Ohio State commit Tanner Laczynski selected by Philadelphia Flyers in sixth round
Matt Torino via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Ohio State commit was selected with the 169th pick in the 2016 NHL Draft.

Future Ohio State forward Tanner Laczynski was finally selected by the Philadelphia Flyers with the 169th selection in the 2016 NHL Draft. The forward was predicted to go in the 5th or 6th round after being ranked No. 99 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

The Shorewood, Illinois native played his USHL hockey for the Chicago Steel, until he was dealt to the Lincoln Stars in February of this year. He had 46 points in 47 games in his first full season for Chicago, and had a breakout 2015-16 campaign where he scored 24 goals and 63 points in 52 games between Chicago and Lincoln.

The future Buckeye forward will be joining the Ohio State hockey team in the Fall of 2016 and will look to provide a freshman scoring boost a la Mason Jobst last season. You can read more about Tanner with our pre-draft profile here.

Go Bucks.

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How To Kill Time Between Seasons
tBBC Staff via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

There’s nothing better than being a sports fan. Unfortunately, there are very few sports that run throughout the entire year. When you have downtime between seasons, you might find yourself without entertainment. Next time you face an off-season, you might want to consider one of the options below.





Focus on the Minors


If you’re a fan of a sport that has a minor or college league, it might be time to take a look at the up and coming prospects. If you’re lucky enough that your sport actually has a minor/college league that plays during the off-season, you can catch a few games. If not, it’s time to start looking at the scouting reports. This can give you an edge when it comes to fantasy sports when the season resumes, and it can also give you a great chance to talk about your favorite sport.


SOUTH WILLAMSPORT, PA – AUGUST 30: Dylan Rodenhaber #18 of the Mid-Atlantic team from Red Land Little League of Lewisberry, Pennsylvania (C) is mobbed by teammates after hitting a grand slam against team Japan in the first inning of the Little League World Series Championship game at Lamade Stadium on August 30, 2015 in South Willamsport, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Go Amateur


Love your sport? Why not play it? There’s a pretty good chance that there is a recreational or neighborhood league near where you live, so give yourself a chance to go out there and play with others. This gives you a chance to put your theories into practice, and might give you a better insight on how the sport is played. If you can’t make it out onto the field yourself, you always have the option of coaching. Still sound like too much work? There’s always video game sports – a great way to simulate the sport you love so much.



Play the Casino


If you’re into competition and winning, why not make some money off that love? Take some time to play instant casino games at Euro Palace to scratch your itch. Playing games online is a great way to kill some time between seasons, and it might even help you make some money. Even when you’re not winning, you still get the thrill of competition – and for many, that’s exactly what’s missing in the off season. Give yourself the gift of gaming by going online to try your luck in one of the innumerable free games of chance.




PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 24: Wales players Chris Gunter (l) Joe Ledley (2nd left) Gareth Bale and Andy King (r) share a joke during Wales Open Session prior to their Euro 2016 match against Northern Ireland at Parc des Princes on June 24, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Switch Sports


It’s always a good idea to have a back-up sport. While you can’t always replicate the love you have for your favorite game, you might find something you love almost as much. Finding a back-up sport will allow you to have something to watch in the off-season and might even give you a new fantasy league to join. There are few days in the year when something isn’t being played, so try to find a sport that plays during your sport’s off-season for the best results. With a little luck, you’ll find a new passion to tide you over.

The off-season doesn’t have to mean boredom. Find a new sport, get out there and play, or even compete online for a little entertainment. When you’re willing to find new ways to indulge your love of sports you’ll always find new ways to stay busy. After all, the next season is just around the corner.

The post How To Kill Time Between Seasons appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Tanner Laczynski only Ohio State hockey player likely to taken in 2016 NHL Draft
Matt Torino via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Just two years ago, Ohio State had three players taken in the 2014 NHL Draft. Tyler Nanne, Miguel Fidler and Dakota Joshua were all selected in the fifth round that year, but not a single player committed to Ohio State was taken in the 2015 NHL Draft. While Coach Steve Rohlik hasn’t been able to bring in that bundle of NHL talent he saw two years ago, he does have one player likely to be taken this year at the 2016 NHL Draft taking place on June 24-25 in Buffalo, NY: Tanner Laczynski.

The American 1997 center hails from Shorewood, Illinois, less than six hours from Columbus, and played his USHL hockey local as well for the Chicago Steel until being dealt to the Lincoln Stars in February 2016. Laczynski put up 46 points in 57 games in his first full season in the USHL for Chicago, and then broke out in 2015-16, scoring 24 goals and 63 points in 52 games combined for Chicago and Lincoln while also increasing his overall +/- from -7 to +10.

Laczynski has also been a member of the Team USA U18 team for the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in 2014, where the US took third place and Laczynski put up one goal and one assist in five games. He then represented his country on the US’ U19 team at the World Junior A Challenge, where the US again took third place, with Tanner registering three assists in five games.

He stands at 6’ tall but at only 174 lbs., per EliteProspects. That, along with the steep learning curves we’ve seen for Nanne, Fidler and Joshua, amongst others, gives one pause when expecting Laczynski to step right in next year and put up a freshman season that Nick Schilkey would be proud of. He's probably going to need some time in the weight room, especially since he’s coming in right after becoming draft eligible; he just turned 19 on June 1, after all. He may be old for his draft year, already being 19 years old, but at only 174 lbs., he’s going to need some time to adjust to the more mature and, frankly, large college game.

