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Malachi Nelson (QB Southern Cal, transfer to ???)
- By ScriptOhio
- College Football
- 29 Replies
Malachi Nelson
"Pro" style QB
Height: 6'-3"
Weight: 180 ibs.
Los Alamitos, CA
Class: 2023
https://247sports.com/Player/Malachi-Nelson-46086657/
See videos: https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/ma...?videoid=cd92d1aa-8516-4079-afe1-08a75b225ee5
THE HURRY-UP: “NATURAL, SMOOTH” THROWER MALACHI NELSON IS ANOTHER RISING CALIFORNIA QUARTERBACK STAR WHO OHIO STATE HAD MADE EARLY IMPRESSIONS ON
The Hurry-Up is your nightly dose of updates from the Ohio State football recruiting trail, keeping tabs on the latest from commits and targets from around the country.
NELSON ANOTHER RISING QB TO WATCH
We detailed for you on Thursday the talent and recruiting update of Junipero Serra (Calif.) High School quarterback Maalik Murphy.
Looking even further into the future, the Buckeyes’ recruitment of quarterbacks in the 2023 class got a major head start in November, when former Ohio State quarterbacks coach Mike Yurcich threw an offer to one of Murphy’s friends, teammates at STARS and fellow Californian Malachi Nelson, Los Alamitos High School’s 6-foot-3, 180-pound quarterback.
Immediately when watching Nelson’s freshman season game tape, it was obvious what jumped out. He has a very fluid throwing motion and looks like a future star if he continues to develop. Jason Kwon, Chandler Whitmer and Yurcich (in that order) were in on Nelson early. Each of those are former Ohio State assistants after taking coaching jobs at Boston College, Clemson and Texas, respectively – Kwon as director of scouting; Whitmer as an offensive assistant; Yurcich as offensive coordinator.
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But Yurcich wanted to extend that offer early to Nelson so that he could get the Buckeyes’ foot in the door. He knew the potential Nelson already was gifted with at such a young age and that’s why he made Nelson such a high priority, which has extended to the Buckeye staff after he left for the Longhorns.
“He could definitely throw with some of the guys on college rosters right now,” Nelson’s personal quarterback trainer, Danny Hernandez, told Eleven Warriors shortly after Ohio State offered him. “He could keep up with some college quarterbacks right now. I feel comfortable with him being able to make every throw. The ball comes out nice, it looks the right way. Mechanically, he’s generating power from the right sources.
“When the ball’s flying out, he doesn’t look like that kid doing the heave-ho. You see kids throwing the ball that far and hard at his age, their heads are all flying to the side and legs lifted in the air. They’re off balance and throwing with all their might at that point. He’s looking smooth. He looks like he knows what he’s doing, and he does.”
NATURAL THROWER
With many of the talented passers who Hernandez trains at STARS training facility in Southern California, he says that his job as a quarterback coach is often “to not reinvent the wheel and cookie cutter these guys and make them all the same” because so many of them are natural throwers.
“For Malachi, with his right arm, there’s nothing I really have to work on. That’s just a natural, smooth flick of the wrist that he already has,” Hernandez said. “Are there ways where I can get him to engage his back hip in the throw a little more and be more stable with his front shoulder? Work on those little things so he’s more in sequence? Those are the things I can work with more.
“But his right arm alone? Never had to do a single thing with that because he was just so smooth and natural already with that.”
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That was a few months ago when Hernandez detailed how talented Nelson is, and when Eleven Warriors touched base with him last week, he said the offseason has been going as well as he continues to hone his craft of being a quarterback and work on perfecting his mechanics.
“I have been trying to work on getting my ball carriage up and getting the ball out on time,” Nelson said. “I’m going to try to hit as many camps as I can and the same with visits.
“It’s been good so far, trying to hit a couple camps here and there but also focus on getting better every day in the weight room and in the classroom.”
Part of that offseason regimen is to continue working with and competing with guys like Murphy, as the two share a friendship and bond as quarterbacks but also want to outdo each other. It’s the exact same atmosphere that has been going on at STARS for a while with some of the top-tier quarterbacks that have been developed there.
“(Malachi and I) work with each other very good,” Murphy told Eleven Warriors. “We compete really well there, usually every camp and every workout (we’re together). We’ve created a strong bond just through quarterback stuff.”
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Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...ng-california-quarterback-star-who-ohio-state
FL RB Terrance Gibbs (Florida Verbal)
- By HotMic
- College Football
- 1 Replies
247 Profile
Rivals Profile
HUDL Profile
Oviedo (FL) Master’s Academy
Running Back
6-0
190 lbs
Class of 2022
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Rivals Profile
HUDL Profile
Oviedo (FL) Master’s Academy
Running Back
6-0
190 lbs
Class of 2022
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2020 tOSU Special Teams Discussion
- By ScriptOhio
- Buckeye Football
- 14 Replies
Buckeyes have plenty of options to spark return game
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There is nothing more mystifying than how arguably the most talented roster in the country continues to struggle to find a consistency returning punts and kickoffs.
Eventually the touchdown drought, the muffed kicks and the roller-coaster of emotions on special teams is going to end for Ohio State. It’s almost unthinkable that it has lasted this long for the Buckeyes, but there’s been some sort of hex on that position that zaps the powers of game-changers at their normal positions the second they drop back to catch a kickoff or punt.
This should be the season that spell is broken. And if a pool of candidates that includes Garrett Wilson, Demario McCall, Mookie Cooper, Jameson Williams and potentially C.J. Saunders can’t break through, maybe the Buckeyes really are doomed.
So, who is going to light the fuse? The smart money is on Wilson grabbing hold of the punt-return gig and never letting it go. Heading into his sophomore year, Ohio State is already making it clear by tweaking his role at wide receiver to put him in the slot that it wants the football in his hands as frequently as possible. And it proved last year that it was willing to endure a couple growing pains with him at punt returner, viewing that as an investment in his future by letting him keep learning with live reps.
Wilson is a truly special athlete, and it feels inevitable that he’ll bust loose on a punt — and potentially snap the touchdown skid that dates all the way back to 2014.
“We have confidence in Garrett,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “He’s certainly a young player who made a mistake, and he’s going to learn from it and move on. But he’s going to practice better and again a lot of it goes back to how you practice, if you’re going to practice intently and do a good job with that, then, yeah, we’re going to have confidence because we see it in practice.
“If for whatever reason we don’t see it in practice, then we have to make a decision.”
Odds are Wilson is going to make it an easy call for the Buckeyes, though there will be competition from those other four wideouts — assuming Saunders gets his sixth year of eligibility approved, as he should.
The recent rule changes have really diminished the impact of kickoff returners, so it’s possible that Ohio State might consider rotating guys in with Wilson if there’s not a big gap between him and speedy threats like Williams and Cooper or an elusive weapon like McCall. Saunders is essentially the security blanket thanks to his sure hands, and there’s a case to be made that given Ohio State’s explosive offense, all it really needs is to make a fair catch and secure possession on every punt.
There will also still be occasional opportunities to return kickoffs, and that’s probably a spot that has McCall’s name on it with Williams angling for his shot alongside him. Return touchdowns are certainly tougher to come by given the current rules and the risk/reward with touchbacks allowing teams to start on the 25-yard line, but there will still be chances for the Buckeyes to break a drought there that extends all the way back to 2010.
Ohio State has more than enough talent on hand to break through. And if this group can’t get it done, there might really be some dark magic at play.
Entire article: https://lettermenrow.com/ohio-state...yes-football-special-teams-return-candidates/
Re: Eventually the touchdown drought, the muffed kicks and the roller-coaster of emotions on special teams is going to end for Ohio State.
Hopefully it ends this season......
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There is nothing more mystifying than how arguably the most talented roster in the country continues to struggle to find a consistency returning punts and kickoffs.
Eventually the touchdown drought, the muffed kicks and the roller-coaster of emotions on special teams is going to end for Ohio State. It’s almost unthinkable that it has lasted this long for the Buckeyes, but there’s been some sort of hex on that position that zaps the powers of game-changers at their normal positions the second they drop back to catch a kickoff or punt.
