Paul Scruggs offered by Buckeyes as another 2017 guard option emerges: Ohio State basketball recruiting - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Paul Scruggs offered by Buckeyes as another 2017 guard option emerges: Ohio State basketball recruiting
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State didn't get Markell Johnson. He committed to North Carolina State last week. The Buckeyes still need to add a point guard in the 2017 recruiting class. So they extended an offer to one of the best in the country last week.
Pair of Buckeyes included on PFF's 101 best players list247Sports
Camp Randall Always “Badgers” The Buckeyes At NightThe Buckeye Battle Cry
Recruiting Roundup: News and Notes From The Weekend That Was in Ohio State RecruitingEleven Warriors
Land-Grant Holy Land -isportsweb.com (blog) -Bleacher Report
all 12 news articles »

Continue reading...

Fikayo Idowu drowns while with Ohio State teammates - ESPN
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Fikayo Idowu drowns while with Ohio State teammates
ESPN
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State men's soccer coach John Bluem said one of his players drowned while swimming with some teammates at a lake outside Columbus. Fikayo Idowu died Friday. He was 19. Idowu, from Madison, Mississippi, had been on the ...
Ohio State Soccer Player Fikayo Idowu Dies at Age 19Bleacher Report
College soccer player drowns while swimming with teammatesCBS News
Ohio State soccer player Fikayo Idowu drowns while swimmingCanton Repository
NAIJ.COM
all 28 news articles »

Continue reading...

I noticed this morning at Barnes & Noble that the pre-season magazines are out and didn't see anything started here or in the College Football section. If I missed it, just nuke my thread.

Noticed that Ohio State was 3rd and 4th in the two magazines that I saw. Reloading not rebuilding whatever, but that seems ridiculously high given the amount of talent the program just lost.

Buckeyes to participate in NBA Summer League - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes to participate in NBA Summer League
247Sports
The NBA Summer League kicks off again this week, with play in Orlando running from July 2-8, action in Utah July 4-7, and finally the big show in Las Vegas, running from July 8-18. What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you're in the loop -- take five ...


Continue reading...

Camp Randall Always “Badgers” The Buckeyes At Night - The Buckeye Battle Cry
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Camp Randall Always “Badgers” The Buckeyes At Night
The Buckeye Battle Cry
Yes, Wisconsin has a week off to prepare for the Buckeyes, while Ohio State will be coming off a home game versus Indiana. But…that preceding game is in Ann Arbor, against “That Team Up North”, on October 1. Throw in the fact that Wisconsin opens up ...
It's official, Malcolm Pridgeon arrives at Ohio State247Sports

all 2 news articles »

Continue reading...

Camp Randall Always “Badgers” The Buckeyes At Night
chipminnich via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


“ Hell, there are no rules here – we’re trying to accomplish something…” ~ Thomas Edison
Leave it to Thomas Edison, an Ohioan and considered “The Father Of Invention”, to appropriately summarize the goals for the 2016 Ohio State football team. No rules – just accomplish something.
“Something” is a pretty vague and open concept. Considering how much talent Ohio State lost to graduation and the NFL Draft, considering how I have written throughout spring practice about how 44 players on Ohio State’s roster are either redshirt freshmen or true freshmen…Damn right, Mr. Edison. There are no rules. Ohio State fans are just looking to see what this team can accomplish against a much tougher schedule in 2016 than 2015, with tremendously talented, yet inexperienced, players.
**
at Wisconsin Badgers (Game 6)
2016 OSU Opponent Ranking: 5 out of 12
Players Recruited By Ohio State: I may be mistaken, but I do not believe there are any players on Wisconsin’s roster who were offered by Ohio State. Please let me know if I am mistaken.
Game Date: October 15, 2016
Kickoff Time: 8pm EST, telecast TBD on ABC, ESPN, or ESPN2
Location: Camp Randall Stadium
Rationale For The Ranking: Ohio State makes its first trip to Camp Randall since 2012, Urban Meyer’s first season as Ohio State’s head coach. Ohio State escaped with an overtime win over Wisconsin, 21-14. How about back in 2008, when Terrelle Pryor was able to pilot Ohio State to victory, despite being a true freshman at the time? The point I am making is Camp Randall has been, and probably always will be, a very difficult place to play. Throw in the added factor of a night game, meaning the fans will be even more amped up for this game, and I believe this will reflect the difficulty the Buckeyes will have in this one.

