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Buckeye Bits: Kristina M. Johnson is the 16th president of Ohio State, C.J. Saunders using his platform to take action, more

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

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Welcome back to Buckeye Bits, where we catch you up on all of the news, updates, tweets and analyses circulating around the Ohio State beat and elsewhere. The world is in a heavy state at the moment, so I’m going to begin today’s Bits with one of Lori Schmidt’s infamous #UnderYourHat questions.

Now more than ever, it’s beyond important that each and every one of us use our voices, our platforms and our actions—no matter how small they might be— to fight for black lives. It’s also important to check in with yourself and others during this time, because fighting through this is deep, exhausting, and hard. But most importantly, it’s crucial.

If you’re having trouble figuring out how to make an impact, or whether you even can, here’s my favorite answer to Lori’s question.

“Do for one what you wish you could do for all.”

Now for today’s headlines.


From around Land-Grant Holy Land...

How will Ohio State replace the production of Chase Young?

Gene Ross, LGHL

It sounds impossible, because it probably is. That’s not to say Ohio State’s defensive line isn’t talented, its just not... 16.5 sacks-talented.

Ohio State offers a trio of tight ends on Tuesday

Gene Ross, LGHL

Ohio State’s recruiting staff had quite a busy day yesterday, especially tight ends coach Kevin Wilson. In about a one hour span on Tuesday, three 2022 tight ends announced via Twitter that they had received an offer from Ohio State. Gene has more on that in this morning’s State Secrets.

Play Like a Girl podcast (written edition): A tribute to Phyllis George

Meredith Hein and Tia Johnston, LGHL

Sportscaster legend and pioneer Phyllis George passed away on May 14, and in honor of her memory, Meredith and I recap her legacy and the incredible impact she made for women in sports.

Buckeye Bits: Ohio State players/staff speak up, how the Bucks can contend for a title, the next great OSU RB, more

Gene Ross, LGHL

Yesterday’s Buckeye Bits, because yesterday was filled to the brim with newsworthy stuff you may have missed.


From around the gridiron...

Emergence of Ohio State’s third-year players will determine whether Ohio State has a national title-worthy team

Colin Hass-Hill, Eleven Warriors

With guys like Justin Fields, Chris Olave, Josh Proctor, Taron Vincent, and many more, its safe to say that Ohio State’s destiny is up to the third-years. As Hass-Hill wrote, these players made up the best recruiting class Ohio State has ever signed. Now they have to show us why.


C.J. Saunders, Buckeyes are working, protesting, kneeling for change

Austin Ward, Lettermen Row

Four hours after being released from his overnight stay in the Franklin County Jail, Saunders was putting tape down to mark spots for social distancing, making sure student-athletes from dozens of sports were wearing masks and then ultimately delivering some brief remarks from the back of a pickup truck, writes Ward.

Saunders describes his experience in jail, along with his thoughts on the protesting, the anti-racism movement, what he and his teammates have been doing and plan to do with their platforms and more in the link above.


Urban Meyer, TreVeyon Henderson tackle social issues, protests

Tim May, Lettermen Row

On this week’s Tim May podcast, Urban Meyer and Ohio State running back commitment TreVeyon Henderson discuss the ongoing protests, what coaches can do for their players, Henderson’s personal experience with racial profiling, and much more.


Ohio State football defense has much to prove to pull off LSU’s national championship run: Buckeye Take

Nathan Baird, Cleveland.com

Ohio State has a very serious shot at a national title this season (what’s new?), however the Buckeyes’ defense is going to have to step up to make that happen. This year’s group—sans Chase Young, Jeff Okudah, Damon Arnette, and Malik Harrison—has a lot to prove before it can call itself as good as the one LSU put on the field in 2019, writes Baird.


Gunnar Hoak ready for backup opportunity for Buckeyes

Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Quarterbacks C.J. Stroud and Jack Miller have received most of the attention in regards to who will be backing up Justin Fields, but Holbrook believes—due to the two freshmen’s lack of reps and Hoak’s knowledge of the playbook—that Hoak is more than ready to be QB2 this season.


Ohio State, you’re doing amazing, sweetie.


Meanwhile, at Clemson...


From everywhere else...

New prez

The Ohio State University Board of Trustees appointed Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, as the 16th president in university history. Johnson has served as chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY) since 2017 and brings more than 30 years of experience as an academic, business and policy leader, Ohio State wrote in its press release.

Johnson said Ohio State has always been a special place for her, due to the fact that her grandfather graduated from OSU in 1896 and played right guard for the Buckeyes.

She will begin her tenure as Ohio State president on September 1, 2020.


Proud to be an Ohio State alum

Ohio State student-athletes, staff and OSU police came together in front of the ‘Shoe for a “Kneel for Nine” demonstration. Organized by student-athletes, the group knelt for nine minutes in remembrance of George Floyd, who’s neck was under a Minneapolis police officer’s knee for around nine minutes.


Back to school!

You know what that means don’t you?


The NBA is back!

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski:

The NBA’s board of governors intends to approve a league proposal on a 22-team format to restart the season in Orlando, Florida, sources told ESPN.

Commissioner Adam Silver and the league’s advisory/finance committee have shared the broad details of a plan with teams to play at the Walt Disney World Resort, sources said. The plan includes 13 Western Conference teams and nine Eastern Conference teams, eight regular-season games, a possible play-in tournament for the eighth seed, and playoffs, sources said.


MLS is back!

The MLSPA have voted on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement and approved a return-to-play plan. The approval of the proposal avoids a lockout that had been threatened by MLS.

“MLS Players today ratified a new collective bargaining agreement, which will run through the 2025 season,” the MLSPA said in a statement. “Today’s vote also finalizes a plan to resume the 2020 season and provides players with certainty for the months ahead. It allows our members to move forward and continue to compete in the game they love.”

The approval now opens the door for the league to return to the field in June with a World Cup-style tournament to be held at the Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World. The teams are expected to arrive in Orlando, Florida, in three weeks, according to ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle.