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Why is this news?: Mike Weber's high school coach on good terms with Ohio State

All the big Ohio State news, in one helpful place.

Mike Weber wasn't happy with Stan Drayton leaving, but he and his high school coach are back to being on good terms with Ohio State.
Mike Weber wasn't happy with Stan Drayton leaving, but he and his high school coach are back to being on good terms with Ohio State.

"I understand the ambition Urban Meyer has, I understand the integrity of Urban Meyer and I understand that he's about the welfare of the child and the wholeness of what the athletes need at the university. He instilled in me that no child will be left behind in his program. We did meet. We did talk. And he is the person I thought he was and the person I believe him to be. I believe our relationship is stronger now."

- Cass Tech head coach Thomas Wilcher via Ari Wasserman, Northeast Ohio Media Group

The drama that surrounded Mike Weber and his high school coach concerning Ohio State and Stan Drayton leaving for the NFL is well-documented. But after meeting up and talking with Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer, Weber's coach Thomas Wilcher has changed his tune, and the two are now on the same page when it comes to recruiting. After reports had come out that Wilcher wasn't at all pleased with how Ohio State seemingly pulled the wool over his player's eyes, coach Meyer got to set the record straight.

Losing Drayton to the NFL wasn't expected and came as a surprise to everyone, including Ohio State. Wilcher now knows what goes on as far as coach Meyer's recruiting process is concerned. It seems like this story can now be put to rest and Mike Weber can prepare himself for playing at the college level for the Buckeyes.

"This will come as a big surprise: The Buckeyes are loaded at an offensive position. Ezekiel Elliott is the league's leading returning rusher, as the offensive MVP of the Sugar Bowl and national title game finished strong last year to post 1,878 yards and 18 touchdowns -- while playing with an injured wrist. He's an early Heisman Trophy contender in 2015. "

- Brian Bennett, ESPN

ESPN is breaking down conferences and its teams with a spring position outlook. For the Big Ten, it shouldn't come as a shock to anyone that Ohio State led the way with the best quarterbacks category. With Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett, and Cardale Jones, the Buckeyes are loaded from top to bottom on their quarterback depth chart. However, Ohio State also checked in as having the best running back core in the conference as well.

Behind a Heisman candidate returning in Ezekiel Elliott, the Buckeyes and new running backs coach Tony Alford have plenty of firepower to work with in sophomore running back Curtis Samuel, who showed flashes of his talent last season. The roster doesn't just stop there, as Bri'onte Dunn has worked his way back into Urban Meyer's good graces through his special teams play. And don't forget that Ohio State brings in a top recruit, Mike Weber, into the fold for next season.

"We're the leaders of this team. We're the guys who have had weeks off in the Big Ten. We're the guys who have been on the road for four years now, we're the guys who know what it takes to win on the road. It's our job to have us ready to play and we didn't."

- Sam Thompson via Doug Lesmerises, Northeast Ohio Media Group

Back-to-back losses for the Ohio State basketball team is frustrating, regardless of who they play. But the fact that it came at the hands of Michigan State and Michigan, respectively, makes it just that much worse. Sunday's loss to the Wolverines surprised the Buckeyes, as they looked to improve their resume. Instead, a slow start derailed their chance to bounce back from a loss to the Spartans and they fell to Michigan (riding a five-game losing streak coming into the game), 64-57.

With the four seniors on this team, Doug Lesmerises believes that none of them being from Ohio might have impacted the mindset of some of the players. It appeared that the Buckeyes might have been caught overlooking Michigan, something that never should happen against a team's arch-rival.

"Despite having one of the nation's best, most entertaining offensive players in D'Angelo Russell and a top-three per-possession defense in Big Ten play, the Buckeyes just can't quite get over the hump where their resume is concerned."

- Eamonn Brennan, ESPN

Sticking with basketball, Ohio State hasn't made its life any easier when it comes to the NCAA tournament. The latest bubble watch for college basketball has the only Big Ten locks listed as Wisconsin and Maryland, with Indiana making the cut for teams that should be in. Michigan State, Ohio State, Iowa, Illinois, and Purdue all fall under the category of still having work to do if they want to ensure their spot in the NCAA tournament in March.

The bubble watch suggests that the Buckeyes are a good team, but lack marquee wins over the course of the season, with their only two "big" wins coming at home against Indiana and Maryland. Still, as of now, Ohio State projects as an 8 or 9-seed and could potentially be one of the more dangerous middle-tier teams come next month with D'Angelo Russell leading the way.

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