Tag: Ohio State Football

Did the Commanders’ Adam Peters offer former Eagles cornerback a contract?

Veteran NFL cornerback says he didn’t sign with Commanders last offseason because he loved the Eagles “too much.” Yet

Did the Washington Commanders pursue the former Eagles’ cornerback Bradley Roby?

Last offseason, Commanders GM Adam Peters was indeed very busy nearly entirely making over and reconstructing the Commanders’ roster, ridding himself of many players Ron Rivera brought to Ashburn.

Interestingly enough, veteran cornerback Bradley Roby tweeted Sunday afternoon, implying he could have signed with the Commanders last offseason but refused to ink a deal with Washington.

Roby tweeted, “Didn’t sign to commanders this year bc I loved it in Philly too much and knew Eagles was destined for the ring this yr ! Gotta bring it home today.”

It is true; Roby was an unrestricted free agent last spring. In addition, I find no record that Roby signed with any NFL team during the free agency signing period, the summer offseason, or during this 2024 season.

So, why did Roby declare he didn’t sign with the Commanders because he loved Philly too much? Do we know that the Commanders even offered Roby a contract? Roby says he loved Philly so much. Thus, if Philly had offered him a deal, he would have signed with the Eagles, correct?

Whatever the truth is regarding the Commanders and Roby, the one truth we do know is that no team signed Roby all year, including the Eagles.

Thus, a logical question would be, “Was Roby tweeting he didn’t sign with the Commanders simply to get attention on Super Bowl Sunday?”

If so, Commanders Wire is not providing him the attention he desires. The Eagles never re-signed Roby, either. Therefore, is Roby attempting to claim the Eagles are his NFL team?

Actually, Roby, in his 10 NFL seasons, was with the Eagles only one season (2023) when he appeared in nine games, starting two.

Roby was drafted by the Broncos 31st overall in the 2014 draft out of Ohio State. Roby played five seasons with the Broncos, then played two years for the Texans, two with the Saints, and the lone 2023 season with the Eagles.

Adam Peters not signing Roby appears to have been the right move by Peters because no one else signed Roby either.

 

Could local star be the Browns’ next great rusher?

Don’t sleep on the Ohio State running back!

The Cleveland Browns enter the 2025 offseason with a pressing need at running back that Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson could just fill.

While Nick Chubb has been the heart of the backfield for years, his season-ending broken right foot just compounds atop his devastating knee injury, casting serious doubt on his future.

Beyond Chubb, the depth chart is thin and lacks a clear long-term answer. With the Browns holding five draft picks in the top 105 picks of the 2025 NFL Draft, they are in a prime position to capitalize on one of the most talented running back classes in recent memory.

Henderson, the explosive rusher from Ohio State and a reigning national champion, should be high on their radar. Henderson brings elite speed, vision, and playmaking ability—traits the Browns desperately need. Securing a top-tier running back like Henderson could be the key to rejuvenating our offense and returning to a dominant ground game.

Measurements and class

Height: 5-foot-9 (unofficial)

Weight: 208 lbs (unofficial)

Class: Fourth Year Senior

Strengths

  • He possesses all-world explosiveness and long speed to ensure that he can make any call, a house call
  • Elite ball security: Henderson finished his collegiate career with 667 touches; none resulted in a lost fumble
  • Excels as a pass protector and consistently neutralizes rushers with incredible force considering his size
  • His vision and processing are top-notch; he finds and manipulates angles of pursuing defenders, leaving them in a poor position

Weaknesses

  • Injury history, including a broken left foot requiring surgery, causing him to miss the remainder of his 2022 season, and an exacerbation of that injury in 2023, causing him to miss three additional games
  • Can lose balance while changing direction at high speed

Notes

  • Awards: 2021 Freshman All-American, 2022 honorable mention All-Big Ten, 2023 first-team All-Big Ten, 2024 CFB National Champion
  • #1 running back recruit in the 2021 high school recruiting class coming off of a special junior season in which he rushed for 2,424 yards and 45 touchdowns
  • TreVeyon Henderson will turn 23 years old in October
  • He led all draft-eligible running backs in EPA per play and EPA per rush in 2024

Summary

In just his third collegiate game, TreVeyon Henderson made an immediate impression by shattering the Ohio State freshman single-game rushing record, previously held by Archie Griffin, by 31 yards. He finished his 2021 campaign with 1,248 running yards and 15 touchdowns. The next two seasons were marred by injuries to his left foot.

