Does a national approach hurt Ohio State’s recruiting in Ohio?
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


It’s hard to pick nits with Ohio State’s 2017 recruiting class. Not only is it the top ranked class in the country, it could very well be one of the most selective and elite classes in recruiting history. If even half of the 2017 class performs as good as they’re projected to on paper, Ohio State will have another nucleus of a team that should compete for a national title again in the near future.

The only possible drawback is that a small recruiting class size, plus Ohio State’s national approach this cycle, has left less room for the Buckeyes to pick up solid players from the state of Ohio. Could that threaten their dominance of the state in future cycles?

Matt and Colton discuss that, and more, in our latest podcast. Other topics covered include what the rest of the conference is doing in recruiting, what we think the state of Big Ten coaches is at the moment, and Colton’s wedding wardrobe problems.

You can find us on iTunes, thanks to our fancy iTunes page, or our fancy SB Nation podcast page. You can also subscribe via RSS on Android and Windows Phone devices. If you're listening on iTunes, writing us a nice review would certainly help other people find the show.

Or, you can just listen here:

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Stephenson
Stone Mountain, GA
Ht: 6'5"
Wt: 280 lbs
Class: 2018

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North Fayette
West Union, IA
Ht: 6'3"
Wt: 360 lbs
Class: 2017

Has Buckeye offer per 247. Has moved several times during high school and has committed and decommitted from Iowa at least three times already.

BH: New additions to the staff; Buckeyes preparing for fall camp - 247Sports.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BH: New additions to the staff; Buckeyes preparing for fall camp
247Sports.com
His other previous stops include as an assistant at Wake Forest, Ohio, and Air Force, where he also played quarterback from 1982-1985. He was the head coach of Ohio as well, from 2001-2004, and brings great knowledge and experience to the Buckeyes ...
Ohio State football | Joker Phillips hired as offensive quality control coachColumbus Dispatch
Ex-Kentucky HC Joker Phillips hired as assistant at Ohio StateCampus Sports
Ohio State football hires former Kentucky head coach Joker Phillips as quality control assistantcleveland.com
LEX18 Lexington KY News -Campus Insiders -College Spun
all 21 news articles »

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TBBC Recruiting Round-Up: The Opening Preview
WVaBuckeye via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


On Tuesday, July 5th in Beaverton, Oregon, Ohio State University Nike Football will be presenting The Opening — highlighting a lot of talent from across the nation.

For the most part there are other recruits attending that garner plenty of interest without being one of the new record eleven commits to Ohio State that are attending. That’s a new Opening record by the way.

There have been plenty of current Buckeyes have attended The Opening like last year’s stars, Jonathon Cooper and Austin Mack, who both have a pretty good chance of playing this season. Mack will be a star early and often and showed signs of what he had at this even last year.

This year it seems to be all about the top quarterback and now Buckeye commit, Tate Martell out of Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas. The 5’10” 205 recruit hasn’t lost in the last two seasons (30-0) and led his 7 on 7 squad to a national title win this spring. Martell has been vocal about three other uncommitted recruits since committing, that will be in attendance as well.

Jeffrey Okudah(6’1 1/2″ 190 lbs, #1 Safety from Grand Prairie, Texas,South Grand Prairie) is a heavy Buckeye lean recently.

Tyjon Lindsey(5’8 1/2″ 180 lbs, #4 Wide Receiver from Corona, California, Centennial) is also a heavy Buckeye lean.

Trevon Grimes, the 6’3″ 205 lbs #5 wide receiver from Fort Lauderdale, Florida(St. Thomas Aquinas) is truly the one that coaches have been after and expect him to commit sometime in the near future.

He is the biggest lean of the three and like Mack, could contribute very early after his arrival in Columbus. None of the three have committed and may still take official visits elsewhere.

Those three five stars are just the outlying factors to an already impressive class.

The list of eleven Ohio State commits attending is a crazy one. I have been resisting saying it’s the best ever class to come in just simply due to the fact that none of them can put ink to the paper just yet.

Anything can and will happen in the recruiting world. I will hold judgement until they contribute the way they are expected to and actually produce results.

The group of commits is heavy on the defensive side even though the offensive possibilities have been the highlight of the past two weeks for the 2017 class. The three headlining the group of defenders are five-star cornerback Shaun Wade (6’1″ 177 lbs, #2 cornerback, Jacksonville, Florida, Trinity Christian Academy), Isaiah Pryor (6’1 1/2, 195 lbs, #3 safety, Bradenton, Florida, IMG Academy) and Haskell Garret (6’2″ 298 lbs, #4 defensive tackle, Las Vegas, Nevada, Bishop Gorman).

