Scarlet Sunrise: Former Buckeyes lineman Andrew Norwell signs with Commanders
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Former Buckeyes lineman Andrew Norwell signs with Commanders
Another former Ohio State star offensive lineman is getting a lucrative free agent deal.
Former Buckeyes offensive lineman Andrew Norwell signed a two-year, $10 million deal with the Washington Commanders this week, according to Ben Standig from The Athletic. Norwell, who went from undrafted to All-Pro during his time with the Carolina Panthers, spent the last four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
But his contract with the Jaguars wasn’t extended, so he hit the open market and found a good landing spot with the Commanders.
Norwell has started 102 games and appeared in 103 during his long career in the NFL. He has been one of the most consistent lineman in the league. And the former Buckeyes star is heading to Washington to continue that career.
Ohio State advances to second round of NCAA Tournament
Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann immediately walked out to the mid-court logo inside PPG Paints Arena to greet the Buckeyes coming off the floor.
Early in the second half, the Buckeyes had just stretched their lead to double digits for the first time all game, and Loyola Chicago needed a timeout. Holtmann’s message to his team in that moment was clear and deliberate: “Settle down.”
The five on the floor were finally starting to find their way offensively Friday afternoon. They were getting stops on defense. And they were starting to wear on the Ramblers. The lead persisted throughout the rest of the second half as the Buckeyes certainly settled down and settled in for the first time all game.
Instead of tightening up, losing grip on a lead and faltering down the stretch, a common theme in losses this year, the No. 7 seed Buckeyes kept their distance from No. 10 seed Loyola Chicago, ultimately pulling out a gritty 54-41 first-round win to advance in the NCAA Tournament.
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READ: Buckeyes grind out sloppy first-round win, advance in NCAA Tournament
READ: Buckeyes ‘set rules,’ lock down defensively to move on in Big Dance
Lettermen Row’s Birm predicts Ohio State 2023 defensive haul
With just about two months of recruiting for the Buckeyes under their belts, how have the new coaches fared? The relationships have been built fast and thorough but to this point the only new defensive commitment to join the Ohio State 2023 class is Will Smith, Jr. He’s a Buckeyes legacy and lives just outside of Columbus, making his recruitment somewhat of a slam dunk.
What’s the rest of the 2023 class going to look like on defense? Admittedly, it’s a bit of a crapshoot right now especially as Ohio State prepares for a wild four-week stretch of recruiting visits that will shape the final picture far more than anything in the last two months has.
Lettermen Row’s Jeremy Birmingham is peeking ahead to Signing Day with an early projection of who he thinks will end up in the Ohio State recruiting class of 2023.
Don’t miss Birm’s picks.
READ: 2023 Class Prediction: New staff in spotlight in pivotal recruiting cycle
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