A benefit Ohio State has, versus Wisconsin – the timing of this match-up. Yes, Wisconsin has a week off to prepare for the Buckeyes, while Ohio State will be coming off a home game versus Indiana. But…that preceding game is in Ann Arbor, against “That Team Up North”, on October 1. Throw in the fact that Wisconsin opens up versus a nationally-ranked LSU team on Lambeau Field in Green Bay for the season opener, plus plays at Michigan State on September 24th…The Badgers may be a little banged up for this bout with the Buckeyes.

Prediction: The intangibles favor Wisconsin, no doubt about it – a week to prepare, home crowd, and night game. Considering Ohio State will have played a night game earlier in the season, on the road, at Oklahoma in September, will give me the belief that the young roster will not be completely unprepared for Camp Randall. It should be a good one, as they usually are when the Badgers and Buckeyes clash.
Previous Rankings (as posted at Men of the Scarlet and Gray):
6 – at Northwestern
7 – Nebraska
8 – at Maryland
9 – Indiana
10- Rutgers
11- Bowling Green
12- Tulsa

The post Camp Randall Always “Badgers” The Buckeyes At Night appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

Continue reading...

4-star standout has Ohio State among leaders
Charles Doss via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ohio State had a decent weekend on the recruiting trail.

Four-star ATH names leaders


The good news kept rolling in for the Buckeyes on Saturday. After receiving around 20 scholarship offers during the process, a four-star rated prospect has Ohio State among his leaders.

Announcing his list via Twitter, class of 2017 athlete Markquese Bell (Bridgeton, NJ / Bridgeton) has limited the number of schools to where he would be taking his talents.


Thirteen schools are still in the running for Bell, but he is still open to other programs that haven’t offered. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound New Jersey native is taking a strong look at Clemson, Michigan, Rutgers, Florida, Maryland, Temple, North Carolina, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia at the moment.

Many around the recruiting scene believe his recruitment could turn down to two programs in the Big Ten. Former OSU assistant Chris Ash and his Rutgers Scarlet Knights are major contenders with that school up North, Michigan, for Bell’s pledge.

Where will Bell land? Will the Buckeyes swoop in and become a major player after offering him a scholarship earlier this month? Keep checking Land-Grant Holy Land for the latest.

Top WR gets front cover treatment


For 2017, Ohio State doesn’t have a true wide receiver in a class that is literally full of blue chip recruits.

That could change, though, as August 22 rolls around. Five-star WR Tyjon Lindsey (Corona, CA / Centennial) will make a decision on where he will play college football. Ohio State is one of nine schools in the running for the highly touted catcher.

Recently, Lindsey was interviewed by IE PREPS Magazine and solidified a spot on one of the cover for July’s edition of the mag.


Here is the interview portion of the No.4 WR in the 2017 class.

5-star commits to Ohio State


While you were probably still trying to make plans with family and friends on Friday, Urban Meyer and the Ohio State coaching staff kicked off the weekend with a boom.

Locking up their 14th pledge of the 2017 cycle, five-star offensive guard Wyatt Davis (Bellflower, CA / St. John Bosco High School) verbally committed to the Big Ten power Buckeyes over a long list of scholarship offers that consisted of programs such as Alabama, Michigan, UCLA, USC and Washington.

A U.S Army All-American, the 6-foot-5, 310-pound Davis isn’t just considered one of the best offensive lineman in the 2017 class, but one of the top overall prospects on the high school level. According to 247Sports Composite Rankings, he is currently pegged as the first rated offensive guard, and 14th overall recruit in the country.

