Join

Eleven Warriors - Latest News Tracking & Analysis

Latest News Politics , Business , Finance , Technology , World News & Opinion & Tracking & Analysis.

United States of America
Blog
🇺🇸 english
Sports
#55
Eleven Warriors

Eleven Warriors

Primary focus: Sports

Recent Reportage

Latest coverage from Eleven Warriors

Skull Session: Marcus Freeman Appears on Cam Heyward’s Podcast, Brian Hartline Outlines His Expectations at USF and Ohio State Makes Five-Star DeMarcus Henry’s Top 8

Welcome to the Skull Session. Well, that performance was certainly something! Our World Cup journey comes to an end. pic.twitter.com/j8fACE41hv — U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) July 7, 2026 Have a good Tuesday. “I WAS THE MISSING PIECE!” Marcus Freeman appeared on Cam Heyward's podcast last week, and the former Ohio State teammates spent much of the conversation reminiscing about their careers in Columbus. I'll get to the rest of that in the second section, but first, their exchange about the Buckeyes' loss to LSU in the 2008 BCS National Championship Game is too good not to single out. “Why didn’t we win a national championship in 2007?” Heyward asked. “That was the LSU year. Hm, LSU had some dawgs now,” Freeman said with a laugh. “Hoo, that defense was crazy.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Not Just Football with Cam Heyward (@notjustfootball) “Bro, do you remember how we started the game?” Heyward asked. “Beanie (Wells) having that long touchdown run, and then all the air got sucked out of the building after that.” “Something happened on special teams,” Freeman said. “I can’t remember did we block a punt and get a penalty or they blocked a punt? I think (Austin) Spitler — something happened on special teams where it started to get close in the second half, and I just can’t remember. I bet you if I called (Coach Jim Tressel), he would say this is exactly what happened. I think there was special teams, something that had to do with a punt, and yeah, it was ugly.” Freeman was close. Ohio State trailed 24-10 when it forced LSU into a 4th-and-23 from its own 40-yard line with 10:44 remaining in the third quarter. The Buckeyes appeared poised to get the ball back, but Spitler burst untouched through the middle, missed the ball and instead crashed into punter Patrick Fisher, drawing a roughing-the-kicker penalty. Rather than getting the ball back with a chance to cut into the deficit, Ohio State gave LSU a fresh set of downs. The Tigers capitalized, marching down the field for their fourth touchdown of the game and extending their lead. LSU eventually won 38-24 to claim the BCS national championship. “Oof, that was rough,” Freeman said as he recalled more of the game's defining moments. Then came the best part of the conversation. “Well, as a freshman, you think, like, ‘Oh, yeah, I’ll be back in the national championship.’ Never was,” Heyward said. “Now it just haunts me.” “You weren’t there for ’06,” Freeman said. “No, I wasn’t. I watched ’06, and I committed right after that game,” Heyward replied. “You committed to us after we got beat 41-14?!” Freeman asked, stunned. “Yeah,” Heyward said. “I thought I was the missing piece!” To his credit, Heyward helped Ohio State return to the national championship game as a freshman in 2007, recording 33 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and three pass breakups. While the Buckeyes never made it back to another title game during his career, Heyward developed into one of the program's best defensive linemen, finishing with 163 tackles, 37.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks. An All-Big Ten second-team selection in 2009 and a first-team pick in 2010, Heyward has gone on to become one of Ohio State's greatest NFL success stories. Remarkably, he remains one of the league's most productive defensive players entering his 16th NFL season in 2026, all with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The six-time All-Pro and 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year has amassed 796 tackles, 142 tackles for loss and 92 sacks over his career. He's under contract with Pittsburgh through the 2027 season, when he'll be 38 years old. “HE STILL TEACHES ME LESSONS.” Marcus Freeman and Cam Heyward’s Ohio State discussion continued beyond the 2006 and 2007 national championship games, with a conversation about the leadership he witnessed at Ohio State, what he learned from Jim Tressel and more. Note: The “and more” features the story of when Heyward knocked out one of Freeman’s front teeth while celebrating during the Ohio State-Michigan game in 2010. I wrote about that hilarious story in 2025. Another note: These quotes have been edited for length and clarity. On the leadership traits he learned at Ohio State “You learn as you watch others. When I think of the leaders we had before I got there, the A.J. Hawks, the Troy Smiths, the Bobby Carpenters — and I could go on and on, there was a list of guys — but as you watched them, you watched the influence they had. A.J. really didn’t speak too much, but when he did speak, you listened. But the way he went about his work, he positively influenced myself, (James) Laurinaitis, and some of us who watched the way he went about his business. “And then I think about you and the leadership you commanded the minute you came in. You did it by example, but you were a vocal leader, too. You didn’t care how old you were. You did it as a freshman and in my last two years when we were together — when you were a freshman and sophomore. I remember coming back as a graduate assistant in 2010, and you were the definition of a leader, man — by your play, the way you influenced your teammates. You spoke up when you needed to speak up. You took things personal. It’s the examples that other people set, and then we have to be who we are. You can’t be somebody else. There are so many great examples of leadership in our times at Ohio State.” On becoming a coach, along with Brian Hartline and James Laurinaitis “I probably was the one who got into coaching first. Laurinaitis played so long, he didn’t really want to get into coaching. I remember we hired him here to be a graduate assistant, and he fell in love. The same thing with Hartline. Hartline played for a long time, and finally he was like, ‘OK, I’m gonna get into coaching.’ “I never wanted to be a coach. I never did. I always said, ‘These coaches work crazy hours.’ I really wanted to be an AD. I thought the world of Gene Smith. I wanted to stay around sports, but not really coach. I remember I was in Houston with the Texans, and I’m like, both of my knees are hurting, I’ve been cut, and I was like, ‘Maybe I do want to coach.’ I called Coach Tressel, and I said, ‘I think I do want to coach.’ He was like, ‘Play as long as you can.’ But at that point it was just that I wanted to stay around the game of football. Everybody dreams of having a career like Cam Heyward. Everybody thinks they’re gonna have that type of career where you can figure life out when you’re done. But it’s not realistic. “So I get into coaching. I start as a GA. And you quickly learn that the gratification you get through coaching is helping other people. It’s helping other people have success. I don’t care if you’re a high school coach. I don’t care what sport you coach. It’s the ability to help others have success. That’s what Hartline and Laurinaitis and Ted Ginn Jr. and all these different people have realized. It doesn’t matter what you’re coaching; if you can help others have success and make it an occupation, it’s a rewarding one.” On the lessons he learned from Jim Tressel during his Ohio State career “I still learn lessons from him to this day. When I think back to my time at Ohio State and Coach Tress, (I think about) culture. Culture, to me, is how you feel. It’s the environment when you walk into that building. When I think about that time, Coach Tress made every single person feel important. Your role didn’t determine your value when we were together and when you were a part of that program. No matter what your role was, there was no role too big or too small for you to do. I remember seeing Coach Tress pick up trash, and he was just such a great example of leadership — of servant leadership. “Funny story. A couple of weeks ago, I talked to Coach Tress and a couple of guys. We were like, ‘Hey, we’re gonna go support Ted Ginn in the last game of his first season with the Aviators.’ We go to the game, I bring two of my sons — we went out to eat first. We’re getting ready to leave, and my oldest son’s name is Vinny, and (Tressel) says, ‘Hey Vinny, you’re riding with me.’ And that’s a Coach Tress thing to do. That might be his first or second time that he’s met Vinny, but he wanted Vinny to ride with him. I still haven’t talked to Vinny about that conversation, but I’m intrigued to know what they talked about — whatever they talked about. “And then we go to the suite once the game starts, and it’s three former players of his: myself, James Laurinaitis, Rory Nicol. Another coach, Darrell Hazell, was there, and a couple other people. He intentionally let us all sit down, and now that it happened, I know what he was doing. He let us all sit down, and one minute later he comes walking around with six or seven water bottles. He starts passing out water to my kids, to us, to Coach Hazell, and then he comes back around with a plate full of cookies. Man, you talk about players, our kids, another coach — and he’s still serving. He’s just amazing. He’s such a great example, man. He still teaches me lessons to this day.” I could unpack a lot from these quotes, but here’s all I want to share: Jim Tressel is the GOAT the GOOOAAAT! “NOWHERE NEAR WHERE IT SHOULD BE.” Brian Hartline left Ohio State this offseason to become the head coach at the University of South Florida. In a recent interview with On3’s Pete Nakos, Hartline laid out his expectations for his new program, which include turning the Bulls into perennial contenders for the American Conference title. “There was some success here the last couple of years, but nowhere near where it should be,” Hartline told Nakos. “The expectation should be to win — the floor here should be a constant chase for the American Conference championship. I think we’ve been transparent about what those expectations are day to day, through the summer, through recruiting, and into the fall. We have 50 new guys on the roster, a completely different roster than last year. I’m excited about the guys who came in and the guys who chose to stay. I think we have the right guys, and now it’s our job to maximize what they’re capable of.” NEW: USF's Brian Hartline tells @PeteNakos it's all gas, no brakes heading into his first season as a head coach There was some success here the last couple of years, but nowhere near where it should be. Story: https://t.co/ZvVit6BOyQ pic.twitter.com/CI82b1cppD — On3 (@On3) July 5, 2026 It’s an interesting quote because Hartline is the ultimate competitor who never settles, but also, USF’s former head coach was Alex Golesh, who spent two years as a student assistant under Jim Tressel at Ohio State in 2004-05. Depending on which lens you wear while reading it, this could read as Hartline wanting to hold himself to a high standard, or as a subtle dig at Golesh for failing to meet a higher one. Golesh went 23-15 with two bowl wins across three years at USF. The performance was good enough to land him the Auburn job this offseason — and, at the very least, good enough to avoid any Buckeye-on-Buckeye friendly fire about what he accomplished in Tampa. But I may have the wrong read on the quote. My wife tells me I'm wrong a lot. (And I am.) THERE IS ANOTHER. The men’s basketball Buckeyes have made the top eight for five-star forward DeMarcus Henry, the younger brother of Ohio State women’s basketball player Seini Henry and football player Chris Henry Jr. A 6-foot-7, 190-pound wing, Henry is the No. 1 small forward and No. 7 overall prospect in the 2027 class. Should he choose Ohio State, he would become one of the highest-rated recruits in program history, trailing only Greg Oden, B.J. Mullens, Jared Sullinger and current freshman Anthony Thompson. Demarcus Henry is down to 8 schools Watch the latest episode of Henry Legacy on our YT for the reveal and let us know where you want to see him go! pic.twitter.com/WkkbqFs5Bj — Henry Legacy (@TheHenryLegacy_) July 6, 2026 Henry averaged 14.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals in 31 games last season at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California. Amid a dominant run on the Nike EYBL circuit this spring and summer, he transferred to Compass Prep in Chandler, Arizona. With Seini and Chris already in Columbus, Ohio State appears to be in a strong position to land Demarcus. But the Buckeyes still face stiff competition, with Arkansas, BYU, UConn, Louisville, Kentucky, North Carolina and Kansas also earning a spot in his final eight. SONG OF THE DAY. Hurt - Johnny Cash, thanks to the USMNT. CUT TO THE CHASE. MSU will keep president after Kevin Guskiewicz reverses decision to leave... Scratching that bug bite might feel good at first but science explains why it’s a bad idea... Dad’s viral Chick-fil-A menu order can feed 5 for 45... Veteran MLB umpire C.B. Bucknor to reportedly retire after the 2026 season, accepting buyout... England’s Jordan Henderson suffers injury during Wonderwall celebration.

