Buckeyes players who lost spring game shovel mulch at Ohio State - Comcast SportsNet Chicago
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes players who lost spring game shovel mulch at Ohio State
Comcast SportsNet Chicago
At least that's the way things go at Ohio State, where members of the losing side in last month's spring game, "Team Scarlet," were given landscaping duty Friday in Columbus. The biggest name on the yardwork crew? That'd be Heisman-candidate ...


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Ohio State Football: 3 Recruits Who Would Be Perfect Fits for Buckeyes Offense - Bleacher Report
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State Football: 3 Recruits Who Would Be Perfect Fits for Buckeyes Offense
Bleacher Report
Head coach Urban Meyer has Ohio State at the top of the college football recruiting world with 2017's No. 1-ranked class, and when looking at the Buckeyes' top remaining targets, there are three players who would not only strengthen their hold on the ...
Dienhart: Ohio State Buckeyes' offseason to-do listBig Ten Network
Ohio State senior Cammi Prantl powers Buckeyes past Rutgers in Big Ten tournamentOSU - The Lantern
Softball: Buckeyes Advance in B1G TourneyThe Buckeye Battle Cry
cleveland.com -Columbus Dispatch -Eleven Warriors (registration)
all 40 news articles »

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


(photo courtesy of (www.nmnathletics.com)

With the upcoming summer is the promise of so much. There’s baseball games, professional tennis, golf, swimming … and oh yeah – soccer.

The World Cup will be upon us before we know it. Country eliminations will devastate fans. But in America we all stay hopeful, simply waiting for the day when we steal the thunder from the rest of the world and “their” sport.

The Ohio State University’s soccer season is complete. They were 13-7-3 overall. In Conference they were 5-2-1. At Home they were an impressive 10-2 while Away they were less impressive, 3-5-1. They began their Spring Competition in March against the likes of the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer.

Ahh! Soccer.

There are many names that rise to the occasion of mention to Making the List. But today we shall take another path. The one name that surfaces in my mind first was a walk on. He was not a highly recruited star from high school. He isn’t anywhere to be found in the record books for the Buckeyes either.

Connor Senn joined the Buckeye squad, as the above mentioned walk-on. In 2001 he was impressive enough to make the team – earning a spot as a rookie starter on a veteran team that ended the year with a 10-7-2 record, being 1-4-1 in Conference action.

Coach John Bluem would find out just how good his team was in 2001. They would eventually make their second-consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament. They harvested their highest national ranking in program history—No. 10 in the NSCAA poll—and on Oct. 28 handed then-No. 5 St. John’s its first loss of the season, 3-2 in double overtime. Success wasn’t so grand though. On Sept. 26, 2001 following a road match with Akron that ended in Ohio State’s first loss of the season, the Buckeyes suffered something more devastating than a game loss. Lance Connor Senn, died that night after collapsing during the match. He had been suffering from a congenital heart defect. Following a moving memorial service attended by family, friends, members of the athletic department staff and the men’s and women’s soccer teams, the Buckeyes dedicated the remainder of their season to Connor’s memory. Although Ohio State was unable to advance past the first round of NCAA’s, falling 2-1 to American, several Buckeyes received postseason awards. Four earned All-Big Ten honors.

Connor never scored a point for the Buckeyes, but in hindsight, that is irrelevant. He was the spirit of what we Buckeyes propel ourselves to be. And that is the underdog that prevails to greater heights. Connor did precisely that. In his memory his family and OSU have set up The Connor Senn Research and Symposium Fund on Congenital Heart Disease in Athletes.

Connor was a great Buckeye that lived his dream as he wanted. In that alone we are inspired. Here’s looking up at you kid!

The post Making The List: Connor Senn appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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BG’s Falcons Look To Be Hunted, Not Hunters, By Buckeyes In 2016 Opener
Chip Minnich 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

“ 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.

**

Bowling Green Falcons (Game 1)

2016 OSU Opponent Ranking: 11 out of 12

Players Recruited By Ohio State: N/A. To the best of my knowledge, there are no players on Bowling Green’s roster that Ohio State actively recruited or offered a scholarship. More on this below, but that is always something to be on alert against, whenever Ohio State plays another Ohio-based opponent.

