Tag Archives: OSU

2018 OSU Captains Announced

(Official OSU Press Release)

Seven Named 2018 Ohio State Football Captains

Group includes three receivers, Isaiah Prince and defenders Nick Bosa, Jordan Fuller and Tuf Borland

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State football team has voted on and selected seven players to serve as its captains for the 2018 season. This year’s group includes a pair of returning captains from 2017 – WRs Terry McLaurin and Parris Campbell – along with a third fifth-year senior WR in Johnnie Dixon, OT Isaiah Prince, DE Nick Bosa, SAF Jordan Fuller and LB Tuf Borland.

The players voted on captains Friday. Campbell led the way with the most votes with Dixon just one vote behind. Fuller led all defensive vote getters.

Campbell, a fifth-year senior, has played in 34 games during his career with 24 starts. A dynamic pass catcher and returner, he started 12 games in 2017 and led the team with 18 plays of 20-or-more yards, including long receiving touchdowns of 74 yards vs. Indiana, 69 yards vs. UNLV and 57 yards in the Big Ten title game win over Wisconsin. He enters the 2018 campaign second on the team in career receptions with 53 and second in receiving yards with 705. On special teams, Campbell averaged 36.6 yards per kick return. He was a third-team All-Big Ten performer at wide receiver and second-team as a return specialist.

McLaurin has played in 40 career games and is a returning 14-game starter from the 2017 squad. He enters his fifth year in the program with 40 receptions for 550 yards and a 13.8-yards per reception average. His eight touchdown receptions were tied for the team lead last year, including an 84-yard catch-and-run TD against Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. McLaurin graduated last December with a degree in communication.

Dixon, a fifth-year senior, has battled injury and adversity throughout his career but had his best statistical year in 2017, tying for the team lead with eight touchdown receptions while averaging 23.4 yards per catch. Named a “champion” nine times by the coaching staff, Dixon had multi-TD performances against Rutgers (three receptions, career-high 115 yards, two TD), Penn State (three receptions, 56 yards, two TD) and Iowa (four receptions, 81 yards, two TD). Already viewed by his teammates as a leader on and off the field, Dixon was one of 56 Ohio State student-athletes across 17 sports to take part in the Fourth Annual Wolstein Leadership Academy Retreat this May

Prince was a third-team All-Big Ten performer last year and is a veteran of 40 career games with 27 consecutive starts. He’s been Ohio State’s starting right tackle in 2016 and 2017 and the Buckeyes have led the Big Ten in rushing in each of those seasons. A sport industry major, Prince interned last summer with Ohio State’s social media and fan experience department.

Bosa is universally regarded as one of the best defensive players in the country, coming off first team All-American honors from the American Football Coaches Association. He led the Buckeyes last year in tackles for loss (16.0), sacks (8.0) and was the Big Ten Conference Smith-Brown defensive lineman of the year. Bosa was named a game “champion” by the Ohio State coaches for his efforts in all 12 wins last year, the only defensive player to achieve the feat.

Fuller is the unquestioned leader in the back end of Ohio State’s defense, a returning 13-game starter from 2017 who had 70 tackles (57 solo) to earn third team All-Big Ten honors. He had what was essentially the game-deciding interception against Michigan and was a game “champion” by the coaching staff seven times. A business marketing major, his work in the classroom has been equally impressive – last season, Fuller became the program’s fifth CoSIDA Academic All-American in the last four years.

Borland, a third-year sophomore, saw his first extensive playing time in last season’s third game against Army and went on to start nine of the final 11 games of the season at middle linebacker. He finished with 58 tackles – fourth most on the team – and was twice voted by the coaches as the team’s defensive player of the game. His spring was cut short due injury but all signs point to him returning for action in 2018. An exercise science major, Borland earned Academic All-Big Ten and OSU Scholar-Athlete honors.

QB Chugunov Joins Team

Former West Virginia quarterback Chris Chugunov has joined the Ohio State football team as a graduate transfer. He will work on a master’s degree in hospitality management after earning his bachelor’s degree from WVU in finance. He will have two years of eligibility.

