Welcome to another week here at the Scarlet and Gray Report.
Here’s what I’m thinking about this Monday morning.
Brandon Inniss.
One of Ohio State’s main offensive targets was traversing campus this weekend.
Brandon Inniss: the 6-foot, 189-pound five-star wide receiver seemingly built out of Brian Hartline’s workshop. Innis: the wide receiver that has the ability to change a class by himself, bringing the Buckeyes back to the forefront of the conversation of the top recruiting classes in the country. Inniss: the next in line of great receivers that Ohio State has secured like the Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s, Emeka Egbuka’s and the Marvin Harrison Jr.’s of the world.
Hartline’s room is seemingly never ending. The 2023 class already has one member in four-star wide receiver Bryson Rodgers, but remains a finalist for five-star Carnell Tate, who is set to make his decision 1 p.m. Monday, four-star wide receiver Noah Rogers, who did not visit this weekend due to traveling issues and Inniss.
It’s a room that Ohio State is already preparing to build in 2024, with Hartline and Co. watching Tyseer Denmark closely during the 7-on-7 camp Thursday, coming from the same Roman Catholic program that produced Harrison.
What Inniss started this weekend could end in a week that shows off what Hartline can do as a recruiter, bringing in the top talent consistently no matter the amount of talent already in the room, solely based on the premise Denmark eloquently explained after one of his 7-on-7 games Thursday.
“Up here, he makes his receivers go 100% every day,” Denmark said.
To receivers across the country, that’s an attractive pitch.
If Carnell Tate chooses Ohio State, where would he fit in?
A major Ohio State target is on the verge of picking his school.
Carnell Tate, the 6-foot-2, 170-pound five-star wide receiver out of IMG Academy, is down to four schools, picking between Ohio State, LSU, Notre Dame and Tennessee Monday afternoon at 1 p.m.
So if the pick is Ohio State, where could Tate fit into the Ohio State depth chart in 2023?
Quick note: All of these could be the same for Inniss, who has not set an official decision date.
Here’s what the depth chart could look like
X receiver
1. Marvin Harrison Jr.
2. Jayden Ballard
3. Carnell Tate
Z receiver
1. Julian Fleming
2. Kyion Grayes
3. Kojo Antwi
Slot receiver
1. Emeka Egbuka
2. Caleb Burton
3. Kaleb Brown
With his size, it’s likely that Tate would be next in line on the outside with Harrison and Ballard, working for a chance for playing time heading into what would likely be the former Roman Catholic receiver’s last year in an Ohio State uniform.
Depending on his development, Tate could have the talent to rise quickly up the depth chart, battling for that starting X receiver position with Ballard heading into 2024, along with possible openings at the Z and slot positions, which is a bit more crowded with 2022 receivers like Kyion Grayes and Caleb Burton.
All of this depends on the development of players like Grayes and Burton, who came in as early enrollees in the 2022 class, but that fourth receiver spot behind Harrison, Julian Fleming (possibly) and Emeka Egbuka could be up for grabs as well.
FWIW: in his freshman season with the Buckeyes in 2019, Garrett Wilson recorded 30 receptions for 432 yards and five touchdowns.
It can be done.
Defensive backs ruled the weekend.
Outside of Inniss, Rodgers and the rest of the receivers on campus this weekend, the future of the defensive back room was on full display this weekend as well, bringing in cornerback target Jermaine Mathews Jr., safety Joenel Aguero and safety Jayden Bonsu to campus, who I talked to after his visit Sunday afternoon.
And what I got from Bonsu, which is really nothing new on an official visit like this, but remains a key part of its importance, is that defensive backs coaches Perry Eliano and Tim Walton, along with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, have a clear vision for what each player can bring to the roster.
“Coach Eliano laid it out very well to me and clearly about he sees me in the defense,” Bonsu said. “The bandit position compliments my versatility as a player so that is where they see me.”
That’s just one example for a defense that already has Cedrick Hawkins and Malik Hartford secured at safety in the 2023 class.
