Can Bowling Green beat Ohio State? A 1 percent chance the Buckeyes could lose - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Can Bowling Green beat Ohio State? A 1 percent chance the Buckeyes could lose
cleveland.com
How they could compete with Ohio State: Let's not forget that Ohio State is replacing the vast majority of its contributors from a year ago, and the Buckeyes don't always come out and play well in early season day games. How could the Falcons come in ...

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Ohio State football players learn the true meaning of freedom
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Urban Meyer is continuing to teach his players the importance of freedom by honoring those who have served.

"We have some incredible people on our team, as most places have, and I don’t think you realize the depth until you ask for this kind of assignment. They opened their hearts to something as serious as this, and I was blown away."

-Urban Meyer, via Jesse Temple, ESPN


As a continuation of "Patriot Week" at Ohio State in May, which aimed to teach members of the football team real-life lessons about their freedom, head coach Urban Meyer is seeking ways to help others beyond the team itself. As a result, Meyer and the team reached out personally to the families of deceased servicemembers through a letter writing campaign. To make the process even more personal, Ohio State staff worked to match the players on the team with the families based on their own hometown. Defensive end Tracy Sprinkle, for example, was matched with fellow Elyria native Army Sgt. Daniel M. Shepherd, who was killed in action in Iraq in 2004. Meyer said that he will continue to incorporate the letter writing campaign into his "Real Life Wednesday" sessions, and that many of the players have found the sessions in preparation for Memorial Day to be extremely impactful. In his letter to the family of Marine Staff Sgt. Mark A. Wojciechowski, who died in Iraq in 2009, Hilliard wrote "From now on, everytime I hear the national anthem before a game, I will think of your son, and be thankful for every selfless hero who has put others before themselves in making an extreme sacrifice for the people of this country. Though I have never met your family, I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers for the rest of my life."

"Defending national champion Alabama has 10 of the 17 first-place votes and goes into the season as the clear No. 1."



-Steve Helwagen, 247Sports


With seemingly innumerable preseason polls available, all with different standings, 247sports compiled 17 of the most prominent polls currently available to produce a composite ranking of college football teams as they currently stand prior to the start of the 2016 season. Having lost two-thirds of its starters to the NFL Draft, the Ohio State Buckeyes are sitting at the No. 7 spot in the consensus poll, though they are as high as No. 3 in others. Michigan comes in at No. 5, but Ohio State ranked higher in four of five major preseason magazines. With the consensus poll, the Big Ten Championship would pit Iowa (No. 15) against Michigan. However, the Big Ten race will ultimately come down to Jim Harbaugh’s first trip to Columbus Nov. 26.

In terms of the College Football Playoff, the top-four teams are: Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma and Florida State. Ohio State and Tennessee (No. 8) are currently matched in the Cotton Bowl Jan. 2 as highly-ranked at-large bids.

While several teams, including Clemson, Oklahoma, Florida State, LSU and Tennessee, each received at least one first place vote, Alabama is the clear-cut favorite at the top spot. Following the trend of recent years, the SEC also seems to be the preseason’s favorite conference, with six teams in the top 25 and three in the top 10. The Big Ten, tied with the ACC and Big 12, has four ranked teams (Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa and No. 14 Michigan State).

"Head coach Tom Ryan and his grappling Buckeyes have embraced the challenge of being a contender in the most grueling conference in any collegiate sport."

-Joe Dexter, the Buckeye Battle Cry


Just a year removed from the first NCAA crown in program history, the Ohio State wrestling team is not letting up on its slate for the 2016-17 season. Despite its schedule last year, Ohio State still managed a third-place finish in both the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament as the team continued to improve over the course of the season. With so many tough opponents heading into this season, it will be a similar learning curve for the young but talented squad.

Already forced to contend with some of the most prominent wrestling programs in the country, such as Penn State and Iowa, the Buckeyes will also have to face Missouri, who upset Ohio State last season in Columbia. While the Buckeyes will have to travel to Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska, the latter two of whom finished in the top-10 of last year’s NCAA Tournament, Ohio State will face Northwestern, Rutgers, Illinois and Penn State at home. Ohio State is not scheduled to face Michigan in dual meets this season.

Despite the loss of key seniors, including Hunter Stieber and Johnni DiJulius, Ohio State returns six starters from last season, including junior Kyle Snyder, who is competing in the Rio Olympics later this summer. Snyder entered last season planning to redshirt in preparation for the Olympics, but returned to the Ohio State squad following the start of the team’s conference matches, ultimately earning a national title at the 285-pound weight class. After a third-place finish at Germany’s Grand Prix over the weekend, Snyder will head to Rio to compete in the 97 kg freestyle class. Beyond Snyder, the Buckeyes are inundated with young talent, including sophomore Myles Martin, who won the first national championship for a true freshman in program history at the 174-pound weight class. Ohio State also returns 2014-15 NCAA champion Nathan Tomasello at the 125-pound weight class.

STICK TO SPORTS

• This military tribute at Fort Bragg was awesome
• Check out the Big Ten mascots’ tribute to the Star Spangled Banner
• Who is Ohio State’s biggest celebrity fan? Check here to find out
• And the winner of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest is...

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Mega Menu Search Box - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Mega Menu Search Box
Eleven Warriors
They also had two second place and two third place finishes. Michigan's highest ranking of the season was Women's Water Polo in fourth place. While Michigan may have an impressive number of team finishes in the top 20, the Buckeyes have six top three ...


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Ohio State Buckeyes of Past and Present React to Kevin Durant Joining the Golden State Warriors - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State Buckeyes of Past and Present React to Kevin Durant Joining the Golden State Warriors
Eleven Warriors
The United States of America turned 240-years-old on Monday morning, yet it's free agent NBA forward Kevin Durant that stole the show. Durant, who played his entire NBA career with the Oklahoma Thunder, the team that drafted him in 2007 when it was ...

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No FNL for No. 1 D-tackle, but Buckeyes remain in good shape - 247Sports.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


No FNL for No. 1 D-tackle, but Buckeyes remain in good shape
247Sports.com
The country's No. 1 class of 2018 defensive tackle, Taron Vincent from Bradenton (Fla.) IMG, worked out at one of the Buckeyes' 1-Day Position Camps in mid-June. As one would expect, Vincent spent quite a bit of time with Ohio State defensive line ...
College Football 2016 Preview: Ohio State BuckeyesAllMediaNY
Inexperienced Ohio State Football still the Big Ten favoriteisportsweb.com (blog)
Ohio State football | Players like flotation tank as way to relax, heal fasterColumbus Dispatch
Eleven Warriors -Land-Grant Holy Land -247Sports
all 14 news articles »

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Can Bowling Green beat Ohio State? A 1 percent chance the Buckeyes could lose - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Can Bowling Green beat Ohio State? A 1 percent chance the Buckeyes could lose
cleveland.com
How they could compete with Ohio State: Let's not forget that Ohio State is replacing the vast majority of their contributors from a year ago, and the Buckeyes don't always come out and play well in early season day games. How could the Falcons come in ...

and more »

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Single Game Ohio State Football Tickets on Sale July 11
Joe Dexter via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Tickets for individual games at Ohio Stadium in 2016, will go on sale early next week.

