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LGHL Ohio State Safety Damon Webb’s 2018 NFL Combine results and draft projection

Ohio State Safety Damon Webb’s 2018 NFL Combine results and draft projection
Alexis Chassen
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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He may not be projected as a first round pick, but the interception magnet should have no trouble finding a spot in the NFL.

One of two secondary players out of Ohio State working toward a draft pick this spring, safety Damon Webb saw playing time in all four of his years in Columbus. The cornerback-turned-safety was a two-year starter for the Buckeyes, and the only returning starter in 2017 — thanks to his three teammates being drafted last season— all in the first round. Now, Webb is looking to at least hear his name somewhere in the seven rounds of the NFL Draft.

Despite being one of many in a very deep position group at Ohio State, Webb progressed each season, before really making a splash in his senior campaign. On top of his 61 total tackles (44 solo), five interceptions, three passes defended and two fumble recoveries, the safety won Cotton Bowl Defensive MVP in his last game in the scarlet and gray. Against USC, Webb had a fumble recovery and 23-yard pick-6 to earn him the MVP honors.

He might not be projected as high as teammate CB Denzel Ward, but there’s no doubt he ends up on someone’s roster this spring — even as a UDFA. Fortunately, he is the next in a long of Buckeye safeties, some of whom have gone on to lead their teams to Super Bowl wins. (Here’s looking at you Malcolm Jenkins.) Webb isn’t afraid to be a leader, and has both his, and the Ohio State, reputation to prove it.

Scouting Report


Here’s what the pros are saying in his NFL Combine Scouting Report:


STRENGTHS: Opportunistic. Grabbed five interceptions this season and has two career pick-sixes. Defensive MVP of the Cotton Bowl against Sam Darnold and USC. Had three interceptions over his final five games. Showed improvement year over year at safety. Responded faster to quarterback’s clues as season went on. Productive tackler in both seasons as starter. Quick and consistent tackles to limit yards after catch. Good downhill depth in run support to limit cutback angles for runners.

WEAKNESSES: Undersized with narrow waist and the build of a cornerback. Below average athletic ability. Lacks fluidity in his change of direction. Tight-hipped. Struggles to flip and sprint when squatting on routes. Gets grabby in coverage. Will struggle to handle man coverage responsibilities against speedy receivers who climb up to his level. Shows some confusion against combo routes. Chase speed is dull. Fast running backs leave his pursuit angles ineffective.
Player schedule

  • Day 1 (Friday, Mar. 2): Travel, registration, hospital pre-exam, orientation, interviews
  • Day 2 (Saturday, Mar. 3): Measurements, medical exams, interviews
  • Day 3 (Sunday, Mar. 4): Psychological testing, NFLPA meeting, media, bench press
  • Day 4 (Monday, Mar. 5): On-field workout and position drills
Measurements

  • Height: 5-10 6/8”
  • Weight: 209 lbs
  • Hand size: 8 1/8”
  • Arm length: 31 2/8”
  • Wingspan: 72 4/8”

Stay tuned to Land-Grant Holy Land for performance and quote updates throughout the NFL Scouting Combine.

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LGHL Ohio State CB Denzel Ward’s 2018 NFL Combine results and draft projection

Ohio State CB Denzel Ward’s 2018 NFL Combine results and draft projection
Alexis Chassen
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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The top Buckeye prospect can solidify a first-round pick with a solid performance in Indy.

The top prospect out of Ohio State this draft season is cornerback Denzel Ward. He’s been getting first-round mocks since late in the college season, and his decision to declare early for the NFL Draft was solidified when he chose to sit out of the Cotton Bowl — the only Buckeye to do so. One of only three Buckeyes to leave some college eligibility on the table, Ward is ready to prove that he should be the next graduate of #DBU with a Round 1 pick.

With three years of game film under his belt, the cornerback finished his collegiate career notching 67 total tackles (47 solo), 24 pass breakups and two interceptions. He earned consensus All-America honors in 2017, thanks to a career-best season with 17 passes defended -- 15 PBUs and 2 INTs —, good for fourth-highest single season total in Buckeye history. Ward finished his Ohio State career having played in 38 games with 13 starts.

The fact that he didn’t often crack the starting lineup isn’t entirely surprising given the host of NFL talent that he was buried behind on the depth chart. Ohio State had three DBs drafted in the first round of last year’s draft (Marshon Lattimore, Malik Hooker, Gareon Conley) and six DBs in the past three drafts. Ward will look to continue that streak and make, now-former, secondary coach Kerry Coombs one of the most successful assistants ever.


Mike Mayock said former Ohio State CB Denzel Ward is a virtual lock to go in the top 10 in the NFL draft. Mayock has rated Ward as the top CB prospect in this class.

