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Showing posts with label ohio state football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ohio state football. Show all posts
Friday, March 16, 2018
2018 Ohio State Football — Time To Get PUMPED UP Buckeye Nation!
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Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Shut Out The Irish? — Missouri Head Coach Pinkel's Comments Towards Notre Dame Raises Questions
By Kent Smith—BlockONation College Football Analyst
In an interview with ESPN, Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel made comments
about Notre Dame and whether or not the Irish should be allowed in the College
Football Playoff being an independent rather than being a full-time member of a
Power 5 conference.“Give Notre Dame a year to join a league. They don’t have independents in the NFL," Pinkel said.
Though there is no rule that says Independent’s can’t make the college football playoff, it does make one wonder if Gary Pinkel is right.
The current system in place has a selection committee that picks four of college football’s best teams and those teams that are most likely to be selected are teams that play in the Power 5 conferences, i.e. the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac 12, and SEC.
Notre Dame is not a full-time member of any of those conferences, though, they are a “part-time” sorta-kinda member of the ACC, while still claiming Independent status.
Again, the CFB committee’s job is to pick the four best teams in college football, not just members of the Power 5 conference. By staying Independent, many believe it gives Notre Dame an unfair advantage by having a mixed schedule and no conference championship game.
As frustrating as it may be to some that Notre Dame won’t join a conference, myself included, I also get why they don’t. Notre Dame has built their brand on being an Independent program that can schedule anyone they want, whenever they want, while being the only team played on a major television network.
Not only were they scheduling anyone anywhere—they were beating anyone anywhere.
America quickly fell in love with the Notre Dame program, with their championships, their winning big regular season games, those shiny gold helmets, the catchy fight song, countless All-American players, legendary coaches, academic prestige and famous alumni.
The problem is, this was all happening from the 1930’s to the late 1980’s. Since then, Notre Dame has accomplished little to nothing. Zero national championships, a losing record against ranked teams, a losing record in bowl games, multiple seasons under .500, including losses to Navy and Air Force, several coaching changes, no Heisman winners, fewer All-Americans, fewer NFL draft picks, fewer top national recruits, poor player conduct and last but not least, a dead, fake girlfriend.
All of this is enough to bring up one good question: What conference would Notre Dame win if they were a full-time member?
If you go as far back as to the first year of the BCS in 1998, Notre Dame has only been in the discussion for the national championship four times (02, 05, 06, 12) and only once did they actually play for a national title back in 2012. They were embarrassed by Alabama 42-14.
Though they lost in the title game, Notre Dame did go undefeated during the regular season that year, but many questioned the toughness of their schedule and the fashion in which Notre Dame won those games..
After all, style points do matter in college football—like it or not. 2012 might be the only year in which Notre Dame would have won one or two BCS/Power 5 conferences, but even then, I doubt it.
Yes, Notre Dame swept their B1G opponents, but would they have beaten a 12-0 Ohio State team that year? Unlikely.
Braxton Miller and Carlos Hyde would’ve done to Notre Dame’s defense than what Alabama did to it in the BCS National Championship Game.
Would they have won the ACC in 2012? Very doubtful. Even though the ACC wasn’t very deep, both Florida State and Clemson had talented teams that would have likely been too fast and strong for Notre Dame, also like Alabama.
When you try to think back all the way to 1998 and figure out which conferences Notre Dame would have won you immediately think of the weaker conferences, like the old Big East or the ACC.
Looking back at all of Notre Dame’s records in the past 17 seasons, there are plenty of years where Notre Dame would have been a bad team in a bad conference.
If you were to go from 1998 to 2005, Notre Dame wouldn’t have won the Big East once. In that span, Notre Dame had 3 losing seasons and had just one 10 win season (2002).
During that span, the University of Miami had returned to national dominance and was still a member of the Big East. There is zero chance that Notre Dame would have beaten any Miami team in that span when Miami was a member of the Big East. Not to mention, Virginia Tech and West Virginia. Each had good teams as well while in the Big East.
The conference America has been begging Notre Dame to join since the very beginning is the Big Ten Conference. It not only makes geographical sense, but it also makes sense for Notre Dame to annually play other Midwestern powers such as Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Penn State.
The addition of Notre Dame to the B1G would likely make the B1G the most powerful conference, not only in college football but, in college sports. With the huge media markets the B1G already possesses, the addition of Notre Dame would bring a much bigger New York City following with the large amount of alumni living in New York City, and the fact that Notre Dame is a giant name itself.
TV revenue would be even higher, TV ratings would be higher, there would be less SEC bias (maybe) and more elite recruits throughout the country would commit to B1G teams. Notre Dame could play in the West Division where the opponents aren't as high profile or elite as several in the East Division are. The Irish could play for a B1G title almost every single year against a traditional power from the East.
Notre Dame would also be joining the best conference for academics, and the conference with the largest alumni bases throughout the country. I mean, what better way to promote a conference when Ohio State, Notre Dame and Michigan alum’s get together for a game at a bar while living in Southern California or Florida?
Instead Notre Dame not only chooses to remain independent, but to no longer schedule B1G teams and play five ACC teams per year. But why not join the Big Ten? Well I for one think it’s obvious and it’s a reason that Notre Dame and their fans will never own up to—Notre Dame would get crushed, and get crushed often in the B1G.
I looked up Notre Dame’s records every year from 1998 through 2014 to see what years they could have been competitive in the B1G and I was only able to find four seasons: 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2012.
In 2000, Notre Dame lost two games during the regular season and one of those losses was to Michigan State. 2000 was not a strong year for the B1G. The top 5 teams all won eight games while the non-conference and bowl record was not impressive either.
Notre Dame’s other regular season loss was to Nebraska and they would eventually get crushed in the Fiesta Bowl by Oregon State, 41-9. No conference championship for Notre Dame.
In 2002, Notre Dame finished with a 10-3 record. They swept their B1G opponents, but again, it was not a strong year for the B1G.
They were having a good run until an upset loss to Boston College ruined their perfect season and then a beat down from the hands of USC in Los Angeles, losing 44-13. Notre Dame would go on to lose the Gator Bowl to NC State 28-6.
While Notre Dame did go 3-0 against the B1G that year winning close games against Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue, it was another team in the B1G that brought home the national championship that year—The Ohio State Buckeyes, who pulled off what some called a huge upset over the "unbeatable" Miami Hurricanes.
Notre Dame may have given Ohio State a tough game and the final score could have been close, just like most games for Ohio State that year, but I don’t see Notre Dame defeating Ohio State, a team with arguably the best defense and special teams in America that year. Once again, no conference championship for Notre Dame.
Finally in 2005, Notre Dame was supposed to officially be “back” after hiring offensive guru Charlie Weis, the former offensive coordinator for the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, and also a Notre Dame alum. Notre Dame finally had the right coach with the right QB and they were going to return to elite status.
They got off to a good start by defeating Michigan in Ann Arbor in week 2 of the season, only to lose to Michigan State the following week in South Bend. That same year Notre Dame was involved in one of the most controversial games in college football history. Notre Dame hosted #1 USC and lost in the final seconds of the game on a play now referred to as “The Bush Push”.
Eventual Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush illegally pushed the current Heisman winner Matt Leinart over the goal line for a touchdown with just three seconds left in the game.
Notre Dame would go on to face Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl that year, and Notre Dame was actually favored. Many felt that given a month to prepare, Charlie Weis could pick apart any defense and his offense could not be stopped.
The game started off as a shootout like most expected, but it was the Buckeyes who put up the big offensive stats and came out on top with a 34-20 win. The B1G was a little deeper in 2005 and Notre Dame wouldn’t have won the conference.
Finally that brings us to 2012. Notre Dame was coming off a disappointing season in
which they were expected to make the BCS and possibly play for a national
championship, as they had most of their starters returning and a favorable schedule.They had a new true freshman QB in Everette Golson but also the eventual Butkus Award winner, LB Manti Te’o leading the defense. Other than that, they didn't have a lot of options and depth, hence why they were ranked 24th in the preseason by USA Today and not ranked at all preseason by the AP.
So to much surprise, Notre Dame not only swept their B1G opponents, but they ran the table and got to play for a national championship for the first time since 1990. Though they would go on to lose to Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game 42-14, it still gave Notre Dame a boost back into national relevance after going through five straight painful seasons.
Does that mean they would have won the B1G that year or any other conference (except the SEC obviously)? Yes, Notre Dame went 12-0 during the regular season, but how many of those games did a call late in the game go in Notre Dame’s favor?
For example, the Stanford game? Or the following week where they avoided an upset to BYU, escaping 17-14? Then, two weeks later against Pitt where Pitt missed multiple, costly field goals to keep Notre Dame in the game. Notre Dame would eventually win 29-26.
Other notable games that year include a 13-6 win over an average Michigan team, a 20-3 win over an improving Michigan State team, a 41-3 win over a bad Miami Hurricanes team, a 30-13 win over Oklahoma in which OU collapsed by mid-season, and a 22-13 win over USC, a team under NCAA sanctions and reduced scholarship players.
The 2012 Notre Dame Fighting Irish might be the only Notre Dame team in the last 17 years that would MAYBE win the B1G. Again, Notre Dame did sweep their B1G opponents but they did not have to face Ohio State or Wisconsin. My final answer is maybe.
The remaining 13 seasons going back to 1998 would have been forgettable years for Notre Dame if they were full-time members of the B1G. If Notre Dame had a losing record against Rich Rodriguez when he was the head coach at Michigan, then how in the world could Notre Dame have competed against the consistent teams in the B1G like Ohio State?
