Scarlet Sunrise: Buckeyes 2021 class aware of legacy stakes for The Game
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Buckeyes 2021 class aware of legacy stakes for The GameThe 2021 recruiting class has piloted the Buckeyes’ 11-0 season. A class that ranked second nationally, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Ranking, makes up one of the best Buckeyes defenses in recent history — and maybe ever — and it features some of the most iconic players this offense has seen since the turn of the century. That starts, of course, with Marvin Harrison Jr., who’s in the running to become just the fifth wide receiver all-time to win the Heisman Trophy.
But think about it.
Ohio State’s top-two leading wideouts, Harrison and Emeka Egbuka, are both from the 2021 class. The Buckeyes’ game-changing running back, TreVeyon Henderson, is also from the 2021 class. So are starting quarterback Kyle McCord and second-year starting left guard Donovan Jackson.
Ohio State’s top-two defensive ends, J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer — both former top-five overall prospects that cycle — are from the 2021 class. The Buckeyes’ best interior defensive linemen, Mike Hall Jr. and Tyleik Williams, are part of that group, too. As are standout cornerbacks Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock.
Don’t forget about punter Jesse Mirco, either.
“When you get more battles under your belt, you learn more and more, you become more veteran. And now they’re becoming that way,” Day said of the 2021 class earlier this season, ahead of a Week 9 trip to Wisconsin.
“It does make a difference when you have guys who played a lot of football. And I just think back on maybe some of the other teams we’ve had the last couple years. We’ve been talented but not as experienced. So, again, I’ve said this before, we’re going to count on that being a difference maker here.”
As talented, and now experienced, as that Buckeyes 2021 class is, it’s still a group that hasn’t beaten Michigan. They are 0-2 with a pair of double-digit defeats at the hands of the Wolverines.
Their first season was the season when the rivalry changed, woke up even. Ohio State had won eight in a row, and 17 of the last 19, in the series. Then came the back-to-back sobering losses.
“Yeah, we’re extra hungry,” Egbuka said matter-of-factly. “Obviously, everyone in my class, we feel like we can’t leave here without ‘Gold Pants.'”
An always-confident Burke said that, despite the stakes, there’s no pressure for his class. He emphasized that they just have to go out there in Michigan Stadium and play their game.
Burke admitted, though, that his blood boils when he thinks about the matchup.
“We just got to go out there and do our job man and really compete, play hard for each other,” he said. “We’re going to be the villain walking in there. This game is really just about respect for us, especially my class.
“The last two years we haven’t got it done. No ‘Gold Pants.’ So we just got to go out there and just be us.”
Beating Michigan is the standard at Ohio State. Every year.
The Buckeyes 2021 class, a cornerstone of Day’s now-five-year run as Ohio State head coach, is getting its third crack at reaching that standard this weekend.
They understand what’s on the line.
“I think we all go in there and debate in the locker room who has the best class. Who’s the best team?” Harrison said. “And probably the No. 1 question you have to ask is, ‘Did you beat The Team Up North?’
“It always starts there. That’s the deciding factor I would say on where your class ranks, as far as legacy wise, so I think that definitely matters.”
Harrison and Co. hope they have a different answer after Saturday afternoon.
Ohio State has spent all year rewriting the ‘story of explosive plays’ — now it’s working for the payoffAfter Ohio State allowed five touchdowns of 40-plus yards in last year’s embarrassing, 45-23 loss to Michigan, Buckeyes defensive coordinator called the letdown a “story of explosive plays.”
Ohio State worked tirelessly the last year to rewrite that story. The Buckeyes went from tied for 115th with 18 plays of 40 or more yards from scrimmage allowed last year to first nationally in that department with only one such play given up through 11 games this season.
“It’s a long process but extremely rewarding,” Knowles said Tuesday. “And we have to make it pay off for us this Saturday.”
For the full story, go here .
Four matchups that will decide The GameOhio State refers to its biggest games as “matchup games.” It’s won two of them this season, first at Notre Dame in Week 4 and then against Penn State in Week 8.
The pair of top-10 wins were determined by individual position-by-position matchups on the field.
Saturday’s game in Ann Arbor will be no different. Lettermen Row his highlighting four matchups in particular that will decide Ohio State-Michigan.
Spoiler: Two of them are about the trenches. Get our analysis here .
Ohio State opponent scout: Michigan reporter Clayton Sayfie breaks down WolverinesThe stage is set for another highly-anticipated, top-three showdown between Ohio State and Michigan.
Lettermen Row reached out to Michigan beat writer Clayton Sayfie of On3’s The Wolverine to learn more about this year’s Wolverines squad.
To get Sayfie’s Michigan insight, and score prediction, head on over here .
Counting downBuckeyes vs. Michigan: 2 days
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