This should be the season that spell is broken. And if a pool of candidates that includes Garrett Wilson, Demario McCall, Mookie Cooper, Jameson Williams and potentially C.J. Saunders can’t break through, maybe the Buckeyes really are doomed.
So, who is going to light the fuse? The smart money is on Wilson grabbing hold of the punt-return gig and never letting it go. Heading into his sophomore year, Ohio State is already making it clear by tweaking his role at wide receiver to put him in the slot that it wants the football in his hands as frequently as possible. And it proved last year that it was willing to endure a couple growing pains with him at punt returner, viewing that as an investment in his future by letting him keep learning with live reps.
Wilson is a truly special athlete, and it feels inevitable that he’ll bust loose on a punt — and potentially snap the touchdown skid that dates all the way back to 2014.
“We have confidence in Garrett,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “He’s certainly a young player who made a mistake, and he’s going to learn from it and move on. But he’s going to practice better and again a lot of it goes back to how you practice, if you’re going to practice intently and do a good job with that, then, yeah, we’re going to have confidence because we see it in practice.
“If for whatever reason we don’t see it in practice, then we have to make a decision.”
Odds are Wilson is going to make it an easy call for the Buckeyes, though there will be competition from those other four wideouts — assuming Saunders gets his sixth year of eligibility approved, as he should.
The recent rule changes have really diminished the impact of kickoff returners, so it’s possible that Ohio State might consider rotating guys in with Wilson if there’s not a big gap between him and speedy threats like Williams and Cooper or an elusive weapon like McCall. Saunders is essentially the security blanket thanks to his sure hands, and there’s a case to be made that given Ohio State’s explosive offense, all it really needs is to make a fair catch and secure possession on every punt.
There will also still be occasional opportunities to return kickoffs, and that’s probably a spot that has McCall’s name on it with Williams angling for his shot alongside him. Return touchdowns are certainly tougher to come by given the current rules and the risk/reward with touchbacks allowing teams to start on the 25-yard line, but there will still be chances for the Buckeyes to break a drought there that extends all the way back to 2010.
Ohio State has more than enough talent on hand to break through. And if this group can’t get it done, there might really be some dark magic at play.
Entire article: https://lettermenrow.com/ohio-state...yes-football-special-teams-return-candidates/
Re: Eventually the touchdown drought, the muffed kicks and the roller-coaster of emotions on special teams is going to end for Ohio State.
Hopefully it ends this season......
NCAA Will Give Spring Sports Athletes Another Year Of Eligibility
- By ScriptOhio
- Other OSU and Professional Sports
- 15 Replies
NCAA WILL GIVE SPRING SPORTS ATHLETES ANOTHER YEAR OF ELIGIBILITY, STILL CONSIDERING WHETHER TO DO SO FOR WINTER SPORTS ATHLETES
After their seasons all came to an abrupt end on Thursday, spring sports athletes are in line to receive another year of eligibility from the NCAA.
The NCAA announced Friday that it has “agreed that eligibility relief is appropriate for all Division I student-athletes who participated in spring sports.”
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The Athletic's Nicole Auerbach and Stadium's Jeff Goodman both reported on Friday that the NCAA's Division I Council Coordinator Committee is still considering whether to do the same for winter sports athletes whose seasons also ended early on Thursday, when the NCAA announced it was canceling all of its championship competitions for the remainder of the academic year.
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Athletes in spring sports – which include baseball and softball, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s lacrosse, rowing, women’s soccer, men’s and women’s tennis, track and field and men’s volleyball at Ohio State – did not even get the opportunity to play a full regular season after Thursday's announcements by the NCAA and by the Big Ten which announced that all competitions for conference schools would be canceled for the remainder of the academic year.
For winter sports athletes, that decision could be more complicated, as some had already concluded their seasons before Thursday while most – including men's and women's basketball, men's and women's hockey and wrestling – had completed their regular seasons, though their postseasons were cut short.
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/coll...bility-still-considering-whether-to-do-so-for
After their seasons all came to an abrupt end on Thursday, spring sports athletes are in line to receive another year of eligibility from the NCAA.
The NCAA announced Friday that it has “agreed that eligibility relief is appropriate for all Division I student-athletes who participated in spring sports.”
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The Athletic's Nicole Auerbach and Stadium's Jeff Goodman both reported on Friday that the NCAA's Division I Council Coordinator Committee is still considering whether to do the same for winter sports athletes whose seasons also ended early on Thursday, when the NCAA announced it was canceling all of its championship competitions for the remainder of the academic year.
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Athletes in spring sports – which include baseball and softball, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s lacrosse, rowing, women’s soccer, men’s and women’s tennis, track and field and men’s volleyball at Ohio State – did not even get the opportunity to play a full regular season after Thursday's announcements by the NCAA and by the Big Ten which announced that all competitions for conference schools would be canceled for the remainder of the academic year.
For winter sports athletes, that decision could be more complicated, as some had already concluded their seasons before Thursday while most – including men's and women's basketball, men's and women's hockey and wrestling – had completed their regular seasons, though their postseasons were cut short.
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/coll...bility-still-considering-whether-to-do-so-for
2021 OH DB Devonta Smith (Alabama Verbal)
- By HotMic
- Football Recruiting
- 68 Replies
247 Profile
Rivals Profile
HUDL Profile
Cincinnati (OH) LaSalle High School
Defensive Back
6-0
185 lbs
Class of 2021
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Rivals Profile
HUDL Profile
Cincinnati (OH) LaSalle High School
Defensive Back
6-0
185 lbs
Class of 2021
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#19 The Ohio State University vs Purdue: Thursday, March 12 @ 6:30 PM, BTN
- By ScriptOhio
- Buckeye Basketball
- 5 Replies
Well, there is a B1G game today:
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Those who bought tickets for following games "should direct any ticket refund inquiries to the original point of purchase," the conference said.
Update: Both Minnesota (game 1) and Indiana (game 2) advance.
Game 1: No. 12 Minnesota 74, No. 13 Northwestern 57
Game 2: No. 11 Indiana 89, No. 14 Nebraska 64
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Those who bought tickets for following games "should direct any ticket refund inquiries to the original point of purchase," the conference said.
Update: Both Minnesota (game 1) and Indiana (game 2) advance.
Game 1: No. 12 Minnesota 74, No. 13 Northwestern 57
Game 2: No. 11 Indiana 89, No. 14 Nebraska 64
MotS&G Buckeye Draft Profiles: Chase Young
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- 0 Replies
Buckeye Draft Profiles: Chase Young
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
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Jp Waldron/CSM/Shutterstock
Chase Young, a stud at defensive end has left it all on the field during his time at Ohio State. He has been a force his entire career as a Buckeye, but the 2019 season was a great send off season for him before stepping foot into the pro ranks. Young and his team finished the season with a 13-1 record, but he did a ton of damage to opposing teams and their offensive aspirations. In an era where stats are recorded and scrutinized, Young’s individual stats are impressive. He finished 2019 with 16.5 total sacks (14 solo/5 assisted sacks), averaging 1.38 sacks per game which led the nation. He also led the nation in forced fumbles with 6 for the year. With tackles for loss, he had 21 for the season and averaged 1.8 per game.
Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
Most draft experts are pegging him as a can’t miss prospect and the former Buckeye is projected as a Top-2 pick for this years NFL Draft. According to Sascha Paruk from SportsBettingDime, “there is no debate about who the first Buckeye off the board will be at the 2020 draft.” Adding, “Chase Young is the consensus best prospect in the class and will only fall from #1 because the Bengals have the #1 pick and need a franchise QB like Joe Burrow.” Paruk also speculated that “IF Chase Young doesn’t go second overall, it will be because Washington trades its pick to another QB-needy team, like the Dolphins or the Chargers.”
