Preview: Army vs #8 Ohio State

September 15, 2017 by Leave a Comment

After a long week of bickering and talk from anyone and everyone, game day is finally upon us, and it will turn the page on the previous weeks awful showing at the home opener.  There was a whirlwind of opinions from people dishing their hot takes after the Oklahoma loss at home.  A lot of people got into the conversation, ranging from notable analysts, former Buckeyes, hardcore fans and even potential recruiting targets found themselves in the storm.  Most notably, two top tier 5* targets in OT Jackson Carman and DE Micah Parsons, who were calling their shot and stating their desire to pass on Barrett and go to their “boy” Dwayne Haskins.

A lot of people got into the conversation, ranging from notable analysts, former Buckeyes, hardcore fans and even potential recruiting targets found themselves in the storm.  Most notably, two top tier 5* targets in OT Jackson Carman and DE Micah Parsons, who were calling their shot and stating their desire to pass on Barrett and go to their “boy” Dwayne Haskins.

We all weathered the storm and now an opportunity to right the ship and turn the page is almost here.  The Army Black Knights are 2-0 and they will test the strength of the front seven for the entirety of this contest with an efficient rushing offense that ranks 2nd in the nation with 835 yards and 11 touchdowns on 113 attempts, averaging 417.5 yards per game.

On the other side, the home team Ohio State Buckeyes are surrendering 60.5 yards per contest, holding their opponents to 121 total yards on 64 rushing attempts.  They are allowing 1.89 yards per rush, while only giving up a single rushing touchdown so far this season.

Ohio State is #32 in the NCAA in rushing offense for 459 total yards in 85 attempts for 4 scores. They are averaging 5.4 yards per rushing attempt and 229.5 yards per contest and they must establish a balance to control the pace of the game.

The right side of the O-Line suffered against the constant pressure, so this game will be needed to regain their swagger.  They got beat often and were caught off guard by blitzing defenders, so they really need a boost.

Barrett on the other hand also needs this game to re-establish himself as the starting QB with everyone and their mother bashing him over the lack of down the field pass attempts and the lack of accuracy in his passes.  He is 39-70 for 487 yards and 3 touchdowns against one interception. He is averaging 243.5 yards per game, 6.96 yards per attempt and 12.49 yards per completion, which isn’t bad but he needs to show a lot of improvement in both the accuracy and the production department to truly improve and become more successful.

This Army team appears to be no threat to the Buckeyes through the air and through 2 games, as they are 2-10 for 17 yards.  They are averaging 1.7 yards per attempt and 8.5 yards per game, but they will be a could find a way to involve the running backs, similar to what Oklahoma did.

The Buckeyes linebackers were getting beat by dump-off passes, which could work to Army’s advantage during the game. The linebackers were often out of position and looked confused, so let’s hope they worked out the kinks.

The secondary improved, but tackling was an issue again as they were constantly looking for the big hit instead of wrapping up for the sure tackle.  They need to build on their performance again this week.

Prediction:  41-9 Buckeyes

After that embarrassing loss at home, it will drive the cause the Buckeyes to take a step in the right direction.  The offense improves and executes better, but will still be a work in progress. There will be a balance between the run and pass, and a big play or two will occur, with emphasis on improving the play-calling situation.    

The defense racks up TFL’s against the Army rushing attack forcing them to attempt more passes.  I am calling for a forced fumble and a pick to happen due to the immense pressure that the Rushmen place of the Army O-Line.  

 

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Recap: #5 Oklahoma vs #2 Ohio State

September 9, 2017 by 2 Comments

First Half:

In an early test for both teams, neither seemed to get into a rhythm in the first half of the game. Oklahoma has statistically been more successful outgaining the often anemic Ohio State offense 222-92.  They have outgained the home team by a large margin and they seem to be gaining more and more confidence as the game continues.

Baker Mayfield has been leaning solely on his arm, which has been dicing up the Ohio State defense for 158 yards on 11 of 18 attempts, and he is gaining 8.8 yards per pass attempt but has no touchdowns to show for it yet.  He has been banged up as well, as he can be seen limping off to the sideline after taking a few huge hits.  So far Mayfield has been sacked twice, both by Sam Hubbard.

