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Stoney set for big year in 2012
Dave Thurman (2:02 pm)

Even in the midst of another stellar season by the Thad 5 in basketball, it is never too early to start thinking about football.  With a new head coach and a lot of new players it is exciting to think of the possibilities.  Here are five bold predictions for the 2012 season to add some warmth to your mid-winter chill:

1. Braxton Miller will double his passing total from 2011.  I know - this one seems obvious, since he only threw for 1159 yards this past year.  However, keep in mind that he will have to post his numbers in twelve games, as OSU is banned from any postseason activity.  Also remember that the Buckeyes will still run the ball a good deal, featuring Braxton, himself, along with a bevy of fine backs.  But with all that in consideration I still think Miller will more than double 2011's passing stats.  As a bonus prediction, I'll throw in that fans in the fifth row will feel safe this next year, with Joe Bausmerman having used up his college eligibility. 

2. A true freshman will lead the team in sacks.  Ohio State brings back some fine veteran defensive linemen, so this sounds like a more risky prognostication.  However, my thought is that offenses will be tailored to stop John Simon, Nathan Williams, and Johnathan Hankins, opening up the opportunity for someone else to get to the opposing quarterback.  There are three nationally ranked ends making their way to Columbus, and any one of them could become a pass rush specialist.  The most acclaimed is Noah Spence, bur for some reason I have a feeling that Adolphus Washington makes the most noise next season.  It would not shock me if one of these guys tallies a bunch of sacks, which would be great news for Luke Fickell and the defensive coaches.
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A young A.J. Hawk at Centerville HS.
Michael Chung (8:09 am)

We are all enamored with the “star” quality of recruits, especially the four and five star ones.  The science of recruiting has improved and ratings are more and more accurate as each year passes, but Ohio State has taken a number of three star athletes who later became ‘stars.’  We will look at some previous Buckeye players who were not as highly rated out of high school but ended up starring at Ohio State and went on to play in the NFL.  This proves that four and five star athletes, though great for overall recruiting rankings, do not always translate into football greatness.  Then we will try to predict which three star athletes from this class couldl become stars.  

Looking at the current Rivals recruiting rankings, schools that averaged 3 stars per player were ranked between 25-35 in the team recruiting class rankings. Clearly, the 10 players below who have played or are playing in the NFL have superseded expectations.

10. Chimidi Chekwa
This 3-star cornerback came to Ohio State via Florida.  He had an interception during his freshman year at USC that was the beginning of a solid four-year OSU career.  He suffered a wrist injury during the Sugar Bowl but he saw time in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders.  

9. Jay Richardson
Jay Richardson was part of the 2002 recruiting class that had other star-studded 3-star players.  Richardson often went under the radar due to names like A.J. Hawk, Troy Smith and others that were stars on the team.  But anyone who watches OSU football knows that Richardson was a solid D-lineman and was drafted into the NFL.   He saw action with Oakland and Seattle but is currently not on an NFL roster.
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_Tonight the Buckeyes play host to the Nittany Lions (10-11, 2-6) who have dropped four out of the last five in B1G play. They sit alone in the basement of the conference. The one bright spot for them is guard Tim Frazier (18.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 6.4 apg), who is the only player averaging in double figures on the entire squad.

The Buckeyes are coming off of two very impressive victories against Indiana and Nebraska, and appear to be positioning themselves as the top dog in the conference. We'll see if they can keep the momentum tonight.

The game tips at 6:30 PM ET on Big Ten Network, but the LiveBlog will get going at 6. Joining us will be Men of the Scarlet and Gray, Our Honor Defend, The Buckeye Battle Cry, Buckeye House Call, the Buckeye Blog, Scarlet and Game, and Fox Sports Ohio.

LiveBlog after the break!
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Ken Kohl (5:33 pm)

[Ed. Note] Believe it or not, there are other sports at The Ohio State University besides football and basketball. In our new feature, Campus Spotlight, we will periodically catch you up with what is happening with those sports. 

Since my last brilliant idea had about as much merit as my first marriage, I think I’ll gravitate to a non-revenue sport where I have some familiarity; golf. In this case, women’s golf. 

Here’s a brief biography of the two coaches for Ohio State’s Women’s Golf Team and a recap of the 2011 Fall Season. Future articles will highlight the roster and upcoming matches in the Spring 2012 Season with their recaps. 

Coaching Profiles:

Therese Hession

Head coach Therese Hession is in her 20th year as HC of the Ohio State women's golf program. Over her tenure, Coach Hession’s Buckeyes have won seven Big Ten championships, including four of the last nine, and 11 NCAA championship appearances. [Ed: That’s pretty good stuff.]  Her squads have also competed in 17 NCAA regionals the past 19 years, including the last 16 in a row. For her efforts and impressive results, Hession has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year six times (1993, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2005). So, bringing home CoY 6 times in 19 years is pretty good; remember, there are other teams in the conference!