Game Date: September 3, 2016

Kickoff Time: TBD

Location: Ohio Stadium

Rationale For The Ranking: Bowling Green is led by first year head coach Mike Jinks. Jinks comes to Bowling Green from Texas Tech, where he served as the associate head coach/running backs coach for Texas Tech. Just as I predict with Tulsa in game two, look for Bowling Green to come into Ohio Stadium, trying to run an uptempo offense, comparable to what Texas Tech or Baylor traditionally do.

Prediction: Any time Ohio State plays another Ohio-based opponent, there is always some concern. Remember the scare Toledo put into Ohio State, back in 2011? As written up above, there are players on Bowling Green’s roster that did not receive an Ohio State offer, and that perceived slight, fairly or unfairly, always seems to give that team a slight edge psychologically. Throw in the concerns that the Ohio State players may be taking this game lightly, and that is why I have listed Bowling Green eleventh out of the twelve scheduled opponents Ohio State will face in 2016.

Considering the depth and talent Ohio State has all across the board, no matter how inexperienced, as well as what should be a close to sellout crowd in Ohio Stadium for the 2016 season opener, look for Ohio State to come out with a little more intensity and fire than Bowling Green can match. This one will be entertaining for the offensive styles of play from both teams, but Ohio State should be able to have a comfortable lead by halftime.

Previous Rankings:
12 – Tulsa




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Script Ohio: Is Mike Weber ready to fill Ezekiel Elliott’s shoes?
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 where they feel Mike Weber stands heading into the summer and if he can be the full-time back starting early in the season.

Plus, can the Ohio State offensive line be as productive as the Ed Warinner groups over the last three years?

The post Script Ohio: Is Mike Weber ready to fill Ezekiel Elliott’s shoes? appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Ohio State Women’s Tennis Preview: NCAA Championships vs. Youngstown State
jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


(photo courtesy ohiostatebuckeyes.com)

The Ohio State University Women’s Tennis Team, the #4 seed in this year’s (2016) NCAA Championship is matched up in the first round against Youngstown State in Columbus @ 1 p.m. Friday (05/13/16). This match is preceded by the Notre Dame and UCLA match who plays the same day @ 10 a.m. The winners meet Saturday in the second round at 4 p.m. for a spot in the Round of 16.

This current scheduled matchup will be the third time that the Buckeyes and Penguins have played (all in Columbus). The most recent matchup came on Jan. 31, 2015 with the Buckeyes prevailing, 7-0. The Penguins also lost in the first match on Feb. 4, 2014, 4-0.

The Buckeyes are currently ranked 5th in the nation – behind #1 Florida, #2 California, #3 North Carolina, and #4 Georgia.

Youngstown State holds a 12-12 record and is the Horizon League Tournament Champions. They will also be making their third straight appearance in the NCAA Championships. Some of their losses this season came at the hands of the University of South Dakota, UNLV, and Ball State. Only Ball State and UNLV has made it to this year’s National Tournament. The Penguins are also 3-8 in play away. Their best player, Dominika Lackova, a native of Slovakia, has a team best 25 wins in this season. Juliana Heino of Helsinki, Finland, won the clinching point in the Horizon League Championship, but is 10-13 overall in singles this season.

The Buckeyes roster:

Ferny Angeles Paz – JR – is 8-4 in singles & 11-4 in doubles this season.

Andrea Ballinger – FR – Recorded her first Buckeye win in September in the Baylor Tournament.

Gabriella De Santis – JR – is 42-26 in singles & has 49 wins in doubles in her Buckeye career.

Francesca Di Lorenzo – FR – Captured the USTA/ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships title, the first national title in Buckeye women’s tennis history. She is currently seated # 3 in the singles matchups in this 2016 NCAA Tournament. She – no doubt – is the star on this roster.

Nicole Flowers – RS SR – has 41 singles & 17 doubles victories thus far in her Buckeye career.

