Scarlet Sunrise: K.J. Hill details message to Jaxon Smith-Njigba before Rose Bowl

Good morning, Ohio State fans, and welcome to the Scarlet Sunrise. Football will always be our focus, but every day we’ll cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Ohio State football, recruiting, basketball and more in Scarlet Sunrise.

K.J. Hill details message to Jaxon Smith-Njigba before Rose Bowl

Jaxon Smith-Njigba broke plenty of Ohio State and bowl records during his incredible 347-yard performance in the Rose Bowl.

Former Buckeyes wide receiver K.J. Hill, the program’s all-time receptions leader, would like to take some credit for Smith-Njigba torching Utah. Hill recently talked to Lettermen Row on the Buckeye Cruise for Cancer, and he detailed his message to Smith-Njigba ahead of that Rose Bowl.

“I told him, ‘[Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson are] not playing tomorrow, so it’s your show.,”‘ Hill said. “He took advantage of it. So I’m taking some credit for that.”

Hill also shared what he believes makes Smith-Njigba such a dangerous weapon for Ohio State — and what makes him good enough to maybe break Hill’s records.

“His yards after the catch. He’s always making people miss. When you’re in the slot, you’ve got may more people to make miss than if you’re outside. His explosiveness after the catch, I love that. … I love watching him. He’s a great player — and a great person, also.”

Ohio State beats Illinois for huge road win

As the clock continued to tick down, Ohio State grew more confident.

The Buckeyes busted the game open early in the second half, and they continued to pour on the offense. A team that viewed its trip to Illinois on Thursday night as more of an opportunity than a challenge didn’t back down. And they kept throwing knockout punches Illinois couldn’t recover from. Need any evidence Ohio State has what it needs to win big games in big moments? Statement: made.

No. 22 Ohio State 86, No. 15 Illinois 83.

Don’t look now, but the Buckeyes look like a team that can be dangerous in March, no matter who they play.

Behind a brilliant performance from freshman superstar Malaki Branham and a stout defensive effort on Illinois big man Kofi Cockburn, Ohio State silenced the packed State Farm Center crowd with a huge win to move ahead in the Big Ten standings and put the rest of the league on notice. The Buckeyes can beat anyone.

READ: Buckeyes hold off late Illinois rally for B1G statement win

ICYMI: Tim May Podcast

The offseason is in full effect at Ohio State. Storylines are slowing down and spring football is still a few weeks away.

But February isn’t time for the Tim May Podcast to stop breaking down every angle — past and present — of the Buckeyes program. So of course, Tim is back with another very special Ohio State guest.

Tim is excited to be joined by former Ohio State walk-on wide receiver Tyson Gentry, who suited up for the Buckeyes for two seasons in 2005 and 2006 as a punter and scout team receiver who suffered a career-ending injury during spring practice with the Buckeyes.

Tim and Tyson talk about a variety of topics, including the time Tyson spent with the Buckeyes — and what the wide receivers will look like under Brian Hartline next season after losing the top two players in their room from a year ago.

Gentry, whose father also played for the Buckeyes back in the 1970s, has plenty to say about Ohio State and how the university changed his life. The life-long Ohio State fan and former player breaks down plenty in the newest Tim May Podcast.

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