Joshua Perry's younger brother gives unlimited inspiration
Ian Cuevas via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Former Ohio State linebacker Joshua Perry has extra motivation for his journey into the NFL.

"Jahred's taught me a ton; how to face challenges, always keeping your head up and never taking no for an answer. People have told him ‘No, you can't do that,' or ‘No, you won't be able to do that.' And he's said, ‘I'm going to do what I need to do.' That's something that I take from him."

- Joshua Perry via Hayley Elwood, Chargers.com


Joshua Perry had a very successful career at Ohio State, becoming one of the key defensive playmakers on a national championship team. Now, after being drafted by the San Diego Chargers, Perry gets to extend his playing career into the NFL. And like many of the league's players, there's some extra motivation that goes beyond football for Perry to get the most out of his career, coming in the shape of his younger brother. Joshua's younger brother Jahred was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome on the autism spectrum at the age of nine and changed his family forever. Perry mentioned that a strong support system surrounding his younger brother was crucial in helping him as he grew up.

Though Jahred hadn't seen Perry play live on the college stage, the excitement was still there when Perry got drafted by the Chargers. Perry has been a great example of what to do with his position, as he's known well for his leadership on and off the field - look no further for vindication then being on the AFCA All-Good Works Team and being a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy last season. He continues to use his platform to raise awareness for autism and help his brother in any way that he can.

"I'm not quite ready to say Ohio State's Sam Hubbard is the next Joey Bosa. But Hubbard turned in a pretty good Bosa impression last year as a true freshman."

- Brian Bennett, ESPN


Josh Moyer and Brian Bennett have been breaking down which players will lead different statistical categories in the Big Ten in 2016, starting last week. The question this week was who would lead the conference in sacks. While Josh Moyer opted to go with Michigan defensive end Chris Wormley, Bennett chose Ohio State defensive end Sam Hubbard, who played as a freshman last season. Hubbard started off as a replacement for a suspended Joey Bosa at the time and filled in admirably. Almost immediately, Hubbard earned playing time even when Bosa was back, allowing for Bosa to get short breaks and still bring terror to opposing quarterbacks.

Now this season, Hubbard is locked in at one of the defensive end spots and will be looked upon as one of the key members of Ohio State's defense in 2016. Bennett's choice of Hubbard makes sense considering Hubbard had about 6.5 sacks last season for the Buckeyes. The sophomore defensive end is likely going to be garnering plenty of attention this season from opposing offensive lines, as they try and protect their quarterbacks.

"Logan native and Ohio State product Katie Smith was one of 11 former players named to the WNBA's 20 'greatest and most influential players,' a list generated as part of the women's basketball league's 20th anniversary season."

- The Columbus Dispatch


Former Ohio State women's basketball star Katie Smith was named to the WNBA's 20 greatest and most influential players on Tuesday. The shooting guard played for the Buckeyes from 1992-96, and helped the United States earn three Olympic gold medals in 2000, 2004, and 2008. Smith played 14 years in the WNBA and led the league in scoring in 2001, where she averaged 23.1 points per game with the Minnesota Lynx.

Smith was traded to Detroit in 2005 and helped the Shock to two league titles, in 2006 and 2008. She also played for several other teams, including the Washington Mystics, Seattle Storm, and New York Liberty. By the time she finished her career, Smith was the leading scorer in women's professional basketball history, an incredibly tremendous feat. The seven-time All-Star is now spending her days as an assistant coach in New York, still making an impact on the game of basketball.

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Buckeyes offer Cincinnati-area standout Bazley during visit - 247Sports (subscription)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes offer Cincinnati-area standout Bazley during visit
247Sports (subscription)
Bazley said the OSU staff told him he could be a wing in the mold of current starter Keita Bates-Diop, who is heading into his junior year with the Buckeyes. The Ohio State offer is the latest for Bazley, who also has offers from Toledo, Florida and St ...

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Buckeyes hosting big-time 2018 visitor today - 247Sports
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Buckeyes hosting big-time 2018 visitor today
247Sports
One of the top prospects on the East Coast in the Class of 2018 is WR Jahan Dotson, who is transferring to the Peddie School in New Jersey from Nazareth (PA) for his junior season. The 6-foot, 160-pound Dotson holds over 20 offers, including ...