— Garrett Stepien (@GarrettStepien) February 26, 2018

This will be Ward’s first time in front of scouts post-college ball, and,with a good Combine performance, could secure himself a top pick come April.

Scouting Report


Here’s what the pros are saying in his NFL Combine Scouting Report:


STRENGTHS: Supreme athletic ability. Expected to be impressive Combine tester. Can park in a deep squat under wide receiver’s chin at the line. Patient from press showing no panic or hurry in initial movements. Can pedal and mirror for a long time without opening hips. Tremendously gifted footwork. Mirrors and matches with good balance throughout the route. Matches changing route speed stride for stride. Plays from low side of route to take away comebacks. Uses big burst for recovery and closeouts. Carries true long speed down the field. Reads clues from off-man. Reads slants and drives in front of the route in search of an interception. Allowed just over 32 percent completions over last two years. Ballhawk with sudden hands to attack the throw. Bats throws down and will swirl arms around the catch point to prevent target from finishing the catch.

WEAKNESSES: Frame is somewhat slight and he feels small in coverage at times. Lacks play strength to jam and disrupt. Appears to avoid route contact so he doesn’t upset coverage balance. Physical receivers can body him around at the top of the route. Needs to turn and find football sooner with back to the ball. Always around the throw, but lack of size and length shows up with “just misses” in pass defense. Several pass breakups came on throws with poor placement. Coverage benefitted from deep, talented rush unit up front. Has issues disengaging from big blocking receivers. Big backs drag him for a ride in run support.
Player schedule

  • Day 1 (Friday, Mar. 2): Travel, registration, hospital pre-exam, orientation, interviews
  • Day 2 (Saturday, Mar. 3): Measurements, medical exams, interviews
  • Day 3 (Sunday, Mar. 4): Psychological testing, NFLPA meeting, media, bench press
  • Day 4 (Monday, Mar. 5): On-field workout and position drills
Measurements

  • Height: 5-10 7/8”
  • Weight: 183 lbs
  • Hand size: 8 6/8”
  • Arm length: 31 2/8”
  • Wingspan: 74 6/8”

Stay tuned to Land-Grant Holy Land for performance and quote updates throughout the NFL Scouting Combine.

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Google Carr, Reaves Down Buckeyes In Final Seconds To Move On - WTAJ

Carr, Reaves Down Buckeyes In Final Seconds To Move On - WTAJ
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Carr, Reaves Down Buckeyes In Final Seconds To Move On
WTAJ
Madison Square Garden - NEW YORK (AP) — Tony Carr found Josh Reaves for a game-winning layup with 3.1 seconds to play and Penn State may have punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament with a 69-68 victory over second-seeded Ohio State in the ...
Penn State Nittany Lions beat Ohio State Buckeyes in Big Ten ...ESPN
Nittany Lions shake off pregame bus accident to beat Buckeyes for 3rd timeABC News
Nittany Lions pounce on BuckeyesThe Register-Guard
Landof10.com -SB Nation
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Google Ryan Jacoby's commitment part of strong foundation to Ohio State's 2019 recruiting class -...

Ryan Jacoby's commitment part of strong foundation to Ohio State's 2019 recruiting class - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ryan Jacoby's commitment part of strong foundation to Ohio State's 2019 recruiting class
Landof10.com
... the cycle from Mentor (Ohio) offensive lineman Ryan Jacoby. Jacoby is a 4-star prospect, ranked as the No. 356 player overall, the No. 10 prospect in Ohio, and the No. 39 tackle in his class. The Northeast Ohio native chose Ohio State over Michigan ...
Mentor OL Ryan Jacoby commits to Ohio State: Buckeyes football recruitingcleveland.com
Jacoby had trick up his sleeve for Meyer on commitment247Sports
FAMILIAR FACES: Young settles in, earns playing time for BuckeyesSuburbanite
OSU - The Lantern -Eleven Warriors -Land-Grant Holy Land
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Google Proposed NCAA kickoff rule could impact the Buckeyes - 247Sports

Proposed NCAA kickoff rule could impact the Buckeyes - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Proposed NCAA kickoff rule could impact the Buckeyes
247Sports
As it does every offseason, the NCAA is looking at rule changes for college football. One of these proposed changes could have a direct effect on the way Ohio State plays. Among the rules the NCAA Rule Committee proposed on Friday was one to allow the ...

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Google Buckeyes' Billy Price suffers partial pectoral tear; draft stock not expected to plummet -...