So where is Tanner likely to go in the draft? In the final NHL Central Scouting rankings, the center from Illinois finished ranked number 99 among North American skaters, likely putting him in the 4th-6th round range when considering European skaters to be taken as well. We’ve seen Dakota Joshua come in as a projected 5th rounder and make an impact and succeed, albeit on a limited basis, so this should not be disconcerting for the Ohio State hockey fan. Any NHL talent should be welcomed. After all, Ryan Dzingel, former Ohio State hockey All-American, was just a seventh rounder.

He doesn’t strike me as the type of player that NHL teams consistently undervalue as he does have good size, so he should find his name called in the draft on the second day, which is probably all you can ask for. But what do we know about the real Tanner Laczynski?

He’s apparently a Pitch Perfect fan, as he’s been seen singing Cee Lo Green’s “Bright Lights Bigger City” a cappella, as seen in the the Treble Makers’ finale performance at Lincoln Center:


He (smartly) has his own tweets protected however, as we all know you should never tweet. But his avatar is publicly available and it’s a fantastic collection of hockey hair:



So what we know about Tanner Laczynski is that he loves Pitch Perfect, has friends with beautiful manes and can score from the center position. One of those is very valuable to NHL teams as we will see on June 24-25 in Buffalo, and the other two will make us all great fans of his for years to come.

I hope Tanner agrees that Das Sound Machine was robbed of winning the World Finals in Pitch Perfect 2.

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Script Ohio: The Ohio State Non-Conference Schedule ranks in College Football Top 10
Joe Dexter via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Joe Dexter and Clair Crawford break down Ohio State’s schedule heading into the conference season and discuss why national media pundits are ranking Ohio State’s first three games as a top-three non-conference schedule.

For more Ohio State Buckeyes podcasts, follow us on Twitter: @BuckeyesRadio

The post Script Ohio: The Ohio State Non-Conference Schedule ranks in College Football Top 10 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Tate Martell has a Message for future of the Class of 2017
Joe Dexter via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



The post Tate Martell has a Message for future of the Class of 2017 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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What If Lebron Had Been A Buckeye? - The Buckeye Battle Cry
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


What If Lebron Had Been A Buckeye?
The Buckeye Battle Cry
I must confess I love fantasy pieces. I am not necessarily speaking of 'Star Wars' and space adventures or some of the gothic stuff, or even comic books. I am speaking of sports fantasy. Every year I envision the Buckeyes winning the National Title in ...


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5 Star OL Wyatt Davis Commits to Ohio State Buckeyes
Shannon Sommers via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


What goes great with the nation’s number one quarterback Tate Martell? How about the number one offensive lineman in the nation.

Wyatt Davis (6-5, 310) just announced his commitment to The Ohio State Buckeyes. Davis is a dual sport athlete (football and basketball) from Bellflower California. He is a US Army All-American playing for St. John Bosco High School.

Wyatt is a superior run blocker and moves the Buckeyes 2017 recruiting class back to number one.

Davis is the grandson of Hall of Fame defensive end Willie Davis, who played for Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns in the 50’s and 60’s. Check out his highlights below.


The post 5 Star OL Wyatt Davis Commits to Ohio State Buckeyes appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Wyatt Davis commitment adds another 5-star to Buckeyes recruiting class: Ohio State football recruiting - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Wyatt Davis commitment adds another 5-star to Buckeyes recruiting class: Ohio State football recruiting
cleveland.com
Wyatt Davis, a five-star 2017 offensive guard from California announced his commitment to the Buckeyes on Friday during a ceremony at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, Calif. The 6-foot-5, 310-poud Davis is considered the No. 1 guard in the ...
Buckeyes working on best class in 247Sports History247Sports.com
BH: The Wyatt Davis effect; Stoney 2.0247Sports
Wyatt Davis to Ohio State: Buckeyes Land 5-Star OG ProspectBleacher Report
Scarlet and Game -The Buckeye Battle Cry -Land-Grant Holy Land
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Five Star Friday: Buckeyes Land A Huge Slob
Jeremiah (SYR) via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Things have gotten out of hand for the 2017 recruiting class. It is almost as if Ohio State Fans are living in a dream world. Top recruit after top recruit are throwing themselves at Urban Meyer and his staff in a rush to save themselves one of the very few coveted 2017 spots. The 2017 class is reaching epic proportions and the avalance continued with today’s announcement of the newest member of the 2017 class.



Wyatt Davis a 6’5″ 310 pound Five Star Offensive Guard from Bellflower, California committed to Ohio State in a ceremony at his high school today. Wyatt visited OSU last weekend and was blown away by the school and staff so much so that he committed to OSU even though nearly every “expert” had him pegged to go to Alabama before he visited OSU.

How this helps Ohio State?

Well landing a top 15 recruit in the country is a gift in and of itself but it also helps to keep the ball rolling with many of the top recruits in the country. This is a cornerstone recruit along with fellow five star OL Josh Myers and top 100 OL Jake Morretti OSU has the top OL class in the country. It also helps with other five star recruits from California like Darnay Holmes and Tyjon Lindsey. It also helps keep OSU well ahead of the rest of the country and most importantly Michigan.





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2017 5-star OG Wyatt Davis commits to Ohio State
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


BOOOOOOM!

Thanks to some recent Alabama commitments, Ohio State lost their grip on the top recruiting class in the country. Now, they’ve grabbed it back, thanks to a massive reinforcement from an unlikely place.

Wyatt Davis, the top ranked guard in the country, and a five-star prospect, has committed to Ohio State, per multiple reports.

It wouldn’t be a huge commitment without the requisite BOOM as well:



The 6’5, 310 pound Davis, from Bellflower, CA, picked Ohio State over virtually every top program in the country. He was being pursued especially hard by Notre Dame, UCLA and Alabama, although he also reported offers from Michigan, and a slew of Pac-12 and SEC programs. He is listed as the 14th best recruit in the country, and the 5th best player in California, per 247 Sports.