Miho Kowase – JR – is 53-21 in singles & 51-20 in doubles in her career in Columbus. Along with Anna Sanford she is an at-large-bid in the Doubles for this National Tournament.

Sandy Niehaus – JR – has a 58-16 singles & 56-19 in doubles record as a Buckeye.

Grainne O’Neill – SR – has 51 singles & 47 doubles victories in her Buckeyes career.

Anna Sanford – SO – has a 21-17 singles mark & 27-14 doubles mark thus far as a Buckeye. She is partnered with Miho Kowase as an at-large-bid in Doubles for this National Tournament.

Olivia Sneed – SO – has 18 victories in singles & 17 in doubles as a Buckeye.

The Buckeyes are by far the stronger team. Unquestionably this will be their match to lose. But on the strengths of Di Lorenzo, Kowase & Sanford – do not anticipate on anything other than a win here. They will be moving on to the second round against either Notre Dame or UCLA (for the sake of predicting I will say the Fighting Irish). I personally look for them to be heading into the Round of 16.

You can bet Coach Schaub will settle for nothing less.

GO BUCKEYES!!

The post Ohio State Women’s Tennis Preview: NCAA Championships vs. Youngstown State appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Ohio State sets their sight on a dominant OL for 2018
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ohio State's pursuit has extended into the 2018 class and all bets are off as many of the nation's elite are already considering the Buckeyes.

Urban Meyer and staff waste zero time when it comes to recruiting. Nationally, they are easily known as one of the elite programs when it comes to football and beyond. While 2017 has been the class of talk, lately, 2018 has seen a rapid increase in exposure as Ohio State has extended offers to many of the early top prospects in the 2018 class. With as well as Urban has recruited nationally in just the few years he's been in Columbus, 2018 will be no different as several top 5-star and 4-star prospects will look to make Ohio State their home.

Simpson lands Buckeye offer


The "Slobs" as they call themselves are Ohio State's offensive line and have been a unit that has reached extreme levels including first round NFL Draft success. While the guys in the trenches in Columbus continue to see success, the coaching staff has been on the road looking to keep that offensive line success going on into the future. In doing so, yesterday, via his twitter account, Darrell Simpson (Justin, Texas / Northwest) announced he was the latest potential Slob to earn a Buckeye offer.

Standing at 6 feet 7 inches and 330 pounds, Darrell's size alone is enough to turn heads. It's easy to see why the Ohio State staff extended an offer to this 2018 offensive tackle. Already a composite 4-star prospect according to 247sports, Darrell currently holds an impressive list of eleven offers. Other schools not named Ohio State that have sent Simpson an offer include Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU and Texas A&M to name a few.

Since he's currently a high school sophomore, his recruitment process has yet to hit its peak. Considering the attention he is already receiving, the Buckeyes did well in getting to him this early. As things stand right now, all signs point to Simpson staying home and heading to College Station to play for the Texas A&M Aggies, according to the 247sports crystal ball predictions.

But again, there's more than a long way to go before his national signing day comes.

Grimes still feeling OSU


This long coveted Southern Florida receiver really needs no introduction. However, Trevon Grimes (Fort Lauderdale / St.Thomas Aquinas) is certainly worth the time. The 5-star prospect has long thought to be a strong Buckeye lean and yesterday in an interview with rivals.com's Kevin Noon, Ohio State fans have to be feeling pretty good about where things stand for Grimes and the Buckeyes.

So good in fact, Grimes was quoted as saying: "they are in the lead enough to where they shouldn't have any worries, I will put it that way". Obviously, every Buckeye fan including the head man, Urban Meyer should be pumping their fists in regards to this news.

While the goal is still to get Trevon and family up to Columbus this summer, things look pretty good right now in terms of making that happen. If Trevon does indeed head back to campus for a visit with his family, this could be the deciding factor that Grimes will need to cement his place in the wide receiver haul for the 2017 class. A key piece that should be a part of a very solid puzzle.

To see the full interview with Trevon, take a look at the link below.


