Gene Ross
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Buckeye Bits: Experts pick OSU to win the Big Ten (duh), the worst coach in the B1G, Aaron Craft’s last dance, more
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
All of the latest Ohio State news from around the beat and beyond.
Happy Tuesday, Buckeye Nation. It’s been some kinda heat wave out here in Columbus, so hopefully you’ve been able to enjoy the weather. At the same time, I hope you're maintaining good social distancing practices and wearing a mask when out in public. We must all do our part if we want to have any semblance of a college football season this fall, and with the way things are going right now, that seems to be in great jeopardy.
We’re less than a week away from the start of preseason camp, and so we’ll soon (hopefully) start to get a better glimpse at where the players are at after these unprecedented times. I’m sure Ryan Day and the boys are itching to get back out there. Until then, let’s dive into all of today’s Ohio State headlines.
From around Land-Grant Holy Land...
One of the nation’s top centers listed Ohio State in his final seven schools back at the end of June, and he has recently given an update on how he is handling his recruiting process. The 2021 prospect is still feeling things out, unable to take visits as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Luckily for the Buckeyes, they were one of two schools to host the big man before things got shut down, so we shall see if that gives them any sort of edge moving forward.
As we look to embark on yet another season of Ohio State football, it’ll be an opportunity for a new crop of Buckeyes to get their names into the record books. On Monday, I went through some of the program’s top performers through history, including OSU’s career leaders in some of the most important areas such as passing, rushing, total touchdowns and defense. No surprises here, the names J.T. Barrett and Dwayne Haskins show up quite a few times.
ICYMI, check out all of Monday’s headlines from Yesterday’s Buckeye Bits, including some talk about the ongoing TBT — a very fun and entertaining event to get some sports back into our lives — plus the Ohio State All-Decade Team, the logistics of playing college football in the spring, and much more!
From around the gridiron...
While all conference Media Days will be conducted virtually at the end of July, the people over at 247Sports have gathered up their own group of experts within the Power 5. The results of their polls within the Big Ten are as you would expect, with Ohio State predicted to finish first in the Big Ten East. Their 77 points were ahead of Penn State (64) and Michigan (56). Justin Fields is the predicted Big Ten Player of the Year, and Ryan Day the predicted Big Ten Coach of the Year. The voters also chose Ohio State vs. Penn State as the conference’s Game of the Year.
Continuing their Take/Counter-Take series, today Eleven Warriors debates whether or not Ohio State should redshirt their new freshman quarterbacks. Hope takes the stance that the Buckeyes would be smart to redshirt at least one of the first-year guys, arguing that it would provide the best opportunity for both players to start at some point in their career. Hass-Hill argues the opposite, saying that the two highly-touted freshman need as much experience as possible as it is likely one of them will be the starter in 2021.
Don’t retweet if you could withstand a @baronbrwnng tackle#GoBuckeyes #H2 pic.twitter.com/5ftFkrF7bx
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) July 7, 2020
Ohio State needs to replace a trio of guys who split time at defensive tackle last season, but they do have some players with big potential ready to fill in. Tommy Togiai is at the top of that list, and has shown great flashes of talent in his first two years with the program. With the veterans of the room now gone, the Buckeyes expect Togiai to become an All-Big Ten type of player and continue to grow into an eventual NFL Draft pick as he keeps working under Larry Johnson.
Now if I told you that Bucknuts — the Ohio State section of 247Sports — put out a poll asking their readers to name the worst coach in the Big Ten, I'm sure you could assume who would receive the most votes in said poll. Buckeye Nation is nothing if not consistent, and as a result Jim Harbaugh is leading the poll by a large margin (nearly 40% of the vote as of the time this was written). The next-highest vote-getters are Maryland’s Mike Locksley (14.2%), Illinois’ Lovie Smith (11.7%) and Indiana’s Tom Allen (10.8%).
From around the hardwood...