J.T. Barrett has struggled mightily, and he has been leaning more towards the designed QB runs, that have Buckeye fans scratching their heads.  Barrett finished the first half 5 for 11 for 25 yards and also carried the ball 10 times for 35 yards.

The first half ended in a 3-3 tie with Oklahoma turning the ball over three times.  They had two critical fumbles and a missed field goal, in what appears to be a defensive struggle.  Sooners also lost Mark Andrews, their big WR/TE to an apparent leg injury.

Second Half:

The Buckeyes started the half with balance and they capped off the opening drive with J.K. Dobbins’ first touchdown as a Buckeye.

Mayfield was quick to answer with a touchdown of his own to a 36-yard pass to Dimitri Flowers to tie up this contest.  The Sooner offense also caught fire as Mayfield found his teammates for 2 scores, 1 by RB Trey Sermon and another to Lee Morris.  Jordan Smallwood also found paydirt on a jet sweep.

The Sooner defense clamped down and shut down the Buckeyes, only giving up two field goals in the second half.  One in the early 3rd quarter and a second mid-4th quarter.  After a failed onside kick, the Sooners continue to drive the ball and rack up yardage on the tired Buckeye defense.

The Sooners win 31-16 with their rookie Head Coach Lincoln Riley, which is a rare and impressive feat in itself.  This by no means knocks the Buckeyes out of the playoff conversation.  There are obvious deficiencies on offense that need to be addressed all across the offense.

There are obvious deficiencies on offense that need to be addressed all across the offense.  The WR’s failed to separate, they were back to their old ways with the play calling, and J.T. Barrett’s issues accuracy and trust in his receivers.

The Buckeyes will be back, so stay tuned Buckeye Nation.

 

 

 

 

 

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

Preview: #7 Oklahoma vs #2 Ohio State

September 5, 2017 by 1 Comment

With the first week of the young CFB season behind us, we look forward to another contest that has once again garnered another College Gameday appearance.  The featured matchup will place two Top 10 teams against each other, and with two big-time and experienced leaders at the Quarterback position, there will be no shortage of big plays and drama.

What To Watch For:

J.T. Barrett versus Baker Mayfield:

In a game filled with great matchups, Barrett versus Mayfield takes the front seat in this contest. Mayfield led the offense to an impressive win over UTEP, while Barrett took some time to get his offense going.  Although it was not entirely his fault, the WR’s failed to break away from the opposing DB’s.

Mayfield looked sharp against inferior and outclassed competition.  He finished 19 for 20 for 329 yards and 3 scores, in a 56-7 drubbing of UTEP.  This week he will face a newly pieced together set of DB’s and he will be looking to test them early and often with his crop of receivers.

Barrett was efficient during his showing and he showed some improvement balancing the running and passing.  He finished with 4 total TD’s and 365 yards, 301 of which were through the air and he also had 64 on the ground.  This balance was needed and he will need to stay focused and sharp against a mostly experienced secondary that has three Seniors to lean on.

This game will most likely fall on the shoulders of both men with ball security, balance and turnovers will be the deciding factor.  There will be no shortage of big plays and offensive fireworks, this is what makes this so exciting.

Trench Wars, Best D-Line versus Best O-Line:

In what is almost another given, the battle in the trenches between Oklahoma and Ohio State is another key matchup to watch in this battle of two Top 10 teams.

Oklahoma has one of the best Offensive Lines in the nation led by LT Orlando Brown and they average out to about 304.4 lbs of humanity tasked to protect Mayfield.

On the other side of the line will be one of the best Defensive Lines in the nation led by Sam Hubbard and Tyquan Lewis.  Behind them, the depth at Ohio State, particularly on the Defensive Line, they are two or three deep at each position.

This matchup will determine the success of either team.  The Sooner line is talented and will be a major test for the Buckeyes line.