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Meyer, Dantonio among best coaches at developing NFL talent
Sean Merriman, BTN.com web editor via Big Ten Network

Ohio State and Michigan State have been among the top college football programs in the nation over the past couple of years. In fact, the Buckeyes and Spartans have combined to go 74-9 over the past three seasons, with each school making an appearance in the College Football Playoff, and the Buckeyes winning the inaugural playoff in 2014. NFL.com College Football 24/7 writer Chase Goodbread is the latest to recognize the job both Meyer and Dantonio have done at their respective schools, which includes developing a lot of NFL talent. Goodbread recently made up a list of the top 16

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Jonesboro, GA
Jonesboro High School
Ht 6-5
Wt 205

I know our chances are probably pretty slim with this recruit but I have seen his name mentioned a couple places.

Walkers is rated as five-star shooting guard, but you can consider him more of a combo guard. The 6-foot-5, 205 pound Georgia native is a supreme athlete, rated the No. 22 overall player in the Class of 2017 in 247Sports' composite ratings. According to his 247 profile, Walker is highest on the Buckeyes, Florida State and Maryland right now.

He's continuously listed the Buckeyes among the schools recruiting him the hardest. He'd fit the mold of a ball-dominant guard the Buckeyes have had in players like Lyle and D'Angelo Russell.

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More at http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2016/06/markell_johnson_commits_to_nc.html#incart_river_index

BH: Advanced recruiting; Matta concerns - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BH: Advanced recruiting; Matta concerns
247Sports
The talented cornerback already holds offers from Kentucky and Cincinnati before stepping foot on a high school football field, so it's safe to say there's good reason the Buckeyes are paying attention to him so early. Grace doesn't hide the fact that ...


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Watch D’Angelo Russell show sense of humor in Foot Locker ad
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network

NBA rookies are young, of course, and there is no such thing as them receiving too much advice about being a pro. Former Ohio State star D'Angelo Russell knows this all too well.

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Former Ohio State guard D’Angelo Russell pokes fun at himself in Foot Locker ad
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


He gave some great advice!

Former standout guard at Ohio State D’Angelo Russell was in the spotlight for a good while during the NBA season, and it wasn’t particularly due to his spectacular feats on the basketball court. But rather an incident off of it.

Russell was caught up in some drama with teammate Nick Young, after videos that Russell took with his phone showed Young talking about cheating on his fiancée, Iggy Azalea. Once it happened, Russell was shunned by his teammates, sitting alone at breakfast and the like. Young and Azalea have since split.

It wasn’t good judgement by Russell, and it’s not clear how the video got out. But for all of the criticism that Russell took for the incident, it’s good to see that he’s able to laugh at himself now that it has passed. Especially considering how much heat he took in that moment.

Take D’Angelo’s advice, and don’t record your friends doing things that they wouldn’t want the world seeing.

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Script Ohio: Celebrating LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers
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 review Cleveland’s long road to a championship and ask the question — is a Cavs championship greater than an Ohio State ring?

Also, Big Ten media rights, and Cam Robinson/Hootie Jones talk.

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

The post Script Ohio: Celebrating LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Darius Bazley, fast-rising 2018 Ohio forward, gets offer from Buckeyes: Ohio State basketball recruiting - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Darius Bazley, fast-rising 2018 Ohio forward, gets offer from Buckeyes: Ohio State basketball recruiting
cleveland.com
Darius Bazley, a 2018 forward from Finneytown High School, announced that he received an offer from the Buckeyes. Bazley is considered a three-star prospect and the No. 2 player in Ohio by 247Sports, but that will change as he continues to make his ...

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The Ohio State Class of 2013 will cement its legacy during the 2016 season
Joe Dexter via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


How much more can you ask from a recruiting class that has produced five NFL players in a little over two seasons?

The Ohio State Class of 2013 has already left it’s mark on Ohio State.