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Rotation looks to continue dominance against Buckeyes - The Michigan Daily
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Rotation looks to continue dominance against Buckeyes
The Michigan Daily
Last week, the Michigan baseball team scored at least 12 runs in each of the five games it played. In each game, the 19th-ranked Wolverines also came out on top by a lot. The success was accompanied by several standout performances. Junior catcher ...
Michigan Heads to Ohio State for Penultimate B1G SeriesMGoBlue
Looking ahead to fall in Big Ten: Weeks 4-8ESPN (blog)

all 32 news articles »

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Really trying hard not to count my chickens but the possibility of stacking elite skills guys like cord wood in 3 classes is mind blowing. I used 3 classes because of the increased chances of them all being on the team at the same time. This is simply incredible and if it were to come together you would have to wonder if on paper it's the greatest 3 class run of offensive firepower ever.

Names like:

WR & Pivot: McCall, Victor, Mack, Grimes, Lindsey, Harris, Gill, "Blue" Smith, (+2018 WR)
TE: Hausman, Farrell, Hawkins, (+2018 TE)
RB: Williams, Dobbins, Akers, Slade
QB: Haskins, Clark, Jurkovec or Jones

**The thing about thinking about this list is how many unknowns will surface for '18 class. Just knowing the '18 QB will likely be a stud and Gill looking likely for '18 makes you realize............this train isn't slowing down.

And I don't even have the energy to list the potential O Line we are looking at to let these studs go to work.

YIKES. Look at that list and go ahead and try not to drool. I dare ya. We are a little over half way there by the way and ALL of these guys are realistic. Yeah......drool.

Softball: Buckeyes Advance in B1G Tourney
Ken via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes rode strong pitching and timely hitting to shut out Rutgers 5-0 in the opening game of the B1G Softball Tournament on Thursday. Lena Springer pitched a 4 hit masterpiece in going the full 7 innings for the complete game win. She was in control of the game all afternoon. She struck out 5 Scarlet Knights and did not walk a batter. Not putting opposing runners on base is important, particularly in the one-and-done post season; Springer was exceptional.

Although the Buckeyes only touched up Rutgers starter Dresden Maddox for 6 hits, when you get the hits is crucial. Leading 1-0, the Buckeyes scored 2 runs in the 3rd inning when Maddy McIntyre homered (with Cammi Prantl on second base) to move their lead to 3-0.

In the bottom of the 5th inning, Prantl homered, scoring Taylor White in front of her to extend the Ohio State lead to 5-0. With only two more Rutgers at-bats remaining and Springer firmly in control of the game, the Prantl home run in effect iced the game for the Buckeyes.

This was an interesting “mixed” offense for Ohio State. Although McIntyre and Prantl provided the ‘long ball (Prantl also hit a double in the game) the Buckeyes helped their cause with ‘small ball’. Ohio State scored their first run (2nd inning) when Ashley Goodwin scored from third when Becca Gavin reached 1st base on an infield single. When White scored ahead of Prantl’s hone run, she had reached base by beating out a bunt.

For context, this was the 2nd time the Buckeyes shut out the Scarlet Knights this season, winning 10-0 a month ago. The shutout was the fist win of a three game sweep by the Buckeyes in Piscataway. It was a good weekend.

Up next is 3rd seeded Northwestern (25-25, 15-8). This will be the first meeting this season between the 6th seeded Buckeyes (33-17-1, 13-9-1). The first pitch is scheduled for 12:00 noon (Eastern) and will televised on BTN.

Go Buckeyes!



The post Softball: Buckeyes Advance in B1G Tourney appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Reshuffling The Deck: Buckeyes' 2017 Top Targets - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Reshuffling The Deck: Buckeyes' 2017 Top Targets
247Sports
Early last football season Bucknuts reshuffled the list of the Buckeyes' top 2017 targets. We then reshuffled it again near the end of the season. We did it again right after National Signing Day in early February. Today we have gone to the database ...


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What areas does Urban Meyer have to address for Ohio State heading into the 2016 season?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


With 12 players drafted, Ohio State will have plenty of holes to fill heading into the 2016 season.

