Buckeyes offer another Bishop Gorman star - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes offer another Bishop Gorman star
247Sports
Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman is loaded with major college prospects including defensive tackle Haskell Garrett who is an Ohio State commitment and is currently in Columbus visiting the Buckeyes. What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you stay in the ...

and more »

Continue reading...

Scout Profile
Rivals Profile
247 Profile
HUDL Highlights



Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV)
Ht: 6'2''
Wt: 210 lbs
Class: 2018 (High School)

Login to view embedded media Login to view embedded media

Position by Position Recruiting Summary – Running Backs
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

Last time I looked at the future of the Buckeyes’ quarterback position, and now I’ll turn my attention to the backfield and the running backs. Ezekiel Elliott has been our workhorse for the past two years, but now that he’s heading to the NFL, the Buckeyes need to find a comparable replacement. Ohio State technically has six backs on the roster this fall, but Curtis Samuel and Dontre Wilson fill more of an H-back role, so it’s really down to four traditional every-down backs. I think the depth chart will probably look something like this come fall:

1.) Brionte Dunn – Senior (RS)

2.) Mike Weber – Freshman (RS)

3.) Antonio Williams – Freshman

4.) Demario McCall – Freshman

I put Dunn #1 because he is a senior and has been in the program for over four years. Weber’s going to push hard for that #1 spot this spring and fall, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him overtake Dunn at some point. I expect Dunn and Weber will both see a lot of touches this fall, and Samuel and Wilson will likely fill in as traditional backs as well. Urban Meyer says he wants to get quite a few freshman on the field this year, so we’ll probably see Antonio Williams too. He enrolled early so he can go through spring drills with the team, which will benefit him for the 2016 season. I don’t see Demario McCall playing this season however. He could play on special teams, but I would expect him to get a redshirt and compete for playing time in 2017. The running back position isn’t as deep as it usually is at Ohio State, so recruiting is going to have to address that.

Let’s look at potential recruiting classes for the next couple of years.

2017 recruiting has already gotten off to a fast start, and the Buckeyes hold commitments from Todd Sibley out of Akron and JK Dobbins, who was a surprise commitment from Texas. It would not surprise me, however, if one of these two committed backs is no longer a Buckeye come next February. Ohio State wants to add two backs in this class, and they’ve got that in Sibley and Dobbins, but the Buckeyes are still in it for current Alabama commit Najee Harris and former Alabama commit Cam Akers. Harris is scheduled to visit Ohio State in mid-April, and Akers had nothing but great things to say after his recent visit. Since scholarship positions are so tight, I think it’s safe to say the Buckeyes would ask Sibley or Dobbins to look elsewhere if either Harris or Akers decided to come to Ohio State. Watch for Trey Sermon out of Georgia and Adarius Lemons out of Florida as well. When all is said and done in February, I think the Buckeyes sign Sibley and Sermon.

2017 Depth Chart Projection:

1.) Mike Weber – Sophomore (RS)

2.) Antonio Williams – Sophomore

3.) Demario McCall – Freshman (RS)

4.) Trey Sermon – Freshman

5.) Todd Sibley – Freshman

Even though the backfield will be loaded with young talent, I still expect Meyer & Co to find a couple more running backs for the 2018 class. Right now the Buckeyes have offers out to Zamir White, Jaelen Gill, T.J. Pledger, Ricky Slade, and Brian Snead. Gill is the clear front-runner to be in the class. Not only is he an Ohio boy out of Westerville South High School, but Meyer believes he has the material to be a future captain and has already made him a priority. He holds 16 offers from most of the Big Ten and a few other big-name programs like Virginia Tech and Tennessee. I think Gills ends up a Buckeye in 2018, and I can see him being one of the first members of the class to commit. If Ohio State decides to take two backs in the class – and it might – then I like Slade out of Woodbridge, VA. He’s a quick back, but he’ll probably need to put on some weight to bulk up before he gets to college. He currently has offers from Florida, North Carolina, Miami, and others. Right now he is crystal-balled to Ohio State, but we’re two years away from signing day for this class, so that designation doesn’t mean much yet. I think Gill is almost a guaranteed lock for 2018, but there could be more names that pop up between now and then.

2018 Depth Chart Projection:

1.) Mike Weber – Junior (RS)

2.) Antonio Williams – Junior

3.) Demario McCall – Sophomore (RS)

4.) Trey Sermon – Freshman (RS)

5.) Todd Sibley – Freshman (RS)

6.) Jaelen Gill – Freshman

The recruiting cycle is always changing, so all my predictions could change at a moment’s notice. I fully expect to see a lot of Mike Weber over the next few years, and with the young stable of backs following him, hopefully there is minimal drop off from the Carlos Hyde and Ezekiel Elliott era at Ohio State.






Continue reading...

Ohio State AD Gene Smith apologizes for Michigan comment
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network

So, the latest drama in the heated Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is an interesting one. Here’s the full timeline, if you missed any of it the last 24-plus hours: Tuesday afternoon: Ohio State AD Gene Smith, while at a soccer press conference, was asked about the possibility of the football team taking a portion of a future spring practice to Florida, as rival Michigan did this earlier month. Smith shot the idea down, saying, “If we were jump starting our program, I’d probably try to do that too.” Tuesday night: After hours of speculation that Smith’s comment was a jab at

Continue reading...

Keyshawn Johnson Jr.'s commitment to Nebraska over Ohio State: What it means for the Buckeyes - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Keyshawn Johnson Jr.'s commitment to Nebraska over Ohio State: What it means for the Buckeyes
cleveland.com
Well, as much as a union between the Buckeyes and Johnson Jr. would've made sense on paper because of family ties, Urban Meyer's close relationship with Keyshawn Johnson Sr. and the success Ohio State has had churning out top receivers into the NFL ...

and more »

Continue reading...

Talking 10 Trolls Ohio State.. again
Ken via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


.. and still can’t get it right.

(Image courtesy gizmodo.com)

I had a little article brought to my attention on Thursday. Basically, Andy weaves a tale with what appear to be two story lines; the first story is to create a context for his second story, which is the real story.

First Fable

Andy starts off with this declaration:


Nowhere in the linked article, read it for yourself, is there any indication that the team’s goal is to “win the whole tournament”. Nowhere. Perhaps that how JaQuan Lyle’s comment of’…


… was construed. Or, perhaps it was Cleveland.com’s writer Bill Landis’ opinion that ” If this is all the Buckeyes have to play for right now, then they intend on trying to make the most of however long this lasts.”