Buckeye DB’s versus Sooner WR’s:

I remember people saying that Ohio State will not face another crop of big, physical receivers again this season. Guess what?  They were wrong.  The Sooners top 3 receivers are 6’3″, 6’5″ and 6’5″.  Ceedee Lamb, Mark

The Sooners top 3 receivers are 6’3″, 6’5″ and 6’5″.  Ceedee Lamb, Mark Andrews, and Jeffery Mead are massive, with Andrews, a former Buckeye target being the heaviest at 253 lbs.  Kendall Sheffield, Damon Arnette, and Denzel Ward need to be sharp.  Jordan Fuller and Damon Webb need to stay disciplined as well.

Kendall Sheffield, Damon Arnette, and Denzel Ward need to be sharp.  Jordan Fuller and Damon Webb need to stay disciplined as well.

This could be another shootout, but can the Buckeye secondary cover and force a few turnovers for the defense?  Can the Sooner Wideouts out-muscle their smaller opponents?

Sooner Front 7 versus Dobbins/Weber:

True Freshman J.K. Dobbins received his first start and he surely did not disappoint.  He finished the game with 29 carries for 181 yards and 2 catches for 24 yards.  This week he will share the load with Mike Weber.

Together they face a stout front 7 led by 3 seniors. They will be tasked to stop the ground game and get to the QB.  It won’t be easy, but they gave them fits a season ago, so it’ll be interesting.

The Ohio State line isn’t sorry either, as they average 310.8 lbs as a whole.  Three of the five a 6’7″, with Jones being 6’5″ and Price being 6’4″.  With a major chip on their shoulders, particularly with the right side of the line, Bowen and Prince will be looking to establish themselves.

Can WR’s break open:

Finally, can the Buckeye WR’s break open consistently enough to and make plays?  This will be hard due to the experience opposing them.

They are all talented, but they need to outwork the DB’s to give Barrett a chance to win the game for them.  Barrett wasn’t perfect, and he did miss a few of his guys on errant passes, but the WR’s had a few drops during the game too.

Will they be reliable threats for Barrett?  Will they be able to break free from the coverage and make plays?  Can Zone 6 make the Buckeye Offense, particularly the deep ball sizzle again?

Prediction:

This will be another hard fought game with the Sooners keeping it close in the first half.  Their WR’s will out muscle the DB’s early before halftime.  This game will be a back and forth affair until the Buckeye Defense takes over and forces a few turnovers.

With a combination of second half adjustments and the Buckeye front seven’s relentlessness, the Buckeyes pull away in the second half for a close win at home.

This game will showcase many NFL hopefuls and it will be filled with team scouts.  This game will also feature the next wave of talent, as many Buckeye commits and targets will be present for the show.

Final Score:  41-31 Buckeyes

 

 

 

 

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

Recap: #2 Ohio State VS Indiana

August 31, 2017 by 1 Comment

And just like that, the offseason is officially over.  The 2017 CFB season has begun and Ohio State opens up against an Indiana Hoosiers team that is looking for an upset win at home.  Mike Weber did not make the start because he is banged up, but his replacement, J.K. Dobbins will become the second true freshman to start for the Buckeyes.

First Half

With the game underway, the Buckeyes started off hot, but the offense is still a work in progress. J.T. Barrett, on his first drive, took the ball 66 yards and the drive ended with a 27-yard FG to put the Buckeyes up 3-0.

Richard Lagow wasted no time to respond as they took the ball 87-yards for a TD by Ian Thomas. The highlight of the drive was a one-handed toss to Simmie Cobbs.

The Buckeye offense struggled mightily, with a lack of separation by the WR’s from the Hoosier DB’s.  O-Line play was decent during the first half, but there is some room for improvement in that department and there is a lot more to be desired.

Simmie Cobbs continued to light up the next generation of Buckeye Defensive Backs as he snagged another one-handed TD pass against Denzel Ward.  The Buckeyes should have been down 21-3, but because of a tipped pass by Kendall Sheffield, it resulted in an interception by Jordan Fuller.

