Bye Week Blues

November 2, 2015 by Leave a Comment

If there is ever was a more depressing time during the College Football Season, it would be this week.  Bye weeks are needed and they do indeed benefit the team as a whole.  It helps readjust the gameplans for both the offense and the defense, it also helps with the preparation against the next team that they will face.  Here is looking to you Minnesota.  It also helps let the coaches when they set out to recruit for The Ohio State University.  This week, the coaches are planting Buckeye flags across the nation, in their areas of recruiting responsibility.  Although this week doesn’t contain a game, there are many ways that you and I can get our fix.

Captain Going Down with the ship…  Against Minnesota:

Just a couple days ago, Redshirt Sophomore Captain, J.T. Barrett was caught operating a vehicle while intoxicated.  I am a Police Officer in the Air Force and that is disappointing.  Although it was barely over the legal limit (0.02 BAC for 21 year olds and younger), he was reported to get busted with 0.88 BAC.  Which isn’t that bad, but I still do not agree with the fact that he drove under the influence.  I am also not one of those fair weather fans who would cast players aside from screwing up for the first time.  With that being said, let us all rejoice at the fact that he will miss just the Minnesota game.  Yes, it’s a night game, but it will be at home against a team that just came off a heartbreaking loss to TTUN.  With all things considered, I know that Cardale will torch the Golden Gophers.  Not easily, but when the opportunity arises, he will torch them when he gets into a grove.  J.T. Barrett and true Ohio State fans mustn’t be so quick to abandon the J.T. Barrett hype train because he made one mistake.  If you are “perfect” then pay no mind to my article.  The true fans who bleed Scarlet and Gray like myself, just enjoy the ride prior to the meat of our “weak” schedule.

Recruiting Wars:

Finally!  Per sources close to Kareem Walker, he is still solid with his Ohio State commitment.  Now before getting too excited, he will still take his official visits to ensure the correct decision was made.  With three Running Backs committed and only Walker and newly acquired recruit Antonio Williams and a projected slot receiver/H-Back in Demario McCall, the Buckeyes have no need for another addition.

Now what the Buckeyes desperately need is a top notch Defensive Tackle or two.  As of today, the Buckeyes have a decent shot with Georgia DT, Antwuan Jackson and they have a puncher’s chance with North Carolina’s Dexter Lawrence and Louisiana natvive Rashard Lawrence.  The Rashan Gary train has left the station even though he is entertaining the idea of another visit to Ohio State.  Other than that the Buckeyes are looking to fill in the remainder of the slots for this years class.

The targets to watch are New Jersey Defensive Back Jordan Fuller, Florida Wide Receiver Binjimen Victor and Pennsylvania Defensive Back Damar Hamlin.  Those are the names that float around in Buckeye recruiting circles.  We have an outside shot on big name targets like the aforementioned Rashan Gary, Rashard Lawrence, California Line Backer Mique Juarez, Florida Wide Reviever Nate Craig-Meyers, Georgia’s Nigel Warrior, Texas Line Backer Jeffrey McCulloch and Michigan Line Backer Daelin Hayes.

To close, we have a shot at a few of the top names, but with the sheer lack of spots in this years class, I will not hold my breath.  It is one of the benefits of being the defending National Champs, we get to pick and choose who we would like to have on our roster.  We choose the correct personnel to push for future Championships.  Although I would like most of those names I will be content with just picking up the correct personnel for the coaches to groom.

Another Coach Calls It Quits:

eiFIGwOqI am a Die-Hard Buckeye fan, but I respect coaches that have put in the time and the work to build programs up from the dirt.  There are only a few coaches that I despise, but that is not relevant at this very moment.  Frank Beamer you will be sorely missed.  If I knew how to post pictures (sorry guys, I have a new laptop and the Mac interface is difficult), I would have put the week one facial expression when the Buckeyes got revenge on Mr. Sandman and company.  You have done your best at a program and I salute you for it.  Here is to having a ton of wins to end your illustrious career.

Filed Under: B1G Football, College Football, College Football Recruiting, Ohio State Football

All Things Buckeyes

October 26, 2015 by Leave a Comment

The Return of The Fallen Prince:

The Buckeyes were 7-0 with King Dolo Dale at the helm and now that our king has fallen, we welcome the Fallen Prince J.T. Barrett to state his case as a vital part of Ohio State royalty.  Now we all cannot forget King Dolo Dale’s run toward Ohio State’s Title Run last season.  We all mustn’t forget what he had accomplished as the man at Ohio State.  He is after all undefeated as a starter.  He is 10-0 as the starting Quarterback at Ohio State and that is a huge feat.  He had no starting experience as a starting Quarterback and he did what he had to do and he did it so well, his legend grew as the Buckeyes marched toward the Inaugural Playoff Championship run.

Although he came in clutch for the last 10 games, he now finds himself behind J.T. Barrett.  People forget that without J.T. Barrett we wouldn’t be in the position to even be considered for the College Football Playoffs.  J.T. Barrett is now 12-1 as a starter with his only loss coming from a stout Virginia Tech defense.  He looks to and he will continue to spark the Ohio State offense and he will put the team on his back.  He has that chip on his shoulder and he is out to prove that Urban made the correct decision to make him the starter.

As we all saw, the offense runs smoother with J.T. as the starting Quarterback.  As evidenced by this weekends romp of the hapless Rutgers team, I think it is safe to say that we are finally playing to our true potential.  This was supposed to be a trap game, but the Rutgers were not ready for J.T. and company.  Here is to more blow outs.

Bye Week Blues:

After a resounding win at Piscataway, New Jersey, I cannot wait for this bye week to be done and over with.  I personally dislike bye weeks but I understand the need to rest injured players and the advantage it presents to prepare for the next game.  It’ll give the team an extra week to identify what would work against their opponent and what they are weak against.  It can also identify their tendencies and flaws on both sides of the ball.  I cannot wait to see what the Buckeyes gameplan will be.  Here’s looking to you Minnesota.

Last year the Golden Gophers had a huge serving of J.T. Barrett.  I look for J.T. and company to have similar results, but with the whole team pitching in to an overall team win.  I can see J.T. being his usual scrambling self once again.  He will have another huge game and I would say that he will light up the scoreboard once again.  So here is to a quick and fruitful bye week to plan for those pesky Gophers.

Urban Warfare:

With the win this Saturday Coach Meyer now has career win number 150.  WOW!!!  I cannot tell you how important he is to the Ohio State program and he has coached as advertised.  Now there are a lot of haters out there who say that he feigned a heart attack because he lost his edge as a SEC coach and that the recent losses to Alabama had forced him to cower, but people need to have the common decently to realize that that was and is not the case.