Mike Mulholland | MLive.com
For now, Chase Young is mocked to the Washington Redskins but with talks about potential trade down chatter, would make the 2020 NFL Draft more interesting. It makes sense from a re-building standpoint to stockpile picks to accelerate the entire process. The Redskins had a tough time this year finishing 3-13, but they have a few pieces in stock. Former Buckeyes, Dwayne Haskins might be their QB of the future and Terry McLaurin appear to be solid building blocks of the future. Their defense needs some help and Young makes sense, but Okudah does too with an aging Josh Norman. We will never know until Commissioner Goodell unveils the pick to make things official. The ball is in their court and the choice to make the pick or trade down is theirs alone. This draft will definitely be interesting and an exciting one.
Continue reading...
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
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Jp Waldron/CSM/Shutterstock
Chase Young, a stud at defensive end has left it all on the field during his time at Ohio State. He has been a force his entire career as a Buckeye, but the 2019 season was a great send off season for him before stepping foot into the pro ranks. Young and his team finished the season with a 13-1 record, but he did a ton of damage to opposing teams and their offensive aspirations. In an era where stats are recorded and scrutinized, Young’s individual stats are impressive. He finished 2019 with 16.5 total sacks (14 solo/5 assisted sacks), averaging 1.38 sacks per game which led the nation. He also led the nation in forced fumbles with 6 for the year. With tackles for loss, he had 21 for the season and averaged 1.8 per game.
Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
Most draft experts are pegging him as a can’t miss prospect and the former Buckeye is projected as a Top-2 pick for this years NFL Draft. According to Sascha Paruk from SportsBettingDime, “there is no debate about who the first Buckeye off the board will be at the 2020 draft.” Adding, “Chase Young is the consensus best prospect in the class and will only fall from #1 because the Bengals have the #1 pick and need a franchise QB like Joe Burrow.” Paruk also speculated that “IF Chase Young doesn’t go second overall, it will be because Washington trades its pick to another QB-needy team, like the Dolphins or the Chargers.”
Mike Mulholland | MLive.com
For now, Chase Young is mocked to the Washington Redskins but with talks about potential trade down chatter, would make the 2020 NFL Draft more interesting. It makes sense from a re-building standpoint to stockpile picks to accelerate the entire process. The Redskins had a tough time this year finishing 3-13, but they have a few pieces in stock. Former Buckeyes, Dwayne Haskins might be their QB of the future and Terry McLaurin appear to be solid building blocks of the future. Their defense needs some help and Young makes sense, but Okudah does too with an aging Josh Norman. We will never know until Commissioner Goodell unveils the pick to make things official. The ball is in their court and the choice to make the pick or trade down is theirs alone. This draft will definitely be interesting and an exciting one.
Continue reading...
MotS&G Recruiting Targets: Hits & Misses
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- 0 Replies
Recruiting Targets: Hits & Misses
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
In another long-awaited installment of the hits & misses content, I will be looking at the 2017 class which features a bunch of familiar names. This was the year where eventual stars would join the fold and what better time to do it than right now?
DeMatha High School’s own Chase Young. Credit: 24/7sports.com
Hit: Chase Young, WDE
When I spoke of a legendary class in terms of talent, the 2017 class was the tipping point when building depth and collecting talent. Defensive Ends were plentiful and most players at Ohio State had to wait their turn, but Young, the Buckeyes own predator took the same route the Bosa’s took to their rise to stardom. The slight wait was worth it and while he turned into the guy, the impact he made was by his talents along, but we have seen this before with lesser known or less heralded recruits.
Chase Young has declared for the NFL Draft this year and he is locked in to be a potential top-3 pick. He also might join two familiar faces in Haskins and McLaurin, but we will see how the draft process unfolds. It is unpredictable, but it has been worth seeing the development and the talent turn into stars and make an impact like Young.
Jeffrey Okudah in high school. Credit: Dallasnews.com
Hit: Jeffrey Okudah, CB
Like Young, Okudah also was highly recruited and he excelled after some time in the system. He was recruited and he sat and learned behind the likes of Marshon Lattimore and Denzel Ward, but the wait has been worth it as well. He essentially played it out and played himself into being a top-10 pick in this years draft. He was the shutdown corner that everyone avoided during games. He was one of three cornerbacks taken in the class, with Sheffield blossoming into a good player in the NFL and with Wade turning down the NFL for another shot at redemption.
Okudah has been preparing himself for years and he has maximized his talents. He left an everlasting impression and he should have passed-on some pointers to Wade and the younger BIA stablemates. His legacy has been fulfilled, even though it has left a year early.
Dobbins carrying the ball. Credit: Hudl.com
Hit: J.K. Dobbins, RB
And the hits keep coming, with J-K-All-Day being the third member of a stellar class to blossom into a full-fledged star in the Buckeyes offensive attack. In 2018, he shared the ball carrier duties with Mike Weber. He had over 1,000 yards that season, but he thought it was a failure. Fast forward to this past season, he reached his potential en route to breaking records and cementing himself and his legacy in Columbus. The added time and conditioning have been wonders and he surely plunged himself into uncharted territory being a top 3 running back.
Cass Tech’s own Donovan Peoples-Jones. Credit: Bleacherreport.com
Miss: Donovan Peoples-Jones
Now, let us get a couple of misses in the article, and this one comes from our most bitter rival, Michigan and a one-time Buckeyes lean, Donovan Peoples-Jones. The pipe line at Cass Tech was flourishing, but I have no clue what went wrong in his recruitment. It also was a miss, but the team has been stacking talent over the past two seasons and well into the 2021 season. Sure, he is a star returner and he was needed in an unproven class that has two 6-5 players in Jaylen Harris, Elijah Gardiner and a 6-3 playmaker in Trevon Grimes.
DPJ is now leaving for the NFL and he left 0-3 against the Buckeyes and he never really made an impact during The Game. He is a valuable player, but the older, more-experienced players have held the team together for the time being.
The Replacements: Fast forward to now, the two big-bodied players have yet to reach their potential and Grimes is returning to Florida for one last ride. There are a lot of factors to consider, injuries, lack of experience or playing time, but it takes time to build yourself. Prime example, Johnnie Dixon. Injuries have plagued him his first three years, but the last two were memorable and productive. You cannot close the books on them but Grimes is no longer on the team and the other two could still make some noise.
The last NSD I watched with a hilarious twist with Darnay Holmes’ UCLA decision. Credit: Larrybrownsports.com
Miss: Darnay Holmes, CB
Last miss would be the youtube sensation “decision” from cornerback Darnay Holmes. He spurned the Buckeyes to go to UCLA and his little buddy was not happy to say the least. I know it is based on their decision in the end, but this is funny and it is needed during recruiting. Separating myself from that has helped and I don’t think it is that serious anymore. This one really grinded my gears, but now its all water under the bridge. Now he has announced his intent to pursue his NFL dreams, but with the transfer portal, rumors have been flying about him coming to Ohio State to sharpen his skills. I doubt that’ll happen, but I have seen weird things happen since following anything College Football.
Replacements: To call Sheffield, Okudah and Wade the replacements is foul, but with Holmes slipping away, they stepped up big-time. I would not change anything with this class, and I am happy that we still have Wade for one more season. If Holmes does come full circle, cool, but if not, it’s fine. You cannot predict things, but things have turned out pretty well so we can’t complain.
Continue reading...
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
In another long-awaited installment of the hits & misses content, I will be looking at the 2017 class which features a bunch of familiar names. This was the year where eventual stars would join the fold and what better time to do it than right now?
DeMatha High School’s own Chase Young. Credit: 24/7sports.com
Hit: Chase Young, WDE
When I spoke of a legendary class in terms of talent, the 2017 class was the tipping point when building depth and collecting talent. Defensive Ends were plentiful and most players at Ohio State had to wait their turn, but Young, the Buckeyes own predator took the same route the Bosa’s took to their rise to stardom. The slight wait was worth it and while he turned into the guy, the impact he made was by his talents along, but we have seen this before with lesser known or less heralded recruits.
Chase Young has declared for the NFL Draft this year and he is locked in to be a potential top-3 pick. He also might join two familiar faces in Haskins and McLaurin, but we will see how the draft process unfolds. It is unpredictable, but it has been worth seeing the development and the talent turn into stars and make an impact like Young.
Jeffrey Okudah in high school. Credit: Dallasnews.com
Hit: Jeffrey Okudah, CB
Like Young, Okudah also was highly recruited and he excelled after some time in the system. He was recruited and he sat and learned behind the likes of Marshon Lattimore and Denzel Ward, but the wait has been worth it as well. He essentially played it out and played himself into being a top-10 pick in this years draft. He was the shutdown corner that everyone avoided during games. He was one of three cornerbacks taken in the class, with Sheffield blossoming into a good player in the NFL and with Wade turning down the NFL for another shot at redemption.
Okudah has been preparing himself for years and he has maximized his talents. He left an everlasting impression and he should have passed-on some pointers to Wade and the younger BIA stablemates. His legacy has been fulfilled, even though it has left a year early.
Dobbins carrying the ball. Credit: Hudl.com
Hit: J.K. Dobbins, RB
And the hits keep coming, with J-K-All-Day being the third member of a stellar class to blossom into a full-fledged star in the Buckeyes offensive attack. In 2018, he shared the ball carrier duties with Mike Weber. He had over 1,000 yards that season, but he thought it was a failure. Fast forward to this past season, he reached his potential en route to breaking records and cementing himself and his legacy in Columbus. The added time and conditioning have been wonders and he surely plunged himself into uncharted territory being a top 3 running back.
Cass Tech’s own Donovan Peoples-Jones. Credit: Bleacherreport.com
Miss: Donovan Peoples-Jones
Now, let us get a couple of misses in the article, and this one comes from our most bitter rival, Michigan and a one-time Buckeyes lean, Donovan Peoples-Jones. The pipe line at Cass Tech was flourishing, but I have no clue what went wrong in his recruitment. It also was a miss, but the team has been stacking talent over the past two seasons and well into the 2021 season. Sure, he is a star returner and he was needed in an unproven class that has two 6-5 players in Jaylen Harris, Elijah Gardiner and a 6-3 playmaker in Trevon Grimes.
DPJ is now leaving for the NFL and he left 0-3 against the Buckeyes and he never really made an impact during The Game. He is a valuable player, but the older, more-experienced players have held the team together for the time being.
The Replacements: Fast forward to now, the two big-bodied players have yet to reach their potential and Grimes is returning to Florida for one last ride. There are a lot of factors to consider, injuries, lack of experience or playing time, but it takes time to build yourself. Prime example, Johnnie Dixon. Injuries have plagued him his first three years, but the last two were memorable and productive. You cannot close the books on them but Grimes is no longer on the team and the other two could still make some noise.
The last NSD I watched with a hilarious twist with Darnay Holmes’ UCLA decision. Credit: Larrybrownsports.com
Miss: Darnay Holmes, CB
Last miss would be the youtube sensation “decision” from cornerback Darnay Holmes. He spurned the Buckeyes to go to UCLA and his little buddy was not happy to say the least. I know it is based on their decision in the end, but this is funny and it is needed during recruiting. Separating myself from that has helped and I don’t think it is that serious anymore. This one really grinded my gears, but now its all water under the bridge. Now he has announced his intent to pursue his NFL dreams, but with the transfer portal, rumors have been flying about him coming to Ohio State to sharpen his skills. I doubt that’ll happen, but I have seen weird things happen since following anything College Football.
Replacements: To call Sheffield, Okudah and Wade the replacements is foul, but with Holmes slipping away, they stepped up big-time. I would not change anything with this class, and I am happy that we still have Wade for one more season. If Holmes does come full circle, cool, but if not, it’s fine. You cannot predict things, but things have turned out pretty well so we can’t complain.
Continue reading...
MotS&G MOTSAG Roundtable: Ohio State Football 2019
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MOTSAG Roundtable: Ohio State Football 2019
Chris 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
What were your expectations of the 2019 season and how did they change by the end of the season and why were you right or wrong?
Scott – I expected a BIG title and a playoff berth. There was plenty of talent and with the defensive changes Day made I knew OSU would have a great season.
Jeremiah – My expectations are the same as the teams every year. Beat Michigan, Win the B1G East, Win the B1G CCG, and give yourself a chance to make the playoffs. The team met my expectations but the way they did it far exceeded them. To have a top 5 offense and defense never happens. Was a truly magical season.
Richard- I had a BIG title, another pair of gold pants, and a playoff berth. The end of the season was bittersweet, but the team met my expectations. I had a gut feeling about getting a title this year, but the team and the coaches performed well. Still a great season that Ryan Day will build on, even after the NFL exodus.
Chris – I had mild concerns about Justin Fields and Ryan Day for the season, but my biggest concern was how the defense would really improve given very little personnel change. I also believed they would still win against TTUN and have a shot at the B1G title when all was said and done! I was shown I had no reason to worry about the things that I did and this team became one of my all-time favorites .., ever!
At what point early in the season did you realize Justin Fields was a special football player and what was is best play/series of the season?
Scott – Cincinnati game. He was fantastic against a good team. He made it look easy.
Jeremiah – FAU for sure. 295 yards and 72% completion and 5 TDs. I knew we had somehing cooking.
Richard- FAU contest. Special and never rattled after going down 5-0. Kept the momentum going and he flashed the rest of the season after he became comfortable. The INT at the end of the season will plunge him into another level. We should all be excited for angry Fields/Day in 2020.
Chris – I am with Scott here, 20/25 224 and 2 TD’s passing and 9 carries for 42 yards and 2 more scores against a very good Cincy team.
The Buckeyes offense has been setting and breaking records that have been around for decades. What are some of the reasons they have been able to keep it up against some of the best defenses in America?
Scott – The offensive line played up to its capability and a mobile QB kept the defense honest.
Jeremiah – Limiting mistakes. When your QB has 3 INTs all season you can gain a ton of yards. When your WRs dont drop balls. When your OL doesnt have a false start every other play. OSU has stopped killing themselves and become extremely efficient.
Richard- Balance is the key to a successful offense and the Buckeyes have it in spades at every position. The Buckeyes are deep on offense and the line and the playmakers wore down opposing defenses as the game progressed. With a new RB, it could stall a bit, but once he gets that wiggle, back to the balanced offense.
Chris – This hasn’t just been a this year success story. Honestly, since Ryan Day has arrived the Buckeyes have been able to impose their running will on some of the best including Clemson. A big part of it’s scheme but a lot of it has to do with the front five on offense too. The Buckeyes have been enjoying some great success along the front since Stud took over.
Giving the defensive struggles of 2018, when and why were you convinced this was going to be the defense it was?
Scott – When Day cleaned house defensively. Boom!
Jeremiah – Deep down inside I never was. I know I am Mr. Positive but every game I kept waiting for this defense to have a Purdue or Iowa game and it never happened. Kudos to them.
Richard- Just the will to blow things up with the staff. That willingness from Day was a good sign for the future and it shows that he values production and accountability over relationships (even though he values relationships).
Chris – This is unanimous kinda. I think when Day cleaned house and took ownership himself in how they were approaching the players and what schemes to go with. Not throwing shade on past coaches(lacking talent) but knowing how to speak to the players and simplifying the coverage’s made a huge impact.
What player/players or coaches were responsible for the defensive turnaround? What was the biggest difference from last year to this year?
Scott – All the credit to Greg Mattson and Jeff Hafley for the scheme changes and of course having Chase Young didn’t hurt either.
Jeremiah – All of them. That said Al Washington had the biggest improvement on the defense. His LBers played great this year. They wont get the credit they deserve but Borland and Werner were really good this season.
Richard- Jeff Hafley and Greg Mattison. They worked well together and locked down the back seven. The Rushmen benefited from great DB/LB play.
Chris – Already mentioned above the coaching change and the simplification of coverage’s really helped. I also believe that Ryan Day has let the cat out of the bag about his say in the defense. Why I won’t be concerned in Silver Bullets in the future.
Knowing who’s returning and who’s not for the most part, what are the expectations of the 2020 version of Ohio State Football?
