Ohio

Ohio State Buckeyes’ Linebackers Should Not Be Overlooked

Published

2 years ago

July 16, 2024

Ohio State Buckeyes’ Linebackers Should Not Be Overlooked

Both the defensive line and secondary for the Ohio State Buckeyes certainly deserve a bunch of recognition headed into this next season. On the line, they have two veteran edge rushers in Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau, along with an excellent defensive tackle in Tyleik Williams. Ty Hamilton rounds out that group of four players and has plenty of starting experience, himself. In his 41 games played for Ohio State, he has started in 13.

In addition to lots of skill and experience on the projected starting defensive line, the projected starting five in the secondary is Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinosun as the outside corners, Jordan Hancock as the nickel corner and Lathan Ransom and Caleb Downs as the safeties. That is another experienced and extraordinarily talented group.

Despite the least amount of college starting experience coming from the linebacking corps, the talent and potential to be dominant is still there. Graduate student Cody Simon is in-line to be the leader of the linebacker room not only because he is an upper classman, but also because he has played in 44 games with the Buckeyes and started in 15. In that time, he has tallied 147 tackles and 11 tackles-for-loss. Last season, he had 57 total tackles which was fourth-best on the team.

With Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers no longer members of the Buckeyes roster as they pursue NFL opportunities, Cody Simon truly gets the opportunity to let loose and show what he can do. Next to him, redshirt sophomore C.J. Hicks is expected to get a chance to flash his ability. Hicks has been a player Buckeye Nation has been excited about even prior to his arrival on campus. He was a five-star prospect and the No. 2 linebacker in the entire 2022 recruiting class on 247 Sports.

Nov 11, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive back Jaden Mangham (1) avoids a tackle by Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker C.J. Hicks (11) in the second half of the NCAA football game against Michigan State University at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes defeated the Spartans 38 to 3. / Brooke LaValley/Columbus Dispatch / USA

When defensive coordinator Jim Knowles only has two linebackers on the field, Simon and Hicks will most likely get the majority of the reps. In three-linebacker sets or even on definite passing downs, converted safety Sonny Styles should get lots of work at linebacker. The 6’4″, 235-pound junior had 53 tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble as a safety last season. His versatility could really make him a threat in so many different scenarios.

Even with a bunch of moving parts at linebacker in preparation for this season, there is a chance that Ohio State’s linebackers perform at an even higher level this season than last. Hicks and Styles offer more in coverage than Eichenberg and Chambers and they have the speed to cover a ton of ground sideline-to-sideline. Simon still offers the more traditional linebacker build at a stout 6’2″ and 235 pounds. He should not have a problem filling gaps against the run.

Behind this group of three linebackers, Arvell Reese and Gabe Powers may get some reps of their own.

If this linebacker group surpasses the expectations of most people around the country, then this Ohio State team may end up being historically good from a statistics standpoint. They will then also increase the chances of a National Championship at the end of this season.

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Hoops roundup: No. 8 Michigan women defeat No. 13 Ohio State in overtime

Published

3 hours ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Hoops roundup: No. 8 Michigan women defeat No. 13 Ohio State in overtime

Detroit News staff and wires

Olivia Olson scored a career-high 31 points and hit the game-winning jumper as No. 8 Michigan edged No. 13 Ohio State 88-86 in overtime in a Big Ten classic in Columbus, Ohio.

Olson also had nine rebounds while Syla Swords added 22 points for the Wolverines (23-5, 14-3 Big Ten), who moved ahead of Iowa for second place in the conference behind UCLA.

Swords’ 3-pointer with 10 seconds left in regulation seemed to decide it, but a foul by Brooke Daniels with no time left saved the Buckeyes. Jaloni Cambridge (22 points) sank three straight free throws to force the extra session.

Ohio State (23-6, 12-5) then forged an eight-point lead with 1:40 left in overtime before the Wolverines came all the way back.

Macy Brown scored eight straight for Michigan, including two triples, to tie it 86-all with 15 seconds remaining and set up Olson’s game-winner.

Horizon League men

Oakland 86, (at) IU Indy 74: Oakland (16-14, 12-7 HL) picked up its 12th conference win of the season and defeated IU Indy (7-23, 3-16 HL).