56 years ago

Taking Stock of Ohio State’s 2027 Recruiting Class at Every Defensive Position After Official Visit Season

Now that the dust has started to settle from Ohio State’s summer official visits, it’s become clearer who will and won’t be part of the Buckeyes’ 2027 recruiting class. Five prospects who were uncommitted entering official visit season have committed to Ohio State over the last month, joining 13 prospects who were already committed to the Buckeyes. Ohio State 2027 Football Commits (18) Player Pos Ht/Wt Stars Natl Rank Pos Rank High School DJ JACOBS DE 6-5 / 235 4 1 Blessed Trinity Catholic (Roswell, GA) JAMIER BROWN WR 5-11 / 192 24 4 Big Walnut (Sunbury, OH) MARCUS FAKATOU DL 6-6 / 275 26 2 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, CA) KELLEN WYMER OL 6-5 / 265 67 4 Liberty Center (Liberty Center, OH) CADEN MOSS OT 6-5 / 320 74 7 Jackson Academy (Jackson, MS) WYATT SMITH DE 6-6 / 235 82 11 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL) PRINCE GOLDSBY LB 6-3 / 205 96 6 Blue Springs South (Blue Springs, MO) ELI JOHNSON S 6-3 / 200 208 17 Cibolo Steele (Cibolo, TX) BRADY EDMUNDS QB 6-5 / 220 251 19 Huntington Beach (Huntington Beach, CA) QUINTON CYPHER LB 6-2 / 220 253 21 Millbrook (Raleigh, NC) DEONTAY MALONE CB 6-0 / 182 285 33 Massillon Washington (Massillon, OH) BRODY MCNEEL OL 6-5 / 285 310 29 Godwin (Richmond, VA) JIMMY KALIS OT 6-8 / 290 323 33 Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, PA) MASON WILT OL 6-5 / 295 365 18 St. Clairsville (St. Clairsville, OH) JADEN CAREY CB 5-11 / 175 383 41 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL) DAVIS SEAMAN OL 6-4 / 290 423 23 Bishop Watterson (Columbus, OH) ANGELO SMITH S 5-10 / 170 882 88 Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, FL) JORDAN DONAHOO WR 6-4 / 185 1217 153 Oviedo (Oviedo, FL) Data via 247Sports Four other prospects who made official visits to Ohio State in May and June remain top targets for the Buckeyes (uncommitted running back David Gabriel Georges, uncommitted wide receiver Monshun Sales, uncommitted defensive tackle Karlos May and Texas Tech wide receiver commit Benny Easter Jr.) while four other summer visitors have since committed elsewhere (BYU wide receiver commit Blake Wong, Colorado linebacker commit Kaylon Bailey, Michigan cornerback commit Monsanna Torbert Jr. and Florida State running back commit Jayden Miles). With the first wave of post-official visit commitments now complete, we’re taking a look at how Ohio State’s 2027 recruiting class is shaping up at every position, concluding with the defense today after reviewing each offensive position yesterday. For each position, we’ll give an overall assessment of where things stand while taking a look at what Ohio State accomplished with its official visits this summer, where the Buckeyes came up short and where there are still dominoes to fall. */ Related Taking Stock of Ohio State’s 2027 Recruiting Class at Every Offensive Position After Official Visit Season We take stock of how things stack up for every offensive position in Ohio State’s 2027 recruiting class after official visits and the first wave of summer commitments. Read More As with the offense, the trenches are currently the strength of Ohio State’s recruiting class. That said, the Buckeyes could still add another player at every position group on defense, and whether they do will determine the final grades after an official visit season that included both wins and losses on that side of the ball. Defensive Line: On the Verge of An A+ Commits: DJ Jacobs, Marcus Fakatou, Wyatt SmithStill on the board: Karlos May Ohio State’s defensive line recruiting class is already elite. The Buckeyes are one of just two schools with two five-star defensive linemen (Texas Tech) in the 2027 class and also one of just two schools with three top-100 defensive linemen (Texas AM) in the cycle. It’s the first time Ohio State has hit both of those marks since they signed JT Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer and Mike Hall in the 2021 class. Jacobs is ranked as the top edge rusher in the entire class. Fakatou is the class’ most versatile defensive lineman with the size and skill set to play either defensive end or defensive tackle. Smith also has the skills to be an elite defensive end – much like his father, former NFL DE Justin Smith – as the No. 82 overall prospect in the class. The Buckeyes’ 2027 class still lacks a true defensive tackle, but that’s likely to change on July 18. That’s when May is scheduled to announce his commitment, which certainly seems to be trending toward the Buckeyes, as he’s repeatedly tweeted about Ohio State and retweeted Ohio State-related tweets since his official visit last month. pic.twitter.com/9AVRJLUg8U — Karlos”Big Los”May (@Karlosmay2027) July 2, 2026 buckeyenation what’s the word???Gobucks buckeye Gobuckeyes pic.twitter.com/7QG6nxHyGO — Karlos”Big Los”May (@Karlosmay2027) June 21, 2026 Assuming the Buckeyes ultimately land May, who’s ranked as the No. 132 overall prospect in the 2027 class, Larry Johnson will earn an A+ for the cycle with a star-studded, four-man recruiting class that ranks among the best in his long career as a defensive line coach. */ Related Ohio State’s 2027 Recruiting Class Shows Buckeyes’ Emphasis on Improving in the Trenches The makeup of Ohio State’s 2027 recruiting class is a clear sign that the Buckeyes are devoting more resources to the offensive and defensive lines after last year’s postseason struggles. Read More Linebacker: Still Solid Despite A Miss Commits: Prince Goldsby, Quinton CypherOfficial visitors committed elsewhere: Kaylon Bailey James Laurinaitis secured his top target entering the summer when Prince Goldsby, the sixth-ranked linebacker in the 2027 class, committed to Ohio State four days before making his official visit in late May. He pairs with Cypher, who’s been committed to the Buckeyes since December, to give Ohio State a strong tandem at a position that’s already one of the deepest on the roster. Losing Bailey to Colorado was a disappointing miss, as Ohio State typically doesn’t miss on the prospects it wants from Ted Ginn Sr.’s program at Glenville High School. That said, Bailey would have been the No. 3 linebacker in Ohio State’s class, limiting the amount of NIL money the Buckeyes were willing to invest in him compared to the Buffaloes. There aren’t any other clear targets left on the board at linebacker, so Ohio State could end up signing only two linebackers unless a late target emerges at the position this fall. Considering the Buckeyes signed three linebackers in each of the last two recruiting classes and all nine of their current scholarship linebackers have at least one more year of eligibility, they don’t need to force a third addition if the right target doesn’t emerge. In terms of rankings and volume, this class doesn’t currently jump off the page quite as much as Laurinaitis’ first two recruiting classes, which were highlighted by five-star Cincere Johnson last year and near-five-star Riley Pettijohn two years ago. But it still includes two linebackers with the talent to be future starters for Ohio State. Cornerback: Disappointing Misses Cloud June Wins Commits: Jaden Carey, Deontay MaloneOfficial visitors committed elsewhere: Monsanna Torbert Jr. If only because of where he chose to play instead, Torbert’s commitment to Michigan over Ohio State last week was the most painful loss of official visit season. While the Wolverines may have valued Torbert more highly than the Buckeyes in terms of NIL offers, the fact remains that Ohio State thought it would land a commitment from Torbert after his official visit in Columbus, only to lose the four-star Ohio cornerback to its bitter rival after his subsequent visit to Ann Arbor. The Buckeyes still landed two cornerback commitments in June, adding Carey and Malone to their 2027 class after their official visits. Both of them are quality prospects, but as things currently stand, this would be Ohio State’s first recruiting class in five years without a cornerback ranked in the top 100 overall prospects in 247Sports’ composite rankings, and its first since 2020 without a cornerback ranked in the top 200. That’s not for a lack of trying, as Ohio State was also scheduled to host top prospects John Meredith III and Gabriel Osborne Jr. for official visits, but both of them committed elsewhere (Meredith to Texas, Osborne to Oklahoma) before they made it to Columbus. Add in the fact that the three highest-ranked cornerbacks from Ohio in the 2027 class are all committed elsewhere (Ace Alston to Notre Dame, Kei’Shjuan Telfair to Penn State and Torbert to Michigan), and there have been some missed opportunities for Tim Walton in this recruiting cycle. Walton made up for some in-state misses last year by flipping five-star cornerback Jay Timmons from Florida State last fall, and he could still earn high marks for the 2027 class if he can flip Osborne or another top cornerback this fall to pair with Carey and Malone in the class. If that doesn’t happen, it would be a disappointment, especially with Walton’s track record of landing elite cornerback recruits on an annual basis in his first four years as Ohio State’s secondary coach. Safety: Still Searching For A Third Committed: Eli Johnson, Angelo SmithUncommitted official visitors: None Like at cornerback and linebacker, Ohio State has two commits at safety but is still looking for a third. The Buckeyes were supposed to host multiple uncommitted safeties for official visits in June, but those visits didn’t materialize. Top target Kenaz Sullivan committed to Maryland after canceling his official visit to Ohio State. Seth Williams also canceled his trip to Columbus after announcing he would choose between Clemson and Georgia, though the three-star Georgia safety ended up postponing his scheduled July commitment. Ohio State added a new safety to its board last month when it offered Jordan Darren Djila Tchuisseu, but whether he becomes a Buckeye could be tied to whether they win the battle with Tennessee and Ole Miss – the only other Power 4 school that’s offered Djila – for his best friend and high school teammate, five-star running back David Gabriel Georges. Johnson is viewed by Ohio State as one of the class’ top safeties despite being ranked outside the top 200 overall prospects. Smith will come to Ohio State ready to compete after spending plenty of time around the Buckeyes with his older brother Jeremiah over the last three years, though Ohio State still has to hold off Brian Hartline and South Florida to sign Smith after he made an official visit to USF in June. Either way, Matt Guerrieri and the Buckeyes still have a need for another safety in the 2027 class, given that current starters Earl Little Jr., Terry Moore and Jaylen McClain could all be gone next season if McClain enters the 2027 NFL draft.

