Welcome back for another edition of “A-Deck” at BuckeyeGrove.com, where I’ll bring you thoughts, what I’m hearing, inside scoop, tidbits, and more for Ohio State recruiting and team coverage, every Wednesday.
Last week’s A-Deck took a look at how a current Ohio State commit is progressing, put an up-and-coming 2021 Ohioan on the watch list, featured a chat with a top recruiting target, and previewed the primetime match-up with Nebraska.
This week, we preview an upcoming college decision for a top Buckeyes target, talk with a source about how a current Ohio State freshman is progressing, bring a Central Ohio prospect into the spotlight, and look back at the win over the Cornhuskers, as well as ahead to the game with Michigan State.
COWAN SET TO MAKE THE CALL
Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day 2020 defensive lineman Jacolbe Cowan will make his college decision known on Friday, as his team hosts their Homecoming match-up. The major players in this one are thought to be Ohio State, North Carolina, and Tennessee, although Cowan has said that he’s deciding from his top 12, which also includes Alabama, Clemson, Oregon, Oklahoma, Penn State, South Carolina, N.C. State, LSU, and Georgia.
Back in late August, I had a little segment about Cowan in my A-Deck that week, which said the following:
This is a recruitment that has looked at times like it very well could go the Buckeyes’ way, and at other times like it was nowhere close to happening. And there are many reasons for that.
In looking at the OSU side of things, the numbers game certainly has played a part here, especially when the staff was under the impression, they could only take 25, which is not the case anymore. In addition to a total class cap, Hamilton and Henry are both defensive ends that very well could end up inside after they hit Mickey Marotti’s strength and conditioning program. Cowan is a similar type player, and the staff may prefer getting more of a true defensive end (or two) with their remaining spots. Finally, there’s some other things the staff still has to sift through before we see them go “all-in” on this one.
I stand by what I wrote back then in regard to the Buckeyes having to sift through a few things before deciding to go in on Cowan and give him the green light to commit. With that said, I think all sifting has been done, and it appears all boxes have been checked, when it comes to the top 150 prospect getting said green light.
When an announcement is made Friday, I expect it to be for Ohio State, and am told that Cowan is being recruited as a defensive end. Both Marc and I have FutureCasts in for the Scarlet and Gray.
STOVER SHOWING HE’S GOT THE GOODS
I spoke to one team source late last week, and said contact had a glowing review for freshman linebacker Cade Stover, and how he has been coming along.
“Stover is really developing,” the source shared. “He could easily be a starter next year at the rate he’s coming on. We’re loaded at linebacker, but he’s really making strides. At worst, he could grow into a defensive end, but I think he sticks at linebacker as of now. He wants to play off the line. He’s plenty fast and his instincts are ridiculous. Sometimes it takes a young player time to have his instincts kick in because the game moves so fast early on in their career. That is not the case with Cade, though. He’s a really smart player and he will have an excellent career here, and hopefully in the NFL, too. He’s a really good kid, too, which will go a long way.”
LORENZO NOT THE ONLY STYLES TO WATCH
Ohio State is all-in on Pickerington Central 2021 wide receiver/defensive back Lorenzo Styles Jr., but that is not the only Styles that fans should get familiar with.
Lorenzo’s brother, Sonny Styles, is a freshman at Central (Class of 2023), and one source who has seen him play thinks he can be a better prospect than his older sibling.
“He hasn’t played because of an injury, but Sonny is going to be better than Lorenzo,” the source shared. “He’s more athletic, really a freak. The thought early was he was going to be a basketball player, and he’s really good on the hardwood, but I think its football for his future now. If he was healthy, he’d absolutely have a prominent role on what is a really good team, and I think you’re going to see him emerge really early as a national type of prospect. He may have been the best player on the team this season if he didn’t get hurt. I think Ohio State will be on him for sure, but I also see programs like Clemson, Alabama, Georgia, all the big boys being interested too. You’re going to be hard-pressed to find a better athlete and I will go as far to say he may end up as the best player to ever come out of Pickerington Central.”
