The Scarlet and Gray

[James]

Quality is just as good or better as it was before. Absolutely incredible work.

The recruiting updates are S tier just how I remember them being in your Tennessee chise.

[Caesar]

I’m guessing it’s natty or bust for you to start things off? If so, big expectations on whichever quarterback you go with

[toysoldier00]

The disrespect putting Texas and Penn State ahead of you from the jump. Gotta correct that right off rip against the Longhorns.

The Media falling in love with a guy named Manning, who could've seen that coming.

Ohio state will always have the talent. The question is only about Ryan Day and the play calling in big games.

Yep, even in this game. I hate the Ohio State playbook.

Penn State smh

College Football fans haven't adjusted to the new reality of the sport yet, where teams can just crash and fall off a cliff at any moment. Happened to Florida State last year.

Following man, this looks great.

Honored to have you from the beginning.

Quality is just as good or better as it was before. Absolutely incredible work.

The recruiting updates are S tier just how I remember them being in your Tennessee chise.

Only want to be better this time around.

I’m guessing it’s natty or bust for you to start things off? If so, big expectations on whichever quarterback you go with

Year one is probably the best National Title chance I'll get, especially with the ratings updates that reflect how well Ohio State has played this year.

[toysoldier00]

Landing Teion Cherry II Was the Statement Ohio State Needed in the 2026 Class
By Blake London on August 12, 2025





By the time Ohio State received Teion Cherry II’s commitment in late July, there was already a sense inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center that this recruitment meant more than just adding the state’s top prospect. It was about resetting momentum, protecting the foundation of the class, and proving that Ohio’s best players still see Columbus as the destination.

Cherry, the talented cornerback who grew up in Sidney before moving to Huber Heights ahead of high school, has been on Ohio State’s radar since he was a freshman. At 6-foot-1 with elite burst, smooth footwork, and legitimate two-way ability, he established himself early as one of the most gifted players in the Midwest. Some schools recruited him as a wide receiver. Others viewed him as a defensive chess piece. Nearly all agreed he was one of the best prospects in the 2026 cycle.

He enters his senior year as the favorite to win Ohio’s Mr. Football award, a projected top-40 player nationally and the clear No. 1 prospect in the state. And in a year where Ohio State needed to land multiple corners, securing Cherry was both essential and symbolic.

Ohio State Needed Corners — and Needed Cherry Most

Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting blueprint called for a large defensive back haul. With turnover expected in the secondary over the next two seasons, the staff wanted at least three cornerbacks. The state of Ohio cooperated, producing three four-star corner prospects in Cherry, Orlando Clutts (Toledo Central Catholic), and Greg Newton (Pickerington Central). And then the spring happened.

Clutts committed to Notre Dame in April. Newton followed the same path a few weeks later. Not only were the Buckeyes missing on two in-state targets, they were losing them to a direct rival. Even if the staff saw the Newton recruitment trending away, missing on both stung, especially in a cycle where the board behind them was thin. Suddenly, Cherry wasn’t just a top priority, he became the priority.

Defensive backs coach Tim Walton and Ryan Day responded accordingly. They didn’t panic, and they didn’t shift to national fallback options. They doubled down on Cherry, making him the centerpiece of the defensive back class and emphasizing the opportunity to be the cornerstone of Ohio State’s next generation of corners. The pitch landed. And when Cherry committed, the mood inside the program was equal parts relief and validation.
This was the win Ohio State had to have.

Why Cherry Fits the Modern Ohio State Blueprint

There’s the on-field evaluation, and that part is easy. Cherry has the hips, length, and top-end speed to stay on the field from day one. He’s physical at the line, smooth in transition, and has the natural ball skills that can’t be taught. He could play wide receiver for most Power 5 programs, which says a lot about how complete he is as an athlete.

But the off-field fit is just as important, and arguably more valuable in today’s college football landscape. Ohio State wants to build classes with players who will actually stay. The portal era has reshaped roster construction, forcing programs to weigh factors like distance from home, personality fit, and stability as part of the evaluation. Players from Ohio, especially those who grew up dreaming of playing in scarlet and gray, have historically stayed longer, bought in deeper, and allowed the program’s development machine to work.

That is the model Ohio State trusts. Cherry fits it perfectly. He is the kind of in-state cornerstone who isn’t likely to transfer because of homesickness or frustration, because being a Buckeye is part of his identity. It’s the same archetype as players like Malik Hooker, Cameron Brown, or even Denzel Burke, high-ceiling guys who needed time, stayed committed, and became multi-year starters. In an era where roster churn is nearly impossible to control, players like Cherry are the ones who stabilize a program.

Why It Matters Moving Forward

Ohio State is still searching for one more cornerback in the 2026 cycle. They will reset the board, scout senior seasons, and possibly expand the search nationally. But building around Cherry, and South Carolina native Tremayne Shepley, who committed just a few days after Cherry, gives the staff a headliner they trust, someone who is both talented enough to play early and grounded enough to develop on schedule.

In a recruiting class already shaped by portal realities, coordinator changes, and positional urgency, Cherry stands out not just as a prospect, but as a stabilizer.

He is the kind of Ohio kid who grows up wanting this stage, embraces it fully, and stays long enough for the development to pay off. In the modern era, that might be the most valuable trait of all.

And for Ohio State, who needed a statement at cornerback, Teion Cherry II delivered exactly that.

[ShireNiner]

Great signing, a leader at the back, pair him with a linebacker leader and you have the key spots to rebuild/retool a defense.

[djp73]

Nice recruiting article and looks like a legit baller too

[Soapy]

a bit of inside baseball here but are you landing these recruits before the season or just retroactively writing it as if they committed? i haven't gotten a lot of week 0 commitments

[toysoldier00]

Great signing, a leader at the back, pair him with a linebacker leader and you have the key spots to rebuild/retool a defense.

