Category: Buckeyes Wire

Ohio State Wrestling impresses in upset of Arizona State

The Ohio State wrestling team upset No. 4 Arizona State on Monday behind strong performances from Luke Pletcher, Kollin Moore, and others.

The Ohio State Buckeyes had a strong opening half to the wrestling season, though a tough dual loss against Virginia Tech marred it a bit. The Buckeyes, as they have been all year, are clearly competitive in most weight classes, though a few still need work. How did the Buckeyes spend the month gap since their last dual?

Well, we were about to find out, as the Buckeyes hosted Arizona State in the Covelli Center. The Sun Devils are a top dual team, and they shockingly upset Penn State earlier in the year. Arizona State actually came into this match as the higher-ranked dual, team, at No. 4 to Ohio State’s No. 7 ranking. Would the top Buckeyes be able to take care of business to give the team a chance? And could the other guys step up and get the win?

Match Day: Ohio State vs Virginia Tech

The match went in order, from 125 pounds up to heavyweight. Ohio State’s Malik Heinselman fought hard against the nationally-ranked Brandon Courtney, but couldn’t quite get the win. At 133 pounds, though, the Buckeyes look like they finally have a new contender. True freshman Jordan Decatur burned his redshirt to compete in this match, and he wasn’t disappointed. In his first-ever college dual match, he pulled out an upset of No. 15 Josh Kramer. Decatur got an early takedown, and he managed to hold off his opponent and fatigue to gut out a 5-3 win. He’ll need to work on conditioning a bit as he adjusts to the full seven minutes of college wrestling, but he is clearly an incredible young talent.

Unlike his usual tight matches, Luke Pletcher went straight for the pin from the start against Navonte Demison. He got four near-fall points in the first minute, and added four more towards the end of the first period. Pletcher couldn’t get the full six team points for a pin, but a very quick 19-4 win gave him five team points for a Tech Fall. Sammy Sasso followed that up at 149 pounds with a good win over Josh Maruca, but Sasso couldn’t quite hold on to his eight-point lead for a bonus point.

157 pounds is one of the weight classes where Ohio State doesn’t quite have an elite contender yet, and Elijah Cleary couldn’t get a win. He fell by decision to Jacori Teemer, so the Buckeyes took an 11-6 lead into the halfway mark. Arizona State’s biggest names were yet to come, though, so this was still anybody’s dual.

Second half

Ethan Smith fought hard against No. 4 Josh Shields, but he couldn’t pull off an upset. After two straight wins, Arizona State had cut the Buckeyes’ team lead to 11-9. At 174 pounds, ninth-ranked Buckeye Kaleb Romero took on No. 8 Anthony Valencia. Romero had a tough time at the Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas, but he came out firing in this match. After a tight first period, he got a quick escape and takedown in the second, followed by a long and impressive ride out to end the period. Romero went for the Major Decision late and couldn’t quite get it, but he still picked up the win and three team points.

Of course, Arizona State’s Zahid Valencia was up next, and against Ohio State’s weakest weight class. Buckeye freshman Gavin Hoffman did an amazing job not only to avoid getting pinned, but to keep the final score to 19-5. Valencia only earned one bonus point, so the Buckeye’s carried a 14-13 lead into the final two matches. At 197 pounds, No. 1 Kollin Moore gave up a quick takedown to No. 14 Kordell Norfleet. A wild first period ended with a 5-5 score. Moore earned the only three points in the second period, and held on for the 11-9 win at the end.

So the stage was set for the heavyweights. Ohio State carried a 17-13 win into the final bout. If Ohio State’s Gary Traub won the match or lost by Decision or Major Decision, then the Buckeyes would take the dual. If No. 6 Tanner Hall could earn a Tech Fall or Fall, then the Sun Devils would win. Hall rode Traub out for the entire second period and earned a quick escape in the third. Traub gave up another takedown, but kept the final score to 4-2, so a Decision gave Arizona State only three points, and a very good dual win for the Buckeyes.

Next up for the Buckeyes is a home dual against Rutgers on Friday. The Buckeyes still have some holes to fill, but this is very clearly one of the top overall teams in the country.

Ohio State WR commit Gee Scott, Jr looking forward to competing

The Ohio State Buckeyes will boast of the best receiving corps in the nation, and incoming freshman Gee Scott is ready to compete.

The Ohio State football team is losing a good bit of top-end talent.

Defenders like Jeff Okudah and Chase Young will enter the draft. And, to go with three starters from secondary, the team’s wide receiver core will be going through a bit of a makeover as well.

Seniors K.J. Hill, Binjimen Victor, and Austin Mack will all be looking forward to the draft.

Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave will be the top threats next season, but the Buckeyes will also welcome a loaded class full of elite receivers. Those receivers include Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Julian Fleming and Mookie Cooper.

Gee Scott, the No. 12-ranked receiver in the Class of 2020, will also be taking his talents to Columbus. In what will be a talented incoming class, Scott is ready to work and compete on a daily basis.

