MOTSAG Pretend March Madness: West Region, Third Round
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



With the Sweet 16 completed only the Elite 8 remain. This is the part of the tournament where teams ride the momentum that they have built up in order to advance to the Final Four. In the West Region, only Gonzaga, Yale, BYU and San Diego State remain.

The top two seeds in the bracket remain on a collision course to advance and the lone double-digit seed Yale at #12 continues their storybook run into history. Can they upset the #1 Gonzaga Bulldogs? Or will they fall to a more talented and superior team? In the second matchup #2 San Diego State will face #6 BYU in order to advance further. Both teams are geared up and ready for the upcoming challenges.

First up, #1 Gonzaga versus #12 Yale. This contest was a surprising one as Yale comes out with their hair on fire. Eric Monroe leads the team in assists as he continues to find his shooters as they stay hot in the first half. Petrusev and Wooolridge weather the storm as they fight their way back just before halftime. With solid defense they go into the half down by six points with a little bit of momentum.

Going into the second half Gonzaga caught fire and never looked back. Yale did all they could to keep it close, but a barrage of three’s later, the other Bulldogs found themselves on the ropes. Monroe led a valiant charge, but the defense clamped on him and forced him into turnover after turnover. Atkinson was also wiped out of the game plan whenever he touched the ball, a second defender would double him and force a pass under duress. Gonzaga advances 71-64.

Next up, #2 San Diego State faces off against BYU and this was a game of the back and fourth variety! Jake Toolson led the charge with TJ Haws feeding him in both, space and in traffic. Turning great defense into offense, they got a little bit ahead of the slow starting Aztec team. In a game of runs, Malachi Flynn and Yanni Wetzell ignited the offense with a little defense to offense to ease make it a contest. In a barrage of well-timed blocks and timely three pointers they overtake the lead momentarily. Haws playing the role of the spoiler broke the 10-0 run with a feed to Toolson in the paint for an and-one play.

Momentum began to swell in BYU’s favor until a misplaced pass came on the heels of BYU’s 7-0 run where Flynn took it coast-to-coast for a layup the other way. Another crucial possession for BYU ended up becoming another key error on a charging call that went against them with the game being close at 56-57 with them having the lead. Wetzell inbounded the ball during the waning minutes of the contest. The clock is in the final 24 seconds of the game and Flynn brings it down. 5…4…3…a well timed pick on Haws and a clutch three from Flynn… San Diego State advances 59-57 in a heartbreaker for BYU.




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Ohio State mixing it up with 2022 four-star RB
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Four-star RB Kaytron Allen | via @kaytron_allen on Twitter
The Buckeyes plan to Zoom with the IMG product on Thursday

With a number of former Buckeyes off to the NFL, the roster building process at Ohio State continues. The recruiting game never stops — even for a pandemic — and although many restrictions apply, there are few who have adapted to the changes better than the staff in Columbus.

OSU is continuing to put together its 2021 class that ranks No. 1 in the country, but have also began putting in a ton of work in the 2022 cycle. Ryan Day and his colleagues are making sure the Buckeyes are one of the most talented teams in the nation for years to come, and that begins with recruiting.

Keeping tabs on 2022 RB


Tony Alford caught a lot of flack in the 2020 cycle when the team missed out on all of its top targets at the running back position. So what did he do to make up for it? Well, just haul in two of the nation’s top RBs in 2021 in five-star TreVeyon Henderson and four-star Evan Pryor — both ranked in the top-five at their position.

While the results in this current cycle for Alford are certainly impressive, it doesn’t mean he can sit back and rest on his laurels. Recruiting at a position as important as RB must be constant, and the team must always have high-caliber talent and depth in the backfield. Luckily, he and the staff are doing some early heavy lifting in the 2022 class.

Four-star RB Kaytron Allen spoke with the Buckeyes on Monday. Allen, currently listed as the No. 14 RB and No. 110 player overall in the cycle, already holds 15 scholarship offers, including one from Ohio State. Alford and the staff are clearly keeping a close eye on the IMG Academy product, and the two parties have plans to hop on Zoom together this Thursday, according to Bill Kurelic of 247Sports.

Allen is one of seven running backs already to receive an offer from Ohio State in the 2022 class. It is unclear how much mutual interest currently exists between he and the program, but with the pipeline the Buckeyes have built between themselves and the Florida prep school, they likely have an early leg up on the competition.

The best of the rest


It’s tough to ask for a lot more from Ohio State’s 2021 class, but when you've done this well this early on, you can start to get a little picky. The Buckeyes have a whopping 17 commits in the class, including three consensus five-star recruits and 12 guys in the top 108 nationally. That being said, there are some obvious guys still on OSU’s roster that should be top priorities moving forward.