Scott – I expect to be preseason No. 1 based on the offensive players returning. While the defense takes some hits, they have been recruiting at a high level. B1G title and playoff berth should be on the radar.
Jeremiah – Beat Michigan, win the B1G East, Win the B1G CCG, and get in the playoffs.
Richard- Preseason top ¾ ranking for sure. The BIG bowls haven’t been good and I can see them getting slighted again to work their way back up the polls and rankings. Defense is not as stout, but they are a solid group with Riep, Brown and Proctor using their experiences to turn into dogs in the offseason. BIG title for sure and a playoff berth. Might be another good year with an ending we all want.
Chris – Pre-season #1 and a really pi$$ed off football team. The offense will set some new records just not the single season rushing one. Prediction of a national title in 2020.
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Chris 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
What were your expectations of the 2019 season and how did they change by the end of the season and why were you right or wrong?
Scott – I expected a BIG title and a playoff berth. There was plenty of talent and with the defensive changes Day made I knew OSU would have a great season.
Jeremiah – My expectations are the same as the teams every year. Beat Michigan, Win the B1G East, Win the B1G CCG, and give yourself a chance to make the playoffs. The team met my expectations but the way they did it far exceeded them. To have a top 5 offense and defense never happens. Was a truly magical season.
Richard- I had a BIG title, another pair of gold pants, and a playoff berth. The end of the season was bittersweet, but the team met my expectations. I had a gut feeling about getting a title this year, but the team and the coaches performed well. Still a great season that Ryan Day will build on, even after the NFL exodus.
Chris – I had mild concerns about Justin Fields and Ryan Day for the season, but my biggest concern was how the defense would really improve given very little personnel change. I also believed they would still win against TTUN and have a shot at the B1G title when all was said and done! I was shown I had no reason to worry about the things that I did and this team became one of my all-time favorites .., ever!
At what point early in the season did you realize Justin Fields was a special football player and what was is best play/series of the season?
Scott – Cincinnati game. He was fantastic against a good team. He made it look easy.
Jeremiah – FAU for sure. 295 yards and 72% completion and 5 TDs. I knew we had somehing cooking.
Richard- FAU contest. Special and never rattled after going down 5-0. Kept the momentum going and he flashed the rest of the season after he became comfortable. The INT at the end of the season will plunge him into another level. We should all be excited for angry Fields/Day in 2020.
Chris – I am with Scott here, 20/25 224 and 2 TD’s passing and 9 carries for 42 yards and 2 more scores against a very good Cincy team.
The Buckeyes offense has been setting and breaking records that have been around for decades. What are some of the reasons they have been able to keep it up against some of the best defenses in America?
Scott – The offensive line played up to its capability and a mobile QB kept the defense honest.
Jeremiah – Limiting mistakes. When your QB has 3 INTs all season you can gain a ton of yards. When your WRs dont drop balls. When your OL doesnt have a false start every other play. OSU has stopped killing themselves and become extremely efficient.
Richard- Balance is the key to a successful offense and the Buckeyes have it in spades at every position. The Buckeyes are deep on offense and the line and the playmakers wore down opposing defenses as the game progressed. With a new RB, it could stall a bit, but once he gets that wiggle, back to the balanced offense.
Chris – This hasn’t just been a this year success story. Honestly, since Ryan Day has arrived the Buckeyes have been able to impose their running will on some of the best including Clemson. A big part of it’s scheme but a lot of it has to do with the front five on offense too. The Buckeyes have been enjoying some great success along the front since Stud took over.
Giving the defensive struggles of 2018, when and why were you convinced this was going to be the defense it was?
Scott – When Day cleaned house defensively. Boom!
Jeremiah – Deep down inside I never was. I know I am Mr. Positive but every game I kept waiting for this defense to have a Purdue or Iowa game and it never happened. Kudos to them.
Richard- Just the will to blow things up with the staff. That willingness from Day was a good sign for the future and it shows that he values production and accountability over relationships (even though he values relationships).
Chris – This is unanimous kinda. I think when Day cleaned house and took ownership himself in how they were approaching the players and what schemes to go with. Not throwing shade on past coaches(lacking talent) but knowing how to speak to the players and simplifying the coverage’s made a huge impact.
What player/players or coaches were responsible for the defensive turnaround? What was the biggest difference from last year to this year?
Scott – All the credit to Greg Mattson and Jeff Hafley for the scheme changes and of course having Chase Young didn’t hurt either.
Jeremiah – All of them. That said Al Washington had the biggest improvement on the defense. His LBers played great this year. They wont get the credit they deserve but Borland and Werner were really good this season.
Richard- Jeff Hafley and Greg Mattison. They worked well together and locked down the back seven. The Rushmen benefited from great DB/LB play.
Chris – Already mentioned above the coaching change and the simplification of coverage’s really helped. I also believe that Ryan Day has let the cat out of the bag about his say in the defense. Why I won’t be concerned in Silver Bullets in the future.
Knowing who’s returning and who’s not for the most part, what are the expectations of the 2020 version of Ohio State Football?
Scott – I expect to be preseason No. 1 based on the offensive players returning. While the defense takes some hits, they have been recruiting at a high level. B1G title and playoff berth should be on the radar.
Jeremiah – Beat Michigan, win the B1G East, Win the B1G CCG, and get in the playoffs.
Richard- Preseason top ¾ ranking for sure. The BIG bowls haven’t been good and I can see them getting slighted again to work their way back up the polls and rankings. Defense is not as stout, but they are a solid group with Riep, Brown and Proctor using their experiences to turn into dogs in the offseason. BIG title for sure and a playoff berth. Might be another good year with an ending we all want.
Chris – Pre-season #1 and a really pi$$ed off football team. The offense will set some new records just not the single season rushing one. Prediction of a national title in 2020.
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MotS&G Thank You Buckeyes by Ben Van Ooyen
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Thank You Buckeyes by Ben Van Ooyen
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
Thank you Buckeyes
Thank you Seniors Damon Arnette, Jordan Fuller, Binjimen Victor, Jashon Cornell, Austin Mack, Rashod Berry, K.J. Hill, Malik Harrison, Davon Hamilton, Joshua Alabi, Robert Landers, Jonah Jackson, Brandon Bowen, and C.J. Saunders.
Thank you Juniors J.K. Dobbins, Chase Young and Jeffrey Okudah and Shaun Wade
Last night was a hard pill to swallow. I watched like the rest of you as the Buckeyes roared out to a nice 16-0 lead with the intensity that they played with all season. I watched as after that 16-0 lead the Buckeyes had a 3rd and 5 with a chance to get the ball back when Shaun Wade came on a blitz and lowered his body to sack Trevor Lawrence. The Buckeyes were going to get the ball back with around 5 minutes left while still keeping Clemson scoreless in the first half. That is when it all shifted. The call on the field of a sack and a 4th down punt got sent to the review booth to look at targeting. After a few minutes of deliberation with the review booth it was determined that Wade lowered his head and hit with the crown of his helmet while Lawrence ducked as he knew the sack was impending. Was it targeting? Some will say yes, and others will say no. I know that Wade did not go for that hit with the intent of targeting Trevor Lawrence. He had a clear sack and wanted to wrap up and make sure he took the 6’6” gunslinger to the ground. He accomplished that goal and got thrown out of the game because of it. There are pictures and videos out there of different angles and Chase Young getting a fist in the face during that same play, but nonetheless it was called and the game shifted. Clemson then took advantage of Amir Riep who came in for Wade getting a pass interference call and went down and punched in the touchdown.
The Buckeyes got the ball back and immediately went three and out, and Clemson got the ball back with all the momentum and broke off a big play. We hadn’t seen the big play go against this defense much this season, but Lawrence juked Josh Proctor and took it 67 yards to the house to make it 16-14 at the half.
