Buckeye Bits: Jaelen Gill enters transfer portal, assistant coaches talk shop, and more

In today’s Buckeye Bits, we have a lot of breaking news/updates to unpack, from Ohio State wide receiver Jaelen Gill entering the portal, to everything Ohio State’s assistant coaches has to say about the team during a teleconference Wednesday morning.

Before we begin, I’ll leave you with this quote from Ohio State wide receiver coach Brian Hartline when asked about his message to the team during this wonky time.

“Be where your feet are. Be in the present...You have to find the silver lining of the current situation” and “control the now.”

I feel a little more motivated already. So, let’s dive in to all the happenings from around the Ohio State beat and beyond.

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From around Land-Grant Holy Land...

What your NFL team will be getting if they draft DaVon Hamilton

Gene Ross, LGHL

What your NFL team will be getting if they draft Chase Young

Matt Tamanini, LGHL

The 2020 NFL Draft begins this Thursday, and there are quite a few Buckeyes who are anticipating their name being called. Check out all of our pre-draft scouting reports, projections, and more here.

Ohio State’s 2022 recruiting really starting to heat up

Gene Ross, LGHL

Who’s shocked? Can’t say that I am. While Ohio State’s 2021 class has been the star of the show lately, the 2022 class deserves some recognition too. In the last few weeks, Ohio State has extended several scholarship offers to some of the top players in the 2022 cycle, including two more on Tuesday. The program now has 41 offers out already.

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From around the gridiron...

All-purpose athlete Jaelen Gill will enter transfer portal

Austin Ward, Lettermen Row

Ohio State redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jaelen Gill has notified the Ohio State coaching staff that he plans to enter his name into the transfer portal and is not expected to return to the program.

Gill was a top-50 prospect in the 2018 recruiting class, yet didn’t get much playing time throughout his two years with the Buckeyes, catching only one pass for 11 yards as a true freshman, and totaling six catches for 51 yards during his redshirt freshman season in 2019.

Considering Ohio State moved sophomore wide receiver Garrett Wilson to the H spot (where Gill was initially lined up behind K.J. Hill), and true freshmen standouts Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Mookie Cooper in the mix, it wasn’t really a matter of if, but a matter of when Gill would take his talents elsewhere. Whichever team scoops him up is a lucky one.

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Teleconference Bullets: Ohio State assistant coaches discuss their position groups, how they’re adapting to unusual offseason

Dan Hope and Colin Hass-Hill, Eleven Warriors

Seven Ohio State assistant coaches held a teleconference on Wednesday morning: defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs, defensive line coach Larry Johnson, running backs coach Tony Alford, wide receivers coach Brian Hartline, offensive line coach Greg Studrawa, linebackers coach Al Washington and offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson.

Eleven Warriors broke down each coach’s interview into bullet points. Here are some of the most interesting takeaways (in my opinion):

• Coombs said Sevyn Banks, Tyreke Johnson and Marcus Hooker are among the defensive backs who he expects to play bigger roles this season.
• On what Ohio State missed out on by not having spring camp, Hartline said: “It’s more the ability to take meetings to the field. The mental aspect of the game. The ability to make mistakes and correct them.” He said he believes the biggest loss of not having spring camp was within the wide receivers room.
• Wilson said Ryan Day will trust Justin Fields more, and thus the playbook might open up a bit more. He said Fields is just about the most talented quarterback he’s ever seen catching snaps.
• On whether he has a linebacker depth chart, Washington said: “To be honest, it’s hard to make that statement because you got three practices, and it’s hard to change what was with three practices.” And that the “less experienced players will be “critical to our success.”

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Meyer On NFL Draft: “It’s Like When Something Great Happens To Your Child”

Matt McCoy

Matt McCoy’s Sports Blog

Urban Meyer is not only responsible for recruiting the Buckeyes in this 2020 draft class, but he also recruited the projected No. 1 pick and Heisman Trophy winner, Joe Burrow to Ohio State. If Burrow does go No. 1 overall, followed by Chase Young at No. 2, and Jeff Okudah at No. 3, Meyer will be the first coach to have successfully recruited the top three players in a single draft.

On Wednesday, Meyer joined WTVN morning hosts Joel Riley and Matt McCoy to discuss those top players, other Buckeyes who will be selected and more.

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Ohio State star CB Jeff Okudah taking the NFL’s socially distant draft process in stride

Charles McDonald, New York Daily News

If you’re wondering what its like being a virtual draft prospect, what Jeff Okudah has been up to, his thoughts on various teams and all the rumors and projections of where he’ll go, and other Ohio State players he’s been leaning on for advice and camaraderie, then you must check out this interview with the former Buckeye.

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Buckeyes set to overtake USC for most all-time first-round picks

Dave Biddle, Bucknuts

The Buckeyes are in position to overtake USC for the most first-round draft picks of all time, both teams are currently tied at 81. Ohio State will see at least two players (Young and Okudah) go in the first round (hell, the first three overall) with the possibility of Dobbins going late in the first as well. Zero players from USC are projected to go in the first.

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Wait, are there people out there who update their phone wallpaper in accordance with what’s happening in their lives?

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From around the hardwood...

Just your friendly reminder that the “Chris Holtmann needs to go” takes....ain’t it.

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Speaking of Holtmann, the director of the Buckeye Nut House will be doing an Instagram Live with the head coach this Thursday at 7 p.m. ET. Now’s your chance to submit any questions you might have for Holtmann, and listen to his answers while waiting for round one of the NFL Draft to begin. Yay for live sports stuff!

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From everywhere else...

Jones was the sixth director of athletics in Ohio State history and a member of the school’s athletics administration for 27 years. He worked in academic advising and with Woody Haye’s football team before he became director. He passed away from natural causes on Wednesday morning in Bonita Springs, Florida, where he and his wife, Linda, live during the winter. He was 83-years-old.

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It’s Earth Day! And quite frankly, this is probably the nicest we’ve ever been to the earth.

If you ever need a silver lining to think about during this tough time, just google the parts of the earth that are absolutely thriving from us not being outside. (I’m a major earth/recycling/green-junkie so let me stay on this soap-box for a minute.) All I ask is that you might consider, when we can finally frolic in the streets again, being a little kinder to our planet. Don’t spit out your gum on the sidewalk. Wait until you come across a recycling bin to toss your water bottle. Better yet? Stop buying water bottles! It really says something about our habits when the air is significantly cleaner, the water is clearer, animals are mating more frequently, etc., after just a couple weeks (even one week, in some places) of humans not leaving their homes. We have to be better, and it’s as easy as switching to a reusable water bottle.

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Okay this is hilarious.

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And this is brilliant.