Ohio

‘We’ll See!’ Why Ohio State’s New Plan for Caleb Downs Could Work

Published

2 years ago

June 20, 2024

‘We’ll See!’ Why Ohio State’s New Plan for Caleb Downs Could Work

The Ohio State Buckeyes possess arguably both the best running back and safety rooms in college football heading into next season after a successful offseason in the transfer portal. However, you can never have too much talent in the backfield.

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day met with the media on Tuesday and said that star safety Caleb Downs, who arrived as a transfer from Alabama, has been attending running back meetings this offseason. The team has confidence in his ability to play both sides of the ball next season.

Is this plan a realistic one? For a player as talented as Downs, it’s hard to say no before he’s given the opportunity.

Though fans shouldn’t expect Downs to suddenly take the reins as a 1,000-yard rusher, he could be used in a role similar to that of former Buckeyes like Curtis Samuel or Braxton Miller (in 2015), as both players were unique speedsters who had the ability to make a highlight happen on any given play. Downs could take a few handoffs while also potentially motioning out and lining up as a receiver. The options are endless if the coaching staff does end up giving him a try on offense.

Downs has already shown that he’s got a knack with the ball in his hands. With Day and new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, there be could more untapped potential that’s waiting to be released.

He was just one of many Alabama players to enter the portal after the retirement of Nick Saban but was the best of the bunch. In his first collegiate season this past year, he posted 107 total tackles (70 solo), one forced fumble, three passes defended and two interceptions.

He was also a threat on special teams with four punt returns for 87 yards and a touchdown, with this production coming exclusively on his 85-yard punt return for a score in Bama’s win over Chattanooga.

Even if he doesn’t get the ball while he’s in on offense, Downs’ presence alone could prove to be a decoy and open up opportunities for other playmakers.

Downs was one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal this offseason. He arrived to Columbus alongside Ole Miss transfer running back Quinshon Judkins, who gives the Buckeyes a major threat in the backfield after two impressive seasons with the Rebels.

Despite Downs’ athleticism and expected versatility, Ohio State still has veteran running back TreVeyon Henderson in the backfield alongside Judkins, so it will be interesting to see what kind of role potentially awaits him at running back.

Ohio State opens up the season on Saturday, Aug. 31 at home against Akron.

“I know that he has the capability to do it,” Day said. “I know he has the athleticism to do it. We’ll see where it goes.”

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Ohio

Pilot opens truck stops in Ohio and Texas

Published

1 hour ago

January 29, 2026

Press Room

Pilot opens truck stops in Ohio and Texas

Pilot announced the opening of truck stops in Ohio and Texas as well as the full-scale revamps of nine other locations.

In a January 29, 2026 release, Pilot announced the recent opening of two stores located in Findlay, Ohio, and Eagle Pass, Texas, with a combined 165 truck parking spaces.

Findlay, Ohio (11471 OH-613, off I-75, Exit 164) Pilot Store Amenities:

Subway and Taco Bell restaurants
8 fuel lanes
80 truck parking spaces
6 showers
DEF
CAT Scale
Game Room

Eagle Pass, Texas (4392 El Indio Hwy at TX-480 Loop & FM 1021) Pilot Store Amenities:

8 fuel lanes
85 truck parking spaces
9 showers
DEF

Pilot also announced that the following stores were updated with full remodels:

Flying J #461 – Tilbury, Ontario
Flying J #518 – Myerstown, Pennsylvania
Flying J #623 – Midway, Florida
One9 #1224 – Bismarck, North Dakota
Pilot #134 – St. Cloud, Minnesota
Pilot #180 – Bellemont, Arizona
Pilot #209 – Van Horn, Texas
Pilot #448 – Hebron, Indiana
Pilot #1028 – Buffalo, Texas

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Ohio

Cleveland.com boys basketball state rankings: Defending champ proving its one of Ohio’s best regardless of division

Published

13 hours ago

January 29, 2026

Press Room

Cleveland.com boys basketball state rankings: Defending champ proving its one of Ohio’s best regardless of division

CLEVELAND, Ohio — While weather conditions put some games in Northeast Ohio on ice, plenty of showdowns took place in the last week across the state.

Lutheran East continued to establish itself as a top program, regardless of division, with its 64-55 win Saturday at Garfield Heights during a Scholastic Play By Play Classic showcase. That event also saw Euclid come away with a 66-51 win vs. Reynoldsburg, which had been ranked in the cleveland.com state rankings.

That has changed since last week, but Lutheran East strengthened its hold atop Division V. Euclid remains one of the top teams in Division II, while Garfield Heights’ positioning in Division III is unaffected this week.

The No. 1-ranked teams in all seven divisions remain in place since last week, including Lakota West in Division I and Lima Senior in Division II.

See how the state stands with the top 10 teams in each of Ohio’s seven divisions for boys basketball. Results and records are based on what has been reported through Tuesday’s games to MaxPreps, which is providing the official RPI ratings for OHSAA postseason seeding.

DIVISION I

1. Lakota West (15-1)

2. Newark (16-0)

3. St. Ignatius (10-5)

4. St. Edward (13-2)

5. Cincinnati Princeton (13-1)

6. Lewis Center Olentangy (15-1)

7. Canton McKinley (13-2)

8. Brunswick (13-3)

9. Hilliard Bradley (14-2)

10. Huber Heights Wayne (12-3)

Also considered: Centerville (10-5), Dublin Coffman (12-3), Kettering Fairmont (10-5), Upper Arlington (11-4).

