Category Archives: Ohio State Buckeyes

Buckeyes well represented on Steele’s All-Big Ten teams

June 3, 2013 – 9:21 am

Noted college football savant Phil Steele has released his preseason All-Big Ten teams, and to the surprise of few Ohio State was very well represented.

Quarterback Braxton Miller heads six Buckeyes on the first team. Six more made the second team, and five others are either on the third or fourth team.

Other Ohio State first-teamers were cornerback Bradley Roby, safety Christian Bryant, linebacker Ryan Shazier and offensive linemen Jack Mewhort and Andrew Norwell. Roby, like Miller, will be on just about every major preseason award list throughout the summer.

Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland, a native of the Dayton area, was on the first team. Ohio State’s Adolphus Washington and Curtis Grant were on the second team, and both are interesting projections because they’ll be in totally new roles this season. All four of Ohio State’s returning offensive linemen were represented in Steele’s four-tier projections.

Steele is based in Cleveland. His annual magazine — the absolute annual college football encyclopedia — will be released later this month.

View the full list here on Steele’s site

By Zac | Also posted in Big Ten Conference, NCAA Football | Tagged , , , , , |


Seven Buckeyes sign UDFA deals

April 28, 2013 – 7:37 pm

Three Ohio State players were selected in the NFL Draft — Johnathan Hankins (2nd round, Giants), John Simon (4th, Ravens) and Reid Fragel (7th, Bengals).

Per Ohio State, the following players have signed undrafted rookie deals since the conclusion of the draft.

FB Zach Boren – Houston Texans

DT Garrett Goebel – St. Louis Rams

CB Travis Howard – Houston Texans

S Orhian Johnson – Houston Texans

LB Etienne Sabino – New York Giants

TE Jake Stoneburner – Green Bay Packers

DE Nathan Williams – Minnesota Vikings

By Zac | Also posted in Draft 2013, NFL |


Notes and observations from the North-South Classic

April 28, 2013 – 7:31 pm

DAYTON, Ohio – I went to the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association North-South All-Star Classic on Saturday to work on a couple projects for down the road. While I was there, I watched a couple football games.

**This Urban Meyer guy knows what he’s doing. As expected, the stars of the games for some of Ohio’s best in the class of 2013 were Ohio State signees. Massillon’s Gareon Conley caught 3 touchdown passes for the North in the big-school (Div. I-III) game and was named the North’s Offensive MVP, and Cleveland Glenville’s Chris Worley was an absolute terror on defense and was named the North Defensive MVP.

Worley said he plans to start out at safety at the “star” position when he gets to Ohio State this summer but could grow into a linebacker’s role and isn’t opposed to either. He plays fast and violently and if he doesn’t get on the field sooner than later it’s a sign that the Buckeyes are really, really stacked.

**This was the first year the OHSFCA divided the event into two games and played them at Welcome Stadium. The North won the big-school game, 33-27, after leading 14-0 early, trailing 21-14 at halftime and then hanging on late. Game MVP Kyle Kempt, an Oregon State commit, kept finding his high school teammate, Conley, and the South really couldn’t keep up with him.

Kempt threw for 161 yards and threw all 3 of Conley’s touchdowns.

“Pretty awesome way to close our high school careers,” Kempt said. “It was a lot of fun. Gareon made it easy for me sometime at Massillon and he did it again here.”

**In the small-school (Div. IV-VI) game, Akron Manchester QB Nick Peyakov started 7-of-7 and threw 2 early touchdowns to give the North a 14-0 lead. The North held on to win, 27-24, with the winning margin coming on a 55-yard field goal by Michael Geiger of Ottawa Hills, who’s headed to Michigan State.

Remember Geiger’s name. He cleared the crossbar easily on that field goal and has a very bright future.

Norwayne receiver Brady Berger was named MVP of the small-school game after catching two touchdown passes. The South’s biggest play came on an 83-yard touchdown catch by Akron signee Austin Wolf of Lebanon.

Berger plans to walk on at Akron. Peyakov is undecided on a college but is leaning towards Mount Union after he didn’t receive any Div. I scholarship offers. It’s no coincidence, by the way, that Mount Union does what it does on a yearly basis.

**The North-South game has been played since 1946 and is the longest continuously running all-star game in the country. There have only been two Super Bowls ever played without a North-South game alum on one of the rosters.

“I got to read up this week on some of the names of past players in this game,” Kempt said. “It’s an honor to be next. This was a first-class operation this week and something we’ll all remember.”

**Despite being a longtime and involved member of the OHSFCA, Steubenville coach Reno Saccoccia did not attend the games.

A 14-person grand jury begins hearing from witnesses this week as part of an investigation into whether other laws were broken in connection with the incident last summer in which two Steubenville players were convicted of rape last month.

