Where Ohio State Buckeyes in the NFL landed after free agency
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Some players signed extensions and others are headed to a new team in 2016.

Just a month before the NFL Draft, teams have been making moves preparing for the 2016 season. Several former Ohio State stars tested the waters of free agency, before either re-signing with their team or heading to a new city for a fresh start. Not all Buckeyes have found their way onto a roster, but there is still plenty of time this offseason for moves to be made and contracts to be signed.

Here's a look at how free agency played out for various pro Buckeyes:

Alex Boone (49ers -> Vikings)

After being openly frustrated with his time in San Francisco, it was little surprise that the guard would try and find a spot elsewhere for the next phase of his career. He couldn't resist at least one more parting shot at the Niners and Colin Kaepernick, saying what he liked best about the opportunity to play with Teddy Bridgewater was that the quarterback wasn't a "prima donna".

As one of the best lineman in the League, it's no surprise he earned the 7th highest contract among guards in the NFL. He signed a four-year deal with the Vikings for $26.8 million, including $10 million guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $6.7 million.

Nate Ebner (Patriots re-signed)

The 26 year old free safety has been a solid special team player for New England over the past four seasons. Heading into the offseason, Ebner was an unrestricted free agent, but the Patriots decided to re-sign the former Buckeye to a two-year deal worth $2.4 million.

Just after signing his new contract, Ebner requested a leave of absence to pursue a dream of his to compete at the Olympics in rugby -- the game he played before pursuing a career in football.

James Laurinaitis (Rams -> Saints)

After being cut by the Rams following seven years with the team, record-breaking linebacker took meetings with several teams -- including the Falcons -- before signing a deal with the New Orleans Saints. Details of his new contract haven't been released yet, but he was the 5th highest paid inside linebacker (among 103) in 2015.

Terrelle Pryor (Browns re-signed)

The former quarterback-turned receiver wasn't nearly as effective as the Browns had hoped last season -- but he also didn't have the whole season to find a groove. Despite only recording three catches for 42 yards in 2015, Pryor got a good sign, when Cleveland hired Hue Jackson as the new head coach.

Having worked together in Oakland, Pryor and Jackson have a rapport, and the head coach -- known for liking tall receivers -- knows the talent potential in the former Buckeye. Jackson is reportedly interested in Pryor's quarterback skills as well, which could lead to some interesting offense from the Browns in 2016.

The team extended a qualifying offer to the restricted free agent, for a one-year deal worth $1.67 million.





John Simon (Texans re-signed)

Heading into his fourth year in the League, the outside linebacker finally found his footing down in Houston. Joining former Ohio State assistant Mike Vrabel, who had a heavy hand in bringing Simon to the Texans. He spent the 2015 season being an impressive stand-in for J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney due to various injuries and other issues. The team rewarded his talent by tendering the restricted free agent, offering a one-year deal worth $1.67 million.


Not all former Buckeyes have found a home in free agency, with Will Allen and Dan "Boom" Herron still looking for new contracts. Allen is heading into his 13th season in the League, and at 33 years old, might have a hard time finding a team to risk a roster spot on him. Herron on the other hand, is only a few years removed from Ohio State, but bounced from team-to-team in his time since college -- his lack of production makes him an RB3 at best, which limits his signing options.

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Ohio State roundup | Nennig's home run lifts Buckeyes - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State roundup | Nennig's home run lifts Buckeyes
Columbus Dispatch
The Buckeyes rolled up more than 500 yards in total offense against Western Michigan, but Urban Meyer still sees room for improvement. Tim May and Bill Rabinowitz talk about that game and Ohio State's upcoming Big Ten opener against Indiana.


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Upon further review: How did our Big Ten predictions shake out?
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

At the beginning of the basketball season, our panel of Big Ten men's basketball experts came together and made some predictions. Some were pretty good, others not so much. See what they predicted and how it compares to the end results.