According to a release from the Ohio State Athletics:

• Bowling Green and Tulsa – $70
• Rutgers and Indiana – $80
• Northwestern – $90
• Nebraska – $135
• Michigan – $195

The Buckeyes finished second in attendance in 2015, averaging 107,244 fans per game at Ohio Stadium. Over the seven game home schedule, Ohio State tallied 750,705 fans making their way to Columbus to witness a home game.



The post Single Game Ohio State Football Tickets on Sale July 11 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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TBBC Roundtable: What Does Independence Day Mean To Me
WVaBuckeye via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


TBBC wants to wish everyone a very Happy Independence Day and hope it’s the most enjoyable day possible. We like roundtables around these parts and sometimes like to express our own feelings, shocking I know, but we have a great love for our country and the freedoms we have because of the brave who have fought and lost for us.


Some of here are veterans, some of us have serious ties and memories to those who did serve and to some it’s a special birthday. Thank you for taking the time to read one of the more powerful articles put together here in a while. Have a great day

What Does Independence Day Mean to Me?


Joe – I have never been a big fan of fireworks. They will never be my thing. Independence though, will always be my everything. From being able to raise a family through the freedom of my beliefs, to my god given right to make fun of That Team up North.

I am blessed to practice the freedom bestowed upon me to pursue happiness. I cherish the groundwork that, even when challenged, allows my country to stand tall.
Most importantly, I’m reminded of the great unity of Independence that is found in the roots of this country. I praise those before us that come together in times of tribulation and struggle to defend this land. And I hope that we as a country — a power beyond measure in this world — find those values in a growing time of disdain between our citizens.
The United States of America is the land of the free and the home of the brave. Today, I encourage you to remember that while freedom is a god-given right, It’s also a privilege.
If we’re united, we can stand together against the transgressions our nation faces every single day. Does that mean we have to agree on every single thing? Absolutely not.
The birth of our nation should serve as a reminder though that if we’re not united as a nation, we will not stand as the greatest nation ever known to mankind. What makes this country great isn’t just the ideals that have been in place since 1776.
It’s the power of a united people.
Without that core strength — split by only empowering what we believe without being willing to open discourse — divided we will fall.
That unfortunate truth is self-evident.
The first step in taking our country back, is remembering and respecting the core values of what makes this country great. Not just from the first person perspective, but that those rights are equal for those around us as well
Michael – 4th of July means family, fun, food, and fireworks. It’s a time to celebrate this great country we all live in. It means freedom and to thank all the men and women who died bringing and defending that freedom. I love this country and I love celebrating the 4th of July. My home town does as well. For a very small town it has a big parade and one of the best firework shows around the area. It’s so good in fact, a town that has a population of just 4,000 gets crowds as big as 30,000 for the show. Happy 4th of July everyone!!
Scott – I’m old fashioned when it comes to holidays. I like them for what they mean, not all the pomp and circumstance.
While I love fireworks and festivals, for me, July 4 is a day to remember and recognize all the freedoms we earned by leaving the tyranny of England and becoming an independent country
JC – Independence Day to me is the representation of all that we are. I am not punished because of my faith, my politics, or my strong disdain for TTUN. I love America. I love the idea that I can strongly protest anything and only be branded by the opposition as a”whatever” is encouragement to continue.
There just isn’t anywhere on the face of this earth like America. And just as important there’s no where like The Ohio State University.
Patrick – I’m like everyone else in some regards when it comes to the 4th and what it means to my freedoms and remembering the birth of our country, but the 4th of July holds a special meaning to me in a bigger way than just that.
Many of you know that I have a disabled brother, but what many of you don’t know, is how much this kid means to me or the involvement in which I have in his life. My brother Blake was born on the 4th of July, 1978. Blake is non verbal and autistic and has cerebral palsy. Blake requires daily personal care and it is very involved. Blake is my best friend and my brother. Blake comes to my house on Friday nights and stays till dad comes to pick him up on Monday morning to take him to work.
I have chosen to take over Blake’s care full time when my parents can no longer do it and it’s a labor of love I can’t wait to do. Blake also has a love for Ohio State that probably tops many of us in this forum. Blake is perpetual motion most of the day but when a Buckeyes game is on, he sits and watches and cheers. He’ll even stop and watch if a replay is on Big Ten Network.
The two biggest highlights of Blake’s year is when he gets to compete in the state of Ohio state Special Olympic Summer and Winter Games held on the campus of The Ohio State University. Almost every piece of clothing he owns is OSU gear and his room at my house is donned in pictures and posters of Ohio State. Blake LOVES to get on YouTube and look up videos of his favorite thing and with out hesitation, the very FIRST thing you will always hear when he gets on the computer are the campus chimes of Carmen, OH.
When Blake and I are traveling, many times he’ll sign “hot dog” and “Coke” and point in the direction we travel down 71 south to Columbus to ask me if we’re going to a Bucks game. Having a sibling that’s disabled often reminds me to sit back and remember and experience the simple things in life, like a hot dog and a coke at a Buckeyes game. Happy 4th to everyone and happy 38th birthday to my brother Blake!!

Brandon – Independence Day is a time to celebrate our freedom. We celebrate this by spending time with family and friends, we cook things on the grill, and we watch fireworks. It is a joyous occasion where it is not uncommon for a community of absolute strangers to come together to celebrate. Outside of these fun activities, there is another whole side of the 4th of July which I implore you to think about.During the American Revolution, there were 217,000 individuals who put their country’s best interest ahead of their own and battled for our freedom. Since then, over 40 million individuals have stepped up to the challenge and fought for our freedom. Over 656,000 of those brave souls have lost their lives so that we can celebrate this day together.

We have over 23 million veterans living among us. It could be yourself…it could be your neighbor…it could be your family member but seek them out and thank them. It doesn’t have to be Memorial Day or Veterans Day to do this. I am lucky enough to be friends with many service members from all of the branches. I myself am a veteran who deployed three times. My wife is an active duty service member who has deployed twice. I have friends who have been wounded…I have friends who have died…I thank each and every one of them for their service and for allowing me the opportunity to celebrate this day with family and friends.

Charles – Like many others have said, Independence Day means the celebration of our freedom and that I am lucky to live in the US. Of course we tend to celebrate these things by spending time with friends and family grilling out, drinking beer, and watching fireworks and that is appropriate because these are things we are able to do because we live in this country and I mean that not only in terms of our freedom to do so but that we live in a country where we have the economic opportunities to do these kind of things.

