Training camp continues on Thursday. Get live updates from Berea throughout the morning.

BEREA, Ohio -- The Browns are back at it on Thursday. Training camp continues as the team moves closer to the start of the 2015 season.

Practice is open to the public. However, all tickets for training camp practices have been distributed. Practice runs from 9:30 a.m. until noon with coach and player availability after.

The high on Thursday is expected to be 78 degrees with mostly cloudy skies. Temperatures will start in the upper 60s during practice and hit mid-70s by the time practice is over.

Get updates from Day 7 of camp here from Browns reporters Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed, among others. I'll also be tweeting updates throughout practice.

Tweets from https://twitter.com/clevelanddotcom/lists/browns-training-camp

Browns linebacker Barkevious Mingo will have a scope today on his knee to repair a torn meniscus and will be out about 2-4 weeks. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns linebacker Barkevious Mingo will undergo arthroscopic surgery Thursday to repair a torn meniscus in his knee, a league source told Northeast Ohio Media Group.

The Browns later confirmed that Mingo is having a minor knee surgery.

The 2013 No. 6 overall pick underwent an MRI Wednesday, which revealed the tear.

Mingo was at the Browns facility Wednesday morning when he felt some stiffness in the knee and remained inside. It's another setback in his young career. As a rookie, Mingo suffered a bruise lung in preseason and sat out the opener. Last year, he gutted it out through the torn labrum and played with a harness on the shoulder all season.

He underwent surgery to repair the shoulder in the offseason, and was limited to 7-on-7s in a red caution jersey throughout offseason practices and minicamp. But he was looking good in training camp before the knee issue cropped up and took up defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil's challenge to him to battle for playing time.

"That's one of the main things the coaches this year harped on,'' Mingo said at the start of camp. "They wanted to bring in more competition at the position. We brought in guys at every position to make sure that the best players play and you can't just make your way through practices. You have to compete and earn your job.  That's going to help us.''

Mingo will compete for time with the likes of Scott Solomon, who's been starting opposite Paul Kruger, and second-round pick Nate Orchard. Armonty Bryant is also a candidate for linebacker reps this year.
 
"When we came out of training camp last year, we thought Mingo was one of our best outside 'backers,'' O'Neil said in May. "We all know about the (shoulder) injury he suffered in play two of the season. He is going to have to compete for playing time on early downs. He's going to have a role in our sub-packages.

"No one is guaranteed anything on the defense. Joe Haden knows that, Donte Whitner knows that and Karlos Dansby knows that. You're going to have to earn playing time. We're deep in every position group. Mingo is going to have to come back ready to go, and he's going to have to earn it."

O'Neil made it clear that Mingo's first-round pedigree wouldn't be a factor.

"We don't care where you were drafted, when you were drafted, how much you're getting paid,'' said O'Neil. "The best 11 guys and the guys who earn their roles are the guys who are going to play."

Mingo, who's been working mostly with the second team, is still slated for a coverage role, but hopes to get opportunities to rush the passer. First of all, though, he has to make sure the knee is right.

On the field, Terrelle Pryor was one of Ohio State's greatest players. Off the field, through his own fault and those of OSU officials, he was a great problem.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The best explanation for the conflicted legacy of Terrelle Pryor at Ohio State might be that he was simply in the wrong place and the wrong time.

That does not merely mean the wrong position for the close-to-great college quarterback who wasn't equipped to play the position in the NFL or for the tattoo parlor to which he led teammates in the scandal that sank Pryor's senior season and Jim Tressel's coaching career.

Was any place the right place?

Was Ohio State the wrong place for Pryor to develop the "moral censor," or conscience, of which Tressel spoke when the scandal broke?

Was Pryor's era the wrong time as far as it preceded the start of legal NCAA payments to athletes?

Pryor, now trying to make the Browns as a wide receiver after bouncing around the NFL as a quarterback since he left Ohio State under a cloud in 2011, was scheduled to make his first appearance at the Horseshoe since his junior season with the Buckeyes in Friday night's Orange and Brown Scrimmage. A hamstring pull, however, has made him doubtful for it.

Scandal

Pryor's reception from Columbus fans would have been interesting.

It might have changed since the overheated days of the comparatively trivial scandal, particularly since Urban Meyer took the reins of the program in 2012, after a 6-7 season, promptly went 38-3 in the next three seasons and coached the Buckeyes to the national championship in January in the inaugural College Football Playoff.