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Big Ten Recruiting Rundown: Buckeyes Doing Battle With Conference Powerhouses For Some of the Nation's Top Talent - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Big Ten Recruiting Rundown: Buckeyes Doing Battle With Conference Powerhouses For Some of the Nation's Top Talent
Eleven Warriors
The Buckeyes top-ranked recruiting class has seen its share of noteworthy battles with the best of the Midwest, but with over ten months until signing day, things are just getting started. Today we look at some of the top players left on the Buckeyes ...
Ohio State Commits Openly Recruiting 5-Star QB Tate Martell To Flip To BuckeyesCollege Spun
ESPN Jr 300 QB Tate Martell visiting Ohio StateESPN (blog)
Tate Martell, a five-star QB and Texas A&M commit, on his way to Columbus for Ohio State visitcleveland.com
Scarlet and Game
all 17 news articles »

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Johnny Manziel loses; No. 1 seeds for Buckeyes, Indians, Cavs reach Sweet Sixteen: Cleveland Sports March ... - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Johnny Manziel loses; No. 1 seeds for Buckeyes, Indians, Cavs reach Sweet Sixteen: Cleveland Sports March ...
cleveland.com
Overall, 13 of the top 16 seeds advanced in our Browns, Buckeyes, Indians and Cavs regions, with No. 5 seed Albert Belle (over No. 4 Manny Ramirez), No. 6 seed Zydrunas Ilgauskas (over No. 3 Kyrie Irving) and No. 9 seed Sipe the only interlopers ...


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Ahhh! Calm Down – There’s Always Next Year
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 The Lantern)

The 2015-16 OSU MBB season can be labeled a disappointment. But is it really? The Buckeyes ended overall at 21-14 and in the Big Ten 11-7. After losing five substantial contributors from the 2014-15 season: D’Angelo Russell, Shannon Scott, Sam Thompson, Amir Williams, and Anthony Lee – was the prognosis really so rosy?

The Buckeyes ended their regular season this year not being included in the NCAA Tournament .. *ichigan State Spartans assured that reality. So off to the NIT they went only to slip by the Zips of Akron in OT before elimination was handed to them in a recognizable defeat by the Gators of Florida. So, thus goes the 2015-16 season.

Optimistically the Buckeyes are returning the entire roster. Marc Loving the leading scorer with 13.5 points per game will be a senior. Jae’Sean Tate the leading rebounder with 6.4 per game will be a junior. The assist leader – JaQuan Lyle with 4.3 per game will be a sophomore. Keita Bates-Diop, of whom I personally will be the next big star for the Buckeyes, will be a junior. But allow me to remind you – Bates-Diop, Bell, Giddens, Harris, Lane, Loving, Lyle, Mitchell, Tate, Thompson, and Williams are all returning to Columbus for the 2016-17 MBB season.

Now with all that being said – what exactly does it mean?

On the surface it means that a team that throughout this past season who played a “little” Jekyll and Hyde-ish with memorable victories over Kentucky on December 19th (74-67); TTUN on February 16th (76-66) & Iowa on February 28th (68-64). Just as we selectively store those wondrous wins into the back of our minds we recall the recent – *ichigan State three-fold & Florida.

It all comes down to the mind-set these kids have coming into next year. Thad Matta is a top notch coach and I cannot perceive allowing a repeat of this season now that they have that “rebuilding” label withdrawn.

But, realistically, it all still comes down to the opposition. In the case of the Big Ten for the 2015-16 season let us take a look:

INDIANA HOOSIERS (2015-16: 27-7 overall 15-3 Big Ten)


The Hoosiers and Tom Crean are still in the mix for the NCAA Championship. In my East Regional Bracketology I boldly (as some would profess) picked Indiana to be the last team standing (we shall see). The seniors they stand to lose will be Jackson Tharp (a non-factor) and Yogi Ferrell the Hoosiers leading scorer with 17.1 points per game – will be a substantial loss. James Blackmon, Jr. will be returning as a junior with his 15.8 point average. Troy Williams and his 13 point average will be back as well as Thomas Bryant and his 11.5 point average. Collin Hartman and his feistiness too will be returning.

