Cleveland, OH
Ohio State’s 5-star wide receiver commits headlines important weekend of official visitors: Buckeyes Recruiting
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State’s next round of official visitors is getting a significant bump in numbers thanks to half of its recruiting class.
There are 15 players expected to be in Columbus June 9-11 and eight of them come from an OSU class that currently sits fourth nationally. Leading that group will be five-star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, and his return to campus is coming at a perfect time.
The nation’s top receiver has never failed to make headlines and be the topic of conversation. But lately, most of that talk has been trying to calm the nerves of a fan base that seems to freak out every time he visits another school or says something positive about anyone other than the Buckeyes. Smith won’t be done taking officials after this weekend, with trips to Florida State and Miami still to come, but the first of two June visits to Columbus should help him continue to double down on the reality that as long as Brian Hartline is at Ohio State, so will he.
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Smith’s actions haven’t kept him from being one of the more vocal members of the Buckeyes’ recruiting class and he’s not alone. He’ll be joined by fellow five-star wide receiver Mylan Graham. The two will then spend next week playing alongside of each other on the South Florida Express 7-on-7 team.
Four-star offensive lineman Ian Moore has already been in Columbus for a day choosing to spend his Thursday at a June day camp before his visit starts. He’ll be joined by twins Deonte and Devonte Armstrong in trying to help add more offensive linemen to the group. Four-star linebacker Garrett Stover will be looking for more defensive players to join him and fellow four-star linebacker Payton Pierce, who will visit next weekend.
Four-star running back James Peoples and four-star athlete Sam Williams-Dixon are also expected on campus. This will be Peoples’ second visit since his spring commitment and Williams-Dixon’s first. Though for Williams-Dixon, this will also serve as a chance to put a stamp on that commitment as he too has continued visiting other schools fresh off an unexpected trip to Kentucky.
That group will be tasked with trying to convince the seven other players joining them this weekend that Ohio State is the right place for them. This will be an important weekend in making that happen as many of those targets are at positions that are high on the recruiting board in this cycle.
Here’s the list of official visitors for this weekend:
| Player, Position | School | Rank (Pos.) | Rating | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Smith, WR | Chaminade-Madonna Prep (FL) | No. 2 (No. 1) | 0.9986 | 5-Star |
| Mylan Graham, WR | New Haven (IN) | No. 17 (No. 4) | 0.9898 | 5-Star |
| Brandon Baker, OT | Mater Dei (CA) | No. 32 (No. 1) | 0.9814 | 4-Star |
| Marquise Lightfoot, EDGE | Kenwood Academy (IL) | No. 67 (No. 6) | 0.9630 | 4-Star |
| James Peoples, RB | Veterans Memorial (TX) | No. 77 (No. 6) | 0.9577 | 4-Star |
| Ian Moore, IOL | New Palestine (IN) | No. 112 (No. 6) | 0.9466 | 4-Star |
| Garrett Stover, LB | Big Walnut (OH) | No. 138 (No. 12) | 0.9388 | 4-Star |
| Darien Mayo, DL | Good Counsel (MD) | No. 172 (No. 21) | 0.9312 | 4-Star |
| Jeremiah McClellan, WR | Christian Brothers College (MO) | No. 174 (No. 25) | 0.9310 | 4-Star |
| Jay McClain, SAF | Seton Hall Prep (NJ) | No. 243 (No. 22) | 0.9146 | 4-Star |
| Edwin Spillman, LB | Lipscomb Academy (TN) | No. 251 (No. 23) | 0.9137 | 4-Star |
| Deonte Armstrong, OT | St. Edward (OH) | No. 333 (No. 30) | 0.9015 | 4-Star |
| Devonte Armstrong, IOL | St. Edward (OH) | No. 359 (No. 21) | 0.8982 | 4-Star |
| Jayden Jackson, DL | IMG Academy (FL) | No. 675 (No. 64) | 0.8750 | 3-Star |
| Sam Williams-Dixon, ATH | Pickerington North (OH) | No. 710 (No. 73) | 0.8744 | 3-Star |
• Brandon Baker is probably the most important target this weekend. Ohio State needs highly-rated tackles. Moore and Deonte Armstrong are already expected to play that position, but adding at least two more guys like that should be objective over the next six months.
• Larry Johnson’s defensive line board has historically been difficult to read until official visits roll around as his process has often been slow and steady. Marquise Lightfoot has emerged as one of those top choices as a Chicago kid where the Buckeyes have had success in the past. After failing to land a top 100 recruit at edge rusher in 2023, landing Lightfoot would go a long way in bouncing back from that.
• Darrien Mayo not only gives Johnson a chance to once again find recruiting success in Maryland. He also could be one of two players from Good Counsel to head to Columbus in this cycle alongside four-star wide receiver Elijah Moore, who visited last weekend.
• It wouldn’t have been crazy to think Jeremiah McClellan would already be a part of the class at this point as OSU’s third wide receiver commit. But the four-star slowed things down heading into the summer. He could still end up a future Buckeye, and this weekend could play a significant part in why, if things go the right way.
• This should be a big cycle for defensive backs, both at cornerback and safety. The cornerback targets are well known at this point while the board still feels open at safety, which includes Jay McClain as the first of that group to make an official visit. A win would provide back-to-back years that Perry Eliano found success in New Jersey with Jayden Bonsu serving as such in 2023.