Of course we should also take time to think about those who have made our freedom possible and this country so great. This tends to be focused on remembering and honoring the veterans who sacrificed to preserve our freedom and we should do this but we should also remember all the others who have contributed to the country over the years, to make the US great and worth protecting.
Living in Australia for three years (this is actually my first Fourth of July in the US since 2011) helped give me a different perspective on the US, both good and bad. While the are many great things about the US, there are also things that could be better (I’d love to have Australia’s gun laws and health care system more like theirs) but in the end, I’m grateful and lucky to be an American. My time abroad gave me a chance to think about what makes America great and while there are a lot of little things, there are two big ones that stand out:
1. Freedom of speech. This is something that we all talk about and say we appreciate but it is also something we tend to take for granted. While we know that there are many countries that don’t have freedom of speech for their citizens, we tend to assume that this a common thing about western democracies. While most western countries have some form of freedom of speech, many of them are not as expansive or as well protected as it is in the US. For example, the Australian constitution does not mention freedom of speech, it is just another law that can easily be changed by the government and they have placed significant restrictions on it by banning offensive speech. While we all appreciate our freedom of speech, it is important to understand how crucial it is to making our country great. Where would the US be if people in the past couldn’t speak out and protest against injustices that were being done, whether by the government or society?
2. The fact that we are a giant melting pot. The US is a diverse nation made up of people whose families originated from all over the world. These people came to the US and contributed their skills to help build this country. The importance of being a melting pot seems to have been forgotten by many lately who seek to keep certain groups out or to insist that those who come here entirely assimilate to our way of life without adding anything from where they come from. The purpose and strength of being a melting pot is that people who come here do become Americans and part of our country but in doing so add bits of themselves and where they come from to our society. Just look at how we celebrate the Fourth of July, fireworks originated in China, beer originated in the ancient Middle East and was popularized by the Germans, hot dogs originated in Germany, and grilling meat predated Europeans arriving in North America and was common amongst numerous native groups throughout the Americas.
I hope everyone has a good Fourth of July and takes some time to think about what this day means to them.
WVa – There isn’t much that I can say that hasn’t been said above. What this day means to me is truly what it is for. I myself have served my country, was involved in a bombing by terrorist and yet that isn’t a drop in the bucket compared to what others have been through.
I lost a friend in the bombing and he left behind a wife and child. There is rarely a week or days that go by I don’t think about him and them. He saved several of my shipmates from the destruction from the grenades used and sacrificed all for me and others. He didn’t throw himself on the grenade, but if he hadn’t been setting where he was, several others would be lost.
We live in the greatest country in the world and we have the freedoms we have because of people like Ron Strong and thousands of others who have fought and lost. Today is special to me because I get to enjoy the day with my family because of what it stands for. I hope everybody has a blessed day and enjoys it with those you love!


God Bless The U.S.A.

The post TBBC Roundtable: What Does Independence Day Mean To Me appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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

Linebackers need to be a special breed of crazy and talent, willing to take on big offensive linemen and fullbacks with power while also having the speed to chase down running backs. And no school in the East has a better collection of LBs than Michigan State. [ MORE: East OL | East receiving corps | East backfields | East DL | East predictions ] Here’s my ranking of Big Ten East linebacking units. 1. Michigan State. Lots of talent in East Lansing. Senior Riley Bullough will be one of the Big Ten’s best. He is Mr. Spartan, a true

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Ohio State football has a shot at winning multiple awards this season
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


They still have a lot to prove, but several Buckeyes have a good shot at winning national awards come the end of the 2016 season.

Coming off a 12-1 season, capped with a traditional beat-down over Michigan, a Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame and a historic draft class, the Ohio State Buckeyes face a tough road ahead in terms of rebuilding what has proven to be one of the most talented teams in program history, having lost three-fourths of the starters on both sides of the ball.

However, talent in Columbus is still high, and the Buckeyes should not be counted out from major college football awards for the 2016 season. Those who have opted to return to the team either by their own volition or because they are not eligible for the draft still have a lot to prove before they can hoist their respective trophies, but Ohio State has more than a few team members whose names should appear on watchlists over the coming months as kickoff for the 2016 season approaches.

Ohio State players are not likely to be in the running for many of the skill position awards, such as the Doak Walker (outstanding running back), Biletnikoff (outstanding receiver) and Mackey (outstanding tight end) awards, but should be frontrunners for others, such as the Butkus (outstanding linebacker), Davey O’Brien (outstanding quarterback) and, of course, the Home Depot Award for coach of the year.

Heisman Memorial Trophy


While two of the three Heisman finalists from 2015 are back in school this season, quarterback J.T. Barrett is in prime position to compete for college football’s most prestigious honor.

Christian McCaffrey, coming off a monster, 2,019-yard season at Stanford, could be hardpressed to repeat his historic performance, given that the Stanford offense lost its quarterback and four offensive linemen, including Outland Trophy winner Joshua Garnett, to graduation. Historically, only two running backs have had multiple 2,000 yard seasons since 1956 (Ron Dayne and Troy Davis). With so many missing pieces, McCaffrey might be better positioned for a senior Heisman campaign, should he choose to return to Stanford after next season.

Deshaun Watson, however, is the consensus front-runner for this year’s Heisman. With Clemson returning the majority of its offensive firepower, Watson is poised for a repeat performance of last season. However, having lost the majority of its key pieces on defense, Clemson will have a tough road ahead to make it back to the College Football Playoff, which could prove to be a determining factor in Watson’s Heisman campaign.

The question for Barrett is how he will manage to maintain a high level of performance without running back Ezekiel Elliott to balance the passing attack, and without standout receiver Michael Thomas as his downfield threat. Running backs Mike Weber and Bri’onte Dunn, as well as receivers Noah Brown and Corey Smith, will need to step up to provide the assist.

Barrett is poised for a Heisman run this season--his first where he is the known starter since the spring, and where he has been fully-healthy to compete in drills. He has already proven his intangible leadership skills, having been elected a captain as a sophomore on the bench, and earned back his starting job last season by demonstrating a top performance. While last season may have been a little rough, Barrett maintained over a 60 percent completion percentage and ended the season with 11 touchdowns each on the ground and through the air. While Barrett is currently an outside shot, his Heisman hopes ride on the success of Ohio State as a whole. If the Buckeyes make the College Football Playoff, you can bet that Barrett will have a seat in New York.

Beyond the Heisman, Barrett is also a logical candidate for the Walter Camp and Maxwell awards, which honor outstanding players, and the Davey O’Brien Award for the nation’s best quarterback.

Dick Butkus Award (outstanding linebacker)


Perhaps the clearest-cut contender for national awards this coming season for the Buckeyes is junior linebacker Raekwon McMillan. After playing in all fifteen games as a freshman during the Buckeyes’ national championship season, McMillon went on to record 57 solo tackles during his sophomore campaign. Already named a captain for the 2016 season, all eyes are on the former five-star recruit to lead the team on the defensive side of the ball. Barring injury, McMillan should have competitive statistics in 2016 by virtue of the fact that he is Ohio State’s middle linebacker. At the end of the season, he will likely be at worst statistically on par with other candidates, and his reputation will make him a finalist. Any defining performances beyond that will earn him the award.

In addition to the Butkus Award, McMillan is already on early watch lists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy (outstanding defensive player), and is a likely candidate for the Bednarik and Nagurski awards, which also honor outstanding defensive players.

Home Depot Trophy (Coach of the Year)


While this award is nearly impossible to forecast given that it seems to inevitably go to either the coach of the best team in the country or the coach whose team far exceeded expectations, no list of candidates would be complete without Urban Meyer’s name. Ohio State has to overcome the loss of 16 starters, including the likes of Ezekiel Elliott, Joey Bosa, Taylor Decker, Eli Apple and Darron Lee, all of whom went in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft.

If Meyer is able to make the College Football Playoff given this severe loss of talent, he will will be able to check both boxes of being one of the nation’s best team and overcoming improbable odds. Meyer also has the opportunity to go head-to-head against Bob Stoops and Jim Harbaugh--two coaches who are also undoubtedly on the short list for this award--which will help to set him apart. Like Barrett, Meyer’s chances of winning this award are predicated on the success of the Buckeyes as a whole.

