One thing that has been a topic of conversation since the day Urban Meyer stepped on campus was “How long will he stay at Ohio State?”. People who hate Urban or Ohio State have hoped for Urban to leave ASAP but Coach Meyer has stated he loves being at OSU and wants to stay here for a long time. Today he was granted the ability to stay for more years and paid more money. Here is a few highlights from the release OSU just put out….

The contract of Ohio State University Head Football Coach Urban Meyer has been extended through the year 2020 and will make him the highest paid coach in the Big Ten Conference in terms of annual compensation, Vice President and Director of Athletics Gene Smith announced today. The contract changes are subject to Board of Trustees’ approval at its next meeting, scheduled for June 3-4.

Meyer’s previous contract ran through the 2017 season and would have paid him $4.9 million for 2015. The new terms and extension, retroactive to Feb. 1, 2015, give Meyer a six-year contract through the 2020 season with an end date of Jan. 31, 2021. Meyer will make $5.8 million in total compensation for 2015 and, with annual raises, will average at least $6.5 million per year over the next six years.

“I am honored to serve as football coach at The Ohio State University and to represent this great university,” Meyer said. “It is a privilege to coach and mentor the young men in this program, and I want to thank President Drake and Mr. Smith for their support and their trust in me.”

Meyer is the winningest* coach in college football with an .845 winning percentage and a 142-26 overall record. He has led the Buckeyes to a 38-3 record, is undefeated in Big Ten regular season play at 24-0, and his 2014 team won the eighth national championship in school history along with winning the school’s 35th Big Ten championship.

https://twitter.com/ESPNCBB/status/586685071840653312

Given to the best Shooting Guard in the country.

As many of you are aware here is the story of what happened….

As a result of that OSU had to turn in a violation to the NCAA and today news came down as to what would happen to Braxton From Tim May….

In the end it was not much of anything and Braxton got what he deserves a slap on the wrist and some education.

Drama Drama Drama…. In what is starting to be the word of the week it seems OSU is having an issue getting out of the Drama Dept. A new report is out and claims that one commit will Gray Shirt and another didnt qualify because of grades here is part of the report from Cleveland.Com….

Also, a source said that one other Ohio State player who committed to this incoming freshman class did not meet academic eligibility requirements set out for him in December and won’t be part of the team this year, though it’s possible he may enroll in the future.

And one other member listed as part of the 27-member Class of 2015 in February is expected to grayshirt. That move would have the player enroll in the winter, after the season, and not count against the scholarship total now.

No word on who those 2 players are but there was word that Long Snapper Liam McCullough was rumored for a long time to be a Gray Shirt candidate. As for who may have had grade issues there were rumors that Rashod Berry and Eric Glover-Williams may have had issues but it is impossible to tell until OSU says for sure.

If these 2 stories are true and Jamel Dean is done at OSU that will put OSU at the 85 scholly max they needed to be at by Aug 1st.

Ohio State has been pretty much drama free for a while now so of course everything would hit at once. Jamel Dean is leaving the program and his HS Coach isn’t happy about it and all but saying OSU is forcing him out. Now comes a new report saying that the Top recruit in the 2016 class is unhappy and considering other options on the heels of canceling his visit for Spring Game today as well and visiting Rutgers for the 2nd time in 3 weeks. Here is a snippet of the report from Tom VanHaaren of ESPN ($$$)….

When ESPN junior 300 running back Kareem Walker first committed to Ohio State, he thought he would be the only running back in the class and Stan Drayton would be the running backs coach. Nearly three months later, neither statement is the same.

Ohio State now has three ESPN Junior 300 running backs committed and Drayton has gone to the Chicago Bears, replaced by former Notre Dame running backs coach Tony Alford.

Walker, the top-ranked back in 2016, thought he would be the only running back in the class, so when Drayton left and the other two backs committed to the Buckeyes, it started to make him think.

“The coaches told me that Coach Alford said they would use DeMario McCall like Jalin Marshall, as an H-back, but when I was talking to [George Hill], he said he wanted to play running back,” Walker said. “Everybody is saying they’ll be the slot guys and I’ll be the running back. You have the No. 1 running back and you take three backs in my class.”

Walker says he isn’t going to make any decisions right now, but he does want to sit down with his coach to talk about the impact of the other two prospects and if he should make any tough decisions in the near future.

Obviously this is not the kind of thing you want to be reading but there is a ton of time left before the 2016 class will sign their LOIs and plenty of time for Coach Meyer and his staff to mend any fences they may need to.

*** Mini Update ***

I know Kareem has been telling people he was going to come to the Spring Game and then today canceled that so he could take the ACT test. Doing a little digging on the ACT site and at best he would have had to register to take the test by March 27th so he has known for at least 2 weeks he wouldnt be at the Spring Game so not sure what to make of this but either he never planned on coming or he is using the ACT testing as an excuse not to come now.

OSU fans know that a few guys had to leave the team in order for OSU to get down to 85 players. There have been rumors that a few players would be leaving because of medical issues but I doubt anyone thought it would be a True Freshman who enrolled early and never even got to practice with the team but alas that is what apparently going to happen from this report from 11W….

Sources told Eleven Warriors the freshman defensive back from Cocoa, Fla., was not medically cleared by the Ohio State staff after enrolling early in January and has not yet practiced with the Buckeyes.

