to physically test in front of NFL talent evaluators at a combine or pro day. But here’s the good news: he is not the only one, and the injury will likely not drop him out of the first round. It would be crazy if it did, because he is a special talent.

The former Ohio State Buckeye and more recent Alabama Crimson Tide star has a specific calling card, and that is speed. Jamo might even be Tyreek Hill-level fast, as least while moving in a straight line. But Williams also displayed a well-rounded skillset once given the opportunity at Bama. He is nearly as quick as he is fast, can go up and make a contested catch, and showcased serious footwork for the Tide.

Any knock against Williams’ one-year production is debatable. Even if you do consider him to be a one-year wonder, you cannot argue that he was not one of the most dangerous players in college football last year. However, it is worth pointing out that we have seen plenty of guys put one great season on tape, only to fall off the map later. And he was behind Wilson and Olave (and JSN) on the depth chart for a reason. Playing for Alabama has a way of occasionally making a player look better than he really is.

I believe that Jameson Williams will eventually be a certified NFL stud, but it may take him some time. His rookie season will be impacted by the ACL injury. From there, he will need to prove that he can run all routes and beat sophisticated coverages. I found a comparison tough to come by, but eventually settled on a more-skilled version of Will Fuller or (much) smaller DK Metcalf. Sorry, I promise they will get better.

Chris Olave

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Olave set records at OSU, and now has his eyes set on doing the same as a professional

Admittedly, I do not know exactly what is going to happen for Olave in the NFL, but I have a very hard time believing that he will not be productive. He strikes me as a more-accomplished Terry McLaurin (college), but foreshadowing: Scary Terry is not my NFL comp. Olave is not the biggest, fastest, or strongest, but he is among the elite WR’s in this class when it comes to footwork, route running, and football IQ.

Similar to McLaurin, Olave initially made a name for himself by playing special teams. Although expected to perform by the staff, the Ohio State record-holder for career TD receptions put in extra time and became more than an active participant — Olave excelled in the third phase of the game. Over time, he honed his skills as a receiver and would go on to etch his name in the OSU history book. Olave’s work ethic directly influences my belief that he will succeed in the NFL.

I would describe Olave as a jack of all trades, master of none. Maybe that’s underselling his ability. Or overselling, I’m not sure. My point being, that he can do damage underneath and in short yardage situations, work himself open on a deep post or sideline route, and/or take the top off a defense. He is not Deebo Samuel with the ball in his hands, but he can do enough, and more importantly, he can produce from anywhere on the field and run any route.

All of the above are reasons why I think Olave will find success regardless of where he ends up. I see him as a No. 2 WR who eventually becomes a No. 1 or 1B. The NFL comp I settled on was another Chris: Chris Godwin. Godwin is not most athletic guy in the world, but he knows how to play the position, and he plays well in the presence of other weapons. Similar to Olave, both can play the 1B role, but also take over a game on occasion. If the former Buckeye were to end up in New Orleans or Kansas City – with a proven star WR/TE – he could settle into a complementary role right away. If Olave is not an 8-10 year player, I will be surprised.

Garrett Wilson

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Wilson has been pegged by many “experts” as a can’t-miss prospect

Wilson, according to many, is the safest bet and has the highest ceiling among this trio of stars. I do not disagree. While he might lack the top-end speed of Williams and/or the polish of Olave, Wilson is a dynamic do-it-all weapon. What he lacks in size, he makes up for with great footwork and his ability to make athletic, highly-contested catches. Similar to Williams, Wilson has a history of taking over games and appearing un-guardable. What seems to set him apart is the consistency with which he performed and made highlight-worthy plays. All of this should translate well to the next level.

Wilson stepped in as a freshman at Ohio State, and contributed right away. And then he just kept getting better. His year-to-year improvement is likely what excites many of the NFL teams looking for WR help. Williams went from 0-to-60 in his third year, whereas Wilson showed consistent, gradual improvement over time. Not to say that one is worse than the other, but consistency often creates a greater sense of comfort or confidence.

In today’s NFL, teams are looking for versatility, and that is another trait Wilson brings to the field. He can take reverses or screens and make something happen, or he can do significant damage running routes from either the slot or the outside. Wilson can also makes plays in the return game, although that seems to be a bit of a dying art. Whatever you need, this former Buckeye can do it all.

I compared Wilson to NFL superstar Stefon Diggs. Similar in size, Diggs gets it done in a variety of ways. He also lacks extreme size and elite speed, although both he and Wilson have plenty of NOS in the tank. Both 6-footers are just naturally-gifted receivers, capable of running through any opposing defense. Lastly, and why I really like the comparison, is that Diggs and Wilson both had room for improvement after college – despite being so dangerous on the field already. Diggs did not receive a ton of hype at Maryland, and was a 5th-round pick. He improved his game and grew alongside Adam Thielen, eventually achieving stardom.

Wilson probably needs to get stronger and work on his anti-jam techniques, but he is already leaps and bounds ahead of where Diggs was coming out of college. If he can improve in a similar manner, I believe he’s a 1,500-yard receiver before the age of 25.


That’s it, folks. Pick it apart. I did my best to prognosticate, and if I’m wrong, at least I won’t be the only one.

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All the important info you need to know ahead of tonight’s NFL Draft
Brett Ludwiczak 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

Where is the NFL Draft this year? What channels can you find it on? When could we some Ohio State players come off the board? We got all that info and more.

The 2022 NFL Draft is finally upon us. Even though the NFL regular season doesn’t start for more than four months, optimism flows throughout fans around the league, as they feel with the right mixture of picks, their team could be playing out in Glendale at the Super Bowl in February. Except you, Jacksonville. Even though you rid yourself of Urban Meyer’s boomer brain, you still likely won’t be sniffing the playoffs for a while.

Where is this year’s draft....and the 2023 draft....and the 2024 draft


This year’s NFL Draft will be held in Las Vegas for the first time. Originally the 2020 NFL Draft was slated to be in Sin City, but COVID-19 changed those plans. Instead the 2020 NFL Draft was held virtually, which gave us some hilarious moments, like when there was a cut to Bill Belichick’s home and we saw no sign of Belichick, and instead it looked as if his dog was making the picks for the Patriots. Then again, let’s not put that evil on the dog, since that very good boy probably would have made better draft picks that what the Patriots actually made in 2020.