Buckeyes' Billy Price suffers partial pectoral tear; draft stock not expected to plummet - The Athletic
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes' Billy Price suffers partial pectoral tear; draft stock not expected to plummet
The Athletic
INDIANAPOLIS — Ohio State center Billy Price, the epitome of durability in college football, spent Thursday night concerned about his future in the game. Hours earlier the All-America lineman and potential first-round pick suffered a left pectoral ...
Watch: Barrett hopes to show scouts he can be an NFL quarterback247Sports
JT Barrett talks future of the Ohio State offense at the NFL CombineLand-Grant Holy Land

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Google Ohio State recruiting: Buckeyes offer QB visitor, several other prospects - Austin...

Ohio State recruiting: Buckeyes offer QB visitor, several other prospects - Austin American-Statesman
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State recruiting: Buckeyes offer QB visitor, several other prospects
Austin American-Statesman
The 2020 class is just beginning to fill out and emerge nationally, but that won't prevent attempts to rank the burgeoning sophomore group nationally. 247Sports has released rankings for some players in the class of 2020. Although it's not a full ...


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Google Ohio State-Penn State final score: Buckeyes lose Big Ten Tournament game in final seconds -...

Ohio State-Penn State final score: Buckeyes lose Big Ten Tournament game in final seconds - MyAJC
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State-Penn State final score: Buckeyes lose Big Ten Tournament game in final seconds
MyAJC
But Ohio State made it close before pulling ahead on back-to-back buckets by Keita Bates-Diop with five minutes remaining, and clung to that lead. This was the third game between the two teams this season, and Penn State has won all three. The Lions ...


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Google Nittany Lions shake off pregame bus accident to beat Buckeyes for 3rd time - ABC News

Nittany Lions shake off pregame bus accident to beat Buckeyes for 3rd time - ABC News
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Nittany Lions shake off pregame bus accident to beat Buckeyes for 3rd time
ABC News
NEW YORK - Penn State's road to a spot in the Big Ten semifinals was a bumpy one. After stalling out at least once on its two-mile trip from the hotel to Madison Square Garden, the team bus was in a minor accident Friday afternoon with another vehicle ...
Ohio State-Penn State final score: Buckeyes lose Big Ten Tournament game in final secondsLandof10.com
Penn State Nittany Lions beat Ohio State Buckeyes in Big Ten ...ESPN
What To Watch: Can Buckeyes break Penn State curse?247Sports
Albany Times Union -WDTN -The Columbus Dispatch -SB Nation
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Google Ohio State recruiting: Buckeyes offer QB visitor, several other prospects - Dayton Daily News

Ohio State recruiting: Buckeyes offer QB visitor, several other prospects - Dayton Daily News
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State recruiting: Buckeyes offer QB visitor, several other prospects
Dayton Daily News
The 2020 class is just beginning to fill out and emerge nationally, but that won't prevent attempts to rank the burgeoning sophomore group nationally. 247Sports has released rankings for some players in the class of 2020. Although it's not a full ...


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Google Reaves' slam lifts PSU past Buckeyes - Altoona Mirror

Reaves' slam lifts PSU past Buckeyes - Altoona Mirror
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Reaves' slam lifts PSU past Buckeyes
Altoona Mirror
Despite all of that, the Lions survived a supremely talented Buckeyes team to advance to the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament. “It definitely means more because of the tournament,” Carr said. “If you lose here, the season's over basically.” The ...

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Google College Hockey News: Roundup: Buckeyes Explode in 3rd - College Hockey News

College Hockey News: Roundup: Buckeyes Explode in 3rd - College Hockey News
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College Hockey News: Roundup: Buckeyes Explode in 3rd
College Hockey News
It was close for a while. Then Ohio State did what its done all year. The Buckeyes defeated Michigan State, 6-2, Friday night in Columbus. Four third-period goals from the Buckeyes turned a 2-1 affair into a laugher. Mason Jobst, Sasha Larocque, John ...

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Google Ohio State basketball: A different kind of disappointing loss has Buckeyes down, but not...

Ohio State basketball: A different kind of disappointing loss has Buckeyes down, but not out yet - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State basketball: A different kind of disappointing loss has Buckeyes down, but not out yet
cleveland.com
NEW YORK -- This year's loss didn't hang as heavy over the Ohio State locker room. Not like last year. Perhaps there's not much comfort in that, but it's true. The Buckeyes, certainly dejected after getting bounced from the Big Ten Tournament by Penn ...

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LGHL Ohio State DE Tyquan Lewis’ could miss events at the 2018 NFL Combine due to the flu

Ohio State DE Tyquan Lewis’ could miss events at the 2018 NFL Combine due to the flu
Alexis Chassen
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Out of eligibility, the next great Buckeye defender is ready for his chance to play in the NFL.

UPDATE: After missing out on getting his official measurements earlier today, Ian Rapoport is reporting that the flu is spreading around the Combine, and it could keep Lewis from participating in the rest of the event, or at least the on-field workout portion. This makes two Buckeyes sidelined so far this week, with Billy Price suffering a partially torn pec during the bench press on Thursday.