Coach Hession competed in more than 250 LPGA tournaments during her 11 year career. This kind of successful experience is important to teach her players how to approach and deal with travel requirements and tournament pressures. This may help explain why her teams have been consistently successful for such a long period. Of course, she can’t do this alone, so I’d like to introduce...

Lisa Strom

Lisa Strom golfed for four years at Ohio State, and accumulated 10 years of professional golf experience on the LPGA tour as well as teaching the sport. While on tour, she competed in more than 50 tour events. Lisa joined the staff in 2011 as assistant coach. 

Note: for full biographies: www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com 
 
2011 Fall Season Results

The format is play five-score four. For each day’s round, the lowest four scores of each team’s five participants are counted towards team total. So, over the course of a 3-day event, a player has the opportunity to “shoot” her way out of a slump. All events consist of three rounds. 
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Michael Chung (4:38 pm)

Reports are surfacing that the Indianapolis Colts are interested in hiring Jim Tressel as head coach. Owner Jim Irsay has already invested two interviews.

Sources have cited that Tony Dungy believes Jim Tressel will get the head-coaching job while other sources are stating that Tressel will definitely not be the next head coach.  It is clear that the Buckeye’s former headman has his supporters and detractors.

Already, the same criticisms thrown at Tressel when he became Ohio State’s head coach are again resurfacing: the jump is too great and Tressel would be overmatched.  This was the same thinking when Tressel left Youngstown State to replace John Cooper.  What happened next?  Tressel’s ten year run is unarguably one of the best ten year periods in Ohio State football.

Bob Hunter also believes Tressel can succeed.  He writes in the Dispatch: “Although Tressel has no NFL experience, he is sharp and has had a lot of on-the-field success, in part because he is highly organized and good at managing details, coaching coaches and seeing the big picture, which is what head coaches do.”

He goes on to write regarding Tressel’s lack of NFL experience, “That doesn’t automatically mean that he would be successful in the NFL, but it does make you wonder why people would think that a guy who effectively ran the multimillion-dollar corporation we know as Ohio State football couldn’t run an NFL team in Indianapolis.”

But not only should Tressel get a head coaching job, I will argue that the Colts and the NFL need him.  Here is why:
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Armani Reeves is down to OSU and Michigan.
Drew Thurman (9:35 am)

No more January blues indeed! Earlier this month I talked about how Meyer had proven himself as a closer and an elite recruiter late in the process, and he has definitely not disappointed. Last week alone the Buckeyes reeled in five commitments in OL Taylor Decker, OL Joey O'Connor, LB David Perkins, DB Cameron Burrows ('13), and LB Camren Williams.

With those commitments the Buckeyes have now soared to the top of the national recruiting rankings. Rivals, Scout, and 247Sports all have this class ranked at No. 3 overall. ESPN recruiting, who places a much higher value on southern recruits, lists the Buckeyes at No. 8. ESPN is the only service to rank Michigan's class ahead of Ohio State.

What about the rest of the Big Ten? Well, it isn't very pretty. Outside of the Buckeyes and Wolverines, there isn't another Top 25 class. Scout, for instance, ranks Penn State as the next highest rated class at No. 37. Wisconsin ranks No. 41, Michigan State at No. 43, Iowa No. 46, and Nebraska No. 59. The other services aren't far off from those rankings. Those are supposed to be the perennial powers in the conference, and they aren't getting it done on the recruiting trail. It's especially amazing the the Badgers and Spartans haven't been able to capitalize on what has been two great seasons for both programs. They better be ready to take things to the next level because the hiring of Urban Meyer has drastically changed the recruiting game in the Midwest in the B1G.

Anyway, let's take a look at where things stand for the Buckeyes as signing day quickly approaches. 
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The Buckeyes find themselves in Lincoln this evening to take on a Nebraska squad (10-8, 2-5) that is fresh off an upset of Indiana 70-69 on Wednesday night. Earlier this month Jared Sullinger had his way with this Husker team in Columbus, putting up 19 points and 12 rebounds in a 71-40 beatdown. While fans will be looking for another rout tonight, the Buckeyes have dropped two of the last three on the road and anything is possible.

The game tips at 8 PM ET on Big Ten Network, but the LiveBlog will get going at 7:30. Joining us will be Men of the Scarlet and Gray, Our Honor Defend, The Buckeye Battle Cry, Buckeye House Call, the Buckeye Blog, Scarlet and Game, and Fox Sports Ohio.