56 years ago

Skull Session: Five-Star David Gabriel Georges Sends a Subtle Message About His Recruitment, Ohio State Has Had One of College Football’s Most Explosive Offenses Over the Past Five Years

Welcome to the Skull Session. Cocaine Whites Sub Zeroes all the way: What combo are you playing with in @EASPORTSCollege pic.twitter.com/Xpl927Li0S — Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) July 7, 2026 Have a good Wednesday. “I DIDN’T SAY ANYTHING.” Public Service Announcement: Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. After David Gabriel Georges’ uncle told On3’s Steve Wiltfong that the five-star running back has already made his decision between finalists Ohio State and Tennessee (and Ole Miss but ehh), Volunteers fans started their victory laps on social media. Then Georges himself chimed in with this post on X: I didn't say anything. — David Gabriel Georges (@DavidGG27) July 7, 2026 The truth is, nobody knows where Georges will commit on July 22 except Georges himself. While his uncle’s comments suggested the tides may have turned in Tennessee’s favor, national recruiting experts still believe Ohio State remains in a strong position. As of Tuesday, On3’s Wiltfong, Alex Gleitman and Sam Spiegelman all have crystal balls predicting Georges will land with the Buckeyes. We’ll see if those predictions hold over the next two weeks, but until Georges makes his announcement, everything else is just smoke, mirrors and recruiting season chaos. EXPLOSIVE, EXPLOSIVE. Ohio State has been one of college football’s most explosive offenses over the past five seasons. Last week, Pro Football Focus’ Daire Carragher ranked the college football programs with the most combined explosive plays since 2021, counting run plays of 10-plus yards and pass plays of 15-plus yards. Ohio State ranked No. 5 in the FBS with 801 explosive plays, trailing only Ole Miss (905), Oregon (842), Georgia (840) and North Texas (819). Even with that level of production, Ryan Day believes the Buckeyes still have another gear to reach in 2026. Earlier this offseason, Ohio State’s head coach challenged the team’s running backs and receivers to become more impactful in creating explosive plays. Highest Graded Returning Quarterback for the 2026 Season: Julian Sayin, Ohio State@OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/1MIwdeP7wj — PFF College (@PFF_College) July 2, 2026 “We’re gonna continue to get (the running backs) to the second level. They have to make people miss or run them over, and that’s just the bottom line. And if we do that, we’re gonna be more explosive because then we’re forcing guys to come down to the box, and then we can be more explosive throwing the football,” Day said on April 6. “I think we do have depth at receiver. I think guys are working on run after the catch more than ever. I think Arthur (Smith) is doing a really good job of trying to be creative about the formations in a way that we can attack teams. That’s been good.” Day said improving Ohio State’s explosiveness will require contributions from every position group. “It’s usually not this exotic play that creates an explosive. We have to be on schedule so that we can take our shots and be ahead of the chains. But it isn’t always shots that create the explosive plays. A lot of it is effort in the perimeter and blocking,” Day said. “And that is another challenge for Cortez (Hankton) and the receivers: getting to the second level and making those blocks, or whether we’re blocking the second level in the run game, that’s it. Everybody’s got to be a part of it. But (we’ve been) seeing some explosive plays, and that’s important.” COLLEGE FOOTBALL’S ULTIMATE ROSTER. This week, CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer set out to build the ultimate college football roster by position group. Just one Ohio State unit made the cut — and it’s probably not the one you're thinking of. Despite Jeremiah Smith being the best player in college football, Hummer gave the nod at wide receiver to Indiana, citing the Hoosiers' returning duo of Charlie Becker and Tyler Morris plus transfer additions Nick Marsh (Michigan State) and Chazz Preston (Tulane). Indiana's receiver room is certainly talented, but Hummer is, of course, wrong. Smith alone gives Ohio State the edge, and when you add Brandon Inniss, Devin McCuin, Kyle Parker and five-star freshman Chris Henry Jr., the Buckeyes have the nation's best wide receiver room. Highest Graded Returning Wide Receiver in College Football: Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State@OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/nSd2YrW7rS — PFF College (@PFF_College) July 4, 2026 But oh well, no harm, no foul. The Ohio State position group that did make Hummer's team was the interior offensive line, where Luke Montgomery and Carson Hinzman return as two of the most experienced players in college football. Austin Siereveld could also slide inside if Ian Moore continues his development entering his third season in Columbus, which would give the Buckeyes three stalwarts on the inside protecting Julian Sayin and paving paths for Bo Jackson. The more I think about it, the more I love the potential of that interior trio. THE NEXT KAWHI? Ohio State made DeMarcus Henry’s top eight on Monday. That morning, ESPN’s Paul Biancardi compared the five-star small forward to two NBA players: budding star Jalen Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks and future Hall of Famer Kawhi Leonard of the Toronto Raptors. Is that good? Here’s what Biancardi wrote about Henry, the younger brother of Ohio State women’s basketball player Seini Henry and football player Chris Henry Jr.: Henry is a spitting image of Johnson -- a gifted five-star recruit in 2020 with enough feel to create with the ball in his hands either for himself or others -- and may also be the most versatile prospect in the 2027 class. Both have similar ballhandling and decision-making skills to score from any area on the floor. Henry's offensive footwork and strong driving ability even invoke a young Leonard at the same stage. He's making strides as a leader as well. *** smacks table *** Go get him, Jake Diebler. I need to see him on the floor with Anthony Thompson and LJ Smith as soon as possible. SONG OF THE DAY. Stay Alive - José González. CUT TO THE CHASE. Donovan Mitchell reaches new four-year deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers... The Big 12 and Monster Energy have entered a multi-year sponsorship agreement... Manhattan high-rise to be stabilized after columns buckle, forcing evacuations... Ex-college basketball star Kerr Kriisa accused of 2.2 million fraud scam, posing as fake person named Irene.

56 years ago

Publishing Activity

Daily article output trend

“He’s Like a Little Bowling Ball Out There”: Bruce Thornton is Already Turning Heads with the Houston Rockets

Everywhere Bruce Thornton goes, players and coaches heap praise on him. After becoming Ohio State's all-time leading scorer, the program's first four-time team captain and the first Buckeye selected in the NBA draft since 2023, Thornton has quickly made a name for himself already in Houston. Selected with the 31st pick (first pick of the second round) by the Rockets on June 24, Thornton signed a four-year, 9.3 million deal on Tuesday. The contract includes one fully guaranteed season for the NBA’s 1.36 million rookie minimum, along with three non-guaranteed team option years. On that same day, Thornton took part in his first practice with the Rockets, and he’s already drawing rave reviews in Houston. At 6 feet and 223 pounds, Thornton has already shown his coaches that he plays much bigger than his size suggests, just as he did throughout his time at Ohio State. Rockets assistant Will Dunn (summer HC) on his first impressions of Bruce Thornton: “He’s a tank. You can see it right away. He’s like a little bowling ball out there. He’s physical, he’s strong, he’s got a really tight handle. So when you guard him, you’ll feel it, for sure.” pic.twitter.com/bGi5u4aq2o — The Rockets Wire (@TheRocketsWire) July 7, 2026 “He’s a tank,” said Rockets assistant coach Will Dunn, who will serve as head coach of the summer league squad. “You can see it right away. He’s like a little bowling ball out there. “He’s physical, he’s strong, he’s got a really tight handle. So when you guard him, you’ll feel it, for sure,” he continued. And that’ll also allow him defensively to do some switching and stuff like that. A guy his size might not normally be able to, but he’s got that physicality, where it will allow him to. During his final season at Ohio State, Thornton watched film of players who he thought he could compare to in the NBA. One of those players was Fred VanVleet, who is now his teammate. At 6 feet and 197 pounds, VanVleet enters his fourth season with the Rockets after playing for the Toronto Raptors during his first seven years in the league. The 10-year veteran missed all of the 2025-26 season after tearing his ACL last September during team mini-camp in the Bahamas. Rockets rookie Bruce Thornton, asked for NBA comparables or players he models his game after: “Last year, I was watching a lot of Fred VanVleet highlights. It’s crazy how everything works out, and now we’re in the same locker room. So all the questions I have, I can ask.” pic.twitter.com/tF0c9b9ujy — The Rockets Wire (@TheRocketsWire) July 7, 2026 “Last year, I was watching a lot of Fred VanVleet highlights,” Thornton said. It’s crazy how everything works out, and now we’re in the same locker room. So all the questions I have, I can ask.” While Thornton has work to do to transition his game to the NBA level, he’s confident he can make an impact as a rookie no matter how much playing time he sees. Me just filling in my role at a high level, doing the things they need me to do, Thornton said on draft night of how he wants to contribute for the Rockets. Impact winning as much as I possibly can and be a great teammate in the locker room. The Rockets will take part in the Las Vegas Summer League from July 9-19 with four games scheduled: July 10 vs. Denver Nuggets (6:30, ESPN2), July 11 vs. Toronto Raptors (9:30, Prime Video), July 14 vs. Philadelphia 76ers (4:00, Prime Video) and July 16 vs. Brooklyn Nets (4:30, ESPNU). Thornton hopes to make a name for himself beginning in Summer League, then carry that momentum into the rest of the offseason ahead of his rookie campaign. But no matter where his NBA career goes from here, Thornton knows how blessed he is to be in the position that he's in, something he will never take for granted. Bruce Thornton on signing: “It’s just a blessing, all of this. My job is to play basketball now. I’ve got the best job in the world. There’s no complaining.” On what he wants to bring the Rockets: “Just bringing winning habits, each and every day, so I can hold that trophy.” https://t.co/PYGUTlpMlP pic.twitter.com/HLCxOxYmv6 — Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) July 7, 2026 “It’s just a blessing, all of this,” Thornton said. “My job is to play basketball now. I’ve got the best job in the world. There’s no complaining.

