-
New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.
Threads
LGHL Ohio State 4-star safety target sets commitment date
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State 4-star safety target sets commitment date
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Four-star safety Lathan Ransom lists Ohio State in his top three and plans to announce his decision in two weeks on his birthday.
Ohio State recruiting has been on fire the past two weeks, and with The Opening Finals beginning Monday, we think the momentum won’t slow down this week.
Case in point, we learned early Monday afternoon that one of Ohio State’s biggest remaining priorities included the Buckeyes in his final three schools and plans to make his announcement in two weeks, on his birthday.
Four-star safety Lathan Ransom (Tucson, AZ / Salpointe Catholic) spoke with Tom Loy of CBS Sports recently and said that Ohio State was one of his final three schools as well as Texas and Notre Dame.
Ransom is one of the best defensive prospects in this years recruiting class. The 247Sports Composite Rankings have him listed as the No. 4 safety and the No. 76 overall prospect.
The blue-chip safety recruit last visited Ohio State on June 21 and the Buckeyes are viewed as the overwhelming favorites to land his commitment. The 247Sports Crystal Ball Predictions favor Ohio State with 93 percent of the 15 projections made.
Adding to Ohio State’s chances at landing Ransom is that he is taking part in The Opening Finals this week alongside multiple Buckeye verbal commits, including recent Ohio State four-star cornerback pledge Clark Phillips. The two have already been spotted chatting.
Clark Phillips and Lathan Ransom also warming up together and chatting.
— Marc Givler (@MarcGivlerBG) July 1, 2019
The Buckeyes are quietly building an impressive secondary haul in this year’s recruiting class. Along with Phillips, the Buckeyes hold a verbal commit from four-star safety Lejond Cavazos. If Ohio State is able to add Ransom to that group, a positional group that was once viewed as a weakness in this class could become a strength.
Ohio State center target could announce this week
Continuing to prove that Ohio State recruiting will continue its hot streak in recruiting this week, the Buckeyes could have a BOOM-ing Independence Day with some fireworks of their own. (Sorry I had to)
Three-star center prospect Josh Fryar took to Twitter Monday to say he will be making a big announcement this Thursday. And while this doesn’t mean he will making his official decision this week, it certainly puts him on commitment watch.
If Thursday is the day he will be making the big decision, Ohio State is the likely choice. The Buckeyes hold the majority of the 247Sports Crystal Ball Predictions with 91 percent of the 11 selections made. Also, he is coming off of an official visit at the University on June 21, which saw the Buckeyes play host to a plethora of talents for its new annual Backyard Bash and Barbecue.
Fryar holds offers from the likes of Ohio State, Penn State, Indiana, Purdue and Oregon and his play on the field outweighs his recruiting ranking, as is proved by his offer sheet.
Elias Ricks to Ohio State not over yet
Five-star LSU CB commit Elias Ricks has long been connected to Ohio State even after he made a verbal pledge to the Tigers in Baton Rouge.
His relationship with Ohio State, as well as his recruitment as a whole, has been a roller coaster ride filled with highs and lows. There have been multiple occasions in his recruitment, at all different stages of his recruitment, where it looked like Ohio State would be the school he signed his name to play for in the early signing period.
The talks of him and Columbus died down but lately have taken life again now the The Opening Finals have began and Ohio State verbal commits are already in his ear.
We already linked above where Buckeye four-star safety commit Lejond Cavazos and Ricks were caught talking early in the even Monday but that wasn’t where the rumblings stopped. Cavazos himself later took to Twitter to leave a very cryptic message to Buckeye Nation.
Now nowhere in Cavazos Tweet does it mention Ricks by name and yes, Cavazos is recruiting multiple other “great athletes” to join him at Ohio State this weekend, but it definitely appears that the Ohio State commit is doing his best to convince Ricks to flip.
Continue reading...
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Four-star safety Lathan Ransom lists Ohio State in his top three and plans to announce his decision in two weeks on his birthday.
Ohio State recruiting has been on fire the past two weeks, and with The Opening Finals beginning Monday, we think the momentum won’t slow down this week.
Case in point, we learned early Monday afternoon that one of Ohio State’s biggest remaining priorities included the Buckeyes in his final three schools and plans to make his announcement in two weeks, on his birthday.
Four-star safety Lathan Ransom (Tucson, AZ / Salpointe Catholic) spoke with Tom Loy of CBS Sports recently and said that Ohio State was one of his final three schools as well as Texas and Notre Dame.
Ransom is one of the best defensive prospects in this years recruiting class. The 247Sports Composite Rankings have him listed as the No. 4 safety and the No. 76 overall prospect.
The blue-chip safety recruit last visited Ohio State on June 21 and the Buckeyes are viewed as the overwhelming favorites to land his commitment. The 247Sports Crystal Ball Predictions favor Ohio State with 93 percent of the 15 projections made.
Adding to Ohio State’s chances at landing Ransom is that he is taking part in The Opening Finals this week alongside multiple Buckeye verbal commits, including recent Ohio State four-star cornerback pledge Clark Phillips. The two have already been spotted chatting.
Clark Phillips and Lathan Ransom also warming up together and chatting.
— Marc Givler (@MarcGivlerBG) July 1, 2019
The Buckeyes are quietly building an impressive secondary haul in this year’s recruiting class. Along with Phillips, the Buckeyes hold a verbal commit from four-star safety Lejond Cavazos. If Ohio State is able to add Ransom to that group, a positional group that was once viewed as a weakness in this class could become a strength.
Ohio State center target could announce this week
Continuing to prove that Ohio State recruiting will continue its hot streak in recruiting this week, the Buckeyes could have a BOOM-ing Independence Day with some fireworks of their own. (Sorry I had to)
Three-star center prospect Josh Fryar took to Twitter Monday to say he will be making a big announcement this Thursday. And while this doesn’t mean he will making his official decision this week, it certainly puts him on commitment watch.
If Thursday is the day he will be making the big decision, Ohio State is the likely choice. The Buckeyes hold the majority of the 247Sports Crystal Ball Predictions with 91 percent of the 11 selections made. Also, he is coming off of an official visit at the University on June 21, which saw the Buckeyes play host to a plethora of talents for its new annual Backyard Bash and Barbecue.
Fryar holds offers from the likes of Ohio State, Penn State, Indiana, Purdue and Oregon and his play on the field outweighs his recruiting ranking, as is proved by his offer sheet.
Elias Ricks to Ohio State not over yet
Five-star LSU CB commit Elias Ricks has long been connected to Ohio State even after he made a verbal pledge to the Tigers in Baton Rouge.
His relationship with Ohio State, as well as his recruitment as a whole, has been a roller coaster ride filled with highs and lows. There have been multiple occasions in his recruitment, at all different stages of his recruitment, where it looked like Ohio State would be the school he signed his name to play for in the early signing period.
The talks of him and Columbus died down but lately have taken life again now the The Opening Finals have began and Ohio State verbal commits are already in his ear.
We already linked above where Buckeye four-star safety commit Lejond Cavazos and Ricks were caught talking early in the even Monday but that wasn’t where the rumblings stopped. Cavazos himself later took to Twitter to leave a very cryptic message to Buckeye Nation.
Now nowhere in Cavazos Tweet does it mention Ricks by name and yes, Cavazos is recruiting multiple other “great athletes” to join him at Ohio State this weekend, but it definitely appears that the Ohio State commit is doing his best to convince Ricks to flip.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State rookies get Madden 20 player ratings
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State rookies get Madden 20 player ratings
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Nick Bosa is the top Buckeye rookie, with Dwayne Haskins right behind him.
Check out all of the Rookies' #Madden20 Ratings!
https://t.co/MpUmRKdxUK
— Madden NFL 20 (@EAMaddenNFL) July 1, 2019
We are nearing the release of Madden NFL 20. Set to be released on Aug. 2, EA Sports announced the rookie player ratings in the game.
Ten former Ohio State Buckeyes got their first taste of being in a video game, with Nick Bosa and Dwayne Haskins leading the way with the top two spots among OSU rookies.
The younger Bosa brother, a member of the San Francisco 49ers, came in with a 79 overall. Haskins, a possible starting quarterback for the Washington Redskins, has an early grade of 72. Wide receiver Parris Campbell had the third best OSU rookie ranking behind Haskins, scoring a 71. And Haskins’ teammate, WR Terry McLaurin, is the last Buckeye rookie with a grade at or above 70; McLaurin’s grade was exactly a 70.
In the grand scheme of rookies, Bosa has the third best overall score. Slightly above him are defensive tackles Quinnen Williams (80) and Ed Oliver (79). Williams was picked one spot behind Bosa, going No. 3 to the New York Jets. Oliver, a standout for the Houston Cougars, went No. 9 to the Buffalo Bills.
Amongst rookie QBs, Haskins has the second best score—only behind overall No. 1 pick Kyler Murray, who has a 73. Daniel Jones, the New York Giants QB selection at No. 6 overall, had the lowest grade amongst the first round draft picks with a 65. Ouch.
Here’s a summary of all 32 1st round picks and their Madden NFL 20 overall. Your thoughts? pic.twitter.com/cPGnWpZ83P
— Steve Noah (@Steve_OS) July 1, 2019
If you want to check other player rankings, you can do so here.
“Still, there are a lot of questions about this team that makes me uncomfortable betting the over here. Ryan Day has never run a program on his own, let alone a program of this size with these expectations. Justin Fields has never been a starting quarterback at the college level. The Buckeyes will also have to play Nebraska, Northwestern and Michigan on the road this season.”
— Tom Fornelli on Ohio State getting under 10.5 wins this season | CBS Sports
With the lone football game about to come out, that means we’ve nearly survived the football offseason. Now, we’ve entered the time where season predictions are taking place.
Tom Fornelli at CBS Sports gave his predictions for the Big Ten this fall, saying whether or not teams would make the over/under in their win projections.
Ohio State was slotted at 10.5 wins, but Fornelli believes the Buckeyes won’t make the over (meaning 11-1 or better). A new coach and new quarterback are two of the big questions Fornelli had about the Buckeyes—and that’s just the internal stuff. Road contests against Nebraska, Northwestern and Michigan—all teams looking for revenge against the Buckeyes—are also seen as problem points throughout Ryan Day’s first full season at the helm of the program.
Around the B1G, Fornelli has Michigan winning over 9.5 games, Nebraska winning over 8.5 games, and Northwestern winning over 6.5 games.
Some notable unders that Fornelli is calling for include: Michigan State winning under 7.5 games, Maryland winning under 4.5 games, and Penn State/Wisconsin winning less than 8.5.
“The answer can’t be just like last year because that’s how we’ve done it. That doesn’t work,” said Day, who also noted he has to consider how the offense affects the defense and special teams now that he is head coach.”
— Ryan Day, as reported by Marcus Hartman | Dayton Daily News
Marcus Hartman of the Dayton Daily News has once again wrote a great piece mixing the past and present. Writing about the evolution of the Ohio State offense, the focus of the piece is around Ryan Day and how he will shape the Buckeyes’ offensive identity.
