Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba ready to do “whatever it takes to win”

The Buckeyes have an elite class of wide receivers inbound, and one recruit, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, is ready to do whatever it takes to win.

The Buckeyes have an elite class of wide receivers joining the team in 2020, and one five-star recruit, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, is ready to do whatever it takes to win.

Smith-Njigba is just one of several skilled receivers. Players like Julian Fleming and Gee Scott Jr. will also be ready to compete for their rightful spot on the team.

However, aside from those three, the team will still have weapons like Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. This team’s threats on the edge will be the best in the nation, and at least one recruit will be putting the team first.

Letterman Row’s Spencer Holbrook was able to sit down with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and ask him about the upcoming season and his potential role in the Buckeyes’ offense.

“You just got to look at the bigger picture. If you want to win, you’ll do whatever it takes to win. We got threats all across the field, so coming in, of course you want to see 15 balls a game. But realistically, it’s not going to happen at any level at any school. That’s really not in my mind. However many balls I have, I’ve just got to make the opportunity and take advantage of that,” Smith-Njigba said.

Smith-Njigba will likely be the team’s fourth-string receiver.

Although the fifth-best receiver in the Class of 2020, he’ll be battling with the likes of Fleming, the best receiver in the class, and Garrett Wilson, another five-star recruit and the second-best receiver in the Class of 2019.

It will be a tough battle out wide in Columbus. However, as long as players like Smith-Njigba, Wilson, and Fleming all take their respective roles as an opportunity to grow, this team will be just fine.

Ohio State QB Justin Fields posts insane hype video to tee up next year

While the season ended in disappointment, Justin Fields is looking to take his game to the next level after posting this insane hype video.

Fans weren’t happy for numerous reasons after Ohio State’s College Football Semifinal loss to Clemson. It was on the officials and missed opportunities, many were saying following the Buckeyes’ first loss of the 2019 season.

That didn’t matter to Justin Fields who threw what was theoretically the game-ending interception.

After Chris Olave broke his route hoping to help Fields, thinking he was scrambling out of the pocket, Fields threw the pass that will forever live in the minds of some fans. It ended what could’ve been a game-winning drive and storybook year for the Buckeyes.

Well, in his third collegiate season, Fields is ready to take his game to yet another level. Captioning his post with “I’m on a new level..”, Fields, looks primed to take yet another jump.

Already a Heisman finalist, Fields threw for 41 touchdowns and three interceptions. With over 3,200 yards through the air, Fields continued to take his game to a new level on a weekly basis.

Now, he’s ready to come back and lead the Buckeyes to the promised land — or so everyone hopes. They’ll lose some weapons, but an unlocked Justin Fields could be all Ohio State needs.

Trio of former Ohio State Buckeyes make XFL roster

Cardale Jones, Doran Grant, and Tracy Sprinkle, all former Ohio State Buckeyes, will be playing in the re-booted XFL for the same franchise.

The Ohio State Buckeyes have a plethora of players in the NFL. Across the board, they have some of the top talent ranging from Michael Thomas to Ezekiel Elliott to Marshon Lattimore.

However, not all Ohio State Buckeyes are instant stars at football’s highest level. That said, the creation of a new but old football league, the XFL, will provide a home to some players left off NFL rosters.

With the initial rosters crafted, three former Buckeyes all made the list.

The trio includes Cardale Jones, Doran Grant, and Tracy Sprinkle — all playing for the DC Defenders. Jones is easily the most notable household name, being drafted in the fourth round by the Buffalo Bills in 2016, but never really catching on during stops also in Los Angeles and Seattle on the practice squad. He was eventually released.

 

Also a fourth-round pick just a year earlier in 2015, Doran Grant, a cornerback, is also 27. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and spent time on mostly practice squads there and in several other cities before also being cut loose.

Lastly, 24-year-old defensive end Tracy Sprinkle went undrafted and only spent time on the Panthers and Browns’ practice squads.

Now all three will get a shot to play again together in this crazy second-take of the rebooted XFL.

D’Angelo Russell mourns loss of NBA legend and former teammate Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant, in a stunning helicopter crash, passed away on Sunday. Former Buckeye D’Angelo Russell gave a touching tribute to the legend.

NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, in a stunning helicopter crash, passed away on Sunday. It shook the NBA, as players were hardly able to keep their composure while playing in games later that day.

While initial reports were without the full context of the incident, Bryant, 41, and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, were among the nine killed in the crash that took place in Calabasas, California.

Many current stars took to social media to pay their respects. Some went even a notch further, giving extremely heart-wrenching messages for Bryant, showcasing just how far Kobe’s reach around the league was.

Former Buckeye D’Angelo Russell gave a touching tribute to the legend on Instagram. “I find myself hearing every bit of advice you ever gave me,” Russell posted.

This was a difficult situation for everyone involved, and it shook some of the league’s most influential players, including Russell who once shared a locker room with Bryant.

Ohio State Football: Two Buckeyes taken in top three of recent mock NFL Draft

The Buckeyes will have multiple first-round picks, and in a recent SB Nation mock 2020 NFL draft, they have two of the top three selections.

The Ohio State Buckeyes have two of the nation’s top-three players according to one mock 2020 NFL Draft.

Consensus top-five picks, Chase Young and Jeff Okudah have both declared for the NFL Draft and will leave Ohio State. The unpredictable NFL Draft could put them anywhere in the country.

For the bulk of drafts, Chase Young, who set the university’s single-season sack record, is the No. 2 overall pick behind LSU’s Joe Burrow, the 2019 Heisman winner. He is widely expected to be taken by reunited with Dwayne Haskins and Terry McLaurin with the Washington Redskins.

As for Okudah, he is also expected to be the top defensive back prospect in the nation. That said, in SB Nation’s recent mock draft, the duo were both top-three picks.

Young was named the best defender in the country to go along with the best defensive lineman and defender in the Big Ten. Many accolades found their way to Young after one of the most dominant seasons by a defensive end in recent history.

Okudah failed to get too many awards simply because teams didn’t look his way. They were uninterested in his side of the field because of how dominant Okudah was.

If this becomes a reality for Ohio State, it’ll be the first time the program has two top-five picks since Joey Bosa and Ezekiel Elliott were selected No. 3 and No. 4 in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Come to think of it, that wasn’t really that long ago. It’s how things are done at Ohio State.

Junior Ohio State LB Baron Browning to return for senior season

Baron Browning, a junior linebacker for the Ohio State Buckeyes, will return for his senior year. He announced the decision on Twitter.

Superstar defensive end Chase Young has declared for the NFL Draft.

That was obvious to many as Young will be a top pick in the upcoming draft that’ll take place in April. He’s projected to go right after Heisman winner Joe Burrow.

Young’s absence will hurt one of the nation’s best defenses. However, the Buckeyes will be getting Baron Browning back, a junior that announced on Twitter he’ll return for his senior season.

Browning had a huge impact on the team’s outstanding defense, ending the season with 43 tackles, five sacks, and two quarterback hurries in 12 games. He’ll likely have an even greater impact this coming season, potentially being one of the captains for what should be a young defensive core.

“I cannot wait to back to work and grind with my brothers,” Browning wrote.

Browning likely could’ve declared for the draft and been a late-round selection; however, his stock was relatively unknown. What we do know is that returning and being the primary linebacker for a top-tier program should boost his stock tenfold.

Hopefully, cornerback Shaun Wade will feel the same way and return to help this defense maintain its competence as well.

Ohio State Football: It may be in Shaun Wade’s best interest to stay one more year

The Ohio State Buckeyes’ cornerback Shaun Wade has unfinished business, and it may be in his best interest to return for his senior season.

Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade, the second-best in the class of 2017 according to 247Sports, is trying to decide whether or not to come back to the Buckeye squad for another year. It could be said that has unfinished business, and it may be in his best interest to return for his senior season.

But that’s to be determined. We’ll know Wade’s decision soon, as he has made it clear that his decision will come Saturday. For now, it’s anyone’s guess which way the third-year former five-star recruit will opt.

What we have seen at times this year is that Wade’s absence at key moments — namely the Fiesta Bowl — resulted in just a wee-bit of a loss in experience and skill on the outside of the back-end of the defense.

Wade was ejected while the Buckeyes were up 16-0, and the targeting call on Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence seemingly changed the momentum after a dynamic Ohio State start.