From 1965-2014, the NFL Draft was held in New York City before the league finally came to its senses and decided to take the show on the road. Last year’s draft was held in Cleveland, while next year’s edition will be held in Kansas City. If Buckeye fans want to catch the draft but don’t want to go out to Kansas City next year, they’ll have a much shorter trip in 2024, since Detroit will be the host. Even though it might be tough to stomach cross over into That State Up North, 2024 could possibly see Buckeyes like TreVeyon Henderson or Marvin Harrison Jr. come off the board in the first round.

How to watch this year’s draft


There are a number of options on how to watch this year’s NFL Draft. Gone are the days when the only real option we had was Chris Berman making a bunch of strange sounds and workshop nicknames for the rookies. These days you have the option of watch the draft on ESPN, ABC, or NFL Network.

The safest option is probably to watch the draft on NFL Network. Despite being a Michigan Man, Rich Eisen is a pretty good listen as host of the broadcast. It certainly is an infinitely better option than ESPN, who continues to give America more Mike Greenberg even though we are begging them to stop subjecting us to that windbag. If you have to choose between ABC or ESPN for draft coverage, the safer option is ABC, since aside from Desmond Howard, the rest of the broadcast crew that is headed by Rece Davis and Suzy Kolber are strong professionals.

How the first two picks should shake out


Unlike many years when there are a few players that separate themselves from the rest of the players eligible to be drafted, this year’s draft is pretty wide open. What will likely be remembered most about this year’s draft is the absence of a true franchise quarterback, as well as the offensive and defensive line dominating the picks early on.

For the second year in a row, the Jacksonville Jaguars hold the first pick in the NFL Draft. The Jags didn’t have to make as tough of a decision last year, since Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence was the obvious top pick in the draft. This year with Doug Pederson in his first year as head coach in Jacksonville, the decision isn’t so simple. Although, it looks like Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker is likely to be who the Jaguars are targeting.

The second pick of this year’s draft is held by the Detroit Lions. If Jacksonville goes with Walker, the Lions should run their pick up to Roger Goodell and select defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. The Lions should be able to sell plenty of Hutchinson jerseys since the standout was not only born in Michigan, he went on to play his college football at the University of Michigan.

An impressive streak


Since 2016, Ohio State has produced 16 first round draft picks, although last year was the only year during that span in which the Buckeyes didn’t have multiple first round picks. Justin Fields was the lone Ohio State first rounder, going to Chicago after the Bears traded up to the 11th pick in the draft to select the quarterback.

Who is going first, Olave or Wilson?


This year we are pretty much certain that we’ll see two Buckeyes selected in the first round. What we don’t know is whether Chris Olave or Garrett Wilson will be the first Ohio State wide receiver selected. A couple months ago Wilson was the favorite to come off the board first, but Olave has impressed in the time since the season has ended, and we could possibly see Olave join Terry McLaurin in Washington.

If Olave is taken with the 11th pick, keep an eye on Wilson going to New Orleans with the 16th pick. Much like Olave, Wilson would also be teaming up with a former Ohio State wide receiver. Michael Thomas is a member of the New Orleans Saints even though it’s easy to forget that’s where Thomas is these days since he played in just seven games in 2020 and didn’t see the field in 2021 due to injury.

When either Olave or Wilson is drafted in the first round, it will snap a streak of 12 Ohio State wide receivers that were drafted, but not taken in the first round. The last time Ohio State produced first round wide receivers was back in 2007 when the Miami Dolphins took Ted Ginn Jr. with the ninth pick, and the Indianapolis Colts took Anthony Gonzalez with the final pick in the first round.

What other Buckeyes should be selected before the draft wraps up on Saturday?


During the three-day draft, we’ll likely see around seven Buckeyes drafted. After Olave and Wilson are drafted during the first round, the next likely Ohio State players to come off the board will be tight end Jeremy Ruckert and offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere on Friday night. By the time the draft wraps up on Saturday, defensive linemen Tyreke Smith and Haskell Garrett, as well as offensive lineman Thayer Munford look like they’ll hear their name called at some point.

What the NFL teams in Ohio will be doing on Thursday night


For fans of the two Ohio teams in the NFL, Thursday night likely won’t be much fun. The Browns decided to use their first round picks over the next few years to acquire quarterback Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans. On the other end of I-71, Cincinnati won’t pick until the 31st pick, since the Bengals made it all the way to the Super Bowl. Since Cincinnati addressed their offensive line issues in free agency, the Bengals could opt to trade out of the first round and acquire some more future draft capital.

No matter what your plans for the draft over the next three days are, the smartest move to keep track of all that is going on with Ohio State players in this year’s draft is to keep it locked here at Land-Grant Holy Land. Enjoy this year’s draft as we celebrate the Ohio State players that are drafted and keep getting closer to the start of the 2022 season.

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Ohio State Draft Primer: A last look at the Buckeye draft prospects
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Ohio State has a long list of draft eligible players, so we take a one last look at where they might end up.

This year’s NFL Draft is finally here, taking place in Las Vegas, and the Ohio State Buckeyes are looking to be well represented once again. Ohio State has seven former players projected to go in the seven rounds and three more draft eligible players who will be looking to find homes this weekend as well. For the Buckeyes, this is an opportunity to extend their lead in total first round picks, where they currently sit at 85, and will also look to add to their 473 total NFL Draft picks.

Ohio State’s list of projected players that will be selected in the draft includes: Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jeremy Ruckert, Nicholas Petit-Frere, Haskell Garrett, Tyreke Smith and Thayer Munford. Scouring the mock draft data base these seem to be the consensus draft picks this season for the Buckeyes. The former Buckeyes are projected to go all over the place, so this will be a three-day affair for the program as their next set of players head to the professional level.

Today we are going to go through the list of players, project their landing spots, and discuss some of the traits that will make the former Buckeyes successful at the next level.

Garrett Wilson


The All-American receiver is the first projected Buckeye to be taken in most mock drafts. Wilson left Ohio State with 143 receptions, 2,213 yards, and 24 total touchdowns. Throughout his career, Wilson used his athleticism to make spectacular catches as well as big plays in space after the catch. His skillset is versatile and his ability at the catch point makes him a definitive No. 1 receiver.

Wilson is projected to three teams, including the Atlanta Falcons, New York Jets, and Washington Commanders. Though he is not the consensus No. 1 receiver in the draft, there is no reason he should fall out of the top-15 picks. This selection will extend Ohio State’s first round NFL draft picks total to 86 players. We will not have to wait for long to hear Wilson’s name on Thursday.