This is not good. The flu is going around the Combine and #OSU DL Tyquan Lewis is among those who have it. He may not be able to participate in drills.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 3, 2018

One of the more experienced players out of Ohio State, defensive end Tyquan Lewis stayed in Columbus for his last year of eligibility, despite graduating in Dec. 2016, because he was “hungry for more,” according to Ohio State. He was among a very deep DE rotation during the 2017 — thanks to youngsters like Nick Bosa — but still managed to finish his collegiate career ranking No. 5 in program history in all-time sacks with 23.5.

His legacy with the Buckeyes also includes ranking No. 15 in career TFLs (36.5), No. 11 in TFL yards (176), and No. 7 in QB sack yards (147). The two-time team captain also won the Big Ten Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year award in 2016, and first-team All-Big Ten honors in both 2016 and 2017.

Lewis racked up such high stats thanks to his athletic ability and staying healthy. He suited up for the Scarlet and Gray in 55 games (good to tie for most games in school history) and also claimed 36 starts. He was a critical piece of stability for an Ohio State defense that both carries exceptional expectations and sees quite a bit of turnover thanks to the NFL-caliber talent.

Scouting Report


Here’s what the pros are saying in his NFL Combine Scouting Report:


STRENGTHS: Plays with adequate upfield charge as a rusher. Able to gain good ground up to the rush arc with his first two steps. Plays with good lean at the top of his rush to create momentum around the corner. Knee bend helps him flatten to the quarterback sharply once he gets around the edge. Has enough size to reduce inside and rush as a defensive tackle on passing downs. As interior rusher, can be too quick for some guards to handle. Plays with good hand strength and quickness. Gets hands into opponents early on. Has size and strength to set a firm edge against tight ends.

WEAKNESSES: Average athlete at the position. Movements can be somewhat segmented. Plays with too much wasted motion. Feet get heavy when asked to change direction suddenly. Gives up some positioning at the point of attack. Not a force against the run. Can be knocked off-balance by angle blocks and may struggle against powerful tackles. Lost playing time and production to teammate. Doesn’t show increased acceleration after his first two steps as a rusher. Doesn’t string rush moves together consistently.
Player schedule

  • Day 1 (Thursday, Mar. 1): Travel, registration, hospital pre-exam, orientation, interviews
  • Day 2 (Friday, Mar. 2): Measurements, medical exams, interviews
  • Day 3 (Saturday, Mar. 3): Psychological testing, NFLPA meeting, media, bench press
  • Day 4 (Sunday, Mar. 4): On-field workout and position drills
Measurements







FWIW, #OhioState DE/LB Tyquan Lewis missed the early weigh-in this morning because he was still in medical check. He's going to be pushed back to a later group.

— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) March 2, 2018

Stay tuned to Land-Grant Holy Land for performance and quote updates throughout the NFL Scouting Combine.

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Google Nittany Lions shake off minor pregame bus accident to beat Buckeyes for third time - ESPN

Nittany Lions shake off minor pregame bus accident to beat Buckeyes for third time - ESPN
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Nittany Lions shake off minor pregame bus accident to beat Buckeyes for third time
ESPN
3 seed Purdue at 4:30 p.m. Saturday after Purdue held off Rutgers, 82-75, in Friday's nightcap. Penn State senior Shep Garner said because of the delay he didn't get on the court to start warming up until less than an hour before tipoff against the ...
Nittany Lions shake off pregame bus accident to beat Buckeyes for 3rd timeABC News

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Google Ohio State men's basketball | In battle of stars, Bates-Diop and Buckeyes come up short -...

Ohio State men's basketball | In battle of stars, Bates-Diop and Buckeyes come up short - The Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State men's basketball | In battle of stars, Bates-Diop and Buckeyes come up short
The Columbus Dispatch
NEW YORK – A battle between two of the Big Ten's biggest stars yet again didn't go Ohio State's way. Keita Bates-Diop and Tony Carr each put up 25 points in Friday night's Big Ten tournament quarterfinal game between Penn State and the Buckeyes, but it ...

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Google Ohio State-Penn State final score: Buckeyes lose Big Ten Tournament game in final seconds -...

