Recruiting Targets: Hits & Misses

January 7, 2020 by Leave a Comment

In another long-awaited installment of the hits & misses content, I will be looking at the 2017 class which features a bunch of familiar names. This was the year where eventual stars would join the fold and what better time to do it than right now?

DeMatha High School’s own Chase Young. Credit: 24/7sports.com

Hit: Chase Young, WDE

When I spoke of a legendary class in terms of talent, the 2017 class was the tipping point when building depth and collecting talent. Defensive Ends were plentiful and most players at Ohio State had to wait their turn, but Young, the Buckeyes own predator took the same route the Bosa’s took to their rise to stardom. The slight wait was worth it and while he turned into the guy, the impact he made was by his talents along, but we have seen this before with lesser known or less heralded recruits.

Chase Young has declared for the NFL Draft this year and he is locked in to be a potential top-3 pick. He also might join two familiar faces in Haskins and McLaurin, but we will see how the draft process unfolds. It is unpredictable, but it has been worth seeing the development and the talent turn into stars and make an impact like Young.

Jeffrey Okudah in high school. Credit: Dallasnews.com

Hit: Jeffrey Okudah, CB

Like Young, Okudah also was highly recruited and he excelled after some time in the system. He was recruited and he sat and learned behind the likes of Marshon Lattimore and Denzel Ward, but the wait has been worth it as well. He essentially played it out and played himself into being a top-10 pick in this years draft. He was the shutdown corner that everyone avoided during games. He was one of three cornerbacks taken in the class, with Sheffield blossoming into a good player in the NFL and with Wade turning down the NFL for another shot at redemption.

Okudah has been preparing himself for years and he has maximized his talents. He left an everlasting impression and he should have passed-on some pointers to Wade and the younger BIA stablemates. His legacy has been fulfilled, even though it has left a year early.

Dobbins carrying the ball. Credit: Hudl.com

Hit: J.K. Dobbins, RB

And the hits keep coming, with J-K-All-Day being the third member of a stellar class to blossom into a full-fledged star in the Buckeyes offensive attack. In 2018, he shared the ball carrier duties with Mike Weber. He had over 1,000 yards that season, but he thought it was a failure. Fast forward to this past season, he reached his potential en route to breaking records and cementing himself and his legacy in Columbus. The added time and conditioning have been wonders and he surely plunged himself into uncharted territory being a top 3 running back.

Cass Tech’s own Donovan Peoples-Jones. Credit: Bleacherreport.com

Miss: Donovan Peoples-Jones

Now, let us get a couple of misses in the article, and this one comes from our most bitter rival, Michigan and a one-time Buckeyes lean, Donovan Peoples-Jones. The pipe line at Cass Tech was flourishing, but I have no clue what went wrong in his recruitment. It also was a miss, but the team has been stacking talent over the past two seasons and well into the 2021 season. Sure, he is a star returner and he was needed in an unproven class that has two 6-5 players in Jaylen Harris, Elijah Gardiner and a 6-3 playmaker in Trevon Grimes.

DPJ is now leaving for the NFL and he left 0-3 against the Buckeyes and he never really made an impact during The Game. He is a valuable player, but the older, more-experienced players have held the team together for the time being.

The Replacements: Fast forward to now, the two big-bodied players have yet to reach their potential and Grimes is returning to Florida for one last ride. There are a lot of factors to consider, injuries, lack of experience or playing time, but it takes time to build yourself. Prime example, Johnnie Dixon. Injuries have plagued him his first three years, but the last two were memorable and productive. You cannot close the books on them but Grimes is no longer on the team and the other two could still make some noise.

The last NSD I watched with a hilarious twist with Darnay Holmes’ UCLA decision. Credit: Larrybrownsports.com

Miss: Darnay Holmes, CB

Last miss would be the youtube sensation “decision” from cornerback Darnay Holmes. He spurned the Buckeyes to go to UCLA and his little buddy was not happy to say the least. I know it is based on their decision in the end, but this is funny and it is needed during recruiting. Separating myself from that has helped and I don’t think it is that serious anymore. This one really grinded my gears, but now its all water under the bridge. Now he has announced his intent to pursue his NFL dreams, but with the transfer portal, rumors have been flying about him coming to Ohio State to sharpen his skills. I doubt that’ll happen, but I have seen weird things happen since following anything College Football.

Replacements: To call Sheffield, Okudah and Wade the replacements is foul, but with Holmes slipping away, they stepped up big-time. I would not change anything with this class, and I am happy that we still have Wade for one more season. If Holmes does come full circle, cool, but if not, it’s fine. You cannot predict things, but things have turned out pretty well so we can’t complain.

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

Thank You Buckeyes by Ben Van Ooyen

December 30, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Thank you Buckeyes

Thank you Seniors Damon Arnette, Jordan Fuller, Binjimen Victor, Jashon Cornell, Austin Mack, Rashod Berry, K.J. Hill, Malik Harrison, Davon Hamilton, Joshua Alabi, Robert Landers, Jonah Jackson, Brandon Bowen, and C.J. Saunders.  

Thank you Juniors J.K. Dobbins, Chase Young and Jeffrey Okudah and Shaun Wade

Last night was a hard pill to swallow. I watched like the rest of you as the Buckeyes roared out to a nice 16-0 lead with the intensity that they played with all season.  I watched as after that 16-0 lead the Buckeyes had a 3rd and 5 with a chance to get the ball back when Shaun Wade came on a blitz and lowered his body to sack Trevor Lawrence. The Buckeyes were going to get the ball back with around 5 minutes left while still keeping Clemson scoreless in the first half. That is when it all shifted. The call on the field of a sack and a 4th down punt got sent to the review booth to look at targeting. After a few minutes of deliberation with the review booth it was determined that Wade lowered his head and hit with the crown of his helmet while Lawrence ducked as he knew the sack was impending. Was it targeting? Some will say yes, and others will say no. I know that Wade did not go for that hit with the intent of targeting Trevor Lawrence. He had a clear sack and wanted to wrap up and make sure he took the 6’6” gunslinger to the ground. He accomplished that goal and got thrown out of the game because of it. There are pictures and videos out there of different angles and Chase Young getting a fist in the face during that same play, but nonetheless it was called and the game shifted. Clemson then took advantage of Amir Riep who came in for Wade getting a pass interference call and went down and punched in the touchdown. 