Rimington Trophy (outstanding center)


With Pat Elflein moving positions prior to the 2016 season, he might not be as effective at center as he was at right guard last year. Combined with the fact that the leading candidates for these awards are often identified prior to the season, Elflein might not even be in the running since voters may not realize he has switched positions. The center position is also not statistically based compared to the many stats available on skill position and defensive players, so nothing will jump out on paper about his performance. Consequently, award winners often win based on reputation over the course of their careers rather than on one particularly great season. Consider the fact that all three finalists last year were seniors. However, this dynamic could work in Elflein’s favor, as the field is now wide open.

Outland Trophy (outstanding interior lineman)


With a move to center, Pat Elflein will not be eligible for this award. However, as one of two returning lineman at Ohio State, left guard Billy Price could have an outside shot at the Outland. A two-year starter, Price has not gotten the recognition of the likes of Taylor Decker or Pat Elflein, though he was named a freshman All-American during his first season. Widely praised as one of the strongest guys on the team, Price could be an influencer at the guard position in 2016.

Ray Guy Award (outstanding punter)


Despite two returning finalists from last season in Colorado State’s Hayden Hunter and San Jose State’s Michael Carrizosa, Ohio State’s resident Australian rugby punter Cameron Johnston could easily be in the mix come the fall. A three-year starter for the Buckeyes, Johnston has averaged nearly 45 yards per punt, and has been famously reliable for flipping field position, downing an inordinate amount of punts inside the opponent’s 20. While he will not be the favorite heading into the 2016 season, Johnston already has the credibility to be considered. He was one of 10 semifinalists last year, and was named by the Ray Guy Award Player of the Week following his performance against Illinois.

Dark Horses



Jim Thorpe Award (outstanding defensive back)


Reigning winner Desmond King from Iowa is the clear favorite for next year’s award, but Ohio State’s Gareon Conley should not be discounted from the discussion. Having spent last season playing opposite Eli Apple, Conley was often looked at as the "weak side" corner, but the former three-star recruit improved greatly over the course of the season, and could be a surprise candidate for this year’s Thorpe Award.

Vince Lombardi/Rotary Award (outstanding lineman)


While the Lombardi Award has tended to favor defensive linemen over offensive linemen as of late, Pat Elflein could have a shot with an outstanding season at center. If he can prove his versatility, he may be able to show that he truly is the best all-around lineman in college football.

Ted Hendricks Award (defensive end of the year)


Though entering his first year as a full-time starter, sophomore defensive end Sam Hubbard has already garnered significant experience at the position, having filled in for Joey Bosa on several occasions last season. Hubbard could certainly be considered for this award, but it would require a Bosa-like impact from the outset.

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Top Ohio State target will name leaders at The Opening
Charles Doss via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Jamyest Williams will let the world know who is leading in his recruitment

With the dead period now in play it was a relatively quiet weekend for the Ohio State Buckeyes on the recruiting trail, but that will soon change.

Later this week a long list of future and potential Buckeyes will head to Oregon to participate in The Opening. A now annual event held on the grounds of the Nike headquarters, the elite camp puts top prospects against each other in a matter of different drills.

With all the hype surrounding the event, news is going to break. On Sunday the cat was let out of the bag that one of the top remaining targets on the Ohio State class of 2017 big board will announce his college leaders sometime over the next few days.

“I’m releasing a top five. I may do it as soon as I touch down (in Oregon),” said Jamyest Williams (Lawrenceville, GA / Grayson High School), a four-star cornerback, to Bleacher Report.

Racking up nearly 50 scholarship offers throughout the process, the 5-foot-9, 170-pound standout has more than his fair share of college coaches trying to bring him into the fold. Not just Ohio State, but solid college football programs such as Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee have gave Williams, who last visited OSU in May, a chance to suit up for their squad.

“I’m looking for a place that will prepare me and get me to work at my best potential,” Williams added.

Who will make the cut for the four-star defensive back? You won’t have to wait much longer to find out.

Eskridge names top 10


Ohio State is yet to lock up its first 2018 pledge, but find themselves in the thick of things with many of the most sought after prospects the class has to offer.

To kick the Independence Day weekend off, four-star athlete Jermaine Eskridge (Tampa, FL / Jefferson) let the world know on Friday afternoon that he currently has 10 programs sticking out among the over 40 schools that have offered him a scholarship to date.


Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Alabama, Georgia, Miami, Florida, Florida State, Michigan State and USC are one step closer to landing the 6-foot-3, 185-pound former University of Kentucky commit.

Eskridge hasn’t seen the field very much after most of his sophomore season at Jefferson High due to a eligibility issue after transferring schools, but is still ranked among the top 150 recruits for 2018. Per the 247Sports Composite, Jermaine is at the moment looked as the seventh athlete, and 131st overall prospect in the junior class.

Quick Hits

• Per Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts, 2018 tight end Jeremy Ruckert will make the trek from Lindenhurst, New York to visit Ohio State for their Friday Night Lights camp on July 22. Ruckert, a four-star recruit, currently holds offers from the likes of OSU, Alabama, Florida and Florida State.
• Dayton Wayne class of 2018 standout Alex Reigelsperger will also be on hand for the Buckeyes Friday Night Lights camp later this month. Kentucky, Iowa, Pittsburgh and Rutgers are just a few of the schools to offer a scholarship to the underrated defensive end.

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College Football 2016 Preview: Ohio State Buckeyes - AllMediaNY
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


College Football 2016 Preview: Ohio State Buckeyes
AllMediaNY
Now that those “big picture” reasons are on the table, let's dive in to the personnel for the Buckeyes. Ohio State is replacing sixteen starters after mass defections due to graduation and early entry into the NFL Draft. While that would spell doom for ...
Inexperienced Ohio State Football still the Big Ten favoriteisportsweb.com (blog)
Ohio State football | Players like flotation tank as way to relax, heal fasterColumbus Dispatch
100 Teams in 100 Days: Fans Want Woody Hayes Out After Another 3-Loss Season in 1953Eleven Warriors
The Buckeye Battle Cry -247Sports
all 6 news articles »

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Ohio State releases 2016-17 Wrestling Schedule
Joe Dexter via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Head Coach Tom Ryan and his grappling Buckeyes have embraced the challenge of being a contender in the most grueling conference in any collegiate sport.

That wont change next season, as the Buckeyes prepare for another high-level season in the Big Ten Conference and against familiar non-conference foes.

Ryan announced the complete schedule on Thursday.

The Buckeyes feature six starters, four NCAA All-Americans and three NCAA Champions returning for the 2016-17 campaign. They’ll need that firepower for a dual schedule that includes five teams that finished in the top 10 at the NCAA Championships.

After wrestle-offs on October 20, the exhibition NWCA All-Star Classic that is bound to feature a couple Buckeyes in Cleveland on November 5.

From there, Ohio State will feature some it’s young and unattached wrestlers at the Eastern Michigan Open the following day. Ypsilanti continues to be a strong proven ground for incoming freshman who could contend later in the NCAA Tournament.

Last season, Ohio State had seven champions and 12 total placers — including Myles Martin, Micah Jordan, Jake Ryan and Cody Burcher.

Then freshman Ke-Shawn Hayes finished second at the open. He is projected to start for Ohio State in 2016.

The following weekend, The Buckeyes will open up the team dual season at the Journeyman/ASICS Northeast Duals in Troy, New York.