Ohio State-Penn State final score: Buckeyes lose Big Ten Tournament game in final seconds - Landof10.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State-Penn State final score: Buckeyes lose Big Ten Tournament game in final seconds
Landof10.com
Ohio State and Penn State battled until the final buzzer in the Big Ten Tournament, but the Nittany Lions pulled out the 69-68 win thanks to a last-second basket. Tony Carr dished it to Josh Reaves with five seconds left, and Reaves made the easy wide ...
Buckeyes Fall Once Again To Penn StateCBS Cleveland
What To Watch: Can Buckeyes break Penn State curse?247Sports
Nittany Lions shake off pregame bus accident to beat Buckeyes for 3rd timeESPN
isportsweb.com (blog) -SB Nation
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Google Ohio State: 2019 OL Ryan Jacoby commits; Buckeyes to open Big Ten Tournament vs. Penn State...

Ohio State: 2019 OL Ryan Jacoby commits; Buckeyes to open Big Ten Tournament vs. Penn State - Atlanta Journal Constitution
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Ohio State: 2019 OL Ryan Jacoby commits; Buckeyes to open Big Ten Tournament vs. Penn State
Atlanta Journal Constitution
Ohio State: 2019 OL Ryan Jacoby commits; Buckeyes to open Big Ten Tournament vs. Penn State. 0. Stephen Pianovich; Land of 10. 1:00 a.m. Friday, March 2, 2018 Sports. 0. Sports. ohio state-ryan jacoby commitment-billy price-nfl combine-injury. Ohio ...


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LGHL Ohio State basketball and the weight of expectations

Ohio State basketball and the weight of expectations
Patrick Mayhorn
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Ohio State isn’t ready for the bright lights quite yet.

Ohio State has at least one game left to play in what was an extremely unexpected 2017-2018 season. The Buckeyes aren’t anywhere near the bubble, and will happily accept their five seed that they receive next Sunday. It’s a far cry from the tumultuous 2016-2017 campaign that saw Marc Loving shrug his way through his senior season, JaQuan Lyle dribble into turnovers late in every close game, and an overall effort that felt more becoming of a 40+ men’s league (those dudes can ball, don’t sleep) than a Big Ten power.

That doesn’t make the losses hurt any less. Ohio State has been one of the best stories in college basketball this season, a giant that finally woke up from its four-year slumber, as it roared into the Big Ten title race out of nowhere. Keita Bates-Diop deservedly won Big Ten POTY. Chris Holtmann deservedly won Big Ten COTY. But, that success may be their biggest problem.

That seems counter-intuitive, sure. A basketball team being good after being bad for several years is demonstrably a good thing, but that improvement and the speed with which it happened has led the Buckeyes to where they were tonight: on the wrong side of yet another loss to the seventh best team in the Big Ten, playing without their starting center.

This isn’t the first time an Ohio State team has started hot (unexpectedly hot), and cooled down as the season came to a close, as the Buckeyes had a very similar trajectory back in the 2013-2014 season. Ohio State, led by a scrappy veteran point guard, a junior forward that could score from everywhere, a sharpshooting two guard, and a ton of upperclassmen lost to a decent to above-average Penn State team, in crushing fashion, on what was essentially a buzzer beater.

There’s no way to know if that sentence was about this current team or about the ‘13-14 team without clicking that video (I wouldn’t recommend it unless you like being sad). The point is, that there are a ton of similarities between this team and that team, and ultimately, the same thing that crashed that team is probably going to crash this team: the crippling weight of expectation.

The ‘13-14 team won their first 15 games, and finished 25-10 with a loss to a mid-major in the first round of the tournament. The ‘17-18 squad won 13 of their first 14 conference games, only to finish 24-8, with an undetermined, though seemingly predictable (and likely similar) finish to the season in the tournament.

If you tell any Ohio State fan at this time last year that the Buckeyes would be 24-8 and second in the Big Ten going into selection, they’d rightfully be ecstatic. However, if you’ve been anywhere near social media in the past 40 minutes or so, you’d know very well that folks are extremely angry on the internet about college athletics. That didn’t happen last season, at least not nearly on this scale. Was it a bummer when Ohio State lost? Sure, it’s always a bummer when Ohio State loses; but with the success this team has had, those losses have changed from disappointments to travesties, and the team has returned to a focal point in Columbus.

The only issue? This team isn’t ready to be the focal point in Columbus. There’s a reason they were projected to finish 11th in the Big Ten, and no matter what they say, the players didn’t expect this either. Ohio State doesn’t have the depth, talent, or roster to be the focal point of one of the nation’s most rabid fan bases, and that’s just fine. They aren’t supposed to. Not yet.

Will that change in the next few years under Chris Holtmann? Almost certainly! The Buckeyes have a great 2018 class coming in, led by future fan favorite Luther Muhammad, and the class of 2019 in Ohio is as good as it’s been in years. Ohio State could be adding five-star Alonzo Gaffney anytime in the next few months. The Buckeyes are on an extremely positive trajectory, and that’s what matters the most at this point. Trust the process.