You could even do a “what if” of Notre Dame vs. Ohio State between 1998 and 2014 and Ohio State would have a similar if not better record versus Notre Dame as they do against Michigan in that time frame. Since 2001, the Buckeyes are 12-2 vs. the team from Ann Arbor. That is just in case any TTUN fans might be reading this!
Notre Dame will always be a recognizable and admired brand to many, and whether or not you like them, they are good for college football.
Notre Dame joining a conference would do even more positive things for college football and it’s fans, but Notre Dame seems selfishly content remaining an Independent for now.
Until they do join a conference, this college football fan sees Notre Dame as a program that many of today’s recruits will only recognize as a program that used to be great—many, many years before any of them were born.
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Nation Articles - Click HereSunday, May 17, 2015
Deja Vu For The Wolverines All Over Again And Again And Again—A Look At What's / Who's Coming To Ann Arbor This Fall
By HD Handshoe—BlockONation Founder
The Buckeyes will most certainly be steamrolling their way through Ann Arbor this November, led by preseason Heisman hopeful and favorite, RB Ezekiel Elliott, a slew of talented WRs, and whichever of the Big Three QBs gets the nod, or whichever is healthy by then. It's nice to have extra starters, not just backups!
Stephen Collier, Joe Burrow, and Torrance Gibson, be ready just in case young fellas!
Those of you reading this may be well aware that very often, I refer to the team up north as Ann Arbor Community College, or AACC for short instead, 1) because they call us Ohio and 2) they barely resemble a DI-level football program and they haven't won an outright national title since 1948, but I digress.
You are also aware that I keep track of how many days it's been since our last loss to AACC, which was during our 6 win, 7-loss, 2011 Tressell-less, Fickell-led season.
Enter Urban Meyer. Since 2001, the Buckeyes are 12-2 vs. AACC and Meyers' Buckeyes are 3-0. In spite of AACC hiring Jim Harbaugh, I have a hard time believing Urban and company won't rack up at least 2-3 more wins in The Game before they could actually be legitimately challenged by AACC.
Let's just say they have a lot of ground to make up to become a threat to the recent, lopsided, Buckeye dominance of the series.
It's entirely realistic that a lot of Buckeyes end their college football careers with four pairs of gold pants!
Get the gold pants mold ready again this year Bucks!
Much to your dismay, I'm sure.....see you in November Ann Arbor CC!
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Nation Articles - Click HereSaturday, March 14, 2015
Five Deep—A Closer Look at Ohio State's 2015 Running Backs
By HD Handshoe—BlockONation Founder
Image courtesy of Taylor Wilhelm
A lot has been made — and rightfully so — of the unique position Ohio State finds itself in this coming season, with essentially three starting quarterbacks returning, but that's a discussion to save for later this fall.While what happens this coming season at quarterback is about as clear as mud right now, the running back hierarchy should be a lot less cloudy.
Despite having off-season wrist surgery, certain 2015 Heisman Trophy candidate Ezekiel Elliott sits atop a heap of young and talented backs.
Running back coach Stan Drayton left the Buckeyes and took a job with the Chicago Bears in February causing some speculation that the production of Elliott and company could tail off without him.
Drayton was instrumental in developing the Buckeye's potent rushing attack during his three years in Columbus.
He also played a huge role in the recruitment of highly-touted running back Mike Weber, who signed with the Buckeyes just one day before Drayton's departure. Initially, Weber seemed to react somewhat negatively on Twitter but in the end was happy with Drayton's replacement.
Ohio State hired former Notre Dame running backs coach Tony Alford, whom many consider a very ample replacement and possibly even an upgrade.
Truthfully with each of their exceptional running abilities, I could go Eight Deep with this article or list Braxton Miller, JT Barrett and Cardale Jones at 3, 4, and 5 on the RB depth chart.
That's how great Ohio State is at running the ball, but since the QBs aren't RBs, I'll shelve that thought for the sake of this article.
How I see them stacking up
4. Warren Ball Jr. 2014 Stats — 18 carries, 88 yards, 4.7 yards per carry.
3. Brionte Dunn 2014 Stats — 9 carries, 63 yards, 7.0 yards per carry.
2. Curtis Samuel 2014 Stats — 58 carries, 383 yards, 6.6 yards per carry, 6 rushing touchdowns and 11 receptions for 95 yards.
1. Ezekiel Elliott 2014 Stats — 273 carries, 1,878 yards, 6.9 yards per carry, 18 rushing touchdowns and 28 receptions for 220 yards.
We may know a little more about where the RB chips will fall under Elliott once Spring football concludes on Saturday, April 18th.
Than again, there could still be some jockeying behind Elliott and Samuel through the end of August and right up to kickoff in Blacksburg against Virginia Tech on Monday September 7th.
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Nation Articles - Click HereTuesday, August 20, 2013
2013 Buckeye Football — The Beginning of a New, Non-SEC Dynasty Under Urban Meyer? Yes. The Answer is Yes.
By HD Handshoe — BlockONation Founder
2012 was a great year for Ohio State and for Buckeye fans nationwide, as Urban Meyer lead his team to a perfect 12-0 season in his 1st year as head coach.
Last July, I predicted that going undefeated was a very real possibility. I also mentioned the Buckeyes could still be crowned National Champions via the AP Poll.
That didn't happen, but in the recently-released preseason polls, Ohio State is No. 2, behind only Alabama, and Braxton Miller is a serious Heisman candidate, even more so with the allegations and controversy swirling around ESPN's darling and 2012 winner, Johnny Manziel.
It's understandably infuriating to some degree that Ohio State was punished with a bowl ban for the 2011 tat-gate debacle where a few players received tats and/or money for their autographs when considering that all of a sudden everyone wants the NCAA to go away and to give Manziel a free pass for his bylaw-breaking, money-making broker deals.
It's pretty messed up that practically everyone wanted Ohio State to get the death penalty for the poor choices made by a small handful of players, but now want a massive NCAA overhaul. If it happens to a team from the SEC, or a star player from an SEC team like Manziel, THEN AND ONLY THEN do we want to affect change?
Interesting............
Before I get fired up any further, I will instead digress — for now. The primary focus of my ramblings here today is not about the what-ifs of the 2012 season, or the hypocrisy that we're seeing now over players making money off of themselves, for themselves, but rather Urban Meyer and his staff having wrapped up yet another stellar recruiting class in 2013 and already assembling a 2014 class that is looking just as stacked.
A huge Scarlet and Gray tidal wave is about to crash down on the Big Ten and all of College Football (I'm talking to you Alabama/SEC) in 2013.
The initial groundwork for Operation: 2013 Big Ten and National Champions was laid last fall when Ohio State hired Urban Meyer as head coach.
It wasn't always pretty, but neither were the close wins by teams like Notre Dame and Alabama either. And if those close wins and narrow escapes by those teams were gutsy and gritty, and "good teams find a way to overcome adversity and get the win, whatever it takes," so too were similar victories by the Buckeyes.
Because Ohio State is relevant and seemingly always challenging for conference and national titles, especially in the BCS era, there are many CFB fans who just happen to be AP poll voters, with personal vendettas against the Buckeyes, and so unfortunately, there IS a double-standard.
Let's compare the rise and fall in the rankings this season of Ohio State and Notre Dame, this years media (ESPN) darling, shall we?
In addition to the obvious rankings-bias illustrated against Ohio State above, I'd also like to mention how nice it is that Ohio State can win and drop 4 spots in the polls, but when No. 1 Alabama lost to a 2-loss Texas A&M team AT HOME, they plummeted all the way down to No. 4—three whole spots, after a loss.
Wait, what? Was I talking?
Haha, nevermind, I digress,.....AGAIN!
Looking forward to 2013, none of that matters. The No. 2 Buckeyes will undoubtedly be one of the top contenders battling to earn a berth in, and win, the final BCS championship prior to the end of the BCS era and the start of the new 4-team playoff system that goes into effect starting in 2014.
While several Buckeye starters from the 2012 team are gone, Ohio State is one of those schools that never rebuilds, but instead, reloads.
That has never been truer now that Urban Meyer, arguably the best recruiter in college football, is on the recruiting trail for the Scarlet and Gray.
While Jim Tressel was often criticized for not being able to close out his classes, Urban Meyer has the complete opposite reputation when it comes to pursuing and signing elite targets.
His ability to recruit and land the nation's best HS players are evidenced by OSU's class rankings in 2012 (3rd), 2013 (1st) and 2014 (6th already as of now).
Here are the recruits in the 2013 Ohio State recruiting class:
It's good to be back blogging and I can't wait to spend this potentially magical season with all of Buckeye Nation, especially my readers here and my followers on Twitter — HD
@BlockONation
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2012 was a great year for Ohio State and for Buckeye fans nationwide, as Urban Meyer lead his team to a perfect 12-0 season in his 1st year as head coach.Last July, I predicted that going undefeated was a very real possibility. I also mentioned the Buckeyes could still be crowned National Champions via the AP Poll.
That didn't happen, but in the recently-released preseason polls, Ohio State is No. 2, behind only Alabama, and Braxton Miller is a serious Heisman candidate, even more so with the allegations and controversy swirling around ESPN's darling and 2012 winner, Johnny Manziel.
It's understandably infuriating to some degree that Ohio State was punished with a bowl ban for the 2011 tat-gate debacle where a few players received tats and/or money for their autographs when considering that all of a sudden everyone wants the NCAA to go away and to give Manziel a free pass for his bylaw-breaking, money-making broker deals.
It's pretty messed up that practically everyone wanted Ohio State to get the death penalty for the poor choices made by a small handful of players, but now want a massive NCAA overhaul. If it happens to a team from the SEC, or a star player from an SEC team like Manziel, THEN AND ONLY THEN do we want to affect change?
Interesting............