Oakland maintained a steady performance, scoring 43 points in both halves and dominating the paint with 60 points, never trailing at any point of the game.

“The first seven minutes of this game, we played really good basketball,” head coach Greg Kampe said. “We needed to get that confidence back in ourselves, playing good again right into March. Today we were really good.

“We guarded really well, we guarded with physicality today, we guarded with energy, we flew through the passing lanes. And the big thing is, we followed the game plan.”

Senior Brody Robinson led the way with 19 points, including two three-pointers from beyond the arc, and recorded a career-high 13 assists, to land him in the program’s top-10 in a single game in the Division I era.

As losses mount, Bulls ‘move forward’

The Chicago Bulls look to avoid matching the third-longest losing streak in franchise history when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night.

Chicago has dropped 10 straight games this month since last winning against the Miami Heat on Jan. 31.

The Bulls are 0-4 on a seven-game homestand as the Charlotte Hornets ran roughshod at Chicago with a 131-99 victory Tuesday.

Chicago revamped its roster at the trading deadline with players like Nikola Vucevic, Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu and Kevin Huerter going to new destinations.

Roles have changed and the club is without recent acquisitions Jaden Ivey (left knee) and Anfernee Simons (fractured left wrist) due to injuries. Collin Sexton also was acquired during the flurry of activity.

“The trades happened. You’ve got to move forward and you’ve got to figure it out,” second-year forward Matas Buzelis told reporters. “I know we are capable when we are on the same page. We have to come in every day ready to work and try to get better. When you trade half the team and bring in new guys, it’s tough. But it’s no excuse.

“When we control the things we can control, we are going to be a great team. (Coach) Billy (Donovan) always says you get 10 guys who are on the same page and ready to fight and you can win anything.”

Buzelis exploded with a career-best 32 points during the loss to the Hornets. He knocked down six 3-pointers – his second most of the season – while topping 20 points for the third time this month.

The 21-year-old from Lithuania is averaging 15.3 points while starting all 59 games.

“I am going to be what the team needs me to be,” Buzelis said. “If that’s scoring, that’s what it’s going to be. I try to figure out during the game what the team needs.”

Local schedules

Men

Wednesday

▶ Oakland 86, IU Indy 74

▶ Robert Morris 73, Detroit Mercy 62

Thursday

▶ Michigan State at Purdue, 8

▶ Ferris State at Grand Valley State, 7:30

▶ Parkside at Michigan Tech, 7:30

▶ Roosevelt at Northern Michigan, 7:30

▶ Lake Superior State at Wayne State, 7:30

▶ Saginaw Valley State at Purdue Northwest, 8

Friday

▶ Michigan at Illinois, 8

▶ Miami at Western Michigan, 6

Saturday

▶ Parkside at Northern Michigan, 3

▶ Roosevelt at Michigan Tech, 3

▶ Ferris State at Davenport, 3

▶ Saginaw Valley State at Wayne State, 3

▶ Lake Superior State at Purdue Northwest, 4

▶ Central Michigan at Buffalo, 2

▶ Detroit Mercy at Oakland, 3

Women

Wednesday

Michigan 88, Ohio State 86 (OT)

Western Michigan 58, Buffalo 43

Miami 78, Eastern Michigan 60

Central Michigan 68, Toledo 64

Youngstown State 72, Detroit Mercy 60

Northern Kentucky 84, Oakland 59

Thursday

Ferris State at Grand Valley State, 5:30

Parkside at Michigan Tech, 5:30

Roosevelt at Northern Michigan, 5:30

Lake Superior State at Wayne State, 5:30

Saginaw Valley State at Purdue Northwest, 6

Saturday

Maryland at Michigan, 2:30

Roosevelt at Michigan Tech, 1

Parkside at Northern Michigan, 1

Ferris State at Davenport, 1

Saginaw Valley State at Wayne State, 1

Lake Superior State at Purdue Northwest, 2

Massachesetts at Western Michigan, noon

Central Michigan at Kent State, 1

Eastern Michigan at Northern Illinois, 2

Northern Kentucky at Detroit Mercy, 1

Oakland at Cleveland State, 2

Sunday

Ohio State at Michigan State, noon

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Ohio State police add Chase Center patrols after professor’s viral tackle

Published

15 hours ago

February 25, 2026

Press Room

Ohio State police add Chase Center patrols after professor’s viral tackle

Ohio State University police officers are temporarily patrolling the academic building where a professor tackled a filmmaker attempting to question E. Gordon Gee, the university confirmed.