All three should put on a great showing and all have the potential to come in early and play without waiting due to their skills and talent.


The rest of the defensive commits attending are Brendon White(#10 safety) , Marcus Williamson(#15 cornerback)and four-star linebacker Antjuan Simmons.

A couple of the players expected to help Martell (or Danny Clark, Akron Hoban QB commit not at the Opening) are #1 offensive tackle Josh Meyers (6’6″ 306 lbs, Miamisburg, Ohio), #1 offensive guard Wyatt Davis (6’5″ 310 lbs, Bellflower, California, St.John Bosco) and one of the nation’s best all-purpose backs in J.K. Dobbins (5’9 1/2″ 199 lbs, #3 all-purpose back, La Grange, Texas). Four-star offensive tackle Jake Moretti was injured recently and won’t be attending.

When all is said and done I believe that Wyatt Davis will be the crown jewel of this class of linemen. I love his quickness and foot speed which will be on full display against some of the best defensive prospects The Opening has seen.


The Buckeyes have a few other players they are still attempting to recruit that are attending and will continue to turn up the heat on. Cam Akers is an even more defined target after the Sibley gray-shirt and de-commitment issue.

The Buckeyes really want Akers in Columbus and I am sure that’s why Sibley was asked to gray-shirt.

They will be working towards shoring up the class if they lose the top three they’re after and the best ones on the table are defensive end Chase Young and five-star receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones.

I am looking forward to following The Opening this year just for the excitement of the talent that is attending.

The post TBBC Recruiting Round-Up: The Opening Preview appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Ohio State bringing on new coach notorious for bad Photoshops
Luke Zimmermann via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Though he’s not without controversy, it should be a pretty decent addition.

Urban Meyer’s no stranger to bringing in former head coaches with an undercurrent of controversy to bolster his staff.

After previously tapping ex-Rutgers/Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano, who was accused of verbal abuse by some former players and had a rash of MRSA infections imply a potential player safety issue, OSU is bringing in former Kentucky coach Joker Phillips.

Phillips, according to multiple reports, will join Meyer’s staff as an offensive quality control assistant. Phillips won't have any in-game duties, but aid in breaking down video, advance scouting, and as reported by Bucknuts ($), who first reported Phillips’ hiring, have some recruiting responsibilities as well.

If the name Joker Phillips rings a bell, it might be from his time as wide receivers coach for Will Muschamp at the University of Florida. Phillips gained social media notoriety for tweeting out some of the worst “edits” you’ve ever seen for recruiting purposes:


His time at Florida ended in just about the worst possible way a college coach’s time can, as he resigned in the wake of a potential NCAA violation.

Phillips’ apparent crime was about the NCAA equivalent of a speeding violation. Phillips evidently ran into a high school junior Florida was recruiting during a period when that was impermissible. Football Scoop’s Scott Roussel, a friend of Land-Grant Holy Land, felt Phillips got a raw deal at the time:


You may remember Urban Meyer’s Ohio State staff turning in Florida tight ends coach Brian White for a similar offense in what became a bit of a controversy in and of itself.

Florida was ultimately never charged with anything and Phillips, though found by the NCAA to have committed the violation, had no restrictions on his abilities to coach in college. After taking a year off, he resurfaced last year in the NFL as Mike Pettine’s wide receivers coach for the Cleveland Browns. When Pettine was dismissed after last season, Phillips was not retained.

According to Bucknuts ($) and other media reports, Ohio State’s also added former Ohio head coach and Indiana defensive coordinator Brian Knorr in a defensive analyst role.

Neither Phillips nor Knorr are likely to be noticed much by casual fans in their current roles, but there’s a decent recent history of analysts getting promoted to more full time coaching roles (or at least getting sniffs when those roles open). Both of last year’s national title game participants also benefitted from their respective army of analysts.

While neither of these new additions to the coaching staff are going to be impacting games the way we think of more traditional assistants doing so, it’s probable some of the work they do does wind up having a pronounced effect on the play between the trenches when everything’s said and done.

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Recruiting Notebook: Friday Night Lights Additions, Buckeyes Still Trending for Cam Akers, Wolverines Land Ohio ... - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Recruiting Notebook: Friday Night Lights Additions, Buckeyes Still Trending for Cam Akers, Wolverines Land Ohio ...
Eleven Warriors
Harris' recruitment has been a bit of a strange one of late as many expected him to already be a part of the Buckeyes' 2017 class. With Trevon Grimes, Tyjon Lindsey, and Donovan People-Jones still out there, this could prove to be an important visit ...
Ohio State has more 5-star and 4-star recruits visiting for Friday Night LightsLand-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State reloads, as usualThe Daily Iowan
Ohio State, blown calls and a loss that was really a winBlack Shoe Diaries
Scarlet and Game
all 6 news articles »

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Sebastian River
Sebastian, FL
Ht: 6'5"
Wt: 255 lbs
Class: 2017

Has Buckeye offer per 247. Crystal balls are 100% for Gators.