OTD July 7, 2004: Thad Matta is named @OhioStateHoops head coach
337 Ws in 13 seasons
5 B1G titles + 4 B1G Tourney wins
5 Sweet 16s & 2 Final Fours #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/Gta0k1NvBC
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) July 7, 2020
Aaron Craft debuted for the Buckeyes back in November 2012, putting up eight points and nine assists against North Carolina A&T in a 102-61 victory for the guys in Scarlet and Gray. He would later become a two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a household name among Ohio State fans. Craft has spent the last six years playing professional basketball overseas, but his playing days will soon be coming to an end. He will suit up for the last time in the TBT, playing alongside many of his former teammates on Carmen’s Crew.
From everywhere else...
BIRD STRIKE: Delta flight 1076 from West Palm to LGA diverted to JFK “after encountering a bird. The flight landed safely and without incident, and maintenance is evaluating the aircraft.” pic.twitter.com/83MAvwWw7y
— Gio Benitez (@GioBenitez) July 7, 2020
One doctor said it would be "tragic" if the NCAA did not require face coverings for football players during practices and games this fall. But are the current options realistic? https://t.co/1az4rFNylz pic.twitter.com/hJqhX0nKAi
— Nathan Baird (@nwbaird) July 7, 2020
Compensation update: Patrick Mahomes’ 10-year extension is worth $450 million, sources tell ESPN.
The injury guarantee is $140 million, per source.
The contract does not contain language that ties its value to a percentage of the salary cap.
Richest deal in sports’ history.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 6, 2020
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
All of the latest Ohio State news from around the beat and beyond.
Happy Tuesday, Buckeye Nation. It’s been some kinda heat wave out here in Columbus, so hopefully you’ve been able to enjoy the weather. At the same time, I hope you're maintaining good social distancing practices and wearing a mask when out in public. We must all do our part if we want to have any semblance of a college football season this fall, and with the way things are going right now, that seems to be in great jeopardy.
We’re less than a week away from the start of preseason camp, and so we’ll soon (hopefully) start to get a better glimpse at where the players are at after these unprecedented times. I’m sure Ryan Day and the boys are itching to get back out there. Until then, let’s dive into all of today’s Ohio State headlines.
From around Land-Grant Holy Land...
- Basketball Buckeyes attempt to poach five-star center from Minnesota
(Dan Hessler, LGHL)
One of the nation’s top centers listed Ohio State in his final seven schools back at the end of June, and he has recently given an update on how he is handling his recruiting process. The 2021 prospect is still feeling things out, unable to take visits as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Luckily for the Buckeyes, they were one of two schools to host the big man before things got shut down, so we shall see if that gives them any sort of edge moving forward.
- A look back through the Ohio State record books
(Gene Ross, LGHL)
As we look to embark on yet another season of Ohio State football, it’ll be an opportunity for a new crop of Buckeyes to get their names into the record books. On Monday, I went through some of the program’s top performers through history, including OSU’s career leaders in some of the most important areas such as passing, rushing, total touchdowns and defense. No surprises here, the names J.T. Barrett and Dwayne Haskins show up quite a few times.
- Yesterday’s Buckeye Bits
(Tia Johnston, LGHL)
ICYMI, check out all of Monday’s headlines from Yesterday’s Buckeye Bits, including some talk about the ongoing TBT — a very fun and entertaining event to get some sports back into our lives — plus the Ohio State All-Decade Team, the logistics of playing college football in the spring, and much more!
From around the gridiron...
- 247Sports Media Days: Big Ten preseason poll
(Brandon Marcello, 247Sports)
While all conference Media Days will be conducted virtually at the end of July, the people over at 247Sports have gathered up their own group of experts within the Power 5. The results of their polls within the Big Ten are as you would expect, with Ohio State predicted to finish first in the Big Ten East. Their 77 points were ahead of Penn State (64) and Michigan (56). Justin Fields is the predicted Big Ten Player of the Year, and Ryan Day the predicted Big Ten Coach of the Year. The voters also chose Ohio State vs. Penn State as the conference’s Game of the Year.
- Should Ohio State redshirt C.J. Stroud or Jack Miller in 2020?