“For starters, with myself being a competitor, I just like having so many guys in the room who are so competitive. We will come in and compete every day and it will be great. Not only will we push each other, but we will push other people on the team,” Scott told 247 Sports’ Steve Helwagen.

This is what fans should like hearing from the Washington native who signed with Ohio State over Arizona.

Scott will be primed and ready to make an impact, but he’ll have to prove himself, like all the freshmen, before being given that on-the-field trust from head man Ryan Day.

WATCH: Ohio State football head coach Ryan Day welcomes the 2020 early enrollees

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day spoke to the class of 2020 early enrollees. Watch what he said here.

There’s still the latter and customary official signing day that’s still to take place in February, but for all intents and purposes, the Ohio State football program has the guys its bringing in for the 2020 class already signed and committed.

An unprecedented fourteen players reported to Columbus over this past weekend as early enrollees looking to get a jump on their college career, and the red carpet was figuratively rolled out to welcome the new crop of recruits. Of course, the main man looking to welcome new members of Buckeye Nation was none other than head coach Ryan Day.

“This is the beginning of a journey for you guys,” said Day. “A lot of stars have to align for you guys to be in the situations you’re in right here. So as you guys come in, you step into this situation — you chose Ohio State for a reason. And so with that come great expectations. You’re part of a special family of coaches, you’re part of a special family of the whole entire staff, and a campus that really cares about you. And that’s what makes this place great, are the people. The culture is as good as it’s ever been here before. This right here — this class — you guys are the foundation of what we are moving forward. And so with that, come high expectations.”

Watch as he talks to the group of fantastic football players and people that made it to campus to start class and begin workouts on the banks of the Olentangy. The video is courtesy of the official Twitter feed of Ohio State Football.

Go get ’em class of 2020. It’s sure to be an XXclusive one.

 

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Ohio State drops in latest AP Top 25 College Basketball Poll

The Ohio State basketball team has fallen outside the top ten in the latest AP Top 25 College Basketball Poll.

The Ohio State basketball team has lost three of its last five games, the latest to an unranked Wisconsin team at home in the Schott. Issues with shot selection and turnovers have begun to plague the team and the result has been a bit of a come back to planet Earth moment for the squad after a hot start to the season.

With some cracks beginning to appear, the rankings in the college basketball polls are also starting to fall. On that note, the latest AP Top 25 College Basketball Poll is out and the Buckeyes have dropped from No. 5, all the way outside the top ten to No. 11.

The top ten in the new poll consists of Gonzaga (1), Duke (2), Kansas (3), Baylor (4), Auburn (5), Butler (6), San Diego State (7), Michigan State (8), Oregon (9) and Florida State (10).

Joining Ohio State from the Big Ten are the aforementioned Michigan State, as well as Maryland (12), Michigan (19), and Penn State (20).

Ohio State and Maryland matchup in an important Big Ten clash Tuesday night at the Xfinity Center in College Park, MD.

Ohio State football’s top ten players looking ahead to 2020

The 2019 season is done, but we’re looking way ahead to 2020. Here’s Ohio State football’s top ten players for next season.

Are you over the Fiesta Bowl yet? Don’t worry, all in good time.

The 2019 Ohio State football season may be over now, but we’re always looking ahead. We now know more-or-less who will be available for this team in 2020, so we’re taking a stab at ranking the top ten players for the Buckeyes next year, one that promises to be another one in which OSU has a shot at doing some pretty special things.

There will of course be some guys that develop and jump up out of nowhere, but here’s the guys we know and love that’ll be coming to a television set and streaming device near you before you know it.

Next … No. 10

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9, Page 10, Page 11

Clark Phillips III speaks out on why he flipped to Utah from Ohio State

Former Ohio State football commit Clark Phillips III flipped to Utah on signing day. Here him provide insight on why he made the choice.

It was one of the most surprising moments of the early signing period. Four-star defensive back Clark Phillips III had been committed to Ohio State and considered a lock to come play in Columbus. But then rumors started circulating, and Phillips took a visit to Utah.

Still, many considered the class’ No. 4 rated cornerback and 47th overall recruit according to 247Sports to still choose the Buckeyes when it was all said and done.

And then he didn’t — opting to make a flip at the last moment to Utah. It left the OSU coaches and fans with a missed opportunity to land one one of the commits they were looking forward to bringing in to round out the class. It could have been another big-time talent for a secondary losing experience and skill.

So what changed?

Phillips sat down with Jeremiah Jensen at NBC affiliate KSL TV in Salt Lake City to discuss the change of heart. When asked why he shifted gears, and why Utah was the place for him, Phillips shed a little light on the situation.

“Honestly, I can speak a long time about the things throughout the process that I was looking for the things that changed,” Phillips said. “But it was about a two-week span I had a change in heart, and the family with a lot of conversations and a lot of prayer definitely led me and allowed me to have the discernment to choose Utah over Ohio State.”

When asked if there was a moment when the decision became clear to him, Phillips said it happened just prior to signing day.