If the coaching staff and the team feel there will be benefits accruing to a team, especially this young of a team, through additional post-season practices and games, then there indeed may be some value to it.

If your story is based on a premise that this flawed team’s goal is to “win the whole tournament”, then your premise, and story are flawed. If you are additionally stating something that hasn’t been stated, that’s flawed, too.

Second Fable

The next fable was an extensive narrative that tries to make a point that success in the NIT does not translate to ensuing success in the NCAA’s. He cited NIT titles for Penn State (2009), Stanford (2012) and Minnesota (2014) and the failures of those teams to accomplish much in the NCAA in subsequent years.

There are three flaws with this narrative. Here’s what they are:

• It’s not really relevant.
• The Big Ten teams cited by Andy are mediocre-bad basketball programs. Minnesota has not been an upper tier B1G program since the mid-1980’s. Over the past 47 years, the Penn State basketball program has a sub-.500 winning percentage. The NIT championships were outlier accomplishments for these schools.
• In his article, these post-NIT “failures” are placed in a vacuum. We already know that his examples are not championship-caliber teams. Was part of their subsequent NCAA failures due to improvements in the level of play of their conference opponents/competitors? We don’t know. He doesn’t say.

So, Andy’s implication that ‘there is no value’ to winning an NIT, based on his select examples, is cherry picking. If you’re going to cherry-pick, use more cherries.

Third Fable

By this point, he is pulling crap out of his netherparts to reach the point of his article; Thad Matta is a short-timer as Ohio State’s coach. Here we go, from the Talking 10 article (ed: emphasis mine):


And all of what? In addition to “historical success”, what else would be included in the “all-encompassing-tells-me-nothing phrase, “and all of that”. That’s not showing enough respect to your readers to even give a damn.

Yes, sometimes there is a downside to recruiting “upper echelon” talent. You should know that it takes time to mold ‘players’ into a ‘team’. Sometimes the talent is so “upper echelon” it decides to leave early for the NBA. We can’t all be Kentucky, you realize…

OK, enough of that nonsense; now we sweep to the grand fallacy of the Talking 10 article:


So, Andy thinks that if Thad doesn’t win the NIT, which was never a stated goal, with a team that is young and “under construction”, his job is in jeopardy? Good god, that is some desperate click-bait trolling. If you knew anything about this team, the fact that they accomplished 20 wins is an accomplishment. Achieving (non-conference) post-season play was a dream, not a potential reason for job termination.

Look, sometimes I get frustrated with OSU teams performances and I am not shy about writing commentary with some “what the hell, Thad?” and “what the hell, Urban?”, but to suggest that a one-off season performance starts the job clock ticking is ludicrous.

To be honest, he does have a point that there is a non-zero chance that “sometime over the next few years”, Thad may not be coaching at Ohio State. There is also a non-zero chance that I may drop over dead. Once we define the “next few years” number, then you can place your over/under bets on both events.

Wrap-up

A couple months ago, I had this response to Andy’s “concern” about how Urban may have to deal with the ‘next man up’ concept at Ohio State and this response to his “concern” about, what he felt, were Ohio State’s football recruiting inadequacies compared to the likes of Michigan and Michigan State. These articles were written in mid-January 2016.

My response, summary form, of this latest go-round of trolling for clicks:,

• Despite not making the NCAA’s, this program had a pretty good year, particularly when taken in context of inexperience and injuries. I thought it was a nice job of coaching and teaching by Thad.
• Andy showed a dilettantish approach to writing this hit piece. Doing journalistic research doesn’t take all that much time.
• But, if you set the point of an article to be fatuous, you can game the data to support your “conclusion”.
• In addition to the articles from January (above), he has demonstrated what he his. Now, it becomes a matter of haggling over the price.

The post Talking 10 Trolls Ohio State.. again appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

Continue reading...

Here's what Notre Dame means for the future of Big Ten expansion
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Big Ten made a big addition last night. So what's next?

It wouldn't be the offseason without some spicy conference realignment news, and this year has already delivered. Last night, it was reported that Notre Dame would leave the prestigious Hockey East conference to join the Big Ten for the 2017-2018 season. That gives the Big Ten seven hockey playing schools in the conference, and creates a lot of questions, not just for hockey, but for the conference as a whole.

Why would Notre Dame join the Big Ten for hockey?


On purely competitive grounds, this might not make a lot of immediate sense for the Irish. The Hockey East conference is excellent, including traditional powers like Boston College and Boston University, and sends multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament. The Irish have been competitive in this conference, grabbing an NCAA bid this season.

But the logistics have been complicated. Everybody else in the Hockey East is in New England, forcing awkward travel arrangements for the Irish, and everybody else. The entire conference has had to shift their schedule to accommodate Notre Dame, which could make it an awkward long term fit. With the Big Ten, Notre Dame gets to renew old rivalries with programs like Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State, improve travel considerations, and be a part of a league with large, peer athletic departments. Plus, the hope is that the Big Ten can grow into a conference power.

Wait, the Big Ten isn't a hockey power right now?


Nope. Many individual schools in the Big Ten have enjoyed major hockey success at times, and many also have large fanbases, but since the Big Ten formed, the league has struggled a bit. Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan State have fallen off, Penn State (while improving significantly) is still a very new program, and thanks to some unlucky bounces and a small conference size, the B1G has failed to get more than a single NCAA bid for the last two years.

Attendance and interest have also fallen a bit. Average attendance at Wisconsin fell by over 30,000 fans compared to last season, and attendance at the neutral site Big Ten Tournament has been poor every season. Adding another successful program should help jump start the league.

Will the Big Ten stay at seven teams? That seems like a bit of an awkward number.


They've refrained from publicly speculating about it for now, but common sense would indicate that moving to eight teams (at least) would probably make the most sense, since scheduling with an odd number of teams is a headache, and the league would probably get a greater competitive boost with more than seven programs. It's possible they don't get to eight in time for the 2017-2018 season, but it seems probable they get there eventually. The Big Ten could expand by having a member institution start a D1 hockey team, or by adding another affiliate member.

Could a current Big Ten institution add a hockey team in the near future?


It's possible, but it doesn't seem especially likely. Even though many Big Ten schools have successful club hockey programs, and many Big Ten schools are in states that produce D1 caliber hockey talent, the start-up costs make a quick turnaround difficult. A school would need to add women's sports to accommodate Title IX, an arena, coach, and the resources to compete against the Minnesotas of the world. Nebraska has been floated as a possibility (they at least have the arena), and Illinois and Rutgers have successful club programs who on paper would be good fits, but it would be unlikely either of them would make the jump up in the near future, unless a new, very generous donor, decided it was time.