Before lining up for Meyer, and crew, Davis is already helping the Buckeyes out. After recently getting leapfrogged by Alabama in the 247Sports recruiting rankings, Ohio State has snatched the spot back from Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide, and are now once again considered the top overall recruiting class for 2017.

Want to know more about Davis and his Ohio State commitment? Land-Grant Holy Land definitely has your back.


Quick Hits

• Ohio State is building an epic 2017 recruiting class. Could it go down as one of the best ever?
• Class of 2017 four-star linebacker Anthony Hines III will announce his top 10 on July 7. Hines, who visited Ohio State a couple of weeks ago, has over 80 scholarship offers to choose from. Ohio State, Alabama, Auburn, Oklahoma, and Texas are just a few of the schools trying to add the Plano East High School product to their roster.
• After having a long list of prospects on campus for summer camps and visits, the Ohio State coaching staff finally gets a little break. With the recruiting dead period going back in effect today through July 10, recruits will no longer be able to visit campuses or have face-to-face contact with college coaches.

Continue reading...

Ohio State football | Freshman lineman Michael Jordan making name for himself - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football | Freshman lineman Michael Jordan making name for himself
Columbus Dispatch
Enlarge Image Request to buy this photo Barbara J. Perenic, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Freshman Michael Jordan (73) played in this year's spring game at Ohio Stadium, thanks to having enrolled at Ohio State for the spring semester in order to get a head ...

and more »

Continue reading...

Meyer, Buckeyes reach pinnacle of recruiting mountain - 247Sports.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Meyer, Buckeyes reach pinnacle of recruiting mountain
247Sports.com
It was less than five years ago that Urban Meyer was hired as Ohio State's head football coach, scrambling to move his family to Columbus, putting together his staff on the fly, and trying to salvage a recruiting class of 2012 that was being held ...
Wyatt Davis commitment adds another 5-star to Buckeyes recruiting class: Ohio State football recruitingcleveland.com
He's No. 1: Buckeyes ranked high because of their QBBucyrus Telegraph Forum
Ohio State football | Five-star offensive lineman commits to BuckeyesColumbus Dispatch
Eleven Warriors -Campus Insiders -Bleacher Report
all 67 news articles »

Continue reading...

Ohio State’s 2017 recruiting class could be one of the most selective and elite in history
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 already a great class. It might be historically good.

Ohio State football boasted an elite 2017 recruiting class earlier this week, even before they reclaimed the top ranking in the country thanks to the commitment of five star offensive lineman Wyatt Davis. In fact, assuming they aren’t met with a rash of departures, on paper, it might be the best Ohio State recruiting class ever, with the potential to even trump the history 2013 class, which formed the nucleus of a national title team.

There’s still a long way to go from now until National Signing Day. But the way things are shaping up now, Ohio State might not just be gunning for the top ranked class in 2017. There’s a legitimate, non-zero chance the 2017 Ohio State recruiting class ends up as one of the most selective and elite classes in history.

How? It could be one of the only classes to *only* take blue-chip (four or five-star rated) players.

Recruiting rankings aren’t perfect, of course, but they do matter, and the ratio between blue-chip and non blue-chip commitments is pretty predictive of your ability to win a national title. Teams that aren’t able to sign more blue-chip than non-blue chip recruits don’t compete for national titles.

Ohio State has been one of the best teams in the country at this. About 68% of their commitments over the last four years have been elite prospects, one of the very best ratios in the country. It’s no surprise Ohio State has won a title during that span, and was in the conversation for more.

What’s better than 68%? Try 100%.

Right now, Ohio State has 14 commitments, with every single one rated a blue-chip player by 247 Sports Composite except for one, Blake Haubeil, who is a kicker. He’s also the highest rated kicker in the country, but specialists don’t get blue-chip ratings. It is possible that Haubeil is asked to greyshirt, like other recent specialist commitments, like punter Drue Chrisman, in order to make room for yet another elite prospect.