That’s pretty high praise, considering Lorenzo is currently ranked as the No. 28 overall prospect in 2021, per Rivals, not to mention all of the great talent that has come from Pickerington Central.
Styles projects to be a safety in college, but will likely play offense as well (WR or RB) for Pickerington Central when he eventually plays (may not be this season due to injury)
LOOKING BACK AT NEBRASKA, AHEAD TO SPARTY
Ohio State looked dominant once again in their win over Nebraska last week. It was hard to find anything not to like about this team, in what I thought would be their first real test of the season.
At quarterback, Justin Fields continues to look like the former 5-star recruit he was. I’m very impressed with his poise and decision making, although I want to see how those things translate when things aren’t going so smoothly, or when the team is in a dog fight, which they inevitably will be in at some point this season.
The running backs look like they’ve found a groove, as both J.K. Dobbins and Master Teague had great games against NU. This is a really solid one-two punch, with Dobbins looking like he’s returned to freshman form. I like seeing how Teague has developed as a pass protector and pass catcher as well.
This is another deep receiving unit, and in any given game, a new player could emerge as the leading stat guy. Having so many weapons in rotation has proven to be a solid formula to success for the Buckeyes under Ryan Day, and is certainly helping Fields.
While the tight ends have not been all that involved in the passing game, they are certainly blocking well, and could be a “secret weapon” of sorts as needed at some point down the line this season.
This offensive line may be the best since the 2014 championship season, and possibly better than that. They have still yet to be tested by a defense with the scheme and skill to match them, but so far they are passing with more-than-flying colors. Joshua Alabi did an incredible job stepping in for Branden Bowen, and if Bowen needs to miss more time, there shouldn’t be concern—although I am hearing Bowen should be back this week. Josh Myers needs to start getting national recognition for how he’s handled that transition and how he’s played this season.
On defense, despite the line not being healthy all year, these guys continue to get after it. Getting Jonathon Cooper back was a nice boost, and they should have Tyreke Smith back in the next few weeks, if what I hear is true.
The linebacker play is night and day vs. last year. They continue to flip Tuf Borland and Baron Browning based on game flow and situation, but I would play Browning most of the time if it were up to me. Pete Werner is tremendously improved, and Malik Harrison is just a monster (although that late hit on the first drive was a freshman mistake). The depth is solid here too and I like them rotating guys in---I noticed that Justin Hilliard played some meaningful snaps last weekend for example, which was great to see.
#BIA is back. Jeffrey Okudah, well, enjoy him the next couple months, because he’s a first round pick after this. Jordan Fuller had a really nice game on Saturday. Shaun Wade continues to be a Swiss Army knife for the defense, Damon Arnette has been really solid, and I think you’ll see more of Brendon White moving forward. These guys are elite, no doubt about it, and I love seeing the versatility of being able to switch between man and zone. Cam Brown is going to be a good one, in my opinion.
This week, Michigan State comes to The Horseshoe in what will be the toughest test for the Buckeyes’ offense thus far. The Spartans are really solid in the front seven, and will be dead set on shutting down the OSU run game. If the line is moving Sparty’s d-line back, it should be business as usual. If the Spartans are negating the push by the “Slobs”, Day will have to get creative in how he attacks the defense this week. It could mean relying on the pass to open up the run, or revealing some things in the playbook that have been held back due to the nature of the game flow through the first five contests.
I fully expect Mark Dantonio to try and force Fields to beat him with his arm. Will the sophomore signal caller be up for the challenge? We shall find out on Saturday, as Day will certainly need him to execute in the passing game at some point throughout the evening.
On defense, MSU shouldn’t be a difficult match-up for the Buckeyes, but they do always seem to come up with wrinkles in a game like this. Dantonio is going to have his team try to win a street fight and “out-tough” the Buckeyes, so it will require that the defensive line and linebackers come to play, and play physical. If the line plays as they have, it could be a long night for the Spartans’ offense.
I don’t have a score prediction just yet, but I do think the Buckeyes will prevail in this one, and probably by double digits. I can see the offense struggling at times as they face their toughest challenge of the season, but I think there is a big talent advantage and the defense will be able to get the offense on the field enough to make things happen. Right now, I’m leaning towards something like 38-13 or so.
