Buckeye Bits: Pantoni’s recruiting updates, Buckeye Trick Shots, and more

If you’re reading this, it probably means that your work week is finished, you’ve made your commute down the hall from your makeshift dining room office to the kitchen, a frozen pizza is cooking, you have a glass of something cold in-hand, and you’re ready for the Ohio State news of the day. We’ve got it all— from recruiting to the latest from Dabo Swinney, to Buckeyes competing in trick shots. TGIF!

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From around Land-Grant Holy Land...

• Column: Ohio State should be recruiting ‘90s pop stars

If you’re a fan of ‘90s pop stars, their athletic attributes, Ohio State football, or better yet, the idea that ‘90s pop stars could play Ohio State football, then do I have the column for you.

• Ohio State offers 2021 four-star DT

Dead period, Schmead period— Ohio State dished out their latest offer to a 6-foot-4, 315 pound four-star DT out of Virginia who ranks as the 15th best defensive tackle in the country and the No. 7 player in Virginia for the 2021 class.

• Eight ways to communicate with recruits during a dead period

Mark Pantoni answered the media’s questions via a conference call on Friday, and when asked about how Ohio State’s recruiting staff is communicating with recruits during the dead period, he said “we’ve gone way more on the FaceTime calls.” So, since its looking like we’ll be in this recruiting dead period for the foreseeable future, we came up with eight alternative ways to communicate with recruits.

• Play Like a Girl podcast: Get to know your hosts, Tia and Meredith!

In this week’s episode of Play Like a Girl, Tia and Meredith interview each other for a change. Get to know them better by checking out the podcast and make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

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From around the gridiron...

• In regards to whether or not college football will be played this fall, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney isn’t worried.

Well, Dabo, you probably shouldn’t read our column from yesterday. Unlike what our Brett Ludwiczak wrote, Dabo is quite optimistic — you might even say certain— that college football will not only happen this fall, but it will include packed and “rocking” stands. While it’s honestly probably the least likely scenario to play out, it’s definitely the more fun stance on the matter. I’ll have what he’s having.

• In Mark Pantoni’s conference call-presser earlier today, the director of player personnel touched on everything you could possibly think of when it comes to the current state of recruiting. However, my personal favorite quote of the day was, when asked about his decision to stay at Ohio State with Ryan Day, he responded: “It was an absolute no-brainer.”
• Ohio State football is craving competition, I assume, because they’ve tweeted out a new series titled “Buckeye Trick Shots” where various staff members, coaches, coaches’ children, and players try to outdo each other via, well, trick shots.

As for my personal favorite:

If you answered Brian, you’re wrong.

• Former Ohio State football players are just out here doing good things.

Chris Spielman is auctioning off his personal 1984 Big Ten championship ring on Ebay. All money earned is going to Covid-19 victims and, so far, the ring is currently auctioned at $10,001. He plans to raise $40,000 total by auctioning off various personal items over these next few weeks.

And former Ohio State and current Browns cornerback Denzel Ward is offering to pay the biggest monthly expense for 21 people in his community who are out of work.

• And lastly, this is the worst!

Well? Would you? Turns out, Buckeye fans would rather sacrifice the whole dang sport than lose to TTUN.

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From around the hardwood...

• Next year’s men’s basketball roster is completed, and Eleven Warriors analyzed the whole dang thing—who’s gone, who’s coming in, and who’s going to step up.
• A transfer guard, “widely considered one of the top transfer players on the market”, included Ohio State in his top 5. He will have to sit out one season wherever he commits but will have two years of eligibility remaining.

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From everywhere else...

I just felt like you needed to see this. (Plus, Ohio State legend Cris Carter retweeted it into my timeline, so it counts as Ohio State news, okay?)

• There’d been an increase in banana bread-making (and I am living proof of this)
• Some of the nation’s most popular series are now available to stream for free on HBO.

So sit back, relax, and STAY HOME.