Ohio
Former Ohio State QB Ranked Higher Than Will Howard By Experts
It appears that Ohio State quarterback Will Howard’s performance during a 56-0 win over Western Michigan isn’t good enough to put him on everyone’s radar.
In CBS’ Tom Fornelli’s latest QB Power Rankings, Howard wasn’t placed within the top 15. Meanwhile, a pair of former Buckeyes, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, and Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord, found themselves at one and seven on the list, respectively.
Nobody should act like a pair of Mid-American Conference (MAC) schools are the toughest opponents in the country. But Will Howard did look exceptional in three of the four halves in those two games.
Howard was included in Fornelli’s preseason rankings, where he seeded eighth on the list. The downside from Howard is limited thus far and certainly not enough to bump him outside the honorable mentions.
Meanwhile, Quinn Ewers was placed in the top spot on the list, leaping over Georgia’s Carson Beck. It appears Fornelli values a good performance against a ranked opponent. Ewers dominated Michigan in their 31-12 win. The Texas native threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns without turning the ball over.
The real surprise on this list comes in the form of Kyle McCord. He looked exceptional in Orange’s first two games, but it’s not the same résumé as Ewers. He beat up on a MAC school himself in a 38-26 win over the Ohio Bobcats. He also led Syracuse to their first win against a ranked opponent since 2022 by taking down Georgia Tech 31-28.
Georgia Tech was hardly considered a top-25 team. After upsetting an overrated Florida State team, it appeared customary that the Yellow Jackets cracked the list.
The stats look great for McCord, with back-to-back four touchdown games and throwing for more than 350 yards in both contests. However, it can’t be ignored that the quarterback has averaged 42.5 pass attempts per game. That comes in 15.5 more than Howard this season.
With Ohio State on a bye this week, Howard’s next chance to crack the list will be following the Buckeyes game against Marshall on September 21st.
Ohio
Ohio State police add Chase Center patrols after professor’s viral tackle
Luke Perez arraigned in court for tacking Michael Newman
The arraignment of Luke Perez, the Ohio State University professor under suspension for tackling Michael Newman, a filmmaker and independent journalist.
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.
Ohio
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.”
Ohio
Ohio lawmakers weigh bill to ban NIL earnings for high school athletes
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Name, image and likeness has reshaped college sports, and now Ohio lawmakers are weighing whether high school athletes should be allowed to profit, too.
A bill introduced at the Ohio Statehouse would ban high school students from making money from NIL. The proposal comes after nearly 80% of schools in the Ohio High School Athletic Association approved NIL, following a lawsuit in which an Ohio judge said it was OK for young athletes to profit from NIL.
Supporters of the bill say the measure is meant to protect children and families. But the attorney who won the lawsuit argues high school NIL is not comparable to what college athletes receive.
One state representative opposing the ban, who previously coached football at Cincinnati’s St. Xavier, raised concerns about whether teenagers are prepared for the business side of NIL deals.
“I taught freshmen,” Rep. Mike Odioso, R-30, said. “I know they’re not emotionally ready to handle all this, and how many are going to be able to handle the concepts of a contract.”
Others pushing back on the proposed ban say most high school NIL arrangements are small and local.
“The normal athlete at the high school level who earns name, image and likeness is maybe getting a few hundred dollars from a local company,” attorney Luke Fedlam said. “And in fact, they might not even be getting any money. They might just simply get pizza, meal, food, clothes, apparel that align with the service that they provide. This is an opportunity for student athletes to engage with companies, local businesses, in their community.”
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Ohio would be among the few states to formally ban NIL for high school athletes. Forty-four other states allow NIL for high school athletes.
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