Saccoccia is expected to be called to testify before the grand jury but it’s unclear if he or any other Steubenville Schools employees will eventually face charges.

Three Stuebenville players played for the South team in the big-school game.

**After a bout with cancer that forced him to be away from coaching in each of the last two seasons, it was great to see Glenville coach Ted Ginn Sr. looking healthy and walking the sidelines on Saturday.

**Cincinnati Bengals running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis spoke to the players on Saturday morning about his journey to the NFL, his family’s experience with Hurricane Katrina, the importance of education and a variety of topics. The speech took place behind closed doors at the players’ hotel, but by all accounts was both powerful and memorable.

**The Cleveland Browns are a longtime financial contributor to the game and again this year made a sizable donation. The Ohio National Guard was the game’s primary sponsor.

Check out the photo gallery from the North-South game here

By Zac | Also posted in Akron Zips, NCAA Football, Ohio High School Athletic Association, Oregon State | Tagged , , , , , , , , |


Travis Howard, other Buckeyes awaiting NFL calls

April 27, 2013 – 8:22 am

Several Ohio State players, most notably John Simon and Reid Fragel, are still waiting to hear their names called in the NFL Draft.

Cornerback Travis Howard is one who could be a seventh-round pick — or could have to go the long route and try to make it as  an undrafted free agent. Howard had a solid senior season and plays a priority position, but he really only has the one good season of tape to state his draft case.

His position coach last season, Kerry Coombs, believes Howard will and should be drafted today. Now, that’s neither unusual nor groundbreaking; of course a coach is going to stand up for his guys. But Coombs does everything with extra energy and passion, and he’s passionate that Howard is primed to have a successful pro career.

“Travis, in my estimation, is an NFL defensive back — no doubt about it,” Coombs said. “I’ve coached seven guys who have been in NFL camps and I think he’s every bit as good or better than those guys. He has a tremendous upside. He’s nowhere near a finished product. He’s explosive, he’s long, he can play man to man and he sees the ball well in zone. He gets off the ground.

“He’s a great kid. You don’t have to worry about, is he hanging out in the bar at 2am? That kind of stuff? No. Travis is who he is. He loves the game. He’ll play special teams. He’ll make your team. That’s what I tell scouts. He’ll make your team. I would take him, and I think he’ll be a good player.

“Coming into last year his effort was minimal, his academics were poor, his work ethic was questionable. I think all those things. And I think he had a real good look in the mirror, and he had a lot of help from head coach and his position coach. He didn’t like what he saw and we didn’t like what we saw. I remember driving on vacation last July with my wife and calling him, and what I heard was, ‘I got you coach, I got you coach.’

“I called him every day from the dog gone beach because I wanted to make sure he was taking care of business, and he was. There’s something to be said for that.

“He’s not as good as he would have been had he taken that approach for four years. He has first-round talent. Now, he won’t be drafted that high but he’s a better player than a lot of guys (who got invited) to the NFL Combine. Travis is going to play a lot of football.”

Johnathan Hankins is the only Buckeye selected so far, having gone to the New York Giants in Friday night’s second round.

Fellow Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby, a third-year sophomore last season, elected to stay in school another year. I asked Coombs if he thought Roby would be a first-round pick next year, and he looked at me like I’d asked a silly question.

“Absolutely,” he said. “Yes. Yes. Yes.”

Only a surprise pick of Wisconsin center Travis Frederick by the Dallas Cowboys at No. 31 overall on Thursday night saved the Big Ten from not having a player drafted in the first round for the first time since 1953.

Here’s a hint: With Urban Meyer in Columbus, that streak is probably safe for a while.

By Zac | Also posted in Big Ten Conference, Draft 2013, NCAA Football, NFL |


Connecting the dots with John Simon

April 26, 2013 – 1:41 pm

Just a guess here, but an educated one (if you ask me).

The Patriots now have a lot of picks tonight and early on Saturday after their late first-round trade with the Vikings.

Bill Belichick values smart, tough, versatile players. He believes he can never have enough pass rushers.

Belichick and Urban Meyer are close friends. Belichick has drafted Meyer players in the past — several times over.

Belichick had a lot of success with a guy named Mike Vrabel, who now coaches under Meyer and last season coached John Simon. Meyer loved Simon so much last season that he said if he had another son, he’d name him John Simon.

He was half-joking. It was almost as good as the game earlier in the season when Meyer said “John Simon, that’s a grown-ass man. Excuse my language. That’s a guy.”

It would be a half-surprise if the Patriots didn’t take that guy some time tonight or Saturday. Simon had some injury issues last season and early in the draft process, but if he’s healthy he fits the bill and “the Patriot Way.”