After missing all of the 2017 season, Wade has had a bit of a breakout year, but not one that has garnered him the attention of others in the secondary. It’s not that the skill isn’t there, but the dominant spotlight hasn’t been on Wade like it has been for Damon Arnette and Jeff Okudah.

If he returns, he’ll boost his stock tremendously. He’d return as Ohio State’s best cornerback as both Arnette and Okudah are leaving the program, and the program has just one four-star cornerback commit.

A potential return could mean Wade goes from a second-day draft pick to one of the most coveted defensive backs in football. That change in play could mean everything for the 6-1 corner’s NFL career.

That’s why he should stay. Let Ohio State finally give him the platform he needs to show scouts he’s the best in the country.

A top-400 all-time recruit, the skill is there. But, under a new coach, will Wade return to bring that veteran expertise to what may be an inexperienced secondary for the Buckeyes?

Halftime Report: Ohio State dominates Clemson early yet only leads by 2

It felt like the Ohio State Buckeyes dominated the Clemson Tigers, yet they will enter halftime only leading by two points.

It felt like the Ohio State Buckeyes dominated the Clemson Tigers, yet they will enter halftime only leading by two points thanks to a late surge by the ACC Champions.

It isn’t enough to say the first half of the Fiesta Bowl was entertaining. Going up 16-0 to start the half, Ohio State allowed a few huge plays in which it almost lost the lead to end the half.

However, the biggest play of the first half may not have been a scoring play after all, but a judgement call by the officiating crew.

It was Shaun Wade’s ejection for targeting that turned the tide. It was questionable at best as both Chase Young and Wade collapsed on the Clemson quarterback. Trevor Lawrence went down and stayed down in agony, but lowered his head as Wade came in on the tackle.

The first half was ignited by 60-plus yard runs from both Trevor Lawrence and J.K. Dobbins. With Dobbins totaling 142 yards on nine carries, the junior was almost able to take two more to the house yet failed to secure two catches that could have made the gap even larger.

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Overall, the first half was a thriller, yet for Ohio State, it was brutal ending as they almost put the game away. The Tigers clawed back in the game and now we’re sure to have a tight second half.

Time to fight through the adversity.

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Ohio State vs Clemson: Shaun Wade ejected for targeting in second quarter

Ohio State lost starting cornerback Shaun Wade after he was ejected for targeting on Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence in the 2nd quarter.

The Ohio State Buckeyes third-starting cornerback Shaun Wade was ejected for targeting on Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence. It was a game-changing call.

As Wade blitzed on Lawrence, both the he and defensive end Chase Young collapsed on Lawrence.

Sadly, the ref viewed the play as dirty andd has ruled Wade out for the remainder of the most important game of his career. Wade was a highly impactful player, and his absence will be missed. Even more, it kept a Clemson drive alive that resulted in a touchdown.

The Buckeyes will now heavily rely on Jordan Fuller, Damon Arnette Jr., and Jeff Okudah. With the game now within a field goal, Wade’s absence is as crucial as ever.

That said, here’s a look at the play that Wade received a targeting call on.

It was excruciating to see for Ohio State fans. And one has to wonder if this is really what the spirit of targeting is all about?

J.K. Dobbins, with dominant first half, breaks Ohio State single-season rushing record

J.K. Dobbins, with an absolutely dominant first half against the Clemson Tigers, broke the Ohio State single-season rushing record.

Ohio State Buckeyes’ J.K. Dobbins, with an absolutely dominant first half against the Clemson Tigers, broke the university’s single-season rushing record. But wait, the first half isn’t even over yet.

Coming into the game with 1,829 yards on the season, Dobbins needed 98 to break Eddie George’s record of 1,927 — a total set back in 1995. He almost did that one play, rushing 68 yards for Ohio State’s first touchdown.

That said, Dobbins broke the record and has 144 yards early in the second. Dobbins would’ve had both the team’s first touchdowns has his second one not been called back.

However, Dobbins is still the reason the Buckeyes are in the lead. And, after calling 2018 a failure, Dobbins has been doing everything he can to lead the Buckeyes to dominant 2019 season.

That he’s done.

Expect more from Dobbins moving forward. Should Ohio State advance, and potentially even if they don’t, Dobbins may be able to become the university’s only 2,000-yard single-season rusher.