56 years ago

Amare Bynum Knew “All Along” He’d Remain at Ohio State Despite Transfer Portal Interest from Other Teams

In the modern age of college sports – especially in college basketball – it can never be fully assumed that an athlete will remain at one school from one year to the next. That’s certainly been true for Ohio State basketball, as the Buckeyes have experienced significant roster turnover on an annual basis since the dawn of the transfer portal era. Ohio State’s 2026-27 roster includes only six of the 15 players who were on the team last season. For sophomore forward Amare Bynum, however, staying at Ohio State for his second year of college basketball was never in question. “All along I knew I was coming back. This is the school that believed in me at first, so I believe in them,” Bynum said last week. Bynum’s easy decision to return to Ohio State wasn’t due to a lack of options. In his first press conference of the summer, Ohio State coach Jake Diebler said other teams tried to convince Bynum to enter the portal, but Bynum and Ohio State’s other returning star, John Mobley Jr., rebuffed those efforts. As such, Bynum remains with Ohio State as one of the Buckeyes’ foundational players for the 2026-27 season. “If John Mobley or Amare Bynum would have been in the transfer portal, like maybe some of the best players in the country, right? And there were plenty of teams that tried to push them into the transfer portal,” Diebler said on June 1. “And so them really right away saying, ‘Hey, this is where I want to be and we're building something and we want to take it to the next level,’ was awesome for us as a staff. That allowed us early on to go out and say, OK, how do we build around these two guys?” */ Related John Mobley Jr. Went Through NBA Draft Process “With Both Feet In,” But His “Heart Was Always at Ohio State” After deciding to return to Ohio State, John Mobley Jr. is applying what he learned from the NBA draft process to become an even better shooter and a more complete two-way player. Read More The first player from last year’s roster to publicly announce he would remain at Ohio State for the 2026-27 season, Bynum said he had brief conversations with people close to him about “seeing what the best is out there for me,” but quickly determined after talking with Diebler that “the best for me is right here.” “Just because of the development here, and I have such a close relationship with everybody on the team,” Bynum said of why he felt Ohio State was the best place for him. “All along I knew I was coming back. This is the school that believed in me at first, so I believe in them.”– Amare Bynum on his decision to stay at Ohio State As Bynum participated in a practice session that was open to the media last week and met with reporters afterward, the sophomore forward had a big smile on his face at nearly every moment. That’s because he feels blessed to be a Buckeye, and he’s motivated to take advantage of that opportunity. “Some people don't get to have this opportunity, so if I have the opportunity, I try to show what I can do,” Bynum said. As a freshman last season, Bynum averaged 9.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game on 50.6 shooting. The 6-foot-8, 245-pound native of Omaha, Nebraska, got better and better as his freshman season progressed, becoming a full-time starter in January and averaging 11 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in the Buckeyes’ final 11 games of the year. Bynum says he’s working on all areas of his game entering his sophomore year, with a particular emphasis on improving his jump shot. As a freshman, Bynum did most of his damage around the rim; according to CBBShotCharts.com, he made 67.4 of his shots (95 of 141) within four feet of the rim but just 29.8 (34 of 114) from everywhere else on the floor. Being able to make shots away from the basket will be more important for Bynum this season, as Diebler said the Buckeyes could occasionally play Bynum as a small forward in bigger lineups this season. He’ll primarily play power forward alongside centers Josh Ojianwuna, Andrija Jelavic and Ivan Njegovan and wings Anthony Thompson, Jimmie Williams and Alex Smith, but Ohio State could occasionally move Jelavic to the 4 and Bynum to the 3 for a larger frontcourt lineup. */ Related Jake Diebler Confident Ohio State Has Roster to Contend in 2026-27: “I Think This is the Deepest Team We’ve Had, and I Don’t Know That It’s Even Close” Jake Diebler believes Ohio State has the size, versatility and depth to make an NCAA Tournament run in 2026-27. Read More In addition to improved shooting, Bynum expects to be more effective as a dribbler and playmaker away from the basket this season. “Last year, I didn’t dribble a lot, but this year, I’m more comfortable with the ball, making more playmaking decisions,” Bynum said. Bynum wants to be an All-Big Ten player as a sophomore, and Diebler believes Bynum is “trending in that direction.” If the Buckeyes are going to achieve their goals of contending for a Big Ten championship and making a deep NCAA Tournament run this season, Ohio State needs Bynum to become a star, and Diebler is confident that will happen. “For him to accomplish his goals, but for us to accomplish ours, he's required to take a significant jump. And the reason I'm so confident in that is because I saw the consistency he operated with all year long,” Diebler said. “And we saw, when you look at the last 10 games vs. kind of the first 20 games and where he was as a player and the level at which he was playing, gave me great confidence going into the offseason saying, ‘Hey, that's a building block for us.’”

56 years ago

Skull Session: Jeremiah Smith Confirms He Doesn’t Play College Football For Free; Air Noland Says Smith is Julio Jones and Calvin Johnson “All In One”

Welcome to the Skull Session. You love to see a C.J. Stroud appreciation post: CJ7 appreciation post. pic.twitter.com/sfWRorbPQI — Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) July 7, 2026 Have a good Thursday. “HUH???” Public service announcement: Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. Wait, didn’t I write that on Wednesday? I did. Whether it’s an uncle’s comments about his nephew’s recruitment or a report from a satirical X account, take a second to ask yourself: “Is this real?” Jeremiah Smith didn’t need much time to answer that question this week when he saw “Shane Tuttle” report that the Ohio State wide receiver is making 0 in NIL money this season. The post even included a doctored quote that read, “I want to win another National Championship. I figured that money could be used to make our team stronger in other areas.” Smith simply quoted the post with “Huh???” and a few laughing emojis. Huh???? https://t.co/nn63GlZLcJ — Jeremiah Smith (@Jermiah_Smith1) July 7, 2026 According to On3 and Rivals, Smith’s current NIL valuation sits at 5 million, ranking No. 5 among all college athletes nationally behind Miami quarterback Darian Mensah, Kentucky power forward Milan Momcilovic, Louisville center Flory Bidunga and Oregon quarterback Dante Moore. While I’ll admit those outlets have a better finger on the pulse of NIL valuations than I do, I’d argue their numbers for Smith are already outdated — especially after he told On3’s Chris Low he could have made more than 10 million to transfer from Ohio State this offseason. “But that’s not how I operate,” Smith told Low. Now, just because Smith didn’t leave Ohio State for a 10 million payday doesn’t mean he’s playing for free. The Buckeyes have made sure Smith is well compensated as he enters what will likely be his final season before heading to the NFL — and he deserves every penny. After all, he’s the best player in college football. JULIO AND MEGATRON, ALL IN ONE. Remember Air Noland, the former Ohio State quarterback who transferred to South Carolina after his first season with the Buckeyes? Noland, now a quarterback at Memphis, appeared on the Raw Room podcast with NFL veterans Daren Bates and Jalen Collins last month. While the trio talked football, Bates asked Noland to name his favorite wide receiver that he’s thrown to in his college career. “Jeremiah Smith,” Noland answered without hesitation. “Julio Jones, Megatron (Calvin Johnson), all in one. I’m telling you.” “I don’t know about that now,” Bates responded. “I’m telling you, though,” Noland said, asserting his claim. “I’m telling you.” “We got to see that established now,” Collins said. “Jeremiah puts his head down. He grinds,” Noland said. “You gon’ get some fear walking in front of him. He’s one of them dudes.” Collins, a former cornerback, laughed. That made me laugh because Collins was a second-round pick who played five NFL seasons before making stops in the XFL and CFL. Jeremiah Smith would pack him up quick. But I digress. Noland’s point was that Smith’s rare combination of talent, physicality and mentality makes him stand out even among elite college football players. “An average college football player (sees him) and is like, ‘Whoa,’” Noland said. “He’s tough. You can see it.” Hoooooo, man. Yes, you can. A DANGEROUS DUO. OK, one more section about Jeremiah Smith. Just one more. This week, On3’s J.D. PicKell ranked the top 10 quarterback-wide receiver duos in college football, and Julian Sayin and Smith claimed the No. 1 spot. The Ohio State duo earned the top ranking because of their combination of talent and chemistry. In his first season as the Buckeyes’ QB1, Sayin threw for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns, with both marks ranking among the best in the FBS. Smith hauled in 87 passes from him for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning unanimous All-American honors and Big Ten Receiver of the Year recognition. An Duo@juliansayin2 @Jermiah_Smith1 pic.twitter.com/TDd6jGmXpB — Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) July 8, 2026 Sayin and Smith finished ahead of several impressive duos in the top five, including Miami’s Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney, Texas’ Arch Manning and Cam Coleman, Oregon’s Dante Moore and Dakorien Moore, and Notre Dame’s CJ Carr and Mylan Graham? Wow. PicKell is really buying into Graham’s potential in South Bend. We’ll see if the former five-star receiver lives up to the hype for the Fighting Irish. As for Sayin and Smith, though, we already know what both players are capable of. There should be plenty of fireworks from those two this fall. WELL, THAT’S INTERESTING. Ohio State is college football’s only recession-proof program, so how is it possible that the Buckeyes have never been the team that defined an entire decade of the sport? That’s the question I had after reading an article from Chip Patterson this week, in which the CBS Sports writer named the greatest college football program from each decade since the 1920s. Here were his answers: 1920s: Notre Dame (83-11-3 record) 1930s: Alabama (79-11-5) 1940s: Notre Dame (82-9-6) 1950s: Oklahoma (93-10-2) 1960s: Alabama (90-16-4) 1970s: USC (93-22-7) 1980s: Miami (99-20) 1990s: Nebraska (108-16-1) and Florida State (109-13-1) 2000s: Florida (100-30) 2010s: Alabama (124-15) 2020s: Georgia (73-9) Patterson named Ohio State as an honorable mention for the 2020s, lauding Ryan Day’s performance as head coach of the Buckeyes. He wrote this about Day’s program over the past six seasons: Ohio State and Ryan Day, like Georgia, had their own local issues to handle before ascending to the top of the mountain. A four-game losing streak to Michigan placed immense weight on Day and the Buckeyes, but a bounce back in 2024 to win the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff moves Ohio State back in line to challenge the Bulldogs for decade supremacy. Ohio State needs another national title to get level with Georgia in the decade count, but given the level of recruiting and consistency under Day, it's likely they'll have a roster talented enough to win it all nearly every year between now and 2029. Ohio State and Georgia are the only programs to finish in the top-10 of the final AP poll in each of the last five years, setting a standard that Oregon, Notre Dame, Indiana and Kalen DeBoer's Alabama are pushing to match. There is plenty of time left for Georgia or Ohio State to be unseated, but it's easy to look at those two as the programs that have ruled the first six seasons of the 2020s. After reading this article, I was left with a would-you-rather question: Would you rather have Ohio State be an unquestioned Team of the Decade — even if that meant enduring stretches of mediocrity afterward — or would you rather have what the Buckeyes are now? A program that is never bad, always in the national championship conversation and consistently among the most talented teams in the country, even if it hasn’t had one decade defined entirely by its dominance? SONG OF THE DAY. Here It Goes Again - OK Go. CUT TO THE CHASE. The Pitt leads with 25 Emmy nominations and Hacks breaks record for comedies with 24... Justin Bieber and more join World Cup final halftime show featuring Madonna, Shakira and BTS... In-N-Out unveils 6 new locations across 5 states... In an era of 1,000 tickets, 10 watch parties bring die-hard fans together.