What about possible affiliate members?


The name you are probably hearing the most is Arizona State. It wouldn't be the first time ASU has been tied to the Big Ten for hockey, and at least one media member is picking them as the current favorites.

ASU would make sense for many of the realignment reasons we typically associate with football programs. ASU is near a major TV market and metropolitan area with many Big Ten alums. It is an enormous school, and more importantly, they need a stable conference home at the moment. The Big Ten and the NCHC, which has programs in Colorado and Nebraska, are likely to make calls to the Sun Devils, and ASU could conceivably pick either one.

There are some reasons why this might not happen, or might not be a good idea, though. For one, Arizona State is a very new D1 program, and they just aren't very good right now. ASU finished 5-22-2 as an independent last season, and given the logistics of ramping up a new program, plus the massive travel they'll face playing basically anybody, it could be several years before ASU is ready to compete among the best teams in the Big Ten. If the goal is to improve fan interest and competitive standing, this isn't a great fit.

Plus, it might not be a stable one. Several Pac-12 schools also have competitive club teams (in the aptly-named 'Pac-8') and if more schools out west start programs, ASU would probably bolt to join them. Any affiliate membership the Big Ten offers probably can't be counted on to last for a long time.

Are there other possible candidates?


Nobody has been reported yet, but there are a few that at least on paper, make some sense. The biggest name out there is North Dakota, currently in the NCHC. North Dakota is a public school in the midwest, brings manageable travel, and most importantly, is awesome at hockey. Perennially one of the best teams in the country, North Dakota brings a rabid fanbase that travels well, high level competition, and would unquestionably improve the Q score, and the computer profile, of Big Ten hockey. Whether they would be interested in leaving their league, is the biggest question.

There are other programs in the NCHC that fit a similar profile. Miami (OH) has been a great hockey program, has strong academics and already sits in the Big Ten footprint, although maybe Ohio State wouldn't be thrilled to share the state with another team, especially one that might be better than them. Bowling Green, of the WCHA, is in a similar boat.

I personally think that following the football realignment playbook would be missing the point a little bit. Whoever the conference adds isn't going to force BTN on a new metro's basic cable network. The conference should find programs that fit the geographic and institutional fit of the conference, and are good at hockey. There are a few of those out there.

What does this mean for Notre Dame and the Big Ten, generally?


It would be tempting to say that this helps the chances of Notre Dame eventually joining the Big Ten in all sports, but that almost certainly isn't in the cards for a long time. If anything though, grabbing Notre Dame is a real coup for the Big Ten, which has had to overcome decades of bad blood between ND and the conference. If the alumni base and administration can stomach having B1G affiliation for one sport, perhaps they may be open to other relationships once their deal with the ACC expires over the next decade.

Who knows what college athletics will look like in the next decade. But bringing in a program like ND for a sport that people care about can only help.

Continue reading...

BM5: Buckeyes 'have a lot of dogs that can bite' - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BM5: Buckeyes 'have a lot of dogs that can bite'
247Sports
Bucknuts contributor Jonah Booker stops by for that and to discuss Urban Meyer's interesting comments from Tuesday. What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Buckeyes newsletter now!


Continue reading...

OSUWBB: Sweet 16 Preview – Ohio State vs Tennessee
Charles via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

With their win over West Virginia in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the Ohio State women’s basketball team advanced to the Sweet 16 for the 8th time in program history. Their reward for that accomplishment is a trip to Sioux Falls, South Dakota (dear NCAA, why on Earth did you put a regional there) for a matchup against Tennessee, one of the most successful and iconic programs in the history of women’s basketball.

Tennessee had a down year this year, they have been a bit down since Pat Summit retired but this year saw them drop out of the top 25 for the first time in decades. The Volunteers only earned a 7 seed in the tournament but that didn’t stop them from continuing the program’s tradition of winning in March as they got to the Sweet 16 by upsetting 2nd seeded Arizona State on the Sun Devils’ home court. The Volunteers almost didn’t make it to the second round after trailing for most of their first round game against Wisconsin-Green Bay before putting together a late 10-0 run to go on top.

Ohio State and Tennessee had three opponents in common this season. Both teams beat Penn State, Tennessee won 74-66 at home while OSU won 77-63 on the road. The Volunteers lost to Notre Dame 79-66 while the Buckeyes lost 75-72, both games were in South Bend. The final common opponent was South Carolina who the winner of this game will likely face in the Elite Eight; Tennessee lost 62-56 at home while Ohio State fell 88-80 on the road. Based on the common matchups, this should be a good, close game.

Ohio State built a reputation this season for their offensive prowess as they have averaged 86.76 points per game. Tennessee has come in with a reputation built much more on their defense as the Volunteers only average 65.21 points per game but only allow an impressive 58.06 ppg; by comparison OSU allows 74.45 points per game. The matchup for this game will be whether the Volunteer defense can do what few other teams have done this season and slow down the Buckeye offense. Tennessee’s defense does a good job of frustrating opponents’ shooting, allowing 37% from the field and 30% from outside; Ohio State averages 48% from the field and 38% from three point range. A key to how this matchup will go will be whether Alexa Hart and Shayla Cooper can get the ball down low and score. In their embarrassing loss to Michigan State in the Big Ten tournament, the Buckeyes struggled to get the ball inside and had to settle for taking outside shots. Scoring inside will be made difficult by Volunteer center Mercedes Russell who at 6’ 6” has three inches in height on Hart and four on Cooper. Ohio State will need to get the ball inside to Hart and Cooper and attack off the dribble to balance out their outside attack.

Offensively Tennessee isn’t as explosive but they don’t depend on one or two players as much as Ohio State depends on Kelsey Mitchell and Ameryst Alston. Guard Diamond DeShields leads the Volunteers with 14.2 points per game and forward Bashaara Graves is the only other player to average in double digits with 10.2 points per game; center Mercedes Russell averages 9.6 ppg and could be an X-factor if she has a big day. Tennessee primarily scores from the inside, they don’t have a single player who averages more than one made three pointer per game. While you always have to worry about someone getting hot in the tournament, this is good news as one of the problems for OSU defensively this season has not been getting out on outside shooters quickly enough when the opponent moves the ball. While the Buckeye defense tends to allow opponents to shoot well, they do a good job of forcing turnovers (17.6 per game) and the Volunteers can be vulnerable to turnovers, giving up 15.9 per game.