Although some teams may be concerned about Henderson’s durability, there is no denying his potential as a game-changing player. In fact, of his 145 carries in the 2024 season, 21 of them went for at least 15 yards. It’s no stretch to believe that Henderson has the talent and instincts to consistently produce chunk plays at the next level.

There are no holes in his game on film. Based on film alone, I’d dare to put him as high as the RB2 in this class behind Boise State’s phenom Ashton Jeanty. The only thing holding him back is the health of his left foot. NFL teams and their medical staff should get a better look at him in April during the scouting combine.

Ultimately, with uncertainty surrounding Chubb’s health and no proven successors on the roster, adding a dynamic talent like Henderson could provide stability to our running back rotation and bring more explosive plays to the offense. Cleveland must strongly consider taking a running back in this draft. I believe that Henderson is worthy of our consideration as early as pick 33 in the 2025 NFL draft.

Jayden Daniels gets some help in the new Daniel Jeremiah mock draft

Jayden Daniels gets some much-needed help in Daniel Jeremiah’s first mock draft.

The offensive line was one of Washington’s most significant concerns heading into the offseason last year. General manager Adam Peters agreed, signing two new starters on the first day of free agency.

Still, fans wondered, “Who would play left tackle?”

Peters addressed left tackle in the 2024 NFL draft, choosing TCU offensive lineman Brandon Coleman in the third round. Coleman rotated with veteran Cornelius Lucas early in the season before taking over and starting 12 games.

Washington’s offensive line surprised everyone in 2024. However, throughout the second half of the season, outside of quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Commanders struggled to run the ball. And in the NFC championship game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Coleman struggled with Philly’s speed off the edge.

So, while the offensive line took a big step forward in 2024, there is more work to do. In his first mock draft for 2025, Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network has Washington selecting Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons with the No. 29 overall pick.

The Commanders’ offensive line has played well above expectations, but I think they need to upgrade the talent to protect Jayden Daniels going forward.

Simmons, 22, spent his first two seasons at San Diego State before transferring to Ohio State ahead of the 2023 season. He started every game for the Aztecs as a redshirt freshman in 2022 at right tackle. In 2023, Simmons started 13 games at left tackle and every game in 2024 until an injury prematurely ended his season.

Simmons could allow the Commanders to move Coleman to right tackle — Andrew Wylie is a free agent — or kick him inside. Many teams thought Coleman’s NFL future was guard.

Regardless of their plans for Coleman, the Commanders still need offensive line help and Simmons would be a great place to start.

Michigan defiantly responds to NCAA Notice of Allegations surrounding Connor Stalions sign-stealing saga

Here we go … swords drawn.

You just can’t make up the timing of all of this. While Ohio State fans, media, coaches, and others connected to the program bask in the glow of the program’s ninth national title in program history, Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger dropped a bomb of a story today on Michigan responding to the Notice of Allegations surrounding the Connor Stalions sign-stealing fiasco.

There’s a lot to take from the story after Dellenger got his hands on part of the 137 page response from Michigan to the NCAA, and it’s pretty juicy. The biggest thing to take from what the Wolverine brass responded to is that there’s a fight brewing. Michigan contends the NCAA is “grossly overreaching” and “wildly overcharging” with its 11 alleged infractions on the program, six of which are the most serious Level 1 variety. It’s clear that Michigan will not accept responsibility and is drawing its sword to do battle with the NCAA.

According to the report from Dellinger …

In its response to the association sent earlier this month, the university refutes many of the alleged rules violations and accuses the NCAA of “grossly overreaching” and “wildly overcharging” the program without credible evidence that other staff members knew of Stalions’ illegal in-person scouting system.