Davis gives the Buckeyes a truly amazing offensive line recruiting class, as Ohio State already secured the commitment of Josh Meyers, a five-star recruit who is listed as the top tackle in the country. They also have four-star Jake Moretti, a top 60 prospect at tackle from Colorado. This threesome should give Ohio State’s offensive line a powerful foundation for years to come.

Our analyst, Christopher Jason, had a closer look at his tape. Here’s what he thinks:

Wyatt Davis is a grown man, standing at 6’5” and 310 lbs as the No. 1 ranked guard on 247’s Composite Rankings. Davis is a physical, throwback lineman with a high football IQ, who excels as both a run and pass blocker. He primarily played left tackle his junior year, but he will almost certainly play guard in Columbus.

Davis is an exciting prospect to watch as a run blocker, as he mauls good competition while playing for powerhouse St. John Bosco in Bellflower, CA. Davis shoots low out of his stance, delivers a violent initial pop to the defender and drives him back to the second level. He keeps his pads lower than his opponent and continuously finishes his blocks with aggression. There’s a good chance that Davis’ opponent is laying on the ground when the whistle blows. When his job is to get to the second level, Wyatt Davis uses his athleticism to get to the second level and stick to the defender. Davis’ blend of size and athleticism is elite, which makes him an excellent run blocker.

When watching Davis’ tape as a pass blocker, it is easy to forget that he is only a junior in high school. Wyatt Davis possesses great footwork, which allows him to get into a strong base and use his long arms to engage in battle. He does a good job of using his arms to keep the defender away from his body and allow space between himself and the pass rusher. His athleticism allows him to move side-to-side with ease and that ability will only help when facing the elite speed rushers of college football. His pass rush technique is excellent for a high school junior and he will only improve next season and even more once he gets to Columbus in 2017.

Overall, Wyatt Davis is a special talent on the offensive line and he is one of the more polished offensive line prospects that Urban Meyer has recruited to Ohio State. Davis’ measurables and his athleticism will allow him to get early playing time for the Buckeyes. Expect him to be a household name and one of the better guards in the Big Ten by the end of his second playing season.

With this commitment, the Buckeyes are back to 14 commitments in the class of 2017. With space at a tight premium, the next few weeks should be interesting, to see which players hop in the boat at wideout, defensive back, and other positions. It’s fair to say, Ohio State’s next commitment should be another elite prospect.

You can see highlights of Davis in action here:

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Jessica Porvasnik Advanced to Round of 16 in Ladies British Open Amateur Championship
Ken via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


(Image courtesy Scotlandgolf.com and tourney information courtesy OSU Athletics web site)

Buckeye Jessica Porvasnik advanced through stroke play qualifier and two rounds of match play before being edged by Oregon native Monica Vaughn in the Round of 16 in the Ladies British Open Amateur Championship. Jessica was 2-down with 2 holes to play. Not a good position to be in. She rallied to win the 17th hole (clutch golf) to move to 1-down, but lost the 18th hole, and the match, with Monica claiming the match, 2-up.

The OSUWG team was well represented this week at the 2016 Ladies British Open Amateur Championship at Dundonald Links. The course is situated near Troon in Ayrshire, about 30 miles southwest of Glasgow. It is hard by the Firth of Clyde on Scotland’s west coast. As the above video indicated, this course (played from the White Tees – 6,291 yds, par 72 – for this event) can be a challenge. Assuming that you find the fairway and keep your ball out of the heather, you then have to navigate terrain that could pass as “moonscape” or an “RAF practice bombing range”.

Frankly, this is a great event and a greater experience for the Buckeyes. The Ohio State players were: Zoe-Beth Brake (New Zealand), Jaclyn Lee (Canada), Katja Pogacar (Slovenia), Jessica Porvasnik (United States), Niki Schroeder (United States) and Rio Watanabe (Japan). Obviously, coaches Therese Hession and Lisa Strom made this trip, as well. You’ll notice the player’s native country in parenthesis after the player’s name. Since this is an international amateur event, although coaches Hession and Strom are taking them to Scotland as Buckeyes, they are representing their respective homelands. A very nice touch.

Here’s the format: The 144 contestants play 36 holes of stroke play, 18 holes on each of the first two days (June 21-22). The low 64 players begin match play June 23 -25, concluding when, well, there’s a winner.

Stroke Play Qualifier


After the 1st round, the “preliminary” cut-off score was 79 (+7). Jessica (76) and Katja (78) were inside the cut line whilst Jaclyn (80), Rio (80), Niki (81) and Zoe-Beth (84) were just outside the cut. All in all, a good first day showing for the Buckeyes; 2 players appearing to be in good shape for match play and their 3 of 4 team mates with two strokes of qualifying.

Round 2, the final qualifying round shook out a bit differently. Jessica shot a 75 for a 2 round total of 151 (+7). Katja shot 76, 154 (+10). Zoe-Beth shot 77, 161 (+17), Rio shot 81, 161, +17), Niki shot 84, 165 (+21) and Jaclyn shot 88, 168 (+24). Unfortunately, the cut line was 156 (+12), so the only Buckeyes advancing to match play were Jessica and Katja.



Match Play


Round of 64

In Match #10, Katja (seeded #37) faced Lena Schaffer (#24 seed) of Germany. Unfortunately, Katja fell to Lena 3 & 2 (down three holes with two to play). Katja’s tournament is over. But, she can still enjoy Scotland!

In Match #29, 15th seeded Jessica (Porvasnik) faced 50th seed Jessica (Meek) of Scotland. “Our” Jessica prevailed 3 & 2 to move on to the round of 32.