As a result, Dean has decided to move on and pursue opportunities — both academically and athletically — elsewhere. Sources informed Eleven Warriors that Dean was presented an opportunity for a medical hardship so he could remain on academic scholarship at Ohio State, but he opted for a release from his scholarship in an attempt to get cleared medically elsewhere.

All you can do is wish him luck and hope he heals well enough to play again somewhere someday.

On March 10th, Ohio State began spring practice, and had fifteen spring football practices available before the conclusion of spring practice on April 18th in Ohio Stadium. Over the next few weeks, I will rank the top ten questions facing Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer and his coaching staff as the Buckeyes retake the football field after concluding the 2014 season as the national champions.

These articles will be submitted from areas of lowest concern to highest concern. While Ohio State returns the overwhelming majority of its 2014 team, and welcomes in a highly-touted recruiting class, it will be important for Coach Meyer to convey to his team that complacency within the player ranks could derail any hopes of the Buckeyes repeating as national champions in 2015.

Seven practices in, with eight practices remaining, including the April 18th spring game. Opportunities to make positive impressions upon the coaching staff regarding the depth chart are becoming scarce.

Earlier in the series, my questions and focus was upon emerging players at backup positions, a clear testament to Ohio State’s depth across the board. The remaining articles will focus upon position areas where Ohio State has lost a player(s) to graduation or eligibility, which is why I have ranked these position groups higher in terms of importance.

3. Cornerback/Defensive Back

Key Players/Contributors Lost: Doran Grant (eligibility); Armani Reeves (injury); Ron Tanner (injury)

Key Players/Contributors Returning: Marshon Lattimore (Redshirt Freshman), Eli Apple (Redshirt Sophomore), Damon Webb (Sophomore), Gareon Conley (Redshirt Sophomore), Cam Burrows (Junior), Vonn Bell (Junior), Malik Hooker (Redshirt Freshman), Tyvis Powell (Redshirt Junior), Erick Smith (Sophomore), Jamel Dean (Freshman)

Cornerback is a relatively strong position for the Ohio State defense, with so much talent on the roster returning or arriving. Eli Apple emerged as a quality starter during the 2014 season, and should be considered one of the leaders of the secondary. Both Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell return at the safety positions.

Doran Grant leaves after a solid career, as he prepares for a selection in the 2015 NFL Draft. Regrettably, Armani Reeves and Ron Tanner both concluded their careers due to concussion-related issues. Both Reeves and Tanner were dependable special team contributors throughout the 2014 season.

Why the concern over cornerback, you ask?

Think back to last season’s Ohio State/Michigan State game in East Lansing. Apple was battling a hamstring injury, and the coaching staff was resting Apple at the onset of the game. Gareon Conley started in Apple’s place, yet the coaching staff felt compelled to get Apple back into the game after Michigan State repeatedly targeted Conley at the beginning of the game.

With the departure of Doran Grant, there is an open spot at the opposite cornerback position. So far during the spring practices, it appears that Gareon Conley is the leader for the open cornerback position.

Even if Conley is listed as a starter after April 18th, I will not be surprised if this battle continues well throughout the summer and into preseason fall camp. Damon Webb earned playing time as a true freshman last season, and could press Conley for the spot. Marshon Lattimore was redshirted last season due to a recurring hamstring injury. If Lattimore can rebound from his hamstring issues, perhaps he could also press for time; Lattimore was a prize recruit from the 2014 recruiting class.

No matter who wins the spot, Ohio State fans need to be prepared for the likelihood that opposing quarterbacks will likely target that individual when the season begins. After all, Apple has established himself in pass coverage, while Conley, Webb, Lattimore, etc, have not as of yet. Growing pains are customary whenever there are inexperienced players within the defensive secondary.

Will this open cornerback position wind up being an open target for the opposition? Ohio State fans will have to wait and see until the 2015 season commences.

Class of 2017 Emani Mason stands 6’4 and weighs around 270. Coming from Detroit, Michigan, Mason is rated as 5 Offensive Tackle in his class (per 247Sports). He is also rated as a four star with a 94 rating. Currently, Mason has no offers, but has a couple years left in the recruiting process. This early in the process Mason is already receiving interests from many top programs. “It’s been the same schools really, Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State.” said Mason.

The ’17 Offensive Tackle has visited Michigan and Michigan State up to today, both instate colleges for Mason. “I want to visit Michigan and Michigan State again. Also some more Big Ten ad MAC schools.”

Ohio State is showing interest in Mason. When asked about the situation with OSU he said “I’m just working on getting more interest from them.”

So early in the process, he has not visited Ohio State, but it is likely the Buckeyes will continue showing hard interest in Mason. He looks for a program that feels like a family, has a good training program and a staff that can develop him for the next level.

“I feel that I am good all around on the offensive line and defense. But I could get better. I’m physical, tough to defend, and a good pass blocker. But I want to work on my run blocking.”

Mason hopes to commit by his junior or senior season. In his off time he likes to play basketball and hangout with his teammates and family. He is a family person and is really relaxed. Mason also keeps busy in the weight room as he already benches 250 and squats 400. Look for Ohio State to keep interest and possibly offering Mason a scholarship in the future!

Highlights