Chugunov, who is 6-1, 203 pounds and will wear jersey No. 4, is from Skillman, N.J., and Montgomery High School. He was a January 2015 enrollee at WVU and spent three seasons with the Mountaineers. He played in eight games, including starting twice last season in place of an injured Will Grier, and completed 45 of 95 passes for 551 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions.

Pronunciation: CHUG uh nov

INSIDE THE BUCKEYES – GOIN STREAKIN

The Buckeyes extended their winning streak this season to 9 games, their overall winning streak to 22 games and their regular season Big Ten winning streak to 29 games with their 28-14 victory over Minnesota in Big Ten play.

OSU Offense vs Oregon Defense In Game Action Shot Nati Championship Game 1-12-15

Ezekiel Elliott extended his 100 yard rushing yards streak to 14 consecutive games with 26 carries for 114 yards and 1 touchdown.

Ezekiel Elliott Media Day Podium Photo Nati Championship 1-10-15

Elliott now has 1,244 yards on the season with 14 rushing TD’s.  He is now 4th in school history with 3,384 career rushing yards and has scored 34 rushing touchdowns and 35 overall touchdowns in his career to this point at Ohio State.

 

Wide receiver Michael Thomas extended his consecutive games streak of catching at least  1 pass in a game to 25 straight games. His 6 yard touchdown catch in the game was his 16 scoring grab of his career at OSU.

 

Cardale Jones extended his unbeaten streak as the starting quarterback at Ohio State to 11 straight games. Jones was 3-0 last year and is now 8-0 this season. Jones threw for 187 yards and 1 touchdown in the win and also rushed for 65 yards and a score in the 14 point victory. That touchdown scamper  of 38 yards was the longest run of his career.

 

In his first 50 games at Ohio State, head coach Urban Meyer’s has a 47-3 record, the third greatest start for a coach at one school in FBS history. That’s a (.940) winning percentage.  Meyer’s career overall record improved to 151-26, that good for an (.853) winning percentage which is the highest among active coaches.

2014 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PHOTOS

Kerry Combs(Def.Backs Coach) and Brutus Buckeye Celebrate Nati Championship 1-12-15 Urban Meyer and Players Interviewed Postgame Nati Championship 1-12-15Cardale Jones Postgame Interview On Field Nati Championship 1-12-15Cardale Jones Mobbed Postgame On Field Celebration-Interviews Nati Championship Game 1-12-15Devin Smith with the OSU Number #1 Pose Postgame Celebration Nati Championship 1-12-15Evan Spencer and Michael Thomas Celebrating on Podium Postgame Nati Championship 1-12-15Shelley Meyer Meyer Shows Us Who's Number #1 Nati Championship 1-12-15Bri'onte Dunn OSU #1 with Newspaper Nati Championship 1-12-15Raekwon McMillian OSU Number #1 Nati Championship Game 1-12-15Urban Meyer and Ezekiel Elliott Celebrate On Field Nati Championship 1-12-15Urban Meyer Postgame Celebration Points To Where He Will Get Tatoo Nati Championship 1-12-15Urban Meyer and Joey Bosa on Podium Talking Postgame Nati Championship 1-12-15Urban Meyer and Devin Smith Postgame on Podium Nati Championship 1-12-15Urban Meyer and Phil Knight Postgame Nati Championship 1-12-15Urban Meyer Postgame Locker Room Interview Nati Championship 1-12-15Luke Fickell and Kenny Postgame Locker Room Intverview Nati Championship 1-12-15Urban Meyer, Cardale Jones and Tyvis Powell with Nati Championship Trophy Next Day 1-13-15Taylor Decker and Darryl Baldwin Celebrating Nati Championship Game 1-12-15Ezekiel Elliott and Warren Ball Celebrating After TD Nati Championship Game 1-12-15LeBron Hugs Ezekiel Elliott After Final TD Nati Championship Game 1-12-15AT & T Field Wide Shot Postgame OSU Nati Champions 1-12-15