The Buckeyes got the ball back and immediately went three and out, and Clemson got the ball back with all the momentum and broke off a big play. We hadn’t seen the big play go against this defense much this season, but Lawrence juked Josh Proctor and took it 67 yards to the house to make it 16-14 at the half.

Clemson would get the ball to start the half, riding a 14-0 close out to the first half. The Buckeyes were without one of their leaders on defense in Wade, and J.K. Dobbins was favoring his ankle and it looked likely he wouldn’t be able to continue the amazing first half he had. Speaking of people not being able to continue, I am not sure how a guy who is held out of the rest of the first half after he hit his head, is able to all of a sudden come back in the second half as if nothing happened. I’ve never had a concussion, but I am assuming that if the doctors keep you out as a precaution then you probably shouldn’t be on the field again. 

The second half started and the Buckeyes forced the surging Tigers to go three and out giving the Buckeyes the ball with a chance to extend their slim margin. Master Teague was now the feature back as Dobbins worked on his ankle. The Buckeyes drove down to the 45 and were stopped forcing a punt by Drue Chrisman who knocked a pretty punt down to the 1. 

The defense again came out and it looked like they were going to get themselves off the field and the Buckeyes would get the ball back in great field position. On 4th and 6, the punt unit for Clemson came out and Cameron Brown came off the edge on what looked like a punt block attempt. He didn’t make it there in time and ran into the kicker for Clemson who I might say did a pretty good job of grabbing onto Brown and making the hit look way worse than it was. If you watch the play again, you can see Brown slowing down and hitting the kicker, but to call that roughing seemed a bit much. Clemson keeps the ball, and marches down the field and takes their first lead at 21-16. 

The Buckeyes thought they had taken the lead when a Lawrence pass to Justyn Ross was completed and Jeffery Okudah knocked the ball out after Ross took three to four steps with the ball. Jordan Fuller picked up the loose ball and took in the distance giving the Buckeyes an apparent 23-16 lead. The call on the field was a fumble and after another quick review it was determined that Ross never had possession of the football during the catch and it was determined to be an incomplete pass. Someone tweeted that if that catch had been in the endzone it would have been called a touchdown, and I don’t disagree. Another stomach punch to the Buckeyes late in the game. 

After that punt, Justin Fields threw his second interception of the season. The Buckeyes quickly got the ball back with a little over a minute left in the 3rd quarter.  Dobbins was back from his ankle injury, and the Buckeyes marched the ball down the field in a little under five minutes. Fields hit Olave with a beautiful pass on 4th and 1 and the Buckeyes again had the lead. 

The Buckeyes forced Clemson to punt on their next possession and looked to be driving down the field again to make the lead two scores, but after getting stopped on 3rd and 5 for a one yard gain, Ryan Day punted and Chrisman knocked another one down inside the 10.  Four plays later Travis Etienne was again in the endzone and the Buckeyes found themselves down 29-23 with 1:50 left on the clock. 

Fields hit Dobbins for two quick passes to start the drive and then K.J. Hill for another to get the ball to the Clemson 40 with a little over a minute left. After another completion out of the backfield to Dobbins, Fields missed Mack and set up a 3rd down which he converted with his feet. 1:04 on the clock and the Buckeyes had the ball with a first down on the 31 yard line. Another run by Fields for three, and a timeout for the Buckeyes. The play call looked very similar to the 4th down play that was scored on earlier in the 4th, but Chris Olave broke off his route thinking that Fields was scrambling and the throw was intercepted by Clemson sealing the Fiesta Bowl in their favor.  

The Buckeyes were the better team last night and probably deserved to win. I said it last night, and I will say it again, I am not going to say the officiating cost us the game as they had plenty of chances to score, but the amount of very judgemental calls certainly did not help either.

This Buckeye team ranks pretty high for me on a best team I’ve watched play in my lifetime scale. We dominated nearly every game from start to finish all year, and had three of the top six Heisman vote getters. Chase Young set records on defense, and J.K. set records on offense. I assume that next year we will see them suiting up on Sunday along with about 50 other Ohio State Buckeyes in the NFL. While we will be losing a lot of talent to the draft and graduation later this year, we are also bringing in a very highly regarded recruiting class next summer/fall. 

The future is still bright at Ohio State. 

Thank you Buckeyes!

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

Recruiting Targets: Hits & Misses

December 17, 2019 by Leave a Comment

In our second installment of the hits & misses content, we will be looking into the class of 2018. Last weeks piece focused on the 2019 class and we will be working our way as far back as we can, but this week is 2018’s weeks to shine.

The recruiting game is great when the dominoes keep falling in place and the recruits commit and stick throughout. It is a terrible thing when coaches leave and there are questions that leave uncertainty, and they all of a sudden look around and ultimately leave for reasons.

The 2018 class was great and it was the last class prior to Coach Meyer’s retirement and this class finished second only to Georgia, but his class could’ve been better if it weren’t for departures from formerly committed players who found opportunities elsewhere.

Chris Olave visiting. Credit: Twitter.

Hit: Chris Olave, WR

When you think of Chris Olave, you think of all the impact plays he has made since he has step foot on campus. From slaying the Wolverines or just making a key play on a tremendous route or blocking a kick, he has made an impact in both years in Columbus. He is one of the biggest gets in recruiting and he was discovered accidentally while scouting JT Daniels in California. While catching passes from his quarterback, Olave was highly underrated and he was recruited lightly, but those who take the time to scout will often find a gem like Olave. That is exactly what the Buckeyes found and he is tearing it up.

Jeremy Ruckert at The Opening. Credit: 24/7 Sports.

Hit: Jeremy Ruckert, TE

Speaking of playmakers, Jeremy Ruckert showed his playmaking skills last week during the Big Ten Championship Game to bring the Buckeyes back from the dead, to secure their third consecutive conference crown after going down 21-7 at the half. On their first score during the second half, Ruckert made a one-handed snag that looked like a Jordan logo that brought the team back to life, that ultimately brought the juice back to the team and it started the run to the finish. This score gave the team the shot in the arm to go on a 28-0 run to close the game out, to win the conference championship for the third straight year.

Master Teague III. Credit: tennesean.com.