Woody Hayes had three yards and a cloud of dust. Urban Meyer had the spread offense and speedsters all around the skill positions. Ryan Day has shown the West Coast concept last year, where Haskins torched the Big Ten (and the record books) en route to a Rose Bowl victory.
Hartman gives a primer in how the strategies have changed throughout time. Touching on the times of Paul Brown and Wes Fesler to Earle Bruce and John Cooper. Spliced in between are quotes from Day, as he prepares to usher OSU into a new era.
Stick to Sports
Continue reading...
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Nick Bosa is the top Buckeye rookie, with Dwayne Haskins right behind him.
Check out all of the Rookies' #Madden20 Ratings!
https://t.co/MpUmRKdxUK
— Madden NFL 20 (@EAMaddenNFL) July 1, 2019
We are nearing the release of Madden NFL 20. Set to be released on Aug. 2, EA Sports announced the rookie player ratings in the game.
Ten former Ohio State Buckeyes got their first taste of being in a video game, with Nick Bosa and Dwayne Haskins leading the way with the top two spots among OSU rookies.
The younger Bosa brother, a member of the San Francisco 49ers, came in with a 79 overall. Haskins, a possible starting quarterback for the Washington Redskins, has an early grade of 72. Wide receiver Parris Campbell had the third best OSU rookie ranking behind Haskins, scoring a 71. And Haskins’ teammate, WR Terry McLaurin, is the last Buckeye rookie with a grade at or above 70; McLaurin’s grade was exactly a 70.
In the grand scheme of rookies, Bosa has the third best overall score. Slightly above him are defensive tackles Quinnen Williams (80) and Ed Oliver (79). Williams was picked one spot behind Bosa, going No. 3 to the New York Jets. Oliver, a standout for the Houston Cougars, went No. 9 to the Buffalo Bills.
Amongst rookie QBs, Haskins has the second best score—only behind overall No. 1 pick Kyler Murray, who has a 73. Daniel Jones, the New York Giants QB selection at No. 6 overall, had the lowest grade amongst the first round draft picks with a 65. Ouch.
Here’s a summary of all 32 1st round picks and their Madden NFL 20 overall. Your thoughts? pic.twitter.com/cPGnWpZ83P
— Steve Noah (@Steve_OS) July 1, 2019
If you want to check other player rankings, you can do so here.
“Still, there are a lot of questions about this team that makes me uncomfortable betting the over here. Ryan Day has never run a program on his own, let alone a program of this size with these expectations. Justin Fields has never been a starting quarterback at the college level. The Buckeyes will also have to play Nebraska, Northwestern and Michigan on the road this season.”
— Tom Fornelli on Ohio State getting under 10.5 wins this season | CBS Sports
With the lone football game about to come out, that means we’ve nearly survived the football offseason. Now, we’ve entered the time where season predictions are taking place.
Tom Fornelli at CBS Sports gave his predictions for the Big Ten this fall, saying whether or not teams would make the over/under in their win projections.
Ohio State was slotted at 10.5 wins, but Fornelli believes the Buckeyes won’t make the over (meaning 11-1 or better). A new coach and new quarterback are two of the big questions Fornelli had about the Buckeyes—and that’s just the internal stuff. Road contests against Nebraska, Northwestern and Michigan—all teams looking for revenge against the Buckeyes—are also seen as problem points throughout Ryan Day’s first full season at the helm of the program.
Around the B1G, Fornelli has Michigan winning over 9.5 games, Nebraska winning over 8.5 games, and Northwestern winning over 6.5 games.
Some notable unders that Fornelli is calling for include: Michigan State winning under 7.5 games, Maryland winning under 4.5 games, and Penn State/Wisconsin winning less than 8.5.
“The answer can’t be just like last year because that’s how we’ve done it. That doesn’t work,” said Day, who also noted he has to consider how the offense affects the defense and special teams now that he is head coach.”
— Ryan Day, as reported by Marcus Hartman | Dayton Daily News
Marcus Hartman of the Dayton Daily News has once again wrote a great piece mixing the past and present. Writing about the evolution of the Ohio State offense, the focus of the piece is around Ryan Day and how he will shape the Buckeyes’ offensive identity.
Woody Hayes had three yards and a cloud of dust. Urban Meyer had the spread offense and speedsters all around the skill positions. Ryan Day has shown the West Coast concept last year, where Haskins torched the Big Ten (and the record books) en route to a Rose Bowl victory.
Hartman gives a primer in how the strategies have changed throughout time. Touching on the times of Paul Brown and Wes Fesler to Earle Bruce and John Cooper. Spliced in between are quotes from Day, as he prepares to usher OSU into a new era.
Stick to Sports
- Anthony Davis and Dwyane Wade will be on the cover of NBA 2K20.
- New member invitations for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
- No tornado warning siren test this Wednesday (July 3) in Franklin County.
- Let’s get ready for another drama filled The Bachelorette episode.
- On this day in history: (1979) The Sony Walkman is introduced, changing the way music was listened to.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State women’s lacrosse completes new coaching regime
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State women’s lacrosse completes new coaching regime
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Former Stanford head coach Amy Bokker is completing her staff.
While spring sports have wrapped up, coaching changes are revolutionizing women’s lacrosse heading into next season. Plus, Ohio State athletes from several programs have received postseason recognition, and an Ohio State assistant landed a head coaching gig out west.
Women’s lacrosse rounds out its new coaching staff
New women’s lacrosse head coach Amy Bokker has been working to complete her coaching staff since being named to the position in early June. Most recently, Kristen Carr joined the program as associate head coach.
Bokker became the third coach in program history after coming to Columbus from Stanford. During her 11-year tenure with the Cardinal, Bokker managed an overall record of 151-59, including an NCAA Tournament win and victory in the inaugural Pac-12 tournament in 2018. She also took her team to the NCAAs in eight of her 11 seasons.
Carr also came from Stanford, where she coached with Bokker for the past four seasons as defensive coordinator. During her time in Palo Alto, Carr’s defenses finished in the top-25 three out of four seasons. Carr, who spent her playing career at North Carolina, is also a current member of the U.S. National Women’s Lacrosse Team and plays for the Women’s Professional Lacrosse League.
Previously, Bokker brought on Kara Mupo, also from Stanford, as offensive coordinator, and Stephani Schmidt as director of player operations.
The women’s lacrosse team finished sixth in the Big Ten this season with a 1-5 conference record. Overall, the team went 5-11 on the season.
Rowing earns All-American honors
Five rowers from the women’s rowing squad, all members of the First Varsity Eight crew, took home Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association All-American honors. Ida Kruse and Lexie Nothdurft both earned first-team honors, while Anjalie Fernandes and Leonie Heuer were named to the second team. Ida Peterson rounded out the group with an honorable mention.
While Kruse wrapped up her collegiate career this spring, the other four rowers are set to return to Ohio State next season. The Buckeyes will once again be well-positioned for a run at the NCAA Championships, after winning three national titles in the past decade.
The First Varsity Eight boat took home a sixth-place finish in the NCAA Championships and second-place in the Big Ten. Overall, the women’s rowing team finished fifth in the NCAA Championships.
In addition to the five rowers recognized this week, 27 athletes earned Academic All-Big Ten distinction earlier this spring.
Men’s lacrosse players take home scholastic recognition
The Big Ten lacrosse season didn’t exactly go Ohio State’s way, but several Ohio State players earned recognition for their academic achievements over the past year.
The U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) named defenseman Matt Borges, midfielder Jack Jasinski and midfielder Logan Maccani as USILA Scholar All-Americans. Previously, the trio, along with 21 teammates, were also recognized as academic All-Big Ten honorees. The program recognizes student-athletes based on their performance in the classroom, on the field and in their communities. Honorees are all seniors, must have a GPA above 3.0 and must be nominated by a coach.
Ohio State’s lacrosse program has a track record for this award, as at least one Buckeye has earned scholar all-American recognition for the past eight years. In all, there are now 17 USILA Scholar All-Americans in program history.
Assistant swim coach named to UCLA head coaching spot
Jordan Wolfrum, who served as an assistant head coach on the swimming and diving team at Ohio State for the past five seasons, was just named head coach for UCLA swimming and diving.
This past season, the Buckeyes’ men’s squad finished in ninth place at the NCAA Championships. Wolfrum also helped the women’s team to a 48-9 record in dual meets over five seasons, including four top-25 finishes in the NCAAs.
Wolfrum has one year of previous head coaching experience, having come to Columbus from the College of Saint Benedict in Minnesota. While at Ohio State, Wolfrum also played a key role in recruiting, compliance and academics.
Continue reading...
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Former Stanford head coach Amy Bokker is completing her staff.
While spring sports have wrapped up, coaching changes are revolutionizing women’s lacrosse heading into next season. Plus, Ohio State athletes from several programs have received postseason recognition, and an Ohio State assistant landed a head coaching gig out west.
Women’s lacrosse rounds out its new coaching staff
New women’s lacrosse head coach Amy Bokker has been working to complete her coaching staff since being named to the position in early June. Most recently, Kristen Carr joined the program as associate head coach.
Bokker became the third coach in program history after coming to Columbus from Stanford. During her 11-year tenure with the Cardinal, Bokker managed an overall record of 151-59, including an NCAA Tournament win and victory in the inaugural Pac-12 tournament in 2018. She also took her team to the NCAAs in eight of her 11 seasons.
Carr also came from Stanford, where she coached with Bokker for the past four seasons as defensive coordinator. During her time in Palo Alto, Carr’s defenses finished in the top-25 three out of four seasons. Carr, who spent her playing career at North Carolina, is also a current member of the U.S. National Women’s Lacrosse Team and plays for the Women’s Professional Lacrosse League.
Previously, Bokker brought on Kara Mupo, also from Stanford, as offensive coordinator, and Stephani Schmidt as director of player operations.
The women’s lacrosse team finished sixth in the Big Ten this season with a 1-5 conference record. Overall, the team went 5-11 on the season.
Rowing earns All-American honors
Five rowers from the women’s rowing squad, all members of the First Varsity Eight crew, took home Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association All-American honors. Ida Kruse and Lexie Nothdurft both earned first-team honors, while Anjalie Fernandes and Leonie Heuer were named to the second team. Ida Peterson rounded out the group with an honorable mention.
While Kruse wrapped up her collegiate career this spring, the other four rowers are set to return to Ohio State next season. The Buckeyes will once again be well-positioned for a run at the NCAA Championships, after winning three national titles in the past decade.
The First Varsity Eight boat took home a sixth-place finish in the NCAA Championships and second-place in the Big Ten. Overall, the women’s rowing team finished fifth in the NCAA Championships.
In addition to the five rowers recognized this week, 27 athletes earned Academic All-Big Ten distinction earlier this spring.
Men’s lacrosse players take home scholastic recognition
The Big Ten lacrosse season didn’t exactly go Ohio State’s way, but several Ohio State players earned recognition for their academic achievements over the past year.
The U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) named defenseman Matt Borges, midfielder Jack Jasinski and midfielder Logan Maccani as USILA Scholar All-Americans. Previously, the trio, along with 21 teammates, were also recognized as academic All-Big Ten honorees. The program recognizes student-athletes based on their performance in the classroom, on the field and in their communities. Honorees are all seniors, must have a GPA above 3.0 and must be nominated by a coach.
Ohio State’s lacrosse program has a track record for this award, as at least one Buckeye has earned scholar all-American recognition for the past eight years. In all, there are now 17 USILA Scholar All-Americans in program history.
Assistant swim coach named to UCLA head coaching spot
Jordan Wolfrum, who served as an assistant head coach on the swimming and diving team at Ohio State for the past five seasons, was just named head coach for UCLA swimming and diving.
This past season, the Buckeyes’ men’s squad finished in ninth place at the NCAA Championships. Wolfrum also helped the women’s team to a 48-9 record in dual meets over five seasons, including four top-25 finishes in the NCAAs.
Wolfrum has one year of previous head coaching experience, having come to Columbus from the College of Saint Benedict in Minnesota. While at Ohio State, Wolfrum also played a key role in recruiting, compliance and academics.
Continue reading...
LGHL D’Angelo Russell to join Golden State Warriors via sign-and-trade with Nets
- News
- 0 Replies
D’Angelo Russell to join Golden State Warriors via sign-and-trade with Nets
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The former Buckeye star is gonna get paid!
Just five and a half hours after NBA free agency began, former Ohio State star D’Angelo Russell learned that he would be playing in the city by the bay as a member of the Golden State Warriors when the 2019-20 NBA season begins.
With the Brooklyn Nets signing Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and DeAndre Jordan, there wasn’t room left for the Nets’ newly minted all-star. So, Brooklyn agreed to sign Russell to a four-year, $117m max contract and to then trade him to the Warriors.
Golden State and Brooklyn have agreed on a sign-and-trade, sending D’Angelo Russell to the Warriors on a four-year, $117M maximum contract, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019
The deal between the Nets and Warriors reportedly will also include Treveon Graham and Shabazz Napier. To make the salary cap math work, Golden State is also reportedly trading former Finals MVP Andre Iguodala and a 2024 first-round pick to the Memphis Grizzlies.
With Russell joining Stephen Curry in the Warriors’ new home in San Francisco, they will obviously be without Durant, and Klay Thompson will be rehabbing a torn ACL to start the season.
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The former Buckeye star is gonna get paid!
Just five and a half hours after NBA free agency began, former Ohio State star D’Angelo Russell learned that he would be playing in the city by the bay as a member of the Golden State Warriors when the 2019-20 NBA season begins.
With the Brooklyn Nets signing Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and DeAndre Jordan, there wasn’t room left for the Nets’ newly minted all-star. So, Brooklyn agreed to sign Russell to a four-year, $117m max contract and to then trade him to the Warriors.
Golden State and Brooklyn have agreed on a sign-and-trade, sending D’Angelo Russell to the Warriors on a four-year, $117M maximum contract, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019
The deal between the Nets and Warriors reportedly will also include Treveon Graham and Shabazz Napier. To make the salary cap math work, Golden State is also reportedly trading former Finals MVP Andre Iguodala and a 2024 first-round pick to the Memphis Grizzlies.
With Russell joining Stephen Curry in the Warriors’ new home in San Francisco, they will obviously be without Durant, and Klay Thompson will be rehabbing a torn ACL to start the season.
Continue reading...
LGHL 4-star linebacker includes Ohio State in top schools list
- News
- 0 Replies
4-star linebacker includes Ohio State in top schools list
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes make the top-5 for a top 2020 Californian prospect
Even though college football is in the midst of a recruiting quiet period now, the Ohio State Buckeyes have been making more than enough noise in their 2020 class. With two more huge commitments this past weekend from the likes of four-star prospects Darrion Henry and Cody Simon, Ohio State is starting to really silence the doubters who were worried that this staff couldn’t recruit defensively.
With Nike’s The Opening also getting started this past weekend, the Buckeye commits that are on sight are not only impressing with their abilities on the field, but also other prospects with their recruiting abilities. It’s a great time to follow Ohio State recruiting, and with more success to come in the near future, let’s dive into more of the good news.
Williams includes Buckeyes in Top 5
When Ryan Day hired Greg Mattison to the Buckeye staff, Greg brought a little bit of his history with him. In 2019, Ohio State’s defense will have what they call the “Bullet” position. A hybrid position, the Bullet will be a combination of what is an outside linebacker/safety style of defender. While the current roster has guys such as Brendon White ready to take a crack at this role, the current defensive staff is already looking for guys they want to take the reigns in the years to come. Thankfully, they may even land their top target they’re pursuing.
Over the weekend, Kourt Williams, a four-star outside linebacker from Bellflower, Calif., released his final top five schools he will choose from before a final decision. Having just visited the Buckeyes last weekend on one of his officials, Williams left not only impressed, but also thought by many to have Ohio State as his clear leader in his recruitment. Making the cut for Williams included Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Penn State, and of course Ohio State.
“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Matthew 23:12
It’s been a rollercoaster journey...but we’re just getting started..
#Top 5
PC: @MoisaDesign pic.twitter.com/U4WVuo1EcH
—
️Kourt Williams II️ (@kourt22williams) June 28, 2019
The 6-foot-1, 220-pound outside linebacker is ranked currently as the No. 12 prospect at his position for the current class as well as the No. 15 player in a loaded state of California. Coming in as a top 200 player in the nation, it’s easy to see why Kourt has over 20 total offers from many of the top programs. As mentioned, the Buckeye visit for Williams went extremely well. A decision is nearing and, as it stands right now, Ohio State is sitting very well for another elite defensive player.
An update from Nike’s The Opening
Nike’s The Opening is one of the premier camp on the recruiting circuit each year. While Buckeye fans certainly care for how well their current commits perform in The Opening events and contests, the gist of this update is to discuss how the commits are doing in the ears of players the Ohio State staff is targeting for their 2020 class.
Guys such as Julian Fleming, Lejond Cavazos and Jack Miller are great at exactly that. Without further adieu, here are the latest rumblings from what’s going on in Texas currently and around the rest of the country regarding the Buckeyes.
Current LSU commit Elias Ricks is a player the Buckeyes have long targeted. Even though he has been committed to LSU for a while now, Ohio State has not given up. In fact, while the staff has always laid the groundwork Mater Dei five-star, the current commits are doing well enough with Ricks that he has taken to media to say Ohio State “is in a real good spot”. While that commitment to LSU remains, Ryan Day may be getting closer to earning the “spatula” nickname just as Urban Meyer before him had.
In more positive news regarding Ohio State, the noise in the air surrounding Bijan Robinson continues to look good for the Buckeyes. While Day and staff continue to look for their running back in the 2020 class, Robinson, their top target is out there and trending their way. In fact, a West Coast Rivals.com writer, Adam Gorney, put in a “Future Cast” which is similar to the 247sports crystal ball for Robinson to Ohio State. A decision is nearing and if the current trend continues, Ryan Day and Tony Alford may very well have their running back in the 2020 class in the fold.
Quick Hits:
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes make the top-5 for a top 2020 Californian prospect
Even though college football is in the midst of a recruiting quiet period now, the Ohio State Buckeyes have been making more than enough noise in their 2020 class. With two more huge commitments this past weekend from the likes of four-star prospects Darrion Henry and Cody Simon, Ohio State is starting to really silence the doubters who were worried that this staff couldn’t recruit defensively.
With Nike’s The Opening also getting started this past weekend, the Buckeye commits that are on sight are not only impressing with their abilities on the field, but also other prospects with their recruiting abilities. It’s a great time to follow Ohio State recruiting, and with more success to come in the near future, let’s dive into more of the good news.
Williams includes Buckeyes in Top 5
When Ryan Day hired Greg Mattison to the Buckeye staff, Greg brought a little bit of his history with him. In 2019, Ohio State’s defense will have what they call the “Bullet” position. A hybrid position, the Bullet will be a combination of what is an outside linebacker/safety style of defender. While the current roster has guys such as Brendon White ready to take a crack at this role, the current defensive staff is already looking for guys they want to take the reigns in the years to come. Thankfully, they may even land their top target they’re pursuing.
Over the weekend, Kourt Williams, a four-star outside linebacker from Bellflower, Calif., released his final top five schools he will choose from before a final decision. Having just visited the Buckeyes last weekend on one of his officials, Williams left not only impressed, but also thought by many to have Ohio State as his clear leader in his recruitment. Making the cut for Williams included Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Penn State, and of course Ohio State.
“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Matthew 23:12
It’s been a rollercoaster journey...but we’re just getting started..
#Top 5 PC: @MoisaDesign pic.twitter.com/U4WVuo1EcH
—
️Kourt Williams II️ (@kourt22williams) June 28, 2019The 6-foot-1, 220-pound outside linebacker is ranked currently as the No. 12 prospect at his position for the current class as well as the No. 15 player in a loaded state of California. Coming in as a top 200 player in the nation, it’s easy to see why Kourt has over 20 total offers from many of the top programs. As mentioned, the Buckeye visit for Williams went extremely well. A decision is nearing and, as it stands right now, Ohio State is sitting very well for another elite defensive player.
An update from Nike’s The Opening
Nike’s The Opening is one of the premier camp on the recruiting circuit each year. While Buckeye fans certainly care for how well their current commits perform in The Opening events and contests, the gist of this update is to discuss how the commits are doing in the ears of players the Ohio State staff is targeting for their 2020 class.
Guys such as Julian Fleming, Lejond Cavazos and Jack Miller are great at exactly that. Without further adieu, here are the latest rumblings from what’s going on in Texas currently and around the rest of the country regarding the Buckeyes.
Current LSU commit Elias Ricks is a player the Buckeyes have long targeted. Even though he has been committed to LSU for a while now, Ohio State has not given up. In fact, while the staff has always laid the groundwork Mater Dei five-star, the current commits are doing well enough with Ricks that he has taken to media to say Ohio State “is in a real good spot”. While that commitment to LSU remains, Ryan Day may be getting closer to earning the “spatula” nickname just as Urban Meyer before him had.
In more positive news regarding Ohio State, the noise in the air surrounding Bijan Robinson continues to look good for the Buckeyes. While Day and staff continue to look for their running back in the 2020 class, Robinson, their top target is out there and trending their way. In fact, a West Coast Rivals.com writer, Adam Gorney, put in a “Future Cast” which is similar to the 247sports crystal ball for Robinson to Ohio State. A decision is nearing and if the current trend continues, Ryan Day and Tony Alford may very well have their running back in the 2020 class in the fold.
Quick Hits:
- 2021 four-star offensive center Ryan Linthicum (Damascus, MD/Damascus) named his top-8 schools over the weekend. Making the cut included Michigan, Clemson, Maryland, Virginia, Virginia Tech, LSU, North Carolina and Ohio State.
- 2021 five-star receiver Agiye Hall (Plant City, Florida/Armwood) released his top-12 schools over the weekend. Including Ohio State on his list, other programs such as Clemson, Oklahoma, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Texas, Ole Miss, Oregon, USC, LSU and Arizona State all round out his top schools.