A big question mark in this game is the status of Ameryst Alston. Alston has been Ohio State’s second leading scorer on the season and her presence has forced teams to not entirely focus on Kelsey Mitchell in the backcourt. Alston sprained her wrist in OSU’s Big Ten tournament win over Rutgers and her absence in the game against Michigan State had a huge impact as the OSU offense was much easier to contain and less dynamic. Alston sat out the first game of the NCAA tournament and while she played against West Virginia in the second round, she only scored 6 points, well below her 18.2 ppg average. A few extra days of rest will certainly help but it remains to be seen how ready to go Alston will be. If she is close to full strength, the Buckeye offense is much more dangerous and almost impossible to contain. If Alston is limited, more pressure will fall onto Mitchell in the backcourt. While Mitchell is very capable of carrying the OSU offense, as shown by her 45 points against West Virginia, she sometimes seems to let that pressure limit her ability to get teammates involved. Instead she tries to do it all herself and will take lower percentage shots. If Alston isn’t near full strength, Mitchell needs to remember she has a lot of capable scoring threats around her and make sure to keep them involved.

In the past playing Tennessee was often as much about playing the name on the front of the jersey as the players who wore it, the Volunteer mystique was that strong. While the program has gone through a few down years and that mystique may have dimmed a bit, you can bet that all of the players on OSU’s roster know they are playing one of the most legendary programs ever. The key will be to stay focused and remember they are facing just another opponent. If Ohio State sticks to their game and plays like they have most of the season, their offense is dynamic enough to stretch the Volunteer defense and put up points. This will be a close game and hopefully OSU’s amazing hard strength of schedule and many close games will pay off when the Buckeyes have to dig deep and fight late in the game for a spot in the Elite Eight and a shot at a Final Four.

Ohio State and Tennessee tip off at 7:00 pm on Friday and the game can be seen on ESPN2.

The post OSUWBB: Sweet 16 Preview – Ohio State vs Tennessee appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

Continue reading...

Skull Session: Buckeyes Flame Harbaugh, Bosa's Best Landing Spots, and the Universal Love for Cardale - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Skull Session: Buckeyes Flame Harbaugh, Bosa's Best Landing Spots, and the Universal Love for Cardale
Eleven Warriors
Like I said: Jim Harbaugh is a gift to The Rivalry. By the time Jim Tressel got through with Lloyd Carr, it felt like mugging Sad Pawpaw. Rich Rodriguez's era—short as it was—felt like knocking over a recent divorcee on vacation. Beating Brady Hoke ...


Continue reading...

Urban Meyer using spring practice as major recruiting push for Ohio State
Charles Doss via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


By pulling in some big-name prospects this week, the Buckeyes' mastermind could seal a few more deals.

With schools on spring break, top-rated prospects from across the country are taking their time away from the classroom to check out what colleges have to offer. On Tuesday, Urban Meyer and the Ohio State coaching staff had their fair share of high school recruits on campus for their spring practice.

Headlining the list of prospects that visited Ohio State yesterday was current class of 2017 verbal commit Haskell Garrett. Making the trek from Nevada to Columbus for the first time, Garrett finally had the opportunity to see what the Buckeyes are working with up close and personal.

With teams such as Notre Dame, where the defensive tackle visited over the weekend, trying to poach him away from the Buckeyes' grasp, the trip didn't just give him and his family a chance to meet the staff, but also see what it would be like to suit up in the Scarlet and Gray.


Garrett, a four-star prospect, accounted for over 50 tackles, and six sacks last season at powerhouse Bishop Gorman. His play on the field wasn't just noticed by college coaches. According to the 247Sports Composite Rankings he is currently the fourth defensive tackle, and 75th overall recruit in the class of 2017.

Ohio natives check out Buckeyes


While Haskell Garrett might be far away from home, a number of prospects didn't have to travel too far to see Ohio State practice. Pickerington Central recruits Morgan Ellison (2017), Trenton Gillison (2018), Xavier Henderson (2018), and Jeremiah Wood (2018), the brother of former Buckeye defensive back Jamie Wood, were on campus Tuesday.

All four recruits are on the school's radar. The 2018 prospects also all have offers on the table from Kentucky and other FBS programs.

Another prospect to visit OSU yesterday was class of 2018 offensive lineman Blaine Scott of Portsmouth East High School. A former teammate of current Buckeye offensive lineman Tyler Gerald, Scott, who has been on the Ohio State campus a number of times throughout the recruiting process, once again got to see the Buckeyes put in work. While he was impressed with the team, it was one of the Buckeyes' new assistant coaches that stole the show this go-around.

"I've been to OSU numerous times now so I know what it's about. I have always loved the intensity the team has. The biggest thing about today was getting some good time with Coach Stud[rawa]. I must say the man is intense. I loved his work ethic and intensity. We had some good talks today. He really liked me and my tape. We talked about a possible offer in the future, which looks really good," the 6'5, 300-pound sophomore told Land-Grant Holy Land.

Scott's visit to Ohio State won't be his last college trip. In the coming weeks the sophomore has plans to check out a few of the programs to offer him a scholarship so far. On April 2nd, the Cincinnati Bearcats will host Blaine, while the Duke Blue Devils will have their chance to have him on campus a week later, on April 9th. Although he has yet to set a date, Michigan State and Iowa State are two schools he would like to get to in the near future.

Buckeyes offer 2016 wing


Just days after leading Westerville South to a state championship, Andre Wesson's week got even better on Tuesday evening. The son of former Buckeye big man Keith Wesson and older brother of current Ohio State 2017 pledge Kaleb Wesson, Andre, a 6'7 wing, received his chance to play for Thad Matta, Jeff Boals, and the Buckeyes on the next level.

A leader on the court all season long for the Wildcats, Wesson averaged 16 points, seven rebounds, and three assists during the state playoffs. His Ohio State offer might be brand new, but many other programs have been recruiting Andre for a matter of time. Xavier, Richmond, Akron, and Bowling Green are just a few of the schools to offer a scholarship to Wesson during the process.

Zach Fleer of 270Hoops.com had the following to say of Wesson:

"While Wesson improved his offensive game by leaps and bounds as a senior, the 6'7 wing's best attributes are on the other side of the floor, as he is poised to be one of the state's top defensive players. With the strength, athleticism, versatility, and awareness to defend every position on the floor, Wesson was 'the glue' for Westerville South this season, guarding every opponent's best player throughout the entire season."