Hit: Master Teague III, RB

Who would’ve thought Master Teague would make an impact as a backup to JK Dobbins!? Although he didn’t get a snap in the Conference Championship game, he still has more yards that some starts at the position, as a backup. He has 128 carries and 780 yards and 4 touchdowns. He is averaging 6.1 yards per carry, but imagine if he was the starter? I think he would easily have Dobbins-like numbers, but he has a beast in front of him. If there is a chance where Dobbins stays another year, similar to Chase Young, we will all be excited to see him try to overtake Archie Griffin in the record books, but it is more doubtful than Young’s situation.

Anyway, if he leaves Teague is the next man up with a stable of young, but capable backs in the Cadillac position. He runs with a purpose and he runs through would-be tacklers. He has that burst and the vision and the future is bright with Marcus Crowley and Steele Chambers in the mix too. They have Miyan Williams, a former Iowa State recruit in the fold too and the future is bright with Teague being the leader of next years squad. There are other potential backs in the mix, but if they don’t grab another one, it should be fine. The 2021 class will likely grab two backs to make it up.

Jackson Carman. Credit: Hudl.com.

Miss: Jackson Carman, OT

Jackson Carman was once a heavy, heavy Buckeye lean and he grew up in their back yard in Fairfield, Ohio. He was heavily recruited by Meyer and his staff, but the questions about Coach Meyer’s future was the final nail in the coffin before he ultimately made the choice to spurn the Buckeyes for their CFB Playoff opponent, The Clemson Tigers. He has been inconsistent all year, but his team has dominated 90% of their games this season. If the Buckeyes hadn’t had questions about Coach Meyer’s future, which was the final nail that Dabo had used to steal him away, he would’ve been in the class instead of Nicholas Petit-Frere, but it is what it is.

Substitions: Nicholas Petit-Frere and Max Wray

Aside from losing the top prospect in the state of Ohio, they made waves after they snagged the best Offensive Tackle in Florida in Petit-Frere and they also kept Max Wray in the fold for some needed depth. Petit-Frere has been inconsistent and he was a starter at Right Tackle after Brandon Bowen went down with that gruesome leg injury. Fast forward into the 2019 season, he hasn’t played as much, but he is a solid depth piece and he saw some meaningful snap after Davis was injured and Bowen slid into the Right Guard spot and Petit-Frere played in Bowen’s spot. Petit-Frere will be looked at after Bowen departs this season and they just need more depth to add for the time being.

Micah Parsons. Credit: Inquirer.com.

Miss: Micah Parsons, WDE

In another bizarre situation, the Buckeyes lost out on another Weakside Defensive End/Hybrid Linebacker recruit due to unfortunate circumstances. Parsons was so close to being a Buckeye but an impromptu interaction with the College Gameday crew left many questions and the Buckeyes eventually cut ties with him afterwards to prevent the NCAA from taking action and leveling punishment against them for the interactions between Buckeye Alumni and a highly rated recruit. (Sigh). What could’ve been.

Parsons is a terror on the edge and he has helped Penn State’s defense with his skills and his leadership on the field. In two seasons, he has 177 tackles, 92 of which are solo tackles. He has 4.5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles, with one recovered. He has been on a tear and minus the fact that he is thriving, he has done well for himself and he could’ve been ours.

Substitutions: Tyreke Smith and Alex Williams

Although it was a miss, the Smith and Williams have flashed but not to the extent as Parsons, but they are on their way. Smith filled in admirably for the suspended Young and he flashed his potential during cleanup time when games are put away. Smith has 9 tackles and 3 sacks, while Williams has 8 tackles. They aren’t producing but they are going to be cog’s on the defense in the future. There were clips of Chase Young potentially coming back for a senior season, but we will see what the future holds. Regardless, if he does come back, that frees up a rusher opposite of Young. That would be cool, but we will see if he would turn down a Top 5 pick NFL salary. I am skeptical, but who wouldn’t want that to happen?

Filed Under: B1G Football, High School Football, NFL, NFL Draft, Ohio State Football, Site News

Parallels and Similarities: A Buckeyes Call To Arms

December 14, 2019 by Leave a Comment
#2 Ohio State vs #3 Clemson, CFB Playoffs 2019 semifinals at Glendale, Arizona on December 28, 2019. Credit: SI.com

When I sit back and try to enjoy sports shows, I can’t help but feel disrespected as a die-hard fan of the Buckeyes. Every show that I have put on, there are analysts spinning the story of the Buckeyes being just another unmatched team in the way of the reigning champs, Clemson Tigers. They are giving the Buckeyes a slim shot to defeat them and their reason? The 31-0 beatdown in Arizona, three years ago.

Clemson’s defensive front swarming JT Barrett in CFB Playoffs semis in 2017. Credit: Buckeyeswire.usatoday.com.

Yes, we all remember the last time these two teams played each other, the 31-0 blowout in the same field where they will meet on the 28th, and that was the last time they Buckeyes got invited to the big dance. It is also coincidentally where the “when was the last time the Big Ten scored” joke was born, with the conference no-showing 2 out of the last 3 years. In 2017 the Buckeyes fell to this years opponent at the same venue 31-0 and in 2016 the Spartans fell 38-0 against Alabama.

Derrick Henry rumbling through the Spartan defense in the 2016 CFB Playoffs semis. Credit: Sbnation.com

As irritating as the joke is, it is true and both Ohio State and Michigan State had lost for a combined score of 69-0 and an 0-2 record. This acts as a black eye to the conference and its fans. And changes need to happen and they have to right the ship against Clemson this year! The Big Ten has been waiting for this moment and the Buckeyes have been licking their chops to avenge their last loss and restore their image as a College Football blue-blood and one of the heavy hitters in the nation to go alongside the Clemson’s, the Alabama’s and the LSU’s of the world. As much as I need this, the Buckeyes need this as well. They have been disrespected so much and with them dropping to #2, it might add that extra edge to their argument.

The edge is already there, but the media has sharpened it just in time for the contest against Clemson. A lot of talk is made and I think this team will do the talking on the field, whether it’ll be in a blowout win or a close one, they will be ready. Think about it for a second. Ryan Day doesn’t show up to the ESPN College Football Playoffs special to recruit for the future. I think it actually is deeper than we think. I might be over-analyzing it, but what if he feels disrespected after saying “if there’s a better team than ours for #1” after that epic comeback win against Wisconsin? He might feel slighted and his team will reciprocate that feeling and are we gonna see a Buckeye buzzsaw as a result?