In the tattoos-for-memorabilia sale, Pryor had to repay $2,500 in illegal benefits. It is not a life-altering amount. 

Far more sordid scandals have erupted elsewhere since Pryor was the Buckeyes quarterback. Nothing any player did at Ohio State nor even the lie Tressel told the NCAA to gain a competitive advantage with ineligible players can remotely compare to the predations of convicted child molester and former football assistant coach Jerry Sandusky at Penn State.

The fact that Pryor's five-game college suspension carried over to the NFL was ridiculous, given the ugliness of the scandals at Penn State, Miami (Florida), Auburn and North Carolina.

Pryor and Miller

On the field, Pryor, even with his side-armed passes that dived toward at the feet of rangy tight end Jake Ballard on crossing routes, was one of Ohio State's great players. He had a 31-4 record as a starter; he quarterbacked three Ohio State teams that either won or shared Big Ten championships on the field; he was the Most Valuable Player of two BCS bowl games; he put up numbers comparable to Braxton Miller in Meyer's "hit' em where they ain't" spread formation and did so in Tressel's more conservative offense,.

Miller was rushed into the starting lineup before he was ready after Pryor's defection to the NFL.

In 2010, Pryor's last season at quarterback at OSU, he played 13 games, completed 65 percent of his passes for 2,770 yards with 27 touchdowns and 11 interceptions and ran for 754 yards at a 5.6-yard average for four TDs. He amassed 3,526 yards of total offense.

Miller who missed two full games and most of a third in his last full season at quarterback in 2013, threw for 2,094 yards at 63.5 percent completion rate for 24 TDs and seven interceptions. He ran for 1,068 yards at a 6.2 clip and 12 TDs. Miller had 3,152 yards of total offense.

At 6-5, 235 with long, gliding strides and a stiff-arm like a piston, Pryor did not "stick his nose in there" to get the tough yards, as the similar-sized Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton did at Auburn in 2010.

On Pryor's most memorable play at Ohio State, a fourth-and-10, cross-field scramble from midfield for a 13-yard gain to save the Iowa game in 2010, he juked and feinted at the first down sticks, rather than bulling forward to reach them, as Glenville's powerful Cardale Jones did in the recent postseason.

The death of Joe Daniels

Pryor was the epitome of the great college player whose game was based on athletic ability, on size and speed, not on skills and technique, which are paramount in the NFL.

Pryor's progress at quarterback was retarded when the respected Joe Daniels had to leave the Buckeyes program in what became a losing fight against cancer. As quarterbacks coach, Daniels helped turn Glenville's Troy Smith, the 2006 Heisman winner, from a scrambling quarterback into one who thrived in the pocket. Daniels' replacement, Nick Siciliano, was badly overmatched.

Tangible vs. intangible

For all his physical gifts, Pryor was never a captain at Ohio State, or very close to being named one.

By the end, because of his leading role in the tattoos scandal, he was a magnet for fans' unhappiness.

He was not well liked in the locker room either.

He did not have the intangibles of leadership, which Miller painstakingly acquired in the seminars Meyer prescribed for him.

Pryor lacked any inclination to defer gratification, tooling around campus in a series of impressive automobiles and taking what he could in return for signing his name to memorabilia. Intangibles are more important for a quarterback than any other position. Pryor was far more into tangibles he could see, touch and drive.

The no-doubt national championship

When Ohio State signed Pryor, who was the No. 1 prospect in the country out of Jeannette, Pa., Texas coach Mack Brown's said he didn't think there was "any doubt" Ohio State would win a national championship with the quarterback.

The clock was running out on both Tressel and Pryor. Ohio State had lost three straight BCS games, two of them embarrassing routs in national championship contests, before Pryor broke through in the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl in his final two seasons. It still wasn't enough.

A muted performance in the only loss in 2010 at Wisconsin (14 for 28 for 156 yards passing with one interception, 18 runs for 56 yards for a 3.1 average) knocked Ohio State from the top spot in the polls. The Buckeyes never climbed high enough after that to qualify for the championship game.

Fixing the "brand"

When news of the tattoos scandal broke, Ohio State leaders, television network executives and Sugar Bowl officials struck a cynical bargain to let the wrong-doers play against Arkansas.