Round of 32

Jessica drew #18 seed Lucretia Colombotto Rosso of Italy (obviously) for the afternoon round of match play. Jessica got off to a great start, and was 4-up through 9 holes. That’s a pretty comfortable lead to have, but if you remember how treacherous the golf course looked, Miss Porvasnik can’t fall asleep on her opponent. Jessica withstood a back nine challenge to hold on to win 2 & 1. She now advances to the “Sweet 16”.

Jessica’s next opponent will be Monica Vaughn of Oregon, who plays for Arizona State University. Like Jessica, Monica was up four holes at the turn and held on for a 2 & 1 win.Monica has recent experience in international play in the British Isles as part of the 2016 United States Curtis Cup team. Monica has some very recent international match play experience. Friday’s match should be good.

In related news, Lena Schaffer (winner over Katja Pogacar the 1st round of match play) needed 3 extra holes to beat her opponent, Amanda Linner (Sweden), to also advance to the Round of 16.

Round of 16


This was a close, well played match. Jessica was down 1 hole after 5 holes of play and down 2 with 2 holes (dormie 2) to play. She won the 17th hole to pull within one hole, but, unfortunately, lost the 18th hole.

Wrap Up


This was a great experience for the players. Getting in a few rounds in the home country of golf is always nice, as is experiencing people from other cultures, but the high level of competition they experienced is what stands out. Preparing for “life after Ohio State” is a worthy goal, especially in this case, if any of the players have aspirations to play on any of the professional tours, or otherwise compete in international competitions.

The level of competition in these types of events goes way beyond competition in regional tournaments, Conference play and even NCAA championships. This was a great opportunity to test their games at a high level to assess where they stand. All in all, I think they measured up quite well.





The post Jessica Porvasnik Advanced to Round of 16 in Ladies British Open Amateur Championship appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Tee-k Kelly Awarded All-America Status
Ken via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


(Image and announcement courtesy of Ohio State Athletics Dept)

Here’s a bit of more food news for Buckeye Golf. Senior Tee-k Kelly has been named All-America Honorable Mention by the Golf Coaches of America (GCAA)!

If you clicked on the first link (above) you saw where Tee-k led the team in rounds played and in scoring. This, to me, was a “two season” season for Tee-k. The Fall/early Spring portion of the golf schedule was “blah”, at best. In 6 events, he had 1 Top 10 and another Top 20 finish. His average finish during this stretch was 38th, averaging 8.6 over par per event.

But, beginning with his win at the Lone Star Invitational, his average finish was 15th, averaging 2 over par per event. That is an impressive improvement. In six rounds in the NCAA’s, Tee-k averaged almost 1/2 stroke under par per round. That’s some pretty serious golf played under pretty serious circumstances.

Tee-k’s play to close the season provided the “stabilization” of consistently good upperclassman play that, I’m sure, first year coaches Jay Moseley and Brad Smith appreciated. Again, congratulations to Tee-k Kelly for being recognized for his accomplishments.

The post Tee-k Kelly Awarded All-America Status appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Ohio State’s JaQuan Lyle takes on talent at CP3 camp, and looks good doing it
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


JaQuan Lyle has been doing some work this off-season

JaQuan Lyle goes 1v1 against some of basketball’s top talents


After missing the NCAA Tournament this past season, things had to change for the Buckeyes. Look no further than sophomore JaQuan Lyle, who took to the CP3 camp to show off what he has done this offseason.


Rodger Bohn, writer for Slam Magazine, also noted that Lyle went up against former Hoosier star and now current Oklahoma City Thunder member Victor Oladipo, as well Kentucky Wildcat freshman Malik Monk.


This is what you want to see from the probable go-to guy this season: slimming down, working out against the best and preparing for another season for the always physical Big Ten season.

We’ll see what improvements Lyle has made/will make this summer as soon as the season starts. The non-conference slate for the Buckeyes include Providence, Virginia, Connecticut and UCLA.

“We’re disappointed he’s not here,”


– Tim Shoemaker (Eleven Warriors), as San Diego Chargers GM Tom Telesco describes what it feels like when Joey Bosa hasn’t showed up to camp

It’s that time during camp workouts when GMs, coaches and player personnel breakdown what they’ve seen from the latest crop of NFL draftees.

This season, the Buckeyes fielded practically half a team worth of talent. The notable members being defensive end Joey Bosa and running back Ezekiel Elliott.

For the Chargers, Bosa hasn’t shown up to camp yet, as he is holding out due to contract negotiations. Telesco said that camp is part of a “learning process for all players”. While the former Buckeye All-American hasn’t suited up yet in a Chargers uniform, quarterback Phillip Rivers said that using their No.3 pick on Bosa was the right choice.

Some people on Twitter dot com want Bosa signed ASAP.


Down in Dallas, the Elliott hype train is set to max speed. In an article written by The Washington Post, Elliott agreed that the hype “is everywhere”.

The hero in a half shirt has stunned the Cowboys this offseason. From making ankle breaking touchdown rushes to avoiding the rookie hazing culture, Elliott is seen as the running back answer the Cowboys have been desperately looking for since the departure of Emmitt Smith.

As camps unfold stick to Land-Grant Holy Land for all of your past and current Buckeyes on the gridiron. Speaking of gridiron, the future of Ohio State is looking bright, too.

Ohio State and Alabama jostle for No.1 recruiting class for 2017


The college football recruiting rankings for 2017 have the making for an epic battle between the Buckeyes and the Crimson Tide.

A few weeks ago, 247Sports had the Buckeyes ahead of the 2015 Sugar Bowl runner-ups, however, things have changed within the past few days. Bama was able to secure a 4-star commit, and overtook the Buckeyes by a score of 254.86 to 253.95 for the top spot.

