Alright, folks. Be honest with me.
Would you rather have Miyan Williams or me?
Who you got? pic.twitter.com/38oZhmzWI8
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 3, 2022
Also, have I exhausted this joke or can I keep using it? Tell me in the comments.
Let's have a good Tuesday, shall we?
REAL STEELE. Before Saturday, Steele Chambers hadn't recorded more than six tackles in a game since he transitioned to linebacker from running back in 2021. That changed in Ohio State's matchup with Rutgers.
Chambers racked up 11 tackles, two tackles for loss and an interception against the Scarlet Knights. Our staff named him the Eleven Warriors defensive player of the game and Ohio State honored him with a co-defensive player of the week accolade alongside Zach Harrison. However, Chambers' recognition for his Week 5 performance didn't stop there.
Dane Brugler of The Athletic received the All-22 film of Saturday's game, and the NFL draft analyst liked what he saw from the fourth-year linebacker in Ohio State's 49-10 win.
Breakout game from #OhioState LB Steele Chambers (#22) vs. Rutgers: 11 tackles, 2.0 TFL, INT.
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) October 3, 2022
Love the reactionary burst and chase speed. Stock up pic.twitter.com/nA3VIKnOB4
Brugler's claims of it being a “breakout game” for Chambers are warranted, and it appears the Roswell, Georgia, native could be heading for a breakout season for the Buckeyes, putting himself on the radar of NFL teams for this year's draft or in the future.
Through the first five games, Chambers has stuffed the stat sheet with 30 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, one pass breakup and an interception. He will look to continue his hot start to the season when Ohio State faces Michigan State on Oct. 8 before entering its bye week.
BUCKEYES ON THE BLACKTOP. The Ohio State men‘s and women‘s basketball teams will return to the RPAC outdoor courts outside Ohio Stadium on Thursday for the first “Buckeyes on the Blacktop” event since 2016, which means you could be up close and personal with the Basketbucks before their 2022-23 seasons begin.
Buckeyes on the Blacktop returns this Thursday night at 7PM at the RPAC outdoor courts
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) October 3, 2022
Meet the Mens and Womens hoops teams as we compete in a 3-point shootout, Slam Dunk contest, and full court 5-on-5 scrimmage. See you there, its basically gonna be extremely fun. pic.twitter.com/BzgPZ1wz6x
It also means you could see Gene Smith put the basketball on a string as he attacks the basket, perfectly jump stops and connects on a smooooooth right-handed shot from the block.
Still got it! pic.twitter.com/1O8S4yyJZC
— Gene Smith (@OSU_AD) October 7, 2016
As the initial tweet reads, this will be a fun event for the men's and women's programs. Both teams will participate in 3-point shootouts and 5-on-5 scrimmages, and Felix Okpara, Brice Sensabaugh, Kalen Etzler and Roddy Gayle Jr. will partake in a dunk contest.
For the 3-point contest, West Virginia transfer Sean McNeil should be the best representative of the men's team, while Taylor Mikesell – a 47.5% shooter from deep last season with 114 makes – feels like a lock to be the top dog for the women. If the men and women compete in the same competition, I will bet on Mikesell to win it all.
DEEP WATERS
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) February 11, 2022
Taylor Mikesell is pullin' and it's hitting the bottom of the net for @OhioStateWBB pic.twitter.com/vmzPiMdJu6
In the dunk contest, I’ll take Sensabaugh as the winner. I saw enough of him in the Kingdom League and summer ball to know that he doesn't shy away from competition, so he'll undoubtedly put on a show with Ohio State students and fans in attendance on Thursday.
As for your attendance at Buckeyes on the Blacktop, I highly recommend attending if you have the means. With Ohio State football on the road this week, it could be your weekly fix for live Buckeye sports. Attendance and the vibes are free!
NOT SO FAST, MY FRIEND. At the start of 2022, many expected Miyan Williams to be Ohio State's complementary back to TreVeyon Henderson, who was a preseason All-American according to the Associated Press and the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
But that hasn't been the case for Williams this season. The third-year Buckeye operated as a 1B to Henderson’s 1B in the first four games, as opposed to a true No. 2 running back. When Williams had the backfield all to himself against Rutgers, he exploded for 189 yards and five touchdowns.
According to Pro Football Focus, Williams has outshone Henderson and everyone else this year. He ranks as the statistics-based website's No. 1 running back in college football through the first five weeks of the season with a 90.5 grade – almost a whole point ahead of Michigan's Blake Corum (89.6), who ranks second on PFF's list.
Williams has averaged 7.8 yards per carry this season, second-most in the Power Five. At 5-foot-9 and 225 pounds, he’s a load to bring down. His 0.44 missed tackles forced per attempt is the sixth-best rate among Power Five running backs. No. 3 Ohio State travels to East Lansing to take on Michigan State this weekend.
It's hard to believe that Williams has come so far during his time in Columbus. The former three-star running back out of Cincinnati has made quite the name for himself since he busted onto the scene in the 2020 College Football Playoff semifinal against Clemson.
Can we discuss Miyan Williams pic.twitter.com/r6Si6Hs6zq
— Colton Denning (@Dubsco) January 2, 2021
ON THIS DATE. On Oct. 4, 2014, Ohio State welcomed Maryland into the Big Ten with a 52-24 win over the Terrapins in College Park. It was the Buckeyes' third straight win after losing to Virginia Tech at home in their second game, and it would be far from their last victory in a season that ended with the program's most recent national championship.
J.T. Barrett was the star of the game against the Terps. He completed 18 of 23 passes for 267 yards and four touchdowns and took 16 carries for 139 yards and a score. Ezekiel Elliott also shined with 24 carries and 139 yards, while Michael Thomas caught four passes for 75 yards and a touchdown.
To offer the whole historical experience of this game, I must resurface an old Eleven Warriors YouTube video that shows the highlights from the contest, complete with extremely corny inspirational music playing in the background to remind you that this game did, in fact, happen in 2014.
Please enjoy this video as much as I did.
SONG OF THE DAY. “Trouble Man” by Marvin Gaye.
CUT TO THE CHASE. Super squash: 2,554-pound pumpkin carves out new US record... Whole lotta zeros: Apple Music crosses 100M song barrier... La Russa steps down as White Sox manager over heart issue... Man jumps rope from sitting position for Guinness World Record... Zero gravity soccer game breaks world record at 20,230 feet.