As Jeremy Birmingham of Lettermen Row laid out, two of the biggest pieces at this point are five-star DT J.T. Tuimoloau and five-star OT JC Latham. Tuimoloau is one of two huge recruits out of the state of Washington that Ohio State is currently involved with — the other being five-star WR Emeka Egbuka. As the nation’s No. 1 recruit in the 247Sports rankings, Tuimoloau would be a massive addition to fill a need at defensive tackle.

Latham is the other top priority, as the nation’s No. 1 OT and No. 3 recruit overall is seemingly trending towards the Buckeyes as is. With Thayer Munford on the way out and other guys looking at upcoming draft eligibility, OSU would love to add another incredibly talented offensive tackle to the fold.

While Ohio State would obviously love to land all three of these five-star recruits, which isn’t out of the question by any means, Egbuka comes in third in this trio given the Buckeyes’ depth at wide receiver. That being said, the nation’s No. 1 WR has been trending toward OSU as of late, garnering 92 percent of the 12 currently submitted Crystal Ball predictions.

Quick Hits

• Michigan was able to secure a commitment from an Ohio wide receiver on Monday, as three-star prospect Markus Allen chose to continue his playing career with the Wolverines. The No. 20 player from the Buckeye State, and the No. 83 WR in the country, chose UM over his 29 other offers, which included programs like Cincinnati, Michigan State, Purdue and Wisconsin. Allen did not have an offer from Ohio State.

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Buckeye Bits: Chase Young favored to win NFL DROY, Kyle Young talks rehab from home, more
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
All the latest Ohio State news from around the beat and beyond.

Now a few days removed from the NFL Draft, the sports world returns to its unfortunate barren state. As we near the summer months, better times appear to be on the horizon — or at the very least some nicer weather. There is still hope that sports will return in the near future, albeit likely without fans in attendance, but anything is better than nothing. During times like these, all we can can do is try to remain positive.

On a brighter note, Ohio State athletics are still hot in the news. Former players are getting acclimated to their new NFL teams, current players in both basketball and football continue to prep for their upcoming seasons, and everyone is looking to maintain the focus in a period of Facetime and Zoom calls. Let’s take a look at all the news around the Buckeye beat.

From around Land-Grant Holy Land...

• ICYMI: Yesterday’s Buckeye Bits
  (Tia Johnston, LGHL)

Yesterday’s news roundup was full of NFL Draft reactions, including those singing the praise of what Ohio State has been able to do in terms of churning out NFL talent and which Buckeyes are primed to be first round picks in next year’s draft.

• OSU could be in for another BOOMing week
  (Dan Hessler, LGHL)

Twitter is always the land of speculation and overreaction, however in the football recruiting world, smoke will usually lead you to fire. A top Ohio State target hinted that a commitment could be on the way, and it should spell good news for the Buckeyes.

• 24 Club: Edwin Sweetland
  (Jim Baird, LGHL)

Continuing our series looking back at all 24 previous Ohio State head coaches, this week we discuss Edwin Sweetland, who led his Buckeye team to their first ever score against the Michigan Wolverines.

• ICYMI: Can Ohio State’s UDFAs make it happen in the NFL?
  (Gene Ross, LGHL)

Going undrafted doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the road for a career in professional football, but it does make life a bit harder. Which UDFA Buckeyes have the best chance at success at the next level?

• How Ohio State’s second/third round picks fit with their NFL teams
  (Tia Johnston, LGHL)

Obviously all the first round picks are destined for starting jobs in the league, but what about all the Buckeyes taken in day two? Tia breaks down each player’s position on their new roster and how they fit with the team’s plans.

From around the gridiron...

• Way-too-early 2021 NFL Mock Draft: First round predictions
  (Charles Power, 247Sports)

If you thought the end of the 2020 NFL Draft meant the end of mock draft szn, think again. There have been a flood of very early 2021 mock drafts to hit the internet in the past few days, and the latest by 247Sports’ Charles Power has four Buckeyes being taken in the first round. The highest overall pick was, unsurprisingly, Justin Fields, going No. 3 overall to the Carolina Panthers.

• Buckeyes top-ranked 2021 class still has major needs
  (Birm, Lettermen Row)

Ohio State has dominated the recruiting game in 2021 thus far, but that doesn’t mean they can just sit back and relax. There are still a number of very important targets still on the board, including a pair of five-star recruits from Washington and another in Florida.

• Chase Young favored to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
  (Nathan Baird, Cleveland.com)

I know, I know. BIG shocker here. The best player in the draft is favored to win NFL DROY. Former Buckeyes are certainly not new to this award, as an Ohio State product has taken home the honor in three of the last four seasons. Young is the favorite at 2/1, and Okudah has the fifth-best odds at 16/1.