- According to Bucknuts analyst, Bill Kurelic, four-star safety Lathan Ransom is likely to decide on his college destination on July 16, his birthday, but a commitment may even come sooner. Also, Kurelic put in a crystal ball for four-star 2020 receiver, Mookie Cooper to the Buckeyes over the weekend.
Continue reading...
LGHL What does Darrion Henry bring to Ohio State?
- News
- 0 Replies
What does Darrion Henry bring to Ohio State?
Patrick Mayhorn via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes have struck again.
If the college football world can take anything from the last decade of Alabama dominance, and now the rise of Clemson as a potential dynasty, it should be the importance of elite defensive tackle play. Just look at some of the names Alabama and Clemson have brought through their programs up front. Names like Marcell Dareus, Terrence Cody, A’Shawn Robinson, Jonathan Allen, Dexter Lawrence, Christian Wilkins, Quinnen Williams.
That’s an unbelievable list. That kind of power in the middle of a defense can, as we saw in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl (playoff edition), absolutely wreck any offense. It can completely transform how a defense plays.
While the Ohio State Buckeyes have produced plenty of elite talent on the outside of their lines, the interior hasn’t reached the Clemson or Alabama levels yet, despite excellent coaching from Larry Johnson. Part of that can’t be helped. There are more elite defensive tackles in the south than there are in the north, and Clemson, Alabama, and really the entire southern part of college football are always going to have an advantage for the dominant tackles.
It does seem, however, like Ohio State is refocusing on defensive tackle recruiting under Ryan Day, after it slipped in the past few years. The Buckeyes have already landed Ty Hamilton, who I consider to be a bit of a diamond in the rough, and today, they landed a commitment from four-star defensive tackle and Cincinnati product Darrion Henry.
So, is Henry the type of dominant defensive tackle that the best teams in college football need to have? It certainly seems like it.
On the field
The first thing that I look for when watching a defensive tackle recruit is versatility. It’s not that hard to be a massive space filler, and that doesn’t necesarily reflect talent. It’s much more impressive when a tackle shows off athletic ability by lining up at tackle, end, and anywhere else he’s needed.
On his tape, I count four different spots for Henry: tackle, end, stand-up edge, and tight end. That gives a pretty resounding answer to the versatility question. Henry is a tremendous athlete for his size (6-foot-4.5, 279 pounds), which means Ohio State can likely add a little more weight to his frame to make him even more disruptive inside.
He has great quickness off the snap, and while he doesn’t have the best bend in the world, his strength and athletic ability make him a threat as both a power rusher and as a more refined finesse rusher. His move set isn’t quite there yet, but he flashes the ability to become a Michael Bennett-esque figure, where he can do whatever Ohio State needs.
On top of his quickness and strength, Henry is excellent at the point of contact. He knocks linemen back with ease, and has a quick first move after that initial contact. He rarely misses when he makes contact with the ball carrier, and I don’t see him going for arm tackles, which means he’s going to be an absolute handful for opposing teams to clear out when they want to run up the middle.
That’s exactly what Ohio State needs: an elite athlete, with good size, a solid fundamental base, and plenty of versatility. Those are the exact kind of guys Clemson and Alabama churn out every single year, and those are the exact kind of guys that make it so difficult to move the ball. Henry isn’t a space filler, he’s a football player. That’s what you want at tackle.
In the class
Henry is the 15th member of Ohio State’s 2020 class, and the latest commitment from last weekend’s mass visit, joining Clark Phillips III, who committed on Friday, Jayden Ballard, who committed last Thursday, and Cody Simon, who joined earlier today. He’s the fifth defender in the class, along with Phillips, Simon, Lejond Cavazos, and fellow defensive tackle Ty Hamilton. He’s also a pretty different player from Hamilton, which means that the two should compliment each other pretty well.
Henry committed to Ohio State over offers from, well, just about every team in the country. This recruitment really came down to the Buckeyes, and a quartet of SEC schools (Tennessee, Alabama, LSU and Georgia). Tennessee threatened for a second, as did LSU, but Ohio State was never in serious danger here. Larry Johnson rarely misses on top in-state line talent, and he wasn’t missing here.
Henry’s commitment moves Ohio State from their number five spot into the fourth spot in the 2020 class rankings. This, paired with the Simon commitment, was just enough to leapfrog Georgia. Next up, LSU, who holds a pretty sizable lead for the third spot.
Continue reading...
Patrick Mayhorn via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes have struck again.
If the college football world can take anything from the last decade of Alabama dominance, and now the rise of Clemson as a potential dynasty, it should be the importance of elite defensive tackle play. Just look at some of the names Alabama and Clemson have brought through their programs up front. Names like Marcell Dareus, Terrence Cody, A’Shawn Robinson, Jonathan Allen, Dexter Lawrence, Christian Wilkins, Quinnen Williams.
That’s an unbelievable list. That kind of power in the middle of a defense can, as we saw in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl (playoff edition), absolutely wreck any offense. It can completely transform how a defense plays.
While the Ohio State Buckeyes have produced plenty of elite talent on the outside of their lines, the interior hasn’t reached the Clemson or Alabama levels yet, despite excellent coaching from Larry Johnson. Part of that can’t be helped. There are more elite defensive tackles in the south than there are in the north, and Clemson, Alabama, and really the entire southern part of college football are always going to have an advantage for the dominant tackles.
It does seem, however, like Ohio State is refocusing on defensive tackle recruiting under Ryan Day, after it slipped in the past few years. The Buckeyes have already landed Ty Hamilton, who I consider to be a bit of a diamond in the rough, and today, they landed a commitment from four-star defensive tackle and Cincinnati product Darrion Henry.
So, is Henry the type of dominant defensive tackle that the best teams in college football need to have? It certainly seems like it.
On the field
The first thing that I look for when watching a defensive tackle recruit is versatility. It’s not that hard to be a massive space filler, and that doesn’t necesarily reflect talent. It’s much more impressive when a tackle shows off athletic ability by lining up at tackle, end, and anywhere else he’s needed.
On his tape, I count four different spots for Henry: tackle, end, stand-up edge, and tight end. That gives a pretty resounding answer to the versatility question. Henry is a tremendous athlete for his size (6-foot-4.5, 279 pounds), which means Ohio State can likely add a little more weight to his frame to make him even more disruptive inside.
He has great quickness off the snap, and while he doesn’t have the best bend in the world, his strength and athletic ability make him a threat as both a power rusher and as a more refined finesse rusher. His move set isn’t quite there yet, but he flashes the ability to become a Michael Bennett-esque figure, where he can do whatever Ohio State needs.
On top of his quickness and strength, Henry is excellent at the point of contact. He knocks linemen back with ease, and has a quick first move after that initial contact. He rarely misses when he makes contact with the ball carrier, and I don’t see him going for arm tackles, which means he’s going to be an absolute handful for opposing teams to clear out when they want to run up the middle.
That’s exactly what Ohio State needs: an elite athlete, with good size, a solid fundamental base, and plenty of versatility. Those are the exact kind of guys Clemson and Alabama churn out every single year, and those are the exact kind of guys that make it so difficult to move the ball. Henry isn’t a space filler, he’s a football player. That’s what you want at tackle.
In the class
Henry is the 15th member of Ohio State’s 2020 class, and the latest commitment from last weekend’s mass visit, joining Clark Phillips III, who committed on Friday, Jayden Ballard, who committed last Thursday, and Cody Simon, who joined earlier today. He’s the fifth defender in the class, along with Phillips, Simon, Lejond Cavazos, and fellow defensive tackle Ty Hamilton. He’s also a pretty different player from Hamilton, which means that the two should compliment each other pretty well.
Henry committed to Ohio State over offers from, well, just about every team in the country. This recruitment really came down to the Buckeyes, and a quartet of SEC schools (Tennessee, Alabama, LSU and Georgia). Tennessee threatened for a second, as did LSU, but Ohio State was never in serious danger here. Larry Johnson rarely misses on top in-state line talent, and he wasn’t missing here.
Henry’s commitment moves Ohio State from their number five spot into the fourth spot in the 2020 class rankings. This, paired with the Simon commitment, was just enough to leapfrog Georgia. Next up, LSU, who holds a pretty sizable lead for the third spot.
Continue reading...
LGHL BOOM! 4-star defensive tackle Darrion Henry commits to Ohio State
- News
- 0 Replies
BOOM! 4-star defensive tackle Darrion Henry commits to Ohio State
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes defensive line factory keeps on churning
The Ohio State Buckeyes have produced top-tier NFL talent along the defensive line in three of the last four years. Darrion Henry wants to be a part of the action, as the 2020 four-star defensive tackle has committed to the Buckeyes. Henry will join Ty Hamilton as the second defensive lineman to join the program in the 2020 class.
The 6-foot-4.5, 279-pound defensive lineman is yet another Ohio product for the in-state-focused Ryan Day, coming out of Princeton High School in Cincinnati. Henry is listed by the 247sports composite as the No. 11 defensive tackle in the country and No. 2 recruit in the state of Ohio. Internally, 247sports has him rated a bit lower, coming in as the No. 18 DT and No. 4 in the state.
The DT was very highly sought after, having received 26 offers in total. Henry is a huge win for the Buckeyes, especially having been able to lure him away from his hometown up-and-coming Cincinnati Bearcats, who cracked the lineman’s top six back at the end of April. Henry made official visits to both LSU and Tennessee before his official visit to Ohio State this Friday.
Henry will join high school teammate Paris Johnson Jr. on the Buckeyes, with the program having now hauled in the top two recruits in the state. He will get to continue to mold his craft with guidance from defensive line guru Larry Johnson as Ohio State looks to further establish what is shaping up to be a phenomenal 2020 class.
Check out highlights from Henry’s junior season:
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes defensive line factory keeps on churning
The Ohio State Buckeyes have produced top-tier NFL talent along the defensive line in three of the last four years. Darrion Henry wants to be a part of the action, as the 2020 four-star defensive tackle has committed to the Buckeyes. Henry will join Ty Hamilton as the second defensive lineman to join the program in the 2020 class.
The 6-foot-4.5, 279-pound defensive lineman is yet another Ohio product for the in-state-focused Ryan Day, coming out of Princeton High School in Cincinnati. Henry is listed by the 247sports composite as the No. 11 defensive tackle in the country and No. 2 recruit in the state of Ohio. Internally, 247sports has him rated a bit lower, coming in as the No. 18 DT and No. 4 in the state.
The DT was very highly sought after, having received 26 offers in total. Henry is a huge win for the Buckeyes, especially having been able to lure him away from his hometown up-and-coming Cincinnati Bearcats, who cracked the lineman’s top six back at the end of April. Henry made official visits to both LSU and Tennessee before his official visit to Ohio State this Friday.
Henry will join high school teammate Paris Johnson Jr. on the Buckeyes, with the program having now hauled in the top two recruits in the state. He will get to continue to mold his craft with guidance from defensive line guru Larry Johnson as Ohio State looks to further establish what is shaping up to be a phenomenal 2020 class.
Check out highlights from Henry’s junior season:
Continue reading...
LGHL What does Cody Simon bring to Ohio State?
- News
- 0 Replies
What does Cody Simon bring to Ohio State?