56 years ago

Former Buckeye, Super Bowl Champion Jake Ballard Headlines Sixth 12th Warrior Happy Hour

It's time for another Happy Hour. Ohio State greats Andy Katzenmoyer, J.K. Dobbins, Maurice Clarett, Michael Jenkins and Jim Lachey headlined the first five 12th Warrior Happy Hours. We'll continue next week in the same fashion, welcoming former Buckeye tight end and Super Bowl champion Jake Ballard to appear on the live QA, Thursday, July 16, at 6 p.m. Become a 12th Warrior In an exclusive Google Meet with Ballard, 12th Warriors will hear untold stories, ask questions and connect with a former Buckeye like never before. It's relaxed. It's interactive. It's our way of saying thank you for backing independent Ohio State sports coverage, for representing Eleven Warriors and for being the heart of what we do at 11W. Grab your drink of choice, log on and let's make some memories. We'll share further details in the Premium Lounge next week. A Message to Future 12th Warriors You aren't a 12th Warrior — yet. For 85 a year (just 23 cents a day), you can join a selfless perks program designed to flip the paywall system, keeping our coverage free for all by paying it forward. Membership includes perks like admission to 12th Warrior Happy Hour, a voucher for 40 off a purchase from Eleven Warriors Dry Goods, access to the Premium Lounge and more. Want to chat with Ballard, help the site and score other perks? Sign up to become a 12th Warrior! Jake Ballard, Springboro's Finest Ballard was a dependable, hard-nosed tight end whose reliability as both a blocker and pass catcher made him a valuable piece of Ohio State's offense during the late 2000s. A four-year contributor from 2006 to 2009, Ballard emerged as a starter during his final two seasons and earned a reputation as one of the Buckeyes' most dependable players. A physical blocker with reliable hands, he provided quarterback Terrelle Pryor with a trusted target while excelling in the dirty work that fueled Ohio State's offense. As a senior in 2009, Ballard helped Ohio State capture a fifth consecutive Big Ten championship and a Rose Bowl victory. Though he never posted gaudy statistics in the Buckeyes' run-oriented offense, Ballard embodied the physical, team-first mentality that defined Ohio State under Jim Tressel. After going undrafted in 2010, the Springboro, Ohio, native signed with the New York Giants and carved out an NFL career through perseverance. He enjoyed a breakout season in 2011, catching 38 passes for 604 yards and four touchdowns while helping the Giants win Super Bowl XLVI. Ballard's promising career was cut short by a devastating knee injury suffered during the Super Bowl, but his journey from undrafted free agent to Super Bowl champion remains one of Ohio State's most inspiring success stories. Today, Ballard is channeling that same resilience into a new mission through Hey Dad, a mobile app he co-founded after a deeply personal experience reshaped his perspective on fatherhood. Inspired by the months he and his wife, Olivia, spent in the neonatal intensive care unit after the premature birth of their son, Benny, Ballard created the app alongside childhood friend Justin Leffew to help fathers preserve video messages, advice and memories for their children. The platform allows dads to schedule messages for future milestones, ensuring their words can be shared for years to come. What began as a way to leave a lasting legacy for his own children has grown into a passion project focused on helping fathers build stronger, more intentional relationships with their families. Header Photo: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

56 years ago

Ohio State’s Best All-Time Ratings in EA Sports College Football Video Games: Offense