• Michigan football players work out in shadow of Ohio Stadium
  (Kevin Harrish, Eleven Warriors)

For the first time in the last decade, a Michigan Wolverine did something productive in Columbus. Redshirt freshman linebacker Joey Velazquez and sophomore tight end Erick All Jr. decided to train on the Lincoln Turf fields on Ohio State’s campus, clearly wishing they played football at a school that actually won.

• Predicting Big Ten win totals: Ohio State leads again in 2020
  (Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports)

Fornelli took on the daunting task of predicting the outcome of every single Big Ten matchup this coming season, and has Ohio State leading the pack at 11-1. The lone loss coming on the road at Penn State, the Buckeyes are predicted to beat every other team on their schedule. Fornelli has both Michigan and Penn State finishing 9-3, with the Wolverines losing to Washington, Minnesota and OSU and the Nittany Lions falling to VT, UM and Nebraska.

From around the hardwood...


Ohio State forward Kyle Young got on video call with BTN’s Andy Katz to discuss his current situation. The two talked about Young’s injury rehab, how he prepares for the upcoming season from home, and what he thinks about the Buckeyes’ roster in 2020.

• Update on the recruitment of Malaki Branham
  (Steve Helwagen, 247Sports)

Ohio State is still very much in the mix for 2021 shooting guard Malaki Branham. The nation's No. 4 SG, Branham hails out of St. Vincent-St. Mary, a school you may recognize (duh) as the former high school of one Lebron James. Xavier and Louisville are fighting for the 6-foot-4 guard themselves, but the Buckeyes are currently the team to beat according to Helwagen.

From everywhere else...


Ohio governor Mike DeWine has done a tremendous job handling the COVID-19 pandemic, and as a result the state will slowly begin its re-opening process next week. Retail stores will be allowed to open their doors on May 12, and though masks will not be mandated for customers, they are strongly recommended.

Wear a mask. Keep you and your loved ones safe. There is literally no reason not to.


We’ve had to adapt to this new virtual way of life, but we know we’re all in this together.


The good people over at Threes, one of the many local bars at Ohio State, have put together a virtual bar crawl for the seniors that are missing out on the annual event. The time lapse video makes stops at each of the bars that would usually be involved, with some kind messages from the miscellaneous staffs along the way.


Former Ohio State linebacker Malik Harrison appears to have found his new number in the pros, moving up one spot from his college number of 39 to his new No. 40 with the Baltimore Ravens.

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What Dobbins, Hamilton, Jackson, Harrison bring to their respective NFL teams
Tia Johnston via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images
Ohio State’s second and third-rounders are set to make massive impacts for their new teams.

Ten Ohio State Buckeyes heard their names called by Roger Goodell during the 2020 NFL Draft, while five were picked up by teams as undrafted free agents.

It’s a pretty safe bet that Chase Young, Jeff Okudah and Damon Arnette— the three Buckeyes who were picked up in the first round— will win the starting job right off the bat. I wrote about how they’ll each make an impact on their respective defenses, here.

But once we get into the second and third rounds, it’s a little unclearer how badly teams actually need the players they draft. (Re: Philadelphia drafts a quarterback in the second round). In other words, these players may have to compete for the starting job, or may only make the roster for depth-related reasons.

However, it’s looking like the Ohio State second and third-rounders landed in just the right spots— for teams who would be foolish not to start them in the season opener. Here’s how each of those guys will impact their respective teams who were lucky enough to snag them when they did.

J.K. Dobbins

Pick: No. 55

Team: Baltimore Ravens

Photo by Amal Saeed—The Lantern | Edit by Gene Ross—LGHL

It was pretty surprising to see Dobbins go this late in the draft as the fifth running back off the board, considering many had mocked him as a late first, early second-rounder. The junior running back finished his last season at Ohio State with 2,003 yards rushing—a school record— and 21 touchdowns, along with 247 yards receiving and two touchdown receptions.


But the question is, why did the Ravens — who set the NFL’s single-season rushing record in 2019 — use a second-round pick on a running back?

The team signed running back Mark Ingram to a contract in the spring of 2019 and then picked up RB Justice Hill in the fourth-round of the 2019 draft a month later. Ingram carried the ball 202 times last season, Gus Edwards carried 133 times, quarterback Lamar Jackson rushed the ball 176 times and Hill had 58—producing a total of 3,296 rushing yards.

As Andrew Gillis of NBC Sports wrote, sure, the team would probably like to cut down on Jackson’s 176 carries, but Ingram, Edwards, and Hill are more than capable of taking the load off their quarterback.

However, if you look a little closer, Ingram just turned 30 (which is like 80 in running back years) and Edwards will become a free agent next offseason.