LiveBlog after the break!
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Dave Thurman (4:14 pm)

It is raining Buckeye commitments, and the flood continued today when Camren Williams verbally pledged to Ohio State.  In fact, Williams was so excited that he sent out the following tweet.  In a week of big commitments, Williams may wind up being the biggest yet.  Not only is he an excellent athlete and football player, but when Drew interviewed him at the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Phoenix, he told me that Williams was most impressive - a young man who spoke with poise, focus, intelligence and humility. 

The 6-foot-2 and 215-pound Williams prepped at Catholic Memorial High School in West Roxbury, Mass., and registered 119 tackles with two interceptions playing middle linebacker during his senior season. Williams is rated as a 4-star prospect by Scout, Rivals, and 247 Sports.  He is considered to be an outside linebacker at the next level. 

Buckeye fans are hopeful that Williams' high school teammate, Armani Reeves, a 4-star cornerback, will follow suit, and it is certainly possible, as he supposedly came away from his Ohio State visit impressed.  In the meanwhile we take time to celebrate commitment number 23 in the class of 2012.  Team Urban is on a major league roll, and Buckeye Nation glady welcomes Camren Williams!

You can view Williams' highlight flim after the jump.
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Dave Thurman (8:47 am)

Almost lost in the Urban Meyer recruiting onslaught is the fact that Ohio State once again has a nationally ranked basketball team that has a legitimate shot at a Final Four run.  Standing at 16-3 (4-2 in the  B1G), and ranked sixth in the nation, the Buckeyes have stumbled over a couple of speed bumps, but also had some very impressive outings.  One third of the way through their conference schedule, it seems like a good time to analyze their strengths and weaknesses and take a stab at how they will finish.

Quick Recap:

Some may be concerned with the fact that Ohio State has already lost as many conference games as they did last year, when they finished 16-2 in the B1G.  However, don't count me in that crowd.  For one thing, the B1G is really tough from top to bottom this year, and nobody is going to waltz their way to an overly impressive record.  Every road game is a war, and even the top teams can't take a night off when they enter an opponent's gymnasium.  In addition, I look at the two OSU losses, and can't be too critical.  Sure, the team had a great chance to win both games, and didn't make the plays down the stretch as they needed.  But they were defeated by teams that played incredible basketball.  Indiana is a bear at Assembly Hall, possibly the toughest venue in the country.  Their home court is worth about 15-20 points to the Hoosiers this year.  And as for Illinois, they rode the hot hand of Brandon Paul who simply was in the zone on the night the Buckeyes came to town.  I'm not sure anyone could have shut him down that game, and sometimes those things happen.  Hats off to both teams, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over either contest. 

On a positive note, Ohio State has played very well at home, as demonstrated by their impressive dismantling of Duke back in late November, 85-63.  Outside of Florida nobody has given the Buckeye hoopsters much of a challenge at the Schott. That is important, because if this team can hold serve at home, and pull out some road wins at places like Nebraska, Minnesota, and Northwestern, they will have a chance to win the conference again.  Personally, I think they have the potential to win every game from here on out.  Trips to Madison, Ann Arbor, and East Lansing will all be tough, but each is winnable.  More on that in a minute.
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Drew Thurman (5:17 pm)

Just moments ago Cameron Burrows announced his decision to commit to the Buckeyes at Trotwood-Madison High School, making him the first player to jump on board in the 2013 class. He chose the Buckeyes over Michigan, Alabama, LSU, Wisconsin and Tennessee.

Burrows is a 6-2 195 pound cornerback, and possesses the rare combination of size, speed, and physicality at the position. He is highly regarded as well, being ranked as one of the best two or three players in the state next season by almost everyone. Rivals ranks him as a five star prospect, while Scout and 247Sports rank him at a four star, but all three view him as a Top 100 type player. Burrows will also be playing in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl next January.

Burrows said during his announcement presser that "Urban Meyer is everything you'd want in a coach." Further proof of how quickly Meyer has built relationships and made impressions. This is also big because there were rumors of tension between Jim Tressel and Maurice Douglass (head coach of Trotwood-Madison). The Buckeyes under Tressel showed very little love to their program and overlooked several of their players in past years. This will no longer be the case. Urban Meyer has already worked hard to build a strong relationship with Trotwood-Madison, and it very clear he sees the major talent emerging from the school in recent years. 

Make no mistake about it, this is a huge commitment moving forward. Not only is Burrows a big-time player at a position of need, but being ranked as of the best players in Ohio, is an important get for Meyer and company. They plan to once again lock down the best players in the state and leave other programs fighting for the second tier guys. With Jalin Marshall announcing at the end of this month and rumors of the Buckeyes being the favorite, that statement may just get louder. You can check out Burrow's junior highlights after the break.
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