"Now, Meyer faces some big challenges next season as he looks to get back on top in the Big Ten. Yes, he will have some building blocks for his fifth squad, headed by QB J.T. Barrett. But questions loom."

- Tom Dienhart, BTN.com


Last offseason the biggest question for Urban Meyer coming off of Ohio State winning the College Football Playoff was who would start at quarterback for the Buckeyes in 2015. While Meyer won't have to deal with figuring out who his quarterback will be in 2016, he still will have plenty of other areas where he'll have to decide who deserves to start. With 12 players being drafted recently in the NFL Draft, there are plenty of positions up for grabs. The biggest area of concern for Meyer has to be in the defensive backfield, where Eli Apple, Vonn Bell, and Tyvis Powell all left for the NFL following the 2015 season. Gareon Conley is the lone returning starter among the defensive backs, and there have already been plenty of players trying to make their case to take over those three spots.

Along with the defensive backs, there are plenty of spots up for grabs among the wide receivers. Michael Thomas and Braxton Miller are gone, but Ohio State will have Noah Brown and Corey Smith back from injuries. The defensive line will also need a need a number of players to step up now that Joey Bosa, Adolphus Washington, and Tommy Schutt have moved on. Ohio State will also have to try and find a way to replace running back Ezekiel Elliott, but it likely won't happen with just one player. Bri'onte Dunn, Mike Weber, and Antonio Williams will all have their shot to try and fill the shoes of Elliott. At least Meyer has plenty of experience in dealing with questions like this, and he is an expert at bringing in quality talent to fill the departures.


"There's just a right way and a wrong way to do it. When you first leave a job it's not the right thing to do to go back and try to recruit players. That's a gentleman's agreement when you leave a place. That's no different than any job I've ever been at. Again, not everybody sees it that way, but that's the way I've operated."

- Rutgers head coach Chris Ash via Dan Duggan, NJ.com


Former Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash took the Rutgers head coaching job in early December, and has quite a task ahead of him as he tries to turn around the football program of the Scarlet Knights. Even though Ash recruited some of the best players in the country for Urban Meyer's defense, he isn't trying to get those players to head to Piscataway with him. While there isn't any official "gentleman's agreement" between Meyer and Ash, the former Ohio State coordinator isn't trying to burn any bridges by targeting Ohio State commits.

While Ash says he isn't trying to recruit any commits that are solidly committed to Ohio State, the waters do become a bit murkier if there is an Ohio State commit who is contacting Ash and Rutgers and showing interest in the program. What makes things even tougher for Ash is that is his former boss is also in the Big Ten East Division with him. So far it seems like Ash and Meyer still have a great relationship, especially after the news was released that they'll hold at joint recruiting camp at Fairleigh Dickinson University the same day Michigan is holding one of their own at Paramus Catholic High School. Even though the two coaches may be on different sides now, they are still united in their desire to beat Michigan it seems.

"(Monday) night after the game, Butter came up to my locker with a big smirk on his face. I had no clue what he was smirking about. He said, 'Did you look in your helmet?' I said, 'What do you mean?' He said there was a Wolverine sticker in there."

- Boston Red Sox infielder Travis Shaw via Zack Cox, NESN.com


Since he was born and raised in Washington Court House, Travis Shaw grew up as a huge Ohio State Buckeyes fan. Like any good Ohio State fan, Shaw can't stand anything Michigan. In his first season a full-time major leaguer, a practical joke by his third base coach might be responsible for Shaw's recent power surge for the Red Sox. Third base coach Brian Butterfield is a big Michigan supporter, so before Monday's game Butterfield put a Michigan sticker inside of Shaw's batting helmet. Shaw didn't notice until Butterfield told him about the sticker following the game, in which Shaw had three hits and scored three runs in the 14-7 Boston victory.

After his good night at the plate, Shaw decided to keep the sticker inside his helmet, hoping it would piss him off enough to get even more hits. So far the strategy has worked, with Shaw recording three hits, one of which was his fourth home run of the year, and five RBIs in Tuesday's 13-5 win over Oakland. Shaw added another hit and two more runs in last night's 13-3 Boston victory. The son of former MLB closer Jeff Shaw has been holding his own for the Red Sox, and the recent offensive outburst has moved his batting average to .323 so far this year.