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Park Hill
Kansas City, MO
Ht: 6'4"
Wt: 220 lbs
Class: 2017

Has Buckeye offer per 247/Rivals. Crystal balls are 100% for Missouri.

He's No. 1: Buckeyes ranked high because of their QB - Bucyrus Telegraph Forum
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


He's No. 1: Buckeyes ranked high because of their QB
Bucyrus Telegraph Forum
A broken ankle against Michigan ended Barrett's season and triggered Cardale Jones' rise from backup QB to folk hero in leading the Buckeyes through a three-game post-season gauntlet to the first College Football Playoff national championship.
Meyer, Buckeyes reach pinnacle of recruiting mountain247Sports.com
Ohio State football | Five-star offensive lineman commits to BuckeyesColumbus Dispatch
Wyatt Davis commitment adds another 5-star to Buckeyes recruiting class: Ohio State football recruitingcleveland.com
Eleven Warriors -Campus Insiders -Bleacher Report
all 68 news articles »

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Ohio State has more 5-star and 4-star recruits visiting for Friday Night Lights
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


It’s gonna be a packed house of top recruits for the Friday Night Lights camp in July. That’s a very good thing for the Buckeyes.

Ohio State's football staff is currently on a well deserved vacation from the recruiting scene thanks to an NCAA dead period ceasing contact between coaches and recruits. While contact may be hushed between both parties, you can certainly bet that the second the dead period is over, Ohio State will be back on the prowl hunting to secure the rest of the 2017 recruiting class and building for 2018 and beyond.

With the famed Friday Night Lights camp event happening in a few weeks, let’s take a look at a few of the high profile recruits that will be descending upon Columbus to show off their skills, and highlight any recent recruiting updates.

Cam Akers rumblings and update


The 2017 running back position recruitment has been a roller coaster process. Ohio State started with a commitment and later a de-commitment from Akron Hoban prospect Todd Sibley and then landed another commitment from Texas, star J.K. Dobbins. Since then, there has been one reoccurring name linked to the Buckeyes future backfield. Cam Akers (Clinton, MS / Clinton) is the remaining back that Ohio State has targeted more than anyone.

It's no secret how much Urban Meyer and Tony Alford want Cam in the 2017 class. He fits the mold perfectly for what the Buckeyes do on offense and keeps the 5-star trend alive as Ohio State has seemingly done nothing but land 4 and 5-star prospects from all corners of the country.

While the Buckeyes currently sit near or at the top for the Mississippi 5-star, some good news could be on the way yet again for Ohio State. Not only will Akers be in attendance for the ultimate Ohio State recruiting showcase, Friday Night Lights camp in July, but 247sports national recruiting analyst Barton Simmons recently gave the infamous crystal ball prediction in favor of the Buckeyes. With his upcoming visit and positive rumblings related to Ohio State, Urban Meyer may be on his way continuing to break recruiting records.

Higgins heading to FNL


Much like every other position on the field, Ohio State is likely to land multiple top ranked receivers in the 2017 class. With names such as Trevon Grimes and Tyjon Lindsey leading the way for Urban Meyer and his 2017 class, it's easy to forget that there are several more receivers that are heavily interested in Ohio State. One of those names belongs to Tee Higgins (Oak Ridge, TN / Oak Ridge).

Higgins, a 5-star receiver, will be heading to Columbus, Ohio and Ohio State this coming July for the Buckeyes’ Friday Night Lights camp. While the list of attendees continues to grow, Higgins’ name jumps off the list as he is ranked by 247sports as the nation's third best receiver and the top ranked prospect in the state of Tennessee for 2017. The 6-foot-5, 188-pound receiver has 22 offers and is most commonly linked to Tennessee and Clemson, according to the 247Sports crystal ball. While Ohio State isn't necessarily high on the radar for Higgins as of right now, July's visit could certainly change things in Tee's recruitment.

Woodbey feeling Ohio State


Ohio State's 2017 is getting majority of the recruiting world's attention and rightfully so. However, Ohio State's 2018 class will look to compete just as well in the future. One 2018 prospect that is certainly feeling high on the Buckeyes right now is Jaiden Woodbey (Upland, CA / St.John Bosco). Coming in at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, the safety from California is currently a teammate of recent Ohio State commit Wyatt Davis.

