Gene Ross
Guest
Buckeye Bits: Justin Fields on Maxwell Award watch list, Ohio State targets talk postponed high school season, 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
Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
All of the latest Ohio State news from around the beat and beyond.
Welcome to Buckeye Bits, your one-stop shop for all of the day’s Ohio State news. Despite an ongoing pandemic, sports are slowly making their return into our lives. If your favorite MLB team wasn’t in action last night, they will be today. The NBA bubble has seemingly begun without issue, and the NHL restart in Canada is slated to start next weekend. Most importantly for us, the Buckeyes have returned to the practice field.
Don't blink or you'll miss us #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/PL3fr1vI0B
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) July 23, 2020
We’re all still holding out hope that there is college football to be played this fall, and I'm sure Ryan Day and his staff are taking the same approach. So until we hear otherwise, I will assume we will see our beloved Buckeyes come September. With that being said, let’s move on to today’s headlines.
From around Land-Grant Holy Land...
Just because Ohio State has put together the nation’s top recruiting class in 2021 doesn’t mean Day and company get to take their foot off the gas, especially when it comes to building for the future. On Thursday, the Buckeyes offered a pair of 2023 offensive linemen from Florida, attempting to get out early on some potential forthcoming top prospects. Plus, one of the nation’s top tackles in 2021 has OSU in his top five.
There has been no shortage of elite linebacker talent to come through Ohio State in the program’s history. From Chris Spielman and Andy Katzenmoyer to Darron Lee and Raekwon McMillan, a bunch of incredible players have donned a Buckeye uniform at the position. If you could bring one of these guys back to play alongside the 2020 roster, who would you choose?
ICYMI, earlier this week George wrote about the idea of College Football Island, much like the UFC’s Fight Island. In his proposal, he drew up a single-elimination March Madness-style bracket for college football, played entirely in the Bahamas. While obviously a near impossible scenario, George draws up exactly how it would work, and it sounds pretty damn fun to me!
From around the gridiron...
The @MaxwellFootball club today announced its watch list for the 84th Maxwell Award presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football. Yes, indeed! 2019 semifinalist and Heisman Trophy finalist @justnfields is being watched. @OhioStateFB. #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/YjhS8y6KFe
— Jerry Emig (@BuckeyeNotes) July 24, 2020
Johnson chose to play at Ohio State for the same reason most cornerbacks choose to play in Columbus: he wants to be a first-round NFL Draft pick. Kerry Coombs has a history of getting guys into the league, and he will now look to do the same with the nation’s No. 40 overall player in the 2021 class. His plan to get there is three simple steps: play special teams and get on the field a little as a freshman, start in year two, and compete for the Thorpe Award in year three.
The guys over at Lettermen Row continued their bold predictions series on Friday, this time with the defensive backs. Ohio State has a lot of question marks in the secondary this year outside of Shaun Wade, but there is a ton of upside in the unit. Some of these outside-the-box predictions reflect that high ceiling, including the idea that the Buckeyes produce two first-rounders this year, Cam Brown achieves All-Big Ten status, and a potential freshman starter.
Jeff Okudah didn't allow 50 yards in any of his 27 games the last two seasons pic.twitter.com/9kzFKGBy6t
— PFF College (@PFF_College) July 24, 2020
It’s no secret that Emeka Egbuka and J.T. Tuimoloau are two of Ohio State’s top remaining targets in the 2021 class. The pair of five-star prospects from Washington are taking it slow in their recruiting process without the ability to take official visits as a result of COVID-19, but they now have decisions to make as the state has pushed all high school football to March. It appears both Egbuka and Tuimoloau plan on playing their senior season before enrolling at the college program of choice.
From everywhere else...
Sources told @Stadium, NCAA advises schools that after a student-athlete has a confirmed positive COVID test, they won’t have to test again for next 3 months unless they show symptoms. For example, players who test positive in July, will not have to test again until October
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 24, 2020
Breaking: Sources say the Blue Jays will be playing in Buffalo for sure this year. Not Baltimore. The wait is over.
— Dan Connolly (@danconnolly2016) July 24, 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.
Welcome to Buckeye Bits, your one-stop shop for all of the day’s Ohio State news. Despite an ongoing pandemic, sports are slowly making their return into our lives. If your favorite MLB team wasn’t in action last night, they will be today. The NBA bubble has seemingly begun without issue, and the NHL restart in Canada is slated to start next weekend. Most importantly for us, the Buckeyes have returned to the practice field.
Don't blink or you'll miss us #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/PL3fr1vI0B
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) July 23, 2020
We’re all still holding out hope that there is college football to be played this fall, and I'm sure Ryan Day and his staff are taking the same approach. So until we hear otherwise, I will assume we will see our beloved Buckeyes come September. With that being said, let’s move on to today’s headlines.