In the 137-page document — a portion of which Yahoo Sports obtained — Michigan makes clear that it will not enter into a negotiated resolution with the NCAA over the alleged wrongdoing, vigorously defending its former head coach, current head coach, several staff members and even Stalions, the low-level assistant who orchestrated one of the most elaborate sign-stealing systems in college football history on the way to the school winning the 2023 national championship. The school purports that the sign-stealing system offered “minimal relevance to competition,” was not credibly proven by NCAA investigators and should be treated as a minor violation.

Dellenger goes on to convey Michigan’s stance, claiming that the program believes the NCAA has little evidence, can’t prove that more staff members aside from Stalions had knowledge of the scheme, and even questioned the chain of custody from the anonymous source that tipped off the governing body.

In its response, Michigan believes that the notice of allegations, sent to the school in August, makes “numerous factually unsupported infractions, exaggerates aggravating factors and ignores mitigating facts,” the document says. The school requests that the NCAA apply “common sense and commitment to fairness” and treat the case not as a serious Level I infractions case but a “Level II standard case.”

The document details why many of the 11 allegations against the school — six of them deemed as Level I — are without “merit or credible evidence,” the school contends, and that includes allegations against ex-head coach Jim Harbaugh and current head coach Sherrone Moore, who was an assistant on staff during Stalions’ advanced scouting operation and was found to have deleted text messages with him.

However, perhaps most notable in the document is an answer to a long-discussed question: Who originally tipped off the NCAA to Stalions’ scheme?

There’s plenty to take away from this that we’ll have at a later time, but it’s clear that the NCAA is indeed trying to bring the so-called hammer down on Michigan despite what all the Michigan fans and beat writers said on the contrary.

Since Michigan does not plan to enter into a negotiated resolution with the NCAA, it now means the case will go before a hearing in front of the Division I Committee of Infractions. The timing of that hearing is not known but is likely to take place sometime during the coming weeks. Even when that hearing takes place, any penalties or restrictions that stick to the Wolverines are still a ways off after the hearing.

We’ll have more on this in the coming days, but get your popcorn out because it’s about to get “wildly entertaining.”

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

Former Ohio State football player transfers to Cincinnati

Former Ohio State football player transfers to Cincinnati #GoBucks

Ohio State football dealt with a few departures via the transfer portal, but as we always say, once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye, and we want to continue to follow and cheer on all our former Ohio State players. Patrick Gurd was a reserve tight end this past season and in an attempt to find the field as a more prominent piece to an offensive gameplan has elected to find a new home.

An Ohio native, Gurd is joining another former Ohio State tight end, Joe Royer, down at Cincinnati. Gurd stayed with the program through its national championship victory, but after a weekend of celebration, made his intentions clear on Monday that he will play the 2025 college football season with the Bearcats.

Used more frequently as a blocker, Gurd will likely retain that role with UC as Royer is the most proficient receiver, but obviously with much more playing time.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Josh Keatley on X.

Watch Ohio State’s Ryan Day on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon

Making the rounds #GoBucks

Life is good when you’re a national championship winning coach. And right now, life is good for Ohio State head coach Ryan Day. It has been a whirlwind for Day in the week following the Buckeye win over Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff Championship Game. Television, radio, and public appearances have taken a great deal of the head coach’s time. And he’s done it all grinning ear to ear.

On Monday evening, Day appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to share some of the experience. He was asked a variety of questions from what the final moments felt like, to LeBron James, and even his Super Bowl prediction. You can see some of the best clips below.

What it was like winning the National Championship

 

Thoughts on LeBron

 

 

Super Bowl Prediction

 

Watch the full segment with Ryan Day

It’s funny how quickly things can change in a matter of just a few weeks, but here we are. National Championship Coach Ryan Day has a nice ring to it.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. 

Internal hire for defensive coordinator may be obvious choice for Ohio State football

Internal hire maybe obvious choice for Ohio State football #GoBucks

Ohio State football fans weren’t able to bathe in the afterglow for too long after the glorious national championship victory as defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is officially out the door. What makes this departure even more depressing is the fact that he is heading to State College, Pennsylvania, to take over the defense for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Rumors are swirling around on social media as to possible drama on the coaching staff and why Knowles may have wanted to leave, but all we really know is he is gone. It is time to move on and as it stands there is one very obvious choice already on staff.