Before I get fired up any further, I will instead digress — for now. The primary focus of my ramblings here today is not about the what-ifs of the 2012 season, or the hypocrisy that we're seeing now over players making money off of themselves, for themselves, but rather Urban Meyer and his staff having wrapped up yet another stellar recruiting class in 2013 and already assembling a 2014 class that is looking just as stacked.
A huge Scarlet and Gray tidal wave is about to crash down on the Big Ten and all of College Football (I'm talking to you Alabama/SEC) in 2013.
The initial groundwork for Operation: 2013 Big Ten and National Champions was laid last fall when Ohio State hired Urban Meyer as head coach.
It wasn't always pretty, but neither were the close wins by teams like Notre Dame and Alabama either. And if those close wins and narrow escapes by those teams were gutsy and gritty, and "good teams find a way to overcome adversity and get the win, whatever it takes," so too were similar victories by the Buckeyes.
Because Ohio State is relevant and seemingly always challenging for conference and national titles, especially in the BCS era, there are many CFB fans who just happen to be AP poll voters, with personal vendettas against the Buckeyes, and so unfortunately, there IS a double-standard.
Let's compare the rise and fall in the rankings this season of Ohio State and Notre Dame, this years media (ESPN) darling, shall we?
Week Ohio State Notre Dame Preseason #18 NR Week 1 #14 #22 Week 2 #12 #20 Week 3 #16 #11 Week 4 #14 #10 Week 5 #12 #9 Week 6 #8 #7 Week 7 #7 #5 Week 8 #9 #5 Week 9 #6 #4 Week 10 #5 #4 Week 11 #6 #3 Week 12 #4 #1 Week 13 #4 #1 Week 14 #3 #1So what exactly does the chart above show? Well, both teams had a handful of lackluster wins and at least one very near loss, but Ohio State dropped in the rankings on three occasions, all after wins, while ND didn't drop once.
In addition to the obvious rankings-bias illustrated against Ohio State above, I'd also like to mention how nice it is that Ohio State can win and drop 4 spots in the polls, but when No. 1 Alabama lost to a 2-loss Texas A&M team AT HOME, they plummeted all the way down to No. 4—three whole spots, after a loss.
Wait, what? Was I talking?
Haha, nevermind, I digress,.....AGAIN!
Looking forward to 2013, none of that matters. The No. 2 Buckeyes will undoubtedly be one of the top contenders battling to earn a berth in, and win, the final BCS championship prior to the end of the BCS era and the start of the new 4-team playoff system that goes into effect starting in 2014.
While several Buckeye starters from the 2012 team are gone, Ohio State is one of those schools that never rebuilds, but instead, reloads.
That has never been truer now that Urban Meyer, arguably the best recruiter in college football, is on the recruiting trail for the Scarlet and Gray.
While Jim Tressel was often criticized for not being able to close out his classes, Urban Meyer has the complete opposite reputation when it comes to pursuing and signing elite targets.
His ability to recruit and land the nation's best HS players are evidenced by OSU's class rankings in 2012 (3rd), 2013 (1st) and 2014 (6th already as of now).
Here are the recruits in the 2013 Ohio State recruiting class:
Player Position Star-Rating ====== ======== =========== Tracy Sprinkle DE *** Tim Gardner OG *** Christopher Worley LB *** Trey Johnson LB **** Darron Lee S **** Donovan Munger DT **** Tyquan Lewis DE **** Jayme Thompson S **** Billy Price DT **** Gareon Conley CB/WR **** Michael Hill DT **** J.T. Barrett QB **** Cameron Burrows CB **** Eli Apple (Woodard) CB **** Dontre Wilson RB/WR **** Ezekiel Elliott RB **** Evan Lisle OT **** Corey Smith WR **** James Clark WR **** Marcus Baugh TE **** Jalin Marshall WR ***** Joey Bosa DE ***** Mike Mitchell LB ***** Vonn Bell S *****
It's good to be back blogging and I can't wait to spend this potentially magical season with all of Buckeye Nation, especially my readers here and my followers on Twitter — HD
@BlockONationNation Articles - Click HereTuesday, February 5, 2013
Finishing Touches: Highlights of BlockONation's Top 6 Ohio State 2013 Recruits
By HD Handshoe — BlockONation.com Founder
It's The Final Countdown.....bah-bah bah bah,......bah-bah bah bah bah,.......
Just be glad you're only reading this and not actually listening to me sing!
With signing day just one day away, and the the 2013 class more or less at capacity, it seemed like the appropriate time to shine the spotlight on the best of the best from this loaded class.
Words alone cannot express the ridiculous infusion of talent the top recruits that have committed to play football for Ohio State beginning this fall possess.
Thankfully, video can create a much more vivid picture than I or my words. Here are highlights of my personal top 6 recruits in the Buckeyes 2013 class.
No. 6 — Marcus Baugh / Tight End / Riverside, CA
No. 5 — Dontre Wilson / RB/WR / Desoto, TX
No. 4 — Ezekiel Elliott / RB / St. Louis, MO
No. 3 — Joey Bosa / DE / Fort Lauderdale, FL
No. 2 — Mike Mitchell / LB / Plano, TX
No. 1 — Jalin Marshall / WR / Middletown, OH
NSD Wishlist Bonus Video — Vonn Bell / S / Rossville, GA
Be sure to visit BlockONation.com for all your Ohio State football news, recruiting info and updates.
— HD
@BlockONation
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It's The Final Countdown.....bah-bah bah bah,......bah-bah bah bah bah,.......Just be glad you're only reading this and not actually listening to me sing!
With signing day just one day away, and the the 2013 class more or less at capacity, it seemed like the appropriate time to shine the spotlight on the best of the best from this loaded class.
Words alone cannot express the ridiculous infusion of talent the top recruits that have committed to play football for Ohio State beginning this fall possess.
Thankfully, video can create a much more vivid picture than I or my words. Here are highlights of my personal top 6 recruits in the Buckeyes 2013 class.
No. 6 — Marcus Baugh / Tight End / Riverside, CA
No. 5 — Dontre Wilson / RB/WR / Desoto, TX
No. 4 — Ezekiel Elliott / RB / St. Louis, MO
No. 3 — Joey Bosa / DE / Fort Lauderdale, FL
No. 2 — Mike Mitchell / LB / Plano, TX
No. 1 — Jalin Marshall / WR / Middletown, OH
NSD Wishlist Bonus Video — Vonn Bell / S / Rossville, GA
Be sure to visit BlockONation.com for all your Ohio State football news, recruiting info and updates.
— HD
@BlockONationNation Articles - Click HereSaturday, November 3, 2012
Week 10: No. 6 Ohio State vs. Illinois—History Lesson, Trends and Prediction
By HD Handshoe — BlockONation.com Founder
This week, No. 6 Ohio State (9-0, 5-0) hosts the Illinois Fighting Illini (2-6, 0-4) in a Leaders Division matchup. ESPN will broadcast the game nationally at 3:30PM EST.
Here is the tale of the tape in recent years, and all-time.
Ohio State—Illinois History Lesson
And Recent Trends
• Ohio State is 64-30-4 all-time vs. Illinois.
• Ohio State is 8-2 against Iliinois since 2000.
• Ohio State is 37-18-4 all-time in Columbus vs. Illinois.
• Ohio State is 3rd in the Big Ten with 20 quarterback sacks.
• Urban Meyer coached teams are 70-14 when ranked in the Top 25.
• Ohio State is one of only 6 unbeaten FBS teams and the only team at 9-0.
• Ohio State's defense has only allowed 11 100-yard rushers in their last 58 games.
• Ohio State's defense has held opponents to 10 points or less 37 times since 2006.
• Ohio State has held 71 opponents to 21 points or less since the start of the 2005 season.
• Illinois is 46-83 overall since 2002.
• Illinois last defeated Ohio State in 2007.
• Illinois is 23-61 in Big Ten games since 2002.
A Couple Thoughts and Score Prediction
To put it mildly, Illinois is having a terrible season under first year coach, and former Urban Meyer, and Ohio State assistant, Tim Beckman.
The Fighting Illini have lost five in a row by an average of 26.4 points and despite the fact that the Buckeyes have been playing down to their competition in recent weeks, I look for that trend to be broken this week over the Illini.
The Buckeyes are 10th in the nation at just over 248 rushing yards per game, and quarterback Braxton Miller, who leads the Big Ten in both rushing and total yards per game, should bolster his Heisman Trophy consideration against an Illinois defense that's allowing nearly 153 rushing yards per game and that has yet to face an opponent with the running prowess and capability that Ohio State owns.
Ohio State 55
Illinois 10
"To be a champion, you have to believe in yourself when no one else will" - Sugar Ray Robinson
@BlockONation
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This week, No. 6 Ohio State (9-0, 5-0) hosts the Illinois Fighting Illini (2-6, 0-4) in a Leaders Division matchup. ESPN will broadcast the game nationally at 3:30PM EST.
Here is the tale of the tape in recent years, and all-time.
Ohio State—Illinois History Lesson
And Recent Trends• Ohio State is 64-30-4 all-time vs. Illinois.
• Ohio State is 8-2 against Iliinois since 2000.
• Ohio State is 37-18-4 all-time in Columbus vs. Illinois.
• Ohio State is 3rd in the Big Ten with 20 quarterback sacks.
• Urban Meyer coached teams are 70-14 when ranked in the Top 25.
• Ohio State is one of only 6 unbeaten FBS teams and the only team at 9-0.
• Ohio State's defense has only allowed 11 100-yard rushers in their last 58 games.
• Ohio State's defense has held opponents to 10 points or less 37 times since 2006.
• Ohio State has held 71 opponents to 21 points or less since the start of the 2005 season.
• Illinois is 46-83 overall since 2002.