And right now, that’s basically all that Ohio State is chasing. Thanks to several large classes in a row, the Buckeyes don’t have much room to take a big 2017 class, and the competition for those final spots is enormous.

That “big board” that Ohio State QB commit Tate Martell shared a few days ago? That’s not dissimilar from the prospects Ohio State is chasing at the moment. The Buckeyes are likely to take two or three wideouts, at least one more defensive lineman, and a few more defensive backs, but the Buckeyes have not been linked to anybody other than a high four-star, or even five-star player at those positions.

Things can change. Players can decommit. Ohio State may find themselves with extra room. The Buckeyes could swing and miss on multiple other prospects. But right now, here in late June, it seems entirely possible that Ohio State will finish without a single non-specialist three-star prospect.

That just doesn’t happen.

Alabama, who had the top ranked class last year, had six three star commitments who were not specialists. Florida State, who finished second, had five (along with two kickers). The Buckeyes added five non-specialists.

Even in Ohio State’s greatest class in recent memory, the 2013 class, three players without blue-chip rankings were added. One, Darron Lee, is now a very rich man who works for the New York Jets. The others, Chris Worley and Tracy Sprinkle, are at least expected to play next season. That’s pretty good.

The only example of a class being exclusively blue-chip players that I could find was 2013 USC, a team that, because of sanctions, could only take 13 players anyway. A few other squads have come close, like 2013 Ohio State, 2012 Florida State and 2009 USC, but nobody else has pulled it off with anything resembling a full class.

It’d probably be impossible to do for anybody, even Alabama, over a 24, 25, 26+ person recruiting class. That’s just too many people. But the 2017 Ohio State recruiting class doesn’t project to be that large. Once the dust settles, anything bigger than a 21 person class could indicate a major upset, and would mean that roster attrition is even more dramatic than expected.

Three-star players can be excellent college football players, and four or five stars can completely flame out. But overall, you’re going to want to the blue-chip kids if you’re going to want to compete for a national title. So far, the 2017 class should put Ohio State in an even stronger position to compete for one again in the near future.

Continue reading...

Sam Hubbard is Ohio State’s most valuable defensive player for 2017
Ian Hartitz via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


If you watched Ohio State's defense play at all from 2014-2015, one particular player should have popped out to you: Joey Bosa. The third overall selection of the 2016 NFL Draft continuously demonstrated that he was the best player on the field, and Bosa's presence alone opened up opportunities for his teammates to make plays.

Having the best player on the field won't always result in team wide domination, but it certainly helps. Unfortunately for the 2016 Ohio State Buckeyes, their best player on both defense and offense is gone, and these are two massive holes to fill for any team. On the offensive side of the ball it appears that J.T Barrett will take the reigns as the go-to player, but a defense that returns just three starters is a bit less clear.

Raekwon McMillan, in addition to having the best name in college football, could very well be the best player on the Buckeyes next season. Having just led one of the best defenses in the country in total tackles, McMillan's combination of speed and pure football ability make him one of the top linebackers in college football.

For as great as McMillan is and can be, he will not be the most valuable defensive player for the 2016 Buckeyes. I hate the NBA's refusal to define ‘valuable' versus ‘best' as much as the next person, so let's make this perfectly clear. When I say ‘best player' I mean the guy who would be picked first overall if the entire team split up into an impromptu pickup game. When I say ‘valuable player' I mean the guy whose performance leads to the largest total improvement among the rest of the team. Enter: Sam Hubbard.

Hubbard the Athlete


Linebackers are a little bit like running backs in that they can be good on their own, but without a good line they will rarely be great. McMillan is going to make plays regardless of who is on his defensive line, but not having to fend off offensive guards and tackles makes life much easier for any linebacker. The easiest way to stop the offensive lineman from getting up to the linebackers? Having beastly defensive lineman like Sam Hubbard.