You don’t draft a running back in the second round to have him warm the bench. They’ll likely use Dobbins to take the load off of both Jackson and Ingram, which isn’t great news for Edwards or Hill’s chances at making the 53-man roster come training camp, according to Gillis.

“Dobbins’ addition likely means the introduction of more rotation in the backfield, as well as the potential for two-back sets that don’t include fullback Patrick Ricard,” Gillis wrote.

If Dobbins wins the starting job in 2021, the Ravens may even release Ingram, saving them $5 million against the cap.

All in all, Dobbins was a wise choice for Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta, who couldn’t believe Dobbins was still available at pick No. 55.

“We’re a team that likes to run the football. Having running backs is really, really important,” DeCosta said. “This was a guy that’s, in my opinion, one of the very best in college football this year. He’s going to be a dangerous player for us and give us the depth to do what we like to do.”

DaVon Hamilton

Pick: No. 73

Team: Jacksonville Jaguars

Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

As our Gene Ross wrote, “while guys like Young get all the glory off the edge, it is players like Hamilton charged with doing the dirty work up the middle...Defensive tackles don’t usually stuff the stat sheet, mostly tasked with stuffing the run up the middle and applying pressure to the pocket. While Hamilton excelled at both of these, he also showed flashes as a pass-rusher, actually finishing second on the team in 2019 with six sacks.”


So, how will the Jags utilize their new 6-foot-4, 310-pound interior lineman?

“Getting someone who can control the line of scrimmage and keep the linebackers clean is pivotal in a team’s ability to stop the run, something the Jaguars struggle mightily with last season,” wrote Demetrius Harvey of Big Cat Country.

Enter: DaVon Hamilton

“He is a big guy,” Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone said. “We think he is going to get a lot better even though he is really good right now. You can see him on the move. He has such great strength at the holding point. I think he is going to really help us on the inside.”

Jaguars Director of College Scouting Mark Ellenz said the Jaguars see Hamilton as more than a run-stuffer, but that that’s unquestionably his strongest attribute. The Jaguars entered the draft focused on improving their subpar run defense, John Oehser of Jaguars.com wrote.

“He’s able to get upfield and penetrate,” Ellenz said. “He can also push the pocket. We don’t see him as a one-dimensional guy, but the run-stuffing part of his game is primary.”

Jonah Jackson

Pick: No. 75

Team: Detroit Lions

Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire—Getty Images | Edit by Gene Ross— LGHL

Before transferring to Ohio State for the 2019 season, Jonah Jackson attended Rutgers, where he played center and right guard from 2016 to 2018. Despite being named a team captain in 2018, and being a part of an O-line ranked No. 19 in the nation, he decided to transfer.

As the starting left guard at Ohio State for just one season, he earned third-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten honors. His pass protection was second to none, and with his experience playing both guard positions as well as center, it’s easy to see why the Lions traded up 10 spots to select Jackson.


“Going into this offseason, it was painfully clear that the right guard position was the biggest liability on Detroit’s roster. On top of that, their situation at left guard wasn’t ideal either,” writes Max Gerber of Lions Wire. “Drafting Jackson, who can play either guard spot and center, can be plugged into any of those roles, and start for Detroit.”

However, Jackson does have some competition for the job at right guard. He’ll be expected to compete for the spot with veterans Kenny Wiggins and Oday Aboushi, although “both players are career reserves who aren’t really long-term answers for a team that keeps saying its serious about rebuilding its wayward running game,” wrote Kyle Meinke of MLive.com.

The Lions return their starting center Frank Ragnow along with the left side of their line. They also added right tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai in free agency. So, the multifaceted Jackson will more than likely find his home at right guard in Detroit.

Malik Harrison

Pick: No. 98

Team: Baltimore Ravens

Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

Joining Dobbins in Baltimore is third-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten linebacker Malik Harrison, who served as Ohio State’s best linebacker for the last few seasons. Harrison led the team with 75 total tackles, and racked up 16.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and four pass breakups.


“After losing C.J. Mosley to free agency a year ago and Josh Bynes and Patrick Onwuasor this offseason, Baltimore needed to rebuild its inside linebacker corps from the ground up. This is where Patrick Queen and Malik Harrison come in,” writes Dustin Cox of Baltimore Beatdown.

Almost exactly 24 hours after drafting LSU star linebacker Patrick Queen in the first round with the 28th pick, the Ravens took Harrison in the third. According to Cox, Queen and Harrison are bound to be “Baltimore’s next deadly duo.”

With Queen’s speed and Harrison’s physicality, the Ravens have got themselves a two-headed monster.