It’s unclear how many more defensive backs the Buckeyes are willing to take, even though it seems like they could be replacing as many as three starting safeties heading into the 2023 season, while the cornerback room gets younger and younger.
With a lot of targets visiting this weekend and players like Caleb Downs and Christian Gray set to visit next weekend, along with Hartford, the Buckeyes are focused on rebuilding its defensive backfield, one that has been known to generate NFL-ready talent in the past and one that has a brand new future with Walton and Eliano at the helm.
With all of the new faces and recruits, it seems like the two defensive backs coaches are trying to make their mark on the recruiting trail.
What does this weekend mean?
I’m not saying that last weekend wasn’t important, with guys like LB Derrion Gullette and QB Austin Novosad visiting.
But based on the names on campus this weekend, this was the first visit weekend that showed Ohio State pushing for its normal top-five recruiting class.
And it starts with Inniss: the guy who by himself can change a ranking, generating excitement and momentum in a class and leading to more high-profile signings. It’s something that can boost excitement and momentum in 2024 too, sensing that something special is being built at Ohio State, that the national brand of the Buckeyes continues to be felt outside of state lines.
This was the first weekend where Ohio State had something to show. And, based on the reaction of recruits on social media, it’s something the program put its best foot forward to try and do.
What’s up next?
Next weekend, the focus turns to the offensive line.
Specifically, it’s offensive tackle. Even more specifically: Olaus Alinen, who has become the Buckeyes’ main target on the outside. It’s the player that’s getting the attention of each of Ohio State’s current 2023 guard commits — Luke Montgomery, Joshua Padilla and Austin Siereveld — who are each expected to be at Ohio State next weekend.
Defense will also be a vital focus this next week with three linebacker targets expected to come to campus — Raul Aguirre, Troy Bowles and Tackett Curtis — along with multiple defensive linemen, Downs and Gray.
But Alinen seems to be the headliner here, the one focus that Ohio State really needs to wrap up at a position without a real amount of depth at this point.
If Justin Frye wants to continue to make his mark, if he wants to perfect his pitch to join the Buckeyes, it’s one Alinen will have to hear next weekend.
Let’s take a look at some NBA mock drafts heading into NBA Draft week.
It’s here: the week E.J. Liddell and Malaki Branham have been waiting for.
Where will they make their mark? Let’s take a look at some mocks ahead of the draft this Thursday.
Stadium
No. 16 Atlanta Hawks: Ohio State SG Malaki Branham
No. 19 Minnesota Timberwolves: Ohio State PF E.J. Liddell
Other picks of note
No. 1 Orlando Magic: Auburn PF Jabari Smith
No. 14 Cleveland Cavaliers: Kansas SG Ochai Agbaji
CBS
No. 15 Charlotte Hornets (from New Orleans Pelicans): Ohio State SG Malaki Branham
No. 20 San Antonio Spurs: Ohio State PF E.J. Liddell
Other picks of note
No. 1 Orlando Magic: Auburn PF Jabari Smith
No. 14 Cleveland Cavaliers: Kansas SG Ochai Agbaji
Yahoo Sports
No. 14 Cleveland Cavaliers: Ohio State SG Malaki Branham
Other picks of note
No. 1 Orlando Magic: Auburn PF Jabari Smith
NBC Sports
No. 18 Chicago Bulls: Ohio State PF E.J. Liddell
No. 19 Minnesota Timberwolves: Ohio State SG Malaki Branham
Other picks of note
No. 1 Orlando Magic: Auburn PF Jabari Smith
No. 14 Cleveland Cavaliers: Santa Clara SF Jalen Williams
What will this mean for the history of Ohio State basketball?
You’re going to be reading a lot about this next week.
In Ohio State’s history, 24 players have been drafted as first-round picks, last having one in 2015 when point guard D’Angelo Russell went No. 2 overall to the Los Angeles Lakers.