With all due respect to returning starter and leader in sacks Tyquan Lewis, Hubbard is the crown jewel of the Buckeyes' defensive line. His limitless potential has been gushed over plenty of times. The high school lacrosse standout, Hubbard was originally committed to Notre Dame, but decided #SchemeBeatsCulture after Urban Meyer offered the 6'6 225 lb high school safety after seeing him play dodgeball in gym class.

Let's recap this quickly: at 6'6 225, high school Hubbard was essentially Seattle Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor but three inches taller, and Hubbard earned a scholarship offer for football by going Peter La Fleur on the students of Moeller High School. You'd think this raw athletic ability, combined with the insane position change of safety to defense end, would make Hubbard a bit of unpolished mystery, but this simply isn't the case.



In a game with very few bright spots, Hubbard provided one here on third down to stop a Michigan State drive. Ohio State loves to get creative on third down passing situations, but here the defense is just rushing four with Darron Lee acting as the opposite defense end.



At the snap Hubbard does a great job of not only getting up field, but also of getting much needed extension from the Michigan State right tackle. When a good offensive lineman is able to get two hands firmly on a defender, the result is usually a good block. By Hubbard gaining this separation, it allows him to use his hands to get free from the block.



Hubbard easily ‘rips' past the over-matched tackle, and the bend that Hubbard shows above is why some are speculating that he could wind up being a day one pick in the 2017 NFL draft. By staying low, Hubbard not only makes himself harder to block, but he also gives himself a shorter route to the quarterback. Remember: this was Hubbard's first full season ever playing on the defensive line.



This is where Hubbard really becomes a scary player, as this type of closing speed is not normal for a defensive lineman of any shape or size. The result of the play was a sack and forced fumble, and one lovely image from an otherwise very ugly game.

Hubbard the Beast


While the above breakdown showcases Hubbard's electric pass rush ability, Hubbard was undoubtedly aided by the offensive line's double team on Bosa, as well as the running back's lack of interest with Hubbard's side of the line. Opportunities to simply pin his ears back and rush the passer against one blocker won't be as frequent for Hubbard in 2016, but if the end of last season was any indication, Ohio State's coaches are more than happy to move their walking, talking mismatch anywhere in the formation.



With Bosa having been ejected from the 2016 Fiesta Bowl between Ohio State and Notre Dame, it was Hubbard who assumed Bosa's role as the moving chess piece on the defensive line, and Hubbard didn't let the opportunity go to waste. Here, Hubbard lines up as the Buckeyes' three technique, and Ohio State lets #6 do his thing one-on-one against Notre Dame's left guard.



It doesn't matter to Hubbard that he is lined up on the interior of the defensive line. Hubbard has played essentially every position on the field over the past three years, and his ability to quickly learn and execute shows up in situations like the above. While Hubbard doesn't get great separation, it's enough for a player of his speed to still completely overwhelm the Notre Dame guard upon making a pass rush move.



By firing his left arm through the guard, Hubbard once again executes a picture perfect ‘rip' move that allows Hubbard to easily pass by the lineman. From here, it’s just a matter of time.



Hubbard finishes the play in style, leaving the Fighting Irish guard on the ground, and the quarterback in pain. Same result as we saw before, but from a completely different position and side of the line.

This is just the beginning for Hubbard


Whether or not Hubbard demands the same type of attention in 2016 as Bosa did in 2015 remains to be seen. We haven't seen a bunch of Hubbard defending the run, and it's not crazy to think he could struggle with a healthy dose of double teams. The good news for Buckeyes fans is that this extra attention for Hubbard is exactly what the rest of the defense needs.

Having to overly plan for a single defensive lineman can create big problems for an offensive line. Normal routines are thrown off, and all hell breaks loose when the player the entire line was shifted towards drops back into coverage as part of a zone blitz. Hubbard is unique in that he can actually make plays in coverage (like this interception last season against Maryland), and last season Ohio State regularly dropped Bosa back in pass coverage to create one-on-one match-ups for the rest of the defensive line.