Got the linebacker too, I'm pretty excited about the second and third level of this class on defense.

Nice recruiting article and looks like a legit baller too

Future NFL I guy I'm hoping. Need the dev. trait to match the ranking haha.

a bit of inside baseball here but are you landing these recruits before the season or just retroactively writing it as if they committed? i haven't gotten a lot of week 0 commitments

I'm pretty far ahead of what I've posted so far. Figured changing the timing in recruiting to make it a more accurate reflection of real life is best for the presentation.

[toysoldier00]

Ryan Day Provides Clarity on Several Key Position Battles, Says QB Decision Is Coming “In the Next Few Days”
By Zachary Anderson on August 13, 2025





Ohio State wrapped up its Wednesday practice before Ryan Day's weekly press conference, and while the Buckeyes still have several starting jobs to settle before the season opener against Texas, Wednesday offered the clearest picture yet of how the defending national champions are shaping up. The headline, as always, centered on the quarterback battle. Day didn’t name a starter, but he did narrow the field.

“It’s going to be Julian or Lincoln,” Day said. “Both of those guys have had really strong camps. Tavien is coming along, and we love what we’re seeing from him, but right now the competition is between those two. And we’ll make the call in the next few days.”

With that, Day effectively confirmed what had been trending behind the scenes: true freshman Tavien St. Clair, despite his size, skill, and long-term potential, is not part of the immediate equation. The starting job will belong to either third-year quarterback Lincoln Kienholz, whose athleticism has consistently flashed, or sophomore Julian Sayin, the former five-star whose accuracy and processing ability have impressed since he arrived on campus. But Wednesday wasn’t just about quarterbacks. Ohio State finally provided answers at two of the most vocal position battles on the roster, linebacker and left tackle, while the staff continues to evaluate heated competitions in the secondary.

Reese Locks Down Linebacker Spot Opposite Sonny Styles
One of the least surprising announcements of the day involved sophomore linebacker Arvell Reese, who officially locked down the starting linebacker job next to veteran Sonny Styles.

Ohio State expects to play a two-linebacker defense the vast majority of the season, relying heavily on nickel and safety-heavy looks. Reese has impressed the staff since last season and flashed repeatedly throughout the spring and fall camp.

“Arvell just plays fast,” Day said. “He sees it, he reacts, and he’s physical. He’s taken a big step.”

With the front seven losing players like Cody Simon, Jack Sawyer, and Tyleik Williams, Ohio State needs new faces to emerge. Reese has done exactly that.

Siereveld Wins LT Job in Surprise Move
The biggest surprise of the afternoon came when Day announced that redshirt junior Austin Siereveld had won the starting left tackle job. That decision, frankly, was not expected by most observers. Siereveld has been in the program for three years, arriving as a powerful interior-line prospect. But he reshaped his body, improved his footwork, and quietly climbed the depth chart. Day said his consistency carried the staff’s confidence.

“Austin has been one of the most improved players in camp,” Day said. “He’s earned it. His protection numbers have been excellent, and he’s given us confidence that he can handle that role.”

The move also means the battle for right tackle becomes even more important, with Ethan Onianwa, the transfer tackle from Rice, and Phillip Daniels, the Minnesota transfer who brings Big Ten starting experience, competing for that spot. Day said both had “starter-level camp performances” and that the competition may continue into next week.

Slot Corner Battle “Too Close to Call”
Perhaps the most competitive position on the roster remains slot corner. The Buckeyes are evaluating three candidates with drastically different experience levels and skill sets: fifth-year senior Lorenzo Styles Jr., who returned to the secondary after beginning his career at Notre Dame as a wide receiver; sophomore Aaron Scott Jr., a former top-50 recruit; and true freshman Devin Sanchez, one of the crown jewels of the 2024 recruiting class. Day said Wednesday yielded little separation.

“All three are playing at a high level,” Day said. “That one may go right up to game week. Lorenzo has the experience, Aaron has made a big jump, and Devin is as talented as any freshman we’ve had.”

Ohio State has the luxury of rotating at the spot if needed early in the season. With Texas and Washington looming in the first month, the staff would certainly prefer clarity, but not at the expense of forcing a decision prematurely.

Safety Competition Still Wide Open
The other heated secondary battle is at safety, where Day said no starters have been identified. Juniors Malik Hartford, sophomore Jayden McClain, and true freshman Faheem Delane are all competing for two spots.

“Those guys are pushing each other,” Day said. “Malik brings experience, Jayden has had a really strong offseason, and Faheem is one of the most physically mature freshmen we’ve had. We’ll keep evaluating.”

Given Ohio State’s expected reliance on three-safety packages, all three players are likely to see meaningful snaps early in the season. But determining which two take the field alongside Caleb Downs against Texas remains one of the final major questions of camp.

Decision Time
As for the quarterback race, Day made clear that a conclusion is coming.

“We don’t want this dragging on,” Day said. “We want the team to get behind the guy, and we want that guy to have the reps he needs going into game week.”

Ohio State opens the season in just over two weeks with AP No. 1 Texas arriving in Columbus for one of the biggest Week 1 games in recent memory. Day knows the Buckeyes won’t have the luxury of easing into the schedule.

Wednesday’s press conference didn’t finalize every depth chart spot, but it narrowed the questions, and made one thing certain: Ohio State is nearly ready to name its quarterback. And once that domino falls, the rest of the season will come into focus quickly.

[ShireNiner]

Nice breakdown of the positions. A two linebacker set is what I have been playing around with recently as well due to the lack of LB depth.

How are you deciding who wins the battles? Just basing it off ratings and who fits your style better, not necessarily the overall, or are you doing practices and seeing who "feels" better playing with?