“The two linebackers should feed off of each other and quickly make an impact behind the behemoth of a defensive line that the Ravens have built up front with Brandon Williams, Calais Campbell, and Derek Wolfe,” Cox wrote. “Queen and Harrison will go together like peanut butter and jelly for years to come in Baltimore.”

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta attributes Harrison’s NFL-readiness to the success of Ohio State’s program and experience in big games, saying he can “really get acclimated quickly” and that he “looks like an NFL linebacker.”

“Malik is different,” DeCosta said. “He’s a big guy. You don’t get a lot of big linebackers anymore in college football. He’s almost 250 pounds, he has long arms, he takes guys on really, really well, he’s really strong in the box, and he can run.”

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24 Club: Edwin Sweetland’s Buckeyes were the first OSU team to ever score against Michigan
Jim Baird via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

1898 Cornell Rowing team photo of Sweetland
Sweetland played under Pop Warner and coached the first Buckeye squad to ever score against the Wolverines.

There have been 24 head coaches in the history of Ohio State football. Each has a story and legacy. This offseason, Land-Grant Holy Land’s new series 24 Club will help you get to know the coaches from past and present who built the program. Today we look at Edwin Sweetland, whose team became the first-ever OSU squad to score against Michigan.


Name: Edwin Sweetland
Seasons Coached: Two (1904-1905)
Overall Record: 14-7-2
Where Does He Rank in the 24 Club?
Overall Wins: Tied No. 16 out of 24 OSU Coaches
Winning Percentage: No. 17 out of 24 OSU Coaches


OSU football was moving up in the world. As members of the Ohio Athletic Conference, the Buckeyes now lined up against the best teams in Ohio. The football program looked a lot different entering the 1904 season than it did just a couple years earlier. John Eckstorm took over as OSU head coach in 1899 after two back to back losing years. Then, OSU turned a corner — rolling off five-straight winning seasons under Eckstorm and his successor Perry Hale.

Edwin Sweetland stepped into the top job next. Sweetland had already learned from some of the game’s best — he was coached by Pop Warner as a tackle at Cornell.

The Lantern
Ohio State head Edwin Sweetland’s first game — a 34-0 victory over Otterbein — recapped in the September 28, 1904 edition of The Lantern.

Sweetland was walking into a tough situation. OSU’s schedule for the 1904 season was one of the most challenging the program had seen in its 15-year history. It included home tilts against national powers like Michigan and the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, as well as road trips to Indiana and the always pesky Oberlin. Sweetland was a quiet presence and quickly won the respect of the players as they prepped for the season. A Sept. 21, 1904 edition of The Lantern took in the scene as Sweetland prepared the Buckeyes for opening day:


At first acquaintance (Sweetland) impresses one as a thorough gentleman, and as the acquaintance ripens the impression increases. On the field he is quiet, but forceful, wasting few words and making each one count. He does not believe that personal abuse is the best plan of getting work out of his men, but that quiet instruction is the only correct way for a gentleman to deal with gentlemen. Sweetland’s genial personality cannot fail to have a great effect on the work of the team.



OSU finished the 1904 season 6-5. What was the highlight of the year? The Buckeyes scored against Michigan to take a 6-5 lead in the second half. It was the first time any Buckeye team had scored against the Wolverines. Ever. Michigan had outscored the Buckeyes 177-0 in the five previous meetings. Even so, it was a moral victory — the Wolverines would run off 26 unanswered and win 31-6. OSU fared better in season two under Sweetland, finishing 8-2-2 in 1905. Amid a strong campaign, they fell to Michigan 40-0 — thereby returning to the tradition of Ohio State teams being shut out by the Wolverines.

Under Sweetland, OSU continued to establish itself as one of the best teams in Ohio. The Buckeyes now regularly played and beat their peers in the Ohio Athletic Conference, finishing second in 1904 and 1905. When it came to playing up against competition — Michigan or even Indiana — OSU didn’t yet have what it took to spring the upset.

But winning was now a habit. The Buckeyes seemed on the verge of something special. It was time to take the next step — not only winning, but winning championships.

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Ohio State could be in for another BOOMing week
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Five-star offensive tackle JC Latham | Andrew Ivins, 247Sports
The nation’s top offensive tackle could be nearing his decision, which should be good news for the Buckeyes

The last few months have been kind to Ohio State’s football program in terms of recruiting. The Buckeyes 2021 class has vaulted to the top of the class rankings, and to be frank, no other program is even close to Ohio State’s level. And this was all the case before the 2020 NFL Draft, which saw a handful of Buckeyes successfully make the transition to professional ball, including the top three picks all being on Ohio State’s roster at one point.

Giving OSU even more ammunition doesn’t even feel fair at this point. However, that is a problem for every other team. The Buckeyes are hoping the weekend’s success will help them win the remaining recruiting battles they are facing — one of which could be coming to an end soon.