Now there are a number of candidates, but few who strapped on equipment for the Buckeyes with this kind of experience. Tim Walton is currently the defensive backs coach for Ohio State and played for the Scarlet and Gray from 1990 through 1993.

As far as recruiting goes, since he has been back, the defensive back recruiting has been phenomenal and there is no doubt the unit has elevated as well. Walton has an extensive background in both the college game and the NFL. He already has coordinator experience as he held the position with Miami in 2007 , Memphis in 2008 and even the St. Louis Rams in 2013. Now none of those three stops would be considered successful, but that was a long time ago and he has no doubt grown as a coach since then and grown from those opportunities.

There are a number of good options, but Walton would be a hard choice to pass up.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Josh Keatley on X.

Penn State DC hire makes USC’s retention of D’Anton Lynn more impressive

Penn State just hired elite defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. USC was ready to keep D’Anton Lynn away from Happy Valley. The Trojans did something right.

Two weeks ago, USC made a big move by extending fast-rising defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn. The move came amid interest in Lynn from Penn State, his alma mater, for its defensive coordinator position.

On Sunday, the Nittany Lions announced their new defensive coordinator, and it was a big name. Penn State was able to poach star DC Jim Knowles away from Big Ten foe Ohio State. Less than a week removed from winning a national championship with the Buckeyes, Knowles will now head to Happy Valley to work in the same role.

The Knowles hire only makes USC’s retention of Lynn look all the more impressive. Clearly, Penn State was willing to pay top dollar to pry a top candidate away from an established powerhouse. The fact that the Trojans were able to hold onto Lynn despite the Nittany Lions’ push further highlights USC’s strong investment in the football program.

As we wrote over the weekend, this also means there are no excuses for head coach Lincoln Riley. The athletic department has spent significant money to retain his highly touted defensive coordinator and hire general manager Chad Bowden away from rival Notre Dame. If the Trojans flop on the field yet again in 2025, Riley will have no one but himself to blame.

Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork appears ready to extend Ryan Day contract

While it was in the heat of a championship parade, Ohio State football’s athletic director gave Ryan Day a multi-year commitment.

The Ohio State Buckeyes reigned supreme over the college football world for the 2024 season, and while it was a fairly easy ride in the College Football Playoff, the games leading up to it were anything but pleasant.

The Buckeyes lost to the Michigan Wolverines to end their regular season, and it was a brutal defeat to Ryan Day, marking his fourth-straight shortcoming in the rivalry. This time, the Buckeyes were at home and almost a three-score favorite.

Many were calling for Day’s job after that, but he had other plans, such as going on to win the CFP national championship game and renewing a belief in him as the team’s leader.

Athletic Director Ross Bjork gave a powerful statement when introducing Day for the championship celebration. He said Day is going to be the head coach for “years to come.”

Day deserves that type of confidence, especially considering what he’s been able to build in Columbus. Now, until he beats Michigan, that target on his back may never truly go away.

For now, though, the national championship he brought home seems to have him in the good graces of one of the premier college football programs in the country.

WATCH: Ohio State football drops banger 10-minute championship recap

Ohio State football won the college football national championship, and its social media team unleashed a must-see recap of it.

Ohio State football turned a season-ending loss to Michigan into fuel for the remainder of its season. The Buckeyes marched through the College Football Playoff and saw Notre Dame in the CFP national championship.

That, like Ohio State’s first three playoff games, also ended with a double-digit spread. The Buckeyes beat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 34-23 on Monday, January 20.

They thumped Notre Dame via a masterclass performance from Will Howard, who went 17-for-21 as a passer and ended with 231 yards and two touchdowns.

With star performances from Quinshon Judkins, Jeremiah Smith and the entire defense, the Buckeyes were able to put together a must-see recap of the game.

Ohio State has banner performances throughout most of the playoffs, beating the Vols by 25, the Ducks by 20 and the Longhorns by 14.

Holding all three of those foes and the Fighting Irish to 23 or fewer in each game is mightily impressive and worthy of a recap. The Buckeyes’ offense tallying at least 34 in three of those provides plenty of highlight material to work with as well.