Friday night (June 24), 5-star offensive guard Wyatt Davis (Bellflower, CA / St. John Bosco) will make his announcement on where he will attend college. Naturally, Ohio State and Alabama are in the running for the California native. A Buckeye commit from Davis would certainly put the scarlet and gray back into their No.1 throne.


Stay tuned to Land-Grant Holy Land, as we’ll have updates on the Davis announcement.

STICK TO SPORTS


• The United Kingdom are taking their talents out of the European Union, and the E.U. wants them out ASAP.

• Tanger Outlets opens in Columbus. In other news, expect Sunbury, Ohio to be a parking lot.

• Fresh off an NBA Championship, the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted Kay Felder – the closest thing we have to a human pogo stick.

• Chicago man with the last name Gambles wins the lottery (again).

• The story of James Conner and the battle to get back on the football field

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Floods turn PGA Tour course into a river just weeks before tournament



Watson shared a video of the raging flood that has taken over the course, turning it into a massive stream. This is supposed to be a fairway.

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He also tweeted a photo of the first hole from the tee box.



bubba watson
✔@bubbawatson
1st hole tee shoot not so easy right now!!#GreenbrierClassic2Weeks #GladIGotNewJeep
4:42 PM - 23 Jun 2016

The Greenbrier Classic is scheduled to be held from July 4-10, which is just two weeks away. With all the damage that has been done to the course and the resort, as well, it's going to take a lot of work to get it ready for a PGA Tour event in short time.

Entire article: http://www.foxsports.com/golf/story/pga-tour-bubba-watson-greenbrier-classic-floods-river-062416

Now that is what I'd call a "world class water hazard"....

BH: The Wyatt Davis effect; Stoney 2.0 - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BH: The Wyatt Davis effect; Stoney 2.0
247Sports
With that in mind, it's no surprise that even though Dublin (OH) Coffman WR/TE Caleb Stoneburner, brother of former OSU TE Jake Stoneburner, had a great camp last Friday in Columbus, that many are dismissing him as a possibility for the Buckeyes.
Ohio State looks to secure 5-star offensive guardLand-Grant Holy Land
Wyatt Davis could give Ohio State top recruiting class ... again247Sports.com
Skull Session: Ohio State's Financial Incentive To Schedule Big Out-of-Conference Games, Nick Bosa Tabbed as Top ...Eleven Warriors
Campus Insiders -cleveland.com -247Sports
all 16 news articles »

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Mount Zion Buckeyes 4-H club - Bucyrus Telegraph Forum
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Mount Zion Buckeyes 4-H club
Bucyrus Telegraph Forum
BUCYRUS - Mount Zion Buckeyes 4-H club recently had a meeting. The meeting started with Lyndie Williams leading the pledges. President Kenzie Kent took roll call and Kelsie Williams gave her secretary's report. Kent discussed new business which ...


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What If Lebron Had Been A Buckeye?
jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


I must confess I love fantasy pieces. I am not necessarily speaking of ‘Star Wars’ and space adventures or some of the gothic stuff, or even comic books. I am speaking of sports fantasy. Every year I envision the Buckeyes winning the National Title in football, basketball (Men’s and Women’s), rugby, track and field… and the list goes on. Unfortunately such quests fall short most often and it leaves me sad momentarily before I recognize that the fine line of creativity swung my mind into that burdensome arena called ‘make-believe.’

I have written a couple pieces for tBBC that have satisfied my fantasy cravings – there was the vision of the Buckeyes repeating as the National Champions in Football for 2015. Then there was the Tebow piece (I apologize for that) … now I have the craving again. After The Cavaliers’ ended Cleveland’s long suffering (52 years without a sports championship) and LeBron exhibited his superiority in a game with exceptional talent – now standing as the King of the World; I found myself drifting – arriving back into the 2003-04 season. There was a player for The Ohio State University – certainly a one-and-done – named LeBron James.

LeBron’s freshmen year would have been 2003-04. That year the Buckeyes finished 14-16 under Head Coach Jim O’Brien. With LeBron on the roster losses in that year to San Francisco (76-65), San Diego State (83-61), and Texas Tech (80-72) and Conference play with a record of 6-10 would not have been.

LeBron would have been at forward. He would have most likely bumped out Matt Sylvester who as a sophomore in this season averaged 3.1 points per game with a 1.4 rebounding average per game. Velimir Radinovic at seven-foot – certainly would be at center, averaging 10.3 points per game and snagging an average of six boards per game. Other compliments would certainly have been big man sophomore Terence Dials at the other forward position who at 6-9 had 10.4 points per game with a 6.6 rebounding average per game. JJ Sullinger was also in his sophomore year along with Matt Sylvester (perhaps serving as the sixth man). Ivan Harris was also on the team – and leading scorer Tony Stockman was there too (13.6 per game).

During his rookie season in the NBA, LeBron averaged 20.9 points per game against professional athletes, most of which were considerably older than him. It would have been insane to witness what he would have been capable of doing in one year against less-talented college basketball players. The depleted talent pool – I can only imagine would have had him in the 26.0 to 28.4 points per game range.

Looking over the 2003-04 Buckeye schedule and the results I see the Buckeyes record with LeBron improving from the gloomy 14-16 that it was to 24-6. By reviewing the schedule and the final results of the season I used a rather unscientific method to determine a LeBron presence for the Buckeyes. If he averaged 24 or 25 points per game – in some games adding more – in others less – and with a deduction of what Matt Sylvester attributed in those losses I came up with an extra ten games in the winning column – seven of which were Big Ten games. I did take a little extra liberty for the January 10th game against Penn State who beat the pants off the Buckeyes 64-47. I simply do not see the Nittany Lions beating a LeBron Buckeye squad. So with my mathematical virtuoso-license approach, as I previously mentioned, the Buckeyes would have been 24-6 overall and 13-3 in Conference. They would have been ranked high – for certain, and the NCAA’s? We can only imagine!



