Ohio
Promising Ohio State defensive weapon becomes priority project after Cotton Bowl
ARLINGTON, Texas — Jim Knowles likely did not believe he had boxed himself into a corner last June when he predicted Ohio State football would “unleash” C.J. Hicks this season.
That word became attached to seemingly every headline written about the second-year linebacker since. A mere 71 defensive snaps across six games later, Hicks may not be on a leash, but he certainly did not run free.
Reminded Tuesday that only one game remained to make good on that promise, Knowles cracked a sheepish grin. The defensive coordinator and linebackers coach remains as intrigued as ever about Hicks — or perhaps more, based on his play in prep for Friday’s Cotton Bowl against Missouri.
Yet even if starting linebacker Tommy Eichenberg can’t play, Hicks’ coming out party seems more likely to come in 2024. Knowles, though, stands by that “unleash” terminology — to the point that he pledged to make it an offseason priority.
“You see things in bowl practice, where you get a chance to line him up in different places, and I think you see that incredible talent and speed,” Knowles said.
“I know I have my work cut out for me with C.J. and finding the right place for him, because he’s really a guy who needs to be unleashed. He needs to be able to play free and roam and do a bunch of different things.”
Hicks came out of Dayton’s Archbishop Alter as a five-star, top-10 prospect. So a rabid fan base had already keyed itself up for his breakthrough before Knowles all but promised to make it happen.
Problem was, Hicks never had a path to first-team reps at linebacker behind veteran starter Steele Chambers and primary reserve Cody Simon. That changes next season, with Eichenberg and Chambers both expected to depart for NFL opportunities.
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Except, what if linebacker is not the position which best unleashes Hicks? Knowles previously floated him as a possible fit for the currently estranged Jack package. He would serve as the floating stand-up end/linebacker hybrid which Knowles used extensively at Oklahoma State.
Knowles said Hicks also has worked as an edge rusher in bowl prep — though not really as part of OSUs defense. Rather, they utilized him there when trying to give the Buckeye offense different looks.
“He’s looked pretty good off the edge,” Knowles said, in a tone that suggested he was underselling the result.
So great, put him up front. Except if J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer both come back to join Kenyatta Jackson and Caden Curry, the Buckeyes are sorta full up on proven defensive ends. Whether tossing Hicks into that rotation or using him as the Jack, OSU would run the danger of taking a third-year player who people across the board remain enamored with and confining him to a niche role.
Hicks has company in that regard. True freshman Arvell Reese came in as a linebacker, worked out at defensive end, and is currently back at linebacker, per Knowles. Mitchell Melton has played both, and when he returns from his knee injury, he will join the list of what Knowles calls “combo players.”
Chambers can relate. He started his career as a running back before transitioning to linebacker in 2021 and eventually becoming a three-year starter. He sees the coaching staff moving Hicks and Reese around, looking for a way to get them on the field because they are too good not to play.
Purgatory isn’t fun, nor does it last forever.
“There’s always uncertainty whenever you’re not getting in the game, and it always sucks,” Chambers said. “But it’s just just putting your head down and realizing that you’ve got to do the work to get there. I think a lot of the guys, they’ve realized that and they’ve really just stuck to their guns and realized hey, they’ve done the work now and it’s gonna pay off.”
A year ago, Knowles made repairing the back end of the defense — both in skill and scheme — an offseason priority. Mission accomplished. Now, he more or less made the same vow regarding Hicks. He wants to put time and thought into finding a way to “create some things around him.”
A year from now, perhaps the conversation around Hicks will finally used “unleashed” in the past tense.
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Ohio
See JD Vance's homes, from his humble childhood house in Ohio to the million-dollar properties he has ties to today
- Before he entered politics, Sen. JD Vance was best known as the author of “Hillbilly Elegy.”
- Vance, who is former President Donald Trump’s running mate, grew up in the Rust Belt.
- Here’s a look at homes the former Marine, Yale graduate, and Ohio senator is linked to.
If former President Donald Trump wins in November, he’ll be back in Washington DC full-time — along with his vice presidential pick, JD Vance.
Vance, 39, was elected to the Senate in 2022 as the representative of Ohio.