The Buckeyes felt disrespected after they were selected for the #4 seed in the inaugural CFB Playoffs, and even though they were down at the half, they came back against the Tide and won it all. I sense that kind of vibe from this years team. Dobbins will be Elliott, Olave is Thomas, Young is Bosa and Harrison is Lee. Think about the similarities and parallels of those two teams. Add in a healthy Justin Fields, with his ability to scramble around and the BIA squad with Okudah, Arnette, and Wade? This team has the weapons on both sides of the ball to win and compete and this might be the year.

Remember, the last time the Buckeyes scored in the playoffs was during the inaugural College Football Playoff run where they won it all. They came back and defeated a good Alabama squad 42-35 and they steamrolled a Mariota led Oregon squad 42-20 to win the first ever CFB Playoffs. 84 was the last points scored and they need to break the streak to gain the respect of the nation and these talking heads that spew nothing but hatred for the Buckeyes.

I might be paranoid, but I have high hopes for this team. I might be too positive, but I expect this team to shine when the light looks like it is fading. The Buckeyes will find a way to win and I will die an idiot or a scholar by the waning moments of the 28th, but for now, no predictions or previews. This is just a fun article for me about how I feel about this team. This team and the 2015 squad have similarities across the board, but for now let’s see how many of you think like me and us here at the Men of the Scarlet and Gray.

#GoBucks

#MotsagRising

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

Recruiting Targets: Hits & Misses

December 10, 2019 by Leave a Comment

With the season winding down, we at Men of the Scarlet & Gray have been scrambling to find new and innovative ways to last through the College Football offseason. My colleagues have individually brainstormed and my site content will consist of something that has kept my interest, but it has been exhausting, yet exciting.

Once the season concludes or even sooner, I will be churning out weekly content every Tuesday called Tuesday Targets: Hits & Misses. This would cover recruiting battles that have captured the attention of the nation, that specifically affected Buckeye Nation. I have been paying attention to recruiting for a long time and if you haven’t followed it, you should.

The drama and the suspense can become taxing and it could be pure nirvana–you just don’t know until a decision is made. Doors close and some remain cracked. Some remain open and once the choice has been made, it could shock the nation and rattle some cages in the process. The cult-like feel to recruiting has been a staple and it is the lifeblood of all College Football Programs and we have seen how that could play out.

Let’s start with this years recruiting class and work our way back. The advances and the exposure of recruiting websites is key to a recruits success and with multiple showing at camps and all-star games, it makes the pageantry of college football great and it adds another layer to what catches our intrigue. Here is a small sample of what is on the horizon. Enjoy!

Garrett Wilson. Credit: Ohiostatebuckeyes.com

Hit: Garrett Wilson, WR

The most obvious hit for the 2019 class is already tearing it up this season. A highly touted recruit out of Texas, Wilson was highly sought after by all teams, especially the home state Texas team that was in need of a playmaker at that position. Wilson has been a stud so far this season, but he has made some mistakes that almost cost the Buckeyes against the Wolverines a week ago, but he was resilient. He finished the game with 3 catches for 118 yards and a highlight score during Justin Fields’ Heisman moment.

So far in 2019, Wilson has 24 catches for 368 yards and 5 TD’s and he is averaging 15.3 yards per catch. He is the playmaker and he has been as good as advertised. The special part about this is he broke out during The Game just like Chris Olave did and if the is any indication of his talent, he will be a beast next year alongside Olave. Factor that, along with the incoming freshmen in Scott, Jaxon-Njigba, Cooper, and Fleming, we can safely say that Coach Hartline’s players will try to outshine Olave and Wilson for next years contest.

Harry Miller with the family. Credit: Lettermen Row.

Hit: Harry Miller, T

Harry Miller is another key cog on the offensive line and he looks the part so far this season. Although Miller plays during mop-up duty, he makes the best of it and he earned the role of backup Center behind Josh Myers. He is a true freshmen with loads of potential and he is also a talented prospect that nearly backed off of his commitment to Ohio State when the news broke out where Coach Meyer would step away from the game upon completion of the 2018 season.

Georgia came calling and he did visit, but his commitment to the program won out in the end. He has played sparingly, but he has to wait it out. Waiting for your time has been a yearly tradition for the Slobs, but like a fine wine, it’ll take time to develop and it will be worth the wait.

Jordan Battle at St. Thomas Aquinas. Credit: Hudl

Miss: Jordan Battle, S

To begin, Jordan Battle was one of the biggest names in the nation and at one point, the Buckeyes had him in the bag. Following a drama-filled season where we saw Urban Meyer get suspended for three games after Brett McMurphy dropped a bombshell leveling allegations against a coach on his staff, Zach Smith. This caused friction between the head coach and his leadership, which ultimately resulted in a Buckeye legend him stepping away which directly affected his 2018 class.

A recruit from a well-known pipeline, St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was a should have been an addition to the 2019 class, but the news of Meyer Calling it quits caused him to look around. He was on flip watch from what I can recall and he eventually flipped and signed with Alabama. He is a small cog in the Tide defense and he has played in 11 games this season and he has logged 26 tackles (16 solo, 10 assisted) with one fumble recovery, one interception and a sack. He is young but a playmaker and that is what the Buckeyes saw and tried to keep, but it happens in recruiting.

Miss: Dax Hill, S

The recruitment of Dax Hill, an Oklahoma native at powerhouse Booker T. Washington High School. The Buckeyes lost the battle to their bitter rival, but besides losing out, they had starters with eligibility remaining in Jordan Fuller and Brendan White. This is not to discredit his skills and the need because it was evident that they needed to bolster the depth behind those two. Dax Hill was a heavy favorite to become a silver bullet, but it was not meant to be. The momentum swung in Michigan’s favor and with the uncertainty at head coach looming over the program, the best possible move was to sign with them in the end.

A playmaker in the back-end of a defense, he was and he would have been perfect in Hafley’s system. He is aggressive, but he is also young and the Buckeyes picked on him last week for a little bit of fun. Love it or hate it, he made the move for himself and we shouldn’t blame him or his family. It would’ve been amazing to have him, but it will also be fun seeing if he can develop into a stud and we will look forward to seeing him every year.