However, the Buckeyes have not had multiple first-round picks selected in the same draft since 2007, when Greg Oden (No. 1), Mike Conley (No. 4) and Daequan Cook (No. 21) were all selected in the first round.
Could Ohio State have a similar situation in the NBA Draft as the football team had at the NFL Draft, seeing two of its players selected back-to-back? We’ll see, but it very well could be possible.
Who could be next in line?
Simply, who knows?
Branham was thrust into the spotlight out of need and emerged as a first-round talent, along with Liddell, who many expected to pair with Justice Sueing as the two faces of Ohio State in the 2021-22 season.
And that’s where I think it would come in 2022-23 also.
While Tanner Holden, Sean McNeil and Isaac Likekele will find themselves playing incredibly important minutes for the Buckeyes next season, the ceiling for each of these players are realized. The NBA-level first-round talent would come from that 2022 class: Bruce Thornton, Brice Sensabaugh, Felix Okpara, Roddy Gayle Jr. and Bowen Hardman.
And based on the way Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann has talked about him, it seems like Sensabaugh’s the favorite here, providing a mismatch ability he said the Buckeyes really haven’t had in the post.
That’s all coming later and we really don’t know what these players will do in an Ohio State uniform. But I think that’s where Ohio State is going to find its next slate of NBA Draft picks, if it were to have something similar to Liddell and Branham next season, which will be incredibly hard to replicate.
Harry Miller is getting after it.
The former Ohio State offensive lineman is quickly becoming one of my favorite college football players.
His vulnerability and strength has impressed me all offseason. And even through all the attention that he’s been receiving and the voice that he’s been generating, he’s still finding time to work on himself.
The kid is still massive.
Good for him, truly. And I can’t wait to see what’s next for him.
Oh, and I can’t help it: “On your left.”
Finally, here it is: Your song of the week.
This band has really impressed me ever since my brother turned me onto them a few years ago.
American Aquarium combines the best parts of country music musically, for lack of a better term, with some of the best songwriting out there.
And the opening to their newest album is no different. Beautiful record from an awesome band.
See you on the board.
Here’s what I’m thinking about this Monday morning.
Brandon Inniss.
One of Ohio State’s main offensive targets was traversing campus this weekend.
Brandon Inniss: the 6-foot, 189-pound five-star wide receiver seemingly built out of Brian Hartline’s workshop. Innis: the wide receiver that has the ability to change a class by himself, bringing the Buckeyes back to the forefront of the conversation of the top recruiting classes in the country. Inniss: the next in line of great receivers that Ohio State has secured like the Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s, Emeka Egbuka’s and the Marvin Harrison Jr.’s of the world.
Hartline’s room is seemingly never ending. The 2023 class already has one member in four-star wide receiver Bryson Rodgers, but remains a finalist for five-star Carnell Tate, who is set to make his decision 1 p.m. Monday, four-star wide receiver Noah Rogers, who did not visit this weekend due to traveling issues and Inniss.
It’s a room that Ohio State is already preparing to build in 2024, with Hartline and Co. watching Tyseer Denmark closely during the 7-on-7 camp Thursday, coming from the same Roman Catholic program that produced Harrison.
What Inniss started this weekend could end in a week that shows off what Hartline can do as a recruiter, bringing in the top talent consistently no matter the amount of talent already in the room, solely based on the premise Denmark eloquently explained after one of his 7-on-7 games Thursday.
“Up here, he makes his receivers go 100% every day,” Denmark said.
To receivers across the country, that’s an attractive pitch.
If Carnell Tate chooses Ohio State, where would he fit in?
A major Ohio State target is on the verge of picking his school.
Carnell Tate, the 6-foot-2, 170-pound five-star wide receiver out of IMG Academy, is down to four schools, picking between Ohio State, LSU, Notre Dame and Tennessee Monday afternoon at 1 p.m.
So if the pick is Ohio State, where could Tate fit into the Ohio State depth chart in 2023?
Quick note: All of these could be the same for Inniss, who has not set an official decision date.