Conclusion:


Indiana is a serious contender.

*ICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS (2015-16: 29-6 overall 13-5 Big Ten)


Their star – Denzel Valentine will be gone as will his 19.6 point average and 7.5 rebounds per game. The rest of the Big Ten is elated. Tom Izzo though showed he is not. Also gone will be Matt Costello the team’s leading rebounder with 8.5 per game and the 3rd leading scorer with 10.5 points. Bryn Forbes too is gone – as is his 15.1 points per game. These are substantial losses. But in next season’s play watch for Eron Harris to get more time on the court from his 20.5 minutes this year. The same will be the case for Deyonta Davis from his 18.3 minutes of this year.

Conclusion:


MSU is always in the thick of it … don’t be so naïve to assume they’ll have a typical rebuilding year. Absolutely a contender!

MARYLAND TERRAPINS (2015-16: 27-8 overall 12-6 Big Ten)


Maryland is always in the mix come College Basketball discussions. This year certainly was no different. The Terrapins though stand to lose Senior Robert Carter and his 6.8 rebounds per game along with his 12.6 point average. Also gone will be Jake Layman who in 31 games averaging 31 minutes on the floor per game will be taking his 10.8 points per game average and 3.5 rebounds with him. Rasheed Sulaimon is also gone along with his substantial play time – 32 games and 32.4 minutes – along with his 11.2 point average and 3.6 rebounds. Their leading scorer Melo Trimble (14.4 point average) will be back as well as the team’s second rebounding leader Diamond Stone (5.4 boards per game). Also look for Jaylen Brantley’s time on the court (8.4 minutes in 27 games) to improve as well as his point average from this year’s 2.7.

Conclusion:


Personally I am not a Mark Turgeon fan … I cannot explain in detail without running into an apparent ludicrous summation. So I won’t. But Maryland is Maryland. They attract great recruits. Each year they are in College Basketball discussions. They are a contender.

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS (2015-16: 26-9 overall 12-6 Big Ten)


Purdue’s leading scorer is gone. As a senior AJ Hammons and his 14.8 points per game along with his respectable 7.8 rebounds per game will be departing the Boilermakers’ facilities. This is a big loss. Raphael Davis is also gone. In 27 games he averaged 29.4 minutes on the floor and delivered with 8.6 points on the average and 4.0 rebounds. Caleb Swanigan and his 8.2 rebounds per game and his 10.4 points average though will be returning. Vince Edwards (not the actor) too is returning with his 10.5 point average, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists.

Conclusion:


Just like Maryland – Purdue attracts good recruits and are always in the mix in the Big Ten. Contenders for the Big Ten Title? No! Invited to the NCAA Tournaments in 2017? Yes!

IOWA HAWKEYES (2015-16: 22-11 overall 12-6 Big Ten)


The Hawkeyes stand to lose the most come next season – of all the Big Ten. Jarrod Uthoff, a redshirted senior and his team leading 18.8 points per game along with his 6.5 rebounds will be hoping to land notice in the NBA. Also gone will be Adam Woodbury and his team leading rebounding skills – 8.5 per game. Mike Gesell also is leaving with his team leading 6.2 assists. Anthony Clemmons too will be leaving Iowa City along with his 9.3 point average and 3.5 assists. It almost makes you feel bad for Hawkeye fans … but then a gush of cool air comes by and wakes you from such a silly state.

Conclusion:


The Hawkeyes will be in a rebuilding year come next season. But Iowa seemingly always finds a way to surprise. So be prepared!