Final Scouting Take: “Garrett Wilson is a dynamic receiver who has the lateral quickness and explosiveness to take any throw or handoff the distance. His foot speed and balance let him consistently miss the first defender with the ball in his hands and make him dangerous on underneath throws and screens to create yards after the catch.” - B/R NFL Draft Scouting Department

Round Projection: 1st Round, Pick 10 New York Jets | Full Scouting Report

Chris Olave


The Californian turned Ohio State all-time receiving touchdowns leader solidified himself as a first round pick with an impressive combine performance. Olave ran an official 4.39 40-yard dash and had decent jumping numbers in the other drills he participated in. In his career Olave was a touchdown machine and was a master at creating separation at the top of his routes. A team looking for a quarterback friendly receiver will find that in Chris Olave.

Not projected as consistently as Garrett Wilson, Olave has a list of team names with a lot of variety. When asked, he said the Packers were an interesting team and he thinks Aaron Rodgers is the greatest quarterback of all time. With projections to the Green Bay Packers, the New Orleans Saints, and the Dallas Cowboys, he will likely play for a competitive team in the NFL. Wherever he ends up, the Buckeyes will add one more to their all time first round picks total, and Brian Hartline will have an incredible recruiting pitch made for him.

Final Scouting Take: “The quiet storm of the Ohio State wide receiver corps, Olave is smooth, steady and makes things happen. His movements are fluid and easy from snap to the catch and all points between. He’s fast but efficient and plays with the bend and foot agility to uncover on all three levels.” -Lance Zierlein (NFL.com)

Round Projection: 1st Round | Full Scouting Report

Jeremy Ruckert


Ohio State’s tight end usage may hurt Ruckert in the end, but he still will be picked early in the draft. At Ohio State, Ruckert was a solid blocker as an inline tight end who brought physicality to the position in the run game. Despite only 54 career catches and 615 receiving yards, he showed he was reliable and has a solid resume of spectacular catches. The Buckeyes require their tight ends to be well rounded, and Ruckert has fit the mold better than any of his previous predecessors.

The consensus on Ruckert isn’t clear in the mock draft community, with some having him as first rounder. More likely than not he will not be a first round pick given his light resume, but many experts have called him a sleeper who will rise on Day 2 of the NFL Draft. This makes it hard to project where he might end up, but teams are always looking to add talented tight ends.

Final Scouting Take: “The ceiling is there for Ruckert to be a much better pro player than he is a college receiver. In the blocking phases of the position, Ruckert is used often in split-flow fits and has the mass necessary to crack the end man on the line of scrimmage effectively. That experience will prove helpful as he looks to acclimate to an NFL responsibility that is likely to ask him to play in the box.” -Kyle Crabbs (The Draft Network)

Round Projection: 2nd Round | Full Scouting Report

Nicholas Petit-Frere


A multi-year starter for the Buckeyes who played both tackle positions for Ohio State in his career. After coming in a little small for a tackle, it took time for the the Florida native to get on the field. Once he was on the field he became one of the best pass protectors in the Big Ten. His athleticism allowed him to be a powerful run blocker, and he was comfortable getting to the second level when his responsibility was to block linebackers or in screens.

Another Buckeye with quite a bit of range in his projections, but one of the most common ones is the Cincinnati Bengals at the end of the first round. The more likely scenario is a team snags him in the middle of the second round to the Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, or another tackle needy team. If Petit-Frere doesn’t end up starting right away, he will add a versatile depth piece with swing tackle potential.

Final Scouting Take: “Petit-Frere has the athleticism, violence, size, and urgency to be a scheme-versatile blocker, especially for teams that value run blocking. Even after an up-and-down 2021 campaign, there’s upside worth investing in. Late Day 2 or early Day 3, Petit-Frere can be a solid swing tackle early with starting potential.” -Ian Cummings (Pro Football Network)

Round Projection: 3rd Round | Full Scouting Report

Haskell Garrett


Garrett had a tumultuous obstacle in his career, but he did not stop let that stop him from accomplishing his goals of making it to the NFL. The former Buckeye does not have ideal size or athletic numbers for the scheme he is projected to play, but has a lot of production as a pass rusher with 7.5 sacks. A consistent player in the run game, he left something to be desired in consistent play strength against higher level IOL competition.

As a potential fit in the NFL, he will need to find a team that runs a 4-3 defense due to him being a traditional 3-technique defensive tackle. If he can prove that he can be a 3-4 end that could add a lot of value, but as of now he is projected Day 3 pick. A team looking to find a depth piece in late in the draft will find that in Garrett. He also brings a pass rushing skillset that isn’t common among interior defensive linemen.

Final Scouting Take: “Garrett provides alignment flexibility and versatility to a defense. He can align at the 1T, 3T, and 5T at any time. This fits his single-gap penetrating style of play. He offers special teams value. He plays on punt return and field goal block units.” -Damian Parson (The Draft Network)

Round Projection: 4th Round | Full Scouting Report

Tyreke Smith


Ohio State has not had a first round defensive linemen since Chase Young went second overall in the draft. This won’t start again with Smith who did not live up to his high recruiting ranking. He battled injuries throughout his career, but he was always a productive player when he was on the field.

Smith brings plus athleticism and that showed in his jumping ability at the combine with 34” vertical and 117” broad jump. He left a lot to be desired as a consistent pass rusher with only 7 career sacks. Smith is athletic which gives him the versatility to fit into a 3-4 scheme as a outside linebacker or a 4-3 scheme as a traditional defensive end. His projections have him in the fourth and fifth round to a variety of different teams.

Final Scouting Take: “Elastic, long-limbed edge defender whose unbridled, attacking style brings both highs and lows in every game. Smith’s urgent motor is an ingredient that gives him a chance to find some success in the pros, but his inefficiencies and lack of body control limit his ceiling.” -Lance Zierlein (NFL.com)

Round Projection: 4th Round | Full Scouting Report

Thayer Munford


Munford was the “Block O” number recipient for the 2021 season, and he brings a long list of intangibles into the draft. A multi-year starter at left tackle, he was moved to guard this past season. This gave him a lot of versatility, and with his age being on the older side for a rookie, his versatility will be a major separating factor against other prospects.

As a projected sixth round pick, Munford will have to wait a little bit to live out his dream of getting his name called in the draft. Regardless, he brings a lot of experience and will be a great depth piece for the organization that selects him. Being able to play four positions on the offensive line makes him a valuable asset in the draft.