Even without ever officially playing for the Ohio State Buckeyes, LeBron James has made his presence felt at the university. For years, the Buckeye basketball team wore uniforms that were branded by LeBron’s Nike division. He has his own locker in the Ohio State basketball locker room, which is huge tool for recruiting. King James has been seen cheering court side at the 2011 Duke vs. Ohio State basketball game with his buddy Dwayne Wade, and on the sideline at many big Buckeye football games, most recently the National Championship of 2014. A partner in the Beats by Dre headphone company, LeBron gave each player on the Buckeye football team their own pair as a gift before the title game. Not to worry! He had his legal team make “sure” there was no NCAA violation in his gift giving.



The whole notion that if the one-and-done rule had been enacted just one year before would have resulted in LeBron James wearing a Scarlet and Gray uniform is both alluring and a wonderful fantasy. The year just “may” have been as I have dreamed in that devious “what-if” journey. At this stage (2016) it would only be bragging rights that the King was a Buckeye; because right now he is unquestionably the King of the World.

His return to Cleveland is what fantasy stories are all about and winning the title that he promised is what makes the fairy-tale so commanding … and as a Knicks fan I can only look on in my awe-struck ways with a tinge of jealousy. But all the same, I am happy for Cleveland.

On to my next project … The Movie … what shall we call it? King James? Perhaps!

You know no one can play LeBron like LeBron … so who do we get for Dan Gilbert? Do I hear Kevin Costner?

The post What If Lebron Had Been A Buckeye? appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Ohio State's Path To The College Football Playoff - Campus Insiders
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State's Path To The College Football Playoff
Campus Insiders
Had Michigan not gagged away the Michigan State game, and/or had the Buckeyes not forgotten about the run against the Spartans – more on that in a moment – the Buckeyes would've gone on to play Iowa in the Big Ten championship, they would've won, ...
Big Ten strikes it rich with new TV deal247Sports

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Making The List: William “Bill” Smith
jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


There are many routes we could take this week for Making the List. But summer’s sweltering heat has me thinking of a pool, or more specifically, swimming. I previously mentioned two Great Buckeyes in the swimmers category, Yoshi Oyakawa, and legendary coach Mike Pepe. I do know that the Buckeyes had many great swimmers in their history, and I should acknowledge them, one which was William “Bill” Smith. Bill swam for The Ohio State University in 1943, interrupted by WWII; he’d come back and swim for the Buckeyes in 1947-49.

At the age of 11 he suffered from typhoid. His father began to take him to the beach to swim in hopes of his boy recovering. He would do this for years thereafter – improving each day; religiously going to the beach, with or without his father, to aid in building his strength.

He would meet up with the legendary Coach Soichi Sakamoto – and the rest is history.

Bill headed to The Ohio State University in 1942, just as the USA was entering into WWII for the bombing of Pearl Harbor, near his home in Hawaii. He was not initially eligible to participate in NCAA sports as a freshman, yet he still succeeded at setting seven world records and two American records at AAU events. While at OSU, his teammates called him “The Whale” because of his size – weighing in at 215 pounds.

Smith’s swimming career at OSU was cut short by World War II as he would enter the U.S. Navy – serving four years. When he returned to The Ohio State University, there was speculation as to how well he would do returning to a sport that required tremendous practice and deduction – given the long absence from the water. In 1948, though, Smith would be heading to the 1948 London Olympic Games, where he won gold medals in the 400-meter freestyle race and the 4×200-meter freestyle relay. After his victories, University of Michigan Swim Coach Matt Mann was quoted as saying “Some guys can swim the greatest race of his life but ‘Smitty’ will always do just a little better.”

By the time Smith earned his degree in Education in 1950, he had captured seven NCAA titles and 15 AAU Championships. Smith was selected for The Ohio State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1977 and named The Ohio State University Swimmer of the Century in 2001.

The determination and dedication that Bill Smith displayed throughout his life is enviable. It was not only in his love for the sport of swimming and diving that generated his masterful talents, but that of life. He once replied many years after retiring competitively from the sport he so loved, “Life is like a swim. You hit an unwelcoming wave, or just have an off day. What makes the two the same is how you face that snag. You buckle up, take a deep breath, and jump back into the pool, be it water or life, and just do it. You will never fail with this idea etched in your heart, mind, and soul. God will assure you of that. When life is easy there’s nothing to smile about. When there are snags to overcome the smiles are real and broader” William “Bill” Smith is a rare Buckeye. He was determined, dedicated, and the best at his sport. What made him rare was that he probably did not even know just how great he was. He was just “Bill”.

The post Making The List: William “Bill” Smith appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Dienhart: Big Ten East offensive backfield unit rankings
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

The personnel losses at Ohio State were significant after 2015. Heading the list of key departures: running back Ezekiel Elliott. How will the Buckeyes replace him? Michigan State can sympathize, as it has lost all-time great quarterback Connor Cook. Relax. Each school appears to have answers in its backfield. [ MORE: Big Ten East OL | Big Ten East receiving corps | Big Ten East predictions ] Here is a ranking of the Big Ten East offensive backfields. 1. Ohio State. It was a huge loss with RB Ezekiel Elliott declaring for the draft and going fourth overall. Who will

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Who are the 14 biggest X factors in the Big Ten? - ESPN
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Who are the 14 biggest X factors in the Big Ten?
ESPN
Thanks to the Buckeyes' wealth of passers in 2015, the former five-star quarterback prospect redshirted last year, then made the full-time switch to wideout. And with the departure of last season's leading wide receiver trio -- Michael Thomas, Jalin ...