Here’s what the depth chart could look like
X receiver
1. Marvin Harrison Jr.
2. Jayden Ballard
3. Carnell Tate
Z receiver
1. Julian Fleming
2. Kyion Grayes
3. Kojo Antwi
Slot receiver
1. Emeka Egbuka
2. Caleb Burton
3. Kaleb Brown
With his size, it’s likely that Tate would be next in line on the outside with Harrison and Ballard, working for a chance for playing time heading into what would likely be the former Roman Catholic receiver’s last year in an Ohio State uniform.
Depending on his development, Tate could have the talent to rise quickly up the depth chart, battling for that starting X receiver position with Ballard heading into 2024, along with possible openings at the Z and slot positions, which is a bit more crowded with 2022 receivers like Kyion Grayes and Caleb Burton.
All of this depends on the development of players like Grayes and Burton, who came in as early enrollees in the 2022 class, but that fourth receiver spot behind Harrison, Julian Fleming (possibly) and Emeka Egbuka could be up for grabs as well.
FWIW: in his freshman season with the Buckeyes in 2019, Garrett Wilson recorded 30 receptions for 432 yards and five touchdowns.
It can be done.
Defensive backs ruled the weekend.
Outside of Inniss, Rodgers and the rest of the receivers on campus this weekend, the future of the defensive back room was on full display this weekend as well, bringing in cornerback target Jermaine Mathews Jr., safety Joenel Aguero and safety Jayden Bonsu to campus, who I talked to after his visit Sunday afternoon.
And what I got from Bonsu, which is really nothing new on an official visit like this, but remains a key part of its importance, is that defensive backs coaches Perry Eliano and Tim Walton, along with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, have a clear vision for what each player can bring to the roster.
“Coach Eliano laid it out very well to me and clearly about he sees me in the defense,” Bonsu said. “The bandit position compliments my versatility as a player so that is where they see me.”
That’s just one example for a defense that already has Cedrick Hawkins and Malik Hartford secured at safety in the 2023 class.
It’s unclear how many more defensive backs the Buckeyes are willing to take, even though it seems like they could be replacing as many as three starting safeties heading into the 2023 season, while the cornerback room gets younger and younger.
With a lot of targets visiting this weekend and players like Caleb Downs and Christian Gray set to visit next weekend, along with Hartford, the Buckeyes are focused on rebuilding its defensive backfield, one that has been known to generate NFL-ready talent in the past and one that has a brand new future with Walton and Eliano at the helm.
With all of the new faces and recruits, it seems like the two defensive backs coaches are trying to make their mark on the recruiting trail.
What does this weekend mean?
I’m not saying that last weekend wasn’t important, with guys like LB Derrion Gullette and QB Austin Novosad visiting.
But based on the names on campus this weekend, this was the first visit weekend that showed Ohio State pushing for its normal top-five recruiting class.
And it starts with Inniss: the guy who by himself can change a ranking, generating excitement and momentum in a class and leading to more high-profile signings. It’s something that can boost excitement and momentum in 2024 too, sensing that something special is being built at Ohio State, that the national brand of the Buckeyes continues to be felt outside of state lines.
This was the first weekend where Ohio State had something to show. And, based on the reaction of recruits on social media, it’s something the program put its best foot forward to try and do.
What’s up next?
Next weekend, the focus turns to the offensive line.
Specifically, it’s offensive tackle. Even more specifically: Olaus Alinen, who has become the Buckeyes’ main target on the outside. It’s the player that’s getting the attention of each of Ohio State’s current 2023 guard commits — Luke Montgomery, Joshua Padilla and Austin Siereveld — who are each expected to be at Ohio State next weekend.
Defense will also be a vital focus this next week with three linebacker targets expected to come to campus — Raul Aguirre, Troy Bowles and Tackett Curtis — along with multiple defensive linemen, Downs and Gray.
But Alinen seems to be the headliner here, the one focus that Ohio State really needs to wrap up at a position without a real amount of depth at this point.
