OSU Buckeyes: Billy Price
Throughout the next few months, BuckeyeNation will look further into those juniors offered by Ohio State. We’ll give as much detail as we can and go behind the scenes to see why these Class of 2014 standouts are so attractive to the Buckeyes. Next on the list is defensive tackle Dylan Thompson, who hails from the same high school as former Buckeyes nose tackle Garrett Goebel.
Vitals: Dylan Thompson (Lombard, Ill./Montini Catholic) is 6-foot-5 and 274 pounds.
Status: He committed to Ohio State on March 23 during an unofficial visit.
Vitals: Dylan Thompson (Lombard, Ill./Montini Catholic) is 6-foot-5 and 274 pounds.
Status: He committed to Ohio State on March 23 during an unofficial visit.
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Ohio State practice floors Watch List DE 
April, 4, 2013
Apr 4
8:59
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By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
Ohio State is nothing new to ESPN Watch List defensive end Verondtae Wilkinson (Trotwood, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison), but the Buckeyes certainly opened his eyes on Thursday.
In town for an unofficial visit, Wilkinson thought he knew the ins and outs of Ohio State. His former teammate Cam Burrows is now a cornerback for the Buckeyes, so it should have been the same old same old right?
Wrong.
In town for an unofficial visit, Wilkinson thought he knew the ins and outs of Ohio State. His former teammate Cam Burrows is now a cornerback for the Buckeyes, so it should have been the same old same old right?
Wrong.
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State of the Rivalry: Defensive line
February, 26, 2013
Feb 26
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By Brad Bournival & Chantel Jennings | ESPN.com
The writers at WolverineNation and BuckeyeNation put their heads together to break down the rivals' 2013 recruiting classes. They'll give readers a position-by-position look at who coaches Brady Hoke and Urban Meyer signed and, ultimately, which class edged out the other. It's too early to say what will happen through the next few seasons, and we won't make any promises except that Hoke and Meyer are going to put talent on the field.
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Eric Francis/Getty ImagesOhio State will have to find a way to replace Johnathan Hankins.DEFENSIVE TACKLES
- Who's back: The void in the middle of the defensive line is substantial, but that doesn't mean it's likely to become a black hole for Ohio State as it transitions to life without Johnathan Hankins and Garrett Goebel. Losing a talent like Hankins early to the NFL draft was a major blow to the defense even if it was expected, and Goebel's senior season was quietly productive and steady even if it wasn't flashy as the combination of the two big guys plugged gaps and often made rushing up the middle a fruitless proposition for opponents. But there are talented guys in reserve up front, even if there doesn't appear to be all that much depth heading into spring practice. Michael Bennett and his versatile set of skills will be put to use on the interior, and junior Joel Hale and sophomore Tommy Schutt both have the ability to handle the first-team load after filling in off the bench a year ago. Those three guys will be the focal point, charged with picking up where Hankins and Goebel left off.
- New face: The Buckeyes have two recent signees already on campus and ready to go to work in the spring, though both are listed as defensive ends and don't appear to have the size needed to battle at the interior spots. But either way, Tracy Sprinkle (6-foot-2, 241 pounds) and Tyquan Lewis (6-foot-3, 223) could potentially allow line coach Mike Vrabel to tinker with his rotation a bit, particularly with somebody like inside-outside guy Adolphus Washington who is capable of playing multiple positions. Natural tackles Michael Hill, Joey Bosa, Billy Price and Donovan Munger will bulk up the group in August.
It’s a good bet Ohio State coaches will be burning up cyberspace this weekend as they read all about some of the big combines that take place during President’s Day weekend.
From the Core 6 Showcase on Sunday to the Best of the Midwest Combine on Monday, there will be some big names hitting camps in an effort to get noticed.
It all starts Saturday in Massillon, Ohio, however, where football is considered a 365-day sport.
In the shadows of a place where Paul Brown and Earle Bruce once coached the Massillon Tigers, some of the more well known athletes will file into the Paul L. David Athletic Training Center to do work at the SPARQ Combine.
It’s an 80,000-square foot facility -- 20,000 square feet larger than the Cleveland Browns' facility, incidentally -- that cost $3 million to build.
While the facility is impressive in and of itself, so are the players headed out to Massillon this weekend.
From the Core 6 Showcase on Sunday to the Best of the Midwest Combine on Monday, there will be some big names hitting camps in an effort to get noticed.
It all starts Saturday in Massillon, Ohio, however, where football is considered a 365-day sport.
In the shadows of a place where Paul Brown and Earle Bruce once coached the Massillon Tigers, some of the more well known athletes will file into the Paul L. David Athletic Training Center to do work at the SPARQ Combine.
It’s an 80,000-square foot facility -- 20,000 square feet larger than the Cleveland Browns' facility, incidentally -- that cost $3 million to build.
While the facility is impressive in and of itself, so are the players headed out to Massillon this weekend.
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Urban Meyer picked up his second junior in the trenches and raided Michigan again.
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We can almost put a bow on the 2013 recruiting class -- punter Johnny Townsend has not signed his letter of intent and is apparently having second thoughts -- and it was one of the best recruiting classes in school history.
The Buckeyes signed 24 players and finished third in the ESPN class rankings behind SEC powers Alabama and Florida, with 19 of the 24 signees at four stars or more.
Here's a recap of how the day unfolded. Follow the live blog after the jump.
Meyer building defensive line foundation
February, 5, 2013
Feb 5
10:05
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By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
Urban Meyer builds in the trenches to win championships.
One look at how Florida completely dismantled Ohio State from a defensive standpoint in the national championship game after the 2006 season shows the blueprint.
He piles up defensive linemen in recruiting and wears the competition into submission with a rotating front.