If offenses like their chances against Hubbard with solo blocks, great. Expect to see a lot more of Hubbard in offensive backfields. If offenses decide to give Hubbard the Bosa treatment, great. Look for the rest of the defense to shine with Hubbard demanding so much attention. Either way, Hubbard's proven pass rush ability and knack for making big plays makes him the one Buckeye who opponents should have circled in their game plan, which bodes very well for the rest of the Ohio State defense.

Hubbard's backstory and the fact he didn't start last year make for sexy headlines calling him a ‘mystery' and a potential ‘break out star'. In reality, Hubbard's break-out season has already come and passed. With 6.5 sacks (one less than Bosa achieved as a freshman) and the growing confidence that comes with more experience at a position, it's no longer a matter of if Hubbard is capable of destroying opposing offense lines, but a matter of when.

Continue reading...

100 Teams in 100 Days: Fesler Takes Over as Buckeyes Struggle in 1947 - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


100 Teams in 100 Days: Fesler Takes Over as Buckeyes Struggle in 1947
Eleven Warriors
Fesler, as you may recall was one of the more decorated athletes in Ohio State history, earning a combined nine varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball for the Buckeyes. He was a three-time All-American on the gridiron, becoming just the ...
Big 12 football: Why Oklahoma-Ohio State ranks as Big 12's top game in 2016NewsOK.com

all 3 news articles »

Continue reading...

Ohio State men’s soccer morns death of Fikayo Idowu
Joe Dexter via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

From the Ohio State Department of Athletics

We learned last night of the tragic death of Fikayo Idowu, an outstanding young man who touched the lives of so many. Fikayo was a part of the men’s soccer program the last two years and was loved by his teammates and coaches. His family and loved ones are in our hearts and in our prayers during this time of grief.



Fikayo Idowu was a junior majoring in health & rehabilitation sciences and was an Ohio State Prominence Scholar and a two-time OSU Scholar-Athlete. Arrangements are pending.

The post Ohio State men’s soccer morns death of Fikayo Idowu appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

Continue reading...

Walsh University to host 'A Night With the Buckeyes' - Canton Repository
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Walsh University to host 'A Night With the Buckeyes'
Canton Repository
Walsh University will host "A Night with the Buckeyes" July 15 at 6 p.m. at Alumni Arena. The event will feature a charity basketball game involving former Ohio State football players and a free autograph session. Former Buckeyes head football coach ...


Continue reading...

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


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

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

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

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

Go Bucks.

Continue reading...

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

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





Focus on the Minors


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


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

Go Amateur


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



Play the Casino


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




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

Switch Sports


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

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

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

Continue reading...

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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



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

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

Continue reading...

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

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

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

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

Continue reading...

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



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

Continue reading...

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


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


Continue reading...

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


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

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

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

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


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

Continue reading...

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


Wyatt Davis commitment adds another 5-star to Buckeyes recruiting class: Ohio State football recruiting
cleveland.com
Wyatt Davis, a five-star 2017 offensive guard from California announced his commitment to the Buckeyes on Friday during a ceremony at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, Calif. The 6-foot-5, 310-poud Davis is considered the No. 1 guard in the ...
Buckeyes working on best class in 247Sports History247Sports.com
BH: The Wyatt Davis effect; Stoney 2.0247Sports
Wyatt Davis to Ohio State: Buckeyes Land 5-Star OG ProspectBleacher Report
Scarlet and Game -The Buckeye Battle Cry -Land-Grant Holy Land
all 34 news articles »

Continue reading...

Five Star Friday: Buckeyes Land A Huge Slob
Jeremiah (SYR) via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

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



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

How this helps Ohio State?

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





Continue reading...

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


BOOOOOOM!

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You can see highlights of Davis in action here:

Continue reading...

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


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

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

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

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

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

Stroke Play Qualifier


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

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



Match Play


Round of 64

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

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

Round of 32

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

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

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

Round of 16


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

Wrap Up


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

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





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

Continue reading...