Patrick Mayhorn via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The New Jersey product could be a star.
Recruiting is a fickle game. No matter how good a coach is at recruiting, how good a school is at producing talent and winning games, or any other factors, there are some situations where the personalities just don’t quite gel. We saw it with Jackson Carman a few years back, nearly with Zach Harrison in the 2019 class, and prior to the promotion of Ryan Day, it would’ve likely been the case with Cody Simon.
That’s not to say that the prior regime at Ohio State wasn’t excellent at recruiting, it was just that some players didn’t quite fit with the personality of the program. Simon, in all likelihood, would have been such a player. Ohio State had very few ties to New Jersey on their old defensive staff, and it wasn’t until early May that the Buckeyes actually extended an offer to him.
Now, just over a month later, Simon has joined the Ohio State Buckeyes’ class. What does that mean for the Buckeyes?
On the field
Just like with the pursuit of Kourt Williams, Ohio State going after Cody Simon shows a commitment to fundamentally changing the way that Ohio State plays defense. Simon, at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, doesn’t look like your typical Ohio State linebacker. He isn’t a hulking, bulky, lumbering figure in the middle of the field. He’s an athlete first and foremost, just like Kourt Williams. While Williams is likely to play bullet in Columbus (if he chooses the Buckeyes) and Simon is being recruited to middle linebacker, the theme sticks with both.
That theme? Speed, and instinct. Simon has a nose for the ball, and the raw athletic ability to seek the ball out on every single play. He’s a legitimately great athlete, with rare speed, great burst, and lateral movement the likes of which Ohio State hasn’t seen since Darron Lee suited up in Columbus.
All of that shows most when Simon is disrupting running plays in the backfield, which he does frequently. He has great vision and general field awareness that he pairs with that athletic ability to blow through the line and blow up running backs before they can get to the line of scrimmage. It feels like it’s been a few years since we saw a Buckeye linebacker do that.
Now, Simon isn’t just a tackler. He’s capable in zone, and because he’ll be playing middle linebacker, that’s likely the only real coverage skill he’ll need. As long as he has the awareness and ability to survey the middle of the field within 10 yards from the line of scrimmage, he’ll be doing exactly what the Buckeyes want from him. His job in pass coverage is to stop anything and everything across the middle, underneath.
With Simon, the main knock seems to be his size, but as I said, that’s a feature for the Buckeyes, not a negative. He doesn’t look like a lot of the great linebackers in Buckeye history, but he doesn’t need to, because Ohio State’s new staff doesn’t want to play football in the past. They want a new prototype for linebackers, and that new prototype looks a whole lot like Cody Simon.
In the class
Simon is the 14th member of Ohio State’s 2020 class, and the first linebacker in the class, though he may be joined sooner than later by bullet/outside linebacker Kourt Williams, who also visited Ohio State last weekend.
His pledge serves as a pretty massive victory for Jeff Hafley and Al Washington. Hafley’s connection’s in New Jersey got Ohio State into this battle, and Washington sold the deal by emphasizing speed in Ohio State’s defense at every chance he gets. It’s obvious that Ohio State plans to do things different, and that was the sell to Simon.
From a more quantitative place, this commitment moves Ohio State way up the 247Sports team rankings, as they jump from eight to five, over top of Florida, Notre Dame and Michigan. The Buckeyes are just a point away from Georgia and the No. 4 spot, and they’ll look to make the jump at 5 p.m. ET today, when Darrion Henry is set to announce his commitment.
Continue reading...
Patrick Mayhorn via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The New Jersey product could be a star.
Recruiting is a fickle game. No matter how good a coach is at recruiting, how good a school is at producing talent and winning games, or any other factors, there are some situations where the personalities just don’t quite gel. We saw it with Jackson Carman a few years back, nearly with Zach Harrison in the 2019 class, and prior to the promotion of Ryan Day, it would’ve likely been the case with Cody Simon.
That’s not to say that the prior regime at Ohio State wasn’t excellent at recruiting, it was just that some players didn’t quite fit with the personality of the program. Simon, in all likelihood, would have been such a player. Ohio State had very few ties to New Jersey on their old defensive staff, and it wasn’t until early May that the Buckeyes actually extended an offer to him.
Now, just over a month later, Simon has joined the Ohio State Buckeyes’ class. What does that mean for the Buckeyes?
On the field
Just like with the pursuit of Kourt Williams, Ohio State going after Cody Simon shows a commitment to fundamentally changing the way that Ohio State plays defense. Simon, at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, doesn’t look like your typical Ohio State linebacker. He isn’t a hulking, bulky, lumbering figure in the middle of the field. He’s an athlete first and foremost, just like Kourt Williams. While Williams is likely to play bullet in Columbus (if he chooses the Buckeyes) and Simon is being recruited to middle linebacker, the theme sticks with both.
That theme? Speed, and instinct. Simon has a nose for the ball, and the raw athletic ability to seek the ball out on every single play. He’s a legitimately great athlete, with rare speed, great burst, and lateral movement the likes of which Ohio State hasn’t seen since Darron Lee suited up in Columbus.
All of that shows most when Simon is disrupting running plays in the backfield, which he does frequently. He has great vision and general field awareness that he pairs with that athletic ability to blow through the line and blow up running backs before they can get to the line of scrimmage. It feels like it’s been a few years since we saw a Buckeye linebacker do that.
Now, Simon isn’t just a tackler. He’s capable in zone, and because he’ll be playing middle linebacker, that’s likely the only real coverage skill he’ll need. As long as he has the awareness and ability to survey the middle of the field within 10 yards from the line of scrimmage, he’ll be doing exactly what the Buckeyes want from him. His job in pass coverage is to stop anything and everything across the middle, underneath.
With Simon, the main knock seems to be his size, but as I said, that’s a feature for the Buckeyes, not a negative. He doesn’t look like a lot of the great linebackers in Buckeye history, but he doesn’t need to, because Ohio State’s new staff doesn’t want to play football in the past. They want a new prototype for linebackers, and that new prototype looks a whole lot like Cody Simon.
In the class
Simon is the 14th member of Ohio State’s 2020 class, and the first linebacker in the class, though he may be joined sooner than later by bullet/outside linebacker Kourt Williams, who also visited Ohio State last weekend.
His pledge serves as a pretty massive victory for Jeff Hafley and Al Washington. Hafley’s connection’s in New Jersey got Ohio State into this battle, and Washington sold the deal by emphasizing speed in Ohio State’s defense at every chance he gets. It’s obvious that Ohio State plans to do things different, and that was the sell to Simon.
From a more quantitative place, this commitment moves Ohio State way up the 247Sports team rankings, as they jump from eight to five, over top of Florida, Notre Dame and Michigan. The Buckeyes are just a point away from Georgia and the No. 4 spot, and they’ll look to make the jump at 5 p.m. ET today, when Darrion Henry is set to announce his commitment.
Continue reading...
LGHL 4-star outside linebacker Cody Simon commits to Ohio State
- News
- 0 Replies
4-star outside linebacker Cody Simon commits to Ohio State
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes pick up a defensive commitment for 2020.
The Ohio State Buckeyes had a solid commitment base on offense for 2020. Now, their defense is getting packed with top talent as four-star outside linebacker Cody Simon announced his verbal pledge to the scarlet and gray.
After much deliberation with my family and coaches, I have made the decision to attend THE Ohio State University
I am grateful to now be able to focus on my team and our success for the 2019 season. pic.twitter.com/e2CTj4U0VW
— Cody Simon (@Cody_Simon30) June 29, 2019
Simon comes in at 6-foot-1, 218 pounds, and is considered by the 247sports composite as the 154th best prospect in the class, 10th best OLB, and fourth best overall prospect from New Jersey.
He holds over 15 offers, rebuking the likes of Nebraska, Boston College, Rutgers, Notre Dame and Duke in favor of the Buckeyes. Earlier in June, he took one of his official visits to Lincoln, Neb., to see Scott Frost’s program. However, the Cornhuskers didn’t wind up getting the defensive star.
Accolade wise, Simon was selected to The Opening Finals. At the Opening Regionals, he recorded a 40-time of 4.62 seconds, a shuttle of 4.28 seconds, and a 38.90-inch vertical. With the likes of Mickey Marotti helping him at Ohio State, expect Simon to get bigger, faster and stronger before stepping onto the field.
For Al Washington and Jeff Hafley, the key recruiters for Simon, the Buckeye coaches secure a big win by getting the St. Peters Prep (N.J.) prospect to commit to OSU. That prep school is one of the best on the East Coast, and hopefully, this will strengthen a pipeline to the Buckeyes.
Continue reading...
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes pick up a defensive commitment for 2020.
The Ohio State Buckeyes had a solid commitment base on offense for 2020. Now, their defense is getting packed with top talent as four-star outside linebacker Cody Simon announced his verbal pledge to the scarlet and gray.
After much deliberation with my family and coaches, I have made the decision to attend THE Ohio State University
I am grateful to now be able to focus on my team and our success for the 2019 season. pic.twitter.com/e2CTj4U0VW— Cody Simon (@Cody_Simon30) June 29, 2019
Simon comes in at 6-foot-1, 218 pounds, and is considered by the 247sports composite as the 154th best prospect in the class, 10th best OLB, and fourth best overall prospect from New Jersey.
He holds over 15 offers, rebuking the likes of Nebraska, Boston College, Rutgers, Notre Dame and Duke in favor of the Buckeyes. Earlier in June, he took one of his official visits to Lincoln, Neb., to see Scott Frost’s program. However, the Cornhuskers didn’t wind up getting the defensive star.
Accolade wise, Simon was selected to The Opening Finals. At the Opening Regionals, he recorded a 40-time of 4.62 seconds, a shuttle of 4.28 seconds, and a 38.90-inch vertical. With the likes of Mickey Marotti helping him at Ohio State, expect Simon to get bigger, faster and stronger before stepping onto the field.
For Al Washington and Jeff Hafley, the key recruiters for Simon, the Buckeye coaches secure a big win by getting the St. Peters Prep (N.J.) prospect to commit to OSU. That prep school is one of the best on the East Coast, and hopefully, this will strengthen a pipeline to the Buckeyes.
Continue reading...
LGHL Podcast: Reviewing (and previewing) Ohio State baseball
- News
- 0 Replies
Podcast: Reviewing (and previewing) Ohio State baseball
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes achieved a trip to the NCAA regionals, but what should we expect next season?
Outside the Shoe is a podcast that focuses on sports outside of Ohio State football and basketball.
Time for another mini-podcast.
The baseball season is now over. The Vanderbilt Commodores, who hosted Ohio State in the Nashville regional, defeated the Michigan Wolverines in the College World Series to win the national championship in three games.
While the Wolverines didn’t win the title, the Big Ten was able to send five teams to the Baseball Championship. Meredith Hein and Geoff Hammersley review OSU’s season, one that featured MLB draft picks and All-Americans. Additionally, they’ll preview how the Big Ten can improve upon their success going forward.
Podcast Breakdown
0:00 — Intro
0:43 — What was so special about this season for the Buckeyes?