Before politics, the Republican was best known as the author of “Hillbilly Elegy,” a memoir of his childhood in the Rust Belt. Vance made thousands in royalties after it became a New York Times bestseller in 2016. It was adapted into a 2020 film of the same name starring Amy Adams and Glenn Close.
Vance attended Yale Law School after a four-year stint in the Marines and getting his bachelor’s degree at The Ohio State University.
His rise to fame also cast a spotlight on his wife, Usha Vance, whom he met at Yale and married in 2014.
Since tying the knot, the couple has welcomed three children and relocated several times.
When Vance worked at a venture capital firm connected to former PayPal CEO Peter Thiel, they lived in San Francisco. Nowadays, the Vances’ primary residence is in Cincinnati.
From the house that inspired “Hillbilly Elegy” to where he would live if elected vice president, here’s a closer look at Vance’s real-estate journey. Representatives for Vance declined a request for comment.
**Related Video Above: Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad back in service
PENINSULA, Ohio (WJW) — Those of us living in Northeast Ohio are already well-acquainted with the wonder of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, but one national study recently included the park on its list of “Hidden Gems” you need to visit right now.
The Places to Travel website looked at TripAdvisor hidden gem lists across all states, along with Google search data to determine which spots were true “hidden gems” off the beaten path for many.
Northeast Ohio park ranked among best national parks in US
“Hidden gems across America provide an excellent alternative to crowded, popular destinations, adding a unique charm to your travels,” Places to Travel CEO Jason Wilson said in a statement. “Venturing off the beaten path can be incredibly rewarding and allows you to explore a diverse range of regions you may otherwise have missed.”
Take a look at Paces to Travel Top 10 destinations below:
|
Rank |
Destination |
State |
Google searches per month (average) |
|
1. |
Crater Lake |
Oregon |
182,167 |
|
2. |
Havasu Falls |
Arizona |
147,881 |
|
3. |
Roosevelt Island |
New York |
119,567 |
|
4. |
Pinnacles National Park |
California |
92,208 |
|
5. |
Morton Arboretum |
Illinois |
88,083 |
|
6. |
Eastern Market Detroit |
Michigan |
86,950 |
|
7. |
Discovery Park Seattle |
Washington |
86,858 |
|
8. |
Descanso Gardens |
California |
82,125 |
|
9. |
Fall Creek Falls |
Tennessee |
78,688 |
|
10. |
Cuyahoga Valley National Park |
Ohio |
77,807 |
Highest-rated free things to do in Ohio, according to Tripadvisor
The park, which is one of the only free national parks, reportedly has garnered 4.5 star rating out of 5 on TripAdvisor, with many reviewers calling the spot “excellent,” according to Places to Travel.
Find out more about the park right here.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Football is right around the corner in Ohio, and the Buckeye State is once again set to produce some of the best high school talent in the Midwest. Scrimmages may start on Aug. 9 with the regular season kicking off 10 days later on Aug. 19.
Preseason rankings are out, and according to the Massey Ratings — a model that combines statistics and ratings such as offensive and defensive power, as well home field advantage and strength of schedule — a three-time defending Ohio state champion ranks inside the top 50.
Four schools from the state of Ohio are in the top 100 nationwide — led by the Lakewood St. Edward Eagles. Below are the top 25 teams in Ohio heading into the 2024 season.
St. Edward finished 2023 as the Ohio Division I state champions after a 31-21 victory over Springfield. The Eagles went 15-1 with its lone loss coming on the road to Massillon Washington. St. Ed’s loses multiple blue-chip recruits from last year’s senior class — including Notre Dame EDGE signee Loghan Thomas and Ohio State offensive line signees Deontae and Devontae Armstrong. Yet, the Eagles return as the top-rated program in Ohio and the No. 42 team in the country. They will begin their season on Aug. 23 at Pickerington North as St. Edward looks to win its fourth-straight state title.
Massillon Washington has long been a staple of Ohio high school football, and that shouldn’t change in 2024. Ranked No. 75 nationwide, the Tigers are coming off of a 16-0 perfect season which includes a win over No. 1 St. Edward and an eventual Division II state championship. Heading into 2024, Wisconsin interior offensive line commit Nolan Davenport will anchor the Tigers O-Line. The defense features a host of high school recruits, including three-star corner Demari Clemons, Toledo safety commit Tyler Hackenbracht and Miami (Ohio) linebacker pledge Vito McConnell.