Last week’s A-Deck took a look at how a current Ohio State commit is progressing, put an up-and-coming 2021 Ohioan on the watch list, featured a chat with a top recruiting target, and previewed the primetime match-up with Nebraska.
This week, we preview an upcoming college decision for a top Buckeyes target, talk with a source about how a current Ohio State freshman is progressing, bring a Central Ohio prospect into the spotlight, and look back at the win over the Cornhuskers, as well as ahead to the game with Michigan State.
COWAN SET TO MAKE THE CALL
Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day 2020 defensive lineman Jacolbe Cowan will make his college decision known on Friday, as his team hosts their Homecoming match-up. The major players in this one are thought to be Ohio State, North Carolina, and Tennessee, although Cowan has said that he’s deciding from his top 12, which also includes Alabama, Clemson, Oregon, Oklahoma, Penn State, South Carolina, N.C. State, LSU, and Georgia.
Back in late August, I had a little segment about Cowan in my A-Deck that week, which said the following:
This is a recruitment that has looked at times like it very well could go the Buckeyes’ way, and at other times like it was nowhere close to happening. And there are many reasons for that.
In looking at the OSU side of things, the numbers game certainly has played a part here, especially when the staff was under the impression, they could only take 25, which is not the case anymore. In addition to a total class cap, Hamilton and Henry are both defensive ends that very well could end up inside after they hit Mickey Marotti’s strength and conditioning program. Cowan is a similar type player, and the staff may prefer getting more of a true defensive end (or two) with their remaining spots. Finally, there’s some other things the staff still has to sift through before we see them go “all-in” on this one.
I stand by what I wrote back then in regard to the Buckeyes having to sift through a few things before deciding to go in on Cowan and give him the green light to commit. With that said, I think all sifting has been done, and it appears all boxes have been checked, when it comes to the top 150 prospect getting said green light.
When an announcement is made Friday, I expect it to be for Ohio State, and am told that Cowan is being recruited as a defensive end. Both Marc and I have FutureCasts in for the Scarlet and Gray.
STOVER SHOWING HE’S GOT THE GOODS
I spoke to one team source late last week, and said contact had a glowing review for freshman linebacker Cade Stover, and how he has been coming along.
“Stover is really developing,” the source shared. “He could easily be a starter next year at the rate he’s coming on. We’re loaded at linebacker, but he’s really making strides. At worst, he could grow into a defensive end, but I think he sticks at linebacker as of now. He wants to play off the line. He’s plenty fast and his instincts are ridiculous. Sometimes it takes a young player time to have his instincts kick in because the game moves so fast early on in their career. That is not the case with Cade, though. He’s a really smart player and he will have an excellent career here, and hopefully in the NFL, too. He’s a really good kid, too, which will go a long way.”
LORENZO NOT THE ONLY STYLES TO WATCH
Ohio State is all-in on Pickerington Central 2021 wide receiver/defensive back Lorenzo Styles Jr., but that is not the only Styles that fans should get familiar with.
Lorenzo’s brother, Sonny Styles, is a freshman at Central (Class of 2023), and one source who has seen him play thinks he can be a better prospect than his older sibling.
“He hasn’t played because of an injury, but Sonny is going to be better than Lorenzo,” the source shared. “He’s more athletic, really a freak. The thought early was he was going to be a basketball player, and he’s really good on the hardwood, but I think its football for his future now. If he was healthy, he’d absolutely have a prominent role on what is a really good team, and I think you’re going to see him emerge really early as a national type of prospect. He may have been the best player on the team this season if he didn’t get hurt. I think Ohio State will be on him for sure, but I also see programs like Clemson, Alabama, Georgia, all the big boys being interested too. You’re going to be hard-pressed to find a better athlete and I will go as far to say he may end up as the best player to ever come out of Pickerington Central.”
That’s pretty high praise, considering Lorenzo is currently ranked as the No. 28 overall prospect in 2021, per Rivals, not to mention all of the great talent that has come from Pickerington Central.