Five-star OT target JC Latham (Bradenton, FL/IMG Academy) posted a somewhat cryptic tweet Monday morning, and it could be good news for the Buckeyes.


Now it needs to be stated up front, nowhere in Latham’s tweet does he say he is going to be announcing his decision, let alone when. However, in college football recruiting, where there is smoke, there is usually fire.

Latham has long been associated with the Ohio State program, and as of recent, the Buckeyes have become the overwhelming favorite to earn his commitment. The 247Sports Crystal Ball Predictions all favor the Buckeyes, including the most highly respected recruiting analysts. Currently, all 11 CBs for Latham are for OSU, including lead expert Bill Kurelic and 247Sports director of football recruiting Steve Wiltfong.

But again, there are no certainties in college football recruiting. However, if Latham is going to be making his decision soon, it would come as a big shock if the Buckeyes were not the selection. That is not to say there is a lack of competition for Latham though. Back in January, the offensive lineman released a top ten of Ohio State, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, Penn State, Texas A&M, Florida State and Miami. Since then, the Buckeyes have done a tremendous job of separating themselves from the field.

Latham would make for a terrific addition alongside already Ohio State OL verbal commits Donovan Jackson and Ben Christman. Rated as a five-star prospect in 247Sports’ own rankings, he currently stands as the No. 1 offensive tackle in the nation, and the No. 3 player in the class overall.

Quick Hits:

• Four-star OT target David Davidkov committed to Big Ten foe Iowa over Ohio State and others on Monday. The Buckeyes had looked to be a long shot candidate in the recruitment of the nation’s No. 18 OT, with the race really coming down to Michigan and the Hawkeyes.

• Ohio State 2021 safety target and Florida decommit Kamar Wilcoxson has once again spurned the Buckeyes in favor of an SEC team, this time choosing Tennessee. With OSU holding five verbal commits from defensive backs in this class already, the room is starting to get a bit crowded. Wilcoxson seemed to be high on Ohio State, but it could have become a numbers game.

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Liberty Christian (Lynchburg, VA)
Ht: 6'6''
Wt: 290 lbs
Class: 2022 (High School)

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The 2021 NFL Draft will be the 86th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible players. The draft is scheduled to be held from April 29 - May 1, 2021. It will be held in Cleveland, Ohio

This is an updated version of something I have been working on for a while.

The idea is to cram as much info onto one table as possible. The downside, of course, is that it can be difficult to interpret. There is a key on the right hand side (you may need to scroll) that explains the line under each recruits name. Ignore the gray info in the column on the far left, I just use that to build the totals in red at the end of Offense, Defense and Special Teams. The third line is the players home state.

This is not a phone friendly table.

This is all based on the recruiting info from 247 in a way that should allow us both to follow recruiting classes and see what kind of talent is on the roster at any given time. (Of course, this presupposes that recruiting ratings are more accurate than we all know they are - but so it goes.) Thus players in each class are color coded (the key to the colors is on right side of table as well). I can't promise that the rankings for 2021 will be accurate since 247 keeps changing them. I will do a final update after signing day.

What I think is a cool feature is that I have added "early departures" at the bottom of the table so we can follow each class completely (these are only for the past four recruiting classes). At the end of this season I also plan to create a new table for the "true" (i.e. 4th year) seniors (2017 class). From this I can begin to build an ongoing set of data that gives a complete picture of each class. (Not sure if I will go back and do the same for earlier classes.)

Clearly, it is still a work in progress. I am adding first names, but don't plan to do that for players earlier than the 2021 recruits since it is a pain in the ass. I will also be adding jersey numbers once the fall roster comes out. And if the COVID lock down continues long enough I may add the 4 digit numerical rating. Then I will do the whole thing over again for TSUN so we can make fun of them in a more punctilious fashion.

Just my ideas, but I want it to be useful to those who like to play with this kind of stuff. So let me hear your thoughts (there is a volume adjustment at the base of the amygdala). And corrections are always welcome.

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Did you know there is an American football league in Japan? Turns out it's been around since 1971 - who knew?

There are even some American college football players who end up there. Go figure. Here's the 2019 Japan Bowl, played in the Tokyo Dome.

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Beaumont (TX) West Brook High School

Defensive Back
6-0
187 lbs
Class of 2022

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So. You get to work inside your home during the pandemic. Should you wear the same attire at home as you do to work to maintain your professionalism?

Do you need to wear pants? How about going naked?