Final Scouting Take: “He’s got the strapping frame to be an NFL tackle if need be, but his most recent play has cast some doubt on a projection there. Munford now, with a successful career at Ohio State behind him, will be an option for NFL teams who run a lot of inside zone concepts as the Buckeyes have offered him as both a tackle and guard.” -Kyle Crabbs (The Draft Network)

Round Projection: 6th Round | Full Scouting Report

Projected Undrafted Buckeyes


Not every draft eligible Buckeye will end up hearing their name called over the three day event, but Saturday night and Sunday are a huge day for the remaining Ohio State players. The list isn’t long, but the three other Buckeyes will find opportunities at the next level.

Master Teague III: Teague is a physical, one cut running back who has shown he can be an every down back. For Teague, his athleticism he displayed at Ohio State’s pro day could potentially get him drafted, but it might be better for him to pick his own team in free agency.

Demario McCall: McCall’s career at Ohio State was a roller coaster that took place on both sides of the football. McCall is an explosive athlete, but is a little undersized for any of the positions he might play at the NFL level. His return experience as well as other special team experience makes him an interesting potential fit for NFL teams.

Antwuan Jackson Jr.: Jackson impressed at his Ohio State Pro Day, but he still has not garnered much attention as a draft prospect. He can play both tackle spots and looked lean enough to be considered as a strong side defensive end. His work with Larry Johnson could pay long term dividends, but as of now he will just need to find the right fit to get started.


The NFL Draft is always a fun event, and even in a relatively down year Ohio State will be well represented as the former Buckeyes head to the next level. This years draft does not have a lot of consensus, so anything can happen. One thing we know for sure is a long list of Buckeyes will realize their dreams and become NFL players.

Ohio State will extend its lead in first round daft picks, and the Buckeyes who get drafted will help with future recruiting. The players only have one thing left to do and that is wait until they hear their name called. Overall, this time of year is always exciting and now we wait and see where the former Buckeyes end up.

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247 Profile
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Twitter: @Ian_Reed72



Class: 2023 (high school)
School: Austin (TX) Vandegrift
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 310 lbs

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FORMER USC KICKER PARKER LEWIS TRANSFERRING TO OHIO STATE
Dan Hope on April 29, 2022 at 3:00 pm @dan_hope

Ohio State has added another kicker through the transfer portal.

Former USC kicker Parker Lewis, who made 17 of his 22 field goal attempts and had touchbacks on 27 of his 34 kickoffs for the Trojans last season, announced his commitment to Ohio State on Friday.

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...icker-parker-lewis-transferring-to-ohio-state

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Twitter: @noah1rogers



Class: 2023 (high school)
School: Rolesville (NC) Rolesville
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 185 lbs

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MGM's current odds for the #1 pick:

Travon Walker -500
Ikem Ekwonu +450
Aidan Hutchinson +450

Who ya got?

Welcome to the team Sean!! Big time shooter and starter from WVU. Will definitely make this team better

Recruiting Spotlight: Tayvion Galloway
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



For my first bit of content in a while, I want to re-introduce Tayvion Galloway. Tayvion is a four star Tight End prospect out of Chillicothe, Ohio. He is 6’6 and around 230 pounds and he refers to himself as the “Black Sheep”. Tayvion has 18 total Division 1 offers and is looking around to find the best fit for him. Here was a Q&A between the two of us.

RT: Which schools are standing out to you at this moment?

TG: Still building connections with coaches and really just getting to know them. I do believe LSU, Michigan, and Kentucky are definitely recruiting me the hardest.

RT: Which offer(s) are you working on earning at the moment?

TG: Not working on earning any offers. I’m just going to keep grinding and whoever takes their change on me is who I’m going to be looking to build a connection with.

RT: What is your “dream school”?

TG: One of my favorite teams growing up was the Miami Hurricanes.

RT: Which school(s) had/have the best developmental plan for you if/when you commit?

TG: Any school who produces NFL guys regularly.

RT: When do you think you’ll be narrowing your list of top schools?

TG: I will never make an official announcement of who I’ll narrow it down, but all the ones in my corner will know.

RT: When do you think you’ll complete your recruiting process?

TG: Whenever the time is right.

RT: Once committed, give me three players in your class who you want to join you?

TG: My cousin Quinlan Netter & close friend Zechariah Owens.

RT: As a Tight End, what are your strengths, your weaknesses and what are you striving to improve in your overall game?

TG: I believed my key strengths are my versatility and my athletic ability to allow me to make big plays along with not being scared to get dirty in the blocking game. I am trying to improve my strength and explosiveness.

RT: As a player, would you rather be developed (strength, conditioning, life after football, etc.) or would you rather get stats?

TG: I would definitely rather the development at the end of the day. I’m trying to be the best I can be, but I think both is possible.

RT: Can you explain what you bring to the table as a recruit and player?

TG: I believe I’m a leader and I always show better than I can tell. As a player, I believe I’m the guy that can make game winning type of plays.

My Impression: Tayvion Galloway is a born leader, who shows others with actions as opposed to using words. Scrappy and determined to get after it on plays, who isn’t afraid of crucial moments in the game. Galloway is not focused on the glamor of the recruiting game and whoever joins him along his journey does. Whoever doesn’t misses out on a special kid and player with unlimited potential. In an effort to be the best he can be, he remains confident yet humble as he builds relationships with coaches that see the potential in him. I honestly see the “black sheep” mantra as his strength. A lone wolf mentality that once introduced into the fold, has the ability to become the alpha on offense. You want a player like this on your roster and I hope he finds success wherever he goes.





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You’re Nuts: How important should in-state recruiting be for Ohio State men’s basketball?
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo courtesy of Steve Helwagen — 247Sports

Do you want the best players available, or do you want local stars? Fans usually want both — that’s not always possible.

Happy Friday to the work-from-homers, the message board lurkers, and the college basketball addicts. We’re back for another stimulating “You’re Nuts” debate, and we’re sticking with recruiting again, since that’s the most salient topic right now in college hoops.

But first, an update on Kansas State transfer Nijel Pack:

..... Just kidding, we’ve got nothing as of this moment. He visited earlier this week, and it sounds like Ohio State and Purdue are two of the heavy favorites. But other than that, we’re in watch and wait mode. He’d be a big addition, and we will share any news with you if and when we get it.

Last week, Connor and Justin explained which transfer they’d like to see Ohio State go after next and why. Connor went with Jalen Bridges, who has since committed to Baylor. Justin chose Nijel Pack, whom we obviously are keeping a very close eye on. Justin won in an absolute rout with 72% of the vote. Connor picked up 23% of the vote, and the remaining 5% went with “other.”

