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Inside Look At Ohio State: Offensive Standouts

Published

2 years ago

August 31, 2022

Inside Look At Ohio State: Offensive Standouts

Ohio State enters the matchup in opposition to Notre Dame with one of many extra extremely touted offenses in all of school soccer. With a number of proficient talent place gamers again, together with a Heisman trophy finalist in CJ Stroud below heart, expectations are at an all time excessive for the offense. The event of the offensive line shall be key below Justin Frye.

QB CJ STROUD

2021 Stats: 317-441, 71.9 completion proportion, 4,435 passing yards, 44 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 186.56 score / 32 carries, -20 dashing yards, 0 touchdowns

Stroud wasn’t a Heisman Trophy candidate final season for no purpose. He went into the 2021 season as a little bit of a query mark resulting from a scarcity of expertise and left as a bonafide famous person, with an argument as the highest sign caller in all of school soccer.

His confidence improved tremendously over the course of the season. Stroud’s arm energy and accuracy are each plus traits for him. As he turned extra comfy together with his processing and luxury within the system, Stroud flourished at a complete different stage. He has grow to be a cool buyer within the pocket for essentially the most half, exhibiting the expertise to control the pocket to purchase time.

He’s nonetheless a younger sign caller so confidence is every part. If Stroud is ready to get in rhythm early on, it may very well be an extended day for Notre Dame. If they’re able to rattle him, they might pressure some uncharacteristic errors. How he handles stress would be the key to the soccer recreation.

RB TREYVEON HENDERSON

2021 Stats: 183 carries, 1,248 dashing yards, 6.8 yards per carry, 15 touchdowns, 27 receptions, 312 receiving yards, 11.6 yards per catch, 4 touchdowns

After a dominant freshman marketing campaign, Henderson has the expertise to shortly ascend to the highest of the nation’s operating again record as a sophomore. He was a giant play ready to occur in 2021, and now appears to develop much more consistency in yr two.

Boasting a compact body, Henderson has a pleasant quantity of contact steadiness to work by way of contact. His calling card, nevertheless, is his capacity to create huge performs. Henderson is a house run ready to occur in each the run or cross recreation. Should you take a foul angle of pursuit, Henderson has the kind of velocity to persistently make you pay.

The Buckeye offense can go as Henderson goes. He appears to get stronger down the stretches of video games and is one false step away from a landing on each contact. Notre Dame should attempt to restrict his huge play capacity in any respect prices.

WR JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA

2021 Stats: 95 receptions, 1,606 receiving yards, 16.9 yards per reception, 9 touchdowns

Regardless of sharing targets with first spherical picks Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave final season, Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the Buckeyes main receiver. That dynamic sophomore marketing campaign was capped off with 347 receiving yards and three touchdowns of their Rose Bowl victory over Utah.

As a participant, “JSN” brings a profile that intently resembles present Los Angeles Charger standout Keenan Allen. He isn’t essentially the most dynamic athlete of all time however he’s an extremely superior route runner. Smith-Njigba has an uncanny really feel for area, sporting clear routes and skill to work zones like a veteran. He additionally has some underrated capacity to make performs after the catch.

If the Notre Dame defensive backs aren’t enjoying with good method, Smith-Njigba has the play fashion that might make them look foolish. He creates simple separation and can have to be accounted for always on the sphere.

WR MARVIN HARRISON JR.

2021 Stats: 11 receptions, 139 receiving yards, 12.6 yards per catch, 3 touchdowns

The son of the Colts legend, Marvin Harrison Jr. ended the 2021 marketing campaign with a bang within the Rose Bowl, hauling in six passes for 71 yards and three touchdowns. He is without doubt one of the many proficient huge receivers simply ready to breakout for the Buckeyes and appears poised to carry an attention-grabbing talent set to the boundary for the crew.

Lengthy and explosive, Harrison Jr. is a nightmare matchup one-on-one, presenting challenges to each sort of cornerback. He can simply elevate, making a ton of performs with the soccer within the air. Harrison Jr. additionally has a pleasant praise of velocity to take the highest off of a protection.

He’ll do most of his injury working vertically. The Notre Dame protection shall be pressured into some man protection at instances and Harrison has the expertise to take full benefit.

WR EMEKA EGBUKA

2021 Stats: 9 receptions, 191 receiving yards, 21.2 yards per catch, 0 touchdowns

Yet one more 5 star cross catcher ready for his alternative with this system, Egbuka brings a singular play fashion to the desk that’s principally absent on the roster. He’s the kind of huge receiver who can work all around the formation to create a flurry of mismatch alternatives.

A thick and compact cross catcher, Egbuka brings the very best stage of yards after catch alternatives to the desk for the Buckeyes. He’s a robust and explosive athlete who excels by way of contact and has a expertise for creating chunk performs. Egbuka has a straightforward capacity to interrupt tackles, creating an amazing problem within the open discipline.