Positional Substitutions: Ronnie Hickman (S) and Bryson Shaw (S); Craig Young (Ath)

With Battle and Hill out of the 2019 Class, the Buckeyes scrounged what they could and they have some potential gems in the process. Hickman and Young are dynamic prospects. Shaw has hit a growth spurt and could blossom into a Pete Werner type of play with his frame. The class still has time to develop, but the future is still bright.

Doug Nester Army All-American Game. Credit: 24/7 Sports

Miss: Doug Nester, OT

Doug Nester, another longtime Buckeye commit was also in the bag and once Urban Meyer announced his retirement, a few commitments began to unravel and they found themselves looking around. Like Battle, ditto for Nester. Urban’s last class had potential and Nester was another staple to the future, but it was not meant to be and he ended up signing with Virginia Tech, which is close to home and not too far away.

Nester has not played this season and a redshirt may be in effect or it will be in his future. He was most likely behind the eight ball or he suffered an injury, but blessings to him and his future as a Hokie.

Positional Substitutions: Ryan Jacoby (T) and Dawand Jones (T); Enokk Vimahi (OG)

Both Jacoby and Jones have potential as big-bodied shields for the Buckeye signal-callers. After losing out on Nester, they stocked up on Slobs. Jacoby is 6-5, 270 and Jones is 6-8, 360. The Buckeyes came in late and snagged Vimahi to fill the class. Vimahi is 6-4.5, 263 and he could be a key cog in the offensive trenches in the future.

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

Buckeyes Take A Business Trip To Piscataway

November 15, 2019 by Leave a Comment

The Ohio State Buckeyes are taking a trip to Piscataway without their star player, Chase Young, who will be sitting out for a second game after the NCAA determined that missing those along with paying off the loan would be sufficient enough punishment and that matter is now officially resolved.

Looking ahead, the Buckeyes will travel to New Jersey and they will face a struggling team before Young officially returns for a pair of rivalry games, with Penn State at home and afterwards, it will be rivalry week with a contest against their most bitter rival at Ann Arbor against The Team Up North, but lets focus on the task at hand against the Scarlet Knights.

The Rutgers fired former Buckeyes secondary coach Chris Ash after a four-year run, finishing with an 8-32 overall record. Nunzio Campanile will be the Interim Head Coach for the time being and he will attempt to lead his 2-6 team against a red-hot Ohio State team and it might be more than what they bargained for, but that cannot be helped at the moment.

Buckeye Chase Young in pursuit of Jack Coan.

Young Bucks

With a couple of key starters missing due to a combination of injury and a suspension, Zach Harrison, Javonte Jean-Baptiste, Tyreke Smith, and Tyler Friday will be primed for some valuable playing in the absence of a few starters in Chase Young, Baron Browning, and Jonathon Cooper. As we all witnessed last week against Maryland, the impending loss of Chase Young won’t be as bad as we all think because the future is in capable hands with this new group. The current level of talented personnel on this defense is amazing, but the reserves are proving their worth and they will once again jockey in the absence of starters to earn praise and a leg-up on next year’s positional competition. This defense has been playing well and they will look to take this tune-up game against a bad Rutgers team.

Fields getting the ball off before getting hit by a Bearcat defender.

Torrid Offensive Output

The Buckeyes offense runs through Justin Fields and with him at the helm this game against Rutgers could be a breeze in the eyes of a casual fan. I applaud confidence but that brings bad things, but this year’s team is focused and on a mission and I believe they will not play down to their opponents level. I do it believe that, but I will let things work itself out. Justin Fields has a total of 37 touchdowns this season and he has 27 through the air and 10 on the ground. He does tend to hold the ball too long and that has been 18 times this season, but he makes good decisions on the fly so it isn’t too bad. This game will most likely end with him playing a half, but we will see how it shakes out. Back-up Chugs will have his time to shine in front of his family and friends and he could be in line for a half to do so.

Dobbins celebrating after another score.

Dobbins Road To Immortality

J.K. Dobbins is the lone #2 standing at he also has been a threat to the opposing defenses for this entire season. After calling his 2018 season a failure while sharing the load with Mike Weber, Dobbins had 1,053 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. This season through nine games, he has 1,200 yards and 11 scores with a little under 100 yards and another score. He is just entered the top ten in the Buckeyes all-time list and he will continue to climb as he encroaches into the top five in school history. If he is used in close games, if there is ever a close game, he can potentially get into the top four, but even if he doesn’t play a full game, he is still in great company. Like Fields, stats don’t matter and that is fine. A group of shiny trophies has been the goal and I don’t see him jeopardizing their mission for selfish reasons.

Jonah Jackson, former Rutgers Captain and current Buckeye Slob.

The Return of Jonah Jackson

The former Rutgers All-American is coming back in a new uniform and he has carved out a role on this nasty offensive line squad that has been abusing opposing defenses so far this season. He has been reliable even after it seemed as he would be the penalty scapegoat, but he has fixed the issues and as a unit, they have punished teams and imposed their will on them in the process. This will be a homecoming of sorts, but they will be ready to do what they always do. Barring the 18 sacks that were surrendered, they will continue to be the barrier between Fields and Dobbins and the opposing defense.

Match-Ups To Watch

  • Fields, Dobbins, and Receivers versus The Rutgers Defense
  • Jackson and the Slobs versus The Rutgers front seven
  • Chugs and the Backups versus The Rutgers starters and reserves

Prediction

Buckeyes defeat Rutgers 62-0.

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

The Maryland Terrapins VS The Ohio State Buckeyes

November 8, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Friday morning could have been better, but we are a day away until game time! What seems like to be a constant thing when considering Ohio State, there is always something that comes up to snuff out the momentum and it is usually is accompanied by something negative and whats are the words I am searching for… a conspiracy-laden narrative that will at least attempt to bring them back down to Earth. It what seems to be another strategically timed “article” where it was reported that Chase Young accepted money and that he is suspended for this contest as a minimum pending investigation from the Ohio State Compliance Office. Yay and boo, but all we have to do is wait for the process to wind down and just hope they get it right this time. Whatever happens, does so and I will not waste my breath with the situation.