WISCONSIN BADGERS (2015-16: 22-12 overall 12-6 Big Ten)


The Badgers are still looking for some of last year’s magic this year. They are hardly done … but we are talking about next season, aren’t we? At the moment the Badgers are looking good. Senior Jordan Smith was simply no factor this year. Returning – perhaps – will be Nigel Hayes and his Badger leading 16.5 point average and 5.8 rebounding(s) and his 3.1 assists. Also slated to return is Bronson Koenig and his 13.5 point average; along Ethan Happ and his 11.9 point average and his team leading rebounding – 7.8 average.

Conclusion:


Wisconsin looks to be in contention for the Big Ten Title … and if they do not make that road happen they will be in the same position they are this year and last year … moving right along in the NCAA Tournaments.

TTUN (2015-16: 23-13 overall 10-8 Big Ten)


The Wolverines will lose their leading scorer Caris Levert and his 16.5 point average. Also gone will be non-factor Spike Albrecht. Returning for TTUN will be Derrick Walton, Jr. and his 12.3 point average and 5.7 rebounding skills. Zak Irvin, too, returns with his 11.3 point average and 4.3 rebounds per game. The Wolverines depth chart is not as impressive as some of the other Big Ten teams for next season. But recruiting seems to change landscapes. TTUN is a noted school and will get quality help.

Conclusion:


The rebuilding will continue in Ann Arbor.

NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS (2015-16: 20-12 overall 8-10 Big Ten)


The team’s leading scorer will be gone – Tre Demps and his 15.5 points as will the team’s leading rebounder – Alex Olah – 11.1. Bryant McIntosh will return next year as a junior. His average this year – 13.6 points looks to improve as he’ll move into the driver seat for the Wildcats.

Conclusion:


Overall, let’s be real, Northwestern could beat the pants off everyone in the Big Ten on a Math Quiz – but not basketball.

PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (2015-16: 16-16 overall 7-11 Big Ten)


Leading scorer Brandon Taylor will be gone along with his 16.3 point average and 6.5 rebounding skills. Shep Garner though returns with his 14.5 point average. This leaves some hope for Penn State. Otherwise the notion that the Nittany Lions are more than a Football School just isn’t in place for the moment.

Conclusion:


Not much to say here – maybe NIT – but probably not.

NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (2015-16: 16-18 overall 6-12 Big Ten)


The Cornhuskers leading scorer Andrew White III and his 16.5 points per game will be back. The team’s second leading scorer Shavon Shields with his 16.4 points per game and 4.7 boards will be departing. The player on this squad that I like is Tai Webster – the New Zealander. He’ll be back and look for his 9.7 point average and 4.1 rebounds to improve.

Conclusion:


The Cornhuskers will need more than Webster and White III to compete successfully in the Big Ten. They will continue to get beat up.

ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI (2015-16: 15-19 overall 5-13 Big Ten)


The leading scorer for the Fighting Illini will be back – Malcolm Hill along with his 18.6 point average and 6.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists. Mr. Hill can play basketball. But he cannot do it alone. Gone for Illinois will be Mike Thorne, Jr. and his 12.9 point average. The teams’ second leading scorer Kendrick Nunn does return as well as his 15.6 point average and his 5.1 rebounds. I like this kid too – but who knows?

Conclusion:


I suspect this team may surprise … but then maybe not. They have the ability in Hill and Nunn but more weapons are needed.

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS (2015-16: 8-23 overall 2-16 Big Ten)


The Golden Gophers return Nate Mason and his 13.8 point average and Jordan Murphy and his team leading rebounding of 8.0 per game. I feel a player that will eventually shine for the Golden Gophers is Dupree McBrayer out of Queens (NYC). His 5.1 point average will improve with both time on the court and presence in big-time basketball.

Conclusion:


Minnesota isn’t heading anywhere next season.

RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS (2015-16: 7-23 overall 1-17 Big Ten)


Perhaps the only positive for the Scarlet Knights is Steve Pikiell’s hiring. But then again how patient is Rutgers and their Athletic Department? Steve will need time. Let’s hope he gets it. Other than that I see one bright spot for Rutgers and that is their leading scorer Corey Sanders will be returning with his 16.2 point average. Also a player to watch beyond this year is their Senior (not returning) Bishop Daniels a 6-3 Guard who averaged 8.6 points per game with 3.8 rebounds. Look for Daniels to be drafted in the D-League … yep! You heard it here first.