Since Electronic Arts began its college football video game journey with Bill Walsh College Football in August of 1993, there have been at least 657 individual Ohio State players and a total of 1,518 Buckeyes with ratings over the decades of EA's epic NCAA College Football franchise. I was a senior in high school when this transformative video game debuted, and I have played all 23 games in the series across six consoles: Genesis, PlayStation, PS2, PS3, PS4, and PS5. In the early years, EA provided jersey numbers for our favorite Buckeyes with some ratings, but names and overall ratings were not part of the game. In the Bill Walsh versions, the first two in the series, I would abuse opponents (my friends) with go routes to No. 7 (Joey Galloway) and No. 83 (Terry Glenn). Galloway would be the receiver on the left side of the field and Glenn on the right. If either had single coverage, I'd tap the A or C button and watch as Galloway or Glenn would typically come down with the moon ball for a big gain, or break free for a touchdown. If I wasn't abusing the defense with the air raid, No. 27 (Eddie George) picked up the tough yards up the middle, or by springing him to the outside – the jump button was your friend – and gash the defense for big gains or touchdowns. On defense, I would creep Lorenzo Styles or Craig Powell up to the line and come off the edge to wreck any plans the opposing offense had. The game didn't keep track of season sacks or tackles for loss, but if it had, Styles and Powell would have easily broken every record. As the seasons ticked by, the graphics, gameplay, dynasty modes, stats, and ratings continued to improve. Today, we will use the ratings from the original Bill Walsh College Football through this year's EA Sports College Football 27 to identify EA's highest-rated Ohio State offensive players of all-time (we’ll look at the highest-rated defensive players next week). We will also identify some players who could have vied for the highest ratings during the 10 years when EA didn't have a game for the 2014 through 2023 seasons. During the 2000s, EA also included classic Ohio State teams for players to select from. This provided us with the Buckeyes' ratings for the 1954 and 1968 seasons. EA also updated the 1996, 1998, and 2002 roster ratings, which allowed us to obtain overall ratings for players on the '96 and '98 teams that were previously missing. Note: During the 2000s, EA also included classic Ohio State teams for players to select from. This provided us with the Buckeyes’ ratings for the 1954 and 1968 seasons. EA also updated the 1996, 1998, and 2002 roster ratings, allowing us to obtain overall ratings for players on the ’96 and ’98 teams that were previously missing. (Note: EA Sports did not begin assigning overall ratings to players until EA Sports College Football 2000.) Player ratings were gathered from a combination of checking the ratings on the actual games and from the historical ratings database on TeamCrafters.net. We used the original ratings from the games whenever possible. Quarterback Some legendary players have lined up behind center for Ohio State in the video game era. Bobby Hoying got things started, but he played in the days when EA didn't provide overall player ratings. With that, Hoying was graded with an 86 for throwing power, but a criminally underrated score of 33 for throwing accuracy. Four Ohio State quarterbacks have received overall ratings of 90 or higher: Troy Smith, Terrelle Pryor, Braxton Miller, and this year, Julian Sayin joined this elite club with an overall score of 94. Before revealing the QB above with the highest overall rating, let's take a look at some rating superlatives. QB Superlatives Speed: 91 – Terrelle Pryor (EA 2011-12) Strength: 82 – Will Howard (2025) Agility: 92 – Braxton Miller (2014) COD/ACC: 97 – Terrelle Pryor (2011-12) Awareness: 92 – Julian Sayin (2027) Carry: 87 – Braxton Miller (2014) Break Tackle: 93 – Terrelle Pryor (2009, 10, 11) Throwing Power: 95 – Tavien St. Clair (2026) Throwing Accuracy: 95 – Julian Sayin (2027) During the EA dark years, Ohio State had a few quarterbacks who could have had ratings high enough to make the superlative list above. Cardale Jones might have had a 95 or higher for throwing power, C.J. Stroud's accuracy and awareness were top-notch, and Justin Fields had plenty of speed, agility, and change of direction/acceleration. Pryor is the only Ohio State quarterback to receive an overall rating of 90+ in two seasons. He had a 90 in EA '10 and a 94 in EA '11. This year, Sayin has a 94, and in EA 2007, Troy Smith checked in with an impressive 95. That leaves Braxton Miller, who had an overall rating of 96 in EA '14 as Ohio State's highest-rated quarterback in the EA franchise. Kind of makes sense that the player who made the game look like a video game has the highest rating for a video game. */ Related Ratings for Every Ohio State Player in EA Sports College Football 27 Headlined by 99 overall Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State’s roster features 17 players rated 85 or higher, as the Buckeyes debut as the second-best team in EA Sports College Football 27. Read More Halfback An Ohio State halfback has earned a 90+ overall rating 10 times, and eight different players have achieved that status. Dan Herron and Beanie Wells are the only Buckeye running backs to reach this level in two different games. Herron was a 92 in EA 11 and EA 12. Wells was a 91 in EA 08 and a 96 in EA 09. Of the eight players to earn a 90 or higher, Ohio State's only Heisman-winning running back during the EA Sports franchise run is not among them. Unfortunately, EA didn't have OVR ratings during George's playing days, so he doesn't have one. However, during his senior season, George had 80 speed, 73 strength, 66 agility, 80 awareness, and 73 catch. The eight Buckeyes to get at least a 90 are Bo Jackson (90, EA 27), TreVeyon Henderson (93, EA 25), Quinshon Judkins (95, EA 25), Dan Herron (92, EA 11, 12), Brandon Saine (94, EA 11), Beanie Wells (91, 96; EA 08, 09), Maurice Clarett (95, EA 04), and Michael Wiley (90, EA 08). Along with George, Ezekiel Elliott, J.K. Dobbins, and Curtis Samuel are other Ohio State running backs who likely would have scored highly in EA's rating system. Zeke's numbers in the missing EA 16 game could have been off the charts following his epic stretch to end the 2014 season. Some items to note: Clarett was in the 2004 game, but he didn't play for the Buckeyes for the 2003 season. Wiley was on the 1998 team, but EA didn't have overall ratings for the 1999 game. Wiley's 90 rating is from the 1998 classic roster in EA 08. HB Superlatives Speed: 95 – Dontre Wilson (2014), Jaamal Berry (2010), Brandon Saine (2008) Strength: 88 – Beanie Wells (2009) Agility: 94 – Jordan Hall (2014), Jaamal Berry (2011-12) COD/ACC: 96 – Jordan Hall (2014), Jaamal Berry (2010, 12), Brandon Saine (2011) Carry: 98 – Quinshon Judkins (2025) Break Tackle: 98 – Beanie Wells (2009) Catch: 81 – Brandon Saine (2010) Awareness: 94 – Brandon Saine (2011) Jaamal Berry topped the superlative list in three different categories, but his best overall rating was 86 in the 2012 game. Judkins and Saine were best in two categories each, which earned Judkins an OVR of 95 in EA 25 and Saine a 94 in EA 11. With an overall rating of 96 in the 2009 game, Beanie Wells has Ohio State's highest rating among halfbacks. Fullback In today's game, the fullback is a dying breed. Two running backs or an extra tight end will typically see the field before a fullback. With that, 17 different Ohio State players received overall ratings at the fullback position, four of whom were 90 or better. Jamar Martin earned a 90 in EA 01, Brandon Schnittker had a 92 in EA 06, and Branden Joe earned a 96 in EA 05. FB Superlatives Speed: 87 – Rod Smith (2014), Jermil Martin (2010) Strength: 79 – Zach Boren (2012-13) Agility: 83 – Rod Smith (2014), Adam Homan (2011), Jermil Martin (2010) COD/ACC: 92 – Rod Smith (2014) Carry: 92 – James Young (2008, 1954 classic roster) Break Tackle: 86 – James Young (2008, 1954 classic roster) Catch: 77 – Jesse Kline (2002) Awareness: 85 – Brandon Schnittker (2006) However, the Buckeye FB with the highest rating is James Young from the 1954 classic roster with a 99. The 2008 version of the game has the 1954 classic roster, and the sophomore FB wearing No. 30 (James Young) is rated with the highest of honors. For those in the audience with a little knowledge of Buckeye history, you know that Heisman-winning running back Howard Hopalong Cassady was on this team. The people at EA gave Cassady an 84 for his overall rating. This has to be a mistake, but maybe the geniuses at EA know more about the skills of Cassady and Young than we do. JJ = Cheat code @Jermiah_Smith1 | @EASPORTSCollege pic.twitter.com/1XvSJQe3tV — Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) June 24, 2026 Wide Receiver With Ohio State's recent performance in the NFL Draft, many refer to the program as Wide Receiver U, and EA agrees. 