During the controversy, Tressel abandoned his role as disciplinarian, telling a player (assumed to be Pryor, although the name was redacted in Tressel's testimony before the NCAA's Committee on Infractions): "If you want to fix your brand, you should step up and say, 'I'm not playing in this (the Sugar Bowl) game' rather than putting it on me."

Such a moral burden falls on coaches, though. Significantly, Tressel appealed, to Pryor's selfish interests, to his "brand" in the eyes of the NFL executives, rather than simple right or wrong.

It was an appeal that never had a chance. Players, given the opportunity, will always choose to play.

Pryor was a kid, even if he did already have a man's body, when he was at Ohio State. He did foolish things and made selfish mistakes.

But the school also did not mentor or discipline him effectively.

Pryor will always be a villain to some fans at Ohio State.  He was also a victim,  in the sense that the favoritism he enjoyed encouraged his disregard of the rules.

Eventually, the entitled player and the coach who enabled him were sacrificed to save the program.

Rookie right-hander Cody Anderson has struggled since the All-Star break.

Where: Progressive Field.

Who: The Twins vs. Indians, Friday through Sunday.

TV/Radio: SportsTime Ohio, WTAM AM/1100 and WMMS FM/100.7 will carry the series.

Pitching matchups: RHP Mike Pelfrey (5-7, 3.64) vs. RHP Cody Anderson (2-3, 3.38) Friday at 7:10 p.m.; RHP Ervin Santana (2-2, 3.89) vs. RHP Trevor Bauer (8-8, 3.98) Saturday at 7:10 p.m. and RHP Phil Hughes (10-7, 4.14) vs. RHP Corey Kluber (6-12, 3.60) Sunday at 1:10 P.M.

Season Series: The Twins lead the Indians, 4-2. Overall, the Indians lead, 403-379.

Friday: Anderson will be making his first career appearance against the Twins. He's 0-2 and has allowed 14 earned runs on 24 hits in in 14 1/3 innings over three starts since the All-Star break.

Pelfrey is 0-5 in his last nine starts. Two of his five wins this year have come against the Indians. He's 2-1 with a 2.65 ERA in six career appearances against them.

Saturday: Bauer is 0-3 with a 4.91 ERA in his last four starts. He's 0-1 against the Twins this year and 0-3 with a 6.07 ERA in his career. Oswaldo Arcia is hitting .500 (5-for-10) with four homers and seven RBI against Bauer.

Ervin Santana has lost two straight starts. He's 3-9 against the Indians in his career with a no-hitter to his credit. Carlos Santana is hitting .263 (5-for-19) with one homer one RBI against the Twins right-hander.

Sunday: Kluber is 2-2 since the All-Star break, allowing 15 earned runs and striking out 20 in 29 1/3 innings. He's 4-2 in his career against the Twins including a no- decision this year. Trevor Plouffe is hitting .321 (9-for-28) with two homers and seven RBI against Kluber.

Hughes is 6-1 in his last nine starts. He's 1-1 against the Tribe this year and 5-2 with a 3.41 ERA in his career. Roberto Perez is hitting .556 (5-for-9) with one homer and one RBI.

Overall: The Indians are coming off a 3-4 West Coast trip against the A's and Angels in which they scored 16 runs, an average of 2.3 per game. The Twins have lost four straight and nine of their last 11 games headed into Thursday night's game against Toronto.

Injuries: Twins - CF Byron Buxton (left thumb), LHP Tommy Milone (left elbow), RHP Ricky Nolasco (right ankle) and RHP Ryan Pressly (right lat) are on the disabled list. Indians - 2B Jason Kipnis, LHP Nick Hagadone (left elbow, back), DH Nick Swisher (knees), RHP Gavin Floyd (right elbow) and RHP Josh Tomlin (right shoulder) are on the disabled list.

Next: The Yankees visit Progressive Field for a three-game series starting Tuesday night.

The Cleveland Browns hold their Orange and Brown Scrimmage this evening at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. Tom Reed takes a look at 5 players who have the most to gain.

He's suspended for the first game of the year but the unanimous All-American is still our top guy as the best player in the conference this season. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The running countdown of the Northeast Ohio Media Group's top 50 Big Ten football players for the 2015 season.

