• So much for that recruiting dead period -- the Buckeyes finally picked up their first 2014 pledge on Christmas morning with Cleveland Glenville OT Marcelys Jones.
• Jones, as the first pledge to the class, knows that means he's now a recruiter as well.
• 2014 QB DeShaun Watson says Ohio State is giving Clemson a big push in his recruitment.
• And perhaps no name is bigger than LB Raekwon McMillan, who maintains that Ohio State is his leader, with Clemson second.
• A safety from Texas collected an OSU offer, and safety Nick Glass, a soft Georgia commit for 2014, has plenty of Ohio State interest.
• WR DeMarre Kitt and RB Nick Chubb both have Ohio State on top as the Georgia juniors all are talking about the Buckeyes at an all-star game.
• Brad Bournival answers questions in this week's mailbag, leading off with the Buckeyes' 2014 strategy.
• Reid Fragel turned himself into a dominant run-blocker, and now the Buckeyes must replace him.
• The Buckeyes aren't rushing when it comes to offensive linemen in 2013 recruiting.
• Ohio State will lose one cornerback for sure in senior Travis Howard. Austin Ward also took a look at how the Buckeyes will try to replace linebackers Etienne Sabino and Justin Boren and defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins.
• OL Cameron Hunt of California is working on a visit just before signing day.
• The Buckeyes are being careful at linebacker, but have them high on their wish list. Their lack of an LB in the 2013 class is likely to change this week.
• And ESPN 300 athlete Ryan Timmons could figure in somewhere in this class as well.
• Ohio State got an A-plus on its report card from Big Ten blogger Brian Bennett. Hard to argue with 12-0.
• And we'll all see Meyer during ESPN's coverage of the title game, as he'll be on the set for analysis.

Football

• A homemade video of Buckeyes assistant Kerry Coombs talking to 2013 RB pledge Ezekiel Elliott and other recruits on campus could go viral. (YouTube)
• Ohio State freshman linebacker Noah Spence is one of nine sons who were home for Christmas. (Dispatch)
• The Buckeyes could be getting a transfer lineman if former Florida OL Matt Patchan comes to Columbus. (Gainesville Sun)
• Braxton Miller is working on that Heisman candidacy. (Plain Dealer)
• Doug Lesmerises counted down his top six Urban Meyer moments of 2012. (Plain Dealer)
• Eleven Warriors counted down their worst 11 moments, and the top 11 plays. (Eleven Warriors)
• Zach Boren said Meyer's practices fueled the perfect season. (Dispatch)
• And Terrelle Pryor will make his first start since the 2011 Sugar Bowl today. (Dispatch)

Basketball

• The Buckeyes improved to 10-2 with a rout of Chicago State.
• Ohio State replaced its playing floor, and it looks somewhat familiar. (Eleven Warriors)

The Gang's All Here

• With the NHL labor standoff still going, more than 10,000 hockey-starved fans watched a tournament the Buckeyes participated in. (OSU)