Conclusion:


Rutgers basketball? Not next year!

So there we go … somewhat of a breakdown for next year. The Buckeyes just like the Badgers of Wisconsin will be in good shape for the 2016-17 season. To say that these Buckeyes will be right in the thick of it all with teams such as Indiana, *ichigan State, Maryland, Wisconsin – even Purdue come next season may seem like a pipe dream to Buckeye Nation … but do not perceive the future based on the past … history often deals different hands in the progression of time … it is how those cards are played. Thad Matta is as good of a coach as anyone in the Big Ten and if you look at his roster today – which will be next year’s too – just remember one year of experience on these kids will add wonders. Watch Thad to make the most of their talents too. The Buckeyes may not be the Big Ten Champions next year – but look for them on your bracket sheet come 2017.

The post Ahhh! Calm Down – There’s Always Next Year appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Ohio State heats up recruiting scene by hosting Texas A&M QB commit
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


It's a 5-star Thursday for the Buckeyes, as Tate Martell will check out campus today.

Martell on campus


Despite the commitment of Danny Clark, Ohio State will be hosting another signal-caller today. '17 QB Tate Martell from Bishop Gorman (NV), the best dual-threat QB in the country, arrived in Columbus Wednesday afternoon and will get a glimpse at what the Buckeyes have to offer.

Martell is currently pledged to Kevin Sumlin and Texas A&M, and has been since August of last year. The 5'10, 203-pounder is a five-star prospect and the best player in the state of Nevada for this cycle. The Las Vegas native is also graded as the 29th overall player in the class. It'll be an uphill battle for the Buckeyes in this one, but this is certainly a step in the right direction.

Also on campus later today will be '18 QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who is a teammate of Martell at Bishop Gorman. The 6'0, 195-pounder currently holds offers from Colorado State and UNLV and is receiving interest from schools like Baylor, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, UCLA, and more.

Bucks offer Gaoteote


In more Bishop Gorman Gael news, '18 OLB Palaie Gaoteote was the recipient of an Ohio State scholarship offer on Wednesday.


As mentioned above, The Buckeyes joined Nebraska, Notre Dame, Washington State, and Wisconsin on the offer sheet for the 6'2, 205-pound outside linebacker. While it's still plenty early in his recruitment, Gaoteote is currently pegged as a four-star recruit for his class.

Local 2018 DE to see OSU


Ohio State will also be hosting an in-state prospect on Wednesday who may very well be on track to land an offer from the Buckeyes before all is said and done. '18 DE Alex Reigelsperger of Wayne (OH) in Dayton is also scheduled to check out the Scarlet and Gray today.




Reigelsperger holds offers from Kentucky, Miami (OH), Purdue, and Western Michigan at this time. Cincinnati, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Oregon, Penn State, and of course Ohio State are among the other schools that are keeping close tabs on the 6'4, 235-pounder.

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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 ...

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BN $ - Kurelic's corner: Martell arrives and big football/hoops visit

Visiting tomorrow for Football during the spring practice in the morning & for Basketball later in the afternoon. Definitely one to keep an eye out for.

Brugler mock: Buckeyes continue to be highly regarded - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Brugler mock: Buckeyes continue to be highly regarded
247Sports
Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com released his latest mock draft yesterday and once again, the draft expert has high evaluations of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Brugler's latest mock has five Buckeyes going in the first round, including two in the top eight picks.


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Gene Smith is confident that Thad Matta will get Ohio State basketball back on the map
Harry Lyles Jr. via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


It was a down year for Buckeye basketball, but Gene Smith isn't worried with Thad Matta in charge.

"I have all the confidence in the world that [Thad Matta]'s going to get the program back to where he and I think it should be."