The Buckeyes should have been down 21-3, but because of a tipped pass by Kendall Sheffield, it resulted in an interception by Jordan Fuller.

J.K. Dobbins was the star in the making for the Buckeyes in the first half registering 15 carries for 107 yards.  Dobbins shows the burst and the promise to become the next feature back at Ohio State.

The Rushmen are also doing their job as well as they have registered 3 sacks in the first half, keeping the Hoosier offense at bay.  Tyquan Lewis, Nick Bosa and Sam Hubbard have one a piece, but let us see if they can keep the pressure on in the second half.

Second Half

In 2016-esque fashion, the Silver Bullet placed the clamps on the Hoosier offense and Barrett turns on the offensive lightbulb as their talent and big-play abilities began to show.

Indiana started the second half only to be shut down in back-to-back drives.  Barrett’s stalled in a single drive and turned the ball over on downs before scampering into the end zone for their first lead of the game.

Lagow answered with another touchdown to his TE, but Barrett outdid Lagow with 2 touchdowns for 74-yard and 59-yard by Parris Campbell and Johnnie Dixon.  Both passes were short, but with the excellent downfield blocking and RAC ability, they both took it to the house.

With their third stringers on the Defensive Line spelling their starters, Jashon Cornell got Lagow for a strip sack and it was recovered by Jonathan Cooper.  The second turnover was important because Barrett found Binjimen Victor for an 11-yard score.

On the next offensive drive, Lagow made quite the drive, but he was then picked off by Denzel Ward for his second pick of the game, third overall.

Barrett and Ohio State piece together another scoring drive while grinding away at the clock. Antonio Williams rushes for his second score of the game to put the Buckeyes up 49-21.  Prior to the Williams touchdown, a hilarious moment was captured on National Television, as J.K. Dobbins was seen begging for that elusive TD only to get shut down by Coach Alford.

This was a measuring stick to see how far the team has come after the way things ended last season.  The offense and defense will continue to work out the kinks in the mean time.  Ohio State will prepare for another potent offense in Oklahoma.

 

 

 

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

Ohio State Projected Depth Chart 2017

August 27, 2017 by Leave a Comment

With under a week left of the dreaded offseason, another year chalked full of expectation is upon us.  After a dreadful, nightmarish showing in last seasons CFB Playoff, Coach Meyer and company will prepare themselves for another run at the title.

Projected Starters for 2017:

QB:  J.T. Barrett

RB:  Mike Weber

WR:  Johnnie Dixon

WR:  Austin Mack

Slot/H-Back:  Terry McLaurin

TE:  Marcus Baugh

LT:  Jamarco Jones

LG:  Michael Jordan

C:  Billy Price

RG:  Brandon Bowen

RT:  Isaiah Prince

DE:  Sam Hubbard

DE:  Tyquan Lewis

DT:  Dre’mont Jones

DT:  Tracy Sprinkle

WLB:  Jerome Baker

MLB:  Chris Worley

SLB:  Dante Booker

CB:  Denzel Ward

CB:  Damon Arnette

Nickel:  Kendall Sheffield

S:  Damon Webb

S:  Erick Smith

K:  Sean Nuernberger

P:  Drue Chrisman

J.T. Barrett will return for the final chapter in his career.  Barrett will lead another talented offense in their quest for another title.  He will most likely hold every, if not most of Ohio State’s records and he will be able to obtain a few BIG records too.

Joe Burrow and Dwayne Haskins were neck and neck up until now, but due to an injury during practice, Haskins will serve as the backup QB.  This is a case of plain bad luck, and it really opens the door for Haskins to audition for the starting job in the 2018 season.  True Freshman Tate Martell is another interesting prospect who might just see some time during garbage time, but we will just have to see.

Weber will resume duties as the lead back of Tote Nation.  Behind him, he will have a true freshman, J.K. Dobbins to relieve him.  Dobbins has quite the following as he surpassed Antonio Williams and Demario McCall.

Zone 6 took a hit after Samuel and Brown left for the NFL, but the players that are on the team are sneaky good.  With the lack of a deep threat last season and a combination of poor play calling and the lack of confidence, the offense sputtered and was predictable.