3:09 — What does Ohio State have to do to take it to the next level?
7:10 — What does it mean for the Big Ten to get five teams in the regionals?
10:17 — Best Big Ten team in position to make a run in 2020?
Continue reading...
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes achieved a trip to the NCAA regionals, but what should we expect next season?
Outside the Shoe is a podcast that focuses on sports outside of Ohio State football and basketball.
Time for another mini-podcast.
The baseball season is now over. The Vanderbilt Commodores, who hosted Ohio State in the Nashville regional, defeated the Michigan Wolverines in the College World Series to win the national championship in three games.
While the Wolverines didn’t win the title, the Big Ten was able to send five teams to the Baseball Championship. Meredith Hein and Geoff Hammersley review OSU’s season, one that featured MLB draft picks and All-Americans. Additionally, they’ll preview how the Big Ten can improve upon their success going forward.
Podcast Breakdown
0:00 — Intro
0:43 — What was so special about this season for the Buckeyes?
3:09 — What does Ohio State have to do to take it to the next level?
7:10 — What does it mean for the Big Ten to get five teams in the regionals?
10:17 — Best Big Ten team in position to make a run in 2020?
Continue reading...
LGHL 4-star 2021 wide receiver Jayden Ballard commits to Ohio State
- News
- 0 Replies
4-star 2021 wide receiver Jayden Ballard commits to Ohio State
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Zone 6 gets a big commitment for the future.
The weekend got off to a BOOMing start for the Ohio State Buckeyes as they picked up a commitment from four-star, 2021 wide-receiver Jayden Ballard on Friday afternoon. The Massillon native made is pledge official on Twitter.
100% committed to The Ohio State University #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/tForgFZNzN
— JB (@J_Ball21) June 21, 2019
Ballard currently ranks as the 125th best prospect in the country, according to 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is currently slotted in as the fifth best player from the state of Ohio, and the 22nd WR nationally in the 2021 class.
In addition to the Buckeyes, Ballard also had offers from Notre Dame, Michigan State, Penn State, and others; although he was long expected to commit to the in-state powerhouse.
Ballard joins the Buckeyes class as the third member of next year’s class for Ryan Day, joining quarterback Kyle McCord and defensive end Jack Sawyer. The WR’s commitment only increases OSU’s standing at the top of the Big Ten class rankings.
We will have more on Ballard’s commitment and the rest of the major recruiting weekend here on LGHL.
Check out highlights from Ballard’s high school career:
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Zone 6 gets a big commitment for the future.
The weekend got off to a BOOMing start for the Ohio State Buckeyes as they picked up a commitment from four-star, 2021 wide-receiver Jayden Ballard on Friday afternoon. The Massillon native made is pledge official on Twitter.
100% committed to The Ohio State University #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/tForgFZNzN
— JB (@J_Ball21) June 21, 2019
Ballard currently ranks as the 125th best prospect in the country, according to 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is currently slotted in as the fifth best player from the state of Ohio, and the 22nd WR nationally in the 2021 class.
In addition to the Buckeyes, Ballard also had offers from Notre Dame, Michigan State, Penn State, and others; although he was long expected to commit to the in-state powerhouse.
Ballard joins the Buckeyes class as the third member of next year’s class for Ryan Day, joining quarterback Kyle McCord and defensive end Jack Sawyer. The WR’s commitment only increases OSU’s standing at the top of the Big Ten class rankings.
We will have more on Ballard’s commitment and the rest of the major recruiting weekend here on LGHL.
Check out highlights from Ballard’s high school career:
Continue reading...
LGHL Podcast: Ohio State’s recruiting business is about to be BOOMing
- News
- 0 Replies
Podcast: Ohio State’s recruiting business is about to be BOOMing
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
We predict that the Buckeyes will finally pick up some defensive commitments soon!
On the State Secrets recruiting episodes of the Land-Grant Holy Land podcast, one of our recruiting experts, Patrick Mayhorn, tries to educate our resident “old,” Matt Tamanini, about Ohio State Buckeyes’ recruiting.
With one of the busiest weekends on Ohio State’s recruiting calendar now officially underway, we take a look at what’s been going on recently for the Buckeyes in terms of building their upcoming classes, and what might be coming this weekend and over the rest of the summer.
Matt and Patrick start by talking about the four most recent commits to Ohio State’s football 2020 recruiting class. Then they discuss how Ohio State taking one 2021 quarterback made a another 2021 very angry, and then they’ll look forward to who might be joining the Buckeye fold in the next few weeks.
On this episode:
1) Commitment recap: Ty Hamilton, Julian Fleming, Grant Toutant, Jake Seibert
2) Why Ohio State took Kyle McCord over J.J. McCarthy, and what that means for the rivalry with TTUN.
3) Which three running will Ohio State get from Kendall Milton, Bijan Robinson, Deamonte Trayanum, Sam Adams and Jaylan Knighton?
4) Commitment watch: Darrion Henry, Clark Phillips, Cody Simon, Kourt Williams, Trayanum, Joe Royer and A.J. Kirk
Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt
Instagram: @BWWMatt
Contact Patrick Mayhorn
Twitter: @Patrick_Mayhorn
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
We predict that the Buckeyes will finally pick up some defensive commitments soon!
On the State Secrets recruiting episodes of the Land-Grant Holy Land podcast, one of our recruiting experts, Patrick Mayhorn, tries to educate our resident “old,” Matt Tamanini, about Ohio State Buckeyes’ recruiting.
With one of the busiest weekends on Ohio State’s recruiting calendar now officially underway, we take a look at what’s been going on recently for the Buckeyes in terms of building their upcoming classes, and what might be coming this weekend and over the rest of the summer.
Matt and Patrick start by talking about the four most recent commits to Ohio State’s football 2020 recruiting class. Then they discuss how Ohio State taking one 2021 quarterback made a another 2021 very angry, and then they’ll look forward to who might be joining the Buckeye fold in the next few weeks.
On this episode:
1) Commitment recap: Ty Hamilton, Julian Fleming, Grant Toutant, Jake Seibert
2) Why Ohio State took Kyle McCord over J.J. McCarthy, and what that means for the rivalry with TTUN.
3) Which three running will Ohio State get from Kendall Milton, Bijan Robinson, Deamonte Trayanum, Sam Adams and Jaylan Knighton?
4) Commitment watch: Darrion Henry, Clark Phillips, Cody Simon, Kourt Williams, Trayanum, Joe Royer and A.J. Kirk
Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt
Instagram: @BWWMatt
Contact Patrick Mayhorn
Twitter: @Patrick_Mayhorn
Theme music provided by www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State recruiting: Buckeyes poised for huge recruiting weekend, RB updates
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State recruiting: Buckeyes poised for huge recruiting weekend, RB updates
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
This weekend is easily Ohio State’s largest recruiting weekend of the year.
It’s here! The biggest recruiting weekend of the year so far has begun for the Ohio State Buckeyes. And while everyone of course wants the main event to be game day, in the summertime, “recruiting day” will have to do. The Buckeyes will host a whopping 15 prospects on official visits this weekend and with many big names on commit today and throughout the rest of this weekend, Ryan Day and his staff are hoping to set off some early fireworks for the 2020 class.
Any time a program is able to host this number of elite talents at the same time, it may be hard to devote enough attention to each one, but if you’ve learned anything about the Buckeyes in recent years it’s that they recruit with the best of them. And, with all of these athletes getting to know one another and begin to believe in the future of a team at OSU, the next two days will surely be a weekend that will be a key piece to the current 2020 class.
Latest running back updates with 2020 prospects
Probably the most interesting position in terms of recruiting for the 2020 Ohio State class is at running back. What’s less of a “problem” and more of an advantage is that the Buckeyes are in on so many top elite level guys, but at the same time, still have yet to land one at the position for this current cycle. The guys that Ohio State wants in the fold aren’t new names to recruiting followers as each are being recruited by nearly every top program in the country. Without further adieu, let’s get into the latest rumblings in the wild west of running back recruiting.
On May 31, arguably Ohio State’s highest targeted running back, Kendall Milton, started his official visit in Columbus to see the Buckeyes and what they could offer him if he were to choose Ohio State in the end. Blown away by the visit, Milton and his father mainly went out of their way to say that the Buckeyes had outdone themselves with how well the visit went. One aspect they enjoyed the most was the reality that the Buckeye staff had plans for Milton not only on the field, but off the field too after football to ensure he’d be successful. In many cases, when Milton’s visit ended, many top insiders felt the Buckeyes were the team to beat in his recruitment.
Fast forward to now though and it’s true when they say recruiting is like a roller coaster ride. Many times, the current team or visit has the hot hand and that looks to be the case right now with Milton. In fact, Bill Kurelic had his crystal ball pegged toward Ohio State following Kendall’s OSU visit, but now, Milton is wrapping up his time at Georgia and the crystal ball has shifted to the Bulldogs. What’s to make of all of this then? Well, as it looks now, the team with the recent visit such as Georgia seems to have the momentum. It’s important to note that in recruiting, many times the last visit is the one that sticks out the most of course. Ohio State isn’t out of it by any means, but need to get back into Milton’s ear if they want to fend off what seems to be trending right now.
Another 2020 running back who was recently at Ohio State for his official visit was Bijan Robinson, a back who if not 1a on Ohio State’s list, he’s certainly 1b. The Arizona four-star is a back the Buckeyes have long desired to have in their class and their hosting of Robinson like usual was a visit that really stood out for him. Now, only a week removed from his official, the Buckeyes still sit in a really good place for Bijan and the potential for him to make the decision to come to Ohio State. While top target backs usually don’t concern themselves with what other guys do, if Milton were to choose Georgia, it leaves the running back room in Columbus wide open for a guy like Bijan to come in and be “the” guy.
Programs like Texas and other schools closer to home are of course very much still in the fold, but with Bijan himself saying that he still feels very high on the Buckeyes, the staff has to like where they stand for his services and the potential of landing him in their current class. What comes next is to continue to press for Bijan and ensure that he will be a vital piece to their class. If that can continue, Robinson could very well be the top target for the staff and hopefully a committed member of the class.
Last but certainly not least, in-state running back DeaMonte Trayanum of Akron Hoban just finished up his official visit to see the Buckeyes earlier this week. A prospect that’s certainly no stranger around campus, the visit was just another opportunity for the Buckeyes to cement mainly what Trayanum has already known. It’s clear Ohio State wants to take two backs in this class simply due to future depth concerns and DeaMonte is a player that they want in the fold—and can certainly land. The 247sports crystal ball has Ohio State in a large favorite to land him, but it’s not over yet.
Always good to be back in the shoe.. pic.twitter.com/a8KWuV0NGG
— DeaMonte Trayanum (@Chipperrz_) June 20, 2019
So what sense can we make with all of this? It’s a bit of a timeless momentum shift, but the bullet points to take away are that the Buckeyes are not out for any of the guys mentioned here. They are still very much in the thick of things. The trouble, when you’re an elite who attracts national caliber talents, you have to face other elite programs for them. As it stands right now, the Buckeyes may have a better shot at Bijan Robinson than Kendall Milton, but also have a really solid shot at keeping DeaMonte Trayanum at home to round out two stellar guys at the position for the 2020 class. Time however will tell.