A group that became instant leaders as youngsters during the 2014-15 season — winning the first College Football Playoff national championship. Players like Joey Bosa, Ezekiel Elliott, Darron Lee, Vonn Bell, Jalin Marshall, and Eli Apple moved on to the NFL after two very successful years on the field for the Buckeyes.

Now, Ohio State will look to replace a Big Ten Conference high sixteen starters from a year ago. And still, the Class of 2013 lives on — with a ton still to prove as one of the best recruiting classes in Ohio State history.

The Buckeyes find themselves in a situation where their young player base will again be asked to compete at a national championship level. Just like the last go around, the Class of 2013 will again be imperative in Ohio State succeeding on the field. The young studs that stunned the college football world with their elite playmaking ability in 2014, will now be asked to provide leadership.

That starts and ends with Joe Thomas Barrett, the current heart and soul of the Ohio State program.

The pack leader has already proven his talents on the field, leading the Buckeyes down the road to a playoff appearance as a red shirt freshman. He completed nearly 70% of his passes in 2014. After a loss to Virginia Tech, the young man asked to replaced an injured Braxton Miller played at a Heisman level. Last year, he had great performances late in the season and in his role as a redzone quarterback.

Now, the only thing left to prove on the college level is winning a championship as the sole leader of his team and being the signal caller on the field in the final moments of a championship run.

Fellow class member Billy Price might not have anything to prove, but the former defensive tackle continues to be one of the most underrated players in the program.

Ohio State fans have always given credit to the group better known as “the slobs.” Former offensive line coach Ed Warinner garnered praise across the country for his development of turning untested offensive lineman into a cohesive unit.

Price is the player that consistently sets the tone for the program. He’s proven that in his nearly 30 starts over the last two years. Urban Meyer might not have deemed him a captain at the end of last season, but his role as a leader is as important as any other Buckeye in the program outside of Barrett.

At the skill positions, this class still has four key contributors in 2016 that are out to prove something.

Tight end Marcus Baugh is looking to go from not being good enough to be on the depth chart at the start of last season, to the third straight lead tight end drafted out of Ohio State.

With the emergence of Baugh, Ohio State was able to bolster it’s rushing attack late in the season with multiple two tight end sets. The Riverside, California native had seven catches in the spring game after a season with just two catches.


COLUMBUS, OH – SEPTEMBER 13: Marcus Baugh #85 of the Ohio State Buckeyes catches a two-yard touchdown pass in front of Nate Holley #18 of the Kent State Golden Flashes in the second quarter at Ohio Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)


College football guru Phil Steele doesn’t believe that Baugh is worthy of being one of the four tight ends selected to his 2016 preseason All-Big Ten team. The beauty is he doesn’t have to be in order to be a successful member of this class. Nick Vannett finished 99th in receiving yards a year ago and was selected by the Seahawks in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Jeff Heuerman’s receiving production was cut in half his senior season. The Broncos still selected him as well in the third round of the 2015 draft.

Wide receiver Corey Smith was well on his way to fulfilling a key role as a receiver last year. When Noah Brown broke his leg in the fall, it looked like Smith was set for a breakout year.

After facing the same injury himself against Indiana, the senior has one last chance to prove his nearly 13 yards per reception average throughout his career isn’t a fluke through the lens of just 25 career receptions for 317 yards and zero touchdowns. He could be the final piece in a young offense looking for a leader at wide receiver.

The Ohio State coaching staff has praised the work he’s put in all season. And as Land Grant Holy Land’s Ian Hartitz points out — every Ohio State fan should be excited he’s back next season.

The receiving numbers might not jump off the page, but the sixth-year senior will be imperative as a special teamer, blocker, and speed threat in 2016.

Fellow speedster Dontre Wilson has had similar issues during his time at Ohio State. Many thought he would be the star of the Class of 2013. Instead, he finds himself at the crossroads of hype and success.

Like Smith, a lot of that has to due to injury. The DeSoto, Texas native has missed the better part of two seasons. While fans have been quick to judge his ability, it’s hard to deny his skill out of the backfield. Wilson has averaged over seven yards per carry out of the backfield over two seasons. During Ohio State’s championship run, he averaged over 14 yards per catch and scored three touchdowns.