This season will be different with Coach Wilson and Coach Day.  Both will provide a quick paced and high tempo attack that will leave opposing defenses gasping for air.  Mack, Dixon, and McLaurin are all speedsters that have big play ability and behind them are bigger stronger receivers like Victor, Harris, Grimes and Gardiner.

The O-Line returns 4 starters from last season, which helps Barrett remain upright.  The Slobs are all over 6’4″ with Price being the shortest of the bunch.  Prince was a liability, earned the title of starter at RG, but he is wedged between Price and Prince just in case he needs help.

The D-Line or the Rushmen returned the starters from last year and their backups.  They will terrorize teams with relentless pursuit.  Baker, Worley and a healthy Booker return to bolster their LB group.

The secondary proves to be of concern because they basically have to reload once again, after losing three first rounders to the NFL Draft.  Damon Webb and Denzel Ward return, but Damon Arnette, Kendall Sheffield will be the next two corners up, while Erick Smith will assume the other Safety spot.

Overall, I think the Buckeyes have what it takes to win the BIG onward to another Playoff berth, but crazy thing could happen as the season develops.  I will watch it as it progresses, but the talent is certainly there.  The drama has yet to unfold, but with the season fast approaching, I cannot wait to go through the emotions with you.

 

 

Filed Under: B1G Football, College Football, College Football Playoff, College Football Recruiting, NFL Draft, Ohio State Football, Pro Football, Site News

Preview: Ohio State vs Indiana

August 17, 2017 by Leave a Comment

 

When:  Thursday, August 31st @ 6:00 PM on ESPN

Where:  The Rock, Bloomington, Indiana

With the 2017 College Football season fast approaching, I could not help but preview opening day of the upcoming season.  After my brief break due to my move back to the states, I am proud to say that I am back MOTSAG faithful!

To open the 2017 season, Ohio State will collide with a seasoned Indiana team that is capable of putting up huge numbers on opposing defenses, but that was under former Head Coach Kevin Wilson, who coincidentally was dismissed by Indiana and is now the Offensive Coordinator at Ohio State.
In an unusual turn of events and because of some luck, Coach Meyer jumped at the chance to improve their offensive deficiencies by employing Wilson.  Wilson has a proven track record of reinventing offenses under his watch with stints at Miami (OH), at Northwestern and at Oklahoma. He will bring a quick tempo attack to Ohio State, and it is what the Buckeyes lacked after Texas Coach Tom Herman left.
The search for improvements did not stop there, as Coach Meyer plucked another young coach from the NFL ranks to bolster their staff in Quarterback Coach Ryan Day.  Day, a Chip Kelly disciple, will be tasked to improve the QB play.  Day and Wilson will work side by side to resurrect an anemic Buckeye offense that was shut out in last years CFB Playoffs.
J.T. Barrett will lead the team for his last season donning the Scarlet and Gray for a Thursday game at Bloomington, Indiana.  With him, he has 4 returning starters along the O-Line, but a new RG that has yet to be announced.  Bruising RB Mike Weber returns and TE Marcus Baugh is back as well.
Ohio State will break in many first year starters at WR, with Dixon, Campbell, and McLaurin leading the way.  Ohio State also has a mix of older and younger players at the position vying for playing time in Hill, Mack, Victor, Harris, and Grimes, so we will have to see how the offense adapts to their newer, faster system.
The defense returns the majority of the front seven and their backups.  The biggest question would be the secondary, which lost 3 first rounders to the NFL Draft.  The projected starters at CB will likely be Arnette, Sheffield, and Ward with Okudah as the fourth man up.  While Wade, Williamson and Riep will be looking for playing time in during garbage time.
At the Safety spots, Webb is the only returning starter, while the other spot is up for grabs between Erick Smith and Jordan Fuller, who no matter who wins, both will play this season.  Both bring different playing styles, but both would do well when called upon.
Indiana has a bit of a QB battle going as Richard Lagow is trying to fight off a Redshirt FR Peyton Ramsey, who did well during the spring game.  They will have 5 returning starters on offense and a BIG leading 9 on defense led by Tegray Scales.  Scales will attempt to stymie his former Head Coaches new team in the season opener.
Prediction:  44-20 (Ohio State)
The Barrett led offense will shine in the opener, with obvious improvements across the board.  It will be a balanced attack with 200+ yards passing and at least 100 on the ground.  The WR’s will be the biggest improvement and the TE will be featured more frequently than the previous seasons.  O-Line will improve as well with Prince and the new RG being the key players, but also the key matchup.  
The defense will be stout, but the secondary with the new starters will give up a few huge chunk plays before the lock in.  The Rushmen package will be lethal the LB’s will give Indiana fits.  I look for them to have a least 2 sacks and a forced fumble, while the secondary snags 2 interceptions. Scales will lead the defensive charge and he will be a problem.  He will be near the ball the entire game.  
Filed Under: B1G Football, College Football, College Football Playoff, College Football Recruiting, NFL, NFL Draft, Ohio State Football, Pro Football, Site News