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Buckeyes offer top 60 sophomore - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes offer top 60 sophomore
247Sports
Ohio State has been active in the southern part of the country and today they went into Texas to offer a top 60 prospect in the Class of 2018. What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE ...


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Urban Meyer weighs in on the most recent Buckeyes turned Seahawks - MyNorthwest.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Urban Meyer weighs in on the most recent Buckeyes turned Seahawks
MyNorthwest.com
A total of 16 Ohio State Buckeyes' were drafted or signed as free agents in the NFL from last year's squad. Two of those players – TE Nick Vannett (third round) and SS Tyvis Powell (undrafted free agent) – landed with the Seahawks. Their head coach ...
Updating Ohio State's Scholarship Grid and Reviewing The Overall Health Of Urban Meyer's 2016 TeamEleven Warriors (registration)

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Scout Profile
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HUDL Highlights



Northwest HS (Justin, TX)
Ht: 6'7''
Wt: 330 lbs
Class: 2018 (High School)

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Audio: Script Ohio Invades The Bill King Show
Joe Dexter via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Clair Crawford and Joe Dexter stopped by to talk with the VOX of college football about all things Buckeyes. Topics include the running back position, Dwayne Haskins stepping in right away, The top breakout player of 2016 and so much more.

The post Audio: Script Ohio Invades The Bill King Show appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Why Malik Hooker and the safeties are the most important players for Ohio State next season
Chad Peltier via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Safety is the most important position battle for next season.

With the numerous deadly interpretations of spread and Air Raid offenses in modern college football, the free safety has become one of the most prized positions. It's so valuable in fact, that it's often where defenses will send their most experienced and/or most athletic members of the secondary. According to Ian Boyd:


Ohio State doesn't differentiate between free and strong safeties on their depth chart. But with both Tyvis Powell and Vonn Bell leaving early for the NFL, the Buckeyes will have two new, relatively inexperienced starters at the most valuable position on the defense.

It's not much hyperbole to say that the play of the secondary -- and the safeties in particular -- may decide the fate of the entire 2016 season. The Buckeyes open with three-straight offenses from the Air Raid school -- Bowling Green, Tulsa, and Oklahoma (not to mention at least Indiana and Penn State later on in conference play). These teams ranked eleventh, 51st, and seventh respectively in offensive S&P+ last season. So the two new starting safeties will be thrown directly in to the fire to start the season.

Redshirt sophomore Malik Hooker looks like the early leader of the safeties. Hooker seems to be one of the diamond-in-the-rough former three-star recruits that the Buckeyes have uncovered in the past -- similar to Darron Lee in that he was truly just a high-ceilinged athlete without a position when he first got to Ohio State. Hooker didn't start playing football until his junior year of high school and projected as either a safety or a wide receiver, but could have been buried behind higher-rated defensive back classmates Erick Smith and Dame Webb. If his two-interception spring game performance is any indication, that won't be the case.

Here's the lineup of potential two-deep contributors at safety and nickel:

Player Year 247 Comp Rating
Cam Burrows Sr .9719
Damon Webb Jr .982
Erick Smith Jr .9665
Malik Hooker So .8858
Eric Glover-Williams Jr .9523
Jordan Fuller Fr .9377

Averaging it out, the group as a whole has a .9494 247 Composite rating. If you take out Hooker's three-star rating, the group is bumped to .9621.

The current reports suggest Hooker and Damon Webb are the front-runners, but several guys, including Cam Burrows and Erick Smith, were both injured during spring practice. Eric Glover-Williams shared starting time this spring with Malik Hooker, and Webb has the versatility to move around the secondary between safety and nickel if need-be.

According to Boyd, the wide spacing of Baylor-like Air Raid teams makes it difficult for the secondary to not only swarm to receivers on the edge, but also to limit running backs if the defensive line isn't able to make the tackle at or near the line. This responsibility often falls on the free safety.