Officers have been present at Smith Lab since last week for a late Monday afternoon class, Profiles in American Leadership, which was co-taught by Luke Perez.

Perez, an assistant professor affiliated with Ohio State’s Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture and Society, was placed on leave Feb. 10 and was charged with assault after tackling Columbus filmmaker Mike Newman after his class had ended. Newman had tried to ask Gee, the two-time former Ohio State president and current Chase Center consultant, a question on camera. The incident was captured on video by a bystander and quickly went viral.

Ohio State spokesperson Ben Johnson said the police presence is “due to the class’s upcoming speakers.”

According to the Chase Center’s website, Profiles in American Leadership explores the question, “What does it mean to lead with purpose in a complex world?” through a series of guest speakers. Confirmed speakers for the class include Bishop Earl Fernandes, Rabbi Lewis Kamrass, former Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, State Rep. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio (D-Gahanna) and Ohio Supreme Court Justice Melody Stewart, according to the class description.

“This is a temporary measure,” Johnson said. “OSUPD will help determine the most appropriate public safety approach, as they would with any campus unit.”

The police presence, however, does not mean Perez is back in the building. Johnson said Perez remains on administrative leave, and the university investigation is ongoing.

Both Perez and Newman were in Franklin County Municipal Court earlier this week for Perez’ arraignment on one count of assault, a first-degree misdemeanor. First-degree misdemeanors in Ohio are punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Perez pleaded not guilty and was released on the condition he has no contact with the victim. The judge also granted Newman a temporary protection order against Perez.

According to the affidavit, Perez harmed Newman by “slapping Newman’s hand, with an open palm strike, causing his phone to fall to the ground. Perez then grabs Newman’s right shoulder, and slapped the left side of Newman’s face with an open palm, while pushing him to the ground.”

Though the judge granted the protection order, Perez is allowed to be on the Ohio State University campus, and the order will not require Perez to leave if Newman is on campus filming.

Higher education reporter Sheridan Hendrix can be reached at shendrix@dispatch.com and on Signal at @sheridan.120. You can follow her on Instagram at @sheridanwrites.

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Mexican employees who legally work at Ohio farm face uncertainty amid cartel violence

Published

1 day ago

February 25, 2026

Press Room

Mexican employees who legally work at Ohio farm face uncertainty amid cartel violence

WAVERLY, Ohio (WSYX) — The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico lifted a shelter-in-place order for all Americans in Mexico on Tuesday, but there’s still fallout from the wave of cartel violence.

Sunday, the Mexican government killed a powerful drug lord, Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, with the help of U.S. intelligence. His death sparked violence by suspected gang members.

Farms across central Ohio legally employ workers from Mexico through the U.S Government, and they are preparing for them to arrive in America.

But Mandy and Cameron Way, who own Way Farms in Waverly, said there’s uncertainty about whether their employees will be able to travel to America soon.

The couple said one employee is scheduled to arrive in the U.S. next week after his consulate appointment in Mexico.

“The bus stop that he was going to be using, they are flipping buses and setting them on fire at this point as of yesterday,” said Mandy Way. “And he’s just commenting that he feels unsafe to travel, and we’ve advised him to stay safe. The work will wait. You need to take care of yourself.”

The Ways have been checking in on their employees since they heard about the recent violence. They said other central Ohio farm owners are doing the same.

“We’ve had other area farmers tell us that they’ve already been notified that their consulate appointments have been either canceled or relocated because of the violence,” Way said.

They said the employees need a visa to work in central Ohio, and the process is regulated by the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Labor, including their hourly wages. The Ways are also required to pay for their lodging, utilities, and transportation while in the U.S.

“They show up every day,” said Way. “They always ask, ‘What’s next? What more can we do?’ They’re enthusiastic to help and appreciative. And yes, it’s expensive, but they’re worth it.”

They said it’s a challenge to find people who are local who want to work long, hot hours in the field, seven days a week, for about eight months straight.

Right now, the Ways said their employees’ safety is most important.

“We feel for them,” said Way. “This will be their sixth season with us. So, they’re our family. We love them.”

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