Kenny Selfie with LeBron James Sidelines Nati Championship Game 1-12-15OSU Band and Crowd Shot At Nati Championship Game 1-12-15Jeff Heuerman and Honorary Team Member Jacob Jarvis(15) Muscular Dystrophy Postgame Nati Championship 1-12-15Evan Spencer Joins the Big Ten Network for a Postgame Interview Nati Championship 1-12-15Braxton Miller Postgame Locker Room Nati Championship 1-12-15Curtis Grant  Postgame Celebration Nati Championship 1-12-15Jeff Heuerman and The Buckeyes Begin Their Celebration at Nati Championship Game 1-12-15Eddie George and Orlando Pace Pregame Photo Nati Championship 1-12-15Mark Dantonio - Michigan St. Head Coach Pregame Photo Nati Championship 1-12-15LeBron James and OSU-AD Gene Smith On Sidelines Nati Championship Game 1-12-15In Game OSU Defense Time Out Meeting Nati Championship 1-12-15Kenny and Cameron O H I O in Dallas. - CopyO-H-I-O Photo From Fans Pregame Nati Championship Game 1-12-15Ezekiel Elliott On Field Pregame Stretch with Helmets Nati Championship Game 1-12-15Devin Smith and Jeff Heuerman Pregame Stretch Nati Championship Game 1-12-15Bonnie Bernstein and Kenny Mayne Pregame Nati Championship 1-12-15Ezekiel Elliott Arrives For Nati Championship Game 1-12-15Cardale Jones Pregame Warm Ups Nati Championship Game 1-12-15Kenny at National Championship - CopyNati Championship National Anthem Wide Shot with Fireworks 1-12-15Kenny and Cameron with National Championship Trophy Media Day 1-10-15 - CopyKenny and Paul Keels with National Championship Trophy Media Day 1-10-15Oregon Cheerleaders Pregame Nati Championship 1-12-15Oregon,Ohio St and Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders Pregame Nati Championship 1-12-15Kenny an Candice Coots Oregon 1-12-15Cardale Jones Media Day Close Up Photo 1-10-15Darron Lee on SportsCenter Media Day Nati Championship 1-10-15

JIM TRESSEL TALKS BEFORE THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ABOUT BEING A HALL OF FAMER NOW

Before the Ohio State Buckeyes demolished the Oregon Ducks to win the 2014 National Championship, for Buckeyes head coach Jim Tressel talked to a number of us in the media about being selected as part of the 2015 class for the College Football Hall Of Fame as well as how he feels when he watches OSU games now and more.

Jim Tressel before Nati Championship Game 1-12-15

KENNY’S KEYS TO AN OHIO STATE WIN OVER ALABAMA

1) PROTECT THE PIGSKIN – In a game of this magnitude against a team the caliber of Alabama, turnovers become even more of a factor, especially for a quarterback in Cardale Jones who is only making his second career start. Jones has to realize it’s OK to throw the ball away, punt, let your defense get a stop and live to play another series. Jones can’t turn it over and give Bama a short field to work with.

Cardale Jones Backfield Photo

2) ZONE AMARI – 26% of Alabama’s offense comes from one player, wide receiver Amari Cooper. He eats up man-to-man defenses, so the Buckeyes need to either double team him or play some zone defense so Cooper doesn’t reach the end zone for the 15th time this season. He is a “Big Play Maker” and can’t be stopped one on one.

 

3) GO DEEP – Alabama’s secondary is very suspect against the deep ball. They’ve given up 17 touchdown passes and a number of them on the bomb. Michael Thomas, Devin Smith, Jalin Marshall and if he plays, Dontre Wilson will have a chance to get behind the Tide corners and safties if the Buckeyes O-Line can give Cardale Jones to go down field. If so, Ohio State should score on at least  the one deep pass, if not more.

 

4) PACE AND SPREAD – In a number of Bama’s losses or close games their defense has had trouble with teams that go no huddle and also spread the field. The Buckeyes should be able to do both. If so OSU’s offense will put points on the board.

 

5) DO THE BOSA-NOVA – Joey Bosa has to be the best defensive player on the field and reak havoc in the Tide backfield all game long. If Alabama decides to double team him, then Michael Bennett, Adolphus Washington and Steve Miller then have to win their one on one battles and put pressure on Blake Simms and get in the backfield.

Joey Bosa Big Hit vs Navy

6) BE SPECIAL ON SPECIAL TEAMS – Both teams kickers struggle with field goals, especially outside of 40 yards. Whichever team can get their kicker to split the uprights and also be solid in their return and coverage teams will have a HUGE advantage in the Sugar Bowl.