From around Land-Grant Holy Land...
- Buckeyes offer a pair of Florida offensive linemen
(Caleb Houser, LGHL)
Just because Ohio State has put together the nation’s top recruiting class in 2021 doesn’t mean Day and company get to take their foot off the gas, especially when it comes to building for the future. On Thursday, the Buckeyes offered a pair of 2023 offensive linemen from Florida, attempting to get out early on some potential forthcoming top prospects. Plus, one of the nation’s top tackles in 2021 has OSU in his top five.
- Which former Ohio State linebacker would you want back in Columbus?
(Gene Ross, LGHL)
There has been no shortage of elite linebacker talent to come through Ohio State in the program’s history. From Chris Spielman and Andy Katzenmoyer to Darron Lee and Raekwon McMillan, a bunch of incredible players have donned a Buckeye uniform at the position. If you could bring one of these guys back to play alongside the 2020 roster, who would you choose?
- College Football Island: Can the NCAA make it happen?
(George Eisner, LGHL)
ICYMI, earlier this week George wrote about the idea of College Football Island, much like the UFC’s Fight Island. In his proposal, he drew up a single-elimination March Madness-style bracket for college football, played entirely in the Bahamas. While obviously a near impossible scenario, George draws up exactly how it would work, and it sounds pretty damn fun to me!
From around the gridiron...
- To nobody’s surprise, Justin Fields has been named to the Maxwell Award watch list, an honor given annually to the most outstanding player in college football. After over 3,200 passing yards and 51 total touchdowns in his first season in Columbus, Fields finds himself on numerous national award watch lists, and is a candidate — if not the favorite — for the Heisman Trophy in 2020.
The @MaxwellFootball club today announced its watch list for the 84th Maxwell Award presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football. Yes, indeed! 2019 semifinalist and Heisman Trophy finalist @justnfields is being watched. @OhioStateFB. #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/YjhS8y6KFe
— Jerry Emig (@BuckeyeNotes) July 24, 2020
- Jakailin Johnson and the three-year plan to be OSU’s next first-round NFL CB
(Stephen Means, Cleveland.com)
Johnson chose to play at Ohio State for the same reason most cornerbacks choose to play in Columbus: he wants to be a first-round NFL Draft pick. Kerry Coombs has a history of getting guys into the league, and he will now look to do the same with the nation’s No. 40 overall player in the 2021 class. His plan to get there is three simple steps: play special teams and get on the field a little as a freshman, start in year two, and compete for the Thorpe Award in year three.
- Five bold predictions as Buckeyes look to defend BIA status
(Lettermen Row Staff)
The guys over at Lettermen Row continued their bold predictions series on Friday, this time with the defensive backs. Ohio State has a lot of question marks in the secondary this year outside of Shaun Wade, but there is a ton of upside in the unit. Some of these outside-the-box predictions reflect that high ceiling, including the idea that the Buckeyes produce two first-rounders this year, Cam Brown achieves All-Big Ten status, and a potential freshman starter.
- Speaking of Ohio State defensive backs, this guy was pretty good...
Jeff Okudah didn't allow 50 yards in any of his 27 games the last two seasons pic.twitter.com/9kzFKGBy6t
— PFF College (@PFF_College) July 24, 2020
- Agreed.
- Tuimoloau, Egbuka react to the new football season
(Brandon Huffman, 247Sports)
It’s no secret that Emeka Egbuka and J.T. Tuimoloau are two of Ohio State’s top remaining targets in the 2021 class. The pair of five-star prospects from Washington are taking it slow in their recruiting process without the ability to take official visits as a result of COVID-19, but they now have decisions to make as the state has pushed all high school football to March. It appears both Egbuka and Tuimoloau plan on playing their senior season before enrolling at the college program of choice.
From everywhere else...
- On Friday, the MAC announced the suspension of all fall sports, but not the MAC you’re thinking of. Middle-Atlantic, not Mid-American.
- This policy seems questionable at best, but what do I know?
Sources told @Stadium, NCAA advises schools that after a student-athlete has a confirmed positive COVID test, they won’t have to test again for next 3 months unless they show symptoms. For example, players who test positive in July, will not have to test again until October
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 24, 2020
- Get ready for the Buffalo Blue Jays!
Breaking: Sources say the Blue Jays will be playing in Buffalo for sure this year. Not Baltimore. The wait is over.
— Dan Connolly (@danconnolly2016) July 24, 2020
- One thing we can all agree on: CampusParc absolutely sucks.
Continue reading...