The basketball team re-added a large human to its roster, and the football team added a commitment from an even larger human.
Monday, you weren't too bad.
ICYMI
- Kaleb Wesson will play in the Big Ten Tournament.
- Three-star offensive lineman Trey Leroux commits to Ohio State.
- Looking at Leroux's impact on the Buckeyes' 2020 recruiting class.
- Ohio State releases a whole bunch of brand new coaching contracts.
- Fox hires Urban Meyer for a Saturday morning college football pregame show.
- Ohio State is experimenting with quarterbacks playing under center.
- A film study look at Dwayne Haskins' rapid progression as a passer.
- Vegas sets Ohio State's regular season win total at 10 games.
- Ohio State's five toughest matchups this season.
- The possibility of a hybrid linebacker.
Word of the Day: Daedal.
THE NEXT LEE CORSO? Urban Meyer is officially hopping back into television, but this time it doesn't sound very temporary. It sounds like he's about to be the face of a network, at least according to Fox Sports president Mark Silverman.
From Doug Lesmerises of Cleveland.com:
“Obviously, with Urban, before we went down this road, he was extremely interested in the next phase of his career,” Silverman told me Monday by phone from Los Angeles. “He was extremely interested in working at Fox specifically. And we believe this is going to be a long-term next phase of Urban’s career. I think judging from his track record, he’s going to excel and we’re thrilled to have him excel on Fox.
”This is not a short-term project."
...
“Urban has star appeal that as a broadcaster you’re always looking for," Silverman said. "For someone at this stage of their career, where it’s just first ending, he has such a big name across the landscape. You can’t really think of of anyone other than (Nick) Saban that has the success and the notoriety.
“I think he’s going to bring credibility and knowledge that is unique and I think he’s going to fit in really well with the other group and I think it’ll make for a compelling show.”
A substantial portion of the Internet lost its mind at this news, assuming this was the first step to Meyer taking a new coaching job, but I don't really get it.
First off, I don't really believe he's ever going to coach again (and it doesn't sound like Fox does, either). But even if he did, I wouldn't be even slightly bothered. He came to Ohio State, won more than 90 percent of his games, never lost to Michigan, had an undefeated season and a national title, and left the program better than he found it. If he wants to go coach elsewhere now, cool. Best of luck!
The most interesting thing about that article was how Silverman responded to Meyer remaining on staff at Ohio State while working for Fox.
He’s not in any capacity with the football program. He’s working for the university, but he’s not involved really with the football program is any kind of official capacity.”
That's a creative way to describe the guy who was standing at the 50-yard line of Ohio State's practice literally last week.
HOW DO YOU CHOOSE? I have a feeling all three Buckeye receivers are going to make teams happy this draft season, but the Internet loves rankings, so Brad Kelly of The Draft Network took a stab at ranking Parris Campbell, Terry McLaurin and Johnnie Dixon.
From Brad Kelly of The Draft Network:
Parris Campbell was the most productive wide receiver for the Buckeyes this season, with 90 receptions for 1,063 yards. Terry McLaurin posted 701 yards and 11 touchdowns while Johnnie Dixon collected 669 yards and 8 touchdowns, respectively. Even with the lesser numbers, I view McLaurin to be the best NFL prospect, followed by Campbell and Dixon. All three should and likely will be drafted, but I expect the NFL to be higher on Parris Campbell than the other two.
Competing at the NFL Scouting Combine, McLaurin and Campbell had strikingly similar athleticism. On film, McLaurin did a better job utilizing that athleticism to win vertically, posted an insane 20 yards per catch last season. With 11 touchdowns on just 35 receptions, he was a big play waiting to happen. At the Senior Bowl, he showed exceptional route running throughout all portions of the field. With how he abuses press coverage and has dynamic qualities after the catch, he’s a well-rounded, ascending receiver prospect.
...
While Campbell was the focal point of the Ohio State receiving attack, he was barely asked to attack vertically. This was the main factor that lead to his 90 receptions this season. An underneath role is easily replaceable in the NFL, and Campbell's projection hinges on whether or not he has the potential to be a factor down the field. While he has the speed to do so, he lacks the refinement to stack defensive backs and too often fails to win in contested spots. His inconsistent hands can bite him a bit too often, and that problem could become exponential with NFL defensive backs covering him tighter.
...