• Illinois last defeated Ohio State in 2007.
• Illinois is 23-61 in Big Ten games since 2002.
A Couple Thoughts and Score Prediction
To put it mildly, Illinois is having a terrible season under first year coach, and former Urban Meyer, and Ohio State assistant, Tim Beckman.
The Fighting Illini have lost five in a row by an average of 26.4 points and despite the fact that the Buckeyes have been playing down to their competition in recent weeks, I look for that trend to be broken this week over the Illini.
The Buckeyes are 10th in the nation at just over 248 rushing yards per game, and quarterback Braxton Miller, who leads the Big Ten in both rushing and total yards per game, should bolster his Heisman Trophy consideration against an Illinois defense that's allowing nearly 153 rushing yards per game and that has yet to face an opponent with the running prowess and capability that Ohio State owns.
Ohio State 55
Illinois 10
"To be a champion, you have to believe in yourself when no one else will" - Sugar Ray Robinson
@BlockONationNation Articles - Click HereFriday, October 12, 2012
No. 8 Ohio State vs. Indiana—5 Things To Watch For
By Luke Pashke—BlockONation.com Featured Contributor
After a slate of Top 25 matchups, the Buckeyes are in store for a change of pace this week against a 2-3 Indiana team.
That being said, the Hoosiers did play Michigan State tough this past week so they may not be quite the slouch we thought they were, though they certainly aren't Nebraska or Michigan, either.
I understand that it's difficult to get excited about a seemingly gimme, in-conference game, but there are a few things that you should keep your eye on, which may give you a reason to enthusiastically watch this game.
Progression of the Passing Game
Following the Nebraska game, it's clear that this team can run the ball effectively at anytime.
Braxton Miller and company erupted for 371 yards rushing at 7.7 yards per rush, while only managing to throw for a mere 127 yards and 7 completions.
Now, granted, there's no reason to throw the ball when you're consistently driving down the field on the ground, but sooner or later this team will have to prove they can move the ball through the air.
When watching the Indiana game, pay close attention to how Miller and his receivers fare in the passing game. Hopefully for OSU, playing against a weaker opponent can build confidence in their passing game, allowing the Buckeyes to develop a more two-dimensional offense.
Who's Playing Linebacker?
Seemingly, the Buckeyes' linebacker crew could have their own reserved section in a hospital wing.
Ryan Shazier has been struggling through a knee issue all season and now senior linebacker, Etienne Sabino, is out for the next month or so with a leg injury he received this past weekend.
With Sabino out, freshman LB Josh Perry filled in against Nebraska. Along with Perry, fellow freshman linebacker Camren Williams saw some playing time against the Cornhuskers, although it was fairly short lived.
It will be interesting to see which young LB this coaching staff trusts to fill in for Sabino. Whoever it is, they better take advantage, because this team is chock-full of hungry, talented, young linebackers.
Utilization of the Tight Ends
This past Saturday against Nebraska, the Buckeyes finally used their tight ends effectively in the passing game. To my surprise, Stoneburner was not one of these tight ends, but nonetheless it was great to see.
Heuerman hauled in a pair of big catches for 53 yards and a touchdown. Even Nick Vannett had a 32 yard reception.
A tight end can be a quarterback's best friend, and heading into the season I expected this offense to utilize the tight ends on the regular. Through five games this wasn't the case, but this past Saturday Miller seemed to be looking the TE's way much more often.
Pay close attention to see if this utilization of the tight ends was a blip or a trend. Hopefully it's a trend. This offense is much better when the tight ends get involved.
Tackling on Defense and Special Teams
The Silver Bullets have progressively improved their tackling throughout the season, but they still aren't quite there yet. This past weekend they missed about five tackles on a touchdown run by Taylor Martinez.
The poor tackling can't continue to be a trend.
Their problem has been not wrapping up the opponent. Anytime the Buckeyes have gone for highlight tackles or strips they've looked foolish and hurt the team.
Against the Hoosiers, look for the defense to tackle fundamentally and cut down on the number of broken tackles, because against better teams those type of mistakes just can't happen.
Braxton Miller's Heisman Hype and Health
There is no doubt that Braxton Miller is the main attraction of any Ohio State football game.
The sophomore QB accounts for more than 70 percent of the Buckeyes' offense and has emerged as a serious contender for the prized Heisman Trophy.
Against Indiana, Miller just needs to pad his stats as much as possible and remain healthy.
Am I the only one who constantly holds their breath on every single one of Miller's runs?
I doubt it, because without No. 5, who knows where the Buckeyes would be at this point.
While a "Geno Smith vs. Baylor" performance would be nice, as long as Miller stays out of harm's way while adding a few scores and highlight plays, his Heisman hype will only increase.
@BlockONation
Check Out Other Block
Nation Articles - Click Here
After a slate of Top 25 matchups, the Buckeyes are in store for a change of pace this week against a 2-3 Indiana team.That being said, the Hoosiers did play Michigan State tough this past week so they may not be quite the slouch we thought they were, though they certainly aren't Nebraska or Michigan, either.
I understand that it's difficult to get excited about a seemingly gimme, in-conference game, but there are a few things that you should keep your eye on, which may give you a reason to enthusiastically watch this game.
Progression of the Passing Game
Following the Nebraska game, it's clear that this team can run the ball effectively at anytime.
Braxton Miller and company erupted for 371 yards rushing at 7.7 yards per rush, while only managing to throw for a mere 127 yards and 7 completions.
Now, granted, there's no reason to throw the ball when you're consistently driving down the field on the ground, but sooner or later this team will have to prove they can move the ball through the air.
When watching the Indiana game, pay close attention to how Miller and his receivers fare in the passing game. Hopefully for OSU, playing against a weaker opponent can build confidence in their passing game, allowing the Buckeyes to develop a more two-dimensional offense.
Who's Playing Linebacker?
Seemingly, the Buckeyes' linebacker crew could have their own reserved section in a hospital wing.
Ryan Shazier has been struggling through a knee issue all season and now senior linebacker, Etienne Sabino, is out for the next month or so with a leg injury he received this past weekend.
With Sabino out, freshman LB Josh Perry filled in against Nebraska. Along with Perry, fellow freshman linebacker Camren Williams saw some playing time against the Cornhuskers, although it was fairly short lived.
It will be interesting to see which young LB this coaching staff trusts to fill in for Sabino. Whoever it is, they better take advantage, because this team is chock-full of hungry, talented, young linebackers.
Utilization of the Tight Ends
This past Saturday against Nebraska, the Buckeyes finally used their tight ends effectively in the passing game. To my surprise, Stoneburner was not one of these tight ends, but nonetheless it was great to see.
Heuerman hauled in a pair of big catches for 53 yards and a touchdown. Even Nick Vannett had a 32 yard reception.
A tight end can be a quarterback's best friend, and heading into the season I expected this offense to utilize the tight ends on the regular. Through five games this wasn't the case, but this past Saturday Miller seemed to be looking the TE's way much more often.
Pay close attention to see if this utilization of the tight ends was a blip or a trend. Hopefully it's a trend. This offense is much better when the tight ends get involved.
Tackling on Defense and Special Teams
The Silver Bullets have progressively improved their tackling throughout the season, but they still aren't quite there yet. This past weekend they missed about five tackles on a touchdown run by Taylor Martinez.
The poor tackling can't continue to be a trend.
Their problem has been not wrapping up the opponent. Anytime the Buckeyes have gone for highlight tackles or strips they've looked foolish and hurt the team.
Against the Hoosiers, look for the defense to tackle fundamentally and cut down on the number of broken tackles, because against better teams those type of mistakes just can't happen.
Braxton Miller's Heisman Hype and Health
There is no doubt that Braxton Miller is the main attraction of any Ohio State football game.
The sophomore QB accounts for more than 70 percent of the Buckeyes' offense and has emerged as a serious contender for the prized Heisman Trophy.
Against Indiana, Miller just needs to pad his stats as much as possible and remain healthy.
Am I the only one who constantly holds their breath on every single one of Miller's runs?
I doubt it, because without No. 5, who knows where the Buckeyes would be at this point.
While a "Geno Smith vs. Baylor" performance would be nice, as long as Miller stays out of harm's way while adding a few scores and highlight plays, his Heisman hype will only increase.
@BlockONationNation Articles - Click HereThursday, August 9, 2012
Behind Enemy Lines—What It's Like To Be a Buckeye Fan Living In SEC Country
By Brad Washington —BlockONation.com Special Contributor
Ever since November 22, 1997, I’ve been hooked on Ohio State Football.
Every Ohio State fan and every Michigan fan should always remember that day.
For Michigan fans, Charles Woodson sealed the Heisman Trophy. For Ohio State, it was a blown chance to go to the Rose Bowl and even possibly compete for the national title.
For me, it was the beginning of a lifelong fandom and dedication to Ohio State football.
Unfortunately, I live in Columbia, South Carolina—The home of the South Carolina Gamecocks. There wasn’t much room for me to express my love for my favorite team at first, but I made room anyway.
The life of being a Buckeye fan in SEC country is, well, rough.
In elementary school, I let my fandom be known, and was called a traitor, idiot and all sorts of names routinely for not succumbing to liking the USC Gamecocks.
They didn’t understand that beating Michigan was more important than their rivalry with Clemson.
And without a doubt, it was.
As Jim Tressel came and succeeded in winning Big Ten titles as well as a national title, I was always the target of jokes whenever we had an embarrassing loss or whatever the case was.
Because I live in South Carolina, everyone expects that if you aren’t a USC or Clemson fan, you must like another team in in the SEC.
For me, how I saw an SEC fan: An SEC fan wouldn’t let you live down that infamous bowl record. And I mean that literally.