DIVISION II

1. Lima Senior (10-1)

2. Cincinnati Winton Woods (12-0)

3. Westerville North (11-1)

4. Brecksville-Broadview Heights (14-0)

5. Euclid (11-4)

6. North Canton Hoover (11-4)

7. Massillon Washington (11-1)

8. Toledo St. John’s Jesuit (11-5)

9. Highland (13-2)

10. Solon (9-5)

Also considered: Austintown-Fitch (10-4), North Royalton (10-4), Sunbury Big Walnut (8-5), Toledo St. Francis de Sales (7-5)

DIVISION III

1. Garfield Heights (10-5)

2. Toledo Central Catholic (10-2)

3. Trotwood-Madison (12-1)

4. Columbus Bishop Hartley (11-3)

5. Alliance (14-2)

6. Youngstown Ursuline (12-3)

7. Youngstown Chaney (12-2)

8. Hamilton Badin (13-3)

9. St. Vincent-St. Mary (9-7)

10. Miami Trace (13-2)

Also considered: Akron Garfield (13-3), Cincinnati Archbishop McNicholas (13-4), Cincinnati La Salle (11-4), Columbus Bishop Watterson (11-3), Columbus Centennial (14-3), Defiance (11-4), Lima Shawnee (11-4), Wapakoneta (12-3).

DIVISION IV

1. Maysville (13-1)

2. Cincinnati Wyoming (15-0)

3. Dayton Northridge (15-1)

4. New Concord John Glenn (13-1)

5. Cincinnati Taft (10-3)

6. Canfield (14-2)

7. Sandusky Perkins (15-0)

8. Glenville (10-6)

9. Warrensville Heights (9-5)

10. Van Wert (13-3)

Also considered: Brookside (12-2), Caledonia River Valley (10-5), Circleville (13-2), Kettering Archbishop Alter (10-6), Norton (15-0), Ontario (14-3), Ottawa-Glandorf (10-3), Plain City Jonathan Alder (12-4), Shelby (9-4), Urbana (12-3).

DIVISION V

1. Lutheran East (12-0)

2. Columbus Bishop Ready (12-3)

3. Margaretta (14-2)

4. Columbus Africentric (13-2)

5. Columbus Academy (10-4)

6. Fredericktown (14-0)

7. Canal Winchester Harvest Prep (9-4)

8. Cincinnati North College Hill (15-2)

9. Genoa Area (13-0)

10. Willard (13-2)

Also considered: Chesapeake (14-1), Fairview (10-3), Ironton (13-2), Keystone (13-4), Lewistown Indian Lake (13-2).

DIVISION VI

1. New Madison Tri-Village (15-0)

2. North Robinson Colonel Crawford (12-0)

3. Berlin Hiland (11-3)

4. Monroe Central (13-1)

5. Van Wert Lincolnview (14-2)

6. Columbus Grandview Heights (13-2)

7. Maria Stein Marion Local (12-1)

8. Smithville (13-3)

9. Hamler Patrick Henry (12-3)

10. Kirtland (11-1)

Also considered: Caldwell (11-2), St. Henry (9-3), Toledo Maumee Valley Country Day (10-5).

DIVISION VII

1. Delphos St. John’s (15-0)

2. Botkins (11-2)

3. Sidney Lehman Catholic (13-3)

4. Miami Valley Christian Academy (13-3)

5. McDonald (16-0)

6. Miller City (13-3)

7. Fairport Harding (12-1)

8. Arlington (13-3)

9. Montpelier (13-2)

10. Cedarville (13-2)

Also considered: Sandusky St. Mary (12-2)

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Ohio

GOP condemns Ohio candidate’s ‘kill Trump’ video as unfit for attorney general role

Published

1 day ago

January 28, 2026

Press Room

GOP condemns Ohio candidate’s ‘kill Trump’ video as unfit for attorney general role

WASHINGTON (TNND) — A Democrat candidate running for Ohio Attorney General shared in a video posted on social media that he was going to “kill Donald Trump” by executing him.

In a 40 second video, Elliot Forhan explained a hypothetical scenario in which he tries and successfully convicts President Trump, who would be sentenced to death.

“I want to tell you what I mean when I say that I am going to kill Donald Trump,” Forhan said.

“I mean, I’m going to obtain a conviction rendered by a jury of his peers at a standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt based on evidence presented at a trial conducted in accordance with the requirements of due process, resulting in a sentence duly executed of capital punishment.”

The one-term state representative didn’t explain what crimes Trump had allegedly committed that would be worthy of the death penalty in the video.

Forhan’s video garnered a fierce rebuke from Republican leadership in Ohio such as State Auditor Keith Faber, who is also running for state attorney general but on the Republican ticket.

“That kind of vile comment makes it clear that Elliot Forhan is not qualified to be attorney general,” Forhan said in a video statement.

He also called on Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton to reject Forhan’s rhetoric, but she has yet to address it publicly.

Former state Rep. Jay Edwards, now a Republican running for Ohio treasurer, said Forhan’s video “fits his pattern” of seeking to cause harm to his political opponents.

“He posted “F*** Charlie Kirk” days after his assassination, has a history of rage and now openly fantasizes about executing the President,” Edwards wrote on X.

In 2023, Democratic Party leadership removed Forhan from all of his committee assignments and access to an office because of his abusive behavior toward staff and colleagues.

“I am going to kill Donald Trump”—dressed up in legal jargon about trials and capital punishment,” Edwards wrote. “This isn’t clever; it’s a deranged fantasy from someone seeking Ohio’s top law enforcement role.”

The National News Desk reached out to Forhan for comment.

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