Coach Meyer has taken control of this Ohio State roster and has churned out top recruiting classes in the last three Ohio State classes with Ohio State ranked as the number one class for both the 2016 and the 2017 classes.  He has another National Championship after last years run so as a Buckeye fan, he has exceeded all expectations.  Here is to more winning.

Recruiting Tidbits:

So recruiting is probably the second most important aspect of College Football with winning Championships.  Recruiting can and often will change the tide and the direction of the a program and with what Coach Meyer and company have assembled, there is nothing but goodness that is coming to Ohio State.

Recruiting is also very unpredictable and in this day and age, with the needs and wants of the kids coming up in this era, it is more difficult than you would think it is.  Everyone loves competition, but if recruits want to be a part of what could turn out to be a dynasty, come on and get on the legacy train.  If not, it’s okay.  I am not one of those fans who holds grudges over recruits not going to Ohio State.  I  am not naive enough to do that to 17 to 18 year olds.

Although, I would have loved to see Minkah Fitzpatrick and Juju Smith on the roster, I could understand that you win some and you lose some.  Imagine if Coach Meyer reeled them both in and imagine what could of been.  We are doing just fine.  We stole Gareon Conley from TTUN and look at what he morphed into, another shutdown corner for the Buckeyes.  That is why I do not doubt Urban’s recruiting tactics in recruiting because no matter what the star power count is he always has shown the knack to find and secure hidden gems throughout the country.  No place is safe when Urban Meyer comes around as evidenced by last years class, snagging the top recruits from South Dakota and Utah last season, Grant Schmidt and Branden Bowen.  Coach Meyer can have just about anyone from any state if they match what he wants to do on either offense or defense.

Do not worry about who leaves and decommits from the Buckeyes.  If it frees up a coveted spot, then so be it because I know that the Ohio State coaches have a plan in place and it’ll only be just a matter of time.  Go Buckeyes and let us use this bye week to continue to build relationships with inbound players.  And let us hope that the current commits can continue to solidify relationships with each other and the highly ranked targets.

Filed Under: B1G Football, Blogging, College Football, College Football Recruiting, Ohio State Football

Ohio State VS Penn State: Dark Night at The Shoe Preview/Recap

October 19, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Ohio State VS Penn State Preview:

There is always one game that is like no other.  This week the Buckeyes will face a Nittany Lions team that has won 5 straight games after dropping their season opener to Temple this season.  The loss was unexpected but like Ohio State last season, the Virginia Tech loss helped turn the tide.  While history has shown that the this game can never be taken for granted or overlooked, the Buckeyes look to add to their current three game win streak and to their all-time 16-13 record over Penn State.  Although, Ohio State has struggled, the defense stood strong and forced the necessary turnovers to keep the outcome in the Buckeyes favor.

This will always be a tough game no matter what the venue is.  It is more difficult at Happy Valley where the White Out lives and thrives.  This season will be special and the Buckeye heads and big wigs have finally answered the Buckeye Nations cries to have all black Buckeye gear.  This season and hopefully for more seasons to come, the Buckeyes will don the all black gear at The Shoe against the pesky Nittany Lions.  The Buckeyes will enter the game coming off of a dominant performance against the Maryland Terrapins.  The Buckeyes came out of the gates a bit slow, but after halftime they pulled away for good.  The Nittany Lions are coming off a near shutout of the Hoosiers, who the Buckeyes had their struggles with.  Can the Buckeyes stop the bleeding?  Will they step up?  Will they burst out of their funk?  Can they exceed the expectations?

The Dark Night at The Shoe will be electric and the atmosphere will be breathtaking.  While there are Ohio State traditionalists that have voiced their concerns about becoming more like “Oregon” with their abundance of jersey combinations, AD Gene Smith explained it perfectly and fanned the flames by proclaiming that yes we have this new jersey, but it will only occur once a year, at a designated game, once per season.  That isn’t that bad of an idea seeing how the kids being recruited in this day and age tend to be more materialistic.  Most kids now like the flash and tend to relate football teams to their fashion needs.  This isn’t a thing, but I get the one’s that say that we are straying away from the tradition.  I get it, but you all need to relax, if it takes that little nudge to garner the attention of the right recruits, I am all for it.

What To Expect:

Like I said earlier, this won’t be another “easy” game.  This is not THE GAME, but it is a distant third.  This is no slight to them, it is just a matter of precedence seeing that we have two other foes that are from a different State.  As long as I have been a fan, Penn State is the one team that I am always uneasy about outside of TTUN and the Spartans come to play.  This will be another tough and hard hitting game.  I look for Ohio State to win another close one at home.

Know Your Enemy:

The Nittany Lions have incumbent starter, Christian Hackenberg who has been the starter for the last two seasons.  Hackenbrg has 1086 passing yards and has 7 touchdowns against 2 interceptions.  Hackenberg has been flawless when taking the helm and I look for him to exploit the Buckeyes lack of contain for the QB and the RB.

Speaking of RB’s, the Nittany Lions have a Freshman who is averaging 8.9 yards per carry, which will help their offense move the chains.  The Nittany Lions are utilizing a variety of Running Backs and no matter who they have in the backfield, their Offensive Linemen need to step up in a big way.

On the outside, the Nittany Lions have a ton of former Buckeye targets in Chris Godwin and Saeed Blacknall.  I was hoping that they would flip but they stuck with their commitment.  They will go up against Eli Apple and Gareon Conley throughout the duration of the game which is no easy task.

How The Buckeyes Will Win:

Although the Nittany Lions are a formidable opponent, they cannot mask their inability to protect Hackenberg long enough to allow him to see the whole field.  Hackenberg has been playing and attempting to avoid sacks and that is definitely not going in their favor.  In this current season the Penn State O-Line has allowed a whopping 19 sacks so far.  Hackenberg has to constantly get back up off the turf again and again and in just 6 games that is a pretty mind blowing statistic.  This is how the Buckeyes will get the win.  With the new “Rush Men” package on defense, the O-Line will have fits trying to protect a potentially helpless Hackenberg.  Pair that with the fact that the Buckeyes have two formidable Cornerbacks in Eli Apple and Gareon Conley and two top-tier safeties in Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell, it will make it a difficult task for Hackenberg to sustain drives and it will prevent them from gaining momentum in the long run.  That isn’t the only problem that he faces.  He also faces a lot of talent up front beyond the stellar defensive line.  With Raekwon McMillan, Joshua Perry and Darron Lee patrolling between the D-Line and the DB’s, they can and will wreak havoc on Penn State.