Therefore, elite athleticism -- including lateral quickness and straight-line speed -- will be paramount, but so will play recognition and system experience, all of which this group should have.


The data suggests returning experience is more important on the defensive side of the ball than on offense and that returning passes broken up is correlated with high defensive S&P+. That's obviously low for next year's group.

Talent won't be an issue for the safeties, nor should experience in the system, as all but incoming freshman Jordan Fuller have been on the team for at least two years. But game experience is another story, and this group's early development against Bowling Green, Tulsa, and Oklahoma will determine whether this year's supposedly-rebuilding group of Buckeyes can reach the playoff again.

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Script Ohio: J.T. Barrett is One of the Best in the Country Against the Blitz
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 J.T. Barrett’s ability under pressure last season, his fourth quarter numbers, and other Buckeye news tidbits.

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

The post Script Ohio: J.T. Barrett is One of the Best in the Country Against the Blitz appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Dienhart: Ohio State Buckeyes' offseason to-do list - Big Ten Network
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Dienhart: Ohio State Buckeyes' offseason to-do list
Big Ten Network
Heck, the Buckeyes didn't even win the Big Ten East despite having a roster loaded with 12 NFL draft picks. Now, Meyer faces some big challenges next season as he looks to get back on top in the Big Ten. Yes, he will have some building blocks for his ...


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Dienhart: Ohio State Buckeyes’ offseason to-do list
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

Ohio State and Urban Meyer won’t lack for motivation in 2016. The program failed to repeat as national champs in a largely unfulfilling season as the Buckeyes didn’t even win the Big Ten East despite having a roster loaded with 12 NFL draft picks. Now, Meyer faces some big challenges next season as he looks to get back on top in the Big Ten.

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Massillon, OH (Jackson)

Small Forward

• Ht 6-6
• Wt 205
• CLASS OF 17

offered by OSU on an unofficial visit yesterday.

Buckeyes, Wolverines Set for A Summer Filled With Satellite Camps - Eleven Warriors (registration)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes, Wolverines Set for A Summer Filled With Satellite Camps
Eleven Warriors (registration)
It's no secret that Michigan has made it a point to recruit the heck out of the state of New Jersey as they've landed players like Jabrill Peppers, Kareem Walker, Rashan Gary and a number of others over the last three years. The Buckeyes will look to ...
Ohio State, Michigan to be featured in same Cleveland satellite camp: Buckeyes recruitingcleveland.com
Rutgers is using Ohio State to wage turf war on MichiganLand-Grant Holy Land
2017 College Football Championship Game Futures: Michigan money moving oddsSportsBlog.com (blog)

all 92 news articles »

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Quick Hits – Buckeye Recruiting – 5-12-2016
Ben Van Ooyen 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

Welcome to Quick Hits, a new feature we are rolling out to highlight the most recent athletes who received offers to play football at Ohio State.

Emory Jones – QB – Class of 2018



Yesterday [May 11] the Buckeyes offered another QB spot to Emory Jones out of Franklin, Georgia. Jones is one of the top dual threat quarterbacks in the nation for 2018, and he’s the fourth quarterback the Buckeyes have offered in the class. Many thought Jones was a done deal to Tennessee, but the Buckeyes are his “dream school,” so the offer certainly changes his recruitment. The Buckeyes want to get him on campus as soon as possible with the hope that a visit will secure a commitment. Jones told 11W he wanted to make a decision by the end of the summer, and it will still likely come down to Tennessee and Ohio State. I personally like what Phil Jurkovec brings to the table, and I’d prefer to have him in the class over Jones, but that’s just me.

Derrik Allen – CB – Class of 2018



Derrik Allen of Marietta, Georgia also received an offer yesterday. He’s the 2nd-ranked cornerback in the early 2018 rankings and already holds 23 offers from most of the top schools in the nation. Right now he is crystal-balled to Georgia, but with only two predictions right now, his decision is far from certain. Allen is listed at 6’1” and 185 and judging by his highlights, he plays the ball well while in the air, but he can also play down and make some big hits at the line.