Whatever Ohio State does in the tournament, they’ll be doing it as a team that defied the odds, and as a team that is, at this point, playing with house money. If they fall to a top seed in the sweet sixteen, win the whole damn thing, or even if they fall in the first round to a mid-major, Buckeye fans should be proud of what this team accomplished, and excited for how bright the future is. No matter how mad they are right now about questionable calls, bad defense, or Penn State’s immensely stupid, unbeatable basketball team.

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LGHL No. 6 Ohio State hockey plows through Michigan State, 6-2

No. 6 Ohio State hockey plows through Michigan State, 6-2
Matt Torino
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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The Buckeyes won Game 1 of the Best of 3 series versus the Spartans in the Big Ten Tournament.

The No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes blew through the Michigan State Spartans, 6-2, to take Game 1 of their best-of-three series in the quarterfinals stage of the Big Ten Tournament.

The biggest advantage of finishing No. 2 in the Big Ten versus No. 3 was avoiding previously ranked Wisconsin in the first round. Michigan State is the consensus least talented team in the conference and Ohio State did what it was supposed to do on Friday night.

This one didn’t become the easy win it turned out to be early, however. The game would be tied at one apiece until there were under four minutes remaining in the second period. From thereon, Ohio State scored four consecutive goals and moved to within a game of advancing to the next round of the conference tournament.

Tanner Laczynski opened this one up for Ohio State, as he took a pass from Wyatt Ege on the powerplay and shot one in from the top of the right circle. The puck bounced around in front and somehow found its way in, with Laczynski credited with the score. It was anything but clean, but hey, still counts.


GOAL @OhioState_MHKY!! Laczynski rips one home early in the power play to put the Buckeyes up 1-0 in the first! pic.twitter.com/jhTm8nfFCs

— BTN Student U (@BTNStudentU) March 3, 2018

(I wouldn’t call that ripping one home, but to each their own I guess.)

Shots were 11-5 Ohio State in the first and it looked like OSU would assert themselves in this one. But Michigan State tied it up just 3:12 into the second as Patrick Khodorenko put one past Sean Romeo on a bizarre broken play involving an in place spinorama. But that’d be it for MSU on the night. There’d be no Zack Snyder sepia-infused stand in this one.

Matthew Weis would score what would turn out to be the game winner at 16:32 of the second on a pass from Laczynski, and, suddenly, OSU was up 2-1 heading into the second intermission.

The third period would be a parade of Ohio State goals. Mason Jobst would be the first, scoring at 1:54 of the third, with assists going to Tommy Parran and Matt Joyaux. He redirected a shot from Parran and OSU was up 3-1.

Sasha Larocque would then increase the OSU lead to three goals. He scored on a shot from the point, with assists going to Luke Stork and Sam McCormick at 6:36. John Wiitala really put this one on ice, as he scored to make it 5-1 in favor of Ohio State at 15:40 of the third, putting in a Brendon Kearney rebound.

With 4:20 left after the Wiitala goal, OSU was ready to blaze right through the green of Michigan State. Michigan State would add a goal to make it 5-2 with 1:22 left, but by that time, it was over. Christian Lampasso added a powerplay goal with one second left to finish this one off, as if there was any doubt at 19:59 of the third.

This one went pretty much according to script for the Buckeyes. They outshot the Spartans, they outscored the Spartans and ultimately won a game they’re supposed to win. They’ve given themselves two chances to close out this first round series and move onto the second round. A Big Ten tournament title is a real possibility this year and the Buckeyes started with a solid first step.

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Google NFL's evaluations on Combine Buckeyes - 247Sports

NFL's evaluations on Combine Buckeyes - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


NFL's evaluations on Combine Buckeyes
247Sports
The NFL Combine is underway from Indianapolis as former college players from around the country hope to impress NFL personnel with measurements, interview skills and drills with no pads. But before the Combine, NFL.com evaluated each player on ...

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BTN Game 9: Penn State tops Ohio State, again, advances to Big Ten tourney semis

Game 9: Penn State tops Ohio State, again, advances to Big Ten tourney semis
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

This one took your breath away in what was the best game yet in the Big Ten tourney. Plucky Penn State, a No. 7 seed, took down No. 2 Ohio State, 69-68, to advance to the semifinals. It was the third time this season that the Nittany Lions toppled the Buckeyes.

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LGHL Penn State sweeps Ohio State with a 69-68 victory in the Big Ten Tournament

Penn State sweeps Ohio State with a 69-68 victory in the Big Ten Tournament
Matt Tamanini
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


usa_today_10669553.0.jpg

Three was a magic number for PSU as they advance to the semis in Madison Square Garden.

