Buckeye Bits: Urban Meyer talks recruiting rankings, non-conference basketball schedule released, more

Maybe as glorious as a day in quarantine could be, today is a real double whammy. Not only is it Cinco de Mayo, but it is also Taco Tuesday. So, make sure to celebrate accordingly with some frozen margaritas and wonderful tacos — please support your local establishments that are still offering takeout if possible.

In other news, the sports-less grind continues (unless you're an insane person like me who stayed up to watch the KBO at 1 a.m. last night). However, there remains no shortage of Ohio State news and notes, so let’s check in with what the rest of the beat has to offer.

From around Land-Grant Holy Land...

• ICYMI: Why we maybe put too much stock in the NFL Combine

When a guy like K.J. Hill isn’t selected until the seventh round, it means we’re probably putting too much weight on things like a player’s 40-yard dash time. Meredith breaks down how the NFL Combine plays into guys’ stock on draft day.

• ICYMI: Could Justin Fields be QB1 in the 2021 NFL Draft?

The battle between Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence began way before last year’s Fiesta Bowl, and it will likely continue long into the foreseeable future. However, the lights have never been brighter on the two QBs than for this upcoming season.

• Get the new Chase Young Ohio State Gate Series bobblehead

Looking for a new edition to your stockpile of Buckeyes gear and collectibles? Why not add a Chase Young bobblehead to commemorate the legendary OSU defensive end’s impressive run in Columbus.

• Update on Ohio State four-star shooting guard target

When you think of recruiting battles, most people tend to think of the football team. However, the basketball Bucks are fighting to reel in a big fish of their own, as the nation’s No. 4 shooting guard is right in their own backyard.

From around the gridiron...

• What better way to add to your Cinco de Mayo festivities than with some highlights of No. 5 himself, the one and only Braxton Miller. After all, it is 5/5.

• Wyatt Davis building toward another All-American season
  (Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row)

As a first-year starter in 2019, Davis earned All-American honors. Heading into year two, the expectations are much higher, but so too is his NFL Draft stock moving forward. Deciding to stick around another year, he could wind up a first round pick with a repeat performance.

• Urban Meyer on recruiting rankings ‘I would always study that’
  (Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts)

Ever wonder if college football coaches keep as close an eye on their recruiting class ranking compared to their rivals as the fans do? Sitting down with 247Sports, the legendary OSU head coach admitted that not only was he aware of the rankings, but he also studied who rival teams were recruiting as well to get a feel for the teams he would be facing.

• Chris Olave sets sights on becoming “best player in the country”
  (Colin Hass-Hill, Eleven Warriors)

Olave gets lost in the shuffle of the Ja’Marr Chase’s, Rashod Bateman’s and Rondale Moore’s of the world, but that could change this upcoming season. Eager to make up for his miscue on the final play of the Fiesta Bowl, the sure-handed Buckeye wideout is more motivated than ever to put on a show.

• He may not have gotten the hype because of all the talent around him, but don't sleep on J.K. Dobbins. His final year in Columbus was actually statistically better than that of Ezekiel Elliott’s — you know, one of the best running backs currently in the NFL.

From around the hardwood...

• Ohio State basketball released its 2020-21 non-conference schedule on Tuesday, and with it came a few highlights. The most exciting part is that the program will, for the first time, take part in the Battle 4 Atlantis — an eight-team tournament in the Bahamas in late November. The Buckeyes’ schedule also features a CBS Sports Classic matchup against UNC in mid December, and the annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge with dates and locations TBD.

• Ohio State moves up in latest ESPN Bracketology

With all of the departures and additions to the Buckeyes’ roster this offseason, it’s a bit hard to get a grip on just how well the team will perform in 2020. Joe Lunardi must like what Chris Holtmann has done with the roster, as after having Ohio State listed as a No. 5 seed in his initial rankings, he has bumped them up to a No. 4 seed in his latest update.

From everywhere else...

• I mentioned Korean baseball earlier, but did you know that a former Buckeye was featured in the late-night broadcast? Drew Rucinski—who played his college ball at Ohio State and spent four seasons in the major leagues—made the start for the NC Dinos on Opening Day, striking out six batters over six scoreless innings.

• Times are changing in college athletics, and with it comes a bunch of new questions. Joel Klatt and Reggie Bush talk a little bit about the early stages of athlete compensation rules.

• Hopefully sometime soon we can get back to the good ole days...

• There were some rumors floating around the Twitterverse yesterday that the MLB could return as early as July 1, but it appears nothing is set in stone yet at this time as nobody quite knows where the world will be at in the coming months.