- Gene Smith, via Doug Lesmerises, Northeast Ohio Media Group


Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith met with Thad Matta for 90 minutes in their regular season-ending meeting, aftera season that was not one of the better ones in the Thad Matta era. The Buckeyes finished with a 21-14 record, and was just the third time in 12 years that the Bucks hadn't gone to the NCAA Tournament under Matta. While it's not ideal, it's also not the end of the world, and Gene Smith even said that Matta has set the bar at Ohio State. The 2015-16 season just happened to be a rebuilding year, and that happens everywhere.

Matta told Lesmerises, "We knew this was going to be a challenging season, no question about that. I hope our guys have a sense of what college basketball is about now." Marc Loving will be the only senior on the team next season, but a year under the belts of JaQuan Lyle, Daniel Giddens, and Mickey Mitchell should certainly be a huge help. Kam Williams got a pair of starts at the end of the season and performed well, and will be an upperclassman alongside Keita Bates-Diop and Jae'Sean Tate. There were flashes of greatness during the season, the Buckeyes might have just needed another season to mold together. The 2016-17 season should show an uptick for the Buckeyes who will continue to be under great leadership in Matta.

"Heuerman missed his entire rookie season because an ACL injury that he suffered early in the offseason. The Broncos had big plans for him last year and still do heading into the 2016 season."

- Scotty Payne, Mile High Report


Former Ohio State Buckeye and current Denver Broncos tight end Jeff Heuerman missed his rookie season because of an ACL injury, but that hasn't hurt the team's confidence in him. In fact, Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak told reporters that they are going to count on Heuerman "big time" in the 2016 season, after releasing Owen Daniels. Kubiak was impressed with Heuerman, and thinks he is a complete tight end that can catch and block. It was also mentioned that Heuerman "comes from a winning program."

Heuerman has great size at 6'5, 254 lbs. He started every game he played in for Ohio State in the 2013 and 2014 seasons, and collected 52 receptions, 792 yards, and seven touchdowns in his time as a Buckeye. The Broncos let Brock Osweiler go to the Texans during the offseason, and have brought in Mark Sanchez at quarterback, although they could still be shopping for another arm. Kubiak said that Heuerman is ready to go and will participate in OTA's in a few weeks for the defending Super Bowl champions.

"[Jae'Sean Tate] can't use his left arm -- his shooting arm -- for at least four more weeks. He doesn't think he'll be able to shoot a basketball until sometime in May."

- Bill Landis, Northeast Ohio Media Group


Next to knee injuries, shoulder injuries might be the worst when it comes to your performance on the basketball court, when you consider the overhead motion that goes with shooting, and in some instances passing. That is what Jae'Sean Tate is having to go through this offseason, as he's still unable to use his shooting arm, and won't be able to until at least May. Basketball is very much a game of repetition, and to be unable to work on your craft for that long certainly takes a toll. But as Landis points out, Tate has done this before.

Tate was half-kidding with Landis about having to shoot with his right hand. "I was thinking about that, but you never know," Tate said. "I might turn into a right-hand shooter. I've been doing a lot of form shooting with my right hand. You never know with the surgery when you'll get all that range of motion back." Tate was playing great ball before he was injured, but as Matta tries to keep him mentally prepared for a strong return, there's reason for optimism that Tate can come back better than ever. He had shown great improvement in his shooting before the injury, so hopefully Tate can use the same tactics to get back to form.



Former Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott will be presenting the AAU Sullivan Award on April 10 this year. It's the 86th edition of the award, that Elliott won last April after helping lead Ohio State to the first ever College Football Playoff national championship. The AAU Sullivan Award is given out to the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States.

Candidates this year include Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, Olympic speed skater Brittany Bowe, Olympic wrestler Jordan Burroughs, Nebraska Cornhusker volleyball player MIkaela Foecke, Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry, Navy Midshipmen quarterback Keenan Reynolds, and UConn Huskies basketball's Breanna Stewart.