The old saying goes, “It’s hard to beat a team three times in a season.” Well, the No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions (21-12, 9-9) did just that against the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes (24-7, 15-3). The third victory came in the Big Ten Tournament, by a score of 69-68. After winningat the buzzer in January, and then blowing the Buckeyes out last month, PSU completed the season sweep at Madison Square Garden, and gave themselves another impressive notch on their NCAA Tournament resume.

While it was a big of a slugfest for the majority of the game, as it came down to the wire, the best player on each team began to take control. Both Penn State’s Tony Carr and Ohio State’s Keita Bates-Diop showed why they are two of the best players in the conference, and in the country.

Earlier in the week, PSU head coach Pat Chambers announced that 6-foot-9 sophomore forward Mike Watkins would be unavailable for the B1G Tournament as he dealt with a knee injury. His absence should seemingly have allowed a bigger OSU team to impose their will in the paint, but that was not the case.

The Buckeye offense went through Kaleb Wesson early on, as the freshman took OSU’s first two shots (making one), and got the assist to a streaking Bates-Diop in the lane. From there, the Ohio State offense got a little sloppy as they continued to focus in the lane. Jae’Sean Tate and Bates-Diop both missed shots in the paint.

The Buckeyes already were a bit careless with the ball early on as well. Kaleb Wesson put a little too much behind an entry pass to KBD, as it hit the rim and was rebounded by PSU. Then, Tate dribbled through the lane, and as he was turning to head back to the top of the key, he dribbled off of his foot, leading to a Penn State dunk for Lamar Stevens. After the second-seeded Buckeyes opened the game with the first two baskets, the Nittany Lions went on a 9-0 run heading into the first media timeout.


What does one do after a pair of early dunks?

, if you're @PennStateMBB's @LamarStevens11.#B1GTourney x @LibmanCompany pic.twitter.com/JUBCR7R2R2

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) March 2, 2018

After Shep Garner hit a three-pointer from Staten Island, Andre Wesson broke the Buckeye scoreless streak, and after Micah Potter got a steal on the defensive end, he found Tate on the fastbreak, and the Buckeyes had suddenly cut the lead to just 12-9. On the next possession, Potter deflected a pass, and then blocked a Stevens layup attempt to force a shot-clock violation.

Making the most of his playing time, Potter knotted the game at 12 with a triple after a media timeout, then the Buckeye defense forces a backcourt violation, and C.J. Jackson made it count with a three-pointer of his own; two possessions later, Kam Williams hit one from downtown as well. An underhanded layup by Andrew Dakich put the Buckeyes on a 14-3 run.

From the opening tip, the Buckeyes played with an incredible amount of energy. While that allowed them to go on a 20-6 run, it also led to some missed opportunities and some overcommitments on defense. That manic energy resulted in a 28-28 tie with 4:00 left in the first half. While all eight of the Buckeyes that had seen the floor in the first half had hit at least one bucket, Stevens (12) and Carr (14) had combined for 26 of PSU’s 33 points. The Nittany Lions led the game 33-32 after the first half.

One of the areas in which Ohio State’s over eagerness proved to be a problem was that they were often not in position to rebound on the defensive end. In the first half, PSU had already collected nine offensive rebounds, leading to 14 second-chance points.

At the break, Bates-Diop (8) and Tate (7) were the only Buckeyes with more than three points. However, Ohio State was out shooting the Nittany Lions from the field, 41.4 percent to 37.5. The Buckeye bench outscored their PSU counterparts 8-1, but other than that, most of the stats were fairly close, as evidenced by the one-point score.

The second half opened like much of the first half, OSU missed a layup—this time it was Tate—but the Buckeye senior got his own board, along with the hoop and the harm. The free throw put Ohio State up 35-32.

However from there, the Nittany Lions went on an 8-0 run, as the Buckeyes missed shots (including more layups), put it up unnecessarily early in the shot-clock, and mishandled the ball. With Watkins out of the game, Chambers played four guards for a large portion of the game, creating significant match-up issues for the Buckeyes on defense.

With OSU struggling on offense, Penn State took advantage going on a nearly-seven minute, 12-2 run before Bates-Diop took it strong to the hoop and completed the old-fashioned three-point play. Garner got a triple and a layup during that span, and almost nothing worked for the OSU offense, while nearly everything did for Penn State.

However, with KBD’s basket, the momentum began to swing just a bit. After a Kaleb Wesson second-chance basket, Bates-Diop threw down a monstrous dunk, and Dakich got a hustle steal in the backcourt before calling timeout from the ground with OSU down 46-44.


Offense: @KBD_33 throws it down.

Defense: @daycheck3 hustles, forces turnover.@OhioStateHoops is making a run vs. Penn State.#B1GTourney x @LibmanCompany pic.twitter.com/A5ruFwwhMZ

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) March 3, 2018

After the break, Kaleb Wesson found Williams on a back-cut, and the senior finished with a nifty reverse layup to tie the game. However, Garner got a three on the subsequent possession to get into double-figures.