Styles projects to be a safety in college, but will likely play offense as well (WR or RB) for Pickerington Central when he eventually plays (may not be this season due to injury)
LOOKING BACK AT NEBRASKA, AHEAD TO SPARTY
Ohio State looked dominant once again in their win over Nebraska last week. It was hard to find anything not to like about this team, in what I thought would be their first real test of the season.
At quarterback, Justin Fields continues to look like the former 5-star recruit he was. I’m very impressed with his poise and decision making, although I want to see how those things translate when things aren’t going so smoothly, or when the team is in a dog fight, which they inevitably will be in at some point this season.
The running backs look like they’ve found a groove, as both J.K. Dobbins and Master Teague had great games against NU. This is a really solid one-two punch, with Dobbins looking like he’s returned to freshman form. I like seeing how Teague has developed as a pass protector and pass catcher as well.
This is another deep receiving unit, and in any given game, a new player could emerge as the leading stat guy. Having so many weapons in rotation has proven to be a solid formula to success for the Buckeyes under Ryan Day, and is certainly helping Fields.
While the tight ends have not been all that involved in the passing game, they are certainly blocking well, and could be a “secret weapon” of sorts as needed at some point down the line this season.
This offensive line may be the best since the 2014 championship season, and possibly better than that. They have still yet to be tested by a defense with the scheme and skill to match them, but so far they are passing with more-than-flying colors. Joshua Alabi did an incredible job stepping in for Branden Bowen, and if Bowen needs to miss more time, there shouldn’t be concern—although I am hearing Bowen should be back this week. Josh Myers needs to start getting national recognition for how he’s handled that transition and how he’s played this season.
On defense, despite the line not being healthy all year, these guys continue to get after it. Getting Jonathon Cooper back was a nice boost, and they should have Tyreke Smith back in the next few weeks, if what I hear is true.
The linebacker play is night and day vs. last year. They continue to flip Tuf Borland and Baron Browning based on game flow and situation, but I would play Browning most of the time if it were up to me. Pete Werner is tremendously improved, and Malik Harrison is just a monster (although that late hit on the first drive was a freshman mistake). The depth is solid here too and I like them rotating guys in---I noticed that Justin Hilliard played some meaningful snaps last weekend for example, which was great to see.
#BIA is back. Jeffrey Okudah, well, enjoy him the next couple months, because he’s a first round pick after this. Jordan Fuller had a really nice game on Saturday. Shaun Wade continues to be a Swiss Army knife for the defense, Damon Arnette has been really solid, and I think you’ll see more of Brendon White moving forward. These guys are elite, no doubt about it, and I love seeing the versatility of being able to switch between man and zone. Cam Brown is going to be a good one, in my opinion.
This week, Michigan State comes to The Horseshoe in what will be the toughest test for the Buckeyes’ offense thus far. The Spartans are really solid in the front seven, and will be dead set on shutting down the OSU run game. If the line is moving Sparty’s d-line back, it should be business as usual. If the Spartans are negating the push by the “Slobs”, Day will have to get creative in how he attacks the defense this week. It could mean relying on the pass to open up the run, or revealing some things in the playbook that have been held back due to the nature of the game flow through the first five contests.
I fully expect Mark Dantonio to try and force Fields to beat him with his arm. Will the sophomore signal caller be up for the challenge? We shall find out on Saturday, as Day will certainly need him to execute in the passing game at some point throughout the evening.
On defense, MSU shouldn’t be a difficult match-up for the Buckeyes, but they do always seem to come up with wrinkles in a game like this. Dantonio is going to have his team try to win a street fight and “out-tough” the Buckeyes, so it will require that the defensive line and linebackers come to play, and play physical. If the line plays as they have, it could be a long night for the Spartans’ offense.
I don’t have a score prediction just yet, but I do think the Buckeyes will prevail in this one, and probably by double digits. I can see the offense struggling at times as they face their toughest challenge of the season, but I think there is a big talent advantage and the defense will be able to get the offense on the field enough to make things happen. Right now, I’m leaning towards something like 38-13 or so.
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