KJ Henry – DE – Class of 2018



A couple of days ago, the Buckeyes offered KJ Henry, a weak-side defensive end out of Clemmons, North Carolina. He’s the 2nd-ranked WDE in the nation in the early 2018 rankings and currently holds 22 offers from pretty much the entire ACC conference, as well as Florida, Tennessee and Florida State. Henry currently has a crystal ball prediction to both North Carolina and Clemson, but Clemson seems to be the leading the chase for now.

Josh Belk – DT – Class of 2018



The Buckeyes are on a roll with 2018 offers, and Josh Belk, the #5 DT prospect in the 2018 rankings, was on the receiving end of one of them. Belk hails from Richburg, South Carolina, and his home state Gamecocks look to be the favorite to land him; however, he also holds offers from traditional powers like Clemson, Florida State and LSU. He has three crystal ball predictions in for the Gamecocks, so pulling him out of South Carolina may be a challenge for the Buckeye coaches.




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Heard Around the ‘Shoe – 5-12-2016
Ben Van Ooyen 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

Kerry Coombs still out recruiting, now in Maryland:



Todd Sibley to visit Pitt this weekend:






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Ohio State delivers "dream offer" to 2018 QB from Georgia
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


One of Georgia's top 2018 QB prospect gets an offer from the Buckeyes.

On Tuesday, Ohio State dropped off two offers to 2018 prospects in DT Josh Belk and DE KJ Henry. On Wednesday, it was the same story for two other soon-to-be top football recruits. Not to be forgotten, a new offer was also sent out to an in-state 2017 basketball prospect by Head Coach Thad Matta as well.

Jones' dream comes true


There seems to be no greater feeling than when your dreams finally become a reality. Last night, class of 2018 QB Emory Jones (Franklin, Ga. / Heard County) was able to experience that very feeling when Ohio State dropped an offer to him.


Jones is a 6 foot 1 inch, 193-pounder and currently sits at No. 2 overall in the 247Sports Composite Dual-Threat QB rankings just below Phil Jurkovec and right above Joey Gatewood (Auburn commit), who both have Buckeye offers under their belts as well.

Despite the fact that Jones is just a junior. The Peach State native has acquired offers from over ten schools already. Programs like Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Miami (FL), Mississippi State, South Carolina and West Virginia are just some of the power programs that are vying for Jones' services.

In the end, we'll have to see if the dream pull is enough to help bring the talented Peach State prospect to Columbus when it's time to put pen to paper.

With that being said, Jones wasn't the only Georgia prospect to be on the receiving end of an Ohio State offer on Wednesday. Class of 2018 CB Derrik Allen (Marietta, Ga. / Lassiter) picked up a nice birthday gift as he also got an offer from the Scarlet and Gray on his special day.



The 6 foot 1 inch, 185-pounder is currently graded as a five-star prospect and the No. 2 cornerback in the class. For now, Allen is mostly pegged to stay in-state and suit up for Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs in Athens, Ga, according to 247Sports Crystal Ball Predictions. The good news for the Buckeyes is that there is more than enough time to make some noise in this recruitment.

Bucks offer Young


Switching gears to the basketball Buckeyes, there was a new development in the 2017 recruiting class. According to Corey Albertson of TripleDoubleProspects.com, Ohio State hosted 2017 SF Kyle Young (Massillon, Ohio / Jackson) on an unofficial visit yesterday and the outcome resulted in an offer from the Buckeyes for the 6 foot 6 inch, 205-pounder.

Young will have to sort through his 12 offers to ultimately decide where he wants to spend his college career. Ohio State joined schools like Clemson, Illinois, Northwestern, Purdue, Wisconsin, Xavier and a handful of others to offer the local prospect.

Young is currently graded as a three-star prospect in the 2017 recruiting cycle. He also stands at 148th in the entire country, 32nd at the Small Forward position, and third in the state of Ohio. If there is one thing that concerns Ohio State basketball fans, it's likely the in-state misses as of late, and reeling in Young could help ease those concerns just a little.

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