Ohio State will have a familiar face handling the Victory Bell before its game against Maryland: Malcolm Jenkins.
The Buckeyes announced Jenkins as this week’s bell ringer on social media, continuing the tradition they started last season of having former Ohio State standouts ring the bell before kickoff. The ritual may run a little counter to the whole idea of a “Victory” Bell, but it has quickly become part of the pregame routine in Columbus.
Jenkins fits the role as well as just about anyone. He was one of the most decorated players in Ohio State history, earning three All-Big Ten honors during his time with the Buckeyes. He was also named Second-team All-America and a Consensus All-American in consecutive years, and he capped his college career by winning the Jim Thorpe Award in 2008 as the nation’s top defensive back.
His résumé only grew after he left Columbus. Jenkins played 13 seasons in the NFL with two teams, won two Super Bowls, made three Pro Bowls and earned All-Pro honors twice.
The matchup itself should give Jenkins plenty to smile about. Ohio State is a massive favorite over Maryland, and this one could be in blowout territory by early in the second half.
That kind of game could also give the Buckeyes a chance to spread the field a bit and get some younger players meaningful snaps. With a couple of receivers questionable, Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd could see added opportunities.
On defense, this could be a chance for Khary Wilder to get extended run after not playing against Iowa. And at quarterback, Tavien St.
Clair may get another shot to show he can be the quarterback of the future after struggling in his other chances this season.
For Jenkins, the timing works out cleanly: a celebration, a family appearance, and likely a win to go with it. After this one, though, Ohio State heads right back into the gauntlet.
In Other News...
Former Ohio State Coach Brian Hartline Just Took A Brutal First Step Back
Brian Hartlines first months at South Florida had gone smoothly enough, with the former Ohio State offensive coordinator off to a 4-1 start before a stumble at UTSA snapped the momentum. The trip also came with a side note that got plenty of attention, after Hartline made comments about the noise inside the opponents stadium and then had those remarks revisited in a very public way once the game was over.
From Ohio States perspective, Hartlines next chapter is still part of the larger coaching tree story, but the Buckeyes have their own issues to sort out as the schedule rolls on. The offense has had trouble getting the rushing game where it needs to be, and while Hartline is now trying to settle in as a head coach, his rough first step back served as another reminder that the margins get small fast once conference and nonconference tests start to pile up. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Elite Passing Game Is Hiding A Bigger Running Back Issue
Ohio States passing game has been humming along at a level few teams in the country can match, but the ground game is carrying a very different kind of conversation. The Buckeyes sit 81st in rushing yards per attempt, a ranking that stands out for a team with this much offensive firepower and one that has had to lean on a rotating backfield rather than finding a clear weekly answer.
The workload has bounced among Ja'Kobi Jackson, Bo Jackson and Isaiah West, with true freshman Legend Bey also part of the early mix. Beys limited role has drawn attention because of questions around why his touches have thinned out, and while there has been speculation about professionalism concerns, nothing has been officially confirmed. For a team built to pressure defenses in every way, the bigger issue may be less about who is getting the carries and more about whether Ohio State has settled on the right one. [Read more 🡒]
Maryland Brings Coaching Drama And A Defense Ohio State Can Exploit
Maryland arrives with plenty of noise around the program, and not much of it has anything to do with what happens between the lines. The uncertainty around Mike Locksleys future has hung over the Terps for a while now, with the athletic director potentially waiting until after the bye week to make a call, and that backdrop only adds to the sense that Ohio State is catching Maryland at a tense moment. At the same time, the offensive side has slipped, with Malik Washingtons play trending down and the Terps searching for steadier footing.
There is still enough on the defensive front to make Maryland worth studying, especially along the line, where a few key pieces can flash and disrupt a game if the rest of the unit holds together. The problem, as Michael Howes pointed out, is that the tackling has not been dependable enough, and those misses have repeatedly undercut the defense. For Ohio State, that creates a familiar sort of opportunity, one that starts with pressure up front and can quickly turn into a longer afternoon for a defense already carrying too much uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]