An event that features 20 teams from across the country. Each team will compete in three duals. Team pairings will be announced at a later date.

The team schedule continues throughout November with a trip to Tempe to take on Zeke Jones and the Arizona State Sun Devils on the 18th.

They’ll also compete in a tri-meet against Kent State and Cleveland State in Kent on the 22nd.

From there, they’ll open up the second month of the season at the most prestigious individual tournament of the year — The Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational December 2-3. Lightweights Micah Jordan and Nate Tomasello will look to defend their championships from a year ago.

The Buckeyes will open their home slate on December 9 against the defending MAC champion Missouri Tigers — who boast four NCAA All-Americans of their own from a year ago. The Tigers defeated Ohio State 26-17 a year ago and holds a 10-5 series advantage in the all-time series.

On the Big Ten slate is nine duals, including two home match ups on the road.

The Bucks will open up the conference slate in Cleveland against Northwestern and the new leadership head coach Matt Storniolo — who served as the interim head coach later in the season.

The meet will take place at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy on December 16. The prep home of Nathan Tomasello, who took home four Ohio High School Athletic Association state championships during his time there.

After heading on the road to face Wisconsin on January 6, The Buckeyes will host three straight matches in January. Rutgers and Illinois will make their way to Columbus on the 8th and 15th.

Kyle Snyder will then witness his team host Maryland on January 22 in his home state at Good Counsel High School in Olney, Maryland.

The prep program that witnessed Snyder go 179-0 during his three seasons of high school wrestling.

The Buckeyes will wrap up January with one of the prime matches of Big Ten competition in 2016 — a trip to Iowa City to face the Hawkeyes on either the 27th or 29th.

They’ll then need to turnaround a week later and host Penn State, who is considered by many to yet again be the title favorite in 2016-17.

The last time Penn State made their way to St. John Arena, Ohio State picked up their biggest upset win in program history, defeating the Nittany Lions 22-15.

The Big Ten regular season wraps ups with Ohio State hosting Nebraska on February 10 and a trip to Minnesota two days later.

Here is a look at the full schedule:
Thurs. Oct. 20: Wrestle-Offs | Columbus, Ohio | Time: TBA
Sat. Nov. 5: NWCA All-Star Classic | Cleveland, Ohio | Time: TBA
Sun. Nov. 6: at Eastern Michigan Open | Ypsilanti, Mich. | Time: All day
Sat. Nov. 12: at Journeyman/ASICS Northeast Duals | Troy, NY | Time: TBA
Fri. Nov. 18: at Arizona State | Tempe, Ariz. | Time: TBA
Tues. Nov. 22: at Kent State/Cleveland State | Kent, Ohio | Time: 7 p.m.
Fri.-Sat. Dec. 2-3 | at Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational | Las Vegas, Nev. | Time: All day
Fri. Dec. 9: vs. Missouri | Columbus, Ohio | Time: 7 p.m.
Fri. Dec. 16: vs. Northwestern | Cleveland, Ohio (Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) | Time: 7 p.m.
Fri. Jan. 6: at Wisconsin | Madison, Wisc. | Time: 7 p.m.
Sun. Jan. 8: vs. Rutgers | Columbus, Ohio | Time: 2 p.m.
Sun. Jan. 15: vs. Illinois | Columbus, Ohio | Time: 2 p.m.
Sun. Jan. 22: vs. Maryland | Olney, Md. (Good Counsel High School) | Time: TBA
Fri. Jan. 27 or Sunday, Jan. 29: at Iowa | Iowa City, Iowa | Time: TBA
Fri. Feb. 3 or Sunday Feb. 5: vs. Penn State | Columbus, Ohio | Time: TBA
Fri. Feb. 10: at Nebraska | Lincoln, Neb. | Time: 7 p.m.
Sun. Feb. 12: at Minnesota | Minneapolis, Minn. | Time: TBA
Sat. Feb. 18 or Sun. Feb. 19: NWCA National Dual Series | Site: TBA | Time: TBA
Sat. March 4-Sun. March 5 | Big Ten Championships | Bloomington, Ind. | Time: All day
Thurs. March 16-Sat. March 18 | NCAA Championships | St. Louis, Mo. | Time: All day

The post Ohio State releases 2016-17 Wrestling Schedule appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Ten Buckeyes earn Athlon All-Big Ten Honors - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ten Buckeyes earn Athlon All-Big Ten Honors
247Sports
Pre-season teams don't matter as it only truly matters what happens on the field, not off it, when push comes to shove. But it's always nice to get recognition coming into the next season, and 10 Buckeyes were fortunate enough to do just that with the ...
Meet the Real Ultimate Warrior, Ohio State's Pat ElfleinLand-Grant Holy Land

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Meet the Real Ultimate Warrior, Ohio State’s Pat Elflein
Ian Hartitz via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


It won’t be long till Pat Elflein is the ‘center’ of attention this fall

With so few returning offensive starters on the 2016 Ohio State Buckeyes, the recurring optimistic take of the offseason has been to compare this year’s squad to the immortal 2014 National Champions. While the preseason need to replace over half of the offense is of course a striking similarity, this is about as far as I’m willing to go in comparing the 2014 and 2016 Buckeyes.

Sticking to offense, the main reason why it’s not fair to compare the two teams is mostly due to where the returning production is coming from. While the 2014 team brought back a loaded group of receivers and tight ends, four new offensive line starters, combined with a brand new backfield, proved to be too steep of an early season hurdle. However, an early season loss to Virginia Tech wasn’t enough to stop the Buckeyes’ championship aspirations, but as fans found out in 2015: one loss is often one too many.

This year’s Ohio State Buckeyes offense returns quarterback J.T Barrett, guard Billy Price, and guard (now center) Pat Elflein. There’s been a lot of talk about Barrett’s return and his contention for the 2016 Heisman, but let’s stop for a second and check on the fifth year senior and one of three 2016 team captains: Pat Elflein.

“I look at that thing (picture of Elflein) when I've gotta get the warrior in me...I always take a peek at that thing.” - Tom Phillips, Head Football Coach at Pickerington North High School who coached Elflein for four years.


This might be the best quote ever from a high school football coach given to a former player. Phillips literally looks at a picture of Elflein when he needs to ‘get the warrior’ in him.

If you are a little confused about what it means to ‘get the warrior in you’, watch the pulling right guard in the below clip and see if you’re ready to run through a brick wall or not afterwards.


Pat Elflein might as well buy this wallet because I’m certain even Jules Winnfield wouldn’t dare cross Elflein on the gridiron. At 6’3 300 lbs, Elflein possesses great size for an interior lineman, and as a former 3-star recruit, he also possesses the right ‘no one believed in me so now I’m going to destroy everyone’ kind of attitude that coaches love to see in their linemen.

So is Elflein the physical but technically unsound offensive lineman hoping to increase their draft stock by staying in college for an extra year? Not exactly. In reality, anything else the 2015 Second Team AP All-American achieves at Ohio State is icing on the cake. Looking back a year from now, the real surprise of the 2016 offseason may be why not enough people saw the return of Pat Elflein as the return of one of the best linemen in America.

“There are not a lot of dominant offensive linemen around the country and Elflein has a strong case as the nation’s best. His two-year overall grade of +44.0 leads all Power-5 linemen, showing strength as a run blocker where he ranked 15th in the nation in 2014 and 18th last season.” - Pro Football Focus


As the above analysis and previous video indicates, Elflein is a freight train as a run blocker. In an Ohio State offense that seamlessly switches between zone and power based run schemes, Elflein’s ability to pull through holes and open lanes for runners has been second to none.