Clemson would get the ball to start the half, riding a 14-0 close out to the first half. The Buckeyes were without one of their leaders on defense in Wade, and J.K. Dobbins was favoring his ankle and it looked likely he wouldn’t be able to continue the amazing first half he had. Speaking of people not being able to continue, I am not sure how a guy who is held out of the rest of the first half after he hit his head, is able to all of a sudden come back in the second half as if nothing happened. I’ve never had a concussion, but I am assuming that if the doctors keep you out as a precaution then you probably shouldn’t be on the field again.
The second half started and the Buckeyes forced the surging Tigers to go three and out giving the Buckeyes the ball with a chance to extend their slim margin. Master Teague was now the feature back as Dobbins worked on his ankle. The Buckeyes drove down to the 45 and were stopped forcing a punt by Drue Chrisman who knocked a pretty punt down to the 1.
The defense again came out and it looked like they were going to get themselves off the field and the Buckeyes would get the ball back in great field position. On 4th and 6, the punt unit for Clemson came out and Cameron Brown came off the edge on what looked like a punt block attempt. He didn’t make it there in time and ran into the kicker for Clemson who I might say did a pretty good job of grabbing onto Brown and making the hit look way worse than it was. If you watch the play again, you can see Brown slowing down and hitting the kicker, but to call that roughing seemed a bit much. Clemson keeps the ball, and marches down the field and takes their first lead at 21-16.
The Buckeyes thought they had taken the lead when a Lawrence pass to Justyn Ross was completed and Jeffery Okudah knocked the ball out after Ross took three to four steps with the ball. Jordan Fuller picked up the loose ball and took in the distance giving the Buckeyes an apparent 23-16 lead. The call on the field was a fumble and after another quick review it was determined that Ross never had possession of the football during the catch and it was determined to be an incomplete pass. Someone tweeted that if that catch had been in the endzone it would have been called a touchdown, and I don’t disagree. Another stomach punch to the Buckeyes late in the game.
After that punt, Justin Fields threw his second interception of the season. The Buckeyes quickly got the ball back with a little over a minute left in the 3rd quarter. Dobbins was back from his ankle injury, and the Buckeyes marched the ball down the field in a little under five minutes. Fields hit Olave with a beautiful pass on 4th and 1 and the Buckeyes again had the lead.
The Buckeyes forced Clemson to punt on their next possession and looked to be driving down the field again to make the lead two scores, but after getting stopped on 3rd and 5 for a one yard gain, Ryan Day punted and Chrisman knocked another one down inside the 10. Four plays later Travis Etienne was again in the endzone and the Buckeyes found themselves down 29-23 with 1:50 left on the clock.
Fields hit Dobbins for two quick passes to start the drive and then K.J. Hill for another to get the ball to the Clemson 40 with a little over a minute left. After another completion out of the backfield to Dobbins, Fields missed Mack and set up a 3rd down which he converted with his feet. 1:04 on the clock and the Buckeyes had the ball with a first down on the 31 yard line. Another run by Fields for three, and a timeout for the Buckeyes. The play call looked very similar to the 4th down play that was scored on earlier in the 4th, but Chris Olave broke off his route thinking that Fields was scrambling and the throw was intercepted by Clemson sealing the Fiesta Bowl in their favor.
The Buckeyes were the better team last night and probably deserved to win. I said it last night, and I will say it again, I am not going to say the officiating cost us the game as they had plenty of chances to score, but the amount of very judgemental calls certainly did not help either.
This Buckeye team ranks pretty high for me on a best team I’ve watched play in my lifetime scale. We dominated nearly every game from start to finish all year, and had three of the top six Heisman vote getters. Chase Young set records on defense, and J.K. set records on offense. I assume that next year we will see them suiting up on Sunday along with about 50 other Ohio State Buckeyes in the NFL. While we will be losing a lot of talent to the draft and graduation later this year, we are also bringing in a very highly regarded recruiting class next summer/fall.
The future is still bright at Ohio State.
Thank you Buckeyes!
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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
Thank you Buckeyes
Thank you Seniors Damon Arnette, Jordan Fuller, Binjimen Victor, Jashon Cornell, Austin Mack, Rashod Berry, K.J. Hill, Malik Harrison, Davon Hamilton, Joshua Alabi, Robert Landers, Jonah Jackson, Brandon Bowen, and C.J. Saunders.
Thank you Juniors J.K. Dobbins, Chase Young and Jeffrey Okudah and Shaun Wade
Last night was a hard pill to swallow. I watched like the rest of you as the Buckeyes roared out to a nice 16-0 lead with the intensity that they played with all season. I watched as after that 16-0 lead the Buckeyes had a 3rd and 5 with a chance to get the ball back when Shaun Wade came on a blitz and lowered his body to sack Trevor Lawrence. The Buckeyes were going to get the ball back with around 5 minutes left while still keeping Clemson scoreless in the first half. That is when it all shifted. The call on the field of a sack and a 4th down punt got sent to the review booth to look at targeting. After a few minutes of deliberation with the review booth it was determined that Wade lowered his head and hit with the crown of his helmet while Lawrence ducked as he knew the sack was impending. Was it targeting? Some will say yes, and others will say no. I know that Wade did not go for that hit with the intent of targeting Trevor Lawrence. He had a clear sack and wanted to wrap up and make sure he took the 6’6” gunslinger to the ground. He accomplished that goal and got thrown out of the game because of it. There are pictures and videos out there of different angles and Chase Young getting a fist in the face during that same play, but nonetheless it was called and the game shifted. Clemson then took advantage of Amir Riep who came in for Wade getting a pass interference call and went down and punched in the touchdown.
The Buckeyes got the ball back and immediately went three and out, and Clemson got the ball back with all the momentum and broke off a big play. We hadn’t seen the big play go against this defense much this season, but Lawrence juked Josh Proctor and took it 67 yards to the house to make it 16-14 at the half.
Clemson would get the ball to start the half, riding a 14-0 close out to the first half. The Buckeyes were without one of their leaders on defense in Wade, and J.K. Dobbins was favoring his ankle and it looked likely he wouldn’t be able to continue the amazing first half he had. Speaking of people not being able to continue, I am not sure how a guy who is held out of the rest of the first half after he hit his head, is able to all of a sudden come back in the second half as if nothing happened. I’ve never had a concussion, but I am assuming that if the doctors keep you out as a precaution then you probably shouldn’t be on the field again.
The second half started and the Buckeyes forced the surging Tigers to go three and out giving the Buckeyes the ball with a chance to extend their slim margin. Master Teague was now the feature back as Dobbins worked on his ankle. The Buckeyes drove down to the 45 and were stopped forcing a punt by Drue Chrisman who knocked a pretty punt down to the 1.
The defense again came out and it looked like they were going to get themselves off the field and the Buckeyes would get the ball back in great field position. On 4th and 6, the punt unit for Clemson came out and Cameron Brown came off the edge on what looked like a punt block attempt. He didn’t make it there in time and ran into the kicker for Clemson who I might say did a pretty good job of grabbing onto Brown and making the hit look way worse than it was. If you watch the play again, you can see Brown slowing down and hitting the kicker, but to call that roughing seemed a bit much. Clemson keeps the ball, and marches down the field and takes their first lead at 21-16.
The Buckeyes thought they had taken the lead when a Lawrence pass to Justyn Ross was completed and Jeffery Okudah knocked the ball out after Ross took three to four steps with the ball. Jordan Fuller picked up the loose ball and took in the distance giving the Buckeyes an apparent 23-16 lead. The call on the field was a fumble and after another quick review it was determined that Ross never had possession of the football during the catch and it was determined to be an incomplete pass. Someone tweeted that if that catch had been in the endzone it would have been called a touchdown, and I don’t disagree. Another stomach punch to the Buckeyes late in the game.
After that punt, Justin Fields threw his second interception of the season. The Buckeyes quickly got the ball back with a little over a minute left in the 3rd quarter. Dobbins was back from his ankle injury, and the Buckeyes marched the ball down the field in a little under five minutes. Fields hit Olave with a beautiful pass on 4th and 1 and the Buckeyes again had the lead.