Enjoy Foxborough, John.

By Zac | Also posted in Draft 2013, NCAA Football, New England Patriots, NFL | Tagged , , , |


Final rundown: OSU spring game details

April 12, 2013 – 9:12 pm

CINCINNATI – One more rundown on the details for Ohio State’s spring game Saturday…

WHERE: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati. Renovations at Ohio State have forced the Buckeyes on the road, and their day trip to Cincinnati will include a stop at Montgomery Inn and a pregame pep talk from Bengals coach Marvin Lewis.

WHEN: First snap at 1 p.m. There will be no kickoffs, but the game will be played in four timed quarters. It very much will be a game as Urban Meyer believes in evaluating players — especially those lacking real-game experience — in a game-like environment. The players have been divided into teams, Scarlet and Gray, though some will play for both. Look for the likes of Braxton Miller, Carlos Hyde and Jordan Hall to see limited action.

This is a big opportunity for many of Ohio State’s younger and less-heralded players.

TICKETS: $12 for adults, $5 for kids 2-6 at the Paul Brown Stadium north ticket office.

BROADCAST: No live TV. Live radio on 97.1 FM in Columbus and 1480 AM Cincinnati.  The game will air on BTN Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET.

MORE: Parking in stadium lots will be $10. The early weather forecast calls for a temperature of about 60 degrees. The Buckeyes won’t get their (highly inflated) announced crowd of 81,000-plus from last year but could surpass the 2011 spring game attendance of 44,276.

NOTABLE NAMES ON THE SCARLET TEAM: Miller, Hall, Devin Smith (now wearing No. 9), both Corey Browns, Andrew Norwell, Jeff Heuerman, Jack Mewhort, Marcus Hall (essentially the starting offense). Backup quarterbacks Kenny Guiton and Cardale Jones will play for both teams.

AND ON THE GRAY TEAM: Bradley Roby, Christian Bryant, C.J. Barnett, Hyde, Michael Bennett, Adolphus Washington, Noah Spence, Curtis Grant (essentially the starting defense).

NOT EXPECTED TO PLAY: Linebacker Ryan Shazier, running back Rod Smith, cornerback Bradley Roby.

By Zac | Also posted in Big Ten Conference, NCAA Football |


Opportunity knocks for Ball and Dunn

April 11, 2013 – 2:40 pm

Ohio State spring game is significant for a lot of reasons.

It’s really big for young running backs Warren Ball and Brionte Dunn. The Buckeye backfield is crowded, and it’s going to get more crowded this summer when highly-touted freshman Ezekiel Elliot joins the mix.

Speaking on the Big Ten spring teleconference Wednesday, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said junior running back Rod Smith suffered a concussion in practice and might not be able to play Saturday. With senior Carlos Hyde entrenched as the starter and quarterback Braxton Miller due to get more than his share of carries when the real games start, the time is now for Ball for Dunn to make a lasting impression.

Ball, a gifted and powerful runner out of Columbus DeSales, suffered a foot injury in training camp last August and had season-ending surgery. Meyer said he’s come back strong this spring and played like he wants to have a role.

“He’s certainly not where we need him,” Meyer said. “It was a tough injury but he’s a tough kid. He’s been a little hesitant at times but he’s shown he can help us.”

Dunn, a decorated runner out of Canton GlenOak who was in for spring practice a year ago couldn’t pass Hyde or Smith in the pecking order last year, even before Hyde established himself as the starter. Meyer said he got good reports on Dunn from the strength coaches from the work he did this winter but that hasn’t translated to the field, at least not consistently.

“He’s doing OK, not bad,” Meyer said.

OK won’t cut it on this Ohio State team. Dunn is a big, between the tackles back who might not be the best fit for Meyer’s spread offense, and he figures to get lots of chances on Saturday to show he can fit and produce. He should be ahead of Ball given what Ball missed and that this is Dunn’s second spring, and the spring game will bring a chance to show that he is.

Meyer said the current order at running back is “Hyde, followed by Smith, and with the other two it depends on what day.”

Returning senior Jordan Hall has been moved to the “H” position and will play in the slot and even at wide receiver, another area of concern for the Buckeyes. Ohio State has experimented with a shotgun, three-back look at times this spring with Miller, Hyde, Smith and Hall. With those guys either out or expected to play limited roles Saturday, the door is open for Dunn and Ball.

Meyer said Smith “would probably be one of the five most improved players on offense” this spring before he suffered the concussion.

Meyer said the spring game gives his coaches an idea of how guys react “in a big-time environment” and can leave a lasting impression. This Ohio State staff uses the spring to tinker and evaluate and sets its fall depth chart soon.