I could recall in high school not wanting to go to school the day after both national championship games,because I knew I would be brutally teased by the Florida and LSU fans respectively.
Any Ohio State football fan can tell you that those two years were the hardest. Being reminded that your team can’t compete with the speed of the SEC stings a bit.
I knew better. I knew Jim Tressel wasn’t being aggressive enough. I knew he came in thinking Tresselball would be successful. But to them that never mattered.
In the midst of that, I had to deal with USC fans who didn’t know their place.
I can’t remember a time when a USC fan didn’t bring up how Ohio State lost to the Gamecocks twice in the Outback bowl.
Yes, the two games held in the 2000 and 2001 bowl seasons.
All of that ended whenever I would ask how many conference/national titles they won though.
Although it was a burden, I never backed down from my pride in Ohio State.
If Ohio State was the brunt of jokes in America after those national title losses, the state of South Carolina convinced me it was the chairman of the board, assisting the charge.
Everyone else lead behind Florida and continued to add insult to injury to every Buckeye fan imaginable. Including me, of course.
But, that wouldn't last forever. The greatest, most recent great memory I have is our win versus Arkansas in the 2011 Sugar Bowl.
Had I lived in Columbus or anywhere in Ohio, I would have been able to celebrate with fellow Buckeye fans and join in their optimism and hopefulness. We would have all believed that this game would finally end the streak against the SEC.
But I wasn’t, I was in South Carolina being reminded that my Ohio State Buckeyes couldn’t compete with Arkansas because we’re too slow.
I knew we had the potential to win, but wasn’t allowed to believe it.
But when Ohio State did actually beat Arkansas, I had a tear come down. Finally, there was no more "too slow" or "not good enough to compete" talk. It was finally over and so were the jokes.
Being an Ohio State Buckeye fan in Columbia South Carolina is like being the black sheep of a family. After the win over Arkansas, the SEC jokes died down, but USC didn’t forget to tell me about their success the past two seasons.
I more than likely will be a Buckeye fan for life. The love is that strong. But growing up a Buckeye in South Carolina, more specifically SEC country isn’t an easy thing to do.
Buckeye fans from Ohio to California go through the same thing, except for me, it's worse than for most. I’m in the heart of the criticism, and it's not always an easy thing to swallow.
I'll still be here in South Carolina for the time being, representing Ohio State football on Saturdays, during every off season, and come bowl time (after this season).
It doesn’t matter where I am. My allegiance to Ohio State will remain. Yes, even here in SEC country.
@BlockONation
Brad @theGURO15
Check Out Other Block Articles - Click Here
Ever since November 22, 1997, I’ve been hooked on Ohio State Football.Every Ohio State fan and every Michigan fan should always remember that day.
For Michigan fans, Charles Woodson sealed the Heisman Trophy. For Ohio State, it was a blown chance to go to the Rose Bowl and even possibly compete for the national title.
For me, it was the beginning of a lifelong fandom and dedication to Ohio State football.
Unfortunately, I live in Columbia, South Carolina—The home of the South Carolina Gamecocks. There wasn’t much room for me to express my love for my favorite team at first, but I made room anyway.
The life of being a Buckeye fan in SEC country is, well, rough.
In elementary school, I let my fandom be known, and was called a traitor, idiot and all sorts of names routinely for not succumbing to liking the USC Gamecocks.
They didn’t understand that beating Michigan was more important than their rivalry with Clemson.
And without a doubt, it was.
As Jim Tressel came and succeeded in winning Big Ten titles as well as a national title, I was always the target of jokes whenever we had an embarrassing loss or whatever the case was.
Because I live in South Carolina, everyone expects that if you aren’t a USC or Clemson fan, you must like another team in in the SEC.
For me, how I saw an SEC fan: An SEC fan wouldn’t let you live down that infamous bowl record. And I mean that literally.
I could recall in high school not wanting to go to school the day after both national championship games,because I knew I would be brutally teased by the Florida and LSU fans respectively.
Any Ohio State football fan can tell you that those two years were the hardest. Being reminded that your team can’t compete with the speed of the SEC stings a bit.
I knew better. I knew Jim Tressel wasn’t being aggressive enough. I knew he came in thinking Tresselball would be successful. But to them that never mattered.
In the midst of that, I had to deal with USC fans who didn’t know their place.
I can’t remember a time when a USC fan didn’t bring up how Ohio State lost to the Gamecocks twice in the Outback bowl.
Yes, the two games held in the 2000 and 2001 bowl seasons.
All of that ended whenever I would ask how many conference/national titles they won though.
Although it was a burden, I never backed down from my pride in Ohio State.
If Ohio State was the brunt of jokes in America after those national title losses, the state of South Carolina convinced me it was the chairman of the board, assisting the charge.
Everyone else lead behind Florida and continued to add insult to injury to every Buckeye fan imaginable. Including me, of course.
But, that wouldn't last forever. The greatest, most recent great memory I have is our win versus Arkansas in the 2011 Sugar Bowl.
Had I lived in Columbus or anywhere in Ohio, I would have been able to celebrate with fellow Buckeye fans and join in their optimism and hopefulness. We would have all believed that this game would finally end the streak against the SEC.
But I wasn’t, I was in South Carolina being reminded that my Ohio State Buckeyes couldn’t compete with Arkansas because we’re too slow.
I knew we had the potential to win, but wasn’t allowed to believe it.
But when Ohio State did actually beat Arkansas, I had a tear come down. Finally, there was no more "too slow" or "not good enough to compete" talk. It was finally over and so were the jokes.
Being an Ohio State Buckeye fan in Columbia South Carolina is like being the black sheep of a family. After the win over Arkansas, the SEC jokes died down, but USC didn’t forget to tell me about their success the past two seasons.
I more than likely will be a Buckeye fan for life. The love is that strong. But growing up a Buckeye in South Carolina, more specifically SEC country isn’t an easy thing to do.
Buckeye fans from Ohio to California go through the same thing, except for me, it's worse than for most. I’m in the heart of the criticism, and it's not always an easy thing to swallow.
I'll still be here in South Carolina for the time being, representing Ohio State football on Saturdays, during every off season, and come bowl time (after this season).
It doesn’t matter where I am. My allegiance to Ohio State will remain. Yes, even here in SEC country.
@BlockONation Brad @theGURO15 Articles - Click HereSunday, July 29, 2012
Around The Block With Nile Sykes: Have The Buckeyes Found A Friday Night Lights Diamond In The Rough?
By HD Handshoe — BlockONation.com Founder
Ohio State's Friday Night Lights football camp the evening of July 27th, 2012, was essentially a high school who's who of all-star-caliber juniors and seniors from all over the country.
While the names of some of those in attendance may resonate with familiarity to even the most casual of recruiting novices, there were plenty of lesser known, lesser-heralded prospects at the camp looking to get noticed, be-it by Ohio State, or perhaps another FBS program.
Nile Sykes, a LB/DE prospect from Oak Park, Illinois (River Forest HS), is one of those players that fall into the lesser-known, lesser-heralded category—or at least he was before FNL.
Although I personally believe he eventually will, thus far, Sykes has not yet received the star ratings and hype that some of his fellow recruits in the class of 2014 have from Rivals, Scout, and ESPN.
I can tell you that it's not do to a lack of size or speed. Sykes is 6-2, 220, and during FNL, the players were divided up by position. Sykes was put with the defensive ends, and when each group ran the 40-yard-dash near the end of the camp, Sykes was the fastest out of his group.
And it's not as if nobody has noticed Sykes. He currently holds offers from Northern Illinois, Toledo, Purdue, and Illinois, as well as rumored interest from Wisconsin, and likely safe to now throw Ohio State into that mix.
After seeing Sykes in action, I was very impressed by him. That continued after the camp, when I was fortunate enough to have the chance to speak with Nile.
HD: Nile, you were great at FNL. Did coach Meyer, and/or any of the other coaches talk with you after the camp?
Nile: Thank you so much. Yes I talked to both coach Vrabel and coach Meyer afterwards and they had nothing but awesome things to say about me.
HD: As of right now, do you have an OSU offer?
Nile: No, I don't have an offer from them (yet, haha) but hopefully after last nights performance, they see that I can play and really like me.
HD: How do you feel about Columbus and Ohio State after coming to FNL?
Nile: I love it up there in Columbus. Awesome community -- awesome education -- awesome football! Just everything there seems to be like perfect.
HD: So no offer yet, but do you have an idea of what to expect between you and Ohio State going forward?
Nile: I got coach Vrabel's info, so I'll will be in touch very soon so they can speak to my parents and stuff like that.
HD: Well, I'm pulling for you to get an offer from OSU soon. I think I speak for all Buckeye fans when I say you will look great in Scarlet and Gray! I'm looking forward to hopefully seeing you as a Buckeye! You blew up last night! Glad I was there to see.
Nile: Thank you so much. I appreciate all the support. It means a lot to me.
HD: Thanks for taking time to do this Nile. I'm confident that Ohio State fans are going to like you and like hearing what you had to say about the possibility of becoming a Buckeye.
Nile: No problem, my pleasure. Go Bucks!
He later Tweeted, "S/O to ALL Buckeye fans. Man, you guys great."
He also posted this image on his Twitter feed shortly after of himself with coach Meyer.
To me, Sykes sounds like a great kid who happens to be a talented football player that raised his stock in the eyes of the OSU coaching staff, and that if and when he receives a scholarship offer to play for the Buckeyes—and I hopefully assume I'm not putting words in his mouth here—he's all-but ready to commit to play for Ohio State.
Maybe that Ohio State offer never comes, or maybe it does, but Sykes still ends up playing elsewhere.