The Buckeyes forced Clemson to punt on their next possession and looked to be driving down the field again to make the lead two scores, but after getting stopped on 3rd and 5 for a one yard gain, Ryan Day punted and Chrisman knocked another one down inside the 10. Four plays later Travis Etienne was again in the endzone and the Buckeyes found themselves down 29-23 with 1:50 left on the clock.
Fields hit Dobbins for two quick passes to start the drive and then K.J. Hill for another to get the ball to the Clemson 40 with a little over a minute left. After another completion out of the backfield to Dobbins, Fields missed Mack and set up a 3rd down which he converted with his feet. 1:04 on the clock and the Buckeyes had the ball with a first down on the 31 yard line. Another run by Fields for three, and a timeout for the Buckeyes. The play call looked very similar to the 4th down play that was scored on earlier in the 4th, but Chris Olave broke off his route thinking that Fields was scrambling and the throw was intercepted by Clemson sealing the Fiesta Bowl in their favor.
The Buckeyes were the better team last night and probably deserved to win. I said it last night, and I will say it again, I am not going to say the officiating cost us the game as they had plenty of chances to score, but the amount of very judgemental calls certainly did not help either.
This Buckeye team ranks pretty high for me on a best team I’ve watched play in my lifetime scale. We dominated nearly every game from start to finish all year, and had three of the top six Heisman vote getters. Chase Young set records on defense, and J.K. set records on offense. I assume that next year we will see them suiting up on Sunday along with about 50 other Ohio State Buckeyes in the NFL. While we will be losing a lot of talent to the draft and graduation later this year, we are also bringing in a very highly regarded recruiting class next summer/fall.
The future is still bright at Ohio State.
Thank you Buckeyes!
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MotS&G College Football Playoffs: The Semi-Final in the Desert
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College Football Playoffs: The Semi-Final in the Desert
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
Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl. Credit: Collegefootballnews.com
We are nearly 24 hours away and a collision course between the #2 and the #3 team in the nation. The battle in the desert will pit Ohio State against the reigning champion Clemson against each other with a championship game up for grabs.
This contest seems like must-watch tv and the stakes and pride are also up for grabs. For the Buckeyes, they are 0-3 all time versus Clemson with the two losses being fresh in the minds of Buckeyes fans across the nation.
The 2014 Orange Bowl ended in a Clemson comeback and the Buckeyes fell 40-35. In 2016 at the same venue in Glendale, the JT Barrett led team failed to score in a 31-0 shutout that hurt their credibility. The Big Ten has failed to score a single point in the last two appearances with the last time a point was scored, the Buckeyes won it all.
This is a game of matchups and the coaching should be the determining factor in the end, but the build-up has been quite one-sided. Every analysts and every talking head on sports outlets are giving the Buckeyes no shot to dethrone Clemson. ESPN has been killing the Buckeyes and FOX has went to bat for them, but opinions are only opinions. It is up to the Buckeyes to take care of business and shock the world once again.
I will be taking a look into the x-factors and matchups that make this game so exciting. There are many twists and turns, and there are many storylines that intertwine and make this matchup a great one.
Two former five-star quarterbacks, Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence. Credit: 10tv.COM
Battle of the Five Star Quarterbacks
The Quarterback is arguably one of the most important positions in football and both of these teams have studs at the position. Fields and Lawrence took high school rankings and excelled. Lawrence has stuck with Clemson and being one of the stars on the offense. Fields committed to Georgia, played sparingly and ended up developing into a star at Ohio State.
Their paths will cross once again with an appearance in the title game up for grabs. Lawrence has been off, but he has carved up teams even though he turns the ball over. Fields has been the focal point, but he has caught a few licks and he is somewhat hobbled for the contest against Clemson. 80-85% is low but I don’t think he will be running a ton, but you never know.
This matchup will come down to the coaching and the overall team mentality when dealing with turnovers and executing. Both barely turn the ball over, but the body language will tell the story by the end of the game tomorrow.
Clemson Offensive Line walking out to the field. Credit: Rubbingtherock.com
Trench Warfare
For the most part, Dabo Sweeney’s pitch of Urban Meyer retiring came to fruition. He was the top rated player in the state of Ohio and he slipped through and spurned the hometown team to play for the Clemson Tigers. Fast forward two seasons, fate seemed to play a part and it pitted the teams against each other.
This o-line has been stingy with sacks and through the regular season they have allowed 1 sack per game and they are tied for 5th in the nation. For comparison purposes, Ohio State is ranked 94th in the nation allowing 2.38 sacks per game. To be fair, the competition and caliber of defenses they have faced is questionable, but hey, stats are stats and they could use the numerous slights as an added edge to disrupt this offense.
The Buckeyes and Chase Young thrive on pressuring the quarterback and ruining offensive game plans and they are tied for best in the nation along with Pitt and SMU with 51 sacks through 12 games, averaging 3.92 per game. Clemson is 22nd in the nation with 37 and 2.85 per game. Whoever wins in the trenches will win this contest. I sense a motivated Buckeyes team, especially at the line of scrimmage. I could be wrong, but I can feel that crazy look in the players’ eyes.
Dobbins breaking through the Wolverine defense on a career day. Credit: Jsonline.com
Underdog Mentality
Dobbins is third in the nation in rushing behind Chubba Hubbard of Oklahoma State and Jonathan Taylor of Wisconsin and it seems like he is the third wheel in this contest. Building up to the game, he used the “most disrespected team in the nation” interview and he might go off like Zeke did in 2015. As I stated earlier, this game, the build up and the hype–it is eerily similar to the 2015 run with no one giving the Buckeyes a shot.
Channel after channel, analyst after analyst–same saying. “Clemson will defeat the Buckeyes with a minimum margin of 14 points–easily”. The Buckeyes as you know overcame a slow start and won it all that year. This team has the horses to do the same thing, but the balance cannot be understated.
The Dobbins and Fields combination has worked and he will be leaned upon heavily with Fields being dinged up with a knee injury. So expect a heavy dose of Dobbins and passing.
Ohio State DB’s celebrating a turnover. Credit: Saturdaytradition.com
Best In America
In what was one of the most head-scratching moments of the season, ESPN said to pick on Shaun Wade cause he is the weak man in the DB rotation. What?! A projected first round pick seems to get picked-on as the slot corner, but he also holds his own when called upon. His pops knows of the slander and I am positive that bulletin board material is posted, but that is just one out of the two starters who weren’t mentioned. The other, Damon Arnette is the enforcer in the DB room and he might feel some way after not even being mentioned. Okudah will also come with the juice because he will fight for his brothers. It’ll be a battle, but it will be a fun contest of wills.
Jordan Fuller will look to be the eraser with the Linebackers in between. The seams have been the a concern and with the new scheme, we have seen less splash plays at the beginning of the season, but they’ve been coming more frequently the last three games. Is that concern? Maybe or maybe not, but they will be ready. Freiermuth really had a decent game and his size and speed were a factor, but this group of receivers should be a good challenge. Five stars against five stars will be something great to watch.
Matchups To Watch
I am honestly torn in this one. I want revenge, like 31-0 type of revenge, but I don’t know. The hype and the snubs won out in the end and I have a feeling Ohio State is the team peaking at the right time. The narratives and the disrespect will be the tipping point.
The Ohio State Buckeyes defeat the Clemson Tigers 45-35
#GoBucks
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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
Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl. Credit: Collegefootballnews.com
We are nearly 24 hours away and a collision course between the #2 and the #3 team in the nation. The battle in the desert will pit Ohio State against the reigning champion Clemson against each other with a championship game up for grabs.
This contest seems like must-watch tv and the stakes and pride are also up for grabs. For the Buckeyes, they are 0-3 all time versus Clemson with the two losses being fresh in the minds of Buckeyes fans across the nation.
The 2014 Orange Bowl ended in a Clemson comeback and the Buckeyes fell 40-35. In 2016 at the same venue in Glendale, the JT Barrett led team failed to score in a 31-0 shutout that hurt their credibility. The Big Ten has failed to score a single point in the last two appearances with the last time a point was scored, the Buckeyes won it all.