Why I believe Ezekiel Elliott is Innocent Based On Evidence!

August 14, 2017 by Leave a Comment

First, let me just be emphatic in this statement. I am an OSU fan through and through. I am as biased as they possibly come. I also have zero tolerance for violence of any kind. I detest it and truly believe their is no place in this world for any kind of violence. Having said that let me share what I have learned through a collection of the evidence provided by media and lawyers. Which is far less than the NFL and Prosecutors had access too no doubt.

So how did Zeke get here? Well you see he is as visible as anyone in the NFL right now. Zeke has made himself visible by his play on the field and his infectious smile off of it. He also has put himself in situations that are high risk of negative situations. That happens. To everyone. Being a member of the Dallas Cowboys also puts a spotlight on him like no other team in sports.

Is Ezekiel Elliott guilty of anything? The answer to the best of my knowledge is no. The actuality is though that it doesn’t matter. Society labels. They get out their pitchforks and create mobs out of thin air. He is a victim of society. Society says if a woman says you hit them then you absolutely did. Society says if you are accused of anything you and guilty until proven innocent. That is ass-backwards. Alas though this is the way society works and Zeke needs to learn that and do whatever he can to keep society off his back.

Let’s tackle this domestic violence situation now. The evidence provided by the accuser is suspect at best. She claims to have been beaten over 5 days several times and also claims these weren’t the only times he did it to her.
Battered women absolutely can and do return to their abusers. When they do though in general they are very submissive and hide the abuse. They don’t try to get their friends to lie and say that their boyfriend hit them in front of them. Which is exactly what this girl did.

You can go here to TMZ to see the alleged bruises. In the pictures you can see lots of bruises some appear much older than others. You can see a picture of her hand which is clearly the result of her punching someone. Which goes hand in hand with the accusation that she was in a bar fight the week before with another female. Look at the pictures and judge for yourself. They aren’t the typical pictures of a battered woman. They certainly aren’t the pictures of a 125 pound woman beaten several times over a week by a 225 pound athlete. They appear to me to be the result of a typical girl fight. Lots of grabbing and wrestling and very little punching.

Listen to the 9-1-1 call listen to her voice and her words. Tell me this is the response of a battered woman.

Read the text messages where she asks her friend to lie for her and say she saw Ezekiel Elliott grab her and drag her and beat her.

The totality of this situation leads me to honestly believe Zeke is innocent. Could he be guilty? Yes. Is there enough evidence to say he is by even a 51% to 49% basis? Nope. The Columbus Police and the Franklin County Prosecutors have said the case doesn’t warrant an arrest or trial. Why? Because they don’t believe the “victim”.

Lastly, Info has come out today that NFL commish Roger Goodale did not attend a single meeting with Zeke or the accuser yet still was the judge, jury, and executioner should send you into a rage. The NFL decided this case well before the alleged incident ever happened. The day they received criticism for their handling of Ray Rice they knew they had to fix that image and they are doing it on the back of Ezekiel Elliott.