On offense, I feel like Penn State will get a huge helping of Zeke.  They will find a way to feed this beast and put points on the board.  King Dolo Dale will also sling the ball a ton.  The Penn State defense, like always will be up for the challenge of trying to stop  Michael Thomas, Jalin Marshall and Braxton Miller.  The Penn State defense has only managed to snag 4 total interceptions this season, but I can see them coming away with a few.  The Penn State defense will continue to get to the quarterback, but I can see Coach Johnson stashing a few new packages to fluster the Penn State offense.

All in all, the Buckeyes will win this game in the second half to continue the trend of this season.  They will feel out the offense in the first half and then turn the heat on during the second half.  If everything falls into place and if the Buckeyes play to the level of their opponent they will win with a final score of 35-21.  If they play to their full potential and if they respond to the criticism, the defense and offense will both put points on the board and they will get ALL THE SACKS!  They will win it easily with a final score of 41-17.  You never know in College Football.

Recruiting Tidbits:

There is a lot of chatter about the Ohio State Running Back class and yes while it is the icing on the cake, it will work out with or without Kareem Walker and George Hill.  I think that we will be just fine.  Yes we may potentially lose them to our hated rivals in TSUN, but with the upcoming game, the Buckeyes will host a ton of talent from around the nation to fill one or both of their spots.  It is really a win win for the Buckeyes.  This weekend will be really eventful for Ohio State and with a statement win on the Dark Night at The Shoe, I can see the potential for multiple commitments.  There are way too many recruits to mention, but they will all be talented individuals.  Couple that with the addition of committed recruits from the 2016 and 2017 classes, I see no drop off in the class rankings.  Do not jump ship just yet.  Just let it ride and wait it out because the next couple of classes will most certainly be special and it will help Ohio State for many years to come.  For now let us focus on the current task at hand and let’s hope that the Buckeyes take care of business and dominate.  Go Bucks!!!

The Recap:

As expected the Buckeyes and Urban Meyer used the first quarter and a half to feel out their opponent.  The Buckeyes then trounced Penn State and turned up the heat during the second half of the game.  The Buckeyes won by four scores, 38-10.  The high point for Penn State was the fact that their frosh Running Back shredded the Buckeyes vaunted defense for nearly 200 rushing yards, which the Buckeyes haven’t allowed in what feels like forever.  This week the Buckeyes did not allow an opposing Quarterback to run all over them, which I am relieved about.  The Buckeyes sacked the hapless Hackenburg numerous times and Tommy Schutt had the biggest one on 4th and short to all but seal the game and to keep the momentum.  The Buckeyes also utilized J.T. Barrett and he had an amazing day with 4 total touchowns, 2 in the air and 2 on the ground.  Although Cardale Jones was benched after struggling once more, he will look to remain the starter.  Zeke was his normal self again with 150+ rushing yards and a touchdown.  Now on to the next one at Rutgers.  Nice team win.  Go Bucks!!!

Filed Under: B1G Football, College Football, College Football Recruiting, Ohio State Football

All Things Buckeyes:

October 2, 2015 by 1 Comment

THE OFFENSIVE STRUGGLE CONTINUES

If you have been mindful of how sloppy and out of sync the Ohio State offense has been over the past three weeks, I wouldn’t be too quick to doubt them any longer.  The end of the lack of offense is coming and it will come in just in time for the BIG Conference play.  Ohio State will pick up the pace and join the offense as a force to be reckoned with.  I am predicting that the Buckeyes will progressively grow as a dynamic offense.  After the Western Michigan game, I think the Buckeyes finally realized that they have the capability to once again be called a juggernaut on the offensive side of the ball.  Coach Meyer had been struggling to anoint a starting quarterback, but after Cardale Jones’ improved performance against a Broncos team, Meyer removed the dreaded “OR” on the most recent depth chart.  Now Jones has starting gig and I am sure that he will turn it up within the next few weeks because now he doesn’t have J.T. Barrett chomping at his heels.  Now he doesn’t have much to think about besides winning, and winning big.  I am almost certain that Jones torches the next two teams.  Indiana is currently 4-0 and afterwards we play a terrible Maryland team.  If there is a way to light a fire for the offense, I will offer the next two teams as tribute to prepare for Penn State and the rest of the Big Ten.

THE SILVER BULLETS PICKING UP THE SLACK

When it comes to scroring, the defense has scored at least once in the last three games.  So far our best offense is when the playmakers on defense make an impact while the opposing offense is on the field.  Against Hawaii, Vonn Bell recovered a fumble and scored.  Against Northern Illinois, Darron Lee had a pass thrown his way and he took it back to the house for six.  And lastly, and more recently Adolphus Washington blew up a Half Back screen and intercepted for a fat man touchdown.  The Defense has been on fire as of late and they are anxiously awaiting for the arrival of the offense.  The Defense has had a field day on opposing offenses.  Through four games the Buckeyes have registered 14 total sacks as a defensive unit, they have forced 9 total turnovers (4 interceptions and 5 fumbles recovered).  The Defense is currently allowing 12.3 Points Per Game!  Although having defense is a luxury at this point the offense will need to pick up the pace a bit, but I am not too worried about it.  Defense wins Championships, so until the offense finds itself, I have no problem watching the Silver Bullets wreak havoc on opposing offenses.

BIG TEN CONFERENCE PLAY IS HERE

I normally don’t get this excited for conference play, but this year I look forward to the Buckeyes playing familiar foes in the BIG 10.  This week we play a feisty Indiana Hoosiers team at Indiana.  The last two seasons the Buckeyes have handled business, but will this season bring something different?  I don’t think so, but I have a feeling that this game will be a good one for at least one half or a quarter while both teams try to figure each other out.  Once Jones finds the gas pedal, the Buckeyes will easily pull away.  Could I be wrong?  Sure, but it may not be likely.  After this week we play at the Shoe against a 2-2 Maryland team who is struggling mightily after dropping games to two potent offenses, West Virginia team and Bowling Green.  Yes, Bowling Green beat them on their home soil!  So after the two conference games, it should prepare the Buckeyes for a home game against rival Penn State.   That should be one heck of a game because last years walk-off sack is still fresh in their minds and I guarantee that the Nittany Lions are out for revenge.  That should be another good one!  After the Penn State game, the Buckeyes travel to Rutgers, then they have a home game against Minnesota and then travel the Champagne, Illinois to battle for Illibuck.  After those games comes the most lethal part of Ohio State’s conference schedule, a home game against rival Michigan State and a road game at the Big House, against TTUN.  Conference play is going to be tough and I am hoping for the best and I am trying not to downplay anything.  Every conference game will be tough.  Some will be more so than other.  Here’s to an exciting Big Ten season.  Go Bucks!!!