Will Wesson be the last piece of the Buckeyes' 2016 recruiting puzzle? Stay with Land-Grant Holy Land for the latest.

Continue reading...

Ohio State offense young, but has veterans where it matters most - ESPN (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State offense young, but has veterans where it matters most
ESPN (blog)
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State knows two guys who are going to touch the football on every offensive snap. For now, that's good enough for the Buckeyes. There is still plenty of time to figure out who else might get involved once center Pat Elflein and ...
Who was on Buckeyes starting offensive line at third spring football practice? Ohio State offensive observationscleveland.com
Rob Oller commentary | Spring football puts coaches on trial, tooColumbus Dispatch

all 50 news articles »

Continue reading...

Buckeyes not interested in Florida trip, Harbaugh responds - NBC4i.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes not interested in Florida trip, Harbaugh responds
NBC4i.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Most college students can't wait to get to Florida for their Spring Break. Do not count Ohio State football players among them, at least for the time being. OSU head coach Urban Meyer and athletic director Gene Smith addressed ...
Ohio State Football: Buckeyes AD throws shade at Jim Harbaugh, MichiganSaturday Blitz
Ohio State's AD On Buckeyes Holding Practices Out Of State Like MichiganCollege Spun
Buckeyes offer Ohio two-sport star247Sports
ESPN -Bleacher Report -Eleven Warriors
all 78 news articles »

Continue reading...

Meyer putting pressure on his young Buckeyes - Ironton Tribune
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Meyer putting pressure on his young Buckeyes
Ironton Tribune
No, Meyer isn't referring to the warming temperatures outside but rather the pressures that are being applied to a lot of Ohio State players who don't have much playing experience but will have to step in and play this season. The Ohio State fifth-year ...
3 takeaways from Urban Meyer's spring practice press conferenceOSU - The Lantern
Ohio State football: Returning JT Barrett at QB and Pat Elflein at center puts Urban Meyer's mind at ease … a littleChronicle-Telegram
Watch: Meyer on biggest spring developments247Sports

all 24 news articles »

Continue reading...

Buckeyes to stay home for spring - Toledo Blade
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes to stay home for spring
Toledo Blade
Urban Meyer on Tuesday said the Buckeyes have no plans to follow Michigan to Florida. A week after the Ohio State coach suggested he would be open to moving practice from Columbus, he squashed the idea, saying, “I can't see taking spring break away ...
Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer not planning on spring practices in FloridaESPN
Ohio State football: Recap from Urban Meyer after Buckeyes third spring practicecleveland.com
Buckeyes not interested in Florida trip, Harbaugh respondsNBC4i.com
BT Powerhouse (blog) -Scout
all 108 news articles »

Continue reading...

Practice report: Buckeyes back in action after spring break - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Practice report: Buckeyes back in action after spring break
247Sports
Several Buckeyes are still working on the side due to injuries, but two veteran defensive players -- junior safety Cam Burrows and sophomore defensive tackle Dylan Thompson -- returned to practice today. In fact, Burrows was running with the first-team ...


Continue reading...

Andre Wesson, 2016 wing, gets Buckeyes offer he was waiting for: Ohio State basketball recruiting - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Andre Wesson, 2016 wing, gets Buckeyes offer he was waiting for: Ohio State basketball recruiting
cleveland.com
He got the scholarship offer he was waiting for from the Buckeyes on Tuesday. Ohio State offered Wesson, a 2016 small forward from Westerville South on Tuesday. The news was posted on Twitter by Kaleb Wesson, Andre's younger brother and a center ...
Brugler mock: Buckeyes continue to be highly regarded247Sports

all 5 news articles »

Continue reading...

Andre Wesson, 2016 wing, gets Buckeyes offer he was waiting for: Ohio State basketball recruiting - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Andre Wesson, 2016 wing, gets Buckeyes offer he was waiting for: Ohio State basketball recruiting
cleveland.com
He got the scholarship offer he was waiting for from the Buckeyes on Tuesday. Ohio State offered Wesson, a 2016 small forward from Westerville South on Tuesday. The news was posted on Twitter by Kaleb Wesson, Andre's younger brother and a center ...
Basketball Bucks offer Andre Wesson247Sports

all 2 news articles »

Continue reading...

Jim Harbaugh responds to Gene Smith's comments about spring practice with a tattoo joke
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


No subtweet here.

During Tuesday's media availability, Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith was asked whether the Buckeyes are considering spring break practices in Florida. This topic has been popular since Coach Harbaugh did this with the Michigan football team.

Smith's reaction to the question seemed like a slight at the Ohio State rivals. "Is it creative? Does it help from a recruiting and marketing point of view? I get that," Smith said, according to Cleveland.com. "If we were jumpstarting our program I'd probably try and do that, too. But we're not jumpstarting our program. We're in a different place."

Coach Harbaugh didn't come back with a subtweet, he straight up called Gene Smith out, while also bringing up the biggest blunder in recent Buckeye history.



For the record, Smith's been relevant again since then -- anyone remember the 2014 National Championship? Anyone? Or maybe the last Michigan game?

Ohio State better keep beating Michigan, since Harbaugh is going to be insufferable on Twitter if the Wolverines ever spring the upset.

And, of course, Buckeye players were quick to respond.





Continue reading...

Ohio State baseball uses the longball to rally against Xavier
Ben Martens via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


After falling behind early, the Buckeyes flexed their muscle and beat the Musketeers 11-6.

Ohio State freshman Brady Cherry had himself a day at the plate on Tuesday evening, keying the Buckeyes' 11-6 win over Xavier in Columbus. Cherry hit his fourth home run of the season, a grand slam, and drove in five runs.

Senior Craig Nennig also had a day he won't soon forget, belting the first homer of his collegiate career and driving in three.

As the team showed over the weekend against Hofstra, an early deficit is not something that will cause panic. Ohio State found itself in an early five-run hole on this day and battled back once again, improving to 12-6-1 on the year.

Freshman Ryan Feltner had a tough outing as Xavier strung together four hits en route to three runs in the top of the first. First baseman Joe Gellenbeck drove in the first with a double to left-center, and was followed by shortstop Andre Jernigan who drove a fly ball over the left field wall.

The Musketeers added another run in the third to take a 4-0 lead. Catcher Daniel Rizzie to start the inning and stole second almost immediately. Feltner then retired both Gellenbeck and Jernigan, but right fielder Daniel Morton delivered a two-out single to bring Rizzie around.

