Folks, Dawand Jones is a large human.
I think Ive just seen the REAL predator @youngchase907 https://t.co/pixmk38lCs
— Jeff Okudah (@jokudah_) June 2, 2019
Putting him in a circle drill against any other human being would be enough to earn manslaughter charges.
ICYMI
- Bryson Shaw is going from lacrosse national champ to Buckeye football player.
- How Ohio State international hoops players fared in their overseas basketball leagues.
- The fighting Lane Kiffins could cause some problems for the Ohio State defense.
- James Laurinaitis, Keith Byars and Chris Ward nominated for CFB Hall of Fame.
- Ryan Shazier picks up award for overcoming adversity.
Word of the Day: Abience.
LOCK DOWN OHIO. Urban Meyer always said he wanted more Ohio kids in his recruiting classes, but in reality he signed fewer and fewer Ohio prospects every year.
I honestly believe he meant what he said, but the results were never going to change with the way he recruited. But it sounds like Ryan Day is already taking a new approach.
From my good pal Marcus Hartman of the Dayton Daily News:
“My take on that whole thing is coach Day realizes they need to move a little faster,” Fairfield coach Jason Krause said. “I think Ohio State traditionally had the feeling we’re in Ohio, No. 1, if we offer an Ohio kid early they’re probably going to want to commit to us because we’re Ohio State.
“No. 2, I feel like they felt like they could come in late and flip a kid, but I think times have changed a little bit.”
...
(Northmont coach Tony) Broering appreciated the approach Meyer took, though he acknowledged an adult high school football coach might understand all aspects of the situation a little more clearly than teenage players.
“The one thing I liked was he didn’t B.S. them,” Broering said of Meyer. “He told them the truth, and the truth was right at that moment in time he could’t do it. So you couldn’t be too mad about it. I know some people got all upset that they both left and both went somewhere else.
...
Day will have the same dilemma Meyer did when it comes trying to maximize each class with highly-touted national prospects while saving room for the best in the Buckeye State.
And what happens will largely result from how Day decides to approach it, how many he decides are too good to risk losing rather than hoping to hit a December Hail Mary.
It's extremely telling that Day's first two commitments in the 2020 class after he became head coach were from two three-star prospects that probably wouldn't have gotten an offer from Meyer until a few weeks before the February signing day, if ever.
That's not really a knock on Meyer, because he averaged a top-five class in the country every year, but it seems – at least for now – Day's committed to hopping on Ohio prospects much earlier than Meyer was ever comfortable with.
How it plays out for him will probably determine his recruiting strategy going forward. So, no pressure, Jakob James and Trey Leroux, but the future of many under-recruited Ohio prospects rests on your shoulders.
DON'T FORGET JONAH JACKSON. In a scenario that's sort of emblematic of modern college football, Ohio State's most experienced offensive lineman hasn't even arrived on campus yet.
But when you better remember him in your work daydreams when you prognosticate your favorite college team's depth chart on your bosses dime, cause according to a noted NFL talent knower, Jonah Jackson is a future pro.
The 2019 draft featured one of the deepest OL classes in recent memory. On the @seniorbowl North roster alone, 9 of 10 OL were selected in the first three rounds. Heres a few OL names (in no particular order) to remember for next fall... pic.twitter.com/ow9atWt6bQ
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) June 3, 2019
There may be a Rutgers logo next to his name right now, but you better believe I'm tabbing him as a Buckeye when we're counting draft picks next April.
COACH GREG. Greg Oden's body didn't really cooperate with his plans to be an NBA star, but his basketball brain still works, his love for the game is still there, and he's played basketball at the highest level of college and the NBA.
So coaching makes sense, especially since you don't really need healthy knees to do that.
From John Karalis of MassLive.com:
“I’m done playing. I helped out at Ohio State for the past three, four years. So I just kinda hit the bug on me," he told MassLive. "I enjoy working with the players. I enjoy that side of it.”
The pursuit of that coaching career brought him to Boston. He was invited by the team to help out and take the floor with players and to help in their evaluation.
“Just to help out with the pre-draft stuff and see what happens from it," Oden said. "I’ll take that opportunity from it. It’s the freakin’ Celtics.”
...
For Oden, the draw to coaching means creating a new basketball legacy through other players. Even though his body didn’t cooperate, his mind is full of basketball knowledge that he has enjoyed sharing in this new chapter.
“Seeing them guys get better, knowing you had a little hand in getting them a little bit better," he said of the draw to coaching. "I think that was really good.”
As someone who bet three months of rent on the Aliens winning the BIG3 championship this summer, I do take great exception to that “I’m done playing" quote.
You're far from done, Greg. You've got the most important basketball of your life ahead of you.
PRIME TIME TALKS FLEMING. When you're barely finished your junior year of high school and you've already got the attention of a Hall of Famer, you're probably doing something right.
It's also generally good news when the aforementioned notorious teen is committed to play for your favorite sports team.
Motivation to be on top! @DeionSanders pic.twitter.com/jY5XMGnDca
— 0J4 (@julian_040) June 1, 2019
I mostly appreciate the sentiment from Prime Time and it's cool Fleming has his attention, but also, what a weird-ass thing to say in a kid's Instagram comments.
Maybe Deion is hedging a bit by listing every possible circumstance where his prediction is void, but the laundry list of potential indiscretions just feels a bit over the top. A simple "as long as he handles his business off the field" would suffice.
But hey, it looks like Fleming took it in stride, so that's all that really matters.
SHADOW OF A LEGEND. It looks like Steele Chambers will be wearing a legendary number throughout his Buckeye career, breaking out the 'ole No. 22 worn by Ohio State's first-ever Heisman Trophy winner, Les Horvath.
My lil cousin was honored with wearing the #22 @ OSU ... continue the legacy of the greats fam #NFLBOUND #SteeleChambers pic.twitter.com/50IqrG1cSB
— 2ReelTiago (@ReallyTiago) June 3, 2019
The number has been retired since 2000, but Chambers appears to have received permission to wear it, much like Justin Hilliard got permission to wear Chic Harley's No. 47.
I think retiring numbers is a bad, unrealistic idea for a school like Ohio State that has way too many great players and a roster of over 100 every year, but I'm a huge fan of players knowing the history of their jersey number and who wore it before them. I don't think that should be limited to guys seeking to wear a retired number.
EAT AT ARBY'S. Snoop Dogg breaks Guinness World Record for largest gin and juice... The $500 million smiley face business... Catholic school principal resigns after he was arrested at strip club while on a school field trip... The secret oral history of Bennington: the 1980s' most decadent college...