MY TWO CENTS

I am predicting a slow start against Indiana.  The Buckeyes will use the momentum from their defense to carry the offense again before the offense picks it up.  The Buckeyes will sack QB Nate Sudfeld early and often and they will force him into bad situations.  I am predicting at least 3 sacks, 1 fumble and 2 interceptions with one defensive touchdown.  Cardale Jones will go off evenly distributing the rock to his long list of offensive weapons.  There will be a Braxton Miller sighting too.  I am predicting Jones to have around 235 passing yards with 4 total touchdowns (3 passing and 1 rushing).  I know that the Buckeyes will be on upset alert week in and week out, but I just have a gut feeling that this game will set the stage for the rest of the season.  Buckeyes win in style on offense and defense:  38-24.

PREDICTING THE STAT LINES

Here is something new!  I will see how in tune I am with The Ohio State Buckeyes.  I will try to predict the stat lines from week to week.  Let’s see…

Offense

Cardale Jones:  26/46, 235 yards, 2 TD 8 rushes, 47 yards, 1 int

Ezekiel Elliot:  24 rushes, 127 yards, 1 TD, 2 receptions, 24 yards

Curtis Samuel:  12 rushes, 64 yards, 1 reception, 16 yards

Michael Thomas:  9 receptions, 79 yards, 1 TD

Jalin Marshall:  3 receptions, 47 yards, 1 TD

Braxton Miller:  4 receptions, 56 yards, 6 rushes, 22 yards

Nick Vannett: 2 receptions, 12 yards

Defense:

4 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 FF, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception for TD

FINAL SCORE:  38-24 (give or take TD for both teams)

Filed Under: B1G Football, College Football, College Football Playoff, Ohio State Football

Let’s Get Defensive: Silver Bullet Edition

September 29, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Although it is WAY TOO EARLY in the season, I cannot help but give props to the job that Coach Fickell, Coach Johnson, Coach Coombs and Coach Ash for reviving the unit that attracted me to become a full-fledged Ohio State Buckeyes fan.  What a sight to see!  Not only have they restored my faith in the defense, they also resurfaced as the Silver Bullets!  It brings me back to the days when my favorite Buckeye defender ran the show at the Mike Linebacker Position.  Surely, that is a very vague statement and seeing that Ohio State has seen numerous Mike Linebackers shine and run the show.  One comes to mind, James Laurinaitis!  A.J Hawk is also pretty high up there in my list.  You could say the same for Fullback turned Middle Linebacker, Zach Boren.  I get that nostalgic feeling when I see the defense flying around and making plays and having an impact on the game.  That is what you come to Ohio State for and with the new group of gems that Coach Meyer has collected, watch out world!  The Buckeyes are merely scratching the surface!

Ohio State is stacked from top to bottom.  There is no exaggeration either.  Literally at every position on Defense, we are stacked to the point to where the younger less-known players would become starters at other universities.  I know that it really doesn’t make sense, but if you keep your attention right here, it will!  I will talk about everything Defense on this piece.  From the current starters, to Buckeyes on the two-deep and beyond that are waiting for the opportunity to compete and to make plays.  I will also mention potential class of 2016 signees and targets.

Defensive End/Defensive Tackle:

With former great such as Jim Stillwagon, Will Smith and Mike Vrabel who have become productive Ohio State Alumni at the Defensive Line and recent Buckeyes John Simon, Jonathan Hankins, Cam Heyward, Mike Bennett and so fourth, you get where I am headed.  Ohio State produces quality players year in and year out.  The Buckeyes also produce a few busts, such as Vernon Gholston.  It is hit or miss and sometimes the game can sneak up on you or they leave too early and are unprepared for a much different game.  The Buckeyes look to add a few more names on this list of greats with Joey Bosa and Adolphus Washington nearing the end of their Buckeye careers, but I am not too worried about it.

This is arguably the deepest position and a definite strength for the Silver Bullets.  With the two-deep all but locked up, if you look past it, you would regret it.  So what if I told you that aside from starters, Joey Bosa and Tyquan Lewis and back-ups, Jalyn Holmes and Sam Hubbard, they still look nasty.  Let’s see behind Holmes and Hubbard are Darius Slade, who was pushing for some playing time and Jashon Cornell.  Last time I checked, Cornell was a blue-chip prospect from Minnesota who oozes potential and New Jersey prospect, Darius Slade who a lot of people slept on.  That is a pretty deep three deep.  Throw in Five Stars Nick Bosa and Jonathan Cooper, then it quickly becomes a four deep.  Talent on top of more talent.  Like the current Quarterback dilemma, the rich get richer.  We are stacked on defense for years to come.  Imagine if Terrell Hall was still committed to the Buckeyes, but I think that it is safe to say that Alabama is benefitting from a “more flexible” and “coach friendly” defense.  No sour grapes and I wish the kid luck in the future.

This position isn’t as deep as the Defensive End situation, but things can change.  Adolphus “Diesel” Washington and Tommy Schutt man the trenches alongside Bosa and Lewis.  Behind them are Donovan Munger who is in a hotly contested battle with Michael Hill and Joel Hale who is ahead of Tracy Sprinkle.  Add Freshman Robert Landers ad DaVon Hamilton waiting in the background for their opportunity.  Factor that with incoming freshman Malik Barrow and recruiting targets,  Rashan Gary, Dexter Lawrence, Rashard Lawrence and Antwuan Jackson, the Buckeyes are only going to get deeper at another position of strength.  I am hoping one or two of the aforementioned names join the 2016, but if it doesn’t happen, we will still be okay.  Barring any unexpected departures for next years draft, I can see a few more targets joining in.

Linebackers:

Linebacker has been a strength for Ohio State.  Flat out!  With names like A.J. Hawk, James Laurinaitis, Ryan Shazier patrolling and leading Defenses and with Legends like Randy Gradishar, Pepper Johnson and Chris Spielman, Ohio State produces NFL ready prospects.  Although many of the LB’s fall through the cracks and end up out of the League, there is no telling what this seasons crop will or won’t do.

Carrying the Linebacking Tradition, Ohio State boasts stars and playmakers alike with Strongside Linebacker Darron Lee, former Five Star Raekwon McMillian and Weakside Linebacker Joshua Perry who all have firm grip on their respective position.  Behind him are Chris Worley, Camren Williams and Dante Booker.  They also have a bevy of future stars in Justin Hilliard, Jerome Baker, Dre’Mont Jones and Nick Conner.  With the depth at the Linebacker position, I can surely say that if the right recruits want in, Coach Meyer will find a way to add them to the class if other positional needs cannot be met.  Current commit Tuf Borland is the only commit at this position, I can comfortably say that we are done with the position.

