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Buckeye Bits: TBT announces new format, about sixty football players already on campus, more

All of the latest Ohio State news from around the beat and beyond

By Tia Johnston
Kentucky v Ohio State Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images

Well, today’s news cycle is a particularly awful one, and while I like to stay in-the-know on all the goings-on in the world, sometimes it can get pretty draining. In honor of May being Mental Health Awareness Month, I think we should all try to implement some good news into our daily content intake. For some reason, good news is harder to find than the bad stuff, but I promise its there. Here’s some uplifting content that I came across today:

And, last week’s Play Like a Girl Podcast:

Better yet, put all your screens away and, instead, read a really good novel, paint a wall or a bookcase, look through old photos, learn a new language— whatever it is that will take your mind off of all the bad, even if just for a few minutes.

Speaking of which, Buckeye Bits hardly ever contains bad news, and today’s is no exception. So, relax, turn off the news, and dig into your daily dose of Ohio State content.

From around Land-Grant Holy Land...

Why can’t we get a new NCAA Football video game?

Gene Ross, LGHL

The proposed NIL changes should have opened the door for the NCAA Football video game to make its highly anticipated return, but c’mon, you know as well as I do that nothing good or fun or positive comes out of the NCAA. Gene explains why it will likely be awhile before we get our hands on the game.

Sports Moments That Made You Cry Week: Why do sports make us cry?

Me, LGHL

SB Nation has deemed it “Sports Moments That Made You Cry” Week. I don’t care who you are or how tough you might be, if you are, in fact, in love with a sports team, you have undoubtedly shed a tear or two at a sports moment. Yesterday, I wrote about why sports effect us so damn much.

Ohio State women’s basketball team offers five-star point guard

Charles Doss, LGHL

Kevin McGuff and crew have already offered one of the top 2023 prospects in the country— five-star point guard Kamorea Arnold. Charles tells us what Arnold is all about in this morning’s State Secrets.

Ohio State heavily targeting five-star center

Dan Hessler, LGHL

McGuff and Co. aren’t the only one’s making moves. Ohio State’s men’s basketball completed another virtual visit with five-star center Charles Bediako last weekend. Bediako is one of Ohio State’s top targets in the 2021 class. Dan has more on that in yesterday’s State Secrets.

From around the gridiron...

Jim Tressel insight on return-to-play model, Buckeyes memories

Tim May, Lettermen Row

Jim Tressel joins the Tim May podcast to give his take on the return-to-play model, discuss Ohio State memories, his departure from the football program and more.

Lettermen Row senior writer Austin Ward also joins the show to chat about the Woody Hayes Athletic Center opening back up in June and how the Buckeyes plan to do so safely.

Sixty football players already in Columbus

Last week, the NCAA voted to allow student-athletes to return to campus for voluntary workouts beginning June 1 and Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith announced Ohio State student-athletes may access athletic facilities starting June 8.

In a virtual interview with BTN’s Rick Pizzo, Smith said 60 football players actually remained in Columbus for the summer, while taking summer classes online.

Smith also discusses his plans for reopening and what he thinks the Big Ten will decide during their meeting on June 7.

Future Ohio State quarterback getting a casual workout in.

Five-star pro-style quarterback Kyle McCord, who’s committed to Ohio State’s class of 2021, is seen here pushing a car up the road. This goes without saying but...I’m not worried about the future of Ohio State football.

I repeat...

What makes Ryan Day great? Kerry Coombs has the answer

Dave Biddle, Bucknuts

Biddle asks defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs what exactly it is about Ryan Day that makes top recruits flock to play for him and his assistant coaches gush about him. To which Coombs replies, “his patience, demeanor, and clarity during this time” and that “he’s a unique leader” who he’s “learning from.”

Also, defensive line coach Larry Johnson tells Biddle his philosophy on recruiting.

How Antwuan Jackson can find interior role for Buckeyes

Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Heading into his final season at Ohio State, Antwuan Jackson has the potential to make a huge impact on the already-stacked defensive line. Holbrook explains what we can expect from Jackson and how the Buckeyes will likely use him this year.

Demario McCall has one more shot to make a name for himself at Ohio State

Colin Hass-Hill, Eleven Warriors

Running back Demario McCall arrived on campus in 2016, and hasn’t exactly shown out since. Over the last three seasons, McCall has only touched the ball 55 times on offense.

As he approaches his fifth and final season as a Buckeye, he’s challenged with finding his role on the team—as it’s still up in the air what position he’ll play— and ultimately living up to the hype that surrounded him when he first got to Columbus.

As Hass-Hill wrote, “Welcome to Demario’s Last Dance.”

From around the hardwood...

“A fully quarantined tournament”

The Basketball Tournament announced its health and safety plans for protecting participants from the coronavirus. The annual summer tournament will be limited to 24 teams, with all games being played over 10 days at one single location.

All players, coaches and participants will be tested for COVID-19 and quarantined in the days leading up to the event.

“After reviewing all available science and data, working with experts, and receiving support from our partners, we’ve devised a plan we are confident protects the health and safety of our participants and staff to the greatest extent possible,” founder and CEO Jon Mugar said in a release. “At the forefront is our single-elimination format, ability to test and quarantine the field and keep teams separate at all times. We look forward to hosting an incredible group of teams and crowning a champion this summer.”

The event will take place in July, according to ESPN, however no official start date or location has been announced.

Ranking college basketball’s top 15 transfers of the 2020 recruiting cycle

David Cobb, CBS Sports

Cobb listed what he believes are the 15 transfers to watch coming out of the 2020 recruiting cycle, and former Ohio State point guard D.J. Carton is listed at No. 4.

Carton, who is now a Marquette Golden Eagle, averaged 10.4 points per game and hit 40% of his 3-pointers in his stint with the Buckeyes.

From everywhere else...

Sports!

The National Women’s Soccer League plans to be one of the first professional sports organizations in the U.S. to return to play. The league announced the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup, a 25-game tournament, will take place June 27-July 26 in Utah.

Dobbins is thriving.

The Ravens are certainly not lacking the backfield department, and adding Dobbins to the mix only makes them stronger. While he will likely primarily split his workload with running back Mark Ingram and quarterback Lamar Jackson, NFL Network analyst Charley Casserly believes he’ll have a breakout year nonetheless.

1,5,8

Although, the smell of gas is up there too.

Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winners.

Ohio State volleyball’s Bia Franklin and wrestling’s Luke Pletcher have been awarded the Big Ten conferences’ Outstanding Sportsmanship Award, which honors those who have displayed positive sportsmanship and ethical behavior.

One member of each varsity sports team at each school was chosen by his or her institution as a Sportsmanship Award honoree, and two Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners were then selected from each institution.

Check out Ohio State’s link above to learn more about Franklin and Pletcher and how they earned this award.

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