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Pre-Fall Outlook: Ohio State Running Backs
Brandon Zimmerman via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


It’s really no big deal at all. The Buckeyes just have to replace a guy who averaged 2,062 rushing and receiving yards during his two years as starter. No really trust me, it’s not a big deal they just have to replace a guy who scored 41 touchdowns over those two years. That’s not really that good is it? I know what you’re thinking, J.T. Barrett will be fine without a guy back there known as the best blocking running back ever and an offensive line with four guys starting for the first time or starting at a new position. Okay, maybe we should worry a little.

No matter how much you try to convince yourself, Ezekiel Elliott is no longer on the Buckeyes. He will go down as one of the greatest players to ever wear a Buckeye uniform but it is time to move on. The Buckeyes have some very talented players chomping at the bit to take his spot but no one should expect the second-coming of Zeke or even Carlos Hyde for that matter.

In February, I took a look at the four guys who I think had the best chance to take over for Zeke. Since then, it has essentially came down to a two horse race between redshirt senior Bri’onte Dunn and redshirt freshman Mike Weber. The elder statesman of the backfield, Dunn came to Ohio State as a highly touted prospect. As a true freshman in 2012, Dunn received carries in three games and had his best game against Illinois when he carried the ball 13 times for 73 yards and a touchdown. After showing promise, he has not came close to that many carries in a game since


Will the senior Bri’onte Dunn finally get his shot? (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)


and has yet to take that giant leap forward that many expected. In his defense, sitting behind two greats like Carlos Hyde and Zeke did not exactly give him the opportunity to succeed.

The other main vying for the starting job, Mike Weber came to Ohio State and immediately impressed the coaching staff last year. It was expected he would be the primary back-up to Zeke until he tore his meniscus and missed the entire season. After spending a year rehabbing and learning the nuances of the offense, Weber looks poised to challenge for the starting running back job. In the spring game, while Dunn sat out with an ankle injury, Weber flashed his skill running for 38 yards and two touchdowns.

Outside of Dunn and Weber, there are three guys who may work their way into consideration to receive carries. Junior Curtis Samuel has impressed Buckeye Nation at every opportunity and originally came to Ohio State as a running back but has spent a majority of the last year playing wide receiver in an attempt to get him touches. In February, I actually predicted Samuel would be the starting running back. During his freshman year in 2014 when Samuel primarily played running back, he racked up 383 rushing yards on 58 carries for an eye-opening 6.6 yards per carry average. No matter where he winds up, Samuel will be a major part of the offense this year.

Senior Dontre Wilson is in the same boat at Samuel. Technically, he is considered a wide receiver but you can bet that he will receive carries this year in some capacity. As many of you can remember, Wilson took Buckeye Nation by storm when he arrived to campus as a freshman. Before playing a down, Wilson had already been declared the next Percy Harvin and the best offensive weapon on the team. He wound up combining for 460 yards from scrimmage


This is a big fall for Mike Weber.


his first year on campus, which is very good for a freshman on a championship caliber team, but people were still disappointed in him because of the hype surrounding him. This year, Wilson has a chance to quiet the naysayers and show his potential at running back, wide receiver, and returner.

The final guy making a play for the starting running back gig is true freshman Antonio Williams. As I talked about in February, I really do not foresee Williams seeing the playing field this year barring any significant injuries in front of him. This is not a knock on his skillset, I just think the coaching staff would rather give carries to the quartet of Dunn, Weber, Samuel, and Wilson before burning a redshirt on Williams for a small handful of carries. Williams was an early-enrollee and had the benefit of showcasing his stuff during the spring while Dunn, Samuel, and Wilson nursed injuries. In the spring game, Williams ran the ball seven times for 29 yards.



Pre-Spring Predicted Depth Chart Pre-Fall Predicted Depth Chart
1. Curtis Samuel Bri’onte Dunn
2. Mike Weber Mike Weber
3. Bri’onte Dunn Curtis Samuel

I really am really torn with this. I am still not entirely losing hope Samuel will move back to running back as I think he is the most dynamic option back there but right now all indication is he will be a wide receiver. I realize I am pretty much the only person still throwing Samuel in with this bunch but I just have a feeling he will be a major part of the running game. I’m just going to leave this highlight video here of Samuel as a freshman running back:


Out of Dunn and Weber, I went with Dunn simply because he has showed promise in the past and the coaching staff has had a tendency to give the edge to the seniors at some points. With all the battles going into fall camp, this is the one I am the most excited about. Any of those five players I have mentioned could play a huge role in the backfield so I won’t be surprised if any of them are lined up in the backfield on the first snap against Bowling Green.

The post Pre-Fall Outlook: Ohio State Running Backs appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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It May Be Wild When The Northwestern Wildcats Play At Ohio Stadium
chipminnich via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


It is with great pride that this article marks my debut as an editor for The Buckeye Battle Cry. For those of you who do not know me, I am a young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law…No, that was Michael Knight of Knight Rider. My name is Chip Minnich, a long-time Ohio State fan, eager and happy to continue the great work that is being done here at The Buckeye Battle Cry. Please feel free to follow me on Twitter @ChipMinnich. #GoBucks!