(Colin Hass-Hill and Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors)
Continuing their Take/Counter-Take series, today Eleven Warriors debates whether or not Ohio State should redshirt their new freshman quarterbacks. Hope takes the stance that the Buckeyes would be smart to redshirt at least one of the first-year guys, arguing that it would provide the best opportunity for both players to start at some point in their career. Hass-Hill argues the opposite, saying that the two highly-touted freshman need as much experience as possible as it is likely one of them will be the starter in 2021.
- I certainly don't want to find out.
Don’t retweet if you could withstand a @baronbrwnng tackle#GoBuckeyes #H2 pic.twitter.com/5ftFkrF7bx
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) July 7, 2020
- Buckeyes need Tommy Togiai to flex strength, dominate up front
(Austin Ward, Lettermen Row)
Ohio State needs to replace a trio of guys who split time at defensive tackle last season, but they do have some players with big potential ready to fill in. Tommy Togiai is at the top of that list, and has shown great flashes of talent in his first two years with the program. With the veterans of the room now gone, the Buckeyes expect Togiai to become an All-Big Ten type of player and continue to grow into an eventual NFL Draft pick as he keeps working under Larry Johnson.
- Poll: Who is the worst coach in the Big Ten?
(Dave Biddle, Bucknuts)
Now if I told you that Bucknuts — the Ohio State section of 247Sports — put out a poll asking their readers to name the worst coach in the Big Ten, I'm sure you could assume who would receive the most votes in said poll. Buckeye Nation is nothing if not consistent, and as a result Jim Harbaugh is leading the poll by a large margin (nearly 40% of the vote as of the time this was written). The next-highest vote-getters are Maryland’s Mike Locksley (14.2%), Illinois’ Lovie Smith (11.7%) and Indiana’s Tom Allen (10.8%).
From around the hardwood...
- On this date in 2004, Ohio State basketball hired a man by the name of Thad Matta. 13 years later, Matta compiled 337 wins as head coach of the Buckeyes, winning five Big Ten titles and four Big Ten tournaments. Under Matta, OSU made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament five times and twice made the Final Four.
OTD July 7, 2004: Thad Matta is named @OhioStateHoops head coach
337 Ws in 13 seasons
5 B1G titles + 4 B1G Tourney wins
5 Sweet 16s & 2 Final Fours #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/Gta0k1NvBC
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) July 7, 2020
- The 2020 TBT will be one last ride for Aaron Craft
(Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts)
Aaron Craft debuted for the Buckeyes back in November 2012, putting up eight points and nine assists against North Carolina A&T in a 102-61 victory for the guys in Scarlet and Gray. He would later become a two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a household name among Ohio State fans. Craft has spent the last six years playing professional basketball overseas, but his playing days will soon be coming to an end. He will suit up for the last time in the TBT, playing alongside many of his former teammates on Carmen’s Crew.
From everywhere else...
- Listen I know 2020 has been a crazy year, but I STILL have questions about this one...
BIRD STRIKE: Delta flight 1076 from West Palm to LGA diverted to JFK “after encountering a bird. The flight landed safely and without incident, and maintenance is evaluating the aircraft.” pic.twitter.com/83MAvwWw7y
— Gio Benitez (@GioBenitez) July 7, 2020
- While wearing masks and face coverings in your day-to-day life is an incredibly easy and necessary task, doing so during a physically demanding event — like playing a college football game — seems a tad difficult. There doesn’t seem to be an easy solution right now to the problem a face-to-face sport like football will face, but hopefully we learn more as we move forward and find better ways to keep the athletes safe.
One doctor said it would be "tragic" if the NCAA did not require face coverings for football players during practices and games this fall. But are the current options realistic? https://t.co/1az4rFNylz pic.twitter.com/hJqhX0nKAi
— Nathan Baird (@nwbaird) July 7, 2020
- In case you haven’t heard, Patrick Mahomes is making ALL the money.
Compensation update: Patrick Mahomes’ 10-year extension is worth $450 million, sources tell ESPN.
The injury guarantee is $140 million, per source.
The contract does not contain language that ties its value to a percentage of the salary cap.
Richest deal in sports’ history.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 6, 2020
Continue reading...