In total, Wilson has scored just six touchdowns in his Ohio State career. While some of that is due to injury, a lot of it also has to do with consistency.

This spring, the former four-star recruit and all-purpose back has added nearly 10 pounds of muscle to his frame, in an effort to retain his health for his senior season and be a more diverse player in the offense.

While many are writing him off, Dontre Wilson could play a huge role as a running back, h-back and receiver in 2016 — erasing his legacy as the top prospect in the Class of 2013, that ended his career as a footnote to one of the greatest recruiting classes in college football history.

Finally, former four-star Florida prep star James Clark had the best spring of his career. With a slew of wide receivers figuring out their roles, Clark exclusively lined up with the first-team offense during spring practices.

He’ll factor in for serious playing time at the flanker position.


BLOOMINGTON, IN – OCTOBER 03: Zander Diamont #12 of the Indiana Hoosiers runs with the ball while defended by Gareon Conley #8 of the Ohio State Buckeyes at Memorial Stadium on October 3, 2015 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)


On defense, two of Ohio State’s returning starters are players that are forgotten as members of the 2013 class.

To think that Gareon Conley is forgotten as a member of this great class is laughable. He might have been the best cover corner in the program last year. This season, he’s the only returning starter in the secondary.

For the first time in his Buckeye career, the way Conley plays this upcoming season will be the paint the canvas to a masterpiece that rivals that of classmates Darron Lee, Eli Apple, Vonn Bell, Joey Bosa, Adolphus Washington, and Tyvis Powell.

Tyquan Lewis led the Buckeyes in sacks a year ago and will get his chance to shine without the shadow of Bosa’s presence as one of the greatest defensive players in Ohio State history.

He’ll be joined by Michael Hill and Tracy Sprinkle — who look to build on their success in the interior against Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.

The two seniors helped to hold Notre Dame to just 121 yards rushing and 3.8 yards per carry.

Both are players that have proven their worth in the past, and will be granted the highest stage to perform. With defensive line coach Larry Johnson looking to key cogs to fill the gap of losing experienced lineman like Adolphus Washington, Tommy Schutt, and Donovan Munger (who is also part of the 2013 class).

At linebacker, the class of 2013 has already seen a three-star athlete without a position turn into a stud in Darron Lee.

Chris Worley will have the same opportunity in August as a projected starter at strongside linebacker. Coaches have often compared the two and Worley showed in his limited playing time last year that he can have the same type of impact.

Heading into the season, it was clear that Ohio State’s class of 2013 could be the greatest in school history.

If these impact players help keep the Ohio State winning tradition alive in 2016 — it’ll be damn near impossible to make an argument against them.

The post The Ohio State Class of 2013 will cement its legacy during the 2016 season appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Elite DT looks to visit Ohio State soon
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The No. 3 DT in the country wants to take an official visit to Ohio State soon. Also, Thad Matta and the Buckeyes offer an in-state SF

Buckeyes offer Jay Tufele


Four-star DT Jay Tufele (South Jordan, UT / Bingham) has been regarded as one of the top recruits at his position for the majority of his high school football career. The intangibles have always been there and he has continued to improve year in and year out. It is because of this that Tufele will be participating in this year's The Opening camp hosted by Nike in Oregon.

Ohio State has been pushing hard for Tufele since the spring. The team presented him with a scholarship offer on the first of March and the coaching staff has been to Utah since to visit the 6-foot-3, 297-pound DT.

Scout.com caught up with Tufele at a recent camp in his home state of Utah and he only had good things to say about Urban Meyer and Ohio State. Tufele listed the Buckeyes as a school he wants to take an official visit to and it may come sooner rather than later, as he mentioned he wanted to take his last visit before his senior season begins.

The other school Tufele wants to visit is Buckeye rival Michigan, while schools like Oregon, USC, UCLA, Washington and Utah are also in the mix. Ohio State already has two commits in this class at the position in four-star's Haskell Garrett (Las Vegas, NV / Bishop Gorman) and Jerron Cage (Cincinnati, OH / Winton Woods), but Meyer would ensure enough room for Tufele if he chooses to become a Buckeye.