12 different Buckeye receivers have reached an overall rating of 90 or higher 17 times – the most for any Ohio State position group. In EA 04, Michael Jenkins was the first Ohio State receiver to reach this status, receiving an OVR of 94. In the 2008 game, David Boston was given a 92 on both the 1996 and 1998 classic rosters, but technically that was after Jenkins, along with Santonio Holmes (92 in EA 06) and Ted Ginn Jr. (93 in EA 06, 07). The other eight Buckeyes to earn an overall rating of 90 or higher: Brian Robiskie (91, EA 09), Dane Sanzenbacher (91, EA 11), DeVier Posey (93, EA 11, 12), Philly Brown (90, EA 14), Devin Smith (91, EA 14), Emeka Egbuka (93, EA 25), Carnell Tate (91, EA 26), and Jeremiah Smith 90, 98, and 99 in EA 25, 26, and 27. As impressive as it is that Ohio State receivers have earned a 90+ overall rating 17 times, the program could have more players on the list. Terry Glenn and Joey Galloway are in the game, but during a time when overall ratings weren't given. We also missed out on playing with Marvin Harrison Jr., Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba during the blackout years of the game. WR Superlatives Speed: 99 – Ted Ginn Jr. (2006-07) Strength: 79 – Jeremiah Smith (2025, 26, 27) Agility: 99 – Ted Ginn Jr. (2007) COD/ACC: 99 – Ted Ginn Jr. (2006-07), Philly Brown (2014), Chris Fields (2011-12) Catch: 97 – Jeremiah Smith (2027) Carry: 90 – DeVier Posey (2012) Break Tackle: 84 – Jeremiah Smith (2025, 26, 27) Awareness: 98 – Emeka Egbuka (2025) In this year's version of the game, Jeremiah Smith became the first Ohio State wide receiver to earn an overall rating of 99. Yes, Chris Gamble had a 99 rating at CB in EA 04, but at receiver, he had a 72. Like Braxton Miller, Smith is like playing with a video game cheat code. Tight End Six Ohio State tight ends earned a 90 or higher from Electronic Arts: Ryan Hamby (90 and 91; EA 05, 06), Charles Aldrin (90, EA 08, 1968 classic roster), DJ Jones (91, EA 08, 1996 roster), John Lumpkin (94, EA 08, 1998 roster), Jake Stoneburner (90, EA 13), and 91 for Max Klare in EA 26. Buckeye tight ends from the missing years of 2014-2023 who could have possibly earned at least a 90 are Jeff Heuerman, Nick Vannett, Marcus Baugh, Luke Farrell, and Cade Stover. Rickey Dudley also didn't have an overall rating in EA 96, and there is a strong chance the Raiders' first-round pick would have had at least an overall rating of 90 if the game had overall ratings that year. TE Superlatives Speed: 88 – Jake Stoneburner (2010) Strength: 86 – R.J. Coleman (2006) Agility: 87 – Reid Fragel (2011-12) COD/ACC: 92 – Jake Stoneburner (2012-13) Catch: 91 – Jake Stoneburner (2013) Carry: 84 – Charles Aldrin, Nicholas Roman (2008, 1968 classic roster) Break Tackle: 84 – Nic DiLillo (2010-11) Awareness: 91 – Jake Stoneburner (2013) The best Ohio State tight end according to EA's ratings is Lumpkin, whose overall rating was 94 on the classic roster in EA 08. Ohio State's Highest-Rated Players in EA College Football POS PLAYER RATING QB Braxton Miller 96 RB Beanie Wells 96 FB Branden Joe 96 WR Jeremiah Smith 99 WR DeVier Posey 95 WR Michael Jenkins 94 TE John Lumpkin 94 C Michael Brewster 94 OG Luke Montgomery 92 OG Donovan Jackson 92 OT Orlando Pace 99 OT Alex Boone 94 Offensive Tackle When people think of Ohio State's all-time offensive tackles in the last 40 years, Orlando Pace is typically the first Buckeye they recall. So, it's no surprise that Pace tops all Ohio State offensive tackles in EA's football franchise with an overall rating of 99 on the 1996 classic roster in EA 08. Other tackles to top 90 or more on EA's overall rating scale were: Shane Olivea (90, EA 04), Rob Sims (91, EA 06), Kirk Barton (92, EA 08), Alex Boone (94, EA 08), JB Shugarts (91 and 92; EA 11, 12), Jack Mewhort (91, EA 14) and Josh Simmons (90, EA 25). Had overall ratings been in the 1994 and 1995 versions of the game, Korey Stringer would have been another Buckeye tackle to earn a rating over 90, probably pushing 97, 98, or 99. OT Superlatives Speed: 72 – Deontae Armstrong (2026) Strength: 100 – Orlando Pace (1996) Agility: 79 – Deontae Armstrong (2026) COD/ACC: 92 – Darryl Baldwin (2014) Awareness: 95 – William Urbanik (2008, 1968 classic roster)* Pass Blocking: 100 – Korey Stringer (1994) Run Blocking: 97 – Orlando Pace (1996) *Urbanik wore No. 79 and was listed as a DT on Ohio State's 1968 roster. Rufus Mayes (No. 73) and David Foley (No. 70) were both first-round NFL draft picks, and either Mayes or Foley was likely the player meant for this ranking. The only Ohio State offensive players in EA Sports' digital world to earn a 100 in a category are Orlando Pace and Korey Stringer. Electronic Arts recognized Pace's otherworldly strength and Stringer's ability to keep his quarterback clean. Buckeye tackles who we didn't get the opportunity to see dominate the game during their prime years include Paris Johnson Jr., Dawand Jones, Nicholas Petit-Frere and Taylor Decker. Johnson and Jones would have been studs in EA 23, Petit-Frere in EA 22, and Decker (who had an 84 overall in EA 14) would have bullied defensive linemen in the 2015 and '16 versions of the game. Offensive Guard Nine Ohio State guards received an overall rating of 90 or better, with Justin Boren’s overall rating exceeding 90 twice. In this year's game, Luke Montgomery and Austin Siereveld will anchor the middle of your offensive line. Siereveld has an OVR rating of 90 and has a strong run-blocking grade of 93. Montgomery has a higher pass-blocking grade (93) and an overall rating of 92. Montgomery's 92 OVR is tied with Adrien Clarke (2004), Justin Boren (2010, '11), Andrew Norwell (2014) and Donovan Jackson (2025) for the highest rating an Ohio State guard has received in the game. Siereveld joins T.J. Downing 90 (2007), Steve Rehring 90 (2008), and Bryant Browning 91 (2011) as the other guards to break 90. OG Superlatives Speed: 70 – Deontae Armstrong (2025), Donovan Jackson (2025) Strength: 96 – Donovan Jackson (2025), Andrew Norwell (2014) Agility: 79 – Deontae Armstrong (2025) COD/ACC: 90 – Andrew Norwell (2014) Awareness: 94 – Donovan Jackson (2025) Pass Blocking: 97 – Rob Murphy (1998) Run Blocking: 97 – Rob Murphy (1998) Although EA gave Rob Murphy outstanding pass and run-blocking ratings in the 1998 version of the game, his overall rating on the 1998 classic roster in the 2008 game was a surprisingly paltry 76. All-Americans Thayer Munford, Wyatt Davis and Billy Price are three guards – yes, Price could also be a center – who missed out on being part of the game. All three would likely have joined the list of Buckeye guards who earned overall ratings above 90. Game Breakers Six Buckeyes rank Top 10 at their position in @EASPORTSCollege pic.twitter.com/IQiMahiqO2 — Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) June 25, 2026 Center Michael Brewster holds three of Ohio State's seven overall ratings of 90 or better at the center position. Brewster had a 90 in EA 10 and a 94 in EA 11 and EA 12. His score of 94 is the highest for any Buckeye center in the game. LeCharles Bentley (91, EA 00), Alex Stepanovich (90, EA 04), Nick Mangoldd (90, EA 05) and Corey Linsley (90, EA 14) also reached the 90+ club. C Superlatives Speed: 68 – Brian Bobek (2012) Strength: 94 – Michael Brewster (2011-12) Agility: 73 – Carson Hinzman (2025), Joshua Padilla (2025) COD/ACC: 87 – Jacoby Boren (2014) Awareness: 97 – Carson Hinzman (2027) Pass Blocking: 96 – Jim Cordle (2009) Run Blocking: 96 – Jim Cordle (2009) Two years ago, Carson Hinzman and Joshua Padilla had high marks in agility. This year, EA dropped Hinzman down five spots to 68 and Padilla to 67. Like Rob Murphy at the guard position, Jim Cordle holds Ohio State's best ratings for a center, with 96 ratings in both pass and run blocking. And, like Murphy, those strong blocking ratings did not translate into an overall rating of at least 90. For the 2009 game, Cordle's OVR was 86, likely due to a low awareness grade of 67. Today, it appears the Super Bowl-winning Cordle has made up for the lack of awareness, as he is currently Ashland's assistant head coach and offensive line coach. Pat Elflein (2017), Price (2018) and Michael Jordan (2019) are among the Buckeye centers who could have received high scores during the era in which EA did not produce a college football game. */ Related Cardale Jones Plays Video Games with Kid in Hospital, Cares Not for Mercy Cardale Jones stopped by Nationwide Children's Hospital to pay forward by playing video games with a kid. It did not go well for the kid. Read More Kicker Three Ohio State kickers have received overall scores of 90 or higher, but it's been a few years since this has happened. Drew Basil was the last Buckeye kicker to earn a 90, doing so in the 2014 game. Devin Barclay also had a 90 in EA 2011. One Ohio State kicker stands above the rest: Mike Nugent. The Centerville alum is the only Buckeye to ever earn a 99 rating on multiple rosters. In EA 2005, Nugent was a 99 on Ohio State's 2004 roster, and in the same game, he was a 99 on the 2002 classic roster. The All-American kicker also had a rating of 96 in the 2004 game. FG Kicker Superlatives Speed: 74 – Ryan Pretorius (2007) Strength: 52 – Ryan Pretorius (2007) Agility: 74 – Ryan Pretorius (2007) Awareness: 95 – Mike Nugent (2005) Kick Power: 98 – Drew Basil (2014), Mike Nugent (2005) Kick Accuracy: 98 – Mike Nugent (2004) Nugent not only dominated the overall ratings for the kickers, but EA also has him as the most aware kicker with the strongest and most accurate leg. Ohio State's 21st Century Highest-Rated And Lowest-Rated Players GAME PLAYER RATING PLAYER RATING EA 27 WR Jeremiah Smith 99 SS Kaden Gebhardt 70 EA 26 WR Jeremiah Smith 98 TE John Ferlmann 56 EA 25 FS Caleb Downs 95 TE John Ferlmann 55 EA 14 QB Braxton Miller 96 LB Tyler McIntosh 69 EA 13 DE John Simon 92 CB Devan Bogard FS Tyvis Powell 66 EA 12 WR DeVier Posey 95 CB DerJuan Gambrell 63 EA 11 DE Cameron Heyward 95 DT Johnathan Hankins 71 EA 10 SS Kurt Coleman 94 QB Kenny Guiton 74 EA 09 LB James Laurinaitis 98 WR Jake Stoneburner 74 EA 08 LB James Laurinaitis 95 DE Solomon Thomas 70 EA 07 QB Troy Smith 95 OT Jon Skinner 70 EA 06 LB A.J. Hawk 97 FS Rob Harley 65 EA 05 K Mike Nugent 99 OT Kirk Barton 62 EA 04 CB Chris Gamble 99 LB Jason Bond C Nick Mangold FS Brandon Mitchell 68 EA 03 SS Mike Doss 98 C Adam Olds 66 EA 02 TE Darnell Sanders 87 Player No. 51 66 EA 01 C LeCharles Bentley 91 OT John McLaughlin 68 For the most part, the list of Ohio State's highest-rated players for each year of the 21st century is a who's who of Buckeye greats. Every highest-rated player was in the 90s except for Darnell Sanders in the 2002 version of the game, which represented the 2001 team. There have been at least 107 Ohio State players to earn a 90-plus overall rating, and that magic number has been reached by Buckeyes at least 138 times. On the lowest-rated player list, John Ferlmann was placed at TE on the roster, but in real life, he was a long snapper during his time with Ryan Day's program.