In the fifth, Rizzie again got things started for Xavier, singling to lead off and coming around to score on a double by Gellenbeck. Head coach Greg Beals made his way to the mound and brought in junior Joe Stoll from the bullpen to end Feltner's day after 4.1 innings of work. The righty gave up five runs on ten hits in a no-decision.

Meanwhile, junior Brad Kirschner was firmly in control for the Musketeers. The lefty stifled the Buckeyes' bats through the first four innings, but they got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Cherry and junior left fielder Ronnie Dawson came through with back-to-back two-out RBI singles to trim the lead to 5-2.

Stoll gave up a sixth run to Xavier in the top of the sixth on a solo homer by left fielder Will LaRue. It was the last run the Musketeers would muster.

Facing a four-run deficit, Ohio State again got a jolt from Cherry. Reliever Trey Schramm grooved a fastball with the bases loaded and the Indiana native made him pay. The grand slam tied the ballgame and the Buckeyes didn't look back.

In the seventh, the scarlet and gray got some power from a very unlikely source as they ran the lead out to 9-6. After a double by senior first baseman Troy Kuhn and a walk by junior catcher Jalen Washington, Nennig hit his three-run homer.

The Buckeyes got a pair of insurance runs in the eighth after Dawson reached on a fielder's choice and stole second, putting himself into position to score on a single through the left side of the infield by third baseman Nick Sergakis. Sergakis then came around on a throwing error by third baseman Rylan Bannon, pushing the lead to 11-6.

Out of the bullpen, Stoll, senior Daulton Mosbarger, sophomore Austin Woodby, and senior Michael Horejsei tossed 4.2 innings of one-run relief. Woodby picked up his third win of the season.

Up next for the Buckeyes is opening of Big Ten play. Northwestern will travel to Columbus for a three-game set Friday through Sunday.

Continue reading...

Who was on Buckeyes starting offensive line at third spring football practice? Ohio State offensive observations - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Who was on Buckeyes starting offensive line at third spring football practice? Ohio State offensive observations
cleveland.com
It's also important to remember that whatever combination of players we see on the offensive line this spring could change, because the Buckeyes are bringing in junior college tackle Malcolm Pridgeon this summer. You don't bring in a junior college ...
Ohio State men's basketball: Buckeyes bounced out of NITAkron Beacon Journal
Buckeyes' season concludes with with 74-66 loss to Florida in NITWaiting For Next Year
Matchup to Watch: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Florida GatorsBT Powerhouse (blog)
Ironton Tribune -Columbus Dispatch -The Ledger
all 180 news articles »

Continue reading...

Buckeyes, Matta hoping for better days in 2016-17 - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes, Matta hoping for better days in 2016-17
247Sports
In his first nine seasons at OSU, Matta led the Buckeyes to five Big Ten regular season titles, four Big Ten tournament titles, five NCAA Sweet 16 appearances, three Elite Eights, two Final Fours and a spot in the 2007 national title game. Those teams ...


Continue reading...

Notre Dame to join Big Ten hockey conference in 2017-18
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 Big Ten just got a little harder for the Buckeyes as Notre Dame will be leaving Hockey East.

The No. 3 team in the consensus best hockey conference in America will be leaving to join the Big Ten hockey conference in 2017-18. And it's the team the Big Ten has always wanted...for football at least.



That's right: Notre Dame is finally going to become part of the Big Ten in at least some capacity starting in the 2017-18 season. The Fighting Irish are one of the powers of the Hockey East conference, that includes 2015-16 schools Boston College, Boston University, Providence and UMass-Lowell in addition to the tournament-bound Irish.

Notre Dame finished 15-5-2 in conference play and 19-10-7 overall with an overall +30 goal differential this season. They will immediately climb to the top of the projected Big Ten standings once they arrive, competing with Michigan, Minnesota and possibly even money-infused Penn State for No. 1 in the conference.

It would stand to reason that the Big Ten would look to add an eighth team to balance the conference -- if you have any good idea how to run a seven team conference tournament, you'd be the first. Arizona State is the hot name in hockey expansion as the Sun Devils are new to Division I hockey and have previously been rumored to be Big Ten expansion candidates.

Arizona is also one of hockey's newest hotbeds, producing the 2016 NHL Draft's likely No. 1 overall selection, Auston Matthews. California also has seen growth in youth hockey with the Kings, Ducks and Sharks' success recently. Adding Arizona State could presumably give the Big Ten a leg up on those emerging hockey markets.

Ohio hockey fans would likely love to see someone like Miami University or Bowling Green, both solid programs in their own right, join the conference but that doesn't seem likely at this point. I would bet my money on Arizona State being the eighth team based on the new recruiting grounds the Big Ten needs to compete with more established teams and conferences like Hockey East.

That's all speculation, though. What we do know now is that Notre Dame is a member of the Big Ten.

Continue reading...

OSUMG: OSU Finishes Strong in Lone Star Invitational
Ken 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 Ohio State Athletic Dept)

In league with extraordinary gentlemen.

The Buckeyes traveled to Texas for the Lone Star Invitational, hosted by UT-San Antonio. The tournament is played at the Briggs Ranch Golf Course in San Antonio, TX. The course will play to 7,247 yards and a par 72. (That’s a lot of golf course). It has a USGA course rating of 75.7 and a slope of 139. (This is also a tough golf course. By comparison, my “home” course has a slope/rating of 72/123. Not even close in difficulty)

The format a three round, 54 hole event of ‘play five count four’, where a school fields 5 players, and the low 4 scores for each round are counted. This event has a seventeen team field: Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Houston Baptist, Little Rock, Louisiana-Lafayette, McNeese State, Miami (OH), Mississippi State, New Mexico, New Mexico State, North Texas, Ohio State, Rice, Southeastern Louisiana, Texas State, UTEP and (host school) UTSA. This is an interesting regional mix; one team from Mississippi, two from New Mexico, four teams from Ohio, four from Louisiana and 6 teams from Texas.

The participating players participating were: Will Grimmer, Tee-k Kelly, Caleb Ramirez, Sean Busch, and Josh Wick. Participating as the Individual was Grant Weaver. There were several lineup changes compared to the previous event. Caleb and Josh are new to the lineup, replacing Addison Coll and Clark Engle. Also, Grant is participating as an individual and Busch moved from Individual into the team lineup.

Overall


The Buckeyes again rode a strong final round (+5) to improve three positions to finish in T-8th, with a team total of 903 (+39).