Until the NFL produces some actual evidence to support their 6 game suspension there is only one thing to say. Shame on the NFL.

Filed Under: Ohio State Football

BREAKING: Ohio State Lands the Country’s No. 1 Tight End

July 17, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Ohio State Buckeyes’ head coach Urban Meyer has always been excellent at recruiting. A preliminary glance at the amount of his former players are on NFL rosters is evidence of that in itself. Well, add another diamond to his treasure trove of talent, as Meyer and the Buckeyes landed the country’s No. 1  tight end, Jeremy Ruckert, Monday afternoon.

The 6-5.5 238 lbs prospect out of Lindenhurst, NY was a star at ‘The Opening’, bolstering him from the country’s No. 52 ranked prospect to No. 11 in the 247sports composite rankings, and earning him a fifth star. Ruckert is the third five-star prospect to commit to Ohio State in the 2018 class, and he certainly won’t be the last.

He is a crucial pick up for the Buckeyes, as, although they have the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class at this particular moment, the one thing it lacks is people to throw the football to. In came Ruckert to help fill that void.

So, what exactly do we get in Ruckert? Well, you get a big-bodied tight end with the athleticism of a wide receiver, whose combination of route-running abilities, size, great hands, and his propensity to make secondaries look bad make him a five-star prospect.

“Updated rankings got me my 5th star.. #1 TE and #11 Overall player in the nation!! #blessed”, Ruckert said on a Twitter post last Monday. 

Yes, indeed Ruckert is blessed. However, he’s not nearly as blessed as Ohio State is after receiving a commitment from him. If the rankings remain the same (or even close to the same) come national signing day, Ruckert will be the highest ranked tight end recruit Ohio State has landed in 247sports.com history.

He is a big reason why Ohio State’s 2018 recruiting class will end Alabama’s six-year streak of having the No. 1 class in the country.

Until next time, God bless and GO BUCKS!

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OSU Commit Jeremy Rucker

July 17, 2017 by Leave a Comment

By Trevor Arnold

Boooom! Ohio State lands a big time target out of New York. Jeremy Ruckert, a 5-star and number 1 tight end is exactly what Ohio State needed to continue this great 2018 class. Ruckert commits with a crazy go-kart video on his twitter @Jeremy_Ruckert1.

Ruckert is 6 ft-5.5, and has great size and strength. At 236 pounds, Ruckert is hard to tackle, but also has a great vertical. In his Junior and Senior years of high school, Ruckert had 118 catches for 1618 and 15 touchdowns.

Ohio State has had a hard time over the years with recruiting tight ends missing slightly on many. This is a big time commit for Urban and his staff. Kevin Wilson also loves using tight ends, so this recruit is only going to make his offense scarier. Ruckert is going to be a great addition to this stellar class. With many top recruits left, Ohio State is on pace to have the greatest recruiting class of all time.

Filed Under: Ohio State Football

Things That Have Happened Since Michigan Last Beat Ohio State In Football  

July 14, 2017 by 1 Comment

When you’re a fan of arguably the most successful program in the history of college football, the Ohio State Buckeyes, you have a lot to brag about. However, for every single success story that is published or brought up in conversation about the men who have essentially made the sport of college football a secular religion in Ohio over the course of 100+ years, you have a Michigan naysayer around to remind you that the Womanrines have more total wins, more conference titles, more national titles, and have more wins in the rivalry.

For their sake alone, I have written this article. First and foremost, I would like to mention that, as of today, it has been 2,057 days since Michigan has beaten Ohio State in football. Their last win versus the Buckeyes came in 2011 when Ohio State was in between head coaches and had a true freshman at quarterback.

That was the year Luke Fickell was Ohio State’s interim head coach and the Buckeyes had their first losing record in 23 years. Of course that happened to be the year the Wolverines finally topped the Buckeyes (for the first time since 2003). Since then, however, be it due to controversial calls or utter dominance, the Wolverines have failed to beat their cross-state counterparts.