“In the spring, it’s ‘go earn a spot,’” Meyer said. “In the fall, we’re trying to go win a game.”

By Zac | Also posted in Big Ten Conference, NCAA Football | Tagged , , , , |


Ohio St. generating buzz for spring game in Cincinnati

April 10, 2013 – 9:15 pm

The Ohio State Buckeyes are coming to Cincinnati.

Because of renovations at Ohio Stadium, the Buckeyes are playing their spring football game Saturday at Paul Brown Stadium. A late publicity push included Urban Meyer, assistant coach Kerry Coombs and players from the area speaking to the media Wednesday evening. Meyer has also done a handful of radio interviews.

Last week, Ohio State announced that more that 26,000 tickets had been sold. If the weather cooperates and people realize the game isn’t on live television this year, a crowd of more than 50,000 is possible (and probably even likely).

Even though Cincinnati isn’t traditionally a big Buckeye city, Meyer has generated a far-reaching buzz. With 12 wins and no losses last season, expectations and the excitement level are through the roof.

“Coming to Cincinnati is great for Ohio State,” said Meyer, who graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1986. “This was (athletic director) Gene Smith’s idea and I’m all for it. We’re going to bus down, go to the Reds museum, eat at Montgomery Inn (afterwards). We’re going to do it right.”

“We’re really looking forward to it.”

Teams will be drafted for the game on Thursday. Almost all of the Buckeyes the average fan would recognize should be playing except cornerback Bradley Roby, who’s battling a shoulder injury. The spring game is for the young guys, anyway; last year, Meyer held John Simon out.

Meyer said Braxton Miller and backup Kenny Guiton will play but will wear black no-contact jerseys. When sophomore quarterback Cardale Jones gets in, he’ll be full go. He’s not the only one Meyer wants to see in a full-speed, full-go environment.

Meyer always believes in using spring to install, tinker and set a depth chart. When camp opens in August, his focus is fully on the games ahead. These Buckeyes will have had four weeks of practice to make impressions and get to use Saturday to make final — and lasting — ones.

“The offense has nine returning starters but we still have young guys who need a ton of reps,” Meyer said. “On defense, it’s really a whole new front seven. Every year is different. Last year we were just trying to install. This year we’re trying to develop an identity and leaders, especially on defense.”

Meyer said sophomore defensive lineman Adolphus Washington, a Cincinnati native, “dominated the practice field” on Wednesday as part of an impressive — and important — spring.

Battles that have gone on through the spring and should go on through at least the first part of August are at wide receiver right tackle, linebacker, defensive line and for touches in a crowded offensive backfield. With an experienced secondary coming back, young players there especially need to capitalize on the chances Saturday’s spring game brings.

The game starts at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets are $12 and can be purchased on OhioStateBuckeyes.com or via TicketMaster. On Saturday, tickets will be sold at the north ticket office at Paul Brown Stadium.

By Zac | Also posted in NCAA Football | Tagged , , |


Meyer: Buckeyes “not yet worthy” of national title talk

April 2, 2013 – 12:56 pm

There’s never a dull moment with Urban Meyer.

The Ohio State football coach is again inviting students to come see the Buckeyes practice this weekend. They can bring their brothers and sisters and parents, too, as it’s sibling’s weekend at Ohio State.

In talking about the event with the student newspaper, Meyer said his team is “not yet worthy” of national championship conversation.

He knows his words carry weight and that his quotes travel quickly, including through the locker room. He genuinely believes in things like the importance of his players interacting with the general student body, and those students feeling like they’re a part of the monster that Meyer is building.

The story from Meyer’s interview with The Lantern can be viewed here.

The video of his message to students regarding Saturday’s practice is here.

By Zac | Also posted in Big Ten Conference, NCAA Football |


Ohio St. – Arizona gets early tip time

March 25, 2013 – 12:22 am

DAYTON, Ohio – Ohio State will play Arizona on Thursday at 7:47 p.m. ET.

The game will tip at 4:47 p.m. at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Indiana – Syracuse is the CBS marquee late game on Thursday. Miami and Marquette play the early game opposite Ohio State – Arizona, which will air on TBS.

On Friday night, Michigan – Kansas will be the early game in Dallas and Michigan State – Duke is the marquee late game from the Midwest regional in Indianapolis.

The Buckeyes tipping in the middle of the afternoon in Los Angeles against Arizona is surprising, but the bottom line is CBS chose Indiana – Syracuse as its marquee game. Arizona will likely have the biggest crowd of the four teams playing at Staples Center. Tucson is in the Mountain time zone.

The full bracket with times is here

By Zac | Also posted in Big Ten Conference, NCAA Basketball | Tagged , , , |