Anybody else on BP into these things? I bought a Crawler last year on impulse. Didn't mess with it too much, but since moving into our new house, which is in a new development, meaning lots of construction/empty lots/dirt hills, I've been playing with it more with my girls. It's an entry-level type, so now that I'm enjoying it more, wanted something with a little more capability. Will pass that one to the girls after picking this up today...the Traxxas TRX-4 1979 Chevy Blazer K5...

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Grosse Pointe (MI) Grosse Pointe South High School

Defensive Back
6-3
190 lbs
Class of 2022


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Strongsville HS (Strongsville, OH)
Ht: 6'6''
Wt: 310 lbs
Class: 2022 (High School)

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01. Jyaire Brown, DB, West Chester (OH) Lakota West; 6'0’’ 165lbs - committed on 04/22/2020

02. Tegra Tshabola, OL, West Chester (OH) Lakota West; 6'6’’ 290lbs - committed on 04/23/2020

03. C.J. Hicks, ATH, Kettering (OH) Archbishop Alter; 6’4” 210lbs - committed on 05/01/2020

04. Gabe Powers, LB, Marysville (OH) Marysville; 6'4" 220 lbs - committed on 08/01/2020

05. Dasan McCullough, ATH, Overland Park (KS) Blue Valley North; 6’4” 210 lbs - committed on 08/18/2020

05. Bennett Christian, TE, Acworth (GA) Allatoona ; 6’5” 225 lbs - committed on 09/01/2020

06. Benji Gosnell, TE, Pilot Mountain (NC) East Surry; 6’3” 223 lbs - committed on 11/04/2020

06. Quinn Ewers, QB, Southlake (TX) Southlake Carroll; 6’3” 195 lbs - committed on 11/19/2020 (reclassified to Class of 2021; enrolled in August 2021)

06. Caleb Burton, WR, Del Valle (TX) Del Valle; 6’0” 165 lbs - committed on 11/24/2020

08. Jaheim Singletary, DB, Jacksonville (FL) Robert E Lee; 6’1” 170 lbs - committed on 01/02/2021

07. Kyion Grayes, WR, Chandler (AZ) Chandler; 6’1” 170 lbs - committed on 02/28/2021

08. Kye Stokes, ATH, Seffner (FL) Armwood; 6’2” 185 lbs - committed on 05/02/2021

09. Ryan Turner, CB, Hollywood (FL) Chaminade-Madonna Prep; 6’0” 180 lbs - committed on 05/04/2021

10. Kaleb Brown, WR, Chicago (IL) St. Rita; 5’11” 177 lbs - committed on 06/07/2021

11. Dallan Hayden, RB, Memphis (TN) Christian Brothers; 5’11” 192 lbs - committed on 06/22/2021

12. Terrance Brooks, CB, Little Elm (TX) Little Elm; 5’11” 190 lbs - committed on 06/30/2021

12. Kojo Antwi, WR, Suwanee (GA) Lambert; 6’1” 180 lbs - committed on 07/05/2021

13. George Fitzpatrick, OL, Englewood (CO) Cherry Creek; 6’6” 285 lbs - committed on 07/09/2021

14. Kenyatta Jackson, DL, Hollywood (FL) Chaminade-Madonna; 6'4" 215 lbs - committed on October 19, 2021

15. Avery Henry, OL, St. Clairsville (OH) St. Clairsville; 6'6" 305 lbs - committed on October 20, 2021

16. Alex "Sonny" Styles, ATH, Pickerington (OH) Central; 6'4" 215 lbs - committed on November 13, 2021

17. Devin Brown, QB, Draper (UT) Corner Canyon; 6'3" 189 lbs - committed on December 1, 2021

18. Caden Curry, DL, Greenwood (IN) Center Grove; 6'5" 250 lbs - committed on December 14, 2021

19. DeaMonte Trayanum, LB, Arizona State; 5'11" 220 lbs - transferred on December 25, 2021

20. Omari Abor, DE, Duncanville (TX) Duncanville; 6'4" 240 lbs - committed on January 2, 2022

21. Carson Hinzman, OL, Hammond (WI) St. Croix Central; 6'4" 280 lbs - committed on January 4, 2022

22. Tanner McCalister, DB, Oklahoma State; 5'11" 200 lbs - transferred on January 5, 2022

23. Hero Kanu, DL, Rancho Santa Margarita (CA) Santa Magarita Catholic; 6'5" 293 lbs - committed on January 8, 2022

24. Mason Maggs, QB, Dublin (OH) Coffman; 6'3" 210 lbs - committed on January 29, 2022 (preferred walk-on)

25. Jaylon Stoker, LB, Cincinnati (OH) Princeton; 6'0" 210 lbs - committed on January 31, 2022 (preferred walk-on)

26. Brenten "Inky" Jones, ATH, Steubenville (OH) Steubenville; 6'3" 188 lbs - committed on January 31, 2022 (preferred walk-on)

27. Colin Kaufmann, DB, Avon (OH) Avon; 5'11" 185 lbs - committed on January 31, 2022 (preferred walk-on)

28. Blaize Exline, WR, Salem (OH) Salem; 6'0" 175 lbs - committed on February 28, 2022 (preferred walk-on)

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FORMER OHIO STATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR JIM JONES DIES AT 83



Former Ohio State athletic director Jim Jones died Wednesday at his home in Bonita Springs, Florida.

