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‘We’ll See!’ Why Ohio State’s New Plan for Caleb Downs Could Work

Published

2 years ago

June 20, 2024

‘We’ll See!’ Why Ohio State’s New Plan for Caleb Downs Could Work

The Ohio State Buckeyes possess arguably both the best running back and safety rooms in college football heading into next season after a successful offseason in the transfer portal. However, you can never have too much talent in the backfield.

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day met with the media on Tuesday and said that star safety Caleb Downs, who arrived as a transfer from Alabama, has been attending running back meetings this offseason. The team has confidence in his ability to play both sides of the ball next season.

Is this plan a realistic one? For a player as talented as Downs, it’s hard to say no before he’s given the opportunity.

Though fans shouldn’t expect Downs to suddenly take the reins as a 1,000-yard rusher, he could be used in a role similar to that of former Buckeyes like Curtis Samuel or Braxton Miller (in 2015), as both players were unique speedsters who had the ability to make a highlight happen on any given play. Downs could take a few handoffs while also potentially motioning out and lining up as a receiver. The options are endless if the coaching staff does end up giving him a try on offense.

Downs has already shown that he’s got a knack with the ball in his hands. With Day and new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, there be could more untapped potential that’s waiting to be released.

He was just one of many Alabama players to enter the portal after the retirement of Nick Saban but was the best of the bunch. In his first collegiate season this past year, he posted 107 total tackles (70 solo), one forced fumble, three passes defended and two interceptions.

He was also a threat on special teams with four punt returns for 87 yards and a touchdown, with this production coming exclusively on his 85-yard punt return for a score in Bama’s win over Chattanooga.

Even if he doesn’t get the ball while he’s in on offense, Downs’ presence alone could prove to be a decoy and open up opportunities for other playmakers.

Downs was one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal this offseason. He arrived to Columbus alongside Ole Miss transfer running back Quinshon Judkins, who gives the Buckeyes a major threat in the backfield after two impressive seasons with the Rebels.

Despite Downs’ athleticism and expected versatility, Ohio State still has veteran running back TreVeyon Henderson in the backfield alongside Judkins, so it will be interesting to see what kind of role potentially awaits him at running back.

Ohio State opens up the season on Saturday, Aug. 31 at home against Akron.

“I know that he has the capability to do it,” Day said. “I know he has the athleticism to do it. We’ll see where it goes.”

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Michigan State basketball vs. Ohio State tipoff: Matchup analysis and a prediction

Published

5 hours ago

February 22, 2026

Press Room

Michigan State basketball vs. Ohio State tipoff: Matchup analysis and a prediction

• What: Michigan State vs. Ohio State

• When: 1 p.m. Sunday

• Where: Breslin Center

• TV/Radio: CBS/Spartan Sports Network radio, including WJIM 1240-AM and WMMQ 94.9-FM; SiriusXM Ch. 83 (MSU broadcast), 380 (Ohio State broadcast)

• Records/Rankings: MSU is 21-5 overall and 11-4 in the Big Ten, and ranked No. 15 by both the Associated Press and USA TODAY Coaches poll. The Spartans are No. 12 in the NET rankings and No. 10 per the college basketball analytics site Kenpom.com. Ohio State is 17-9 overall, 9-6 in the Big Ten, and unranked by both major polls, while being No. 38 in the NET rankings and No. 36 by Kenpom.

• Betting line: MSU -10.5

• Coaches: Michigan State — Tom Izzo is 758-307 in his 31st season as a head coach, all with the Spartans. Ohio State — Jake Diebler is 42-27 in his third season as a head coach (second full season) and with the Buckeyes.

• Series: MSU leads 76-61 all-time. MSU won the only meeting last year, 69-62 in Columbus.

Projected lineups

MSU

C (15) Carson Cooper (6-11) 10.0

PF (0) Jaxon Kohler (6-9) 12.4

SF (55) Coen Carr (6-5) 11.9

SG (6) Jordan Scott (6-7) 5.8

PG (1) Jeremy Fears Jr. (6-2) 15.1

Ohio State

C (13) Christoph Tilly (7-0) 11.4

PF (1) Amare Bynum (6-8) 9.6

SF (21) Devin Royal (6-6) 14.0

SG (3) Taison Chatman (6-4) 4.3

PG (2) Bruce Thornton (6-2) 19.9

• MSU update: The Spartans are coming off a much-needed win and performance Tuesday against UCLA. At 11-4 in Big Ten play, MSU is out of the Big Ten title race, but playing important games now for NCAA tournament seeding and, to a lesser extent, Big Ten tournament seeding. The Spartans are very much in the hunt for a 3 seed in the NCAA tournament, which would be a far better path than being a 4 or 5 seed in terms of their path to a deep run. Getting to a 2 seed isn’t out of the realm of possibility, though it would take some work, perhaps wins at Purdue and at Michigan.

Before the Spartans can worry about that, they’ve got to handle business at home against Ohio State. MSU is the No. 6 team in the country in defensive efficiency and No. 40 in offensive efficiency, per Kenpom, and the Spartans are No. 2 in defensive rebounding percentage and No. 6 in offensive rebounding. MSU point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. continues to lead the country in assists at 9.2 per game.