 

Prediction  –  OHIO STATE 34       ALABAMA 28

DID OHIO STATE DO ENOUGH TO MAKE THE NCAA PLAYOFF?

Urban Meyer Big Ten Trophy

Last 5 weeks:

OSU beat 3 ranked teams – 2 on road/1 at neutral site. TCU beat 2

ranked teams – 1 on road. Baylor beat 2 ranked teams – 1 on road.

 

Current winning streaks:

OSU has an 11 game winning streak. TCU has a 7 game winning streak. Baylor has a

5 game winning streak.

 

Last games:

Ohio State wins the Big Ten Championship over #13 (10-3) Wisconsin 59-0.

TCU beat unranked (2-10) Iowa State 55-3.

Baylor beat #9 (9-3) Kansas State 38-27.

 

OSU is an outright conference champion. TCU and Baylor are co-conference champions.

 

OSU’s  best win is at #8 Michigan St. (10-2). TCU’s best win was at home vs #4

Oklahoma (8-4). Baylor’s best win was at home vs #9 TCU (11-1).

 

OSU’s loss was at home to (6-6) Virginia Tech. TCU’s loss was to (11-1) Baylor. Baylor’sloss was to (7-5) West Virginia.

 

OSU’s record vs ranked teams is (3-0). TCU’s record vs ranked teams is (4-1). Baylor’s record vs ranked teams is (3-0).

 

OSU’s opponents combined record winning percentage is (.555). TCU’s opponents combined record winning percentage is (.503). Baylor’s opponents combined winning percentage is (.475).

 

 

 

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE FROM OHIO STATE ON QUARTERBACK J.T. BARRETT

Update on Ohio State Quarterback J.T. Barrett

5:30 p.m. – Nov. 29, 2014

Ohio State freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett (Wichita Falls, Texas; Rider High School) suffered a right ankle fracture in the second half of the Buckeyes’ 42-28 victory over Michigan Saturday at Ohio Stadium. He is scheduled to have surgery Sunday at the Ohio State University Medical Center, and he will miss the remainder of the season.

JT Barrett Thumbs Up Injury photo

Barrett, 11-1 as Ohio State’s starting quarterback after taking over the starting position just 12 days before the opening game of the season, had rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 176 yards and another score against the Wolverines. Ohio State was leading 28-21 when Barrett was injured. OSU scored the next two touchdowns of the game for a game-clinching 42-21 lead.

Barrett finishes his campaign with school record totals of 3,772 total yards and 45 touchdowns responsible for. His touchdowns total is a Big Ten record. He passed for 2,834 yards and a school-record 34 touchdowns and he rushed for an additional 938 yards and 11 touchdowns.

 

KENNY’S KEYS TO AN OHIO STATE WIN OVER MICHIGAN

PROTECT THE PIGSKIN – If the Buckeyes don’t turn the ball over on offense or special teams the Wolverines can’t beat them. The only way Ohio State loses this game is if the Buckeyes beat themselves. Michigan can’t match Ohio State’s offense point for point this season like they did last year in OSU’s 42-41 win in Ann Arbor. Urban Meyer has too many weapons for even the 9th ranked defense in the country to stop in J.T. Barrett, Ezekiel Elliott, Jalin Marshall, Michael Thomas, Jeff Heuerman and Devin Smith just to name a few. If those guys hold onto the ball and don’t give Michigan a short field to work with or cough it up in the red zone and don’t come away with any points, then Michigan can’t beat Ohio State.

J.T. Barrett TD Pass vs Navy

A BALANCED OFFENSIVE ATTACK – Urban Meyer and Tom Herman need to use all the weapons I mentioned above on offense. The strength of this Michigan team is on defense so you’re going to need to keep them off balance. Start with the run, mix in some throws, a few option plays, hit them with the play action pass, follow that up with a few jet sweeps and then a deep ball or two. Keep the Wolverines guessing and get everyone involved in the offense. Ideally you’d like to throw for 250 yards and run for another 200 yards in this game.