While Elflein’s pass blocking ability isn’t quite as great as his run blocking, Elflein has displayed the type of on the fly thinking and producing that will become an every play necessity at the center position. While sliding just one spot over on the offensive line may not seem like a ton of change, the center of the offensive line is regularly asked to set the protection and identify any blitzes the defense could be scheming. This is easier said than done when the end result of any designed play involves moving very large, very talented men down the football field.



Ohio State’s offensive line deservedly received a ton of credit against Alabama for the way they opened up running lanes for Ezekiel Elliott, but perhaps more impressive was the amount of time the line regularly gave Cardale Jones to throw. Sure, Jones had to take off on his fair share of scrambles, but he typically had a pocket to step into, and when the offensive game plan was essentially asking Jones to make 1-2 reads and then run, you can’t ask for much more from your offensive line.



At the snap Elflein gets in his pass set and identifies the Alabama three technique as his immediate threat. Luckily for Elflein, center Jacoby Boren made a nice adjustment before the snap to slide the Ohio State line to the right to handle the blitzing linebacker.

Because of the slide, left guard Billy Price knows he’s responsible for the Alabama defensive tackle on his side of the line, and Boren comes to his right to help Elflein on a double team until the blitzing linebacker becomes a threat.



Elflein and Boren’s double-team is picture perfect, as not only is the Alabama defender completely neutralized, but Jones has a deep pocket to step up into as he continues to look downfield. Additionally, Elflein keeps his body free enough to easily disengage and pick up the blitzing linebacker.



While Jones may have scrambled a bit earlier here than he needed to, Elflein and Boren execute their assignments to perfection. Elflein slides off the Bama defensive lineman right onto the blitzing linebacker to completely snuff out the blitz attempt.

Jones’ nimble feet resulted in a Buckeyes’ first down, but that wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for Elflein and company identifying the blitz pre-snap, and then executing.

"I love Ohio State, I love the coaches, I want to graduate...There are still some things I want to accomplish here, as a team make another run for it, we definitely have the potential to do that again. I want to play for Ohio State again, play center." - Pat Elflein on why he chose to return to Ohio State for another year.


Now for the elephant in the room: why did Elflein decide to return to school if he is so damn good? The answer can be explained in part by Elflein’s quote above, and also through looking at past NFL Drafts.

The general consensus around Elflein’s return seemed to be that Elflein is hoping to improve his draft position by switching to center. At first I was skeptical, Travis Frederick was the last center drafted in the first round and that was back in 2013. Should a college center really expect to be drafted higher than a college guard? The answer, is yes!



While more total guards have been drafted than centers, that’s more of a case of there being two guards per offensive line compared to only one center. It’d be shocking to see Elflein evaluated as anything less than a top center/guard prospect, and this bodes very well for his draft stock. With a 10 and 11 percent selection rate in the first and second rounds respectively, the best centers have consistently been picked higher in the draft compared to the best guards.

Another factor that is harder to measure is the fact that many of the draft’s highly selected guards are seen as future tackles. Zach Martin out of Notre Dame is one example who ended up being so good at guard that the Cowboys have left him there, but NFL teams recognize the need for quality tackles over quality guards. Look no further than the Chicago Bears attempting to transition two-time Pro Bowl guard Kyle Long to tackle last season.

There are a ton of questions for the 2016 Ohio State offense. Who will emerge as the primary running back? Who will J.T Barrett be throwing the ball to? What we do know is that the Buckeyes’ two best offensive players will be touching the football on nearly every snap of the 2016 season, and when one of those players is the human tank Pat Elflein, well, that should be enough to ‘get the warrior’ in 100,000 strong in Columbus every Saturday of this fall.

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The Opening: Buckeye Commits, Targets Set to Invade Oregon for Nike's Premier High School Football Event - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


The Opening: Buckeye Commits, Targets Set to Invade Oregon for Nike's Premier High School Football Event
Eleven Warriors
He played an integral part in the Buckeyes' landing five-star offensive lineman Wyatt Davis and hasn't been shy about who else he's focusing on. Since coaches aren't allowed at the event, it's safe to assume they've been in the ears of some of their ...


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Inexperienced Ohio State still the Big Ten favorite - isportsweb.com (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Inexperienced Ohio State still the Big Ten favorite
isportsweb.com (blog)
The 2016 NFL Draft was kind to the Ohio State Buckeyes; perhaps a little too kind. After just the first round, five Buckeyes had already been taken from Urban Meyer. Six rounds later, after the dust had cleared, Ohio State had seen 12 players leave the ...
100 Teams in 100 Days: Fans Want Woody Hayes Out After Another 3-Loss Season in 1953Eleven Warriors
12 Top OSU 2017 & 2018 recruiting battles, Kurelic predictions247Sports

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Former Buckeyes, Conley and Turner, score big free agent NBA deals - ABC6OnYourSide.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Former Buckeyes, Conley and Turner, score big free agent NBA deals
ABC6OnYourSide.com
MEMPHIS -- (AP) A person with direct knowledge of the negotiations tells The Associated Press that Mike Conley is staying with the Memphis Grizzlies after agreeing to a five-year, $153 million deal. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday ...
Mike Conley, former Ohio State Buckeye, to sign richest NBA deal ever with Memphis Grizzliescleveland.com
Conley and Turner cash in with new salary capOSU - The Lantern
Former Ohio State guard Mike Conley to get richest contract in NBA historyLand-Grant Holy Land

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Pair of Buckeyes Get Brinks Trucks for Fourth of July
Shannon Sommers via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


There was a ton of money thrown around to NBA players on the first day of free agency in 2016. A pair of former Thad Matta players were involved in the free agent frenzy.

Pair of Buckeyes Get Brinks Trucks for Fourth of July​

Former Buckeye point guard Mike Conley agreed to stay with the Memphis Grizzles, the team that drafted him in 2007. The contract Conley received was $153 million for five years. Yes you read that right, he will average almost $31 million a year for the next five years guaranteed. That is more than Lebron James (you might have heard of him) has made from the NBA his entire career.

Mike is averaging 44% from the field and little over 37% behind the arch. His career average of 13.6 points along with 5.6 assists per game. Conley has also been named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2013 while also taking home the NBA Sportsmanship Award in 2014, 2016.

The former Buckeye played for Thad Matta in 2006/2007 — helping take the Scarlet and Gray to the National Championship game in 2007 before losing to Florida.

The second former Buckeye star to get a very nice contract was former National Player of the Year (2010) Evan Turner. Turner agreed to a contract with the Portland Trailblazers for four years at $70 million. He will be leaving former Buckeye Jared Sullinger who he has recently played with in Boston.

Evan was drafted by Philadelphia 76ers in 2010. He has also spent time with the Indiana Pacers along with the Boston Celtics the team he is leaving.

Its great seeing former Buckeyes cash in. The question that needs to be asked, do they get the same calls along with mail asking for more donations?

There is a new athlete facility planned for the campus.