Now, Woodbey is seeing his Ohio State attention take off.

In today's world, social media and recruiting go hand in hand. This is being seen on Jaiden's personal twitter page as his current profile photo is a picture of former Buckeye cornerback and current New York Giant, Eli Apple.


While Woodbey is certainly interested in Ohio State, it's the USC Trojans who lead the early predictions on the 247sports crystal ball.

Woodbey currently holds over a dozen offers from notable schools such as UCLA, USC and Alabama. Ohio State added to the fray just a couple weeks ago.


To top it all off, Woodbey will head to Columbus on July 21 for an unofficial visit and camp for the Buckeyes at their premier Friday Night Lights camp. Things are certainly trending toward the Buckeyes for Jaiden, and Urban Meyer would gladly continue to grow the St. John Bosco to Ohio State pipeline.

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BH: New additions to the staff; Buckeyes preparing for fall camp - 247Sports.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BH: New additions to the staff; Buckeyes preparing for fall camp
247Sports.com
An official position for Knorr has not yet been announced either, but he has also been active on the recruiting trail, making an appearance at the satellite camp in New Jersey and at the one-day camps in Columbus for the Buckeyes. Class of 2018 4-star ...
Ohio State football | Joker Phillips hired as offensive quality control coachColumbus Dispatch
Report: Joker Phillips joins Ohio State staffThe Courier-Journal
Ohio State football hires former Kentucky head coach Joker Phillips as quality control assistantcleveland.com
LEX18 Lexington KY News -College Spun
all 15 news articles »

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Excitement In New York, Here Come The Buckeyes - Scarlet and Game
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Excitement In New York, Here Come The Buckeyes
Scarlet and Game
Each of the New York football teams, the Giants and the Jets, chose Buckeyes in the first round of the NFL draft. They were the ideal picks for each team and for the city,. The Giants selected cornerback Eli Apple as the 10th pick and linebacker Darron ...

and more »

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Ohio State football | Joker Phillips hired as offensive quality control coach - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football | Joker Phillips hired as offensive quality control coach
Columbus Dispatch
The Buckeyes rolled up more than 500 yards in total offense against Western Michigan, but Urban Meyer still sees room for improvement. Tim May and Bill Rabinowitz talk about that game and Ohio State's upcoming Big Ten opener against Indiana.
Report: Joker Phillips joins Ohio State staffThe Courier-Journal
Ohio State football hires former Kentucky head coach Joker Phillips as quality control assistantcleveland.com
Joker Now on the Staff at Ohio StateLEX18 Lexington KY News

all 11 news articles »

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Debate it: Can a Big Ten West team win the conference title in 2016?
Sean Merriman, BTN.com web editor via Big Ten Network

Michigan State and Ohio State have combined to win the last three Big Ten championships. Both the Spartans and Buckeyes are expected to be good again in 2016, and the emergence of Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines appear to make this year’s Big Ten season a three-team race. But what about the Big Ten West? Could a team like Iowa, Wisconsin or Nebraska dethrone the mighty East and bring home a conference championship this year? I asked that very question to BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart in this week’s segment of “Debate It.” Who do you agree with? Can

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Former Ohio State basketball players prepare to take on the NBA’s summer leagues
Harry Lyles Jr. via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


There will be plenty of Buckeyes competing in the summer edition of the NBA.

“D'Angelo Russell will be playing to get a little better, while other former Ohio State Buckeyes will be playing with eyes on a new job.”

- Bill Landis, Northeast Ohio Media Group


The NBA offseason is in full swing, with free agency starting on Friday, July 1. After that frenzy is over, the NBA’s Summer League is set to start on July 8. This is typically when rookies, as well as players that might have been in the Developmental League or overseas get their chance to showcase their skills in hopes of making it to training camp with one of the 30 teams around the league. A handful of Buckeyes will be participating in the summer leagues in Orlando, Las Vegas, and Utah.

Along with the Lakers’ D’Angelo Russell, former Buckeyes participating include Shannon Scott, Sam Thompson, and Deshaun Thomas. Thompson and Thomas will be together with the Charlotte Hornets, and Scott will be playing with the Phoenix Suns. Thompson spent most of last season with the Grand Rapids Drive and the Delaware 87ers of the D-League, where he averaged 7.8 points per game. Thomas was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs back in 2013, but has not seen an NBA floor. He’s had a decent showing in the D-League with the Austin Spurs, averaging 14.7 points per game last season. Scott, like the two aforementioned former Bucks, has spent his time in the D-League, but with the Raptors, where he has shown flashes of success.