DON’T GIVE UP THE BIG PLAY – In the last three games Ohio State’s defense has given up touchdown runs of 30, 33, 52 and 90 yards. The Buckeyes need to do a better job of tackling and taking better angles to the ball. Also they can’t go for the “Sports Center” hit of the game. Be fundamentally sound and just “Do Your Job” on defense. In other words, wrap up and tackle. Don’t let quarterback Devin Gardner or wide receiver Devin Funchess take what should be a minimal gain and turn it into a momentum changing “BIG Play”. Joey Bosa, Joshua Perry, Raekwon McMillian and Doran Grant need to lead the way.

Marcus Hall Flipping the Bird to Michigan Fans 2013

YOUNG STARTERS NEED TO HANDLE THE PRESSURE – The Buckeyes will have 13 starters on offense, defense and special teams that are either freshmen or sophomores playing in “The Game”. Those “‘Yutes” (see My Cousin Vinnie for clarification) need to have complete “Focusness” (Jim Thome term) and don’t let “The Game” get too big for them. Keep your composure and don’t go all Marcus Hall on the Wolverines (although that was classic last year) and again just “Do Your Job”, instead of trying to do too much. If they play like that, then these young talented kids should be fine.

Urban Meyer

BE SOUND ON SPECIAL TEAMS – Nothing gives an underdog more hope and confidence then returning a punt or a kickoff for a touchdown. OSU’s coverage units must stay in their lanes and again just “Do Your Job” and they should be fine. Also, Urban Meyer who is in charge of the special teams units, needs to have his troops on high alert  for fake punts, field goals and extra points. The Wolverines have nothing to lose and everything to gain in this game, so you can bet that Brady Hoke will be pulling out all of the stops in what should be his last game as head coach at Michigan.

PODCAST “INSTANT ANALYSIS” OHIO STATE 52 MARYLAND 24

Here’s my breakdown of the Buckeyes 28 point win at Maryland today in their first Big Ten game of the 2014 season.


JT Barrett and O-Line vs Maryland Michael Thomas TD Catch OSU vs Maryland

FRIDAY FOOTBALL FORECAST

OHIO STATE at MARYLAND  –  12pm  –  SATURDAY

Maryland has a chance to show all the doubters, like myself, why they belong in the Big Ten as they host Ohio State Saturday. The Buckeyes have chance to show that they’ve started to figure out how to play pass defense as they go up against a talented dual threat quarterback C.J. Brown (wrist injury) and his group of talented receivers – Stefon Diggs, Deon Long and Marcus Leak.  If Brown can’t go at QB then it’ll be Caleb Rowe slinging the pigskin around against the Buckeyes. Either way,  it’s another big test for the back end OSU’s defense.

The Buckeyes special teams better be up to the task as well as they’ll be tested in their coverage units going up against the 11th ranked kickoff return man in the country in Stefon Diggs (29.4avg) and William Likely, the 8th ranked punt return man in the country (22.0avg).

J.T. Barrett Close Up from the FrontOSU quarterback J.T. Barrett has put up some decent numbers overall so far for Urban Meyer. The redshirt freshman signal caller has thrown for 1,080 yards and 13TD’s in his first 4 games while running for 205 yards and a a score. He will have to continue to play at a high level for the Buckeyes to win this game on the road in what could be another shootout.

I’ll take the Buckeyes in another high scoring affair 34-24.

 

CLEVELAND BROWNS at TENNESSEE TITANS  –  1pm  –  SUNDAY

The Browns have an opportunity for a road win at Tennessee this Sunday. The Titans are ranked 22nd against the run in the NFL and the Browns strength is their rushing attack, ranked 9th in the NFL. Because of the solid play of the offensive line it shouldn’t matter if it’s Ben Tate, Isaiah Crowell or Terrance West carrying the rock, Kyle Shanahan’s offense should be able to move the ball on the ground.

If the Browns are successful with ground game, this will set up Brian Hoyer for plenty of play action opportunities against a defense that has given up 74 points over their last 2 games.Brian Hoyer In Game Close Up

If Jake Locker plays for the Titans, the Browns pass defense will be tested more than if Charlie Whitehurst is under center. But Locker is coming off a wrist injury and while he practiced this week, he could be a bit rusty and not at 100 percent. That’s good news, because any help the Browns pass defense can get right now is needed as they rank 27th against the pass in the NFL.

 

I’m taking the Browns 24-17 in this one, as they start a stretch of 5 games where I expect them to go at least (3-2) if not (4-1).