Defensive Backs:

First off, I am a Broncos fan and another Buckeye great made some plays this week.  Former shut-down corner, Bradley Roby recovered a fumble to win the game for Manning and the Broncos.  Roby is from a long line of Buckeye Greats at the Defensive Back position.  Let’s see, Malcolm Jenkins, Kurt Coleman, Shawn Springs, Antoine Winfield, Donte Witner, Chris Gamble, Nate Clements and Will Allen.  Add Legendary players like Jack Tatum to the fold and you can just imagine how deep routed the tradition is, when putting DB’s into the NFL.

So with Eli Apple and newly anointed starter, Gareon Conley locking the outside receivers up and with Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell laying the lumber and patrolling the middle that is a pretty lethal stranglehold when defending opposing offenses.  With Damon Webb, Marshon Lattimore and Denzel Ward in the Nickel that pretty much forces an offense to pick their poison.  The Safety position is also as deep as every other position on Defense and it has really become a recurring theme with Ohio State.  With Cam Burrows and Erick Smith picking up the slack for Bell and Powell whenever they need a rest or during mop-up duty there will be little to no drop-off.  Current Freshman, Eric Glover-Williams, Joshua Norwood and Damon Arnette with incoming Freshman, Wayne Davis and Kareem Felder coming in after National Signing Day.  Let’s not forget about the targets, Chauncey Gardener, Jordan Fuller or Damar Hamlin who all hold Ohio State offers.

So to summarize this article, WE ARE SET FOR YEARS!!!  If we could somehow manage to pluck a few blue-chip recruits in both 2016 and 2017, the Buckeyes will be loaded once again.  With the top classes in 2016 and 2017, we will continue to improve and eventually dominate College Football.  But I am a humble fan who takes it a week at a time, as all Buckeyes Fans should, but I digress.  This will be a lot of fun for a few more years.  If we also successfully defend our Crown, the recruiting floodgates will open, but until then, ONE GAME AT A TIME.

Filed Under: College Football, College Football Playoff, College Football Recruiting, NFL, NFL Draft, Ohio State Football

BIG 10 Week 1 Results

September 13, 2015 by Leave a Comment

With Week 1 in the books, the College Football Season has gone underway and what a week it was! It also marks the beginning of the NFL Season for you pro football fans, but I will forever be more intrigued by what College Football has become. It is not a slight to the NFL, but the passion is something that will keep me coming back. The ferocity of rivalries, the pageantry and the intensity of the players and coaches cannot be beat. The fact that any school can beat another, even though they are highly ranked, it could happen. Home Field Advantage is also very real, but sometimes the home teams fall short. The competitiveness cannot be beat! It is second to none. And I haven’t even begun talking about the recruiting battles that wage on until National Signing Day. In my very humble opinion, it is the best thing on Earth!

During Week 1 we have already witnessed a few upsets. A lot of drama and anxiousness was laid to rest. A few teams romped the other and few have suffered and were dealt a big fat “L” on the opening weekend.  Let us review how well or how poorly the BIG 10 had fared during opening week.

 

Ohio State Buckeyes:

Naturally I would like to start with the defending National Champs.  Duh, I am a Buckeye fan after all!  Anyway, the Buckeyes invaded Blacksburg looking to open the season with a resounding win to start off the season with an emphatic win.  Coach Meyer and company did not disappoint either as the Buckeyes took care of business this week.  With each repetition that Braxton Miller has he will only become more involved in the offense.  You see the playmaking ability he had with the spin move that broke the internet and the nifty TD reception after beating the slot defender.  He will only get better.  The scary part about it is the Buckeyes did it without the stellar play of Joey Bosa on defense, the lightning quick return ability that both Jalin Marshall and Dontre’ Wilson bring to the team and without the experience or playmaking ability of Corey Smith.  The Buckeyes are completely loaded from top to bottom, on both offense and defense.  And with the addition of the four suspended players, they will be a force to be reckoned with for not only the home opener this weekend, but the entirety of the season.  The Buckeyes dominated The Hokies and put their demons to rest, but the season isn’t over yet.  Although I am still celebrating the revenge game this past Monday, I know we still have a long way until the end of the season.  With high expectations and a ton of pressure, the journey as The Defending Champions is a long ways away.  Needless to say, the Buckeyes got their first win of the season and they now will look toward the Hawaii matchup.  The Buckeyes are going to be a tough match-up for Hawaii and as much I support fellow Pacific Islanders (born and raised in Guam), it won’t end up well for the Rainbow Warriors.

 

Michigan State:

Michigan State opened the season against Western Michigan in Kalamazoo.  While it wasn’t all that pretty from the start, the Spartans pulled out of their funk and finished the game with a double-digit win.  The Spartans are normally known for their stingy defense, but Western Michigan was dead-set on shocking the world this weekend.  Luckily for the Spartans, they put a normally potent offense on ice.  Next week the Spartans will face the Oregon Ducks at East Lansing.  They will need to prepare for the high-octane offense that the Ducks utilize and it surely will not be easy due to the departure of their former Defensive Coordinator, Pat Narduzzi.  I will be rooting for you Michigan State, but I don’t like your chances.

 

Wisconsin:

The Badgers took on the Alabama Crimson Tide in a neutral field and the Tide showed the world that they aren’t done yet.  With a ton of former five Star recruits and a few highly rated four stars, the only big question mark was who would become their starting Quarterback?  Coker took the reins and guided the Tide to a victory.  It isn’t all bad for the Badger, they put up a fight in the beginning, but the tide just imposed their will and dominated them throughout the game.  The Badgers had a difficult time running through Alabama’s stout defense.  Hopefully they can pick it up next week against the Miami (OH) Redhawks at home so, they should rebound accordingly.

 

Michigan:

The Wolverines took a trip to Utah and they began the Harbaugh Era with an upset loss to the Utes.  Sure they were the better team on paper, but this is why I love the College Game so much, upsets happen.  A lot.  They were the victim of poor play at the Quarterback position they were almost destined to take this loss.  This week the Wolverines will host the Oregon State Beavers.  The Beavers lost their former head coach to Nebraska and I am interested to see how the new coaching staff at Oregon State runs their offense.  You never know until game time so this may be another close and thrilling game while Harbaugh fine tunes his offense for the eventual showdown with Ohio State.

 

Minnesota:

The Golden Gophers almost came back at home against TCU, logging a seven point loss to a potent TCU offense.  The Minnesota defense held the Horned Frogs to a pedestrian 24 points.  The defense did a very good job shutting down the TCU offense and they were at home.  When we barely escaped Minnesota with a win the critics were critical of our play, but now TCU struggles at Minnesota, where’s the backhanded comments?  Or are the Horned Frogs still salty about being left out of last years Playoffs?  Hangover?  I don’t think so, but now we all know that it isn’t easy with Coach Kill at the helm at Minnesota.  Next week the Golden Gophers will travel to Colorado State to take on the Rams.  I think the Gophers will beat them handily.