Johnnie Dixon is no slouch himself, as the primary slot receiver had a dynamic showing at Scouting Combine as well. He’s built well in his frame, and has more than enough straight-line speed and explosiveness to hold up at the next level. Dixon had flashes of potential as a deep threat as well, but wasn't as utilized there as he could have been. Despite being a bit buried on the Ohio State depth chart, he undoubtedly has NFL-level traits. He would have been a premier receiver on most college teams, and will be an option on Day 3 of the NFL Draft.
Urban Meyer claimed for like three years that all three of those guys were future NFL players and I called bullshit every single time. Yet, here we are.
To be fair, I maintain that none of them aside from maybe Parris Campbell resembled anything close to NFL prospects even before this season, so it's not like I was crazy.
I'm sure the air-heavy offense led by the best passer in program history helped them, especially in terms of production, but NFL teams didn't magically become high on these guys because of that.
They're climbing draft boards because they became elite route runners with great releases at the line of scrimmage, know how to use their God-given speed and use their hands effectively in route running.
That's all on them as well as the great coaching from Brian Hartline and Keenan Bailey.
ILLINOIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR. Turns out, the lowest-rated player in Ohio State's incoming hoops recruiting class can absolutely ball.
E.J. Liddell was named the PrepHoopsIllinois Player of the Year yesterday after an absolutely dominating senior season.
From Scott Burgess of PrepHoops.com:
He essentially ended the debate for this award and many others with his play at the Highland Shootout against Vashon.
Liddell was the considerable favorite for Mr. Basketball coming into this contest. IT IS OVER! Liddell will repeat as Illinois Mr. Basketball and had a defining performance against the best team in St. Louis on Saturday night. He had a stretch in the second half that was absolutely incredible! Swatting shots, high pointing rebounds, scoring off the bounce, and the play of the day was when he threw the ball off the backboard to himself for a monster slam. The development in Liddell’s face up game over the last year has taken his game to new heights. He wins consistently off the dribble from the high-post. Connected on a sick step back jumper out of the post. Got to the foul line where he was money. Defensively Liddell snatched rebounds with two hands all night and was a BEAST blocking shots! So explosive off the floor. He had 26 points (8-11 FG) (10-12 FT), 12 rebounds, and 7 blocks. Ohio State is getting an impact player on day 1.
Different game, but if you'd like video evidence of what he can do, behold:
EJ LIDDELL HIGHLIGHTS: Wow, @EasyE2432 was fun to watch tonight. Mr. Basketball put on a show, helping @BWestAthletics return to the Elite 8. @OhioStateHoops is getting a great one. @Bucknuts247 @ChrisHoltmann pic.twitter.com/jAWDwvfaD0
— Noah Newman (@NoahNewmanWAND) March 9, 2019
Dude finish that game with 27 points, 9 rebounds, 6 blocks and 7 assists. I don't even know how there's enough time in a high school basketball game to do all of that.
I've heard Mizzou folks are Zeke-level mad Liddell chose Ohio State over Missouri. And personally, that's music to my ears.
SO YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S A CHANCE? If Kaleb Wesson's return to the team for some reason makes you extremely confident about Ohio State's chances in Big Ten or NCAA Tournaments, you could be one extremely ill-advised bet away from a big payday!
Odds to win the Big Ten tournament, per @betonline_ag.
— Colin Hass-Hill (@chasshill) March 11, 2019
-Michigan St 7/5
-Michigan 9/4
-Purdue 3/1
-Wisconsin 6/1
-Maryland 14/1
-Indiana 50/1
-Iowa 50/1
-Penn State 50/1
-Minnesota 66/1
-Nebraska 66/1
-Ohio State 66/1
-Illinois 200/1
-Northwestern 200/1
-Rutgers 200/1
If you thought those were long odds, Ohio State's odds to win the national title are currently 250/1, the same as San Francisco, West Virginia, Arizona, Colorado and Davidson who aren't even really on the bubble.
But at least Ohio State still has better odds than Murray State, Bradley, Gardner-Webb and Liberty, who all sit at 500/1 despite already punching their tickets to the tournament.
ROAMING ROBY. It seems like a former Ohio State cornerback is in high demand in the NFL. Shocking, I know.
Bradley Roby was a first-round pick in the 2014 draft, and has spent the past five years with the Denver Broncos. But now he's dipping his toe in the free agency waters and more than a few teams would like to acquire his services.
Broncos former first round pick CB Bradley Roby getting a lot of interest. Looks like right now it could be down to Texans, Browns, Steelers, 49ers, Raiders and Broncos.
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) March 11, 2019
I wouldn't be pissed to see him play across from Denzel Ward or Gareon Conley, but the really shocking thing here is that the Saints haven't already signed him.
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