“About a couple of days before signing day I was talking to coach (Kyle) Whittingham,” said Phillips. “And a couple of things happened with the other university I was committed to (Ohio State) that allowed me to see that door open for Utah and really just made me feel really really comfortable with the staff and realize that the guys that are at Utah and the staff and everything that’s in place — I felt really really comfortable with the stability, the players, and then the opportunity that’s at hand.”

You can listen to the entire exchange thanks to the video of the sit-down shared to Jeremiah Jensen’s Twitter feed below.

Phillips seems like a very good kid that took a lot of time to make the decision that was right for him. Ohio State is not right for everyone and he and his family have decided to go another route, and that’s okay.

Good luck young man.

WATCH: Ohio State DB Shaun Wade’s “unfinished business” video

Ohio State shared a short video clip of defensive back Shaun Wade and his “unfinished business.”

By now you probably know that Ohio State corner back Shaun Wade has decided to put off the NFL and come back to Columbus for another year. If not, then your welcome and thanks for getting to the party — albeit a bit late.

For Wade, it’s a move that will likely pan out to be a good one. He goes from being the No. 3 corner often on the slot receiver, to the unquestioned No. 1 guy that’ll draw the opposition’s best threat on the outside almost every game. He has the ball skills and athleticism, and it should translate to a year that shows his stock rise.

Ohio State shared a short video montage of Wade and his exploits this past year, complete with some comments that he made during his announcement Saturday. You can watch it here if you haven’t seen it.

I for one an excited to watch what Wade does on the field next year, and you should be too. Getting him for another year is a big win for OSU on the field in 2020.

Ohio State football currently has the No. 1 rated recruiting class for 2021

Ohio State football has currently has the number one rated recruiting class for 2021.

Okay, it’s way too early to get that excited by it, but a quick look ahead to the 2021 football recruiting classes show Ohio State on top of everyone. I know, I know, the 2020 cycle is still in bloom through February, but the fact that the Buckeyes have gotten off to such a strong start for the next cycle is a very, very encouraging sign for the future momentum of the program.

The Buckeyes have already hauled in seven verbals for the class, and could get another one on Wednesday. That would be eight players this early in the process, and it’s not just warm bodies.

The crown jewel of the class so far is Pickerington North product Jack Sawyer, who is rated as the No. 2 overall target in the class from the defensive end spot. All told, Ohio State already has five top 100 recruits according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

The overall start rating average of .9611 us also an astronomical figure. It’s highly unlikely to stay that high, but the class is looking like another stud one.

Remember when OSU was supposed to take a downturn in recruiting when Urban Meyer sailed off into the sunset? Yeah, it ain’t happening.

Four-star offensive lineman from Texas set to make college decision Wednesday

Four-star 2021 Texas offensive lineman Donovan Jackson will choose his college of choice Wednesday. Ohio State is considered the favorite.

The world of recruiting never ends in big-time college football. Ohio State just capped off almost all of its 2020 recruiting class during the early signing period in December, and now it’s about looking forward to a 2021 class that’s shaping up to be one of the best in the country yet again.

One of the biggest prizes the Buckeye coaches have had their eyes set on is Texas four-start offensive lineman Donovan Jackson. At 6-4, 308 lbs., he is a big, strong body that should translate to the next level early on in his career. And now, he is ready to make his choice.

According to an announcement on his Twitter feed, Jackson is all set to let the world know where he’ll be honing his craft in college on Wednesday. And … Ohio State is considered a heavy favorite to land his services according to 247Sports’ Crystal Ball Projections.

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We will of course be on top of this announcement when it comes on Wednesday. If it is Ohio State, it’ll add to a recruiting class that is already ranked as the best in the country early on.

Jackson will make his choice between the Buckeyes, Texas A&M, Georgia and Alabama.

Big Ten football has mediocre showing in bowl season

Everyone likes to point towards bowl-season for conference supremacy. Unfortunately for the Big Ten, it did not show that well.

Bowl season is now over and it’s time to take stock in what the Big Ten did against the rest of the college football universe. There have been really good years, some years in the crapper, and some really, really bad ones. You can count this one as a mixed bag of sorts.

All in all, the Big Ten went just a wee-bit under .500, going 4-5 during bowl season. And a little worse than that, it’s highest exposure games resulted in just a 2-3 finish. That would be the Fiesta Bowl (Ohio State loss), Rose Bowl (Wisconsin loss), Cotton Bowl (Penn State win), Camping World Bowl (Michigan loss), and Outback Bowl (Minnesota win).

Here’s a look at how all the conferences did, with the SEC leading the way (queue the chest thumpers):

Never should a conference’s strength be determined by a small sample size of a few games at the end of the year, but that’s the reality of the world we live in. The Big Ten did not show up like the conference stakeholders would have liked, so there it is.

It also feels like an opportunity lost. Both Ohio State and Wisconsin were both there with some officiating breaks going against each, and Indiana dominated throughout but fell to Tennessee.

Better luck next year I guess.