Buckeyes offer rising home-town SF


Transitioning to the hardwood, Thad Matta is getting a head start on the 2018 recruiting class as Ohio State became one of the first teams to offer Darius Bazley (Cincinnati, OH / Finneytown Secondary Campus). Bazley may only have two years of high school basketball behind him, but he is already seen as the No. 2 recruit in the state of Ohio and is one of the top 100 players in his class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.


Bazley recently impressed at the Nike Elite 100 camp and was listed as one of the top performers at the event by Rivals.com. The three-star recruit stands at 6-foot-7 and with his motor, he is a force in the post and he can knock down jump shots as well. He will need to bulk up a bit before playing at the college level, as he weighs just 185 pounds

It will be important for Matta and the Buckeyes to remain active in his recruitment, as he certainly will be receiving more scholarship offers as he improves over the next two years.

Buckeye basketball misses on in-state PG


The Buckeyes missed on arguably one of their most important recruits Monday when four-star PG Markell Johnson (Cleveland, OH / East Technical) announced his commitment to NC State.

Thad Matta's program offered Johnson at the start of the year and he was on campus back in February. Johnson is the fifth best prospect in Ohio for the 2016 class and sits at No. 58 in the country in the 247Sports composite rankings.

Johnson would've been a great addition to this class for the Buckeyes, which features two centers, a forward and just one other guard. The Cleveland native also would’ve been the highest regarded player in a class that was, at one time, looked at as almost complete before the departures of four underclassman.

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Markell Johnson commits to N.C. State, so what are Buckeyes guard options? Ohio State basketball recruiting - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Markell Johnson commits to N.C. State, so what are Buckeyes guard options? Ohio State basketball recruiting
cleveland.com
The Buckeyes now must move on to other guard options as they look to add to their 2017 recruiting class. Ohio State's best chance of landing Johnson would have been if he stayed in 2017. Sticking him in a class with already-committed four-star center ...
Four-Star Point Guard Markell Johnson Commits to North Carolina State over Ohio State, OthersEleven Warriors (registration)

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Ohio State basketball: Buckeyes Big Ten opponents revealed for 2016-17 season - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State basketball: Buckeyes Big Ten opponents revealed for 2016-17 season
cleveland.com
The Buckeyes and the rest of the Big Ten learned their conference opponent matchups on Monday. Ohio State will have to play Wisconsin and Michigan State, likely to be two of the top teams in the conference, twice. The Buckeyes will get Indiana and ...
Ohio State basketball's Big Ten opponents released for 2016-2017 scheduleLand-Grant Holy Land
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Big Ten East predictions: Where will Penn State finish in one of the sport's toughest divisions?PennLive.com
247Sports -Eleven Warriors (registration)
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Ohio State Twitterverse reacts: Cavs beat Warriors in NBA Finals - 247Sports
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Ohio State Twitterverse reacts: Cavs beat Warriors in NBA Finals
247Sports
There's no doubting that the Buckeyes were "all-in" when it came to the Cavs during this year's playoff run, which ended in the franchise winning their first-ever NBA title after beating the Golden State Warriors in game 7 of the finals on Sunday evening.
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LeBron James Jr. Reportedly Has Scholarship Offers from Duke, KentuckyBleacher Report
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Richland Source
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Mike Weber is Ready to Breakout for the Buckeyes - NFL Mocks
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Mike Weber is Ready to Breakout for the Buckeyes
NFL Mocks
Elliott – drafted No. 4 overall to the Dallas Cowboys back in April – left some rather large shoes for head coach Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes to fill. In the last 20 years or so, no player has arguably left a bigger impact on all of Ohio State ...


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The Ohio State athletic department has had a busy offseason
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


From lucrative media deals to the need to retain potential transfers, athletic director Gene Smith has had an eventful summer.

"[Harbaugh] is an outstanding coach. That’s what people lose perspective of. The man can coach, He can get it done. Regardless of his tactics and strategies, the man gets it done, and he’s doing it clean."

-Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith, via David Briggs, The Blade


It has been a busy offseason for the Ohio State Buckeyes athletic program, led by athletic director Gene Smith, who is entering his 12th year in the position. From the new media rights deal which is being worked out with the Big Ten to the announcement that Ohio State would begin selling beer stadium-wide during football games next season, the Buckeyes seem to be doing well from a financial perspective. Combined with a second-place finish behind Stanford in the Director’s Cup, which is awarded to the best top-down athletic department in the NCAA, Ohio State athletics is in prime position as it prepares to enter the 2016-17 academic year.

In an interview with The Blade, Smith commented on Ohio State’s offseason moves, and where he anticipates the athletic department in general and football specifically will be heading come next season.

One of the most prominent offseason moments for Smith came in the form of a public Twitter battle with Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh. Smith later apologized for the debacle, and acknowledged that Harbaugh is still a great coach and is keeping the program clean, even though Smith disagrees with many of his tactics including the use of satellite camps. In the interview, Smith mentions that he would rather have coaches on-site at Ohio State with the incoming freshmen who have committed to the university rather than on the road.

Similarly, Smith discussed basketball recruiting, specifically as it pertains to the nearly 1,000 transfers this offseason, including four from Ohio State. While Smith said that some of the basketball players should have reconsidered and stayed at their respective schools, he mentioned that it is an "adult decision" and that, like a relationship, both the players and coaches can make mistakes, leading to a situation that does not fit both parties.

"I want to be there for many of his games and working weekends would not be conducive to traveling to see him play. Plus, it was time. I have been in the business for 19 years."



-Candice Lee, mother of Darron Lee, via Rich Cimini, ESPN


It seems that Ohio State football moms are willing to go further than most to ensure the success of their sons’ careers. For starters, Annie Apple, mother of former Buckeye cornerback Eli Apple, who was selected in the first round by the New York Giants, has been extremely vocal on social media and in interviews throughout her son’s career, even earning a position on NFL Countdown as a contributor as a result. Annie, who writes a blog "Survivin America: Making it through with humor and hope" gained notoriety with her comments during the 2016 NFL Draft in April, aims to highlight the sports mom’s perspective in her writing and her work.

And now, Candice Lee, mother of linebacker Darron Lee, quit her job of nine years to support her son as his manager or, as Darron calls it, his "mom-ager."

After nearly a decade as a reporter on Columbus NBC affiliate WCMH-TV, Candice put in her notice the day following the 2016 NFL Draft, where Darron was taken with a first-round pick by the Jets.

Candice gave her 90-day notice in April, and her last day at work will be July 27. In her new role, she will be primarily covering off-the-field affairs for Darron, such as endorsements, promotions and marketing.

Darron is expected to sign a $10.2 million , four-year rookie contract, but is one of just four remaining holdouts from the first round of this year’s draft who has not agreed to his contract. The fact that Lee has not signed is not a concern at the moment, as training camp is not scheduled to begin until late July.

"In short, Matta hasn’t just held his own against blue-blood programs like Indiana and Hall of Fame coaches like Tom Izzo, he’s actually outperformed them on the recruiting trail."



-Thomas Beindid, U sports


In a year in which nearly 1,000 Division I basketball players transferred to a new school in the offseason, the importance of good recruiting--both finding and retaining talent in the program--cannot be dismissed. Ohio State was not exempt from losing transfers even before the season ended, with four total freshmen leaving the program. Guard Austin Grandstaff announced his departure back in December, while center Daniel Giddens, point guard A.J. Harris and forward Mickey Mitchell followed suit following the conclusion of the season. While the loss of four scholarship players might come as a shock, Matta has previously said that the departure of the quartet was not surprising.

Still, head coach Thad Matta’s track record is in his favor. Since joining the coaching staff in 2004, he has been able to consistently get top talent from across the country to come to Columbus. In his first recruiting class in 2005, Matta brought in Mike Conley, Jr. and Greg Oden, both five-star recruits from Indianapolis. Overall, since 2006, Matta has had 10 five-star and 17 four-star recruits come to Ohio State. While perennial powers like Kentucky consistently garner higher numbers, these stats place Ohio State near the top of the Big Ten in recruiting. Michigan State has just six five-star prospects over the same 10-year period, and Indiana five. Michigan State also had 17 four-star recruits to match Ohio State, with Purdue, Michigan and Indiana falling in behind with 15, 14 and 13 recruits, respectively.