Moeller finished the 2023 campaign 10-5 with an overtime loss to Springfield in the state Division I semifinals. The Crusaders will look to go further this season against a usually difficult schedule featuring multiple out-of-state opponents and the three other members of the Greater Catholic League South. Two Moeller players are already committed to Power 4 schools: Louisville defensive back commit Micah Rice and Northwestern EDGE pledge Jonah Hayes. The Crusaders do lose a handful of P4 recruits from their 2023 senior class, including top-100 running back Jordan Marshall (Michigan) and corner Karson Hobbs (Notre Dame).
Hoban finished 13-2 with a season-ending 7-2 loss to Massillon Washington in the state championship. The Knights’ other lone loss came to No. 1 St. Edward. Hoban will kick off 2024 against Severn (Md.) Archbishop Spalding and Ramsey (N.J.) Don Bosco Prep. Ohio State three-star linebacker commit Eli Lee returns along the defense, and junior cornerback Elbert Hill is the top player in Ohio for the class of 2026. That impressive junior class also includes four-star offensive tackle Sam Greer and four-star receiver Payton Cook.
Toledo Central Catholic capped a perfect 16-0 season with a Division III state title win over Columbus Bishop Watterson. The Fighting Irish lose Kentucky enrollee Marc Nave along the offensive line but retain Miami (Ohio) offensive tackle commit Jonathan Stangl. Junior cornerback Victor Singleton is the No. 117 prospect nationwide in the 2026 cycle. Central Catholic will kick off against Findlay and Georgia QB commit Ryan Montgomery on Aug. 23.
Lakota West went 11-3 in 2023, making it to the Division I playoffs before being ousted by Cincinnati Moeller. This year’s senior class is led by four-star Miami (Fla.) commit Luka Gilbert and Purdue linebacker commit Grant Beerman. Junior athlete Cam Thomas also ranks as a four-star prospect in the 2026 On3 Industry Ranking. The Firebirds will open against Cincinnati St. Xavier.
Speaking of the Bombers, St. Xavier will look to improve on a 7-5 2023 season which ended with a playoff loss to archrival Moeller. Along the line of scrimmage, St. X’s senior class includes Notre Dame defensive line pledge Gordy Sulfsted and Kentucky offensive line commit Tucker Kattus. Junior linebacker Kobe Clapper is a four-star recruit and still uncommitted.
Springfield has made it to three consecutive Division I state title games. The Wildcats have also lost three consecutive state title games — all to Lakewood St. Edward. Springfield will look to get over that final hump this season. The ‘Cats will open against top-25 Ohio program Cincinnati Winton Woods. They do lose a major part of the defense from a year ago — Ohio State cornerback commit Aaron Scott Jr., the No. 35 overall prospect in the 2024 class.
Avon went 14-1 in 2023, its lone loss coming in the Division II state semifinals to Archbishop Hoban. This year, the Eagles will kick off on the road against Cleveland St. Ignatius. Senior defensive lineman Jeremiah Kelly is committed to Cincinnati, and junior athlete Jakob Weatherspoon is a top-200 prospect in 2026.
10. Elder (Cincinnati)
The third GCL South school in the Ohio top 10, Elder went 7-5 in 2023 before getting knocked from the Division I playoffs by Lakota West. Senior linebacker Maddox Arnold (Toledo commit) and tight end classmate Brayden Boeing (Miami Ohio commit) will held lead this talented Panthers squad. Elder will open on the road against Cincinnati Withrow
11. Princeton (Cincinnati)
12. Marion Local (Maria Stein)
13. Gahanna Lincoln
14. Chardon
15. Upper Arlington
16. Pickerington North
17. Pickerington Central
18. Anderson (Cincinnati)
19. Centerville
20. St. Ignatius (Cleveland)
21. La Salle (Cincinnati)
22. Winton Woods (Cincinnati)
23. Walsh Jesuit (Stow)
24. Dublin Coffman
25. Hilliard Bradley
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