Quick Hits:
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
This weekend is easily Ohio State’s largest recruiting weekend of the year.
It’s here! The biggest recruiting weekend of the year so far has begun for the Ohio State Buckeyes. And while everyone of course wants the main event to be game day, in the summertime, “recruiting day” will have to do. The Buckeyes will host a whopping 15 prospects on official visits this weekend and with many big names on commit today and throughout the rest of this weekend, Ryan Day and his staff are hoping to set off some early fireworks for the 2020 class.
Any time a program is able to host this number of elite talents at the same time, it may be hard to devote enough attention to each one, but if you’ve learned anything about the Buckeyes in recent years it’s that they recruit with the best of them. And, with all of these athletes getting to know one another and begin to believe in the future of a team at OSU, the next two days will surely be a weekend that will be a key piece to the current 2020 class.
Latest running back updates with 2020 prospects
Probably the most interesting position in terms of recruiting for the 2020 Ohio State class is at running back. What’s less of a “problem” and more of an advantage is that the Buckeyes are in on so many top elite level guys, but at the same time, still have yet to land one at the position for this current cycle. The guys that Ohio State wants in the fold aren’t new names to recruiting followers as each are being recruited by nearly every top program in the country. Without further adieu, let’s get into the latest rumblings in the wild west of running back recruiting.
On May 31, arguably Ohio State’s highest targeted running back, Kendall Milton, started his official visit in Columbus to see the Buckeyes and what they could offer him if he were to choose Ohio State in the end. Blown away by the visit, Milton and his father mainly went out of their way to say that the Buckeyes had outdone themselves with how well the visit went. One aspect they enjoyed the most was the reality that the Buckeye staff had plans for Milton not only on the field, but off the field too after football to ensure he’d be successful. In many cases, when Milton’s visit ended, many top insiders felt the Buckeyes were the team to beat in his recruitment.
Fast forward to now though and it’s true when they say recruiting is like a roller coaster ride. Many times, the current team or visit has the hot hand and that looks to be the case right now with Milton. In fact, Bill Kurelic had his crystal ball pegged toward Ohio State following Kendall’s OSU visit, but now, Milton is wrapping up his time at Georgia and the crystal ball has shifted to the Bulldogs. What’s to make of all of this then? Well, as it looks now, the team with the recent visit such as Georgia seems to have the momentum. It’s important to note that in recruiting, many times the last visit is the one that sticks out the most of course. Ohio State isn’t out of it by any means, but need to get back into Milton’s ear if they want to fend off what seems to be trending right now.
Another 2020 running back who was recently at Ohio State for his official visit was Bijan Robinson, a back who if not 1a on Ohio State’s list, he’s certainly 1b. The Arizona four-star is a back the Buckeyes have long desired to have in their class and their hosting of Robinson like usual was a visit that really stood out for him. Now, only a week removed from his official, the Buckeyes still sit in a really good place for Bijan and the potential for him to make the decision to come to Ohio State. While top target backs usually don’t concern themselves with what other guys do, if Milton were to choose Georgia, it leaves the running back room in Columbus wide open for a guy like Bijan to come in and be “the” guy.
Programs like Texas and other schools closer to home are of course very much still in the fold, but with Bijan himself saying that he still feels very high on the Buckeyes, the staff has to like where they stand for his services and the potential of landing him in their current class. What comes next is to continue to press for Bijan and ensure that he will be a vital piece to their class. If that can continue, Robinson could very well be the top target for the staff and hopefully a committed member of the class.
Last but certainly not least, in-state running back DeaMonte Trayanum of Akron Hoban just finished up his official visit to see the Buckeyes earlier this week. A prospect that’s certainly no stranger around campus, the visit was just another opportunity for the Buckeyes to cement mainly what Trayanum has already known. It’s clear Ohio State wants to take two backs in this class simply due to future depth concerns and DeaMonte is a player that they want in the fold—and can certainly land. The 247sports crystal ball has Ohio State in a large favorite to land him, but it’s not over yet.
Always good to be back in the shoe.. pic.twitter.com/a8KWuV0NGG
— DeaMonte Trayanum (@Chipperrz_) June 20, 2019
So what sense can we make with all of this? It’s a bit of a timeless momentum shift, but the bullet points to take away are that the Buckeyes are not out for any of the guys mentioned here. They are still very much in the thick of things. The trouble, when you’re an elite who attracts national caliber talents, you have to face other elite programs for them. As it stands right now, the Buckeyes may have a better shot at Bijan Robinson than Kendall Milton, but also have a really solid shot at keeping DeaMonte Trayanum at home to round out two stellar guys at the position for the 2020 class. Time however will tell.
Quick Hits:
- Four-star California native Clark Phillips III will announce his decision today. With him starting his official visit today with Ohio State, it’s a pretty good notion to think that he will choose the Buckeyes. The fourth best corner in the class, Phillips will fill a serious need and be a huge addition to a class that needs defensive talent to coming in.
- Four-star Ohio native Darrion Henry is back on campus for his official visit. A decision isn’t guaranteed, but is possible if all goes well this weekend. Henry would be another elite player and in-state kid to bolster the 2020 defensive class.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State football’s H-Back position will continue to evolve under new head coach Ryan Day
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State football’s H-Back position will continue to evolve under new head coach Ryan Day
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The trend of Ohio State’s H-Backs being more involved in the passing game will likely continue in 2019, with some tight ends possibly being added to the mix.
“That position, that H position can take on a lot of different roles. It can be a third receiver. It could be a second running back, or it could be a second tight end based on the body type. We kind of have all those. We have Jeremy. We have Rashod (Berry). We have Demario McCall. We have K.J., obviously. We have C.J. (Saunders), Jaelen Gill. All those guys are kind of different body types in the same role.”
Ohio State football head coach Ryan Day on the H-Back position via Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
When Urban Meyer came to Ohio State in 2012, one of the biggest changes he made to the offense was the introduction of the H-Back. The position became famous during his time in Florida when Percy Harvin was released on the college football world. While the Buckeyes never quite had someone at H-Back who had the impact of Harvin, what players like Curtis Samuel, Jalin Marshall, and others did at the position was nothing to sneeze at.
Over the last two years, the H-Back position at Ohio State has underwent a bit of a transformation. With Mike Weber and J.K. Dobbins at running back, the Buckeyes didn’t need their H-Backs to be as involved in the running game as they did when players like Curtis Samuel and Dontre Wilson lined up at the position. After having at least one H-Back see at least 20 carries every year from 2013-16, over the last two years Parris Campbell and K.J. Hill saw a combined 22 carries. Because of the lack of a need to give the H-Back carries over the last two years, the position was heavily involved in the passing game, especially in 2018 when Campbell recorded 90 catches as the Buckeyes shattered a number of school passing records.
It seems likely that players like Demario McCall and Jaelen Gill seeing some carries at H-Back for the Buckeyes this year, don’t expect for the number to be similar to what Samuel saw during his time at Ohio State. In a bit of a different wrinkle, Day has been working with a couple tight ends at H-Back, with Jeremy Ruckert being a prime candidate to possibly see snaps at the position. With the position having evolved over the years during Meyer’s time at Ohio State, it already seems like Day is continuing with the trend and looking for new ways to keep opposing defenses on their toes.
“Look at the skill that we have there, ‘go out and compete’ for all of those guys. Go out here and play ball. Whoever has the best training camp... we as coaches have got to decide where to put them and get them on the field. I am going to be consistent with that, and that is how I talk to the players, and that is how I will be honest with you guys, and that is what we have to do, that is our jobs.”
Ohio State secondary coach Jeff Hafley on the safety position via Tony Gerdeman, The Ozone
For new secondary coach and co-defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, at least one part of Ohio State’s safety combination in 2019 was very easy to identify. Senior Jordan Fuller returns to the Buckeyes for his third year at starter, and will look to put a bow on a strong career in Columbus. Who will start next to Fuller in the fall isn’t nearly as easy to identify.
In the second half of last season, Brendon White started next to Fuller at safety. While White will likely still lineup at safety on passing downs, he will spend the bulk of his time at the new Bullet position. This leaves Jahsen Wint, Isaiah Pryor, and Shaun Wade to battle for the second starting safety spot.
Hafley and the rest of the coaching staff got a good look at the trio during spring practices, as Fuller was on the sidelines due to injury. Wade was the top strong safety for Ohio State during spring practices, while Pryor lined up at free safety. Even though Wade and Pryor saw a lot of reps during spring practices, Wint made a big impact during the spring game, stating his case for more playing time.
Even though there is still the question of who will play next to Fuller at safety, at least a little bit of the concern can be eased since the Buckeyes have a number of talented players who can fill the role. Wade is the most intriguing prospect after he came to Ohio State as a top-rated recruit, but Pryor and Wint have shown they belong as well. Whoever is tabbed as the starter will have the luxury of working in tandem with a veteran like Fuller. The competition in training camp should be exciting, and whoever comes out on top will have truly earned the starting position.
“I took some time off during May, went through rehab probably that whole month and worked on basic skill stuff, fundamental stuff while my body was healing. I took that time to really recover and I’m back fully covered now. I think my body really needed it, just to lighten up on the legs and stuff like that. It was good, just taking it slow and getting everything back to 100 percent.”
Ohio State forward Kyle Young via Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State was at its best last year when forward Kyle Young was on the floor. The sophomore brought plenty of energy and grit to the Buckeyes, and when he was on the floor with Andre and Kaleb Wesson, the trio had the best cumulative plus-minus rating for the Buckeyes.
The problem for Ohio State in the latter half of the year was that Young was limited by a stress fracture in his lower left leg. Young ended up missing five games in January and early February, and was limited after he returned, logging at least 25 minutes in just four of the final 14 games of the season. Young admits that he rushed coming back from the injury so he could get back on the court, but he has taken the time in the offseason to make he is fully recovered ahead of his junior season.
Making sure his body is healed from the stress fracture isn’t the only area in which Young has been working on this offseason. During his first two seasons, Young’s offensive game has been rather limited, but he is working on expanding his shooting range as he prepares for the final two years of his Ohio State career. Last year, Young shot 71.7 percent from the field, which led the Big Ten, but he only took 13.3 percent of his team’s shots while on the court.
With Young working on his shot, the junior could be primed for a breakout season for Ohio State. Even though the Buckeyes have a number of top recruits coming to Columbus, Ohio State will need the experience and toughness that Young provides. Any extra offense the Buckeyes can get from Young will be an added bonus, as Ohio State looks to reach the NCAA Tournament for a third consecutive season. With Young finally healthy, along with expanding his offensive game, expect to see a different Young on the floor the season for Ohio State.
STICK TO SPORTS
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The trend of Ohio State’s H-Backs being more involved in the passing game will likely continue in 2019, with some tight ends possibly being added to the mix.
“That position, that H position can take on a lot of different roles. It can be a third receiver. It could be a second running back, or it could be a second tight end based on the body type. We kind of have all those. We have Jeremy. We have Rashod (Berry). We have Demario McCall. We have K.J., obviously. We have C.J. (Saunders), Jaelen Gill. All those guys are kind of different body types in the same role.”
