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Scarlet Sunrise: Former Ohio State OT Chris Ward to be inducted into College Football Hall of Fame

IMG_7408by:Andy Backstrom•01/09/24•

andybackstrom

Chris Ward courtesy of Ohio State Athletics
Photo courtesy of Ohio State Athletics

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Former Ohio State OT Chris Ward to be inducted into College Football Hall of Fame

Chris Ward is set to become the latest Ohio State alum to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. The National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Football Hall of Fame announced Monday that the former Buckeyes offensive tackle is part of the 2024 class.

Ward was a four-year letterman, and two-time All-American, for legendary Ohio State coach Woody Hayes from 1974-77. Along the way, he won at least a share of the Big Ten title four years in a row. Plus, he played in two Rose Bowls, an Orange Bowl and a Sugar Bowl.

Ohio State will now have 28 members in the NFF and College Football Hall of Fame. The program’s most recent inductees are safety Mike Doss (2022), running back Keith Byars (2020) and linebacker Tom Cousineau (2016).

Ward made 44 appearances for the Buckeyes. He started 36 straight games, and that streak overlapped with the 1975 season, during which running back Archie Griffin won his second Heisman Trophy.

The New York Jets took Ward with the No. 4 overall pick in the 1978 NFL Draft. His NFL career spanned 100 total games across seven seasons between 1978-84.

Ward and the rest of the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame class will be inducted on Dec. 10 at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Michigan wins national championship, puts even more pressure on Buckeyes

Michigan won its first national title since 1997 with a 34-13 victory over Washington Monday night in Houston’s NRG Stadium.

The game was closer than the score suggested. After sprinting out to a 17-3 lead, Michigan led by just seven points at halftime. That remained true heading into the fourth quarter.

But the Wolverines ultimately pulled away in the final frame. Of course, the NCAA investigation into Michigan’s sign-stealing operation is ongoing, and there’s uncertainty about the futures of both head coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback J.J. McCarthy — both could go to the NFL this year — but Michigan stood atop the college football world Monday night.

That puts even more pressure on Ohio State to snap its three-game losing streak to the Wolverines, win the program’s first Big Ten title since 2020 and win its first national championship since 2014.

DT Ty Hamilton announces return, former Ole Miss RB Quinshon Judkins commits to Ohio State

Ohio State did get some good news Monday.

Defensive tackle Ty Hamilton announced that he’s returning for the 2024 season, what will be his fifth year with the Buckeyes. Hamilton is the third draft-eligible Ohio State defensive lineman to reveal he’s coming back for next season.

Plus, the Buckeyes reeled in former Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins from the transfer portal. Judkins — who piled up the most rushing touchdowns (15) of any SEC player this season — visited Ohio State this weekend and announced his commitment right after Michigan’s national title victory.

For more on Hamilton’s return, go here.

For more on Judkins’ commitment, go here.

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Perry Eliano won’t return as Buckeyes safeties coach in 2024

Ohio State made a change to its defensive staff Monday. The Buckeyes parted ways with safeties coach Perry Eliano, who spent the last two seasons with the program under coordinator Jim Knowles.

Eliano oversaw the development of Ohio State’s safeties, namely that of Lathan Ransom, Josh Proctor and Sonny Styles. That trio performed quite well in 2023.

But where Eliano lagged was the recruiting department. Of the five safeties he signed the last two cycles, none were ranked inside the top 100 in the On3 Industry Rankings. Just one — Malik Hartford — was ranked inside the top 250.

For the full story on Eliano not returning for 2024, head on over here.

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Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Akron: 235 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 326 days

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