Ohio
Better Know a Buckeye: Gabe VanSickle Gives Ohio State A Developmental Guard Prospect from the State Up North
Better Know A Buckeye is our look at every member of Ohio State’s 2024 recruiting class and how they became Buckeyes as they prepare to begin their OSU careers this fall.
Although he didn’t receive an offer from Ohio State until late in the process, Gabe VanSickle (No. 283 overall, No. 17 interior offensive lineman in the 2025 class) couldn’t pass up the opportunity to play for the Buckeyes when he was given the opportunity.
Now, he will be the only scholarship player from the state of Michigan on the Buckeyes’ 2024 roster.
How He Became a Buckeye
Gabe VanSickle
- Size: 6-5/315
- Pos: IOL
- School: Coopersville (Coopersville, Michigan)
- Star Rating: ★★★★
- Composite Rank: #283 (#17 IOL)
Ohio State’s 2024 offensive line class seemed to be getting quite full. With commitments from Devonta and Deontae Armstrong, Ian Moore and Marc Nave, along with the Buckeyes trying their best to land five-star offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, OSU seemed done with that position group in the cycle.
But when Nave decommitted from Ohio State in September, that changed. It was back to the drawing board and the Buckeyes had to add another offensive lineman to complete its 2024 class. That’s when Justin Frye and Co. began to go after VanSickle, who was committed to Northwestern.
After taking an unofficial visit to Columbus for the Penn State game on Oct. 21, VanSickle received an OSU offer, which inevitably changed his recruitment. Soon thereafter, the Michigan product took his official visit for Ohio State’s game against Michigan State on Nov. 11. VanSickle decommitted from Northwestern 10 days later, seemingly set to make the switch to the Buckeyes.
He committed to Ohio State two days later on Nov. 23, becoming the fourth and final offensive lineman in the Buckeyes’ 2024 class.
When VanSickle first committed to the Buckeyes, he was the 41st-ranked interior offensive lineman (No. 613 overall) in the class. He ended up being ranked as the No. 17 interior offensive lineman (No. 283 overall) in 247Sports’ composite rankings for the cycle.
High School Years
VanSickle played left tackle primarily for Coopersville High School (Coopersville, Michigan) and helped lead the team to an 8-3 record in his senior season. He showcased his physicality, explosiveness and aggression on nearly every snap while anchoring the offensive line.
Along with driving opposing defensive linemen to the ground on the gridiron, VanSickle also played basketball and track and field for Coopersville. In fact, he won the Division 2 Michigan high school state title in shot put last weekend with a throw of 61-2.
State Champ! 612!!!! @MrAnnen1 @OhioStateFB @CoachJFrye pic.twitter.com/1zAqHaR5He
— (@gabe_vansickle) June 2, 2024
Immediate Impact
While VanSickle was a high school standout, especially as a run blocker, he comes to Ohio State as a developmental prospect. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound offensive lineman will need to improve his footwork and acclimate to the speed of the college game during his first year or two in Columbus before making an impact on the field for the Buckeyes.
He’s prepared for the developmental process in front of him.
“I want to just keep getting stronger and better every day because if you get 1% better every day, that adds up after a while,” VanSickle told Eleven Warriors in May.
Considering he’s already bulked up to 315 pounds after being listed at 283 pounds as a recruit, one could say that those 1% days have already begun to add up.
He believes going against some of the best defensive linemen in the country every day in practice at Ohio State will allow him to maximize his potential.
“You want to go against the best to be the best,” VanSickle said. “Obviously that’s the main goal at Ohio State is to be the best, and they have the best defense in the nation. So if you want to be the best, you’ve got to go against the best.”
Although he didn’t arrive in Columbus until this past weekend, VanSickle has been working on improving his game with the help of Ohio State coaches via Zoom, while also doing lifting and agility drills as part of a workout plan given to him by the Buckeyes.
As Ohio State looks for improved play up front in 2024, it will count on VanSickle to provide depth and be a regular on the scout team even though he’s likely to redshirt as a freshman.
Long-Term Impact
Although he was primarily a left tackle in high school, VanSickle will likely be a guard for the Buckeyes, with the potential to also play center depending on how he develops.
His first shot at earning a spot on the two-deep will likely come in 2025, but even then, he will face plenty of competition to earn significant playing time. Carson Hinzman and Joshua Padilla will be the frontrunners to lead the depth chart at center next year while Luke Montgomery, Tegra Tshabola, Austin Siereveld and Devontae Armstrong will be among those vying for playing time at guard, along with whoever else the Buckeyes add in the 2025 class.
VanSickle’s best shot at earning a starting guard job for Ohio State will likely come in 2026 or beyond.
Player Comparison: Demetrius Knox
Knox redshirted his first season at Ohio State before playing primarily on special teams in 2015. Slowed by injuries in 2016, Knox took over for injured Branden Bowen as a starting guard for the last eight games of the 2017 season and never looked back, starting his final 20 games as a Buckeye before a lower-leg injury forced him to miss his final two collegiate games.
Much like Knox, VanSickle will redshirt as a freshman and then likely play primarily special teams and as a backup as a redshirt freshman and sophomore. But he’ll look to follow in Knox’s footsteps by developing into a quality starter for the Buckeyes by the end of his collegiate career.