One look at how Florida completely dismantled Ohio State from a defensive standpoint in the national championship game after the 2006 season shows the blueprint.
He piles up defensive linemen in recruiting and wears the competition into submission with a rotating front.
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OL commit could be big for Buckeyes
January, 17, 2013
Jan 17
1:31
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By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
With Ohio State’s wide receiver outlook still up in the air for the Class of 2013, coming into town on an official visit Saturday is an offensive tackle who could calm the nerves of those worried about the trenches.
Cameron Hunt (Corona, Calif./Centennial) came in last weekend after an official visit to Michigan, but left without a commitment.
Now, it’s Dan Skipper’s turn.
Cameron Hunt (Corona, Calif./Centennial) came in last weekend after an official visit to Michigan, but left without a commitment.
Now, it’s Dan Skipper’s turn.
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OSU tops Michigan in final ESPN 150/300
January, 10, 2013
Jan 10
1:07
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By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
The Horseshoe isn’t the only place Ohio State beat Michigan this season, as the Buckeyes’ 2013 recruiting class is currently ahead of the Wolverines after the final ESPN 150 and 300 lists were released.
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Can Ohio State pledges nab more recruits?
January, 8, 2013
Jan 8
10:05
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By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
Marcus Baugh, Joey Bosa and Jalin Marshall have a tough act to follow this weekend.
The Ohio State commits have to try and at least equal what Ezekiel Elliott, Tracy Sprinkle, Tim Gardner, Cam Burrows, Billy Price, Evan Lisle, Darron Lee and Jayme Thompson did the first week of December.
The eight Buckeyes pledges were on hand for official visits a month ago along with Mike Mitchell, Donovan Munger, Gareon Conley and Tommy Sanders.
The Ohio State commits have to try and at least equal what Ezekiel Elliott, Tracy Sprinkle, Tim Gardner, Cam Burrows, Billy Price, Evan Lisle, Darron Lee and Jayme Thompson did the first week of December.
The eight Buckeyes pledges were on hand for official visits a month ago along with Mike Mitchell, Donovan Munger, Gareon Conley and Tommy Sanders.
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Nothing offensive about Ohio State's D-line
January, 2, 2013
Jan 2
10:05
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By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
Ohio State can’t forget it, now the Buckeyes want everyone to remember it.
Urban Meyer wins with a surplus of defensive linemen.
When he was coaching at Florida, Meyer rotated his men in the trenches more than a service station changes tires.
Urban Meyer wins with a surplus of defensive linemen.
When he was coaching at Florida, Meyer rotated his men in the trenches more than a service station changes tires.
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OSU being defensive about offensive line
December, 27, 2012
12/27/12
10:30
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By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
Ohio State swung and missed with two-time Michigan pledge David Dawson (Detroit/Cass Tech). Ditto for UCLA commit Kenny Lacy (Phoenix, Ariz./Mountain Pointe).
Next up are possibly California commit Cameron Hunt (Corona, Calif./Centennial), Tennessee pledge Dan Skipper (Arvada, Colo./Ralston Valley) or even Dylan Wiesman (Cincinnati/Colerain).
It’s not like the Buckeyes aren’t trying to shore up the trenches on the offensive line in the recruiting class of 2013. With only Evan Lisle (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville) and Tim Gardner (Indianapolis/Lawrence Central) as offensive linemen coming in as fresh faces next season, Ohio State is still looking.
Next up are possibly California commit Cameron Hunt (Corona, Calif./Centennial), Tennessee pledge Dan Skipper (Arvada, Colo./Ralston Valley) or even Dylan Wiesman (Cincinnati/Colerain).
It’s not like the Buckeyes aren’t trying to shore up the trenches on the offensive line in the recruiting class of 2013. With only Evan Lisle (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville) and Tim Gardner (Indianapolis/Lawrence Central) as offensive linemen coming in as fresh faces next season, Ohio State is still looking.
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BuckeyeNation recruiting mailbag
December, 21, 2012
12/21/12
10:00
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By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
It’s time to dip into the BuckeyeNation recruiting mailbag and answer some of your questions.
We’ll keep it at five a week to give everyone a shot.
We encourage you to send your questions by Twitter at @bbournival, e-mail at brad.bournival.espn@gmail.com or by posting a question in the Horseshoe Pit forum.
We’ll keep it at five a week to give everyone a shot.
We encourage you to send your questions by Twitter at @bbournival, e-mail at brad.bournival.espn@gmail.com or by posting a question in the Horseshoe Pit forum.
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Ohio State 2013 class: 5 things to learn
December, 19, 2012
12/19/12
9:05
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By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
It's roughly seven weeks until national signing day.
Ohio State’s recruiting class of 2013 has strangleholds defensively on the line and in the secondary. But there are still things the Buckeyes must learn on the fly.
With that in mind, here are five things the squad will probably need to be shored up or at least plugged up a bit in terms of the 2013 season.
Ohio State’s recruiting class of 2013 has strangleholds defensively on the line and in the secondary. But there are still things the Buckeyes must learn on the fly.
With that in mind, here are five things the squad will probably need to be shored up or at least plugged up a bit in terms of the 2013 season.
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ABOUT BUCKEYE NATION
Austin Ward
Austin Ward joined ESPN.com in 2012 after five years as a college football writer at the Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune and the Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel. The award-winning journalist lives with his wife in Columbus, Ohio. Email him at ajward.espn@gmail.com.
Brad Bournival
Brad Bournival, a lifetime Northeast Ohio resident, joined ESPN in 2012 and is the recruiting writer for BuckeyeNation. He has covered sports at the professional, college and high school level for 16 years. Recently, Bournival was a freelance writer for The Plain Dealer, The Medina Gazette and SportsInk.com. Email him at bradbournival.espn@gmail.com.