No. 1, Joey Bosa, Ohio State

Junior defensive end, 6-foot-6, 275 pounds

* On Twitter: @jbbigbear

* See players No. 50 through No. 31

* See players No. 30 through No. 11

* See players No. 10 through No. 1 

* What he's done: Made the president shrug. A unanimous first-team All-American, National Champion and projected No. 1 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Bosa has charged through college football in just two seasons. He turned his post-sack shrug into enough of a signature move that Barack Obama flashed it during the Buckeyes' White House visit.

What he hasn't done is stay out of trouble enough to allow himself to play in the Buckeyes' opener against Virginia Tech. He's the standout of the four players under one-game suspensions for team violations. Bosa's father said he backed the suspension, which Urban Meyer said was decided by athletic department policy. 

Bosa hasn't won a major individual national award yet, though he was the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year last season. But he may not only be the best player in the Big Ten, he might be the best defensive player in the country, or even the best player in the college game.

His choice for No. 1 on this list was made before his suspension was announced. But there's little reason that would change anything, even though you voted for Ezekiel Elliott No. 1 when we asked this week. He beat Bosa 50 percent to 41 percent. 

But Bosa was more consistently dominant over the course of last season and still has even more to do this season. He ranked fourth in the nation with 13.5 sacks last season. And he's the kind of guy who can almost win a game himself. 

* How he got here: Defensive ends grow in Bosa's family. His father, John, was a first-round NFL Draft pick, as was his mother's brother, Eric Kumerow, a former Buckeye. That draw was enough to help pull Bosa to Columbus from his home in Fort Lauderdale, where he was the No. 37 overall recruit in the Class of 2013 in the 247sports.com composite rankings.

The draw was enough to help pull his younger brother Nick as well. Ranked even higher as a high school defensive end, the five-star recruit has pledged to Ohio State's 2016 class, with their dad saying he wouldn't want his sons playing anywhere else.

* What's ahead: First Bosa and the Buckeyes have to get past the suspension. The team likes Tyquan Lewis at the other defensive end spot and Jalyn Holmes and Sam Hubbard as future all-conference players replacing him in week one. Bosa will have no further consequences when he returns, so he can get back to keeping containment while still seeking big plays. And we'll see if any comparisons to NFL superstar J.J. Watt actually make sense.

Bosa will certainly leave for the NFL after this junior season. The question is whether he really goes out as the best player in the conference, or maybe even more.

Elsewhere

* Where did the sack shrug come from?

* The story of Bosa's rise from Florida to Columbus

Check out these five high school sports headlines from cleveland.com that are worth another look.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The fall 2015 high school sports season officially kicked off Thursday with the start of interscholastic competition in boys and girls golf.

While fall sports practices are also underway in soccer, field hockey, volleyball, tennis, cross country and football, here are a few of Thursday's stories from cleveland.com that are worth another look.

1. Former Garfield Heights basketball star Tony Farmer will play for Lincoln College following his June 5 release from prison. Farmer was convicted of kidnapping, robbery, felonious assault and other crimes against his ex-girlfriend stemming from an April 2012 incident. Now, Farmer is expected to speak Saturday at the second annual "signing day" pledge for Cleveland high school athletes against sexual assault and violence against women at the Juvenile Justice Center.

2. The Ohio High School Athletic Association's Board of Directors has voted to remove community and STEM school enrollment numbers from its member schools. The move could cause some schools to change divisions based on figures previously released by the OHSAA.

3. Highland football grabs the No. 22 spot in the cleveland.com Preseason Top 25 Countdown. The Hornets have a new stadium and a new coach, but the same expectation to produce wins on the field.

4. St. Vincent-St. Mary boys basketball player Henry Baddley commits to Butler. Entering his senior season, the All-Ohio forward had offers from Kent State and Toledo before choosing the Bulldogs.

5. Streetsboro's Dakari Carter is the latest in cleveland.com's Top Targets series of 50 local NCAA recruiting prospects. The speedster is a two-time defending state champion in the Division II 100 meter dash.

The Northeast Ohio Media Group ranked the 50 best Big Ten football players for the 2015 season. See their photos and check out why these players made the list.

See a season preview for North Olmsted football, including top players, newcomers to watch, schedule and more.

NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio – The cleveland.com high school football Preseason Top 25 countdown continues today with the unveiling of Northeast Ohio's No. 21 team, the North Olmsted Eagles.

Check cleveland.com/hssports daily as the Top 25 is revealed one team per day, leading up to the announcement of the area's top-ranked team on Aug. 27.  