I hope the offer from OSU does come, and that he jumps all over it, but either way, I think everyone took notice of him at FNL. At this point, you've probably not seen him play unless you were at FNL, so watch this brief highlight video (or this much better full-length one) and I think you'll start to see what I'm already seeing.
I know wherever he plays (cough, coach Meyer, offer him please, cough), I enjoyed getting to chat with him and featuring him in this article.
@BlockONation
Click For The Block Nation Front Page
Ohio State's Friday Night Lights football camp the evening of July 27th, 2012, was essentially a high school who's who of all-star-caliber juniors and seniors from all over the country.
While the names of some of those in attendance may resonate with familiarity to even the most casual of recruiting novices, there were plenty of lesser known, lesser-heralded prospects at the camp looking to get noticed, be-it by Ohio State, or perhaps another FBS program.
Nile Sykes, a LB/DE prospect from Oak Park, Illinois (River Forest HS), is one of those players that fall into the lesser-known, lesser-heralded category—or at least he was before FNL.
Although I personally believe he eventually will, thus far, Sykes has not yet received the star ratings and hype that some of his fellow recruits in the class of 2014 have from Rivals, Scout, and ESPN.
I can tell you that it's not do to a lack of size or speed. Sykes is 6-2, 220, and during FNL, the players were divided up by position. Sykes was put with the defensive ends, and when each group ran the 40-yard-dash near the end of the camp, Sykes was the fastest out of his group.
And it's not as if nobody has noticed Sykes. He currently holds offers from Northern Illinois, Toledo, Purdue, and Illinois, as well as rumored interest from Wisconsin, and likely safe to now throw Ohio State into that mix.
After seeing Sykes in action, I was very impressed by him. That continued after the camp, when I was fortunate enough to have the chance to speak with Nile.
HD: Nile, you were great at FNL. Did coach Meyer, and/or any of the other coaches talk with you after the camp?
Nile: Thank you so much. Yes I talked to both coach Vrabel and coach Meyer afterwards and they had nothing but awesome things to say about me.
HD: As of right now, do you have an OSU offer?
Nile: No, I don't have an offer from them (yet, haha) but hopefully after last nights performance, they see that I can play and really like me.
HD: How do you feel about Columbus and Ohio State after coming to FNL?
Nile: I love it up there in Columbus. Awesome community -- awesome education -- awesome football! Just everything there seems to be like perfect.
HD: So no offer yet, but do you have an idea of what to expect between you and Ohio State going forward?
Nile: I got coach Vrabel's info, so I'll will be in touch very soon so they can speak to my parents and stuff like that.
HD: Well, I'm pulling for you to get an offer from OSU soon. I think I speak for all Buckeye fans when I say you will look great in Scarlet and Gray! I'm looking forward to hopefully seeing you as a Buckeye! You blew up last night! Glad I was there to see.
Nile: Thank you so much. I appreciate all the support. It means a lot to me.
HD: Thanks for taking time to do this Nile. I'm confident that Ohio State fans are going to like you and like hearing what you had to say about the possibility of becoming a Buckeye.
Nile: No problem, my pleasure. Go Bucks!
He later Tweeted, "S/O to ALL Buckeye fans. Man, you guys great."
He also posted this image on his Twitter feed shortly after of himself with coach Meyer.
To me, Sykes sounds like a great kid who happens to be a talented football player that raised his stock in the eyes of the OSU coaching staff, and that if and when he receives a scholarship offer to play for the Buckeyes—and I hopefully assume I'm not putting words in his mouth here—he's all-but ready to commit to play for Ohio State.
Maybe that Ohio State offer never comes, or maybe it does, but Sykes still ends up playing elsewhere.
I hope the offer from OSU does come, and that he jumps all over it, but either way, I think everyone took notice of him at FNL. At this point, you've probably not seen him play unless you were at FNL, so watch this brief highlight video (or this much better full-length one) and I think you'll start to see what I'm already seeing.
I know wherever he plays (cough, coach Meyer, offer him please, cough), I enjoyed getting to chat with him and featuring him in this article.
@BlockONation Nation Front PageThursday, July 12, 2012
Conjecture, Video Evidence Suggest Ohio State's Passing Game Will Improve Tremendously in 2012
By HD Handshoe — BlockONation.com Founder
I read an article yesterday about Ohio State sophomore QB, Braxton Miller, which more or less said Miller will flourish in 2012 in Urban Meyer's offense, a fact that most experts and fans would seem to agree on.
There are still doubters out there, however. I read several comments that referred to Miller as overrated, and a plethora of others that implied Ohio State has no WRs for Miller to throw to.
While they aren't exactly nationwide household names yet, to say the Buckeyes have no talented WRs simply isn't true.
Having said that, it still seems that this is a common opinion shared by many outside of the Ohio State family and program. We can call it a basic lack of knowledge about this team and roster, or perhaps a bit of hate from fans of rival teams, or even just plain idiocy. Honestly, it's probably a concoction of all three, and I believe Urban Meyer wants it and likes it that way.
Coach Meyer has repeatedly said that WR is the weakest position on the roster and his biggest area of concern. Meyer is a master of hyperbole, and everyone drinking the "lack of talent at the WR position is alarming" Kool-aid are in for quite a shock come September. Miller and OSU's passing game is a bit of an afterthought to many, and that's just fine.
These opinions are based on past performance, and when taking that into consideration, they are hard to argue against based on the miserable ranking — 115th in passing in the nation — the Buckeyes had as a team last year.
There are a couple things to also remember about last year.
1. Braxton Miller's QB coach was previously Ohio State's video coordinator, and during games, he was not on the field coaching his true-freshman QB, but up in the coaches booth instead.
2. Jim Bollman was OSU's offensive coordinator, and kept the remnants of Tresselball on life-support all season long.
3. The entire staff was one and done, and they knew it, and it showed on the field. They gave up on coaching the players, and the season was obviously a huge disappointment — but those days are over.
Below are a few video highlights to help bolster the claims I have made above.
(I didn't find any recent, individual highlight videos of Corey "Philly" Brown, Chris Fields, or Verlon Reed, but all three are in the two-deep mix at WR for Ohio State this season.)
Braxton Miller 2011 Highlights
Braxton Miller to Devin Smith vs. Wisconsin
Braxton Miller to Evan Spencer: Amazing One-Handed Grab vs. Akron
Senior TE Jake Stoneburner: A WR in a TE Body
Sophmore WR Tyrone Williams:
HS Stud, College Dud? The Verdict Should Come Soon
Incoming Freshman WR Michael Thomas: Spring Game MVP
Incoming Freshman WR Frank Epitropoulos
Incoming Freshman WR Ricquan Southward
2012 Spring Game Highlights
I'm certain the Buckeyes cannot wait to prove that last years passing and receiving stats — some of the lowest totals ever recorded during a single season at Ohio State — were a complete fluke.
With the new offense the Buckeyes will be running under Meyer — and taking into account the great staff that Meyer has assembled — I fully expect Miller and his young but talented WRs — both upperclassmen and conceivably one or two incoming freshmen — to elevate OSU's aerial attack towards elite status in 2012.
@BlockONation
Click For The Block Nation Front Page
I read an article yesterday about Ohio State sophomore QB, Braxton Miller, which more or less said Miller will flourish in 2012 in Urban Meyer's offense, a fact that most experts and fans would seem to agree on.There are still doubters out there, however. I read several comments that referred to Miller as overrated, and a plethora of others that implied Ohio State has no WRs for Miller to throw to.
While they aren't exactly nationwide household names yet, to say the Buckeyes have no talented WRs simply isn't true.
Having said that, it still seems that this is a common opinion shared by many outside of the Ohio State family and program. We can call it a basic lack of knowledge about this team and roster, or perhaps a bit of hate from fans of rival teams, or even just plain idiocy. Honestly, it's probably a concoction of all three, and I believe Urban Meyer wants it and likes it that way.
Coach Meyer has repeatedly said that WR is the weakest position on the roster and his biggest area of concern. Meyer is a master of hyperbole, and everyone drinking the "lack of talent at the WR position is alarming" Kool-aid are in for quite a shock come September. Miller and OSU's passing game is a bit of an afterthought to many, and that's just fine.
These opinions are based on past performance, and when taking that into consideration, they are hard to argue against based on the miserable ranking — 115th in passing in the nation — the Buckeyes had as a team last year.
There are a couple things to also remember about last year.
1. Braxton Miller's QB coach was previously Ohio State's video coordinator, and during games, he was not on the field coaching his true-freshman QB, but up in the coaches booth instead.
2. Jim Bollman was OSU's offensive coordinator, and kept the remnants of Tresselball on life-support all season long.
3. The entire staff was one and done, and they knew it, and it showed on the field. They gave up on coaching the players, and the season was obviously a huge disappointment — but those days are over.
Below are a few video highlights to help bolster the claims I have made above.
(I didn't find any recent, individual highlight videos of Corey "Philly" Brown, Chris Fields, or Verlon Reed, but all three are in the two-deep mix at WR for Ohio State this season.)
Braxton Miller 2011 Highlights
Braxton Miller to Devin Smith vs. Wisconsin
Braxton Miller to Evan Spencer: Amazing One-Handed Grab vs. Akron
Senior TE Jake Stoneburner: A WR in a TE Body
Sophmore WR Tyrone Williams:
HS Stud, College Dud? The Verdict Should Come Soon
Incoming Freshman WR Michael Thomas: Spring Game MVP
Incoming Freshman WR Frank Epitropoulos
Incoming Freshman WR Ricquan Southward
2012 Spring Game Highlights
I'm certain the Buckeyes cannot wait to prove that last years passing and receiving stats — some of the lowest totals ever recorded during a single season at Ohio State — were a complete fluke.