• Ohio State could add a third linebacker alongside Stover and Pierce. Edwin Spillman is one of two top options in making that happen with the other visiting next weekend.
• Jayden Jackson is the last defensive lineman visiting this weekend. Though rated much lower than the other targets visiting this summer, the three-star would add depth on the interior where Johnson has religiously loved to go as deep as six when the roster allows him to.
To see Ohio State’s full 2024 recruiting class, click here.
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Cleveland, OH
Matt and Jeff Hardy reportedly meet with WWE officials in Cleveland, OH – NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage
Matt and Jeff Hardy are in Cleveland, OH for today’s Wrestlecon Destination event. According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com, it was confirmed that the team met with WWE officials while in the area. Matt and Jeff are currently advertised for tomorrow night’s TNA Wrestling event in Tampa, FL.
Johnson stated the following…
“We are told that The Hardys met with WWE very early this morning. No word on what was discussed, but we have also heard some content was filmed to be rolled out via WWE digital as well.”
Matt and Jeff recently teased the idea of challenging for the WWE NXT tag team titles. Jeff has also commented on potentially being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame with his brother.
The Hardys are coming to @wrestlecon on August 2nd *FRIDAY ONLY* to MEET, GREET & DELETE! #matthardy #jeffhardy #hardyboyz #hardys #wrestlecon pic.twitter.com/t25GI8vScr
— MATT HARDY (@MATTHARDYBRAND) July 28, 2024
Cleveland, OH
City launches ‘Cleveland Moves’ initiative, seeks public input on 5-year transportation plan
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The city of Cleveland is seeking public input and engagement on its ambitious five-year transportation initiative that aims to enhance the safety, comfort and convenience of walking, biking and using public transit across the city.
In a news release Friday, the city said it hopes to harness the feedback and build upon the multimodal transportation plan, dubbed “Cleveland Moves,” which includes five key components:
Two powerhouse contenders are squaring off this weekend in Cleveland, part of a massive four-game series that is going to help answer some questions about what we may see come October. The Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians are well in contention for a championship and it takes center stage all weekend long.
The Orioles continue a titanic battle in the American League East with the Yankees at 65-45, while the Guardians continue to shine with a current league-best 66-42 record. Both teams have surprisingly impressed this season, especially the young but mighty Guardians. Here’s how to play this Friday matchup.
Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
Run Line:
Moneyline:
Total:
Colton Cowser: Part of the rich youth pool of talent, the Orioles may have found a true gem with Colton Cowser. The 24-year-old left fielder has extended his active hitting streak to 14 games, recording one in each game since the all-star break. His average has increased from .219 to .247 in that span, along with 4 home runs and 13 RBI. His hitting streak is tied for the 2nd most active one in all of the MLB, behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (14) and Ezequial Tovar (17). Cowser is making 2024 a memorable inaugural full season.
Jose Ramirez: There may not be anyone hitting the ball better right now across all of the MLB like Guardians slugger Jose Ramirez. He opened this series on Thursday with a 2-run blast, marking his 3rd consecutive game with a home run. Ramirez has a ridiculous ledger of 3 home runs and 8 RBI in his previous three games. His 28 home runs and 90 RBI this season place him in the top 10 across all players. He continues to provide the power on this feisty, young team. Ramirez is the offensive spark the Guardians must turn to in their run to the postseason.
This is an exciting change of pace to the normal juggernauts that we have seen through the years in baseball. While we don’t quite know if these two will be near the top of the standings in October, all that matters is that both are positioning themselves for it. A pair of unlikely division leaders are battling for a little summer glory in Cleveland.
Dean Kremer takes the hill for the Orioles on Friday. A lot of uncertainty surrounds this start as he’s amassed mixed results for much of 2024. Currently at 4-7 with a 4.20 ERA, 73 strikeouts and 14 home runs allowed, it hasn’t been pretty but at least is passable. Kremer anchors the No. 4 spot in this rotation and has yet to find much consistency. Last time out on Saturday against San Diego, he tossed 6 innings, allowing 4 runs (1 earned), 7 hits, a walk and 7 strikeouts. The Orioles have not provided him the best run support lately, with the team being 2-5 in his last seven outings.
Carlos Carrasco holds the fort down for the Guardians in this one. It’s been a lackluster season with a 3-9 record, a 5.68 ERA and 79 strikeouts. The month of July was very unkind to him, allowing 19 earned runs and 6 home runs across a total of five starts. Carrasco additionally has allowed 6 runs in each of his prior two outings. He is currently 20th in all of the MLB in home runs allowed (17), but a lower walk rate with just 27 free passes allowed. The 37-year-old is clearly beginning to hit a decline, and likely will finish his career here where he has so many great memories.
Both teams certainly check a lot of marks offensively and Thursday’s 10-3 Guardians win backed that up. We have another pitching matchup that is not pretty, so it’s absolutely fair to expect a lot of offensive fireworks. The Orioles are superior on paper, ranking 1st in home runs per game, 4th in hits and 3rd in runs.
That’s the way I lean with this prediction. I get the feeling both teams will feed off each other’s energy all weekend long, especially with a lot on the line in this series. I’ll happily back the total to go over 9 runs in Friday’s contest at -115 (FanDuel), especially with a pair of starters that have been less than ideal for most of the year.
Pick: Orioles-Guardians OVER 9 Runs (-115)
Note: Game odds are subject to change.
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