This game is all about continuing the momentum into the last half of the season and against a once-promising Maryland squad will be the obstacle for the Buckeyes this week. Their opponent was leading the nation in scoring through the first two weeks of the season, but they have faded into obscurity and have limped forward to a 3-6 record through this point of the season. With the Buckeyes being without their defensive stalwart, Chase Young, the Buckeyes will look toward this contest without him, but they have the depth to survive without him. This defense has been stellar with him and without him–I think they’ll be fine, but we will have to see for now.

Buckeyes swarming defense.

Young Bucks Golden Opportunity

As we stated before, Chase Young is out and it will be up to a few younger players to step up and earn their keep for the foreseeable future until Young gets back from his recent suspension. With the Next man up mantra enter Zach Harrison and Tyreke Smith to fill the void for the time being. As we have seen after the game has been put away, the aforementioned two along with Javonte Jean-Baptiste and Tyler Friday have been key members among the Rushmen and they can get some playing time and be disruptive. Defensive Captain Jonathan Cooper will lead this group and he has Davon Hamilton and BB Landers will also help along with their reserves Tommy Togiai and Garrett Haskel too. These younger players have the benefit of learning behind such a talented group of upperclassmen and a great group of leaders on the defensive side of the ball. It is an opportunity to see what the future will look like, but I have a feeling it’ll be good. The once fast offense will have a hard time blocking so many talented players, but I know they’ll be ready for the challenge.

Malik Harrison breaking through.

Defensive Effort

Malik Harrison will have to provide the same spark that Darron Lee created during his breakout season at Ohio State. The Linebackers have willed recent teams to success and he needs to be more of a dog from here on out. He needs to blitz, cover and be disruptive enough while directing his forces to fill the void against a once lethal and fast Terps offense. Communication will be key with the defensive linemen and the defensive back, and my gut tells me they’ll be ready to silence the critics without their star players. The Wisconsin game proved what the team could be with Young and this game will prove that they’ll be fine without them for however long it’ll be or take for the investigation to be over. Best case scenario, he’s out for a single game. Worst case, it’ll be two with Rutgers on the schedule, but I think the compliance department will mess it up again. I am a pessimist, but I can see it going south, but the defense will continue to shine during his absence. The last contest between the two ended in a double-overtime contest where the Buckeyes nearly took the L with an errant throw on a two-point, game-clinching pass to a wide-open receiver that sailed out of reach. The Buckeyes will look to redeem themselves and further prove that they are legit, even without Young.

Fields dodging a would-be tackler.

Field Of Dreams

Justin Fields has been on a tear lately, but after last week’s destruction of Wisconsin, he gave the team and their fans a scare when he came up hobbled after scoring a rushing touchdown. Luckily it wasn’t serious, but Fields is definitely capable of leading the charge on the offensive side of the ball. With another great group of wide receivers and the recent inclusion of their tight ends, they can put the game out of reach and give the defense some juice in the process. In another great year for a quarterback, Fields brings a lot for this offense and he leads them in a calmly and with his play. He will be ready for this contest to show his value to this offense. This is another noon game, but the Buckeyes will pour it on Maryland and former player Keiondre Jones. Welcome back to the Shoe, but buckle up.

Dobbins rumbling through the Spartan defense.

Boom Boom Room

Ohio State has had quite a few playmakers at running back and the “boom, boom room” is always capable of causing fireworks during the perfect time on gamedays. This week is no different and this porous defense is no exception. This defense is bad and without a consistent defense, they will most likely get tore up against this stable of backs that features a young muscle hamster, J.K. Dobbins, a young beast mode clone, Master Teague and mystery man, Marcus Crowley, who gets carries late but has flashed brilliance in limited action. They also have a speedy back Demario McCall, who is also used sparingly but he could be used as a weapon. There is a lot and there is also Jaelin Gill, who is the backup H-Back, who might be used, but I think is en-route to a redshirt. This room is stacked and with the recent misses in the running back position, the future is still bright despite the lack of a 2020 recruit.

Match-Ups To Watch

  • Fields vs Maryland Secondary
  • Buckeyes Linebackers vs Terrapin Playmakers
  • Buckeyes Backs vs Maryland Defense

Prediction

The Ohio State Buckeyes defeat the Maryland Terrapins 45-6.

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

Rumble In The ‘Bus: Badgers vs. Buckeyes

October 26, 2019 by Leave a Comment

We are midway through the 2019 season, this game was circled in red from the beginning it will still be a good old slobber knocker of a contest. Although the game has lost the interest of the nation after Wisconsin went down in Champagne, this game will still generate the hype and the fireworks to make it another instant classic between two powers of the Big Ten. An undefeated Buckeye squad against an angry or wounded Badger team, but if someone said that it has lost its luster, they have it all wrong. Every occurrence has been close ever since the inaugural College Football Playoffs run, but this has all the inner makings of another classic clash between two conference powerhouses. Will we see a reeling Wisconsin team still at a loss for the after falling from the undefeated ranks or will they be a grounded, angry team vying for an upset? This is the line in the sand and if the Buckeyes are looking for a CFB Playoff berth, they need to play disciplined to come out of this clash still undefeated.

J.K. Dobbins bursting through the Cincinnati for the score

Ground Wars: J.K. Dobbins

This will be a battle of will in the trenches and Dobbins is one of the warriors on this team that has to show up. He has to be effective and he has to punish the Badger defenders in such poor conditions with the weather potentially being a factor. Dobbins has been on a tear as of late and he has to shine early and often against this stingy Badger defense that surrenders just 2.3 yards per rush. So far, Dobbins has 134 carries for 947 yards and 7 TDs. He also chipped in 8 grabs for 55 yards and 2 TDs, but this game should be a battle for ground supremacy. The Buckeyes have been balanced and it will be a key part of the gameplan. They can’t afford to play scared and it will be up to Fields along with Dobbins to bring the team to victory.