While not all prospects pan out, such as four-star center Amir Williams, and while some slip away late in the recruiting process, Matta has remained consistent throughout his tenure with the Buckeyes. Even having been down for the past couple of seasons, he has proven that he can bring success starting on the recruiting trail.

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Jaylen Kelly-Powell Talks Michigan Wolverines, Ohio State Buckeyes// - Campus Insiders
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Jaylen Kelly-Powell Talks Michigan Wolverines, Ohio State Buckeyes//
Campus Insiders
Urban Meyer's Buckeyes have been in hot pursuit of the Cass Tech High School prospect, and Kelly-Powell is set to make another trip to Ohio State next month. He isn't as familiar with Columbus as he is with Ann Arbor, though. “Ohio State ... I've only ...
Ohio State Fighting Uphill Battle For Top 2017 Safety Jaylen Kelly-PowellEleven Warriors (registration)

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Darius Bazley, fast-rising 2018 Ohio forward, gets offer from Buckeyes: Ohio State basketball recruiting - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Darius Bazley, fast-rising 2018 Ohio forward, gets offer from Buckeyes: Ohio State basketball recruiting
cleveland.com
Darius Bazley, a 2018 forward from Finneytown High School, announced that he received an offer from the Buckeyes. Bazley is considered a three-star prospect and the No. 2 player in Ohio by 247Sports, but that will change as he continues to make his ...
Ohio State Football: Buckeyes' Most Important Players at Each PositionBleacher Report
Ohio State offers 5 standout 2018 prospectsLand-Grant Holy Land
BH: Amateur hour in Ann Arbor? 2018 recruiting scoops247Sports
Today's U (blog) -isportsweb.com (blog) -Eleven Warriors (registration)
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Height: 6'9"
Weight: 185
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
School: Cincinnati Princeton High School
Position: Power Forward

247 Sports
ESPN Profile
Rivals Profile
Scout Profile

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State basketball offered one of the fastest-rising in-state products on Monday.

Darius Bazley, a 2018 forward from Finneytown High School, announced that he received an offer from the Buckeyes. Bazley is considered a three-star prospect and the No. 2 player in Ohio by 247Sports, but that will change as he continues to make his rise throughout this summer and next season.

He announced the Ohio State offer on his public Twitter account. He's also reported offers from Florida and St. Louis this month.

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more at http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index....zley_fast-rising_2018.html#incart_river_index

So, The Cavaliers are NBA Champions
Ken via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


(I may be retired, but I’m not dead. Yet.)

Not that I didn’t think I’d live to see this day, but for Cleveland sports fans, this is a period of joy, relief and validation of their (probably) long term support of Cleveland’s professional sports franchises (Browns, Cavaliers, Indians).

Father’s Day was an eventful day for me. I had a fine FD celebration with family, which included golf (of course), Dustin Johnson overcoming USGA malfeasance to win the U.S. Open and the Cleveland Cavaliers winning the NBA Championship, as only a team from Cleveland can. Trailing by 1 point entering the fourth quarter, the Cavs utilized a “where did that come from?” block by LBJ (LeBron James, not the “other” LBJ) and a “you actually took that shot?” step-back 3-pointer by Kyrie Irving to deal-seal the win.

As a native Ohioan and a resident of western New York since mid-70’s, I’ve had very few professional championships to celebrate. To be honest, I’ve cheered for my adoptive teams (Bills, Braves, Sabres) and was disappointed when they lost, but I truly had a visceral reaction when Cleveland’s teams lost. I honestly believe that “The Drive”, “The Interception” and “The Fumble” took years off my life.


ARLINGTON, TX – JANUARY 12: LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on after the Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Oregon Ducks 42 to 20 in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium on January 12, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)


But here we are, where Ohio’s ‘Prodigal Son’, LeBron James, returns home to deliver on his goal/promise to deliver a championship to Northeast Ohio (and all fans, regardless of location, for that matter). Yes, I know, there were probably a lot of seeds planted for LBJ hatin’ when he decamped from the Cavaliers to the Heat a few years ago. Personally, I was disappointed in the drama of The Announcement, but I could not fault LBJ’s reason to leave.