*****

“ Hell, there are no rules here – we’re trying to accomplish something…” ~ Thomas Edison
Leave it to Thomas Edison, an Ohioan and considered “The Father Of Invention”, to appropriately summarize the goals for the 2016 Ohio State football team. No rules – just accomplish something.
“Something” is a pretty vague and open concept. Considering how much talent Ohio State lost to graduation and the NFL Draft, considering how I have written throughout spring practice about how 44 players on Ohio State’s roster are either redshirt freshmen or true freshmen…Damn right, Mr. Edison. There are no rules. Ohio State fans are just looking to see what this team can accomplish against a much tougher schedule in 2016 than 2015, with tremendously talented, yet inexperienced, players.
**
Northwestern Wildcats (Game 8)
2016 OSU Opponent Ranking: 6 out of 12
Players Recruited By Ohio State: DE Ifeadi Odenigbo was for certain. DL Ben Oxley claimed to have an Ohio State offer, but I did not see that on any of the recruiting sites I visited. Oxley does hail from my hometown of Avon Lake, which is a plus in my book.
Game Date: October 29, 2016
Kickoff Time: 5:30pm EST, telecast TBD on ABC, ESPN, or ESPN2
Location: Ohio Stadium
Rationale For The Ranking: Northwestern makes its first trip into Ohio Stadium since 2007, when Jim Tressel was the head coach for the Buckeyes, Todd Boeckman was the starting quarterback for the Buckeyes, and virtually everyone on both teams were still in grade school. Ohio State played at Northwestern in 2013, when Carlos Hyde came back from a three game suspension to score three touchdowns and rush for 168 yards in a 40-30 victory.
Here’s a better reason why I think Ohio State needs to be on their toes for this one – Ohio State will be coming off two road games at night (at Wisconsin, at Penn State), while Northwestern will have played a home game versus Indiana the week before. This is the kind of game that Ohio State cannot afford to be complacent about, as Northwestern won ten games in 2015. Pat Fitzgerald will have the Wildcats thinking upset.
Prediction: Ohio State will be excited to be playing in front of the home crowd for the first time in weeks. While not a traditional “night game”, the sun will have set by the time this game concludes. Considering this is Halloween weekend, the fans will be in good form for this one. As long as Ohio State comes into this game in the right frame of mind, after two potentially challenging road games, look for the Buckeyes to finish up October on a winning note.
Previous Rankings (as posted at Men of the Scarlet and Gray):
7 – Nebraska
8 – at Maryland
9 – Indiana
10- Rutgers
11- Bowling Green
12- Tulsa

The post It May Be Wild When The Northwestern Wildcats Play At Ohio Stadium appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Ohio State looks to secure 5-star offensive guard
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


On Friday evening, Wyatt Davis will tell the world where he is playing college football. His decision could give the Buckeyes the No.1 ranked recruiting class (again)

Camp season is still underway for the Ohio State staff. Urban Meyer and co. have been the host and guest for many camps this summer and much is yet to come in the next few weeks before the 2016 Buckeye squad gets underway. With recruiting still at the forefront of the summer months, look for work to be done to the 2017 class and preparation for the 2018 class to continue.

Davis sized boom coming?


Wyatt Davis (Bellflower, CA / St. John Bosco) visited Columbus, Ohio and the Buckeyes last weekend for the first time. While the visit seemed to go well, yesterday may have been confirmation enough that Davis was totally sold on Ohio State. Less than a full week from his visit, Wyatt announced yesterday that his commitment would be public as of today at 6:00 p.m. ET. The 5-star and No.1 offensive guard in the 2017 class stands at 6-foot-5, 310 pounds and seems to be down to Ohio State, Notre Dame and Alabama in his final three schools.


While we will know for sure this evening on Wyatt's decision, social media went crazy yesterday as the 247sports crystal ball saw sixteen predictions in Ohio State's favor in one day. Obviously, with basically every expert in on the same school for Wyatt's destination, something is certainly trending well for the Buckeyes. Look for Ohio State to land yet again another 5-star prospect for the 2017 class.

The work being done by Urban Meyer and staff for this class and on the West Coast is certainly incredible.

Martell's big board


Ohio State landed their guy at quarterback two weeks ago when Tate Martell (Las Vegas, NV / Bishop Gorman) gave his pledge to the Buckeyes. Since then, the nation's top dual threat quarterback in 2017 has done nothing but promote his Buckeyes as a recruiter.

While Ohio State's staff has already assembled a historical class in terms of talent, Tate decided to take things in his own hands and go after many of Ohio State's top targets still available. In recruiting, relationships are extremely important, but when talent is on stock as it is in the 2017 class for the Buckeyes, it seems that the rich only get richer.

To see who Tate is heavily recruiting you can take a look at the tweet he sent out yesterday. Luckily for both Buckeye fans and Tate, Urban Meyer and Ohio State leads for many of the names on his board.


It's a great time to be an Ohio State fan.

Back to first place?


It was cemented in place for what seemed like forever that Ohio State was the nation's top ranked 2017 recruiting class. According to 247sports, however, Alabama took over the top spot and passed Ohio State – just barely, though.

However, with several top prospects still highly considering Ohio State and many having the Buckeyes as their leader, Urban Meyer's 2017 class may be back in first place as soon as later today. Haskell Garrett (Las Vegas, NV / Bishop Gorman), one piece to the incredible 2017 class surely believes his Buckeyes are soon to be back on top.

Okudah in Norman


The nation's top safety, Jeffrey Okudah (Grand Prairie, TX / South Grand Prairie) has thought to have been an Ohio State lean for some time now as he has said over and over that the Buckeyes are his top school. While Ohio State has done an excellent job on Okudah (and may end up landing his services in the 2017 class), he is currently in Norman, Okla. checking out what the Sooners have to offer. While this nearly just an unofficial visit, Okudah was just in Columbus visiting Ohio State not even a week ago. As Jeffrey takes his time in selecting his school of choice, Ohio State is sitting very well for yet another 5-star top prospect.


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