After 46 weeks:

Connor- 21

Justin- 17

Other- 6

(There have been two ties)


This week, we’re focusing on high school recruits, not college transfers. When Ohio players — regardless of their recruiting rankings — do well locally, Ohio State fans want the Buckeyes to pick them up. This is understandable. But when players like Mackenzie Mgbako show interest in Ohio State, fans also want those players to wind up in Columbus. However, there are only so many scholarships to hand out.

So this week we’re asking your opinion: is dominating Ohio and keeping in-state talent in-state more important than raw recruiting rankings? Or do you want the Buckeyes to go get the best players, even if that means not having many Ohio players playing at Ohio State?

Today’s question: Should in-state loyalty impact recruiting or no?

Connor: Try to recruit Ohio kids


I don’t think the state a player is from is the most important thing, but I think it should be a big factor in who Ohio State pursues. I’d rather see the Buckeyes be a great team with all non-Ohio kids than be awful with only in-state talent, but those aren’t the only options. The Buckeyes can compete with the best programs in the nation for top recruits while also keeping their eyes peeled on local talent. If two players are comparable, I think they should make the local kid(s) a priority. That’s pretty much where I stand.

Not every single kid in Ohio grows up wanting to play for Ohio State, but a lot do! And there’s something special about having home-grown talent suiting up to play for the state university. When you look down the roster for a state school, it’s always nice to see scattered names of players from Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo, Dayton, and so on. Years and years ago, college basketball teams were made up of almost exclusively in-state players. Now with recruiting booming on a national scale, it’s common to find a team with only a few in-state players on the roster.

I don’t think Ohio State should pass up on five-stars from other states to give scholarships to three-star Ohioans. If Mgbako had chosen Ohio State last week, for example, I’d have been fine with letting some other recruits know that unfortunately that spot has been filled. But when splitting hairs between three and four-stars, or two guys with comparable rankings, what are we really arguing about? Take the Columbus kid, damnit.

For example, there are three forwards the Buckeyes are currently involved with in the 2023 cycle: Dailyn Swain (Columbus), Devin Royal (Pickerington), and Scotty Middleton (Wichita, KS). According to 247Sports, Royal is a three-star and the No. 123 player in the country. Swain is a four-star and the No. 64 player in the country. Middleton is a four-star and the No. 41 player in the country. The Buckeyes appear to be more heavily involved with the local kids, Swain and Royal, but are on Middleton’s list of final five schools as well.


If only one can be a part of the 2023 recruiting cycle, they should lock up one of the Ohio kids. There should be some added motivation to keep Columbus kids who are good enough to play at Ohio State... at Ohio State.

Fans will bash the coaching staff if they let Royal or Swain go elsewhere and they play well at another school — especially if it’s a Big Ten school. They’ll also bash the coaching staff if they recruit the lower-rated Ohio kid and let someone like Middleton walk, only for the Ohio kid to struggle and Middleton excels elsewhere. It can be a damned if you do, damned if you don’t decision, but I just think there’s something special about having a strong Ohio influence on Ohio State’s roster when there’s talent in your own backyard.

Justin: Recruit the best players regardless of where they’re from

Andrew Jansen/News-Leader / USA TODAY NETWORK

Hey man, call me crazy, but I like to bring in the best talent possible. In Ohio State’s defense and in years past — especially during the Thad Matta era — there was great talent coming out of Ohio with guys like Jared Sullinger, William Buford, Aaron Craft, BJ Mullins, Kosta Koufas, and others. Recently however, the top players in Ohio have still been very good, but clearly have not been amongst the best in the nation.

The top Ohio recruit in the 2022 class is Sencire Harris, who is the number 101 recruit in the country, according to 247 Sports. Ohio State has four players in the 2022 recruiting class ranked higher than the top guy in Ohio. In the 2023 class, there are only two guys ranked in the top 100 in Rayvon Griffith (42) and Dailyn Swain (98), and Ohio State’s top recruit is George Washington III from Louisville, Kentucky who is ranked 47th.

If the Buckeyes were only using in-state guys for recruiting, they would be nowhere close to getting the top guys in the country and would struggle to bring in many top-100 players. People will say stars don’t matter, but they do for fan interest and for other recruiting purposes.

Currently, according to 247 Sports, Duke, Arkansas, Alabama, Kansas, and Indiana have the top five recruiting classes in the 2022 cycle (Ohio State currently sits at sixth). Between those five teams, they have 25 commits total; just five of those prospects are from the state they signed to play college basketball in and three of those five are from Arkansas. If you take Arkansas out of the equation, there are 19 commits and just two of them are staying in state.

The numbers speak for themselves. Ohio State fans are excited for the recruiting class that the Buckeyes have coming in and that is because the coaches went out of the state and got four of the top 60 guys in the country and two players who won Mr. Basketball in other states — Bruce Thornton in Georgia and Brice Sensabaugh in Florida.

Get me the best players and let the rest work itself out.

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BREAKING: Seth Towns to return to Ohio State for 2022-23 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


Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

Towns will don the scarlet and gray for one more season, hoping to finish his Ohio State career on a high note.

As the off-season drug on and Ohio State’s roster situation became less foggy, one player with eligibility remained pretty silent. E.J. Liddell is off to the NBA, Malaki Branham almost certainly is too. Justin Ahrens chose to be honored on Senior Day despite having eligibility left, so we knew his career was a Buckeye was finished even before he entered the transfer portal. Justice Sueing announced two weeks ago that he will return next season for one more year. Tanner Holden transferred in from Wright State after three exceptional seasons in the Horizon League.

But until today, we had not heard anything about Seth Towns’ basketball future. Well, according to The Columbus Dispatch’s Adam Jardy, the Northland High School product will be returning to Ohio State for one final go-round this fall — his seventh season.


It will be Towns’ seventh year academically, but anyone who has followed the Buckeyes the past few seasons knows that Towns has been unbelievably unlucky when it comes to injuries and availability. He played two seasons at Harvard from 2016-2018, including winning Ivy League Player of the Year in 2018. Knee surgery cost him the entire 2018-2020 seasons. He then transferred to Ohio State in 2020 and played in 25 games for the Buckeyes — although he averaged just 10.8 minutes per game. He averaged 3.8 points and 2.2 rebounds per game while shooting 42.1% overall from the floor.

Heading into the 2021-2022 season Towns said that his knee felt the best it ever had, but then a back injury led to back surgery before the season, and he did not end up playing at all. So of Towns’ six seasons, three of them were spent on the bench rehabbing from injuries. At this point, 23-year-old Seth Towns has actually played fewer collegiate basketball games than 21-year-old E.J. Liddell in twice the time.