I remember the last (previous) championship to be earned by a Cleveland professional sports team, the 1964 NFL championship by the Cleveland Browns. There is no question that the Browns were ‘driven’ by Jim Brown to achieve that level of success. When we look back upon the lore of professional sports in Ohio, can LeBron James be equated to Jim Brown? For his sporting accomplishments and civic duty obligations? Perhaps, we’ll see, but I see a strong parallel between the two men.

As a side note, I see where the Golden State Warriors had James Michael McAdoo on their roster. His father’s 2nd cousin was Bob McAdoo, who had several productive years with the Buffalo Braves. The Braves entered the NBA as an expansion team the same year as the Cleveland Cavaliers, so the local “string of events” grows stronger for me. I went to many Braves games in the mid-70’s at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium (The Aud) and as any Braves fan, the one catch-phrase from the public address announcer was “Twwooo for McAdoo!” . Since he was a prolific scorer, that was an oft heard phrase. In fact, it became part of the local lexicon; for almost any success, the protagonist would give a two-fingered downward wrist-snap and utter, “two for McAdoo”.

If LeBron James makes it into the local (northeast Ohio) lexicon remains to be seen, but this is still a wonderful week for Ohio sports fans. I’ve waited over 50 years for a professional championship to come to Cleveland.

Well done, Cavs, thank you.

The post So, The Cavaliers are NBA Champions appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Ohio State Buckeyes react to Cavaliers' NBA title - ESPN
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State Buckeyes react to Cavaliers' NBA title
ESPN
LeBron James, the prodigal son of Akron, Ohio, was on the Ohio State Buckeyes' sideline when they delivered a championship to Ohio in the inaugural College Football Playoff championship game. It didn't matter to LeBron that he was due to potentially ...
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Ohio State basketball's Big Ten opponents released for 2016-2017 schedule
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


We're a big step closer to knowing exactly what Ohio State's basketball schedule will look like next season.

Earlier this summer, Ohio State released their non-conference slate for this upcoming basketball season, a schedule highlighted by big games against Providence, UCLA, Virginia and UConn. The exact specifics of the Big Ten league slate won't be known for a few more weeks, but fans get some additional clarity, as Ohio State's exact Big Ten opponents were released today, per the school.

The Big Ten is too big a league for each school to play each other twice, so double-plays, road only and home only games are rotated from year to year. Here's who Ohio State will be facing in league play next season:

• Double-Plays: Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin
• Home Only: Indiana, Northwestern, Purdue, Rutgers
• Road Only: Iowa, Penn State, Illinois, Michigan

It stinks that the Buckeyes will only get one game against Michigan, and none in Columbus, but on the balance, this seems like mostly good news. Outside of the Wolverines, everybody else that is projected to be near the top of the Big Ten will make a trip to Columbus. Ohio State only has to play Rutgers once (two games could damage their RPI), and will get multiple cracks at the best in the conference, like Michigan State and Wisconsin. Indiana will also be in that group, but at least the Buckeyes don't have to go to Assembly Hall.

Ohio State missed the NCAAs last season thanks to a few bad losses before Big Ten play, and their inability to pick up more than one quality win during conference play, despite a solid conference record. They'll get their chances thanks to two cracks at Maryland, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and more.

Between those and their big non-conference games, if Ohio State's RPI is lacking at the end of the season, it won't be for lack of opportunities to improve it. That's all you can ask out of your schedule. It's just up to the Buckeyes to win enough games.

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Ohio State basketball: Buckeyes Big Ten opponents revealed for 2016-17 season - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State basketball: Buckeyes Big Ten opponents revealed for 2016-17 season
cleveland.com
The Buckeyes will get Indiana and and Purdue, two other projected strong conference opponents at home. Here's how the home/away Big Ten matchups break down for the Buckeyes in the 2016-17 season. Dates and times will be announced at a later date:.
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