Along with the players mentioned above, we should be expected to hear from LaQuinton Ross, as well as Aaron Craft at some point before things tip off.

“The Cowboys plan to make rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott a workhorse.”

- Michael David Smith, ProFootballTalk


Simply put, big things are being expected out of Ezekiel Elliott this season. The expectations seem almost too high. Zeke is certainly a great player, but the NFL game is much different than college for a handful of reasons. With that said, Elliott is expected to have up to 300 carries this season, which would be just as much as any NFL running back. For reference, Adrian Peterson led the league last season with 327 carries. But if there’s anybody that can handle that workload while being effective on every play, it’s Elliott.

Now, how realistic is it that he will get the ball that many times? The Cowboys and those around the organization have had nothing but extremely high praise for the former Buckeye. And while it does have to be remembered that he’s a rookie, if they try to use him in a similar fashion they did DeMarco Murray, 300 might not be that unrealistic. When Murray had that monster 2014 campaign, he carried the ball 392 times. It’s possible that they might be more inclined to give him the ball more as a younger, fresher back. But don’t be surprised if they also ease him in early, before putting that load on his shoulders. Either way, we should expect a nice rookie year out of one of the best running backs in Ohio State history.

Four Buckeyes named Pre-Season All-Americans by Sporting News


It’s that time of year when we’re seeing pre-season award and All-American nominations, and just like last season, there are plenty of Buckeyes receiving honors. Today, Sporting News had four Ohio State players earning honors, with two landing on their first-team All-American list, and two on their second-team All-American list. The first team players included offensive guard Pat Elflein, and linebacker Raekwon McMillan. Both are considered NFL talents, and should have a big impact on the Buckeyes this season on their respective sides of the ball. Expect them to back up this nomination.

The second team players include quarterback J.T. Barrett, as well as punter Cameron Johnston. Barrett finished 5th in the Heisman Trophy voting his freshman year, and split much of last season with Cardale Jones, before finishing off the season strong. He could certainly work his way to a first-team spot by the end of the season. Johnston was a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award, and is undoubtedly one of the best punters in the nation. All in all, while this year’s team doesn’t have the same hype around them as last season, it should still be a damn good one in Columbus.

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• Chipotle is testing a brand new item, and it's available in Columbus starting today
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• BoJack Horseman season 3 trailer is here

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Buckles Buckeyes program offers car and booster seats to qualifying families - Perry County Tribune (registration)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckles Buckeyes program offers car and booster seats to qualifying families
Perry County Tribune (registration)
The Perry County Health Department offers the Ohio Buckles Buckeyes program providing car seats and booster seats to qualifying families. The goal of the program is to give these seats to families who are in need and may not be able to get one any ...


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Four Buckeyes named Sporting News Pre-Season All-Americans - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Four Buckeyes named Sporting News Pre-Season All-Americans
247Sports
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! Four Ohio State players earned honors from the publication, including two on the first team and two on the second team.


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MaxBuck said:

Not quite sure where to post this, but Bucknuts appears to have discontinued the Bucknuts Morning Five podcast. Nothing for the past 3 days.

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your proclivity for being different extends to the average fan's desire for credible information.

Is their podcast anything like that bucket column, where their editor spewed rumors, like how much the team hates Jamaal Berry? Or which recruit is dead? Or a number of other awful stunts?

There are tons of great Buckeye sites, especially for recruiting info. Why are you listening to that outlet? It's not 2003. I like some guys there but the overall approach can't be overlooked by those who love Ohio state

BH: New additions to the staff; Buckeyes preparing for fall camp - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BH: New additions to the staff; Buckeyes preparing for fall camp
247Sports
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! **Eat or get eaten… Ohio State starts its Fall Camp in early August, meaning we are just about a month away from football ...


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2020 Winton Woods DB Miquan Grace visiting for FNL per Helwagen.
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Big Deal: Save $25 on ALL Ticket Network Orders
Ticket Network via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here





If you can’t save the world from an alien extinction this 4th of July, at least you can save some serious cash on your tickets!


This discount cannot be combined with any other offers. Discount does not apply to delivery, service fees, or applicable taxes. Offer expires Friday July 1, 2016 at 11:59 pm ET.

The post Big Deal: Save $25 on ALL Ticket Network Orders appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Script Ohio: The only rings that matter are Championship Rings
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 discuss Florida State’s state championship rings and how Oklahoma/Ohio State is the biggest game for the Big 12 conference.

The post Script Ohio: The only rings that matter are Championship Rings appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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