At his best, Towns is a three-level scorer and an old soul with a fundamentally sound offensive game. He’s a 40.7% three-point shooter in his career, but also loves to step back and use the glass on mid-range jumpers. In fact, he’s the only player I can think of right now who chooses to use the glass on his jumper. But hey, it works for him!


The obvious question is what will Ohio State actually get from Towns? When he had his back surgery last summer, the expectation was that he’d be back in December — which never happened. Are the Buckeyes using a scholarship for purely goodwill and nostalgia on a local product who will once again sit the bench for five months? Could the coaching staff have urged Towns to move on and use that scholarship on a safer option?

Or will Towns return in the fall, fully healthy for the first time since 2018? Coming off the bench, a healthy Seth Towns could be Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year. Having a former Ivy League Player of the Year in your second rotation would be an asset few teams could match. If he’s ready to go and can play 15-20 minutes per night, Towns could be a key asset to an Ohio State team trying to make their first Sweet Sixteen in a decade.

Towns returns to a frontcourt that will also feature returnees Zed Key, Sueing, Kalen Etzler, and Gene Brown. Don’t be shocked if Ohio State adds another wing via the transfer portal in the coming weeks as well.

Welcome back, Seth!

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Buck Off Podcast: Remaining defensive questions, offensive expectations, Florida recruiting
Chris Renne 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

The guys are back to get into their questions for the Buckeyes after the Spring Game and they get into the recruiting the state of Florida

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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On today’s episode of “Buck Off with Christopher Renne,” Chris and Jordan Williams discuss Ohio State’s Spring Game, and the questions they still have.

To start the show, they discuss their experiences at the game watching the Buckeyes for the first time in 2022. They then talk about the size of the stadium and how much different seeing everything happening live feels.

After that, they get into what the Spring Game means for the Buckeyes as they head into next season. They also talk about Jim Knowle’s defense, starting with the defensive backfield and then talking about the depth in the secondary and on the defensive line. Then Chris and Jordan get into some discussion about the expectations for a linebacker group and pass rush that they don’t yet know a lot about.

They also discuss Ryan Day’s offense and the answers we got on Saturday. They break down the talent in the backfield and how much is also present in the quarterback room. They next get into the Buckeyes figuring out the tight end room, why the receiver transition might not be seamless, and then close out the offensive conversation with the biggest question mark on that side of the ball: the offensive line.

The Buckeyes have built a steady pipeline from Florida to Columbus, so the pair also gets into why that has recently resurged and talks about the recruits that the Buckeyes have landed recently.

They also discuss the current state of the recruiting class and how this cycle might end up looking geographically. Lastly, they discuss if some teams are getting a little too confident heading to the offseason.


Connect with the Show:
Twitter: @BuckOffPod

Connect with Chris Renne:
Twitter: @ChrisRenneCFB

Connect with Jordan Williams
Twitter: @JordanW330

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Column: Forget the one-and-done factories, Ohio State men’s basketball should strive to emulate Jay Wright’s version of Villanova
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

Chris Holtmann has long been an admirer of the newly-retired coach. And while some OSU fans would prefer the hype that comes along with a roster full of 5-star freshmen, Wright proved that you can reach and remain at the top with consistent team-building and development.

I think it’s fair to say that most college basketball programs would love to replicate the 21st-century success of Villanova. I’m not breaking news here. Since 2001, the Wildcats have won 520 games. They have eight Big East regular-season championships, five Big East tournament championships, and two NCAA national titles — all since 2006. And over the last nine seasons, they lost double-digit games just once. The man largely responsible for their success is/was Jay Wright. By any measure of greatness, Wright should be regarded as one of the all-timers. His recent induction (2021) into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Game is evidence that most “basketball people” agree.

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Wright will leave a lasting and impressive legacy among NCAA men’s basketball coaches

But Wright did simply walk into a ready-made situation like (some) other coaches do. For example: Duke’s Jon Scheyer is taking over the most prestigious program in the sport – as a first-time coach – at the age of 34. And North Carolina’s Hubert Davis made a championship run in his first season — with Roy Williams’ roster. I would argue that those men have a leg up in their future endeavors. Wright did not enjoy the same luxury back in 2001... Settle down, I know that both Scheyer and Davis were long-time assistants and very instrumental to their predecessors’ success. I am a huge Tar Heels fan, and I’ve rooted for Davis as both player and coach... I am simply pointing out another one of Wright’s many achievements. He propelled a solid program to the ranks of the elite, while building it the right way, and maintaining a high level of success until he decided to hang up the well-tailored suit.

Part of becoming an elite program and/or coach is winning in March, and that is another thing that set Villanova and Wright apart from the pretenders. Watered-down conference championships are great, and Final Four appearances are fun to talk about, but “almost” only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. Wright made it to the mountain top multiple times. One could say he “only” won two NCAA Championships, but that’s more than former peers such as Jim Boeheim, Tom Izzo, and John Calipari can lay claim to. He is one of only 16 coaches (ever) to win more than one D1 men’s title. And he did all of this by recruiting the right players and developing his team, which seems to be a bit of a lost art in today’s world of college basketball.

Under Wright, Villanova largely avoided controversy. This is due, in part, to his ability to attract and retain high-character players. When there were missteps along the way, the coach took care of business. He once suspended 12 players (at the same time, in 2003) for making unauthorized phone calls. There were whispers of a few players pocketing a few dollars from agents or boosters in years past, but never anything that tied remotely to Wright.

Once in the program, most players were eager craft their all-around game — as opposed to searching for the fastest route to an NBA paycheck. They knew that an additional year or two under the tutelage of Wright could pay greater dividends in the future. This is not to say he lacked the ability to recruit high-end talent. Villanova was reeling in 4-stars on a regular basis. But Wright only signed 11 5-star recruits during his entire career, and only one of those players has gone on to enjoy sustained NBA success (Jalen Brunson). Instead, the Wildcats’ now-former coach focused on willing learners and team-first guys. When the team wins, each individual wins.

And Wright’s best individual players have excelled at the next level. Early Nova draftees under Wright included Kyle Lowry, Randy Foye, and Dante Cunningham — all of whom played at least 12 NBA seasons (more, and counting for Lowry). Recent Wildcats include Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Saddiq Bey — up-and-comers or borderline stars for their current NBA teams. The volume of Nova players making it into the league might not be comparable to that of Duke or Kentucky, but Wright definitely knew how to develop talent, while also dominating the Big East and winning NCAA Tournament games.

