Scarlet Sunrise: Buckeyes enter critical week of camp as season opener nears

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Buckeyes enter critical week of camp as season opener nears

Ohio State hasn’t lost sight of just how important the season-opening game will be.

But there’s still plenty of work to be done in the next 12 days before the date with Notre Dame actually arrives. The Buckeyes are entering a critical week of training camp ahead — the final week of preparations before it’s a game week for the first time since December-turned-January.

The new defensive scheme under Jim Knowles is still in the works. Ryan Day and the Buckeyes are trying to fine-tune their offense to make it even better than it was a year ago. The work still needs to be put in if the Buckeyes are going to win their top-five showdown against Notre Dame on Sept. 3.

With less than two weeks left until that game, it’s time for Ohio State to kick into gear. Expect it to happen as this week progresses — and game time nears.

Trio of Ohio State freshmen shed black stripes

Ohio State capped off another week of camp inside the Horseshoe on Saturday, and three freshmen earned a big honor for their progress this preseason. Defensive end Kenyatta Jackson, tailback Dallan Hayden and wide receiver Kyion Grayes all shed their black stripes for the Buckeyes, signaling that they are all three official members of the Ohio State football program.

They joined wide receiver Kaleb Brown, cornerback Jyaire Brown and linebacker C.J. Hicks as the freshmen who have lost their stripe during camp. Safety Kye Stokes and defensive end Caden Curry lost theirs in the spring after impressive camp sessions.

All three of the new Buckeyes to lose their black stripes, Jackson, Hayden and Grayes, are at positions of strength for Ohio State. It’s unknown if they’ll be able to find a role in their first season with the Buckeyes. But they certainly are making progress.

ICYMI: Former Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer returning to FOX pregame show

Ohio State has become a fixture for FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff games nearly each Saturday in the fall.

So now that Urban Meyer’s stint in the NFL is done, it only makes sense for FOX to bring him back onto the set for the network’s premier college football pregame show. Meyer is officially back for FOX Big Noon Kickoff pregame this fall, beginning just days from now. The network and major Big Ten TV partner announced the move Friday after much speculations and plenty of rumors.

Meyer hasn’t been the Ohio State coach since 2018, but he still can provide plenty to the booth on set about the Buckeyes and the entire college football landscape.

He’ll be back with a microphone in hand just days from now.

Counting down

Buckeyes season opener vs. Notre Dame: 12 days away

Ohio State vs. Michigan: 96 days away

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