It may be Monday, but if you're reading this, you've lived to see another day. Silver linings everywhere!
Word of the Day: Purloin.
BUCKEYE SPEED. What do Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave have in common with Terry McLaurin and Parris Campbell? Honestly, a lot – that's admittedly a pretty shitty hypothetical question.
But! There's one particular fact that links the two Buckeye receiving duos, and it's pretty mindblowing.
Ohio States Garrett Wilson (4.38) and Chris Olave (4.39) became the 2nd pair of WR teammates since 2006 to run sub-4.4 40 times at the same combine.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 4, 2022
The only other duo? Terry McLaurin and Parris Campbell. pic.twitter.com/ugglFDDDkI
The funniest part is that while Campbell and McLaurin were definitely known for their speed, Wilson and Olave weren't, really. So basically, they're one of the fastest receiving duos in modern history, but speed isn't even their best asset.
That uh... bodes well for their NFL futures!
“IT'S NEVER GONE.” Revenge is gonna fuel the current Buckeyes all the way until the last weekend of November. But for guys who've played their final game in the Scarlet and Gray, they're going to have to live with a career-closing L to Michigan forever.
And that ain't an easy thing to swallow.
“It's never gone,” defensive end Tyreke Smith said of the pain from the 42-27 loss in Ann Arbor. “Everywhere I go, it's always that question lingering on, so I'm always going to hear about it.”
...
Petit-Frere said the loss even made him think about returning for another season instead of turning pro.
“A lot,” he said. “That's 'The Game' and you never want to leave off on a bad note.”
The Buckeyes headed off to the NFL might never be able to shake off the loss completely. In their minds, Nov. 26, 2022 is already circled on the calendar.
“I'm looking forward to The Game this year — to watching,” Smith said.
Nicholas Petit-Frere earnestly considering coming back to school to avenge the loss is something that only makes sense within this rivalry.
He's about to be a first or second-round pick and make life-changing money and he's still rattled by the loss to Michigan, enough that he seriously considered putting all of that on hold to run it back one more time.
It means that much.
REINFORCEMENTS. Yesterday's game sucked heavy and there really aren't all that many silver linings to blowing a nine-point home lead to your archrival on Senior Day. But if there is one, it's that reinforcements are coming next year.
Ohio State 22 signees Roddy Gayle and Felix Okpara get recognized during a timeout at the Schott: pic.twitter.com/TH8CExDagc
— Griffin Strom (@GriffinStrom3) March 6, 2022
I feel like I've been sincerely saying "just wait until next year!" for like five years at this point, but it's also been a very long time since I've been this excited about an incoming freshman hoops class.
It's a top-five class in the country that features four top-70 players including an elite point guard, a true 6-foot-11 center, a versatile wing, and a prolific scoring guard. And I'm not writing off Bowen Hardman either – the dude is a lethal shooter.
I've been reluctant to hop on the "fire Holtmann!" train, and a huge part of that is because of this incoming recruiting class. But the reality is, his job just might hinge on this class living up to the hype.
PASS PRO PROS. I was pretty openly critical of Ohio State's four tackle offensive line last season, especially when they tried to pull guards when the *smaller* of the two was 6-foot-6, 315 pounds.
It didn't help the running game, but I will enthusiastically concede that it absolutely did help the pass protection – and it shows up in the good ole numbers.
Top Offensive Lines - Pass Protection
— Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) March 5, 2022
Sack Rate
3% Utah
3% Ohio State
3% Florida
4% Michigan
4% Oklahoma State
4% Georgia
4% Oregon State
4% USC
4% Missouri
5% Iowa State
5% Miss State
5% Baylor
5% Purdue
5% Auburn
5% Clemson
5% Kansas
5% Texas A&M
5% Michigan State
Between the gigantic offensive line, the Heisman finalist at quarterback, and the best trio of receivers college football has ever seen, I completely get why Ohio State was so pass-first (and sometimes pass-exclusive) last season.
Don't get me wrong, I loved watching receiving and passing records get shattered, but I wouldn't be mad if the best running back in the country had a few more touches next season.
SONG OF THE DAY. "Turn My Swag On" by Soulja Boy.
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