So, what does all of this have to do with Ohio State and/or Chris Holtmann? Did I just heap 600 words of praise on a retired Big East coach for fun? Well, not exactly. Holtmann spent three years coaching against Wright while the former was at Butler. And Prior to the two meeting up in the second round of this year’s NCAA Tournament, Holtmann was effusive in praise of the Villanova leader. He clearly respects the heck out of his former league rival... So while I’m not sure if Wright is a mentor – or anything more than an acquaintance – of Holtmann’s, I would say that if the current Buckeye coach were to try and emulate the career of one recently-retired coach, it should be that of his former Big East foe.

I’m sure Chris Holtmann would love to win five national titles, coach on a court named after him, and have a documentary made about his life and/or last season.... It’s just not in the cards. We live in a different era — with AAU, NIL money, player mobility, you name it. Dynasties are a thing of the past. But coaches can still impact lives, find success on the court (or field, ice, whatever), and stick around for a really long time... if they win, and do it the right way. The way Jay Wright did it. He did not re-invent the wheel. He just did his job better than most of his peers. His blueprint was not exclusive to Villanova, and it is one that I think Holtmann already gravitates toward using.

Here are the basics:


Don’t “sell your soul” — Run your program the right way, and don’t let winning become more important than coaching and developing players.

Recruit good basketball players who are equally good off the court — Kyle Young and E.J. Liddell types are always good to have on the roster.

Find players who want to use college as a means to improve, not a personal showcase — I place these individuals into something I like to call the Ben Simmons category.

Build a college team, not an AAU team — Nothing against AAU, but those teams acquire talent. Good college teams acquire pieces that fit together.

Peak in March — Columbus, we have a problem.


While Holtmann has done seemingly everything else right, he has not been successful during the most important stretch of the season. The Buckeyes have won 20 games in each of his first four seasons, but a total of just three in the NCAA Tournament. This is despite, oddly enough, performing pretty damn well in neutral-site games and notching some big victories over non-conference opponents. The month of March is the hole in Holtmann’s game — much like my inability to go left.

IndyStar-USA TODAY Sports
Beware the Ides of March... basketball

Twenty wins per season only gets you so far with fans. March means everything. And winning when it mattered most was something that Wright excelled at... but it took time. He barely had a .500 record after three seasons at Villanova, and the team made zero NCAA appearances. Not comparing apples to apples here, but Ohio State was not in a much better position than Nova was (in 2001) when Holtmann took over in 2017. The two coaches were also at different stages of their career when they took over the respective gigs, but there are at least some parallels. Holtmann just has a much shorter leash, at least according to some fans. And we are absolutely part of the problem!

I’m including myself when I say that it seems like we expect Sweet 16’s on a regular basis. Imagine if Jay Wright had been driven out of the Philadelphia area after three seasons. Villanova made a Sweet 16 and Elite Eight appearance in his next two. And then they won a billion games after that! Chris Holtmann has had four postseason opportunities in Columbus — AKA one more than three. I’m not saying we should be happy about March missteps, but we could certainly do a hell of a lot worse than 20 wins on a yearly basis.

Holtmann needs to win tournament games. He knows that. And he’s doing what he can to make it happen. Ohio State has a top-5 recruiting class coming in (which sort of goes against my argument), and the transfer rumors are swirling. My point being, the man brings in talent — the right talent. Guys you want on your team. Now he needs to make a run with said team, because another quiet exit in March could spell... something. But we should at least appreciate the program he’s trying to build, because the man who ended OSU’s most recent season used a similar blueprint to find massive success.

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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for April 22, 2022
Gene Ross 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


Ryan Day, Jim Knowles ‘very pleased’ with Ohio State cornerback play
- Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

2022 NFL Draft profiles: Chris Olave defied expectations in four-year OSU career
- Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

What Ohio State football’s Chris Olave brings to the NFL: Buckeye draft preview
- Nathan Baird, Cleveland.com

Terry McLaurin, Cameron Heyward Finalists For Good Guy Award
- Andrew Lind, Sports Illustrated

Hopping on the Jack Sawyer hype train for the 2022 season.


Progress Report: Evaluating Ohio State quarterbacks after spring camp ($$)
- Austin Ward, Lettermen Row

Ross Fulton’s 6 Takeaways From The Ohio State Spring Game
- Tom Orr, Buckeye Scoop

Post-Spring projection of Ohio State’s 2022 depth chart
- Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

College football rankings: Updated Way-Too-Early Top 25
- Mark Schlabach, ESPN

On the Hardwood


Several 2022 Ohio State Basketball Signees Among Final SI99 Rankings
- Andrew Lind, Sports Illustrated

Columbus’ own Jim Cleamons ready to coach Ohio team in HBCU all-star game
- Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Villanova men’s basketball coach Jay Wright announces retirement
- Des Bieler, Washington Post

Outside the Shoe and Schott


TBDBITL making SportsCenter even in the offseason.


Ohio State’s Emily Hummer wins B1G Co-Golfer of the Week.


Men’s Lacrosse: No. 13 Ohio State hosts rival Michigan in regular season finale
- Matt Goldman, The Lantern

Softball: Buckeyes gear up for rivalry meeting against Michigan
- Megan Husslein, The Lantern

Wrestling: Gallagher ready to compete after redshirt year
- Mick Walker, The Lantern

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finally found a copy

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OK, what have you done to celebrate National Vagina Appreciation Day today?

You could see ads in Xbox games in the future
https://bgr.com/tech/you-could-see-ads-in-xbox-games-in-the-future/

Microsoft wants to make it possible to put ads in Xbox games. Insider reported on the development last week. The outlet says that Microsoft is currently evaluating ad tech partners to help provide in-game ad placements.

The system will allow developers to put ads in Xbox games that are free-to-play. As such, it could provide an additional means of monetization for those developers. Insider’s sources say that the advertisements won’t disrupt gameplay. One example the sources provided was an in-game billboard in a racing game.

While sources say that Microsoft is working on this feature, the company itself did not confirm them when Insider reached out. Instead, it said that it is “always looking for ways to improve the experience for players and developers.” However, at that time, the company didn’t “have anything further to share.”

While ads in mobile games are very common, the same is rare for console games. As such, seeing anything about Microsoft’s plans to put ads in Xbox games might be concerning to players. This is especially true if Microsoft adds video ads to game lobbies or other areas that “disrupt” gameplay somehow.

Currently, Xbox allows advertisers to purchase ad spots on the Xbox dashboard. And, certain games allow them to purchase ads in-game. However, the widespread use of ads in Xbox games is not something you see every day. If Microsoft is in fact working on a system that lets it advertise inside of games, we could see a drastic change to how free-to-play gaming on consoles works.