PREVIOUSLY: No. 25 Madison, No. 24 Elyria, No. 23 Wadsworth, No. 22 Highland.

Here is more on North Olmsted's football team as it enters the 2015 season, which begins on the road against Valley Forge on Aug. 28.

3 keys to qualifying for the playoffs

1. Building off strong offense: Returning QB Christian Ammons has eight school records after throwing for more than 2,500 yards and 34 touchdowns last season. His go-to target on offense will be fellow senior Ryan Coleman, who had more than 1,400 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns, and is a 3-year starter. In total, the Eagles will bring back eight returning starters from a team that scored at least 30 points in seven games last season.

2. Slowing down the rest of the Southwestern Conference: North Olmsted isn't the only team in the SWC this season with an explosive offense. New teams Avon and Midview return strong teams with great quarterbacks. North Ridgeville and Ohio State recruit Demario McCall are also new members of the SWC this season. With a nine-game conference schedule, the Eagles will need to play strong defense every week to get into the playoffs.

3. Win the close games: North Olmsted was 0-3 last season in games decided by seven points or fewer. The Eagles have the offense to match most teams in the area. But the key will be how well they can play in close games and if they can get the wins they need to get into the playoffs.

MORE ABOUT NORTH OLMSTED

Click here to see 2015 schedule

OHSAA division, region: Division II, Region 4.

Conference: Southwestern Conference.

2014 record: 7-3.

Coach: Tim Brediger.

Coach's record at school: 14-6.

Coach's career record: 14-6.

Returning starters: 8 offense, 7 defense.

Key players:

Christian Ammons, QB, Sr., 6-1, 185.

Ryan Coleman, DB/WR, Sr., 6-3, 190.

Michael Cooch, DB/WR, Sr., 5-11, 180.

Mario DeJoy, DB/TB, Sr., 5-10, 175.

Tyler Digges, OT/DT, Sr., 6-4, 285.

Sean Horn FB/LB, Sr., 6-1, 225.

Josh Hufstetler, TB/DB, Jr., 6-1, 190.

Jack Lowry, C, Sr., 5-11, 260.

Spiros Rommel, OT/DT, Sr., 6-3, 265.

Kyle Wapshott, WR/DB, Sr., 6-0, 175.

Scouting report

Strengths: North Olmsted has one of the best passing offenses in the area led by senior QB Christian Ammons and WR Ryan Coleman. Ammons already holds eight school records after throwing for nearly 2,500 yards and 34 touchdowns in 2014. The Eagles as a whole are an experienced team with 15 returning starters. Coach Brediger has done well in his short time as head coach with back-to-back 7-3 seasons.

Concerns: The Eagles do have questions about the front six of their 3-3 stack defense. Tyler Digges and Sean Grace will be two of the key players up front, while Coleman and Kyle Wapshott are expected to help anchor the secondary. North Olmsted also has to figure out a way to win close games. The Eagles were 0-3 in games decided by seven points or fewer.

Key stats from 2014: Ammons threw for more than 2,500 yards and 34 touchdowns last season. Coleman was one of Ammons' top targets with 46 receptions and 14 touchdowns to go with more than 1,400 all-purpose yards.

Bottom line: North Olmsted has come so close to making the playoffs each of the past two seasons despite finishing 7-3 both years. To win at least seven games against a deeper Southwestern Conference with the additions of Avon, Lakewood, Midview and North Ridgeville, the Eagles will have to rely on an experienced and explosive offense. If North Olmsted can be better in close games, the Eagles have a chance to get into the playoffs in 2015.

Follow North Olmsted all season

Bookmark the team's cleveland.com webpage to see every post pertaining to North Olmsted.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are working Kent State grad Dri Archer into their return game plans.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been working second year pro Dri Archer into their return game with the hopes of moving star receiver Antonio Brown out of the role.

PennLive's Jacob Klinger writes:

A concert by Aerosmith highlights Friday's activities for Pro Football Hall of Fame Weekend in Canton.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - A concert by Aerosmith highlights Friday's schedule for Hall of Fame Weekend in Canton, with activities stretching through Sunday, when the first NFL preseason game will be played with the Pittsburgh Steelers facing the Minnesota Vikings.