When’s Ohio’s 2026 primary election? Date, candidates, changes to know
See which candidates are conditionally qualified for Ohio’s 2026 primary ballot and key election deadlines.
Ohio’s primary election season has begun – Election Day is May 5. Ohio’s candidates are vying for spots on the ballot for the November midterm elections.
That’s nothing new, but Ohio made significant changes to mail-in voting that voters need to know about.
What has changed with Ohio’s mail-in ballots?
Voting through a mail-in ballot? There are some changes voters should know.
Signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine in December 2025, Senate Bill 293 requires absentee ballots to arrive by the close of polls to be counted, with an exception for military and overseas voters.
Any mail-in or absentee ballots must now be received before or on Election Day by 7:30 p.m. in order to be counted. There is no longer a 4-day grace period after Election Day.
The primary election is May 5, and the general election is Nov. 3, 2026.
So, when should you send your mail-in ballot in Ohio? The sooner the better. The U.S. Postal Service does not necessarily postmark your mail the day it is received unless you specifically request it. So, you ballot may not make it to a postal processing center until the day after you drop it in a mailbox.
When does Ohio early voting start? Key dates for early, absentee, mail-in votes
The primary election will be held May 5, 2026, according to this year’s voting schedule.
Early in‑person voting began on April 7, including the Saturday and Sunday before Election Day. Absentee voting by mail also began on April 7.
On Election Day, May 5, polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Absentee ballots must be received by your local board of elections by 7:30 p.m., per the voting schedule.
Ohio voter registration deadlines for 2026 elections
Ohioans must register or update their voter registration no later than 30 days before an election. The registration deadline for the May 5 primary was April 6, 2026.
Here are the upcoming voter registration deadlines in 2026:
- April 6, 2026, for the May 5, 2026, primary and special election
- October 5, 2026, for the November 3, 2026, general election
If you register or update your information after the deadline, the changes will apply for the next election.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) – Mrs. Mary Lucille Young, 74, of Youngstown, departed this life on Friday, April 10, 2026 at her residence where God welcomed her home.
Mary, affectionately known as “Mary Lou” and “Tang”, was born March 8, 1952 in Youngstown, a daughter of Lawrence and Ada Mae Alexander Hamilton Young.
She was a proud 1971 graduate of South High School.
Mary was a member of New Bethel Baptist Church.
She attended Louis Weinberger Hill Beauty School, and was accepted as a model with Barbizon Modeling Agency.
Mary worked and retired from Youngstown Sheet and Tube.
She enjoyed looking her best, dancing, shopping, casinos and decorating her home. Mary was strong, bold and took no mess. She was loved by many people.
She leaves to cherish her memories, her pride and joy, two daughters, Adalatesha Bright and Richlynn Bright; two sons, Ja-Juan Young and Dr. Ty-Juan Bright all of Youngstown; five grandchildren; two sisters, Cynthia (Floyd) Davis, Janet (Steve) Gardner both of Youngstown; and a host of family and friends.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Michael Lamar Young; three brothers, Isaiah, Edward, Lorenzo Young.
Private services were held at the L.E. Black, Phillips & Holden Funeral Home.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Lucille Young, please visit our floral store.
The NWSL is once again expanding, this time the league is heading to Ohio where Columbus NWSL 2028 will take the field. Of course, Columbus NWSL 2028 is a placeholder for now and the the new team will unveil its name, crest, and uniform to build an identity around as it approaches its first season.
News of the club was announced yesterday, though this has been in the works for some time, in a press conference. Team owners, the Haslam Sports Group (HSG), Nationwide and Drs. Christine and Pete Edwards, spoke about what they hope the club will bring to Columbus and women’s soccer more broadly.
“Our family is thrilled to help bring an NWSL team to Columbus and further invest in Ohio, with the honor of bringing the 18th team into the league,” said Haslam Sports Group Managing Partner Whitney Haslam Johnson. “We believe in the power of women’s sports and are humbled to be part of the number one women’s soccer league in the world.”
Nationwide insurance has been a corporate partner in both NWSL and MLS for years and now joins an ownership group deepening those ties. “Today’s announcement is about inspiring young athletes across Central Ohio, elevating women’s professional sports and reminding the world that Columbus is a first-class sports city,” said Kirt Walker, Nationwide Chief Executive Officer. “As Nationwide marks 100 years, this is a powerful way to celebrate our milestone with the community that has been our home from the very beginning.”
The Edwards family has deep roots in the Columbus soccer scene with Dr. Pete Edwards serving as team doctor for the Crew in 1996 and the family joining the team’s ownership in 2019 during the Save The Crew effort. “Columbus is very important to our family. For over 30 years, we’ve supported the Columbus Crew and MLS. We’ve seen how a men’s professional soccer team has brought people together and created a positive impact in our community. It’s truly special to now welcome an NWSL club and the incredible women athletes who will also uplift our city on and off the pitch,” said Dr. Christine Edwards. “We’re very excited to partner with Haslam Sports Group and Nationwide for NWSL Columbus 2028, and we can’t wait to share even more memorable moments with fans, especially during the Club’s first game at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.”
The NWSL has continued its expansion with the announcement and the team will join Atlanta in its inaugural season in two years.
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