 

Northwestern:

Another upset!  I thought this would end up to be a blowout, but I was proven to be wrong.  Stanford had a difficult time getting their offense into a rhythm the entire game.  The Wildcats shocked the world with a less potent offense than what they are most know for while Siemian was their Quarterback, but they got it done.  The rushing attack is still very much effective and it helped tremendously.  Next week the Wildcats will host the Eastern Illinois Panthers, which should be a cakewalk after last weeks performance, but we will see.

 

Iowa:

The Hawkeyes faced Illinois State at home and notched a double-digit win against a FCS foe.  Both Iowa’s passing and rushing attack showed that they are a force to be reckoned with.  Recording 431 yards of total offense in the game.  The momentum will be needed for the their upcoming game against hated rival, Iowa State.  They will travel to Ames, Iowa which is always a tightly contested game for the Hawkeyes.  Let’s see if the Hawkeyes can ignore the hostile crowd and beat the Cyclones for the coveted Cy-Hawk Trophy.

 

Rutgers:

The Scarlet Knights trounced the visiting Norfolk State Spartans.  There is nothing else to it.  The offense essentially destroyed any and all hopes of leaving Piscataway with a win.  The offense clicked and the defense was dominant against a FCS school.  Next week they face the Washington State Cougars at home which will make for an interesting game.  With former Texas Tech Coach, Mike Leach it is almost guaranteed to become a shootout between PAC 12 and BIG 10 teams.  This is a game that I would watch due to the potential for offensive fireworks.  Another close one for the BIG 10.

 

Illinois:

Illinois has shown that they are benefiting from a coaching change.  Now the players are responding to coaching staff that was held over and they blew out the visiting Golden Flashes.  Kent State had no chance in Champagne.  The pain in Champagne.  We will see how the Illini progress during the season.  It is still a work in progress and we will just have to wait and see.  Next week the Fighting Illini face the visiting Western Illinois Leathernecks.  Yes, I know that it is indeed another FCS team, but it could be used to build the momentum up for Illinois.

 

Nebraska:

Are you starting to get the theme here?  Upset central.  Another BIG team goes down.  Needless to say that is the beauty of College Football.  Especially seeing how the Cornhuskers lost the game.  A Hail Mary for the win!  It doesn’t get any exciting as a fan than that.  We Buckeye fans have won a game recently with that very play (think Wisconsin).  But anyway, the Cornhuskers will have to adjust to a different offensive scheme with Coach Riley.  Riley ran a power running/spread type of offense and that is somewhat different from the spread that Bo Pelini used with Taylor Martinez and company.  BYU is no slouch either, they have a stout defense and a potent offense and unfortunately Nebraska ran into a buzzsaw in their home opener.  It is still early in the season and it isn’t like they lost to a scrub team.  But boy, when I was stationed in Nebraska, there was nothing like going to Lincoln to see the sea of sad, pouty faces!  They should rebound against a mediocre Southern Alabama team.  Here’s to taking it out on the little guy.

 

Maryland:

Maryland trashed the Richmond Spiders in College Park.  Sure the Spiders put 21 points on the board, the Terrapins dropped 50 on their heads.  The recruiting battles that Maryland has won over the years and being able to fend off Powers Conference schools such as Ohio State, Michigan State and Alabama will pay dividends for them.  I saw that they currently have a few of their top in-state recruits in the fold for last years and this years classes, which is good for them and the conference.  This week they will host the Bowling Green Falcons.  This should be another game to fine tune their offense before the conference schedule begins.  This should be ugly.

 

Penn State:

The battle for Pennsylvania didn’t have that much fireworks seeing how Temple beat Penn State by double-digits.  Sure the Nittany Lions were the away team, but they shouldn’t have been this sluggish because of the high praise Quarterback Christian Hackenburg was getting in the Pre-Season hype train.  I am sure that he will pick it up eventually and I am not really worried about them.  They are a rival after all.  Next week they will be at home against the Buffalo Bills.  The Bills have an anemic offense as of late and this should be a blowout in favor of the Nittany Lions.

 

Indiana:

The Hoosiers almost lost one in a tightly contested game in Bloomington.  They almost let down completely against a FCS team.  Southern Illinois almost stole one, but luckily for Indiana they stopped them.  This week Indiana is hoping to have a better game against FIU.  The Golden Panthers will travel to Bloomington and the Hoosiers will look to have a better showing for their home crowd.  This should be a walk in the park because I see no threats for the Hoosiers.

 

Purdue:

The Boilermakers just got steamrolled when they travelled to Marshall.  They lost to a crummy team who hasn’t been good for a while.  They’ve been decent but not spectacular.  This loss looks like it may impact former Ohio State assistant Darrell Hazel’s job security at Purdue.  He has had an ample amount of time to build a winning program, but at a school like Purdue, it was take a little while longer.  Next week they will face a Indiana State team that won their last game in FCS play.  Purdue should come out slinging the ball because they are at home.  I expect a blowout once again just because they are coming off of a crushing loss to Marshall.

BIG 10 Record After Week 1:  8-6

It isn’t as bad as last years first few weeks of play, but it should have been better a better opening week, but that is College Football and that is life for you.  Needless to say the BIG 10 is still a work in progress and they should show up just in time to become a more complete and competitive conference.  I predict that the BIG 10 will go 10-4 this week due to the abundance of FCS teams scheduled.  It could be 11-3, but lets see if the Spartans can take care of business.  Go Bucks!!!

 

Filed Under: B1G Football, College Football, Ohio State Football

The Art of Revenge: Virginia Tech

September 6, 2015 by 1 Comment

marked the beginning of the 2015-2016 College Football season.  With a few high profile games in the books we have already witnessed a perceived upset at TTUN’s expense.  College Football is a beautiful thing and any team can be beaten, at any given moment or anytime during the season.  We as fans have been dealt a near death-blow at The Shoe last season when the visiting Hokies came in and outplayed us.  I am sure that we all experienced a lot of anxiety and a lot of doubt afterwards.  The ESPN pawns doubting The Buckeyes and doubting the BIG as a whole.  We suffered that entire week.  But look what happened.  We took the loss like men, the team came together and we took the entire nation by storm en-route to being crowned the Inaugural College Football Playoff Champions.  What a feeling.  Now after spending the year in the hunt and as the hunter, the Buckeyes find themselves as being the hunted.  The Chase has now been dubbed as The Grind.  The Grind to defend.  The Grind to prepare for every teams best shot.  During this article I will compare and contrast both teams.  I will also let you know who has the upper-hand in each category.  I want to analyze and predict the outcome, but most importantly have fun with it.