The Buckeyes were led by Tee-k Kelly’s 211 (-5). Will’s score was good enough to place 8th in the 75 player field. His four “team” mates were bunched in scoring; Will Grimmer 231 (+15), Josh Wick 232 (+16), Caleb Ramirez 235 (+19) and Sean Busch 238 (+22). In the Individual category, Grant Weaver shot a 234 (+18).

Tee-k’s scoring earned him medalist honors in the field of 100 golfers. He finished 5 strokes clear of 2nd place Mario Carmona of Rice. In Individual competition, Grant finished T-4th place of 15 Individuals. Congratulations to both players. Well done.

This was an encouraging finish. They had a good first round, a horrible second round and, again, a very good third round.

Player round by round scores, below:

Lone Star Invitational 72 72 72 864
Par 72 Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Total To Par
Team 297 313 293 903 39
Will Grimmer 75 83 73 231 15
Caleb Ramirez 80 75 80 235 19
Sean Busch 79 84 75 238 22
Josh Wick 75 83 74 232 16
Tee-K Kelly 68 72 71 211 -5
Grant Weaver (I) 75 77 82 234 18
9 25 5 39 39

First Round

The rejiggered Buckeye got off to a pretty decent start; at the turn they were sitting at +4 and in 7th place. By the end of the round, they shot a team score of +9 and were lodged in 3rd place. The Buckeyes were led by Tee-k Kelly with a sizzling 68 (-4). Will Grimmer and Josh Wick shot 75’s (+3) and Sean Busch’s 79 (+7) rounded out the team score. Caleb Ramirez shot an 80 (+8). In Individual play, Grant Weaver shot a 75 (+3).

Tee-K got out of the blocks fast with 2 birdies on his front nine then went back-to-back with birdies on #13-#14 to get to -4. His five birdies led the Buckeyes in this round.

Will was a fairly steady +2 on his front side, then took us for a ‘Will the Thrill’ ride on the back nine. In a six hole stretch, he recorded 3 birdies and a triple bogey. That had to have been an interesting hour and fifteen minutes (or so) to witness.

Josh ‘steadied’ it around on his front nine of +3, then melded 2 birdies/2 bogeys for even par on the closing nine holes.

Sean took us on a ride that wasn’t quite as thrilling as Will’s. he had 2 double bogeys/1 birdie on the front side.

Caleb pretty much rode the ‘bogey train’ in his round; he had 9 bogeys/1 birdie. It sort of looked like one of my rounds, except he played it on a longer (800 yards) and tougher course. The same, but different..

Grant had a steady, 3 birdie/6 bogey round. He did have a five hole stretch on his back nine with no pars; bogey-birdie-bogey-birdie-bogey.

For the round, all six Buckeyes had 17 birdies, 60 pars, 28 bogeys and 3 ‘others’. This was a good opening round. On to the 2nd round…



Second Round

As good as the opening round was, the afternoon round was a smoldering crater. The Buckeyes shot a team total 313 (+25), sliding them down eight spots into 11th place after this round. The Buckeyes were led by Tee-k Kelly 72 (E) and Caleb Ramirez 75 (+3). After that, the scorecards were pretty ugly. Will Grimmer and Josh Wick contributed to the team scores by shooting 83’s (+11). Sean Busch shot an 84 (+12) and didn’t. Grant Weaver, playing as an individual, shot a respectable 77 (+5).

Tee-K had 4 birdies/2 double bogeys in his round. After two rounds, Tee-k held the lowest score (medalist) of the 100 competing golfers.

Will’s first round Thrill Ride turned into a mid-round Demolition Derby on the 2nd round. He started out well enough (+3 through 7 holes), but then played holes #8 – #10 in 7 over par. He did recover to play his finishing 8 holes in a very solid 1 over par, but the damage had been done.

Josh had a very good start (-1) after four holes, then the wheels fell off. He bogeyed nine of his next 11 holes.

Sean did manage a birdie, but his two double bogeys and a triple bogey really torpedoed his round.

Caleb had a mid-round, seven hole stretch with no pars; 3 bogies, a double bogey, a triple bogey, a birdie and an eagle. After his triple bogey on the par-4 12th, he eagled the par-5 13th and birdied the par-4 14th. This would have been a fun hour or so to follow Caleb around.

Grant tied Tee-k for team lead with 4 birdies. not to be outdone by Caleb, he did have a mid-round seven hole stretch with no pars; 3 bogies, a triple bogey and 3 birdies in holes #7 – #13. After his triple on #11, he went birdie-birdie, so evidently #11 didn’t faze him too much. In the Individual competition, Grant stood at T-3, only one stroke out of 2nd place.

For the round, all six Buckeyes combined for; 15 birdies, 53 pars, 26 bogeys and 14 ‘others’.

This is the second consecutive tournament the Buckeyes failed to capitalize on a good/very good opening round by less-than-sharp play in the 2nd round. I’m not quite sure what the post-round team meeting was like; there isn’t much a coach can say after that. Probably the best approach would be “Relax, put that round behind us, enjoy dinner, get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow.” On to the 3rd round…

Third Round


It appears the Buckeyes settled in and reverted back to their opening round form. They Buckeyes shot a team 3rd round score of 293 (+5) to move them up three spots into the T-8th position. The Buckeyes were again led by Tee-K Kelly 71 (-1). Will Grimmer 73 (+1), Josh Wick 74 (+2) and Sean Busch 75 (+3) rounded out the team scoring. Caleb Ramirez shot a final round 80 (+8). In Individual play, Grant Weaver shot an 82 (+10).

Tee-K teeing off on the 8th hole, he got out of the blocks fast with 5 consecutive pars before going eagle-birdie on the next two holes. Tee-k was sitting at level par until he finished with a birdie on his 18th hole to go sub-par. This was Tee-k’s second consecutive tournament where he scored under par for the final round. I think that Coaches Moseley and Smith need to convince Tee-k that every round is a final round…

Will turned things around for his closing round with a relatively drama-free (at least looking at the scorecard) score of 1 birdie / 2 bogeys / 15 pars. Textbook stuff there; fairways, greens, 2 putts…

Josh had a very good round of 2 birdies/2 bogeys/13 pars until a double bogey on his last hole of the day, the tough par-4 9th. That is still a very solid round of golf. Well done.

Sean teeing off on #11, was 1-under par through 8 holes and 4 over through 13 holes. He double bogeyed #6, then birdied 3 consecutive holes, then finished with a par. For context, it takes me 3 rounds to score 3 birdies, or about 12-13 hours of playing time. Sean got his 3 birdies in a span of 30-40 minutes. Amazing.