Jonathan Taylor turning on the jets for a score

Ground Wars: Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor is the other side of the ground war and he has been quite the player for the Badgers. They have relied on him to produce and he racked up 157 carries for 15 scores and he chipped in 11 catches for 73 yards and a score. He accounts for the majority of offense and the Buckeyes have to play the gaps while being mindful of the play-action pass to stop Taylor and the Badgers. Coan and Taylor play well together, but they will look to run first to pound the Buckeyes into submission. They both got beat up pretty bad against a lowly Illini team, but they will look to expose the back seven in this matchup. With Arnette dealing with a broken bone on his hand and with Borland in tow, they could look to soften up the zone with a mix of run and pass, and a steady dose of it. Like the Badger defense, the Buckeyes are also stingy on the ground averaging 2.6 yards per rush–which is literally .3 more than Wisconsin’s average. This game could turn out to be another Big Ten signature game with both if not a single team pounding the rock relentlessly.

Justin Fields weaving through the trenches

Soaked Fields Day

Justin Fields has also been on a tear and he has been one of the stars of this offensive attack. A humble leader with no ego has launched the Buckeyes into another stratosphere and with the impending weather, the Buckeyes could face a huge test with a stiff defense. He will look to flash his arm when necessary, but he will play a factor on the ground. He has 1,492 yards and 22 TDs through the air and 63 carries for 291 yards and 8 more TDs and he has done it with just two turnovers. One interception and one lost fumble are all that have blemished his stellar play and with the weather concerns, it looks to be a conservative approach to secure a win. Either way, I think he will find a way to spark this offense even though if it continues to take the ball out of his hands via Dobbins and Teague to soften up and tire the Wisconsin defense. He hasn’t faced a defense like this, but he will approach it like any other game, but if he wanted to make a statement, he would need to show the nation that they are real and that they are a force to be reckoned with this year. This might be his shot to impress and make a statement.

Young Guns

Chase Young and his team have been stingy and he will look to battle this stout Badger line. The big uglies versus the Rushmen and the Linebackers will be the focus and it will be electric with the weather. The advantage is being the home team, but against Wisconsin, it might get rough. They rank 3rd in the nation in sacks per game with 4.14 and 29 total for the year. It’ll be tough against a team that ranks tied for 30th in the nation with 1.43 sacks allowed per game, but they’ll be game to see where they stand. They need to play disciplined and with Taylor, they need to shut him down and force Coan to beat them through the air in order to have their way this game.

Pesky Badgers Defense

On the other side, the Badgers have also been stingy and they rank in the Top 10 in defense this season. Besides the upset loss in Champagne, they have been playing lights out and they have been disruptive and they force takeaways. They need to do both of these to see if Fields will fight or if he will crumble under pressure. The Ohio State line has surrenders 2 sacks per game that puts them tied for 64th in the nation which could be a problem, but we will have to see how much the weather plays a factor. If it pours, running will be the primary weapon, but if not, they need to stop an explosive and shift Fields and his receivers. This may be a cliche, but this game feels like an old-school Big Ten type of game.

Match-Ups To Watch:

  • Quarterbacks versus Opposing Defenses
  • Running Backs versus The Trenches
  • Offensive Lines versus Defensive Lines
  • Buckeye DB’s versus Badger WR’s
  • Wisconsin WR’s versus Buckeye DB’s

Prediction:

The Ohio State Buckeyes defeat The Wisconsin Badgers 38-21.

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

The Ohio State Buckeyes @ The Northwestern Wildcats

October 17, 2019 by Leave a Comment
Ohio State Buckeyes (6-0, Big 10 3-0) vs Northwestern Wildcats (1-4, Big 10 0-3)

The Ohio State Buckeyes will travel to Evanston, Illinois in a rematch of the 2018 Big Ten Championship from a season ago. Both teams clawed and fought, but the two teams that will face-off on Friday as two re-built teams on two different paths with Ohio State having success under a new coach and a Northwestern team that is limping through the season.

The success was evitable for Ohio State under Coach Day and the rebuilt offense along with his new players have meshed well and had consistently beat up on every opponent up until this point. With a new quarterback, new batch of receivers and a semi-new offensive line, many questioned if they can succeed under new management. So far so good for the Buckeyes.

After the conference title game, the hangover with the Wildcats has been evident and after Thorson departed for the NFL, their offense has been less explosive and their defense has been average at best. With just a single win, the Wildcats have pulled out all the stops to ensure this is a close, hard-fought game in a night game and with an alternate uniform to spice things up a bit. It is awesome, but they need to come out swinging to derail this Buckeye train.

Justin Fields shedding defender.

Another Field-s Day?

Justin Fields has been as good as advertised, but he still has untapped potential when he is dialed in. In the passing game, he has 1,298 passing yards and 18 TDs for the year. He has completed 70% of his passes and he has a 94 QBR through six games. He also chipped in 57 rushes for a respectable 283 yards with 8 TDs. He has been shouldering the offensive load when called to do so, but he has that game-breaking knack to swing the momentum at a moment’s notice which should and will concern Coach Fitz and his team. Can they find a way to disrupt the offense and stop the offensive attack? Or will they fight until he puts the game away early?

J.K. Dobbins in the 2018 Big Ten Championship Game.

Ground Game Dominance

Like Fields, Dobbins has also been on a tear on the ground and he has yet to play meaningful snaps in the second half of a game this year, and it doesn’t look like it’ll change with this porous Northwestern defense. With 116 rushes, he has amassed 826 yards on the ground and 6 TDs and he added 6 catches for 44 yards and a score. The Wildcat defense needs to play better than they have been in order to stop Dobbins and his stablemates in the backfield. As stated above, Dobbins hasn’t played in a close game in the second half, but if they show some fight, he may get a shot to pad his stats and grind the defense into the ground.

Big Ten Championship Game.

Trench Warfare 2.0

The Buckeye offensive line has been more consistent in recent years and with this installment, they will be looking to find a way to stop Joe Gaziano. Gaziano, along with the Northwestern defense made it a game and kept it close, but with this season’s offensive line, he’ll need to be more relentless to disrupt this group who found their swagger as a unit. They have been burying teams in the trenches and this game could be another blowout if they can get things going early and often. This defense really needs to work on their gameplan, but they have to pick their poison.

Northwestern Wildcats QB Hunter Johnson.

Fallen Five-Star

The former five-star Quarterback Hunter Johnson transferred to Northwestern after the departure of Clayton Thorston and the transition hasn’t been as smooth as another fellow five-star signal-caller, Justin Fields. Justin Fields has been on a tear and is having a breakthrough season. Johnson has had the opposite and his offense has been struggling. They haven’t been as crisp and as good as before, but all players, regardless of high school rankings are different in their growth within their offense and in the way they develop. He is still rough around the edges, but the potential is certainly there and it hasn’t clicked yet.