This is a game of matchups and the coaching should be the determining factor in the end, but the build-up has been quite one-sided. Every analysts and every talking head on sports outlets are giving the Buckeyes no shot to dethrone Clemson. ESPN has been killing the Buckeyes and FOX has went to bat for them, but opinions are only opinions. It is up to the Buckeyes to take care of business and shock the world once again.
I will be taking a look into the x-factors and matchups that make this game so exciting. There are many twists and turns, and there are many storylines that intertwine and make this matchup a great one.
Two former five-star quarterbacks, Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence. Credit: 10tv.COM
Battle of the Five Star Quarterbacks
The Quarterback is arguably one of the most important positions in football and both of these teams have studs at the position. Fields and Lawrence took high school rankings and excelled. Lawrence has stuck with Clemson and being one of the stars on the offense. Fields committed to Georgia, played sparingly and ended up developing into a star at Ohio State.
Their paths will cross once again with an appearance in the title game up for grabs. Lawrence has been off, but he has carved up teams even though he turns the ball over. Fields has been the focal point, but he has caught a few licks and he is somewhat hobbled for the contest against Clemson. 80-85% is low but I don’t think he will be running a ton, but you never know.
This matchup will come down to the coaching and the overall team mentality when dealing with turnovers and executing. Both barely turn the ball over, but the body language will tell the story by the end of the game tomorrow.
Clemson Offensive Line walking out to the field. Credit: Rubbingtherock.com
Trench Warfare
For the most part, Dabo Sweeney’s pitch of Urban Meyer retiring came to fruition. He was the top rated player in the state of Ohio and he slipped through and spurned the hometown team to play for the Clemson Tigers. Fast forward two seasons, fate seemed to play a part and it pitted the teams against each other.
This o-line has been stingy with sacks and through the regular season they have allowed 1 sack per game and they are tied for 5th in the nation. For comparison purposes, Ohio State is ranked 94th in the nation allowing 2.38 sacks per game. To be fair, the competition and caliber of defenses they have faced is questionable, but hey, stats are stats and they could use the numerous slights as an added edge to disrupt this offense.
The Buckeyes and Chase Young thrive on pressuring the quarterback and ruining offensive game plans and they are tied for best in the nation along with Pitt and SMU with 51 sacks through 12 games, averaging 3.92 per game. Clemson is 22nd in the nation with 37 and 2.85 per game. Whoever wins in the trenches will win this contest. I sense a motivated Buckeyes team, especially at the line of scrimmage. I could be wrong, but I can feel that crazy look in the players’ eyes.
Dobbins breaking through the Wolverine defense on a career day. Credit: Jsonline.com
Underdog Mentality
Dobbins is third in the nation in rushing behind Chubba Hubbard of Oklahoma State and Jonathan Taylor of Wisconsin and it seems like he is the third wheel in this contest. Building up to the game, he used the “most disrespected team in the nation” interview and he might go off like Zeke did in 2015. As I stated earlier, this game, the build up and the hype–it is eerily similar to the 2015 run with no one giving the Buckeyes a shot.
Channel after channel, analyst after analyst–same saying. “Clemson will defeat the Buckeyes with a minimum margin of 14 points–easily”. The Buckeyes as you know overcame a slow start and won it all that year. This team has the horses to do the same thing, but the balance cannot be understated.
The Dobbins and Fields combination has worked and he will be leaned upon heavily with Fields being dinged up with a knee injury. So expect a heavy dose of Dobbins and passing.
Ohio State DB’s celebrating a turnover. Credit: Saturdaytradition.com
Best In America
In what was one of the most head-scratching moments of the season, ESPN said to pick on Shaun Wade cause he is the weak man in the DB rotation. What?! A projected first round pick seems to get picked-on as the slot corner, but he also holds his own when called upon. His pops knows of the slander and I am positive that bulletin board material is posted, but that is just one out of the two starters who weren’t mentioned. The other, Damon Arnette is the enforcer in the DB room and he might feel some way after not even being mentioned. Okudah will also come with the juice because he will fight for his brothers. It’ll be a battle, but it will be a fun contest of wills.
Jordan Fuller will look to be the eraser with the Linebackers in between. The seams have been the a concern and with the new scheme, we have seen less splash plays at the beginning of the season, but they’ve been coming more frequently the last three games. Is that concern? Maybe or maybe not, but they will be ready. Freiermuth really had a decent game and his size and speed were a factor, but this group of receivers should be a good challenge. Five stars against five stars will be something great to watch.
Matchups To Watch
- Fields vs Lawrence
- The Trench Battle
- Clemson WR’s vs Ohio State CB’s
- Dobbins vs Etienne
- Young vs Carman
- Ohio State LB’s vs Clemson TE’s
- Coach Day’s Lack of Experience vs Coach Sweeney’s Experience
I am honestly torn in this one. I want revenge, like 31-0 type of revenge, but I don’t know. The hype and the snubs won out in the end and I have a feeling Ohio State is the team peaking at the right time. The narratives and the disrespect will be the tipping point.
The Ohio State Buckeyes defeat the Clemson Tigers 45-35
#GoBucks
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LGHL Ohio State hangs tight at No. 19 in the final AP Poll of the season
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Ohio State hangs tight at No. 19 in the final AP Poll of the 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 Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State will head into the Big Ten Tournament as the fourth-highest ranked Big Ten team.
After a 1-1 week that saw the Ohio State Buckeyes both beat and be beaten by a ranked team, AP voters decided to leave OSU right where they are in the AP Poll at No. 19.
Thursday evening’s win over the Illinois Fighting Illini was E.J. Liddell’s coming-out party. The freshman forward, who was a two-time Mr. Basketball winner in the state of Illinois in high school, scored 17 points to go along with 11 rebounds in Ohio State’s 71-63 comeback win. That win deflated Illinois’ chances for a Big Ten title.
On Sunday, Chris Holtmann’s squad had an opportunity to do the same in East Lansing. The Spartans were looking to lay stake to part of the conference championship, and they did just that by beating the Buckeyes 80-69. Cassius Winston scored 27 points, as the short-handed Buckeyes didn’t have the (healthy) manpower to defend all of Sparty’s weapons.
Kansas once again reigned supreme in the poll, followed by Gonzaga, Dayton, Florida State (up from No. 7 last week), and Baylor.
Five other B1G teams appeared in the top 25 this week. Big Ten co-champions Michigan State, Maryland, and Wisconsin sit at 9, 12, and 18 respectively. Illinois, who also went 1-1 last week, jumped from No. 23 to No. 21. Iowa just snuck into the poll at No. 25, down 7 spots from last week after going 0-2 last week.
Check out the full poll below:
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State will head into the Big Ten Tournament as the fourth-highest ranked Big Ten team.
After a 1-1 week that saw the Ohio State Buckeyes both beat and be beaten by a ranked team, AP voters decided to leave OSU right where they are in the AP Poll at No. 19.
Thursday evening’s win over the Illinois Fighting Illini was E.J. Liddell’s coming-out party. The freshman forward, who was a two-time Mr. Basketball winner in the state of Illinois in high school, scored 17 points to go along with 11 rebounds in Ohio State’s 71-63 comeback win. That win deflated Illinois’ chances for a Big Ten title.
On Sunday, Chris Holtmann’s squad had an opportunity to do the same in East Lansing. The Spartans were looking to lay stake to part of the conference championship, and they did just that by beating the Buckeyes 80-69. Cassius Winston scored 27 points, as the short-handed Buckeyes didn’t have the (healthy) manpower to defend all of Sparty’s weapons.
Kansas once again reigned supreme in the poll, followed by Gonzaga, Dayton, Florida State (up from No. 7 last week), and Baylor.
Five other B1G teams appeared in the top 25 this week. Big Ten co-champions Michigan State, Maryland, and Wisconsin sit at 9, 12, and 18 respectively. Illinois, who also went 1-1 last week, jumped from No. 23 to No. 21. Iowa just snuck into the poll at No. 25, down 7 spots from last week after going 0-2 last week.
Check out the full poll below:
Continue reading...