The 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame class that includes running back Jerome Bettis, wide receiver/returner Tim Brown, defensive end/linebacker Charles Haley, contributor Bill Polian, linebacker Junior Seau, guard Will Shields, center Mick Tingelhoff, and contributor Ron Wolf will be inducted on Saturday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

But football fans will have the opportunity to enjoy the entire Hall of Fame weekend that includes several free and inexpensive events from free photo opportunities of NFL legends to a fashion show to tonight's concert with Aerosmith.

Here's a look at the weekend's schedule and ticket information:

Pro Football Hall of Fame Weekend
When: Today through Sunday.
Where: Canton.

Friday: Gold Jacket Photo Op.
Time: 9:30-10 a.m.
Location: Front steps of the Hall of Fame.
Cost: Free.
A gathering of a 100 plus Hall of Famers will pose together granting photo opportunities for fans.

Friday: Fashion Show Luncheon
When: 11:30 a.m.
Where: Memorial Civic Center and Cultural Center.
Click here for more ticket information.

Friday: Aerosmith concert.
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
Tickets: $35 and up.
Click here for ticket information.

Saturday: TimkenSteel Grand Parade.
Time: 8 a.m.
Location: Cleveland Avenue, Downtown Canton.
Click here for information.

Saturday: Returning Hall of Famers autograph sessions.
Time: Noon.
Location: Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Click here for participants and information.

Saturday: Class of 2015 Enshrinement
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
Cost: $35 and up.
Click here for more ticket information.

Sunday: Class of 2015 autograph session.
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: Pro Football Hall of Fame Event Center.
Cost: $375 plus shipping and handling.
Click here for more information.

Sunday: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Minnesota Vikings Hall of Fame game.
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
Tickets: Game is sold-out.

A look at St. Edward football player Michael O'Malley, who is the most recent in the cleveland.com NCAA football recruiting players pages.

Links to every player page to date:

Michael O'Malley, St. Edward: The Eagles had a lot of stars on the team last season, but it was O'Malley who really showed up in the biggest games. This season, he will have an expanded role, especially on the defensive side of the ball. He has great athleticism for a defensive lineman, and his play will help a team bringing in many new players in the back seven.

Dakari Carter, Streetsboro: With his reputation for being one of the fastest athletes in Northeast Ohio, the junior Rocket perfectly represents his school's mascot. His speed gives college scouts cause to overlook his small stature. Carter is a versatile two-way player -- an impact player at wide receiver, cornerback and on kickoff and punt returns. He holds five Division I offers heading into the 2015 season and will likely get several more before his senior year. 

Lance Billings, Clearview: The Clearview senior has been an impact player in each of the last two seasons, where he earned All-Ohio honors twice as a wide receiver. Billings, an Iowa recruit at defensive back, is very capable on the defensive side after recording three interceptions in 2014 and returning two for touchdowns. At 5-11, Billings is a fast athlete with the ball skills to excel on both sides of the ball.

Alex Mathews, Mentor: Mathews has offers from Air Force, Colgate and Harvard, and with Cardinals coach Steve Trivisonno saying the senior will carry the load this season, expect him to give recruiters an eyeful. He has been a mainstay of the Mentor offense the last two seasons, and as a junior  in a pass-first offense rushed for 938 yards and 15 TDs. He was second-team All-Northeast Lakes District last season. Expect Mathews rushing numbers, district placement and number of Division I offers to all rise this season.

DeMann Wilson, Glenville: The senior Tarblooder could make for a interesting story this season with no offers on the table, but talent to show. According to Scout.com, Ohio State, Purdue and Pitt have expressed interest in having Wilson. The senior linebacker and defensive end has given opposing quarterbacks and linemen problems standing at 6-3 and weighing in at 215-pounds.

Jonah Morris, Archbishop Hoban: The Knights senior ranks among Northeast Ohio's tallest top targets at 6-foot-4, with quickness and elusiveness to match his stature. Morris had a breakout season in 2014 and committed earlier this year to Michigan State. He stands to put up even more impressive numbers in 2015 with the addition of quarterback Danny Clark (an Ohio State commit) to the Hoban lineup.

Joey Johnson, John Adams: The senior athlete plays on both sides of the football and remains a player still under the radar. Johnson is projected to do really well this season and has attracted interested from a handful of MAC schools so far. Last season he threw for 510 yards as a quarterback, but on defense had 17 total tackles. Johnson is quiet on the field, but his play on the field speaks loudly.