The Coach:

This year our Buckeyes will be opening up the season in Blacksburg and the atmosphere will be intense.  With Frank Beamer at the helm as Head Coach, the Hokies have gone an impressive 134-39-1 in his 29 seasons at Virginia Tech.  He has a career winning percentage of .667% out of 348 games.  That is 231-115-2 for you analytical folks.  Urban Meyer has coached for the last 14 years with stints at Bowling Green, Utah, Florida and then Ohio State.  He has compiled an astounding 142-26 W-L record and a 8-2 record in Bowl Games.  Meyer holds a .845% winning percentage, besting rival Nick Saban’s .754% record.  Even though Saban and Beamer have been coaching longer, you cannot sleep on or doubt Meyer’s ability to get his team to perform at a higher level, during big games and throughout the season.

Beamer pulled out the win last season by upsetting the Buckeyes in Columbus.  Do they have what it takes to pull out another?  As I fan, I hope not, but like what Lee Corso would say, “not so fast my friend.”, the silver bullets will look to decimate the same opponent who nearly cost them while pursuing the Championship Chase.  I understand that it was last year, but I am still semi-upset about it.  The one play that immediately comes to mind is the pick-6 at the end to seal the game for Virginia Tech.  But I know Meyer has a plan in place.  During highly anticipate “revenge games”, Meyer has compiled a 9-2 record during these instances.  This is since 2001.  So watch out Beamer.  The Silver Bullets are coming.  With that statement, I am predicting Meyer to stretch that record to 10-2.  Meyer will scheme and find ways to make the Hokies pay for almost costing them a championship last year.

My Prediction:  Ohio State.

Offense vs Offense:

The Buckeyes are absolutely loaded on offense even with the suspensions of two of their premier offensive weapons, Dontre Wilson and Jalin Marshall.  They will also be without Corey Smith, who showed up when the Buckeyes needed plays the most last season.  That is a huge loss for the Buckeyes.  Couple that with the loss of Noah Brown and a less confident Buckeye fan would spaz out.  Don’t fret though, with the QB battle still raging on and with the positional switch for Braxton Miller, I expect no drop off.  The younger, less experienced players (ahem, Johnnie Dixon, James Clark) and potentially a few freshmen (looking at you K.J Hill).  Someone will step up.  Other than that, RB Elliot, WR Thomas and TE Vannett all have returned and the Buckeyes looked primed for another run.  They will also look forward to doling out some revenge.

Now on the Virginia Tech sideline, Michael Brewer is back and primed for another huge game against the Buckeyes, but during this game they will be the home team.  Other than Brewer, TE Ryan Malleck and WR Demitri Knowles will provide the necessary Senior leadership to a young Hokies Offense.  Can the younger players make an impact and will they step up?

Advantage:  Ohio State.

Defense vs Defense:

With Joey Bosa being held out for this game, it will be interesting to see how DE Jalyn Holmes and DE Sam Hubbard will fare during Bosa’s absence.  With LB’s Lee, Perry and McMillan returning and with DT Washington and DB’s Bell, Powell and Apple in the fold, it would be difficult to get momentum against this defense.  There are pieces in places and emerging underclassmen who will also be utilized at some point this season.  There is a ton of potential and I am anxious to see who will step up and who will falter.

On the Virginia Tech sideline, CB Kendell Fuller is the most well know player on the defense.  FS Riley, the player who recorded the pick-6 at the end of regulation will look to shut down the Ohio State offense.  With a young defensive line the defense will look toward the challenge.  Last year the defense caused 3 INT’s.  Can they repeat and will the Bear Defense work again?

Advantage:  Ohio State.

While this won’t be a walk in the park.  Blacksburg will offer a lot of crowd noise and a bunch of obnoxious fans, but it won’t deter Ohio State from getting the revenge that they want and that they need to have.  They are hungry and they want to come out swinging on all cylinder and I expect to see a lot of fireworks.  J.T. Barrett will be the starter, but the Hokies mustn’t focus on him alone.  Cardale Jones will apparently get some time at QB and former QB Braxton Miller will look to burn DB’s all around the field.  Let’s not forget about Ezekiel Elliot, Michael Thomas and Nick Vannett could do to shred a defense.  I know that it may seem biased, but hey I said that I wanted to have fun with it so I predict the Buckeyes to shred the Hokies in every phase of the game.  Go Bucks!

Final Score:  Ohio State defeats Virginia Tech, 52-17

 

Filed Under: B1G Football, College Football, Ohio State Football, Site News

WR Outlook Part 2: Post Noah Brown Injury

August 30, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Here we are, just over a week before the start of the brand new College Football season. After all the hype during the offseason, we as a team, as a unit, must prepare for the unexpected. We must prepare for tragedy to strike at any moment. Whether it is during the offseason, early on in the season, mid-season or during the late stages in the season. We always have to be ready. Although I hate to talk about a players untimely injury, it is needed. The Buckeyes and their “next man up” mentality will ultimately cultivate and develop another starting caliber/secret weapon type of player or players during this upcoming season.

Lets cut to the chase shall we?

#3 Michael Thomas, WR:

Michael Thomas is the most experienced player at his position on the team.  The Redshirt Junior has constantly improved year after year and I don’t expect him to stop growing as a player.  He will be asked to become a more vocal leader in the locker room or on the sidelines because Jeff Heuerman has graduated and is chasing his NFL dreams as we speak.  So Thomas will have to fill the leadership void for Zone 6.  After his redshirt year, Thomas has showed the knack for making big play after big play on the field.  He has showed that he can be consistent and a valuable player for the Buckeyes.  He showed improvement as a blocker downfield.  He sometimes shows the consistency as a blocker that Coach Meyer wants to see.  Thomas also has the ability to beat you in so many ways.  He can catch in traffic, he can get yards after the catch.  He can even burn you with his top end speed going on a “Go” route toward the endzone.  Thomas is a complete WR.  That is why Thomas is one of the WMD’s on this years offense.  I feel like when he has this huge year, we can pretty much count him as gone.  He will leave for the NFL.

#17 Jalin Marshall, WR/H-Back:

Jalin Marshall will have to play catch up after his one game suspension.  He is the second most experienced player on the roster and that will lead to some high expectations for his role on offense.  Marshall has added value on the roster due to his ability to return punts.  At any given moment he can take one back to the house for additional points.  He can also catch passes in all sorts of ways too.  Whether it is in traffic or whether its on a screen pass.  Heck, here’s a little tidbit, Marshall played QB in high school.  He is also capable of slinging the rock!  Like we saw during the season, Marshall is another WMD that Coach Meyer can utilize this season.  He has the speed that he covets and he is definitely hungry for an expanded role this season.  I think after the suspension, he will assume his role and start opposite of Thomas.

