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Promising Ohio State defensive weapon becomes priority project after Cotton Bowl

Published

1 year ago

December 27, 2023

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 State Buckeyes’ Will Howard Earns Major Ranking

Published

14 minutes ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

Ohio State Buckeyes’ Will Howard Earns Major Ranking

Going into the 2024 college football season, there were a lot of questions about Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard.

Heck, there were concerns about him following Ohio State’s dreadful loss to the Michigan Wolverines in the season finale, and the jury is really still out on the Kansas State transfer.

However, there is no denying that Howard stepped up in the Buckeyes’ first-round College Football Playoff game against the Tennessee Volunteers, as he went 24-for-29 with 311 yards, a couple of touchdowns and an interception.

As a result of his impressive performance, Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports ranked him the second-best quarterback remaining in the College Football Playoff, placing only Oregon Ducks signal-caller Dillon Gabriel above him.

“It was easy to say Ohio State should’ve thrown the ball more in the loss to Michigan — I know because I said it, too — but there are two sides to the story,” Fornelli wrote. “You can’t just call more pass plays; you need your quarterback to execute. Howard did that in a frigid Ohio Stadium on Saturday night. He dropped some absolute dimes en route to 311 yards passing while completing 24 of his 29 attempts. This week, he’ll get a chance at redemption following his late-game gaffe in Eugene earlier this season.”

On the season overall, Howard has thrown for 3,171 yards, 29 touchdowns and nine picks while completing 73.2 percent of his passes. He has also punched in seven rushing scores.

Howard still has head-scratching moments, like when he threw an interception in the red zone during the first half against Tennessee.

But, for the most part, he has been everything Ohio State could have asked for since acquiring him via the transfer portal last year.

We’ll see how he fares against Oregon in the Rose Bowl.

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Ohio

Ohio minimum wage to increase Jan. 1 – Washington Examiner

Published

8 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

Ohio minimum wage to increase Jan. 1 – Washington Examiner

(The Center Square) – Ohioans working for minimum wage will get another Christmas present in a week.

The state’s minimum wage rises by 25 cents on Jan. 1, going to $10.70 an hour to account for inflation. The current Ohio minimum wage for tipped employees is $5.25 per hour and $10.45 for nontipped workers. The minimum wage for youth workers is $7.25 per hour.

“Ohio voters are to thank for next month’s increase in the minimum wage,” Policy Matters Ohio Economist Heather Smith said. “Voters enshrined adjustments for inflation to the minimum wage law in 2006, when they voted overwhelmingly to raise the state minimum wage. Over 28% of Ohio families with incomes below the federal poverty level will get some relief from rising prices as a result.”

The Economic Policy Institute estimates about 112,700 Ohioans paid less than $10.70 will see a direct wage increase Jan. 1, and another 206,000 making just above the minimum will also see an increase when employers adjust pay scales.

A proposed constitutional amendment that would raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour plus tips by 2026 failed to reach the required number of signatures to reach the ballot earlier this year.

As previously reported by The Center Square, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce opposed the proposed amendment, saying it would hurt small businesses that continue to struggle.

“The proposed minimum wage amendment to the Ohio Constitution is not only ill-advised and economically detrimental, it would be next to impossible to correct once the unintended consequences transpire,” Chamber CEO Steve Stivers said, including the potential for layoffs and reduced jours for workers.

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Ohio

Ohio Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 Midday winning numbers for Dec. 25, 2024

Published

17 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

The Ohio Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 25, 2024, results for each game:

Powerball

Powerball drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m.

15-26-27-30-35, Powerball: 03, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 3

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.

Midday: 2-9-6

Evening: 3-2-1

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 4

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.

Midday: 1-6-3-5

Evening: 9-5-7-9

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 5

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.

Midday: 0-9-1-4-9

Evening: 4-7-1-3-8

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Rolling Cash 5

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 7:05 p.m.

09-24-26-32-34

Check Rolling Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Classic Lotto

Drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, at approximately 7:05 p.m.

03-05-06-15-33-39, Kicker: 6-8-4-2-1-9

Check Classic Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Lucky For Life

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 10:35 p.m.

04-10-35-42-45, Lucky Ball: 02

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

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