Dismissed OSU running back was the suspect in a rape investigation

“Brian Snead was found by a university investigation to have violated the code of student conduct with charges of non-consensual sexual intercourse and non-consensual sexual contact, however no criminal charges were filed, Ben Johnson, Ohio State spokesman, said in an email.”

- Edward Sutelan, The Lantern

On Jan. 18, Ohio State announced that following a season-long suspension that began prior to the team’s third game of the 2018 season against TCU, running back Brian Snead would not be returning to the school. Snead enrolled at Iowa Western Community College, with plans to continue playing Division I college football at a different school in 2020. At the time, the university did not provide a reason for Snead’s dismissal. However, according to a report by The Lantern’s Edward Sutelan, the former four-star recruit was found to be listed as the suspect in a police report detailing the rape of a student in September.

Snead was not facing any criminal charges, however the university deemed that his actions violated the code of student conduct on the the grounds of “non-consensual sexual intercourse and non-consensual sexual contact,” and therefore he was dismissed from Ohio State on Nov. 27. OSU spokesman Ben Johnson, in a statement to the Lantern, said that the university does not tolerate sexual assault, and that the safety and well-being of the community is their first priority.

“The Buckeyes are looking for a hybrid defender capable of playing safety in coverage, handling responsibilities that would typically be assigned to a linebacker and potentially even coming up to the line of scrimmage to rush the passer”

- Austin Ward, Lettermen Row

Ohio State’s defense was an obvious problem last season. A big reason for this problem was not so much the players on the field, but the scheme in which they were being forced to play. All too often linebackers found themselves matched up in man coverage with a slot receiver, having little to no chance of making a play on what was usually a receiver with far greater speed, which in turn put the safeties in a tough spot trying to pick them up while also maintaining a seal over the top. The solution to this problem? The Bullet position.

The Buckeyes new defensive coaching staff intends to implement the Bullet on defense this year — a position that at its core is a safety-linebacker hybrid. The most obvious man for this job is Brendon White, who had a breakout year for OSU last season in the safety position. White’s size, listed at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, makes him a bit too small to be a linebacker with a stronger build than the average safety. The junior features tremendous athleticism, which makes him the perfect candidate for the Bullet. White will be able to play up towards the line to give you extra coverage against the run game, while also possessing the speed to cover additional ground in the passing game.

While White will be the No. 1 guy in the Bullet spot, Ohio State will certainly need depth at the position, which may provide an opportunity for some overlooked guys on the roster. Jordan Fuller will certainly start at safety, and will likely be joined by second-year man Josh Proctor. This leaves safeties Jahsen Wint and Isaiah Pryor a bit out of the mix. While the two both showed their struggles in the secondary last season, they are still young and have a ton of potential. With the pair having a hard time at the back end of the defense, maybe moving them closer to the line of scrimmage, a la the Bullet position, would be a welcomed change — one that Wint has already seemed to benefit from in spring camp.

Ohio State athletics is welcoming a new home for a bunch of different Buckeye sports teams: the Covelli Center. The 100,000 square-foot facility, located next to Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on West Campus, has officially opened its doors to athletes and fans alike. With a capacity of up to 3,700, the arena will house a variety of events, including volleyball, gymnastics, fencing, wrestling and occasionally women's basketball. The facility also contains locker rooms, treatment rooms, training areas and office space.

The Covelli Center is attached to the Jennings Family Wrestling Practice Facility, a brand new space containing five practice mats as well as a weight area and cardio equipment. In addition to hosting Ohio State athletic events, the building will also function as the occasion host for local tournaments and camps.

The NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee approved an adjustment Wednesday that will move the college three-point line to the international distance: 22 feet, 1 ³⁄₄ inches. The previous line was at 20 feet, 9 inches. Per the NCAA, the committee’s reasoning for the move is to open up the lane to make dribble/drive plays from the perimeter more available and to slow the trend of the three-point shot becoming too prevalent in college ball, while maintaining the arc as an integral part of the game. They also hope it will assist in offensive spacing by making the defense cover more of the court.

In addition to a further three-point line, the shot clock will be handled slightly differently next season. If a team gets an offensive rebound on a ball that hit the rim, the shock clock will reset to 20 seconds instead of the full 30 seconds in an attempt to quicken the pace of action.

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