#1 Braxton Miller, WR/H-Back:

The 2 year BIG Offensive Player of the Year is now a WR/H-Back!  This is a year of new for Miller, who is also sporting a brand new number.  He is also going to have a new role.  Miller obviously has the speed to burn DB’s and I think that he will be used as the deep threat this season.  Meet the new Devin Smith!  Although Miller isn’t as polished as Smith was, I think Miller will make the necessary adjustments to make an impact during his last season as a Buckeye.  I look for Meyer to get all he can get from the unsung and selfless hero, Miller.  He wants Miller to start this year.  Whether it at WR or H-Back, he will start either spot.  Miller has the speed and let’s not forget that he used to sling the ball around too.  He still has the ability to make people miss.  Whether he is running the wildcat, coming in on a sweep or if he’s going out wide, he will find a way to make plays.  Miller is a playmaker people!  Don’t sleep on him.  Miller has been seen having “secret practices” lead by J.T. Barrett and he has caught a few balls from King Dolodale himself.  With the QB battle still raging on, I expect Miller to go out with a bang.  Regardless of which QB starts.  He will assert himself as the last starting WMD.  Meyer will release the Kraken this season!

#84 Corey Smith, WR:

If not for the one game suspension, I would have Smith as the fourth WR off of the bench.  Smith flashed at the critical moments of games.  He comes up with timely (AND BRUTAL!) blocks like what we say from him in the Michigan and BIG Conference Championship games.  He made a key catch on 3rd down against Oregon in the Playoff Championship game.  He isn’t a big play waiting to happen like his peers, but he flashes when the team needs it the most.  Once the suspension is lifted, I expect him to re-assume his role on the team.

#2 Dontre Wilson, WR/H-Back:

Wilson will assume his punt returning duties when he returns into the fold.  That is assuming that someone on the roster doesn’t take his job.  Wilson is suspended for the season opener and that is completely okay because we have potential high impact players waiting in the wings.  Wilson is too fast to have rot on the bench and I think the coaching staff knows that as well.  With that big time catch at East Lansing, he just oozes with potential.  Sure he had lofty ratings coming out of high school, but like Curtis Grant on the Defense, he will find his niche and he will live up to the hype.

#82 James Clark, WR:

I will be honest, I completely forgot about Clark in my previous article.  And that is no slight to him or his ability and what he can bring to this offense.  I simply check marked his name on my notebook and that is all.  Anyways, he is another “burner” on the Ohio State roster.  He has had a rough couple of years, battling various injuries, but he should be a good one.  Whether it is during this upcoming season or later down the road, he will live up to the hype.  With Corey Smith serving his one game suspension, it opens up the doors for not only Clark, but the rest of the WR corps.  I haven’t seen much tape on Clark, but I am confident in his potential.  He has the tools needed to become a big time WR, he just needs to want it more than everyone behind him.  And with Smith out for the first game of the season, make an everlasting impression young man!

#5 Johnnie Dixon, WR:

Another highly touted recruit out of high school who suffered untimely and unfortunate injuries early on in his Ohio State career.  Like Clark, he is another speedster out of Florida looking to make an impact.  Dixon is too good to sit on the bench (I can honestly say that with every WR on the team)!  With Smith being absent from the trip to Blacksburg, he has a good shot at getting some playing time.  Dixon will look to rebound from his injury plagued past.  He may not have a role just yet, but I have a feeling that he is another sleeper on the team that is just waiting for his shot at playing time.

#89 Jeff Greene, WR:

Greene transferred to Ohio State from Georgia Tech and he has yet to find his niche in the offense.  He is 6’5″ and I want to see him succeed.  He would be a match-up nightmare for smaller DB’s and I would love to see that.  We haven’t had a WR taller than 6’3″ for a little bit the last receiver I can think of is Michael Jenkins (6’4″).  If Greene can improve on his craft, I would enjoy seeing him line up across from Thomas, but Meyer loves having speed demons all over the field so I just don’t know.  He showed the willingness to block during his time at Georgia Tech and I think if he shows that to the coaching staff, he will earn some time.  I would love for Greene to succeed, but he has to show the coaching staff that he is worthy for additional playing time.

#21 Parris Campbell, WR:

I have Campbell as a WR, for now.  He is a weapon like Marshall and he is just as fast.  Like the QB situation, there is a log jam at the WR position.  Everyone is vying for playing time.  Campbell is a bigger WR at 6’1″, 205.  He is another burner, with little to no experience.  Campbell can fill the Devin Smith roll too if he is called upon.  There is no shortage of Devin Smith like players on the roster too.  It is just a matter of time until his shoes will be filled once again.  He will look to contribute on Special Teams and during the occasional blowout.

#83 Terry McLaurin, WR:

Like Campbell, but weighing 5 pounds less, McLaurin is another beast of a player.  Another player who is capable of becoming the next Devin Smith.  McLaurin has the speed to burn helpless DB’s routinely, but he just needs to be afforded the opportunity.  Look for McLaurin to contribute on Special Teams as well as during mop up duty.  I wouldn’t be shocked if he makes a surprise start or two either.

#6 Torrance Gibson, WR:

Here is another QB turned WR!  In practice, Gibson made a Randy Moss like catch against a starting Defensive Back.  I hate to say it, but I will!  I am excited to see if he will earn playing time this season as a True Freshman.  It isn’t like Gibson is a slouch after switching positions either.  Like Miller, he will be a weapon.  I hope Gibson can turn some heads this season.  It will be an amazing sight to see.

#14 K.J. Hill, WR:

Hill is the third newcomer to get his blackstripe removed.  That says a lot of this talented WR out of Arkansas.  He has the tools to succeed.  He has been doing well enough to earn his status as a Buckeye by shedding his black stripe.  Now the sky is the limit for the Freshman.  He can run routes for days.  He can catch.  Let’s see if he can turn more heads and take some playing time away from the upperclassmen.

#87 Alex Stump, WR:

Stump flipped to Ohio State late last year.  He, like all Ohio kids want to stay close to home for the support.  Stump made his decision to join Ohio State.  He is coming off of an injury that he sustained from high school, but I am not worried about him at all.  He looks to be a good one, but I’m afraid that he is set for a redshirt as he recovers from surgery.  I may be wrong, but the WR depth is too much at the moment and I think he sits out this season.  That isn’t necessarily a bad thing because he can study the playbook more.  Win-win for both sides of the equation.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Ohio State Football
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