With the new offense the Buckeyes will be running under Meyer — and taking into account the great staff that Meyer has assembled — I fully expect Miller and his young but talented WRs — both upperclassmen and conceivably one or two incoming freshmen — to elevate OSU's aerial attack towards elite status in 2012.
@BlockONation Nation Front PageThursday, July 5, 2012
Ohio State's Updated All-Time Head-To-Head Win/Loss Record Vs. Every Big 10 Team
By HD Handshoe — BlockONation.com Founder
I consider myself a fan of history.
Specifically, I'm both a Civil War and College Football enthusiast.
I only read about American History, but I do occasionally write about Ohio State football here on the blog.
I guess that's why I was curious what Ohio State's record was against every current Big Ten team, so much so, that I did a lot of research, compiled the numbers, and posted an article with my findings way back in 2010.
Two years later — and with a new member in the conference — feels like a good time to bring myself and my readers up-to-date.
Here then are the all-time W/L/T records vs. every member of the Big Ten (including former member Chicago) up to, and including, the 2011 season.
10 wins, 2 losses, and 2 ties vs. the Chicago Maroons (no longer in DI/B10)
64 wins, 30 losses, and 4 ties vs. the Illinois Fighting Illini
68 wins, 12 losses, and 5 ties vs. the Indiana Hoosiers
46 wins, 14 losses, and 3 ties vs. the Iowa Hawkeyes
44 wins, 58 losses, and 6 ties vs. the Michigan Wolverines
27 wins, 13 losses, and 0 ties vs. the Michigan State Spartans
43 wins, 7 losses, and 0 ties vs. the Minnesota Golden Gophers
2 wins, 1 loss, and 0 ties vs. the Nebraska Cornhuskers
59 wins, 14 losses, and 1 tie vs. the Northwestern Wildcats
14 wins, 13 losses, and 0 ties vs. the Penn State Nittany Lions
38 wins, 14 losses, and 2 ties vs. the Purdue Boilermakers
54 wins, 18 losses, and 5 ties vs. the Wisconsin Badgers
As you can see above, the only team in the conference to have an advantage over the Buckeyes is Michigan, but since 1919, the series is even at 44-44-5.
The Michigan lead in the series was "padded" in the first 15 meetings between 1897 and 1919.
The Wolverines dominated a very young Ohio State program, with Michigan winning 13 of those 15 games — the only caveats for OSU coming in 1900 and 1910, when the teams battled to a 0-0 tie and a 3-3 tie, respectively.
Even with the very lean John Cooper years (2-10-1 vs. UM), Ohio State still leads the head-to-head series 32-28-2 from 1950-2011, a span widely considered as the modern era of college football.
Michigan is the all-time wins leader in college football with 895, so to be trailing only them (by 14 wins) all-time, head-to-head in the conference is nothing to be ashamed of — especially since the Buckeyes have narrowed the gap significantly over the last decade.
I know I went on a bit of a rant there. Instead of the previous five paragraphs, I probably could have just said "I hate Michigan" — the end, but ripping on them and pointing out that they only lead because of their pre-WWI wins against a H.S. level program in its infancy is so much more fun.
In closing, you may be interested to know that the picture above is of Ohio State's 1890 football team, its first ever team.
It's safe to say from 1890-2011, Ohio State has certainly come along way in football.
Here's to the next 122 years of Buckeye football history.
@BlockONation
Click For The Block Nation Front Page
I consider myself a fan of history.Specifically, I'm both a Civil War and College Football enthusiast.
I only read about American History, but I do occasionally write about Ohio State football here on the blog.
I guess that's why I was curious what Ohio State's record was against every current Big Ten team, so much so, that I did a lot of research, compiled the numbers, and posted an article with my findings way back in 2010.
Two years later — and with a new member in the conference — feels like a good time to bring myself and my readers up-to-date.
Here then are the all-time W/L/T records vs. every member of the Big Ten (including former member Chicago) up to, and including, the 2011 season.
10 wins, 2 losses, and 2 ties vs. the Chicago Maroons (no longer in DI/B10)
64 wins, 30 losses, and 4 ties vs. the Illinois Fighting Illini
68 wins, 12 losses, and 5 ties vs. the Indiana Hoosiers
46 wins, 14 losses, and 3 ties vs. the Iowa Hawkeyes
44 wins, 58 losses, and 6 ties vs. the Michigan Wolverines
27 wins, 13 losses, and 0 ties vs. the Michigan State Spartans
43 wins, 7 losses, and 0 ties vs. the Minnesota Golden Gophers
2 wins, 1 loss, and 0 ties vs. the Nebraska Cornhuskers
59 wins, 14 losses, and 1 tie vs. the Northwestern Wildcats
14 wins, 13 losses, and 0 ties vs. the Penn State Nittany Lions
38 wins, 14 losses, and 2 ties vs. the Purdue Boilermakers
54 wins, 18 losses, and 5 ties vs. the Wisconsin Badgers
As you can see above, the only team in the conference to have an advantage over the Buckeyes is Michigan, but since 1919, the series is even at 44-44-5.
The Michigan lead in the series was "padded" in the first 15 meetings between 1897 and 1919.
The Wolverines dominated a very young Ohio State program, with Michigan winning 13 of those 15 games — the only caveats for OSU coming in 1900 and 1910, when the teams battled to a 0-0 tie and a 3-3 tie, respectively.
Even with the very lean John Cooper years (2-10-1 vs. UM), Ohio State still leads the head-to-head series 32-28-2 from 1950-2011, a span widely considered as the modern era of college football.
Michigan is the all-time wins leader in college football with 895, so to be trailing only them (by 14 wins) all-time, head-to-head in the conference is nothing to be ashamed of — especially since the Buckeyes have narrowed the gap significantly over the last decade.
I know I went on a bit of a rant there. Instead of the previous five paragraphs, I probably could have just said "I hate Michigan" — the end, but ripping on them and pointing out that they only lead because of their pre-WWI wins against a H.S. level program in its infancy is so much more fun.
In closing, you may be interested to know that the picture above is of Ohio State's 1890 football team, its first ever team.
It's safe to say from 1890-2011, Ohio State has certainly come along way in football.
Here's to the next 122 years of Buckeye football history.
@BlockONation Nation Front PageSunday, June 10, 2012
Fine Tuning: 5 Things Braxton Miller Must Do to Adapt to the Spread
By Luke Pashke — BlockONation.com Featured Contributor
As soon as the hiring of Urban Meyer was announced, I'm sure Braxton Miller was jumping for absolute joy. The system Miller was asked to perform last year was atrocious and completely unfit for Miller's skill set.
One of the many positive things Meyer brings with him is his trademarked spread system that focuses on putting his best players in the best positions to succeed—especially his quarterbacks.
Now the sophomore field general will be placed in the perfect system for his talents and should adapt quickly and well. This being said, Miller still has some work to do in order to put major points on the board in 2012.
Make Quicker Decisions
Meyer's spread offense is built on quick-hitting passes that require almost muscle memory reaction from the quarterback. The field general must know where his receivers are, where they will be and where he must put the ball in a flash.
Despite an excellent freshman year, Miller struggled to make quick decisions and often preferred to extend plays rather than get the ball out quickly.
This won't fly in the spread system, and Miller must know that. The better Miller knows his reads and is able to put the ball where it needs to be, the better this type of offense will be.
Read the Defensive End
The zone read is a staple in Meyer's offense. It is one of the most commonly run plays in his system and possibly the most important one. In order to see success from this certain play, the quarterback must read the defensive end precisely and effectively. This play does not work if the quarterback makes a misread.
Miller is a fantastic runner don't get me wrong, but sometimes the best plays he'll make next year will be when he leaves the ball with his running back. If Miller can develop effective decision making in the zone read, it will open up holes all over the defense and keep them on their heels.
Make the Right Decision Out of the Option
As stated before, Miller is an excellent runner.
We know he can drive a defensive coordinator crazy with his legs, but he must also kill defenses with his mind. Throughout his first season, Miller hardly ever pitched the ball on speed options and this sometimes hurt the Buckeyes offense.
The speed option is another commonly run play in Meyer's system, and if this offense wants to see great success, Miller must improve his decision making in the option game. Strictly running and ignoring the pitch will make the play one dimensional and easily stoppable.
If Miller really wants to march down the field, he must trust his running back and pitch the ball when necessary.
Make Accurate, Short Passes
Although Miller did have an excellent freshman season at Ohio State, he has plenty of room to improve in the passing game. He showed potential in a mostly pathetic passing attack last season, but struggled greatly at times with his accuracy and placement.
In the spread offense, accuracy in the short passing game will be paramount.
Miller must be able to connect on the quick-hitting passing routes with precision in order to avoid turnovers and "third and longs," and move the ball on all downs. When throwing quick screens, Miller must be able to place the ball in the best position for his receiver to run after the catch.
Difficult throws to grab completely kill a screen before they even start.
Although these may be viewed as the "little things," they will be the difference in this offense being a great unit or a mediocre one.
Distribute the Ball to All of His Weapons
Braxton Miller is an excellent player and clearly the main attraction on this offense, but he cannot be the only attraction. The sophomore quarterback is an absolute competitor and gamer, and has already shown the ability to completely take over a game and this is easily his greatest attribute.
However, at times, it appeared as if Miller would rather do it on his own rather than put faith in his teammates.
I don't think this is a result of a lack of trust in his teammates as much as it is how competitive he is. But if he puts too much on his shoulders, this offense will fail.
Like a point guard, Miller must spread the ball all over the field and get his numerous weapons involved throughout the game.
This offense is very versatile and focuses primarily on attacking the defense from every angle and stretching them to the max, and if Miller facilitates the ball while also dominating with his legs, the end zone will become very familiar to this offense.