The post Pair of Buckeyes Get Brinks Trucks for Fourth of July appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Pair of Buckeyes Get Brinks Trucks for Fourth of July - The Buckeye Battle Cry
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Pair of Buckeyes Get Brinks Trucks for Fourth of July
The Buckeye Battle Cry
Former Buckeye point guard Mike Conley agreed to stay with the Memphis Grizzles, the team that drafted him in 2007. The contract Conley received was $153 million for five years. Yes you read that right, he will average almost $31 million a year for the ...


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Ohio State football | Five-star offensive lineman commits to Buckeyes - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football | Five-star offensive lineman commits to Buckeyes
Columbus Dispatch
The Ohio State 2017 football recruiting class gained a third five-star prospect when offensive lineman Wyatt Davis of Bellflower (St. John Bosco), Calif., committed the Buckeyes on Friday afternoon. Davis, 6 feet 3, 328 pounds, is considered the ...
He's No. 1: Buckeyes ranked high because of their QBBucyrus Telegraph Forum
Wyatt Davis commitment adds another 5-star to Buckeyes recruiting class: Ohio State football recruitingcleveland.com
Buckeyes working on best class in 247Sports History247Sports.com
Campus Insiders -Eleven Warriors -Bleacher Report
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Big Ten Top 5 Pre-Season Kickers and Punters
Shannon Sommers via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Imagine this.

You have on you favorite college football jersey on, maybe enjoying an adult beverage or two while your sitting back on your sofa or recliner. You hit the button on the remote then you see it, college football is here!

Well we aren’t there just yet but each week that passes is a week closer.

Here is what we will do to fill that lonely gap for you. Want to be the one with all the info when your chatting with your friends or look smart while at the water cooler? You came to the right place my friends.

I will do a weekly post on the top 5 position player or groups in the Big Ten conference, today will be the kickers also punters.




Kickers

Number 5



Ryan Santoso (6-6,250) Minnesota

Santoso played in 13 games last season. Going 17/21 for 81.8% on his field goals. He was a perfect 31/31 on his PAT. Ryan went 7/11 on anything over 40 yards his longest being a 50 yard field goal.

The interesting thing will be what head coach Tracy Claeys actually does with Santoso. There is talk of moving him to punter with him just doing the longer field goals.



Number 4



Michael Geiger (5-8,183) Michigan State

Last season Geiger went 12/19 with 51/53 PAT. Entering his senior season for the Spartans he has a 71.9 field goal percentage.

Geiger longest field goal was 47 yards but who could forget his 41 yard filed goal to knock the Buckeyes out of the playoff picture.



Number 3

Kenny Allen (6-3,210) Michigan

Allen became the full-time kicker last season. Having gone 18/22 (81.8) with 46/46 PAT’s.

The Wolverines are counting on another big season from their kicker.





Number 2

Drew Brown (5-11,195) Nebraska

Drew was second-team all Big Ten last season for his performance. He went 21/27 (77.8%) along with being 95 percent for his PAT (44/46). When you go 13/17 on anything over 40 yards you have a really good leg.

Brown will be a huge asset for the Cornhuskers in close games.



Number 1

Griffin Oakes (5-10,200) Indiana

Oakes was the Bakken-Andersen Big Ten kicker of the year. Scoring 125 points for his 24/29 (82.8%) plus going 53/57 (93%) on PAT’s. His longest was 51 yards so he has a strong leg as well.

The Hoosiers really rely on him with their offense that seems so high powered at times.



Punters

Number 5

Daniel Pasquariello (6-1,208) Penn State

The Nittany Lion junior punter averaged close to 40 yards a punt. His longest was 60 yards. 12 of his 58 punts was inside of the 20 yard line.

Pasquariello will need to improve on getting the ball inside of the 20 this next season for Penn State.



Number 4

Joe Schopper (6-0,193) Purdue

Schopper punted for an average of 40.2 yards last season with 20 of his 58 punts going inside the 20. Joe’s longest was 69 yards.

The Boilermakers will definitely need his booming leg again in 2016.





Number 3

Jake Hartbarger (6-4,207) Michigan State

Jake is going into his second year as the Spartans punter. Last season he placed 21 of his 57 punts inside the 20 for an average of 42.7 yards. Longest was 61 yards.

Hopefully the Spartans wont have to abuse him this season like they did in the Alabama game last year.





Number 2

Sam Foltz (6-2,205) Nebraska

The Cornhuskers punter was the Eddelman-Fields Big Ten punter of the year for his performance last season. 15 of his 56 punts went inside the 20. He averaged 44.2 yards with 16 of those being 50 yards or more.





Number 1

Cameron Johnston (5-11,195) Ohio State

54 percent of Cameron’s punts over last three years have landed inside the 20. Last season Johnston booted the ball for an average of 43.9 yards. His longest was 67 yards.

He has shown the Buckeyes how valuable he is with his almost pinpoint accuracy.









The post Big Ten Top 5 Pre-Season Kickers and Punters appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Could Ohio State’s backups beat an average college football team?
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Well, could they?

A few days ago, our friends at SBNation.com wondered if Alabama’s backups could beat an average FBS program, specifically, Northern Illinois. After looking at the recruiting rankings and some of the general matchups, the author concluded that yeah, Alabama’s backups could probably win that game.

That’s not a shock, as Alabama has recruited better than anybody over the last few seasons, and their backups will still include multiple future NFL players. Only a few programs have recruited at anything close to Alabama’s clip, and without that deluge of elite talent, it’d be tough for even the backups of a good team to hang with a competent college squad.

But you know who else has recruited at nearly that elite of a level? Ohio State. Could the Buckeye Backups beat an average FBS team?

First, let’s take a guess at what an OSU backup starting lineup might look like:


Position Player Name Year Recruiting Ranking
QB Joe Burrow (RS) Freshman 4*, .8970
RB Bri'onte Dunn Senior 4*, .9537
WR Austin Mack Freshman 4*, .9614
WR Paris Campbell Sophomore 4*, .9359
HBack Dontre Wilson Senior 4*, .9685
TE Jake Hausmann Freshman 4*, .9414
LT Branden Bowen (RS) Freshman 3*, .8666
LG Michael Jordan Freshman 4*, .9387
C Brady Taylor (RS) Sophmore 3*, .8618
RG Evan Lisle (RS) Junior 4*, 9616
RT Malcom Pridgeon Junior 4*, .9329
DE Jayln Holmes Junior 4*, .9622
DE Nick Bosa Freshman 5*, .9965
DT Jashon Cornell (RS) Freshman 4*, .9557
DT Tracy Sprinkle (RS) Junior 3*, 8514
LB Jerome Baker Sophmore 4*, .9686
LB Nick Conner (RS) Freshman 4*, .9116
LB Justin Hilliard (RS) Freshman 5*, .9848
CB Denzel Ward Sophmore 4*, .9032
CB Damon Arnette (RS) Freshman 3*, .8597
FS Damon Webb Junior 4*, .9820
SS Cam Burrows (RS) Junior 4*, 9719



This is just our projection. You could probably argue for a half dozen other blue-chip wideouts, and Dunn would probably split carries with true freshman Antonio Williams, but the general gist looks about right. This team would be exceptionally talented, with two five-star players, and several just below that level, but also very light on experience. The starting lineup would boast just two seniors, and only eight upperclassmen.

Finding a good team to compare them against seemed a bit tricky. We took a look at the programs who finished in the mid 60s range in the 2015 F/+ rankings, the teams projected to be a similar place for next season, and programs that recruited at an average level. Taking all of those into account, we settled on Illinois, a team that finished 65th last season, and projects to just be a bit worse than that this season.