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What the Andre Wesson offer means for Ohio State basketball
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Did Ohio State just figure out what to do with their open scholarship?

One of the biggest offseason questions for Ohio State basketball might already have an answer pretty soon. Thanks to the transfer of Austin Grandstaff, the Buckeyes have one extra scholarship for either the 2016 or 2017 class. There were lots of questions about what direction Ohio State might try to go. Grab an instant impact graduate transfer for next season? Roll it over for next year? Try to find a diamond in the rough prospect for 2016?

The answer might have come last night, as Ohio State finally issued an offer to 2016 wing Andre Wesson, the brother of current Ohio State 2017 commit Kaleb Wesson. Andre, a 6'7 wing from Westerville South, is a three-star prospect with offers from Richmond, Xavier, Akron and others, and has been one of the most improved players over the course of the high school basketball season. Westerville South also just won a state championship, knocking off multiple other programs with DI caliber talent.

Wesson hasn't committed yet, but he's considered a very strong Ohio State lean. So what happens next? Here are a few scenarios.

Andre Wesson commits to Ohio State


This is probably the most likely scenario. Wesson would be the third 2016 Ohio State commit, joining big men Micah Potter and Derek Funderburk. There's some potential room for a scoring wing to make a big impact for the Buckeyes right away next season, if this year's performance was any indication, but Wesson's defense is probably ahead of his offense right now. It seems reasonable to imagine him getting some minutes early in Ohio State's season, but then falling near the end of the rotation once Big Ten play begins, something that has been typical for freshman under Thad Matta.

With some seasoning, Wesson could become a valuable defensive contributor soon after, helping anchor the wing after players like Marc Loving, Keita Bates-Diop and Jae'Sean Tate leave the program. His offer sheet isn't the most impressive, but Wesson's play over the last few months should assuage any lingering doubts that he could play for Ohio State.

If, for whatever reason, Wesson doesn't come to Columbus, the Buckeyes still have a scholarship open. There are two likely options then.

Ohio State pursues a graduate transfer for the 2016 class


The Buckeyes have done this before, grabbing Temple graduate transfer Anthony Lee, and pursuing multiple guards last season. Ohio State could use another point guard, or a scoring-first wing, and options will probably open up over the next few weeks. This would be an attractive option on multiple levels, since it would re-open a scholarship for the next class, and give Ohio State some additional leadership for what will still be a relatively young team. We're too early in the process to throw out specific names, but this could be a possibility.

Ohio State adds PG Markell Johnson


Johnson is a four-star point guard from Cleveland, and one of the best players in Ohio according to virtually every recruiting service. He's currently classified as a 2017 prospect, but is reportedly considering reclassifying to 2016. Johnson would be a major coup for Ohio State, since point guard depth is a concern for this team, now, and in the future. The Buckeyes are the favorite in the 247 Crystal Ball, but it's very close. Virginia Tech is a major player in this recruitment, as is Louisville, who could get more involved now that Frankie Hughes has decommitted. If I had a Crystal Ball pick, I would not slot Ohio State for Johnson at the moment.

Another thing to consider, is that while Ohio State does not currently have a 2017 scholarship to give if Andre Wesson commits in 2016, they could very well have one open up. Marc Loving will be graduating, but with a successful season, somebody like Keita Bates-Diop, Daniel Giddens or JaQuan Lyle could decide to leave for the NBA or Europe, opening up a spot. It's also possible that a player currently on the roster decides to transfer. The Buckeyes are still recruiting, and will continue to recruit, players in the 2017 class.

I think the most likely outcome is that Ohio State adds Andre Wesson for 2016, giving the Buckeyes another talented wing to work with, and will make their next big retool in the 2018 recruiting class. But we're a long way away from next season, and a lot can change.

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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 ...

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Ht: 6'2''
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Class: 2018 (High School)

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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.






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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

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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 ...

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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.

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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.

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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!


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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.

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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 ...


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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.

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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

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