@BlockONation
@Luke_Pashke
Click For The Block Nation Front Page
As soon as the hiring of Urban Meyer was announced, I'm sure Braxton Miller was jumping for absolute joy. The system Miller was asked to perform last year was atrocious and completely unfit for Miller's skill set.One of the many positive things Meyer brings with him is his trademarked spread system that focuses on putting his best players in the best positions to succeed—especially his quarterbacks.
Now the sophomore field general will be placed in the perfect system for his talents and should adapt quickly and well. This being said, Miller still has some work to do in order to put major points on the board in 2012.
Make Quicker Decisions
Meyer's spread offense is built on quick-hitting passes that require almost muscle memory reaction from the quarterback. The field general must know where his receivers are, where they will be and where he must put the ball in a flash.
Despite an excellent freshman year, Miller struggled to make quick decisions and often preferred to extend plays rather than get the ball out quickly.
This won't fly in the spread system, and Miller must know that. The better Miller knows his reads and is able to put the ball where it needs to be, the better this type of offense will be.
Read the Defensive End
The zone read is a staple in Meyer's offense. It is one of the most commonly run plays in his system and possibly the most important one. In order to see success from this certain play, the quarterback must read the defensive end precisely and effectively. This play does not work if the quarterback makes a misread.
Miller is a fantastic runner don't get me wrong, but sometimes the best plays he'll make next year will be when he leaves the ball with his running back. If Miller can develop effective decision making in the zone read, it will open up holes all over the defense and keep them on their heels.
Make the Right Decision Out of the Option
As stated before, Miller is an excellent runner.
We know he can drive a defensive coordinator crazy with his legs, but he must also kill defenses with his mind. Throughout his first season, Miller hardly ever pitched the ball on speed options and this sometimes hurt the Buckeyes offense.
The speed option is another commonly run play in Meyer's system, and if this offense wants to see great success, Miller must improve his decision making in the option game. Strictly running and ignoring the pitch will make the play one dimensional and easily stoppable.
If Miller really wants to march down the field, he must trust his running back and pitch the ball when necessary.
Make Accurate, Short Passes
Although Miller did have an excellent freshman season at Ohio State, he has plenty of room to improve in the passing game. He showed potential in a mostly pathetic passing attack last season, but struggled greatly at times with his accuracy and placement.
In the spread offense, accuracy in the short passing game will be paramount.
Miller must be able to connect on the quick-hitting passing routes with precision in order to avoid turnovers and "third and longs," and move the ball on all downs. When throwing quick screens, Miller must be able to place the ball in the best position for his receiver to run after the catch.
Difficult throws to grab completely kill a screen before they even start.
Although these may be viewed as the "little things," they will be the difference in this offense being a great unit or a mediocre one.
Distribute the Ball to All of His Weapons
Braxton Miller is an excellent player and clearly the main attraction on this offense, but he cannot be the only attraction. The sophomore quarterback is an absolute competitor and gamer, and has already shown the ability to completely take over a game and this is easily his greatest attribute.However, at times, it appeared as if Miller would rather do it on his own rather than put faith in his teammates.
I don't think this is a result of a lack of trust in his teammates as much as it is how competitive he is. But if he puts too much on his shoulders, this offense will fail.
Like a point guard, Miller must spread the ball all over the field and get his numerous weapons involved throughout the game.
This offense is very versatile and focuses primarily on attacking the defense from every angle and stretching them to the max, and if Miller facilitates the ball while also dominating with his legs, the end zone will become very familiar to this offense.
@BlockONation @Luke_Pashke Nation Front PageSaturday, June 9, 2012
Ranking The Top 5 Buckeyes That Must Step Up For Ohio State In 2012
By Tim Bielik— BlockONation.com Featured Contributor
With the 2012 season just a few months away, Ohio State has a roster full of plenty of talent, though most of it is unproven at this point.
They do seem to have new life under Urban Meyer and a chance to be a really good football team with a modernized offense.
The question for this team is whether or not their young players are ready to step into the spotlight and make the types of plays that they need to win at this level.
Here are the five Buckeyes who need to step up the most this season.
5. Corey "Philly" Brown, WR
For Ohio State's new offense to work this season, they are going to need some help from the wide receiver position.
The passing game was absolutely unwatchable for most of last season, as there was poor blocking from the offensive line as well as the receivers not being able to get open.
Junior Corey Brown needs to be a guy who steps up and makes the big plays this season.
He came in as a freshman in 2010 and hasn't quite lived up to the lofty praise gifted to him after high school.
Now he looks like he is in an offense that is more suited to his skills. Because of that, this is without a doubt his make-or-break season.
4. Jack Mewhort, LT
New offensive line coach Ed Warriner led a massive reshuffling of the Ohio State front line by moving junior Jack Mewhort over from guard to left tackle after the spring.
Mewhort has the size and athleticism to make the transition over to left tackle pretty well.
He will have a huge job ahead of him to help keep Braxton Miller upright.
His status for the early part of the season is somewhat in doubt after he was suspended because of his arrest on a misdemeanor charge of obstructing official business.
He should be good to go the rest of the season, but Mewhort has a huge job ahead of him when he comes back.
3. Curtis Grant, LB
At the beginning of spring football, Urban Meyer singled out former blue-chip linebacker Curtis Grant as not only the starting MLB on the defense, but gave him the keys to the defense without ever starting a game.
Grant's performance, in Meyer's words, will either make or break the Ohio State defense.
He has the potential to do that and more because of the size and instincts he came into college with.
Grant has a great front four in front of him led by John Simon and Johnathan Hankins, along with a stud OLB in Ryan Shazier to make life easier for him.
But Grant will need to be strong right from the start.
2. Jake Stoneburner, TE
Jake Stoneburner for the longest time has been a tremendous mismatch that Jim Tressel and his former offensive coaching staff failed to utilize properly.
That won't be the case under Meyer and offensive coordinator Tom Herman, who have a history of getting big seasons out of their tight ends.
Stoneburner poses an amazing mismatch from the TE position and Meyer will find a way to get him the ball as much as possible.
The question is if Stoneburner is finally ready to accept the challenge and be the big playmaker this offense needs in order to succeed.
1. Braxton Miller, QB
The player who has the most expectations upon him this season is an extremely obvious one.
Braxton Miller needs to grow quite a bit this season after showing plenty of flashes last year since most of the offense's successes are dependent on his dual-threat ability.
He will have to prove he can make the big throws while at the same time continue to run as well as he did last season.
He looked much better throwing the football in the spring game back in April, completing 24-of-31 passes for 258 yards.
If he can build off of that and become a much better passer, Ohio State's offense will make a dramatic leap in 2012.
@BlockONation
@Bielik_Tim
Click For The Block Nation Front Page
With the 2012 season just a few months away, Ohio State has a roster full of plenty of talent, though most of it is unproven at this point.They do seem to have new life under Urban Meyer and a chance to be a really good football team with a modernized offense.
The question for this team is whether or not their young players are ready to step into the spotlight and make the types of plays that they need to win at this level.
Here are the five Buckeyes who need to step up the most this season.
5. Corey "Philly" Brown, WR
For Ohio State's new offense to work this season, they are going to need some help from the wide receiver position.
The passing game was absolutely unwatchable for most of last season, as there was poor blocking from the offensive line as well as the receivers not being able to get open.
Junior Corey Brown needs to be a guy who steps up and makes the big plays this season.
He came in as a freshman in 2010 and hasn't quite lived up to the lofty praise gifted to him after high school.
Now he looks like he is in an offense that is more suited to his skills. Because of that, this is without a doubt his make-or-break season.
4. Jack Mewhort, LT
New offensive line coach Ed Warriner led a massive reshuffling of the Ohio State front line by moving junior Jack Mewhort over from guard to left tackle after the spring.Mewhort has the size and athleticism to make the transition over to left tackle pretty well.
He will have a huge job ahead of him to help keep Braxton Miller upright.
His status for the early part of the season is somewhat in doubt after he was suspended because of his arrest on a misdemeanor charge of obstructing official business.
He should be good to go the rest of the season, but Mewhort has a huge job ahead of him when he comes back.
3. Curtis Grant, LB
At the beginning of spring football, Urban Meyer singled out former blue-chip linebacker Curtis Grant as not only the starting MLB on the defense, but gave him the keys to the defense without ever starting a game.
Grant's performance, in Meyer's words, will either make or break the Ohio State defense.
He has the potential to do that and more because of the size and instincts he came into college with.
Grant has a great front four in front of him led by John Simon and Johnathan Hankins, along with a stud OLB in Ryan Shazier to make life easier for him.
But Grant will need to be strong right from the start.
2. Jake Stoneburner, TE
Jake Stoneburner for the longest time has been a tremendous mismatch that Jim Tressel and his former offensive coaching staff failed to utilize properly.That won't be the case under Meyer and offensive coordinator Tom Herman, who have a history of getting big seasons out of their tight ends.
Stoneburner poses an amazing mismatch from the TE position and Meyer will find a way to get him the ball as much as possible.
The question is if Stoneburner is finally ready to accept the challenge and be the big playmaker this offense needs in order to succeed.
1. Braxton Miller, QB
The player who has the most expectations upon him this season is an extremely obvious one.Braxton Miller needs to grow quite a bit this season after showing plenty of flashes last year since most of the offense's successes are dependent on his dual-threat ability.
He will have to prove he can make the big throws while at the same time continue to run as well as he did last season.
He looked much better throwing the football in the spring game back in April, completing 24-of-31 passes for 258 yards.
If he can build off of that and become a much better passer, Ohio State's offense will make a dramatic leap in 2012.
@BlockONation @Bielik_Tim Nation Front Page
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