56 years ago

10 Ohio State Players Who Will Be Team Leaders for the Buckeyes in 2026

Strong leadership will be as important as it’s ever been for Ohio State football in 2026. More than half of the players on Ohio State’s 2026 roster weren’t on the team last year, as the Buckeyes have added 60 new players this offseason between transfer additions, their freshman class and walk-ons. As such, Ohio State is relying on its leaders to bring the team together as it builds chemistry for the upcoming season. Ohio State’s newcomers include plenty of experienced veterans capable of providing leadership themselves, and the Buckeyes expect more than just their returning veterans to be leaders this fall. “A big motto this year for us is you could lead no matter what,” Ohio State left guard Luke Montgomery said this offseason. “You could be a freshman, you could lead. We need leaders and we need people to rise to the occasion in the big moments and stuff like that, it doesn't matter who you are. But we have a team full of leaders and a team full of a lot of experience.” That said, the players who will provide the most leadership for the Buckeyes this fall are likely those who’ve been around the program for multiple years and have a full, well-developed understanding of what it means to be a Buckeye and play for the Buckeyes in big games. Ohio State lost some major leaders from last season, namely linebacker Sonny Styles and safety Caleb Downs, who were not only two of the biggest stars of Ohio State’s defense but also considered the Buckeyes’ top two leaders in 2025. Other veterans who leave big shoes to fill include wide receiver Carnell Tate, defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, defensive end Caden Curry, linebacker Arvell Reese, cornerback Davison Igbinosun and safety Lorenzo Styles Jr. Fortunately, even with all of this offseason’s roster turnover, Ohio State still has a sizable group of established veterans who have emerged as leaders through their work ethic, vocal presences and play on the field. In particular, the following 10 Ohio State players – all of whom are in at least their third year with the team – stand out as players who should be top leaders for the Buckeyes in 2026, meaning they’ll all play a significant role in keeping the team together when adversity strikes and pushing the team forward in its pursuit of its championship goals. WR Brandon Inniss LT/RG Austin Siereveld We’ll start with the two most obvious candidates. Inniss and Siereveld were both already captains for Ohio State last season, so it’s likely they’ll remain captains and primary leaders for the Buckeyes in 2026. Inniss’ on-field performance didn’t meet expectations last season as he caught only 36 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns, but his competitiveness, vocal leadership and work ethic were never questioned. His standing as a leader has only grown stronger this offseason as he was one of four players to earn Iron Buckeye honors during winter workouts – an honor he earned in part because he turned down an invitation to join the Buckeye Cruise for Cancer to focus on getting better. “In the offseason, that was my number one goal was to be an Iron Buckeye. I got an opportunity to go on the Buckeye Cruise, but there's a rule: if you go on the Buckeye Cruise, you can't be an Iron Buckeye. And I was solely focused on being Iron Buckeye, being one of the hardest workers on the team, and I'm glad that I was able to hit that goal,” Inniss said in March. “We have a lot of new guys, and a captain last year doesn't mean anything to the new guys, honestly. So I wanted them to know how hard I work, and that comes with being an Iron Buckeye.” While Inniss has been a vocal presence throughout his Ohio State career, Siereveld’s rise to captaincy last offseason was less foreseen, as he wasn’t known for being particularly talkative – at least in media interviews. But Siereveld emerged as one of Ohio State’s best leaders behind the scenes last summer, then backed it up with his play, earning All-Big Ten honors as the Buckeyes’ starting left tackle. Entering preseason camp, it’s uncertain where exactly Siereveld will line up this season, as the Buckeyes are weighing the possibility of moving him back inside to guard – the position he started his Ohio State career playing – to fill their vacancy at right guard with Ian Moore emerging as a viable starting option at left tackle. No matter where Siereveld lines up this fall, though, he’ll unquestionably be a leader for Ohio State’s offensive line, offense and team as a whole. QB Julian Sayin Because of the position he plays, no Buckeye bears more responsibility to be a leader than Sayin. Now entering his second year as Ohio State’s starting quarterback, Sayin is embracing that responsibility, particularly in terms of building connections with his new teammates this offseason. “You really have to take control of those guys, and it starts with the connection,” Sayin said this spring when talking about his growth as a leader. “You have to be a great teammate, and you have to get to know these guys, and so I think it's been fun this spring to get to know those guys.” While Sayin isn’t known to be outspoken, he proved last season that he can be a leader on the field and has looked even more comfortable in that role this offseason as Ryan Day and Mickey Marotti challenged him to grow in his leadership. Sayin’s recent selection as one of Ohio State’s Big Ten Media Days representatives for later this month only solidifies his standing as one of the faces of the program. Day said this spring that he’s still looking for more from Sayin in terms of how he commands the offense, but he believes Sayin’s made good strides in that area this offseason. “You do feel a lot of progress being made, in the huddle in particular, the way that he can get us in and out of plays, the way he operates the offense, the way he communicates in the huddle at the line of scrimmage is excellent,” Day said. “But we always want more. So we're always going to keep driving at it, because there's so many more things that we got to get better at. But there's definitely improvement each practice.” */ Related Julian Sayin Says “The Whole Program Has A Chip On Our Shoulder” and Arthur Smith’s Ohio State Offense Will Be “Exciting” Julian Sayin says Arthur Smith has brought “a lot of great things” to Ohio State’s offense and “the whole program has a chip on our shoulder” because of how last season ended. Read More WR Jeremiah Smith No one on Ohio State’s roster does a better job of leading by example than Smith. As the best receiver in college football, Smith has a gravitational pull that makes people want to follow his lead just because of how spectacular a player he is. But he also sets the tone for the Buckeyes by being the team’s hardest worker, as evidenced by his four Iron Buckeye selections in three years. “I'm still the hardest-working person on the team. All the accolades and stuff I’ve got, I’ve still got a mentality that I'm going to always be the hardest-working player on my team,” Smith said this spring. “In high school, I was the hardest-working player on my team, and in the NFL, I'm gonna be the hardest-working player on the team. That's the only thing I know how to do is work hard.” Much like former Ohio State star Marvin Harrison Jr., Smith is known for being a quiet worker, so Ohio State’s coaches are pushing him to use his voice more this year, and Day said he saw that from Smith this spring. But even though he’s unlikely to be one of Ohio State’s top vocal leaders, he’s unquestionably one of the team’s best leaders by example, as he has been since he was a freshman. “Jeremiah is sort of a man of few words, but he's found his voice more and more, and I've noticed the last few practices, even when the twos and the threes are in there, he's near the huddle, he's listening to the call, he's encouraging them, he's coaching them, he’s there,” Day said in April. “Leaders have to be felt, leaders have to be heard, and that's just how it goes, and he's making a conscious effort to do that, and I think the guys see that. “What he's always done since he stepped in this building is he's practiced really hard and set an example of discipline and how you practice, and when your best players are your hardest workers, it gives you a chance to build a culture. He's done that, for sure, like with a giant check mark from the day he walked in until just his practice today. I think where he's really working on is being felt and heard in terms of encouraging guys, pushing guys, being that leader, and having an impact and having a connection with the guys, and he's definitely made an effort. You can see it, and we're gonna need that.” “When your best players are your hardest workers, it gives you a chance to build a culture. He's done that, for sure, like with a giant check mark.”– Ryan Day on Jeremiah Smith’s leadership LG Luke Montgomery C Carson Hinzman Siereveld is far from the only veteran leader on Ohio State’s offensive line. Montgomery and Hinzman are the most naturally vocal members of the unit and two of the most outgoing personalities on the entire team. Both of them were already burgeoning leaders for the Buckeyes last season, but they’ll play even bigger roles in that regard this season as Montgomery enters his second year as a full-time starter as a fourth-year senior while Hinzman is in his third year as a full-time starter as a fifth-year senior. As Ohio State’s offensive line looks to bounce back from a rough end to last season and go from a weakness to a strength for the Buckeyes this season, Montgomery and Hinzman will play a crucial role in pushing the unit – as well as the entire offense – forward as two of the team’s most experienced returning starters, as well as being players who are known for speaking up and bringing positivity to their teammates. “I feel like a great leader. And I think we got a lot of leaders, too,” Montgomery said. “So I'm super excited for this year. It's gonna be a lot of fun.” DE Kenyatta Jackson Jr. Assuming Ohio State will want to have at least one captain on the defensive side of the ball, Jackson is one of the leading candidates for that role. Perhaps tellingly, Jackson was the only defensive player to meet with the media twice this spring, both times in press conference settings alongside Sayin, suggesting that Ohio State views him as a face and leading representative of its defense. Jackson didn’t always want to be a leader; when he was initially challenged to become the leader of Ohio State’s defensive line last offseason, Jackson said there were days when he went home and cried because he was overwhelmed by the responsibility. But after emerging as a leader of his unit alongside Curry and McDonald last year, he’s feeling more confident in that role now, even though he acknowledges he’s not the most naturally talkative person. “I'm pretty comfortable,” Jackson said of his leadership role. “I mean, it's still hard. I mean, you've got 51 new players (this spring) it's pretty hard, but I mean, I'm pretty comfortable. I've been here for a very long time.” */ Related Kenyatta Jackson Jr. Came Back to Improve Draft Stock, Lead Ohio State’s New-Look Roster A desire to improve as a player and lead Ohio State's new-look 2026 roster brought fifth-year senior defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. back to Columbus. Read More S Jaylen McClain Another prime candidate to be a top leader for Ohio State’s defense this season is McClain. He was also among the Buckeyes who earned Iron Buckeye honors this winter – the second consecutive time he received that award after also earning it last summer – and was selected as Ohio State’s lone defensive representative for Big Ten Media Days. While Ohio State’s coaches made it clear this spring that they don’t expect any one player to singlehandedly fill the massive shoes left behind by Downs, they are expecting McClain to step up as a communicator on the back end of the defense as the Buckeyes’ only returning starter at safety from last season. That’s a challenge McClain has responded to, according to his teammates. Ohio State cornerback Devin Sanchez identified McClain this spring as the defensive back who has stepped up most as a leader this offseason, though he said Florida State transfer Earl Little Jr. is providing leadership at safety as well. “Jaylen is being real vocal out there. He's talking, he's leading the secondary. If somebody messes up on the coverage, he makes them right,” Sanchez said. “So I feel like it is definitely Jaylen McClain, but Earl Little is definitely that, too. He comes down, he sets the tone, he'll go smack a running back right in the face, and then he'll just come back and talk and he'll let you hear it. So I feel like it's both safeties.” */ Related Ohio State Safety Jaylen McClain Stepping Up As Vocal Leader in Second Season As Starter As one of Ohio State's few returning starters on defense in 2026, Jaylen McClain is stepping out of his comfort zone to embrace a vocal leadership role. Read More CB Jermaine Mathews Jr. The other of Ohio State’s three returning starters on defense, Mathews will also be counted on to provide leadership in the secondary – especially from a vocal standpoint. When Inniss was named as a captain last season, he identified Mathews as “the guy that wasn't named captain that has tremendous energy,” saying he and Mathews feed off of each other. Much like Inniss, Mathews is always seen bringing energy whether he’s in the game covering opposing receivers or hyping up his teammates on the sideline. After Day identified Igbinosun last year as the player who “changed the culture of our secondary,” Ohio State is counting on Mathews as a senior leader this season to maintain the Buckeyes’ standard of competitiveness at the cornerback position. Mathews knows he’s now the player that the other players in the cornerback room are looking up to, and he’s embracing that platform. “(Igbinosun) definitely came and changed the room. The room wasn't what it is now about four years ago. So I think now, for me, it's just upholding the standard,” Mathews said. “I think just making sure the young guys understand what the standard is here for us and just keep it going.” */ Related Jermaine Mathews Jr. Returned to Ohio State for “Unfinished Business” After Disappointing End to 2025 Season A disappointing end to the 2025 season prompted Jermaine Mathews Jr. to stay at Ohio State for his senior year rather than enter the 2026 NFL draft. Read More LB Payton Pierce Unlike the other nine players on this list, Pierce isn’t a returning starter from last season. Nevertheless, he appears well on his way to emerging as one of Ohio State’s top defensive leaders this season. As Ohio State’s new starting middle linebacker, Pierce is set to play a position that naturally produces leaders; dating back to 2014, an Ohio State linebacker has been one of the Buckeyes’ team captains for 12 straight seasons. And Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis, a two-time former Ohio State captain himself, has repeatedly talked up Pierce as a player with the qualities to be a leader of the Buckeye defense. “The thing that's great about Payton is he's so competitive and he's a perfectionist and all those things as you should be as a Mike,” Laurinaitis said. “Honestly, I think he has pushed the guys in front of him (in past seasons) because of how hard he practices. He earned the respect of everybody right away freshman year with how physical he was in the box. And now it's fun to kind of see him find his voice even more.” Pierce says he’s viewed himself as a leader since he was a two-time captain in high school, but feels fully ready to step into a leadership role now after two years of learning behind former captains Cody Simon and Sonny Styles, among others. “I've gotten to step up a lot more, more vocal,” Pierce said this spring. “I mean, I got to learn from so many great people. And even our coaches are great leaders. So I get to be around the best of the best, and I feel like I've done a pretty good job. I got to get better, obviously, and just keep doing it.” */ Related Past the Days of Visualizing It On a Scooter, Payton Pierce is Ready to Live Lifelong Dream As Ohio State’s Mike Linebacker in 2026 From the days of his youth to the days of riding a scooter in his first spring practice, Ohio State linebacker Payton Pierce has dreamed of the opportunity before him in 2026. Read More

56 years ago

Better Know A Buckeye: Darryus McKinley’s Speed and Strength on the Edge Could Allow Him to Be Versatile Defensive End for Ohio State

Better Know A Buckeye is our look at every member of Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class and how they became Buckeyes as they prepare to begin their OSU careers this fall. After Ohio State received just one commitment from a high school prospect in the state of Louisiana between 2000-25, Darryus McKinley became the second of two players from LSU's backyard to sign with the Buckeyes in the 2026 class, joining safety Blaine Bradford. Darryus McKinley Size: 6-3/270 Position: DL School: Acadiana (Lafayette, Louisiana) 247 Sports Composite: Composite Rank: 552 (63 DL) Background McKinley originally committed to LSU in August 2025, but things changed quickly after Ohio State offered him on Oct. 30, just four days after the Tigers fired Brian Kelly. He took an official visit to Columbus for the Buckeyes’ win over UCLA on Nov. 15, a trip that ultimately won him over. Even with his older brother Dominick playing for LSU, McKinley flipped his commitment to Ohio State, becoming the sixth defensive lineman in the Buckeyes’ 2026 class. McKinley started to break out as a disruptive force during his sophomore year of high school, recording 50 tackles (12 TFL), four sacks and 11 quarterback hurries. He followed that up with 50 tackles (18 TFL), 10 sacks and six pass breakups as a junior. As a senior, McKinley notched 72 tackles (27 TFL) and 9.5 sacks. He was named Academic All-Conference all four years of his high school career. He played all over the defensive line throughout his high school career, but was primarily a defensive end at Acadiana. McKinley's production steadily improved each season on varsity, further showcasing his development with increased experience. Scouting Report McKinley has the strength to overpower smaller linemen, quickness off the line to get past linemen who are bigger than him and already flashes some of the moves needed to get in the backfield against similarly sized opponents. With a quick first step, he consistently lived in opponents’ backfields as a high school player. He also brings positional versatility, showing the ability to play with his hand in the dirt or stand up on the edge. While he’s starting his Ohio State career at defensive end, he could potentially also play defensive tackle for the Buckeyes. Depth Chart Outlook With a loaded group of defensive ends in 2026, including Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Beau Atkinson, Zion Grady, Epi Sitanilei, Alabama transfer Qua Russaw and fellow freshmen Khary Wilder and Dre Quinn, McKinley isn’t likely to see much playing time in year one. Better Know A Buckeye Chris Henry Jr. Cincere Johnson Jay Timmons Jerquaden Guilford Khary Wilder Sam Greer Blaine Bradford Jordan Thomas Legend Bey Max Riley Braxton Rembert Simeon Caldwell Damari Simeon Emanuel Ruffin CJ Sanna Favour Akih Khmari Bing Dre Quinn Nick Lautar Jaeden Ricketts How McKinley develops over the course of his first couple of years in Columbus will determine whether he ultimately earns his way onto the defensive line two-deep in 2027 or 2028. Player Comparison: Tyreke Smith Smith was never the go-to defensive end for the Buckeyes during his four years in Columbus, but he continuously found ways to contribute. After playing sparingly as a freshman, the 6-3, 260-pound defensive end notched 12 tackles (five TFL), three sacks and two pass deflections as a sophomore in 2019. He remained a constant in Ohio State’s defensive end rotation as a junior and senior. In his final season as a Buckeye in 2021, Smith recorded 26 tackles (five TFL), three sacks, two pass breakups and one forced fumble. He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft. At 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds, McKinley brings similar size and skills to the Buckeyes as Smith. Ohio State hopes he can carve out a similar career to Smith's by playing a consistent role in the rotation later in his career before taking his talents to the NFL.

56 years ago