HMB1 OHIO STATE 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW Buckeyes looking for explosive year Wednesday, August 30, 2017 2 Wednesday, August 30, 2017 OHIO STATE FOOTBALL PREVIEW Galion Inquirer OSU pitches success, future to recruits By Jim Naveau Success on the fi eld and in [email protected] getting players to the NFL obvi- ously has a lot to do with it. COLUMBUS – Ohio State’s Meyer is a magnetic, some 2018 recruiting class is ranked would say charismatic personal- No. 1 in the country and its ity. Recruiting coordinator Mark 2017 freshmen were ranked No. Pantoni directs a 10-person staff 2. which relentlessly identifi es, Next year’s recruiting class evaluates and pursues the top has two 5-star recruits and gets the Ohio State recruits and 12 brand out there, including post- 4-stars so far and ing as many as 500 items a week this year’s class on social media. had two 5-stars And they all emphasize what and 17 4-stars. Ohio State can do for an athlete In Urban Mey- once his playing days are over. er’s six years as Here’s what some of the top Martell OSU’s head coach, recruits in the 2017 recruiting he has had only class said convinced them Ohio one recruiting State was the place for them. class ranked lower Jeffrey Okudah, a 5-star cor- than No. 5 in the nerback from Texas, said, “What country. sold me was the plan they had So, how do set out for me after football. Not the Buckeyes do many schools go into that much it? What started detail. That really sold me and Okudah this tidal wave of my family. incoming talent, “They were pretty close to Don Speck/The Lima News beginning with my family. They did a really Ohio State freshman Brendon White (80) works against Shaun Wade (24) in Ohio State’s spring game. White has since the all-world class good job of recruiting everyone switched to safety from wide receiver and wears number 25. of 2013, which around me. And I knew in my included players head I wanted to compete with spot.’ They knew we knew we’d Martell said he felt a connec- parents love him. like Joey Bosa, the best players in the country. have to come in and work for it tion with Meyer. “I think we “What sold me was he told me Ezekiel Elliott, From the start, that always from Day 1,” he said. both have a passion for football he would help me get a job after Vonn Bell, Darron caught my eye. Tate Martell, a 4-star quar- that is second to none. It just felt football or if I get hurt he would Wade Lee, Eli Apple, “The one thing I liked about terback from Las Vegas, said, “I like a perfect fi t for me,” he said. help me get a great job. If they Billy Price and Ohio State’s coaching staff was knew this was the place for me Shaun Wade, a 4-star corner- didn’t have anybody go to the Tyquan Lewis? the honesty. They never said as soon as I got offered. This is back from Florida, said, “He NFL I would still be here,” Wade And what has kept it going? anything like, ‘We’ll give you a where I wanted to be.” (Meyer) does a great job. My said. 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SAE or J1940 SAE with accordance in manufacturer engine the configured to meet safety, emission and operating requirements, the lower. significantly be will mowers these horsepower engine actual Galion Inquirer OHIO STATE FOOTBALL PREVIEW Wednesday, August 30, 2017 3 A championship season or just close? label Ohio State has heard. If the Buck- mature physically and mentally. 3. Michigan is overdue against Ohio Ohio State has talent to win eyes front line earns it, they could fi nd FIVE REASONS OHIO STATE MIGHT MIGHT State. a national title but there are themselves in Atlanta on Jan. 8. MISS THE PLAYOFFS The last time Ohio State went into the Michigan game as a clear favorite and no guarantees 3. No letdowns. No injuries. No 1. The offensive struggles could lost was 21 years ago when the Wolver- freak plays. continue. ines stunned the Buckeyes 13-9 in Ohio Pay attention. Stay healthy. Maybe 2014 J.T. Barrett is gone Stadium in 1996. FIVE REASONS OHIO STATE COULD WIN IT Don’t get fi eld goals blocked. and he’s not coming back. Maybe ALL the receivers will never live up to 4. Youthful secondary. 4. Urban isn’t messing around. their recruiting hype. Maybe Mike Replacing three starting defensive 1. J.T. Barrett turns the quarterback After OSU was shut out 31-0 Weber still doesn’t have breakaway backs might not be as easy as OSU made clock back to 2014. by Clemson in a College Football speed. Maybe the lack of offensive it look in 2016. Especially when the Remember the school-record 34 Playoff semifi nal, it took less than line depth will catch up with the three it has to replace this year all were touchdown passes? Remember the two two weeks before it had a new Jim Buckeyes. overtime touchdowns at Penn State? fi rst-round NFL draft choices. offensive coordinator and a new Naveau Remember him being fi fth in the Heis- quarterbacks coach. Lima News 2. The kicking game man Trophy voting? 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Product availability, pricing & special promotions are subject to dealer options. 4 Wednesday, August 30, 2017 OHIO STATE FOOTBALL PREVIEW Galion Inquirer O ense still needs playmakers By Jim Naveau expected to get most of the playing time [email protected] at wide receiver this season were nation- ally ranked 4-star recruits and so were the COLUMBUS – The search for play- top receivers in this year’s freshman class. makers at wide receiver is now into its So what are the problems? Why second year at Ohio State. haven’t the Buckeyes been able to hit big Ohio State’s best receiver last season plays in the passing game? was running back Curtis Samuel and the Some people blame quarterback J.T. deep ball was absent from the Buckeyes’ Barrett. Others say it’s the receivers. offense in most games. Receivers coach Zach Smith says it’s a There were only four receptions of combination of a lot of things. more than 40 yards by OSU players last “It’s not looking for a deep ball guy, it’s season – a 79-yard catch against Bowling looking for the offense to complete deep Green and a 75-yarder against Nebraska balls and execute them,” Smith said. by Curtis Samuel, a 47-yard catch by “We’ve had guys get open, we’ve had K.J. Hill against Bowling Green and a guys not get open. The quarterback 43-yarder by Dontre Wilson against Wis- doesn’t make a great throw, the offensive consin. line doesn’t protect. Call it the perfect It’s not like Ohio State hasn’t tried to storm,” he said. Photos by Don Speck/The Lima News address the issue.