If Notre Dame’s cross rush makes an impression early, the brief to intermediate passing assault must be a giant emphasis for Ohio State. Egbuka is the kind of huge receiver who can flip a brief completion into a giant play with the blink of an eye fixed.

TE CADE STOVER

2021 Stats: 5 receptions, 76 receiving yards, 15.2 yards per reception, 0 touchdowns

After Jeremy Ruckert exhausted his eligibility following the 2021 season, Cade Stover moved into his place because the crew’s high choice at tight finish. Stover was a beneficial contributor final season and bought an early style of expertise after making the transition over from the defensive facet of the soccer.

Lengthy and bodily, Stover brings a throwback fashion to the desk. His defensive background is on full show, creating motion within the run recreation and thriving off of his physicality and energy. Stover can also be a reasonably easy athlete who created a few huge performs final season.

Together with his duties being principally within the run recreation, Stover is a participant who may very well be misplaced at instances as a cross receiver. That brings some alternatives in opposition to a protection who shall be preoccupied with a plethora of proficient cross catchers.

OT PARIS JOHNSON JR.

2021 Stats: Began all 13 video games at proper guard, second-team all-Massive Ten

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Johnson Jr. got here to Ohio State with some huge expectations. After spending his first couple of years inside at guard, he takes over at left deal with for the departed Nicholas Petit-Frere.

From a expertise perspective, Johnson has every part that you simply search for in a blindside protector. He’s lengthy, athletic and in addition performs with some excessive dangerous intentions as a blocker. There have been moments of dominance in 2021 and he’s anticipated to take the following step as one of many premier lineman in all of school soccer.

When he’s at his finest, Johnson Jr. is asserting himself on opposing defenders with an absurd stage of pure energy and physicality. If he is capable of get in a groove early on, it might enable for the run recreation to get going shortly, and the offense total to be very tough to cease.

OG MATTHEW JONES

2021 Stats: Began two video games at left guard, honorable point out all-Massive Ten

Regardless of solely beginning two soccer video games in 2021, Jones was a really key contributor to an Ohio State offensive line that underwhelmed at instances. He shall be shifting over to the appropriate facet after enjoying principally left guard a season in the past.

Jones isn’t an extremely proficient offensive lineman, profitable extra off of premier effort and energy than foot quickness and finesse. He’s a rugged inside offensive lineman who is best shifting ahead than backward. Within the run recreation, Jones has his greatest impression with the flexibility to maneuver the road of scrimmage within the offense’s favor.

The senior is finest when he’s a sound member of a expertise unit. If he isn’t seen a lot, it’s a very good indicator for the standard of soccer that he’s enjoying.

OC LUKE WYPLER

2021 Stats: Began all 13 video games at heart, honorable point out all-Massive Ten

After not being anticipated to play a lot previous to the season, Wypler turned a gradual pressure within the center for an Ohio State offensive line that sorely wanted it. He shortly turned arguably essentially the most reliable member of the entrance and heads into 2022 with huge expectations.

There may be nothing that pops off the display screen from a bodily perspective. As a substitute, Wypler wins with a stable throughout recreation and strategy. He brings an ample stage of foot quickness and physicality to supply some scheme versatility. His hand place and angles are fairly constant throughout the board.

Wypler serves as a stabilizing pressure. His dependability and consistency cannot be understated.

OG DONOVAN JACKSON

2021 Stats: Performed in all 13 video games

Ohio State followers have been raving about Jackson all low season after seeing sporadic alternatives as a real freshman final season. There are some that consider that he could have the most important upside of anyone on the unit for the Buckeyes.

Jackson appears to have an throughout profile, together with a very good assortment of energy and foot quickness for the place. He stays a thriller at this level with not a lot to have a look at exterior of his recruiting profile.

You may argue that Jackson could carry the most important X-factor of any offensive lineman merely from the standpoint that you simply aren’t actually certain what to anticipate. The extent of variance for the sophomore shall be attention-grabbing to look at.

OT DAWAND JONES

2021 Stats: Began all 13 video games at proper deal with, third-team All-America (Professional Soccer Focus), second-team all-Massive Ten

In his first yr as a starter in 2021, Jones did his finest to dam every part in his path, together with the Solar behind his huge body. He is without doubt one of the greatest gamers in all of school soccer, and regardless of the recruiting rating, has some intriguing upside on the place.

Jones is the definition of a tone setter. At practically 6-9 and 360 kilos, he’s a large man with an absurd quantity of energy and size for the appropriate deal with place. He may be overwhelming on the level of assault, creating some simple motion within the run recreation. Jones can also be a really tough particular person to get round in cross safety resulting from his sheer dimension.