If Justin Frye wants to continue to make his mark, if he wants to perfect his pitch to join the Buckeyes, it’s one Alinen will have to hear next weekend.
Let’s take a look at some NBA mock drafts heading into NBA Draft week.
It’s here: the week E.J. Liddell and Malaki Branham have been waiting for.
Where will they make their mark? Let’s take a look at some mocks ahead of the draft this Thursday.
Stadium
No. 16 Atlanta Hawks: Ohio State SG Malaki Branham
No. 19 Minnesota Timberwolves: Ohio State PF E.J. Liddell
Other picks of note
No. 1 Orlando Magic: Auburn PF Jabari Smith
No. 14 Cleveland Cavaliers: Kansas SG Ochai Agbaji
CBS
No. 15 Charlotte Hornets (from New Orleans Pelicans): Ohio State SG Malaki Branham
No. 20 San Antonio Spurs: Ohio State PF E.J. Liddell
Other picks of note
No. 1 Orlando Magic: Auburn PF Jabari Smith
No. 14 Cleveland Cavaliers: Kansas SG Ochai Agbaji
Yahoo Sports
No. 14 Cleveland Cavaliers: Ohio State SG Malaki Branham
Other picks of note
No. 1 Orlando Magic: Auburn PF Jabari Smith
NBC Sports
No. 18 Chicago Bulls: Ohio State PF E.J. Liddell
No. 19 Minnesota Timberwolves: Ohio State SG Malaki Branham
Other picks of note
No. 1 Orlando Magic: Auburn PF Jabari Smith
No. 14 Cleveland Cavaliers: Santa Clara SF Jalen Williams
What will this mean for the history of Ohio State basketball?
You’re going to be reading a lot about this next week.
In Ohio State’s history, 24 players have been drafted as first-round picks, last having one in 2015 when point guard D’Angelo Russell went No. 2 overall to the Los Angeles Lakers.
However, the Buckeyes have not had multiple first-round picks selected in the same draft since 2007, when Greg Oden (No. 1), Mike Conley (No. 4) and Daequan Cook (No. 21) were all selected in the first round.
Could Ohio State have a similar situation in the NBA Draft as the football team had at the NFL Draft, seeing two of its players selected back-to-back? We’ll see, but it very well could be possible.
Who could be next in line?
Simply, who knows?
Branham was thrust into the spotlight out of need and emerged as a first-round talent, along with Liddell, who many expected to pair with Justice Sueing as the two faces of Ohio State in the 2021-22 season.
And that’s where I think it would come in 2022-23 also.
While Tanner Holden, Sean McNeil and Isaac Likekele will find themselves playing incredibly important minutes for the Buckeyes next season, the ceiling for each of these players are realized. The NBA-level first-round talent would come from that 2022 class: Bruce Thornton, Brice Sensabaugh, Felix Okpara, Roddy Gayle Jr. and Bowen Hardman.
And based on the way Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann has talked about him, it seems like Sensabaugh’s the favorite here, providing a mismatch ability he said the Buckeyes really haven’t had in the post.
That’s all coming later and we really don’t know what these players will do in an Ohio State uniform. But I think that’s where Ohio State is going to find its next slate of NBA Draft picks, if it were to have something similar to Liddell and Branham next season, which will be incredibly hard to replicate.
Harry Miller is getting after it.
The former Ohio State offensive lineman is quickly becoming one of my favorite college football players.
His vulnerability and strength has impressed me all offseason. And even through all the attention that he’s been receiving and the voice that he’s been generating, he’s still finding time to work on himself.
The kid is still massive.
Good for him, truly. And I can’t wait to see what’s next for him.
Oh, and I can’t help it: “On your left.”
Finally, here it is: Your song of the week.
This band has really impressed me ever since my brother turned me onto them a few years ago.
American Aquarium combines the best parts of country music musically, for lack of a better term, with some of the best songwriting out there.
And the opening to their newest album is no different. Beautiful record from an awesome band.
See you on the board.