Jones, who worked in Ohio State's athletic department for 27 years and was the Buckeyes' athletic director from 1987-94, was 83 years old.

After starting his career at Ohio State in 1965 as a physical education instructor, Jones joined Ohio State's athletic department in 1967 as an academic advisor for the football team. He became an assistant athletic director in 1970 and was promoted to associate athletic director in 1977, then succeeded Rick Bay in 1987 to become the sixth athletic director in Ohio State history.

Jones retired in 1994 after seven years leading the Ohio State athletic department. He received the James J. Corbett Memorial Award in 2013 from the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, for which he was a past president. In 2018, Ohio State's Varsity O Alumni Society created the Jim Jones Career Achievement Award, which honors a former male Ohio State athlete who has “contributed to the honor and fame of The Ohio State University” through his work in his career.

“Jim Jones had a significant and positive impact on my life,” current athletic director Gene Smith said in a statement. “I will miss him greatly. He had a commitment to diversity and made a tremendous contribution to the growth of Ohio State athletics. Sheila and I share our condolences to Linda and his family.”

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Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...-state-athletic-director-jim-jones-dies-at-83

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Central HS (Traverse City, MI)
Ht: 6'3''
Wt: 205 lbs
Class: 2022 (High School)

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Blue Valley North HS (Overland Park, KS)
Transfer to: Bloomington South HS (Bloomington, IN)

Ht: 6'4''
Wt: 210 lbs
Class: 2022 (High School)

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Next contest sessions will be:

June 25, 2020 - 7 pm ET - Final Week of Contest

Each portion of the contest should have 5 questions, and last for 30-45 minutes.

They will be done one at a time until the correct answer is received. After an incorrect answer, a poster must wait 2 minutes (time between the posts' timestamps) before trying to answer the same question.

Times for future contest will be subject to revision, based on feedback received via PMs.

This thread will be on ongoing thread that will ask questions about college football, and reward the poster with the correct answer. I am establishing some rules for this thread, in order for it to have some order.

Rules:

1. I will try to 'activate' this thread each Thursday until further notice. I will open it for replies just before I post the first question in each session.

2. Only BB73 can ask the trivia questions in this thread. I may 'close' this thread when the contest is not in operation.

3. Each poster may only attempt to answer each question once every 2 minutes. Subsequent answers within the 3-minute period (for that question by that poster) will be deemed non-responsive. Once a post is made, please don't edit it or delete it. I will edit your answer to let you know if it's not correct. You will need to refresh your screen to see this.

4. The poster with the first correct answer, according to these rules, will be quoted and liked by me. The winner of the contest will receive v$25,000.

5. This thread should only be used for the purpose of attempting to answer the questions. All discussion regarding the questions, the answers, the format of the contest, etc., should be sent to me via PM.

6. A history of the posters with the correct answers will be maintained in the second post of this thread.

7. My decision regarding the correctness of the answers is final. If you have a question or dispute regarding a particular answer, PM me, and I will answer you. If I make a mistake, it will be admitted publicly.

8. After several weeks, this contest will end, and an overall winner will be declared.

I am trying to have the 'winner' be someone that knows the answer without guessing and without looking it up. That's why the questions are scheduled, and will be structured in a way that makes it difficult to guess the correct answer. But guessing and looking it up are allowed, you just only get one attempt per question every 3 minutes.

Here is a sample of the type of question that will be asked.

What is the total of the number of Heismans won by Archie Griffin and the total number of tOSU football victories over Notre Dame?

Most questions will not be that simple, but they are not intended to be ridiculously difficult, either. I will try to ask questions for which some people, but not most people, know the answers. If you weren't aware that the correct answer to the sample question was 6, you'll struggle with the questions.

The questions will sometimes involve more than 1 number, and may require simple math to be performed. That is done to make it more difficult to guess the correct answer.

Here is a link to the previous years' threads. ScriptOhio won the first two, mross34 won in '08, generaladm won in 2009, and gracelhink won in 2011.

bp.trivia.2006

bp.trivia.2007

bp.trivia.2008

bp.trivia.2009

bp.trivia.2011

No contest existed in 2010, and none since 2011.

its been gone for quite a while, but it will be back this Thursday.

And you have to guess what I'm talking about.