For as huge as Jones is, his foot quickness does depart rather a lot to be desired. The cross rushers for Notre Dame may have an enormous alternative to make the most of him within the passing recreation. If the crew will get off to a stable begin within the run recreation, Jones can shortly flip right into a dominating pressure.

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Notre Dame 2022 Schedule

Notre Dame 2023 Class Massive Board
Notre Dame 2023 Commits Board – Offense
Notre Dame 2023 Commits Board – Protection

Notre Dame 2023 Scholarship Provides
Notre Dame 2024 Scholarship Provides

Rating The 2022 Signees – Offense
Rating The 2022 Signees – Protection

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Mark Pope prepares for 'epic clash in Madison Square Garden' vs. Ohio State: “It's what you live for.”

Published

7 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Press Room

Mark Pope prepares for 'epic clash in Madison Square Garden' vs. Ohio State: “It's what you live for.”

Ohio State has had its ups and downs this season, opening the year at 7-4 with wins over No. 19 Texas and Rutgers with losses to No. 23 Texas A&M, Pitt, Maryland and No. 2 Auburn — that last one a 38-point beatdown in the Holiday Hoopsgiving event in Atlanta this past weekend.

The Buckeyes, led by first-year coach Jake Diebler, are grading out fine as the No. 32 team in the NET and the No. 36 team by KenPom — No. 33 in offense and No. 55 in defense — with terrific shooting numbers while dealing with some availability issues. In a high-profile event like the CBS Sports Classic in a higher-profile venue like Madison Square Garden, though, Mark Pope is expecting OSU’s best shot on Saturday.

“Terrific team, they shoot the ball at an unbelievable clip. I think as a team they’re shooting 41 percent from the 3-point line,” Pope said of the Buckeyes. “They play fast, they play hard, it’s a great coaching staff. They’re a formidable opponent. It’s a really, really good team.”

The highs have been high while the lows have been low, that 38-point loss to Auburn serving as the biggest and most demoralizing black eye. On one end, Ohio State has just one Quad 1 victory in the first game of the season against the Longhorns. Beyond that, though, the Buckeyes are 0-4 in Quad 1 matchups and 6-0 against Quad 3 and 4 teams — no Quad 2s. They’ve beaten up on the cupcakes without much to show for it against the real competition.

That’s where a Quad 1 against UK comes in, a chance for OSU to get back on track with a statement win in the national spotlight. CBS Sports Classic in New York City right before Christmas? That’s what it’s all about, right?

Pope certainly views it that way.

“They’ve had some great success and then a couple of games I think they’d like to take back — like all of us, right?” he said. “A really, really good challenge against a team that is going to continue to get better and better. It’s going to be an epic clash in Madison Square Garden for Christmas. I mean, it’s what you live for.”

Sophomore forward Devin Royal leads the Buckeyes with 15.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest, followed by junior guard Bruce Thornton with 14.8 points per game, freshman guard John Mobley Jr. with 12.1 points and senior guard Micah Parrish with 10.5 points to round out double-digit scorers.

Elsewhere, former Kentucky forward Aaron Bradshaw‘s status remains up in the air after returning to team activities on Dec. 9 with no games under his belt since Nov. 19. Fifth-year guard Meechie Johnson Jr., who is second on the team in minutes played at 28.8 per contest with 10 starts, is also taking a leave of absence from the team to “address some personal matters,” the school announced this week.

Don’t expect the Wildcats to have their guard down against the Buckeyes — even with Christmas just a couple of days away. Gotta earn an 11th win on the year before cruising into the holiday.

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Ohio promotes OC Smith to replace Albin as HC

Published

14 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Press Room

Ohio promotes OC Smith to replace Albin as HC

Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Senior WriterDec 18, 2024, 09:59 AM ET
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Ohio promoted Brian Smith to be its long-term head coach Wednesday, removing the interim tag.

Smith, who served as the Bobcats’ offensive coordinator this season and has been part of the staff since 2022, was named interim head coach Dec. 9 after Tim Albin’s departure to Charlotte. Smith will receive a five-year contract from the school, according to a source.

Ohio, which won the MAC to claim its first conference title since 1968, is set to face Jacksonville State on Friday at the StaffDNA Cure Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The Bobcats led the MAC in scoring, yards per game and rushing this season.

“He presented a plan for not only sustaining our culture and foundation but also building upon it in the evolving landscape of college football,” athletic director Julie Cromer said in a statement. “He prioritizes our student-athletes’ experiences and shares our common goals of developing leaders, graduating students, unifying our community and amplifying our university.”

Smith, 44, came to Ohio as running backs coach and passing game coordinator in 2022 and added the associate head coach title in 2023. He was Washington State’s offensive coordinator and running backs coach in 2020 and 2021 and also has coordinator experience from Hawai’i, working under Nick Rolovich at both schools.