Ads in video games have always been a bit of a sore spot. Mostly because a lot of mobile games overdo the ad business. Instead of making ads something that integrates well into the game, they disrupt gameplay entirely. There are ways around this, like the example that Insider originally listed.

If Microsoft is truly working on putting ads in Xbox games, we can only hope that the company is doing it in an immersive manner.

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Lewis was immediately intrigued by the possibility of playing for Ohio State once he heard from the Buckeyes, in part because of his relationship with Bolden but also because of his friendship with former Ohio State kicker Blake Haubeil, who he says is “like an older brother.” Lewis has known Haubeil since he was in seventh grade, and he watched the Buckeyes often during Haubeil’s Ohio State career, even attending Ohio State’s Fiesta Bowl game against Clemson in 2019 to support Haubeil.

“Before I was committed to USC, Ohio State was my team that I rooted for because I was watching all of Blake’s games,” Lewis said.

Based on his conversations with Haubeil and Ohio State special teams coordinator Parker Fleming, Lewis believes playing for Ohio State would be a much better fit for him than USC was.

“Coach Fleming is more of like a family feel,” Lewis said. “They have it down pat for sure at Ohio State. I love their system and how they operate and manage their specialists.”

Lewis was also a teammate of current Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke at Saguaro High School (Scottsdale, Arizona), and he likes what he’s heard from Burke about the Buckeyes, too.

“I’ve talked to him a lot on Ohio State, and one thing I like that he said is he said it's ran just like Saguaro. If Saguaro were to be a college, he said it's ran just like Saguaro,” Lewis said. “He’s said a lot of really, really, really great things.”

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Lewis, who was ranked as the No. 7 kicker in the 2020 recruiting class and still has three years of collegiate eligibility, expects to select his transfer destination within the next two to three weeks, as he plans to enroll at his new college in May.

Just sayin': Kind of surprised we are recruiting a place kicker with Noah Rucker returning and Jake Seibert still on the roster; however, maybe Day isn't 100% sold on Seibert for 2023 & 2024.

Buckeyes add walk-on wide receiver

It was a pretty busy weekend for Ryan Day, Brian Hartline, and the OSU coaching staff. Ohio State didn’t just add a pledge from Kyion Grayes on Sunday. Just a couple days before the Buckeyes also landed a commitment from walk-on wide out Reis Stocksdale (Morrow, OH/Little Miami) on Friday evening.

Deciding to call Columbus his future stomping grounds, a lot played a part in the Little Miami (OH) senior selecting to suit up for the Buckeyes over opportunities to play on the college level at programs such as Butler, Dayton, Valparaiso, Lake Erie College, and Concordia.

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Stockdale, who hauled in 38 receptions as a senior for nearly 900 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns, adds another solid walk-on addition to the Buckeyes roster. Landing numerous pledges from legacy and other under-the-radar standouts, he joins tight end Zak Herbstreit, offensive lineman Toby Wilson, athlete Cayden Saunders, long snapper Mason Arnold, and linebacker Jackson Kuwatch in the Buckeyes 2021 walk-on class.

Entire article: https://www.landgrantholyland.com/2...kiyaunta-goodwin-reis-stocksdale-will-johnson

This article is too good not to post:

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CJ Carr — a five-star quarterback recruit and grandson of former Michigan coaching great Lloyd Carr — is trending to Notre Dame following a recent visit to campus, according to 247Sports director of recruiting Steve Wiltfong, who aimed his 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction Monday in the Fighting Irish's favor. Carr — the fifth-best quarterback and No. 25 player overall in the 2024 class, according to the 247Sports Composite — hails from Saline, Michigan. He has offers from Michigan, Georgia, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Penn State, among others on his list of interests.

Carr is a top priority for Notre Dame offensive coordinator and former quarterback Tommy Rees. Carr told Irish Illustrated that his recent visit to South Bend was his best yet. At 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, Carr is considered the state of Michigan's top prospect overall in his class.

ON THE LATEST NOTRE DAME VISIT
"This was probably one of the best trips to Notre Dame that I've been on. We were in the meetings at first and we were just getting to talk to the QBs that are there and getting to be around coach Rees was awesome. Then we went out on the practice field when practice started and they had a great practice. There was lots of competition that was happening, so I thought that was really cool. Then we went and had a little photo shoot and did all that stuff, ate lunch, went back and talk to coach Rees privately and then headed out. So it was overall, just a great visit."

ON HIS TIME WITH OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR TOMMY REES
"Every time we talk, our relationship just grows. I really, really like coach Rees and what he's doing with the quarterbacks and what he's doing with the offense, and the energy that he brings to the to the practice. So overall, it was just a great visit."

ON ANOTHER UNIQUE APPROACH REES TOOK TO THIS VISIT
"He got me up on the board this time. During the QB meetings, he had installed a play with me one time a while ago and had me recite the rules of it and recite who I'm reading, where the ball should go, so that was just a cool experience to get up in front of the QBs and draw a play up and explain how it's worked... I knew the play pretty well. I was pretty comfortable up there."

ON WHERE THINGS STAND IN HIS PROCESS
"I'm just trying to find the best fit, wherever that is. Coach Rees has shown that he can develop quarterbacks and I really like what he's doing with the offense. I think from here, just continuing to develop that relationship, go visits more schools, and then obviously, make a decision."

https://247sports.com/Player/CJ-Carr-46103482/

Who knew LLLLLLLoyd Carr's grandson was a 5 star QB recruit?

I did notice that Ohio State hasn't offered. Regardless, between Michigan, Georgia, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Penn State; I think I rather see him sign with Sparty. Anything to screw over scUM.........

Well. the Spring Game is history, now the 3 1⁄2 (or so ) month wait until the start of Fall Camp.

The new facers will include: The 10 additional members of Ohio State’s 2022 recruiting class, including running back Dallan Hayden; wide receivers Kojo Antwi and Kaleb Brown; offensive linemen Avery Henry, Carson Hinzman and Tegra Tshabola; defensive ends Omari Abor and Kenyatta Jackson; defensive tackle Hero Kanu; safety Sonny Styles, will arrive on campus in June and be assigned their numbers prior to the start of fall camp.

Last but not least, several returning players have changed their numbers since the end of last season. That includes:

WR Kamryn Babb - No. 1
WR Jayden Ballard - No. 9
WR Emeka Egbuka - No. 2
RB Miyan Williams - No. 3
LB Cade Stover - No. 8
WR Xavier Johnson - No. 10
OL Donovan Jackson - No. 72
TE Gee Scott - No. 88