The Great Defensive Chase

Chase Young has been keying in on the hapless offensive players on opposing teams and this game, he should be feasting on Hunter Johnson and the running backs. Young has accounted for 8 of the 28 and the Northwestern line has surrendered 12 total sacks and they have been giving up 2.40 per game. This number could be higher with the caliber of Rushmen available with Young leading the way. Not to mention the Linebackers, they will also be another tough matchup for this offensive line. The defense has been stout and they are one of the best in the nation. It will be a tough sell, but we will have to see if they can stop Young and company.

Key Matchups To Watch

  • Fields versus Johnson In The Battle of Former Five-Stars
  • The Trenches For Both Teams
  • BIA versus Northwestern Receivers
  • Linebackers versus Receivers In The Seams
  • Special Teams and Field Position

Prediction:

The Ohio State Buckeyes defeat The Northwestern Wildcats 45-13.

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

MOTSAG Conference Rankings: Week Five

September 29, 2019 by Leave a Comment

After five weeks of action, our Big Ten rankings have shifted slightly and the contests will be more competitive with the bulk of the conference schedule being the only thing left on the docket for each team.  Week five answered a ton of questions for some and the rest, there are more questions left than answers.  Let’s take a stab at how the conference represented itself.

  1.  Ohio State:  The Buckeyes played on the road at Lincoln, which is usually a nightmare for opposing teams.  The Buckeyes puffed out their chests and dominated the home team and did so by showing their prowess in every phase of the game.  The offense dazzled and the defense shut down the offense and the performance broke the proverbial tie with Wisconsin to be the best team in the conference and possibly one of the best in the nation.  [Next Game:  Michigan State at home]
  2. Wisconsin:  Wisconsin’s defense scored twice against a scrappy Evanston crowd before pulling away.  Northwestern is normally a great team at home, but the offense is virtually broken right now, but hats off to them for giving the Badgers a contest.  Either way, the Badgers fall one spot, but they have a tune-up match with Kent State before traveling to the Shoe, so they can gain a head of steam for the eventual clash for conference supremacy [Next game:  Kent State at home]
  3. Penn State:  Penn State looked dangerous once again after they traveled to Maryland to throttle them 59-0.  Their quarterback nearly had 400 yards passing, but he was pulled to give the second unit some time.  The defense looked fresh after the bye and the Terrapins stood no chance to compete in this game.  [Next game:  Purdue at home]
  4. Iowa:  Iowa was their normal self as they handled a mismatched Middle Tennessee State team 48-3 at home.  A tune-up game that is used to work out the kinks before traveling to Ann Arbor where it pits two conference heavyweights against each other in a knock-out bout.  Iowa has yet to be tested, but this could be it.  [Next game:  Michigan at Ann Arbor]
  5. Michigan:  Speaking of the Wolverines, they handed Rutgers a beatdown to get back on track with a 52-0 throttling against a struggling team.  A tune-up before Iowa, the Wolverines looked bad before this display of what they can be.  Was it another mirage?  Either way, they have some momentum coming into the next game.  Are they legit or pretenders?  [Next game:  Iowa at home]
  6. Michigan State:  The Spartans fought a tightly contested game against an upset-minded Indiana team at home.  The final score showed that their offense is average, but it also proved their defense is legit.  The 40-31 score does not change my mind, but if they want to be successful, their offense must be as consistent as their defense.  [Next game:  Ohio State at Columbus]
  7. Minnesota:  They look dangerous after they escaped West Lafayette with a single-digit win against Purdue.  Their offense looks crazy good with two game-changing receivers that this young quarterback relies heavily on upon.  Their defense played well and they need to keep the momentum in order to climb the charts.  [Next game:  Illinois at home]
  8. Indiana:  They took Michigan State to the limit and gave it all in the upset bid.  This is what I was talking about because they are a 50/50 type of team.  You never know what team will suit up and if they will punch you in the mouth with their offense.  They showed fight up until the end and they can always surprise teams.  [Next game:  Bye week]
  9. Northwestern:  They also put up a fight at home against a good Wisconsin team that relied on its defense to put points on the board.  The only issue is their offense needs to be better.  Their defense is always disciplined and good, but consistency is what bites them.  [Next game:  Nebraska at Lincoln]
  10. Nebraska:  They were throttled at home against a great Ohio State team, but they showed enough fight to not plummet in the rankings.  They negated the shutout with a great drive against the second-team defense, but they need to rebound at home against another team that suffered a loss in week five.  Turnover have killed the momentum, but another home game in front of their home crowd will help in what could be another sloppy game.  [Next game:  Northwestern at home]
  11. Illinois:  They were on a bye week, but they needed it after collapsing at home against Nebraska.  They had a double-digit lead that disappeared before the Cornhuskers stole the game from them.  Their offense looked good early on, but they got too cute with the playcalling opting to pass more instead of running out the clock.  They had two weeks to prepare for their next game, hope it works out.  [Next game:  Minnesota at Minneapolis]
  12. Maryland:  The hype train has been derailed five weeks into the season.  They were demolished at home at the hands of Penn State and they need to search for their identity.  59-0 was another bad omen to humble the Terrapins that were in the top 2 in scoring in the nation after two weeks.  This week they can regain their footing to right the ship.  [Next game:  Rutgers at Piscataway]
  13. Purdue:  Purdue fought, but in a close loss, they lost two of their best playmakers in Sindelar and Moore.  Their best quarterback along with the best playmaker went down on a single play and it was a bad time to be a Boilermaker fan.  It’ll get worse this week before it gets better because they will travel to Happy Valley to go against a peaking Penn State team.  [Next game:  Penn State at Happy Valley]
  14. Rutgers:  They lost big to a rejuvenated Michigan squad that found their offense again and they lost 52-0.  Their head coach Chris Ash and their offensive coordinator got the pink slip and they have an interim head coach in place to pick up the pieces.  Good thing they have a struggling Maryland team to play at home, but bad news, none of them scored points in week five.  Who will be able to score enough and who will play inspired football?  [Next game:  Maryland at home]
Filed Under: B1G Football, College Football, Ohio State Football, Site News
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