Smith is a former offensive lineman and long snapper at Hawai’i who had two coaching stints at his alma mater, as well as stops at Cal Lutheran, Occidental, Portland State and Oregon State.

Ohio has won 10 games for the past three seasons under Albin and has been one of the more consistent Group of 5 programs, going 144-94 since the start of the 2006 season.

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When will Buckeyes Meechie Johnson, Aaron Bradshaw return? Here’s what Jake Diebler said

Published

22 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Press Room

When will Buckeyes Meechie Johnson, Aaron Bradshaw return? Here’s what Jake Diebler said

Ohio State’s availability took another unforeseen turn Tuesday evening.

As the Buckeyes took the floor to host Valparaiso at Value City Arena, two injured players remained unavailable. Ques Glover and Colin White, who have now missed eight and five consecutive games, respectively, are dealing with ankle injuries they suffered while playing in games. The two continue to progress, coach Jake Diebler has said, but it’s not clear how quickly they will heal.

The other half of the availability report was a lot less cut-and-dry. Sophomore center Aaron Bradshaw, although technically available to play, was again out for a second consecutive game while working his way back into the mix after not being allowed to participate in team activities for nearly a month due to a university investigation into an alleged domestic incident at his off-campus apartment.

Joining him on the list was fifth-year guard Meechie Johnson Jr., who along with Bradshaw was a critical part of a transfer recruiting class for Diebler’s first full year. A starter for the first 10 games and the team’s second-most-used player, Johnson played 29:30 in Saturday’s 91-53 loss to No. 2 Auburn in Atlanta.

After Tuesday’s 95-73 win against the Beacons, Diebler made reference to Johnson in his opening statement.

“Thoughts and prayers are with Meechie as he’s dealing with some personal matters right now,” he said. “Don’t have a timetable on that yet, but obviously thinking about him as well.”

Following that 38-point loss to the Tigers, tied for Ohio State’s most lopsided loss in nearly 30 years, junior Evan Mahaffey and sophomore Devin Royal said Tuesday that the players had a postgame meeting where they collectively said what they felt they needed to say in order to try and turn the season around. When the Buckeyes resumed practice to prepare for Valparaiso, a game they won 95-73, Johnson was not with them.

“He and I have been having some dialogue the last couple days,” Diebler said. “He wasn’t able to practice the last couple days.”

It’s been a challenging return to Ohio State for Johnson, who was a second-team all-SEC pick at South Carolina last year while averaging 14.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists while helping the Gamecocks win their most games since 2016-17 (26) and return to the NCAA Tournament. While his 3-point shooting has gone up to a career-best 35.7%, his scoring is down (9.1 points per game), his turnover average is up, his free-throw rate is half what it was a year ago and his two-point shooting percentage is down from 47.1% a season ago to 35.3%.

Clearly, his homecoming hasn’t yet lived up to the hopes he laid out during the preseason, when he represented Ohio State as one of two players at Big Ten media day. Did any of that lead to Johnson’s leave of absence from the team due to what was described by an Ohio State team spokesman as a personal matter?

“I don’t think that’s something we can get into right now,” Diebler said. “That would be pure speculation at this point. One thing I know, I know how important family is to him. He’s really important to me, so we’re just supporting him through this.”

It was more candor Diebler was able to share compared to when Bradshaw’s absence was announced shortly before a Dec. 22 home game against Campbell, when he referred to the statement released by the university and said he was unable to provide further context.

Bradshaw watched his second consecutive game while wearing street clothes on the team bench. He has not played since logging 26:33 against Evansville on Nov. 19, moving him to 7.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in 23.4 minutes per game through the first four games of the year.

Ohio State played five games with Bradshaw not participating in any team activities before Diebler said on his Dec. 11 radio show that he had been allowed to return to the team. That came with a return-to-play progression, Diebler said, and it’s also not clear when that will be complete.

Diebler said Tuesday that the 7-1, 215-pound center is allowed to play once he’s physically ready to play.

“He’s still got to build up to get there,” the coach said. “Wasn’t ready to go today. This is an ongoing evaluation really one day at a time.”

The Buckeyes are utilizing their sport science staff as well as the training and conditioning staff to try and get him back into action. Ohio State’s next game is Saturday against No. 5 Kentucky, Bradshaw’s former team, and it seems a stretch to think he could go more than a month without playing and then jump back in against a top-five team that he shares an emotional tie with.

“There’s a level he needs to play at and practice reps he’s got to get at to where he’s able to get out there and certainly play well for him but also for us,” Diebler said. “I just wish I could say it’s this-day thing. Our whole performance team, it’s all hands on deck. Believe me, it would help us if we had this exact timeline but it really is a day-to-day thing right now. He’s working to do it and we’re seeing progress, which is the encouraging part.”

When that will result in an on-court impact remains anyone’s guess.

ajardy@dispatch.com

@AdamJardy