MORE: Couch: Unless something changes, Michigan State basketball’s offensive limitations will be an insurmountable hurdle

• Ohio State update: The Buckeyes just walloped Wisconsin, 86-69, Tuesday night for their most impressive win of the season. Senior guard Bruce Thornton, who’s become one of those players who it seems has been around for a decade, is playing like he’s determined to taste an NCAA tournament before he’s done. Ohio State last reached the Big Dance in 2021-22, the year before Thornton arrived. The Buckeyes have a decent shot to make it this season. Right now they’re projected right on the NCAA bubble by a number of bracketologists. The win over Wisconsin helped. Winning at MSU would do wonders for their case. Hurting their chances is a hand injury to sophomore guard John Mobley, the team’s second-leading scorer and most prolific shooter. Mobley is out indefinitely after having surgery on his hand after suffering the injury during the USC game on Feb. 11. Since he’s been out, Ohio State has lost to Virginia on a neutral court and bludgeoned the Badgers at home.

• Matchup analysis: The loss of Mobley hurts the Buckeyes. He was shooting 40% on 175 3-point attempts. Mobley’s replacement in the starting lineup, redshirt sophomore Taison Chatman, is a strong shooter, who’s made 2 of 4 3-point tries in each of his two starts and is 17-for-32 from deep on the season. Thornton is a three-level scorer. He’s the engine and an elite pick-and-roll guard, a bucket-getter more than he’s a distributor, though he’s had eight assists twice in the last three games. He’s also scored 56 points over the two games without Mobley. I don’t think MSU will want to risk Fears getting in foul trouble defending Thornton. I’d expect Jordan Scott to get that assignment and see if he can do to Thornton what he did to Illinois’ Keaton Wagler. Disrupting Thornton is the key to limiting an Ohio State offense that ranks 22nd nationally in Kenpom and is among the top five in the Big Ten.

While the Buckeyes have some shooters, they’re at their best inside the arc and getting to the free-throw line, where they shoot close to 80%. Devin Royal can be a tough matchup on the wing, but it’s one that MSU is equipped to handle with Coen Carr and perhaps Cam Ward. Christopher Tilly, a Santa Clara transfer, is 7-feet and skilled offensively, but not a great defender or rebounder.

• Prediction: The Buckeyes will be more invested in giving the Spartans a fight than UCLA was on Tuesday night. But this is the sort of game MSU ought to win at home — and one the Spartans have to win if they want to move toward a top 3 seed in the NCAA tournament and hope to get a top 4 seed in the Big Ten tournament, which comes with a double-bye. MSU has been too good at home for teams beneath the elite tier.

• Make it: MSU 77, Ohio State 67

MORE: Couch: By transforming MSU Athletics, J Batt hopes to build a sustainable enterprise — and winning football

Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on X @Graham_Couch and BlueSky @GrahamCouch.

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Ohio mayor arrested on voyeurism charges after allegedly sniffing girl’s underwear

Published

17 hours ago

February 21, 2026

Press Room

Ohio mayor arrested on voyeurism charges after allegedly sniffing girl’s underwear

A Republican mayor in Ohio is facing criminal allegations after authorities say he was recorded on a concealed camera smelling an underage girl’s underwear.

An incident report from the Richland county sheriff’s Office details the accusations against Wesley Dingus, 48, who serves as mayor of Butler. The claims came from a juvenile who had been staying at his residence.

According to investigators, the teen had hidden a small camera in a bedroom in the home. On 13 January, she reportedly received multiple motion alerts indicating recordings had been captured. Deputies say the footage showed Dingus smelling at least four pairs of her underwear “for several seconds” and also “touching his groin area over his clothes”.

Richland county children’s services passed the report along to law enforcement the same day the alleged incident occurred, and a deputy later interviewed the girl at her school.

A deputy later contacted Dingus and arranged a meeting, but the conversation did not happen after his attorney advised canceling it, local news outlet WKYC reported. Authorities arrested Dingus nearly a month later, an action that took place on 13 February.

Dingus appeared in court on Thursday and pleaded not guilty. He was released after posting 10% of a $10,000 bond. Judge Michael Kemerer required him to wear a GPS monitor and barred him from contacting the accuser.

Deputies forwarded the case to a local prosecutor’s office on 26 January. After consulting with a member of that office, deputies prepared two court summonses charging Dingus with voyeurism, according to Cleveland19. Those summonses were then delivered to Dingus.

Dingus, who is a registered Republican according to public voter records, became mayor of Butler in 2022. Then mayor Joseph Stallard resigned, and Dingus was elevated to the vacant post from his role as council president.

Dingus was soon after elected to a full term after receiving 199 votes from the village’s fewer than 1,000 residents.

In August, Dingus was indicted on four counts related to an incident in which he allegedly struck a fleeing criminal suspect with his car, the Richland Source reported. Officials say that on 11 July, he saw a man attempting to escape from police and struck the man with his vehicle to prevent him from getting away. Dingus entered a plea of not guilty in that case, and the injured man was expected to recover.

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Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signs SB 295 into law

Published

1 day ago

February 21, 2026

Press Room

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signs SB 295 into law

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WOIO) – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Ohio Senate Bill 295 into law Friday.

Senate Bill 295 will increase the competency restoration time from one-year to five-years in cases of aggravated murder, murder, or where the possible sentence is life in prison.

SB 295 was sponsored by State Senator Nathan H. Manning (R-North Ridgeville) and State Senator Thomas F. Patton (R-Strongsville), with strong support from the parents of murdered Cleveland Police Officer Jamieson Ritter and Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley

They spoke before the Ohio House of Representatives Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

Parents of murdered Cleveland Police Officer Ritter fight to change competency law

Officer Ritter was fatally shot on July 4, 2024, in the 1500 block of E. 80th St.

His accused killer, Delawnte Hardy, 26, is currently at Central Ohio Behavioral Healthcare (COBH) to see if he can be restored to competency to stand trial.