The action kept going as the younger Wesson tipped the offensive rebound to Dakich, who quickly got it to KBD who hit a straight-away three to even the game at 49. Then, the Big Ten Player of the Year stole the ball from Josh Reaves around mid-court, and was fouled in the process. For the first time since perhaps late-January, Bates-Diop was beginning to take over a game on both ends of the floor.

Undeterred by KBD’s emergence, Carr, who has dominated OSU all season, began to assert himself as well. With 8:39 remaining in the game, he hit a pair of free-throws to get to 21 points— one more than his season average.

On the next offensive possession, Tate was whistled for a reckless foul, his fourth of the game; he would return to the bench. With his fellow veteran leader out of the game, KBD continued to impose his will. After missing a shot in the lane, he tipped the rebound back in. Then on the next PSU possession, he blocked a Carr layup attempt, and then Jackson found him behind the arc for a three-pointer that tied the game at 57 with 5:25 remaining.

After Tate’s bucket opened the second 20 minutes, Bates-Diop scored 13 of the Buckeyes next 20 points, keeping them in the game. After a Jackson rebound, Williams hit his own triple, giving the Buckeyes their first lead since the 19:37 point of half. Carr matched it with a banked three-pointer of his own on the next trip down the floor, but Williams answered immediately giving the lead back to the Buckeyes. With just over four minutes remaining, the there had already been 10 ties and six lead changes in the game.

Despite stretches of sloppy, uninspiring basketball in the first 30 minutes of the contest, the final 10 minutes of regulation found an extra level of intensity and execution, as both teams began hitting shots and causing havoc on the defensive end.

After back-to-back baskets by Bates-Diop, the PoY picked up his first foul contesting a Carr attempt in the lane. The Nittany Lion hit one of two free-throws to get the game to 68-65 in favor of the Buckeyes.

With less than 25 seconds remaining, KBD had the ball stolen, leading to Carr finding a streaking Reaves who slammed it home to put PSU up 69-68.

This Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET, Penn State will take on the winner of the No. 3 Purdue vs. No. 14 Rutgers quarterfinal matchup. That game will be broadcast on CBS.

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LGHL J.T. Barrett talks future of the Ohio State offense at the NFL Combine

J.T. Barrett talks future of the Ohio State offense at the NFL Combine
Alexis Chassen
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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The Buckeye QB talked about the new Co-Offensive Coordinator situation and upcoming quarterback competition.

Ohio State’s only three-time captain in program history, quarterback J.T. Barrett took the podium for some questions from the media at the 2018 NFL Combine. The Buckeye has already undergone his medical exams, measurements and some team interviews, but before he suits up for the on-field portion of the four-day interview, he also talked about the future of Ohio State’s offense.

One of the recent changes since Barrett’s last snap was the promotion of QB coach Ryan Day to Co-Offensive Coordinator. Day is now expected to share the role with Kevin Wilson, a combination that Barrett seemed a little unsure of.


I don’t know. Coach Day and Coach Wilson will make it work. We were successful last season and they’re going to do a great job with making oho state the best it can be.

You can’t blame the guy for not going all-in on the new coordinator duo, he himself only had one year playing under either of them, and sharing duties can sometimes muddy the water. Regardless, Barrett seemed excited to see who would fill his shoes as the No. 1 QB for the Buckeyes next season, noting that all three candidates are solid options.


They have some great quarterbacks at Ohio State and they’re going to battle it out. The next quarterback is going to do a great job at Ohio State. I’m not sure whether it’s going to be Dwayne, Joe or Tate. Y’all are going to follow it at spring practice so y’all will probably know more than I do.

Whoever takes over his role will certainly have some big shoes to fill. In addition to being one of the most decorated quarterbacks to ever come through Columbus, Barrett is also the only QB to beat Michigan four times as the starter. Having never lost to the Buckeyes’ bitter rival is something he holds in high regard.


I’m really glad we didn’t lose against those guys. That rivalry is always going to be there. I don’t think that fire ever burns out that we have between those guys, not just teams but fans. To say I was a part of teams that didn’t lose means a lot to me.

And if you’ve spent the past year or two wondering if there was any love lost between J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones following their QB competition in 2015, prepare to rest easy. It seems the two Buckeyes have kept in touch well after 12-gauge left for the NFL.


“My man Cardale, I talked to him on a weekly basis. Every two days he’s calling my phone.”

The 2018 season will be a big adjustment from the past several seasons, and with a new starting quarterback, a new era of Buckeye football will be ushered in. Let’s just hope they continue to be a College Football Playoff worthy team.

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