What does their starting roster look like? We looked around the internet and came up with this guess (the official ones aren’t out yet), and cross checked it with their 247Sports Composite recruiting ranking. Here’s what we came up with:


Position Player Name Year Recruiting Ranking
QB Wes Lunt (RS) Senior 3*, .8891
RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn Sophomore 4*, .8953
WR Desmond Cain Sophomore 3*, .8426
WR Malik Turner Junior 3*, .8006
WR Justin Hardee Senior 3*, .8140
TE Tyler White Senior 3*, .8205
LT Austin Schmidt Senior 3*, .8051
LG Nick Allegretti Sophomore 3*, .8481
C Joe Spencer Senior 3*, .8739
RG Gabe Megginson (RS) Freshman 4*, .9182
RT Christian DiLauro (RS) Junior 3*, .8323
DE Carroll Phillips (RS) Senior 2*, .7959
NT Robbie Bain (RS) Senior 3*, .8252
DT Jarrod Clements Senior 3*, .8590
DE Dawuane Smoot Senior 3*, .8140
LB Julian Jones Sophomore 3*, .8205
LB Hardy Nickerson (RS) Senior 3*, .8120
LB James Crawford (RS) Junior Unranked
CB Darius Mosely Senior 3*, .8703
CB Caleb Day Senior 3*, .8722
FS Jaylen Dunlap (RS) Junior 2*, .7951
SS Taylor Barton (RS) Senior 3*, .8023



Illinois’ roster has some talent, as it’s mostly three-star kids, but what really jumps out is the experience. There are only five underclassmen projected to start here, and they return a fair amount from a defense that finished in the top 20 last season in S&P+.

It seems like this would be a matchup of strength on strength. The Ohio State backup squad has an immensely talented defense, paced by a five-star talent on the defensive line, and linebackers who can do things like this. There might be a bit of concern about the secondary, but the pass rush and run stopping ability should be very solid.

There’s talent galore on offense, but also a ton of youth, even on the offensive line, along with a QB that’s never seen game action. Against such an experienced defense, even one that isn’t as talented, it’s reasonable to expect the Buckeyes to struggle a bit.

I have a hard time seeing Illinois scoring that much in this scenario either though. I imagine this would be a close game, decided by which team could generate the most big plays on offense, in leu of long, sustained drive. Tie goes to the side stocked with prospective NFL players. It’s also noting that one of these teams would be coached by one of the very best coaches in the country, and the other would be by Lovie Smith.

This is just a guess, and maybe a biased one, but if these two teams played on a neutral field, I’d take the Buckeyes by 3 or 4.

Are there "average" teams that could win this game? Sure. Northern Illinois nearly beat Ohio State’s starters last season, so it seems reasonable to think they would have beaten the backups. Arizona is projected to finish 64th in next year’s S&P+, and that would probably be a difficult matchup for this Ohio State team. Navy is 65th, and we’ve also already seen how close they can hang with Ohio State’s starters.

The talent disparity is pretty significant, as Ohio State’s backup squad would probably be the most talented team in the Big Ten after Michigan’s starters, but an experienced, well-coached team would certainly be able to take advantage of their youth to beat them, just like a less-talented team may end up being Ohio State’s starters this season.

But the fact that we can have this conversation with a straight face just goes to show how well this program has recruited recently. That’s going to put the Buckeyes in a position to win bigger games over the next few seasons. And it shows just how hard it is for a lot of the rest of college football to spring upsets against the elite of the elite in this sport.

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Ohio State's most exciting players: defense - 247Sports.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State's most exciting players: defense
247Sports.com
What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Buckeyes newsletter now! While the Buckeyes' defense loses 8 of 11 starters, they reload with some quality talent across the board, which should ...


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


This year’s Ohio State squad will feature a lot of new starters but in most cases those guys are people we are pretty familiar with. Whether it is from filling in for injured players or making big hits on special teams, we as a fan base know what we should be able to expect. That is not the case with tight ends.

The tight end picture is a legitimate guessing game because of two major reasons. First, the Buckeyes have been fortunate enough to have Jeff Heuerman and/or Nick Vannett holding down the position for the past couple of years. Both were drafted in the third round (Heuerman in 2015 and Vannett in 2016) and both were able to play on passing and running downs for Ohio State. This prevented many of the current tight ends from ever seeing the field. Second, the positional group is incredibly young. The depth chart for 2016 will consist of a sixth-year graduate transfer walk-on, a junior, a redshirt freshman, and three true freshmen. So let’s take a look at where we stand compared to how things looked in February.

The starter for the Buckeyes will be the lone man with any game experience at tight end as a Buckeye, junior Marcus Baugh. A big-time recruit out of California, Baugh has had an interesting first three years on campus. Just two years ago, Baugh was suspended indefinitely after his third underage consumption charge. No matter how many times Baugh was in the Urban Meyer doghouse early in his career, he always was able to fight his way out of it with his work ethic and skills. For his career, Baugh has three catches for 34 yards and one touchdown. In the spring game, Baugh had seven catches for 64 yards.

The four remaining players will be battling it out for the back-up tight end position. The first is Chase Hounshell who is a graduate transfer from Notre Dame. Last year, his first at tight end,


Hounshell will suit of for the good guys this year. (Image courtesy of 247Sports)


Hounshell played in 13 games and started three times. For the season, he had one reception for six yards.

Redshirt freshman A.J. Alexander came to Ohio State where nobody was sure where he would wind up on the depth chart but after a strong spring, he looks like he has found a home at tight end despite possibly being undersized at 6’2” 235.

The final two players competing for time at tight end this year are the number four and number five rated tight ends coming out of high school, Jake Hausmann and Luke Farrell respectively. Hausmann and Farrell both already have the size the Buckeyes covet at tight end without even stepping on campus as a scholarship athlete. Hausmann came in at 6’4” and 230 pounds while Farrell arrived at 6’6” and 240 pounds. It will be interesting to hear if one or both of these highly touted freshmen are able to jump Alexander on the depth chart.

Two other players who may play a role at tight end in the future are redshirt freshman Rashod Berry and true freshman Kierre Hawkins. In the spring, Berry was moved to defensive line where he excelled. Who knows if he will be moved back in the future? Hawkins is coming to Ohio State as a project…much like Berry when he arrived. Both are big and incredible athletes who could catch on at either position.

Pre-Spring Predicted Depth Chart Pre-Fall Predicted Depth Chart
1. Marcus Baugh Marcus Baugh
2. Jake Hausmann Chase Hounshell
3. Luke Farrell A.J. Alexander

There is not a position which has been more scrutinized by the fan base over the years. Each of the Buckeyes last three starters are in the NFL but none were utilized much at Ohio State. I will say, I really like Marcus Baugh and think he has the potential to be a playmaker but I’m not sure if a tight end will ever be in the top four options on the offense.

The biggest contribution they make are with their blocking skills. Due to this, I have moved Hounshell up to the second spot on the depth chart. He played for another big time university and has experience against high-level competition. He is a former defensive lineman so he has good strength. Additionally, I added Alexander and removed the two big-time recruits. This will allow the true freshmen to take a year to learn the system and be ready to compete as early as next year if Baugh leaves.

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

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