Ohio State football head coach Ryan Day on the H-Back position via Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
When Urban Meyer came to Ohio State in 2012, one of the biggest changes he made to the offense was the introduction of the H-Back. The position became famous during his time in Florida when Percy Harvin was released on the college football world. While the Buckeyes never quite had someone at H-Back who had the impact of Harvin, what players like Curtis Samuel, Jalin Marshall, and others did at the position was nothing to sneeze at.
Over the last two years, the H-Back position at Ohio State has underwent a bit of a transformation. With Mike Weber and J.K. Dobbins at running back, the Buckeyes didn’t need their H-Backs to be as involved in the running game as they did when players like Curtis Samuel and Dontre Wilson lined up at the position. After having at least one H-Back see at least 20 carries every year from 2013-16, over the last two years Parris Campbell and K.J. Hill saw a combined 22 carries. Because of the lack of a need to give the H-Back carries over the last two years, the position was heavily involved in the passing game, especially in 2018 when Campbell recorded 90 catches as the Buckeyes shattered a number of school passing records.
It seems likely that players like Demario McCall and Jaelen Gill seeing some carries at H-Back for the Buckeyes this year, don’t expect for the number to be similar to what Samuel saw during his time at Ohio State. In a bit of a different wrinkle, Day has been working with a couple tight ends at H-Back, with Jeremy Ruckert being a prime candidate to possibly see snaps at the position. With the position having evolved over the years during Meyer’s time at Ohio State, it already seems like Day is continuing with the trend and looking for new ways to keep opposing defenses on their toes.
“Look at the skill that we have there, ‘go out and compete’ for all of those guys. Go out here and play ball. Whoever has the best training camp... we as coaches have got to decide where to put them and get them on the field. I am going to be consistent with that, and that is how I talk to the players, and that is how I will be honest with you guys, and that is what we have to do, that is our jobs.”
Ohio State secondary coach Jeff Hafley on the safety position via Tony Gerdeman, The Ozone
For new secondary coach and co-defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, at least one part of Ohio State’s safety combination in 2019 was very easy to identify. Senior Jordan Fuller returns to the Buckeyes for his third year at starter, and will look to put a bow on a strong career in Columbus. Who will start next to Fuller in the fall isn’t nearly as easy to identify.
In the second half of last season, Brendon White started next to Fuller at safety. While White will likely still lineup at safety on passing downs, he will spend the bulk of his time at the new Bullet position. This leaves Jahsen Wint, Isaiah Pryor, and Shaun Wade to battle for the second starting safety spot.
Hafley and the rest of the coaching staff got a good look at the trio during spring practices, as Fuller was on the sidelines due to injury. Wade was the top strong safety for Ohio State during spring practices, while Pryor lined up at free safety. Even though Wade and Pryor saw a lot of reps during spring practices, Wint made a big impact during the spring game, stating his case for more playing time.
Even though there is still the question of who will play next to Fuller at safety, at least a little bit of the concern can be eased since the Buckeyes have a number of talented players who can fill the role. Wade is the most intriguing prospect after he came to Ohio State as a top-rated recruit, but Pryor and Wint have shown they belong as well. Whoever is tabbed as the starter will have the luxury of working in tandem with a veteran like Fuller. The competition in training camp should be exciting, and whoever comes out on top will have truly earned the starting position.
“I took some time off during May, went through rehab probably that whole month and worked on basic skill stuff, fundamental stuff while my body was healing. I took that time to really recover and I’m back fully covered now. I think my body really needed it, just to lighten up on the legs and stuff like that. It was good, just taking it slow and getting everything back to 100 percent.”
Ohio State forward Kyle Young via Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State was at its best last year when forward Kyle Young was on the floor. The sophomore brought plenty of energy and grit to the Buckeyes, and when he was on the floor with Andre and Kaleb Wesson, the trio had the best cumulative plus-minus rating for the Buckeyes.
The problem for Ohio State in the latter half of the year was that Young was limited by a stress fracture in his lower left leg. Young ended up missing five games in January and early February, and was limited after he returned, logging at least 25 minutes in just four of the final 14 games of the season. Young admits that he rushed coming back from the injury so he could get back on the court, but he has taken the time in the offseason to make he is fully recovered ahead of his junior season.
Making sure his body is healed from the stress fracture isn’t the only area in which Young has been working on this offseason. During his first two seasons, Young’s offensive game has been rather limited, but he is working on expanding his shooting range as he prepares for the final two years of his Ohio State career. Last year, Young shot 71.7 percent from the field, which led the Big Ten, but he only took 13.3 percent of his team’s shots while on the court.
With Young working on his shot, the junior could be primed for a breakout season for Ohio State. Even though the Buckeyes have a number of top recruits coming to Columbus, Ohio State will need the experience and toughness that Young provides. Any extra offense the Buckeyes can get from Young will be an added bonus, as Ohio State looks to reach the NCAA Tournament for a third consecutive season. With Young finally healthy, along with expanding his offensive game, expect to see a different Young on the floor the season for Ohio State.
STICK TO SPORTS
- Heavy rain is causing havoc all around Ohio, with numerous roadways around Central Ohio being closed due to high water.
- While details have yet to be revealed, the Short North looks to be adding some Louisiana flair.
- The return of the Columbus Underground Beer + Ice Cream Block Party is slated for June 30 at The District PourHouse at The University District Gateway.
- Jeopardy! champ James Holzhauser donated $1,100 for show host Alex Trebek to a pancreatic cancer walk in his former hometown.
- A new trailer for The Lion King live-action remake has been released.
Continue reading...
LGHL 2021 WR has “great” camp visit at Ohio State
- News
- 0 Replies
2021 WR has “great” camp visit at Ohio State
Charles Doss via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
We caught up with one of the latest Buckeye offers.
While the rain took a break for most of Wednesday, you might’ve been outside trying to enjoy the sun.
Do you need to catch up on some of the latest news surrounding the recruiting efforts of the Ohio State Buckeyes? Don’t worry! Land-Grant Holy Land is here to save the day.
2021 WR has “great’ camp at OSU
Ryan Day, Brian Hartline, and the rest of staff at Ohio State have been working their tails off playing host to a long list of talented high school prospects so far this camp season.
Dishing out many offers along the way, class of 2021 wide receiver Dekel Crowdus was just one of the recruits who caught the attention of the Buckeye coaches with his skills in person during camp last weekend.
“It was great at Ohio State. I had an amazing camp that day,” Crowdus, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound speedster from Lexington, Kentucky, told Land-Grant Holy Land.
“(I learned) To get my head around when I break out of my routes and to run my routes at a 4.36 speed,” the Frederick Douglass junior added on what tips he learned during his time with the OSU staff.
Arriving in Columbus with offers on the table from programs such as Kentucky, Penn State, and the University of Tennessee, Crowdus left the 614 with a chance to rock the Scarlet and Gray on the college level.
Blessed to receive an offer from THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY ️ @OhioStateFB @julian_040 @brianhartline @lejondaryy pic.twitter.com/zsxFBodsE5
— Dekel Crowdus (@CrowdusDekel) June 15, 2019
“Coach Hartline offered me,” Dekel said. “They (OSU coaches) loved my performance. They loved my 40 yard dash and loved how I was making plays during 1-on-1’s.”
When it comes to rankings, Crowdus should watch his name climb up the rankings in the coming weeks. A three-star prospect at the moment, he’s currently pegged as the 49th wide receiver, and 317th overall prospect in the entire class of 2021, according to 247Sports.
Want to get a small glimpse into what caught the Buckeyes attention? Check out these highlights of Dekel Crowdus in game action from last season:
Basketball Buckeyes offer 2020 PF
Ryan Day and the football squad aren’t the only ones handing out scholarship offers to top notch prospects, so are Chris Holtmann and the basketball program.
Announcing his offer via his Twitter page yesterday, three-star 2020 power forward Zed Key is the latest recruit to earn a chance to call Columbus his future home.
Blessed and Honored to have received an offer from Ohio State #blessed #honored #motivation #hardwork #hardworkpaysoff #basketball pic.twitter.com/0aezduYZBy
— Zed Key (@ZedBasketball14) June 19, 2019
With over 20 full rides from programs across the country, the Buckeyes find themselves up against the likes of Illinois, Pittsburgh, Florida, and UConn for the 6-foot-8, 215-pound New York native.
Continue reading...
Charles Doss via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
We caught up with one of the latest Buckeye offers.
While the rain took a break for most of Wednesday, you might’ve been outside trying to enjoy the sun.
Do you need to catch up on some of the latest news surrounding the recruiting efforts of the Ohio State Buckeyes? Don’t worry! Land-Grant Holy Land is here to save the day.
2021 WR has “great’ camp at OSU
Ryan Day, Brian Hartline, and the rest of staff at Ohio State have been working their tails off playing host to a long list of talented high school prospects so far this camp season.
Dishing out many offers along the way, class of 2021 wide receiver Dekel Crowdus was just one of the recruits who caught the attention of the Buckeye coaches with his skills in person during camp last weekend.
“It was great at Ohio State. I had an amazing camp that day,” Crowdus, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound speedster from Lexington, Kentucky, told Land-Grant Holy Land.
“(I learned) To get my head around when I break out of my routes and to run my routes at a 4.36 speed,” the Frederick Douglass junior added on what tips he learned during his time with the OSU staff.
Arriving in Columbus with offers on the table from programs such as Kentucky, Penn State, and the University of Tennessee, Crowdus left the 614 with a chance to rock the Scarlet and Gray on the college level.
Blessed to receive an offer from THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY ️ @OhioStateFB @julian_040 @brianhartline @lejondaryy pic.twitter.com/zsxFBodsE5
— Dekel Crowdus (@CrowdusDekel) June 15, 2019
“Coach Hartline offered me,” Dekel said. “They (OSU coaches) loved my performance. They loved my 40 yard dash and loved how I was making plays during 1-on-1’s.”
When it comes to rankings, Crowdus should watch his name climb up the rankings in the coming weeks. A three-star prospect at the moment, he’s currently pegged as the 49th wide receiver, and 317th overall prospect in the entire class of 2021, according to 247Sports.
Want to get a small glimpse into what caught the Buckeyes attention? Check out these highlights of Dekel Crowdus in game action from last season:
Basketball Buckeyes offer 2020 PF
Ryan Day and the football squad aren’t the only ones handing out scholarship offers to top notch prospects, so are Chris Holtmann and the basketball program.
Announcing his offer via his Twitter page yesterday, three-star 2020 power forward Zed Key is the latest recruit to earn a chance to call Columbus his future home.
Blessed and Honored to have received an offer from Ohio State #blessed #honored #motivation #hardwork #hardworkpaysoff #basketball pic.twitter.com/0aezduYZBy
— Zed Key (@ZedBasketball14) June 19, 2019
With over 20 full rides from programs across the country, the Buckeyes find themselves up against the likes of Illinois, Pittsburgh, Florida, and UConn for the 6-foot-8, 215-pound New York native.
Continue reading...