In the time since, a whole heck of a lot of things have happened. Thanks to Wikipedia and onthisday.com, I was able to concoct a small list of such things. Without further ado, here are some of the things that have happened since the Wolverines’ last victory over the Buckeyes on November 26, 2011:

  • December 18, 2011 – Withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq: The last United States troops withdrew from Iraq under the terms of the U.S.–Iraq Status of Forces Agreement.
  • September 11, 2012 – The Benghazi attack: An attack that was coordinated against two United States government facilities in Benghazi, Libya by members of the Islamic militant group Ansar al-Sharia.
  • October 25–30, 2012: Hurricane Sandy: A devastating hurricane wreaks havoc for the Eastern United States coast.
  • November 6, 2012: United States presidential election, 2012: Barack Obama is reelected as president.
  • December 14, 2012: Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting: Occurs in Newtown, Connecticut killing 20 Children and 6 Staff Members
  • January 20, 2013: Barack Obama is inaugurated for his second term as president.
  • April 15, 2013: Boston Marathon bombings: Two pressure cooker bombs explode during the Boston Marathon
  • April 16, 2014: Malaysia Airlines Flight of Malaysian airlines went missing and hasn’t been seen since.
  • May 23, 2014: 2014 Isla Vista killings occurs, killing 6, and wounding 14 others, perpetrated by elliot rodger.
  • June 2014: President Obama orders the return of a small number of troops to Iraq to help bolster Iraqi and Kurdish military forces
  • August 9, 2014: Michael Brown was shot and killed, in what was ruled by a grand jury to be self-defense, by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri, igniting protests and riots in the following months.
  • November 3, 2014: New building, 1 World Trade Center, opens in New York City.
  • December 17, 2014: President Obama announces a restoration of full diplomatic relations with Cuba for the first time since 1961.
  • April 27, 2015: Baltimore protests: Protests and rioting occur in Baltimore, Maryland after the death of Freddie Gray in police custody.
  • June 17, 2015: Charleston church shooting: A gunman killed 9, including a state senator in a church in Charleston, South Carolina.
  • June 26, 2015: Gay marriage is fully legalized in all 50 states
  • July 20, 2015: Restoration of relations with Cuba.
  • December 22, 2015 San Bernardino attack: Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik, a married radical Muslim couple, kills 14 people at a center for the developmentally disabled.
  • June 11, 2016: Orlando Nightclub Shooting: A self-proclaimed Islamic State fighter, Omar Mateen, kills 49 and injures 53 at a gay nightclub in Orlando, before being shot and killed by an officer.
  • July 7, 2016: Shooting of Dallas police officers: Micah Xavier Johnson ambushed and fired upon a group of police officers in Dallas, Texas, killing five officers and injuring nine others. Two civilians were also wounded.
  • August 12–22, 2016: Louisiana floods and prolonged rainfall in southern parts of the U.S. state of Louisiana resulted in catastrophic flooding that submerged thousands of houses and businesses.
  • August 13, 2016: Milwaukee riots: A riot began in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, sparked by the fatal police shooting of 23-year-old Sylville Smith.
  • November 8, 2016: Donald Trump wins the 2016 presidential election
  • January 20, 2017: Donald Trump is inaugurated as the forty-fifth president of the United States
  • February 22, 2017: Discovery of 7 Earth-sized planets orbiting star Trappist-1 announced in Journal “Nature” – raises possibility of alien life
  • March 22, 2017: Terrorist attack on London’s Westminster Bridge and Houses of Parliament kills 4 including a police officer and injures 40
  • May 10, 2017: President Donald Trump shares classified information about ISIS plot with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in the Oval Office
  • June 2, 2017: Trump announces the US is withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement
  • July 5, 2017: 101 people reported shot, 15 killed in Chicago, Illinois over 4th July weekend

It’s safe to say that for Wolverines fans, a win versus Ohio State is long overdo. This explains why so many of them were so upset about the double overtime fourth down spot in the 2016 edition of “The Game”.  Nevertheless, it has still been over 2,000 days since Michigan has beaten Ohio State in football.

This list could have literally been 100 pages long.

 

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