Caleb had a rough start, shooting a 7 on the par-4 9th hole. It took him a few holes to get into sync, but he did finish his last seven holes in even par. That’s a good job of pulling it back together.

Grant had another five hole stretch mid-round with no pars; double bogey-birdie-double bogey-bogey-bogey.

For the round, the six Buckeyes combined for; 1 eagle (Tee-k), 13 birdies, 65 pars, 24 bogeys and 5 ‘others’. This was another very good finishing round.

Thoughts

In some respects, after seeing the participating schools, the final standings didn’t surprise me. There were 4 “Ohio” schools and 13 “southern” schools. Most, if not all of the southern teams have been in tournament play a month before the “Ohio” schools. The additional one or two events make a difference in performance this early in the season.

In Ohio State’s previous event, I commented that “Tee-k Kelly, to put it mildly, “under-performed” in his first two rounds. Then he had a stunning under-par 3rd round.” This week, Tee-k didn’t mess around in the first two rounds; he went pin-seeking and it paid off.

Sifting through the chaff, here is a “what happened” snap-shot. They played the par 3’s very well, scoring an average 3.33 (+20) ranking them T-1st. They played the par 4’s ‘sort of OK’, to an average of 4.36 per hole, +54 to par, ranking them 9th. They played the par 5’s to an average of 4.88 per hole, a total of -7 to par, ranking 7th.

In terms of “to par” scoring, Ohio State recorded 149 pars, placing them in 8th position in that measure. They recorded 36 birdies, placing them 7th. They scored 2 eagles, placing them tied for for 3rd place. Note: this is “team” statistics, so Grant’s 9 birdies are not included.

The team still needs to level out the 2nd round play. Obviously, this is not a profound observation that coaches Moseley/Smith are unaware of. This final round finish was a good performance to build for the rest of the Spring. The next couple months are going to be fun.

Up Next

The OSUMG team will return to Texas on April 2-3 for the Aggie Invitational in Bryan, TX.

Go Buckeyes!

The post OSUMG: OSU Finishes Strong in Lone Star Invitational appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

Continue reading...

Ohio State's big shoes to fill leave intriguing position battles for 2016
Ian Cuevas via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The running back and defensive end spots are vacant after departures from Ezekiel Elliott and Joey Bosa. Who has the inside track to replacing them?

"Ezekiel Elliott was only the Big Ten offensive player of the year in 2015, a guy who ran for more than 1,800 yards in each of the past two years and for 41 touchdowns the last two seasons combined. He was kind of a big deal."

- Brian Bennett, ESPN


There are several important players that Ohio State lost to the NFL draft, but perhaps the most key losses were running back Ezekiel Elliott and defensive end Joey Bosa. This offseason, the Buckeyes are tasked with trying to replace the two All-Americans at their respective positions. That means several current players are going to be fighting for those spots and for playing time in 2016. At defensive end, the obvious replacement appears to be Sam Hubbard who, as a true freshman, filled in at times for Bosa when he was off the field. Hubbard showed why he earned playing time, stepping up impressively in the times Bosa wasn't able to play. He also had several sacks over the course of the season and set himself up nicely for a potential breakout sophomore campaign.

The real position battle will come at running back. For now, it's assumed that senior running back Bri'onte Dunn will finally have his shot at the starting position, having backed up both Carlos Hyde and Ezekiel Elliott. Dunn had been in and out of the doghouse for Urban Meyer early on but has resolved any of those issues. Other than Dunn, freshman Mike Weber could make some noise if he plays well in spring and fall practices as one of the top recruits in Ohio State's 2016 class. And of course, it's already been well documented that Curtis Samuel will likely see some action at running back in addition to some H-back or wide receiver duties.

"You know what, in the secondary it might be [a benefit]. If we're going to introduce some new things, if a guy has been doing the same thing for three or four years, he might be like, ‘Why do we have to change it now? Why are we changing this thing?' Whereas guys who haven't had a lot of experience, they're just ready and fighting for a job and wanting to please and do everything they can."

- Greg Schiano via Austin Ward, ESPN


Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Greg Schiano made quite a splash when the Buckeyes hired him. Now in his first season in Columbus, Schiano went to work right away and has the task of preparing a young secondary to get up to speed to the college level. The Buckeyes only return one starter - cornerback Gareon Conley - from last season's secondary, leaving several spots open for the taking. Among the potential candidates for the opposite cornerback spot are Marshon Lattimore, Damon Webb, and Denzel Ward. But whoever doesn't win that spot may just end up seeing time at safety. The safety positions were left by Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell, and with Cam Burrows and Erick Smith on the sideline with injuries, Schiano has some decisions to make.

Malik Hooker and Eric Glover-Williams seem to be two of the popular names at safety with the injuries mentioned above, with Damon Webb also getting some playing time at the position. There likely won't be a clear-cut depth chart until the fall, but for now, the positions seem to be up for grabs. With a lot of those names without much experience, it will be crucial for Schiano to coach and teach these players in order to have them ready for 2016.

"He's truly grateful that he's the type of kid Ohio State took a chance on. He wasn't a blue chipper. He's a kid that I think is developing for sure, with his body size and his feel for the game. I think redshirting really helped him. I think the future is bright."

- Sonny Johnson via Bill Landis, Northeast Ohio Media Group


Ohio State center David Bell entered this season as a redshirt freshman and saw limited playing time. Bell played in 23 games and served as a third-string center of sorts in case Trevor Thompson or Daniel Giddens found themselves in foul trouble. He only averaged 1.1 points, 1.5 rebounds, and blocked six shots over the course of the season, but more importantly, he spent time developing and working to put himself in a good position for future seasons. Bell knows he could very well be a four-year player at Ohio State, considering the amount of centers both on the roster now and how many Thad Matta and the staff are bringing in the next couple of seasons.

After all, Bell only started taking basketball seriously in the eighth grade and was recruited as a project of sorts. But Bell is fully aware of his position on the team and is focused solely on improving his game in his time with the Buckeyes. It's up to him how much he can improve during his stay in Columbus and the coaching staff will surely work with him if the effort is always there. If Bell can make steady improvements consistently, there's no reason he won't earn more playing time or have a significant role on Ohio State in the future.

STICK TO SPORTS:

• Nintendo will reportedly cease production of the Wii U by the end of the year.
• How Vizio and Google radically reinvented the TV.
• Ohio State is working with the White House to showcase water innovations.

Continue reading...