Niko Lalos, St. Vincent-St. Mary: The 6-foot-5, 230-pounder impressed in his first full season on varsity last season. The senior did some of his best work on defense where he recorded 61 tackles, including a couple of sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery. In addition to defensive end and and linebacker, Lalos is also likely to see a fair amount of playing time at wide receiver and tight end this year. 

Joey Bachie, Berea-Midpark: The senior linebacker and Michigan State recruit is the anchor of Berea-Midpark's defense with the speed to be a disruptive force. Bachie attacks the play well defensively and makes sure to finish each play effectively. With a 4.5-second 40-yard-dash time, Bachie is very athletic and is a true playmaker on defense.

Javonte Richardson, Maple Heights: At 6-foot-4, Richardson is a big target with great hands at receiver. He helped Maple Heights reach the postseason last year. Although his future is at receiver, he can play all over the field for the Mustangs. He has three Division I offers and Big Ten interest.

John Todd, Parma: The 6-foot-3, 305-pound offensive tackle is touted as the best lineman from Parma in more than 30 years by coach Bruce Saban. He received his first Division I offer from Davidson, but after doing the summer camp circuit following his junior season, Todd is hopeful more offers come in. Excellent athleticism and footwork are Todd’s strengths. He graded out at more than 95 percent each game of his junior year.

Logan Bolin, Midview: The Middies' senior wide receiver has had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and was the top target of QB Dustin Crum in 2014 where he caught 87 passes for 1,410 yards and 18 touchdowns. At 6-foot-2, Bolin has the ability win one-on-one battles against most defensive backs, particularly in jump ball situations. Bolin has offers from Air Force and Davidson.

Tyrone Chambers, Brush: The Arcs' enormous defensive tackle has been on the recruiting radar since his sophomore season. He registered seven sacks and 35 tackles in 2014 and has drawn offers from Akron, Bowling Green and Toledo. Chambers, who has been scouted by nearly every Big Ten school, says he plans to visit Michigan State and Ohio State soon.

Terek Zingale, Nordonia: An overpowering tackle, Zingale was one of the reasons why Nordonia's offense clicked all the way to reaching the Division II state championship game last December. Colleges took notice of Zingale, and during the off-season, he verbally committed to Maryland.

Jatairis Grant, Akron Garfield: The rising senior is a back-to-back all-district member selling voters on his explosiveness as defensive back. The 6-foot-1 Toledo commit is quick and gives coaches a versatile player on the field. He received offers from Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Cincinnati, James Madison, Kent State, Miami (OH) and Ohio University. He also plays receiver, punt returner and punter for the Rams.

Zach Corrigall, St. Vincent-St. Mary: Corrigall is a Kent State commit who prides himself on his relentless work ethic and willingness to always look for ways to improve various aspects of his game. His strength and dedication to his craft of protecting his quarterback and opening up holes for his running backs make him a cornerstone of the Irish's offense as the team looks to make another deep playoff run after a state semifinal appearance last year and state titles in 2012 and 2013. 

Dustin Crum, Midview: A sophomore in 2014, Crum helped lead Midview to a 12-1 record and had almost 4,500 yards of total offense. He threw for 3,323 yards and 39 touchdowns, and rushed for 1,175 yards and 17 scores. Crum is the type of quarterback who is just as capable of making plays with his legs as he is with his arm. With the Middies moving into the Southwestern Conference, Crum will be one of many top quarterbacks in the 10-team league.

Anthony Johnson Jr., Euclid: The transfer from Cleveland Heights is one of the top defensive back prospects in Ohio and holds nine Division I offers. Rated three stars by multiple recruiting services, Johnson is a tall defender able to cover man-to-man and make the big hit. He’s expected to make his college choice before the end of July, with his finalists narrowed down to Cincinnati, Kentucky and Toledo. He has offers from most Mid-American Conference schools.

Kierre Hawkins, Maple Heights: An Ohio State commit, Hawkins is the focal point of the Maple Heights offense. Although he is projected as a tight end or a receiver in college, Hawkins sees the majority of his work out of the backfield for the Mustangs. He helped take the team to the playoffs last season.

Carlos Chavis, Lorain: Now the focal running back on the team, Chavis could be in store for a huge junior year. In a limited role last season, he rushed for 836 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has the ability to read the hole, while also taking it the distance at any given moment. Look for Chavis to start to get some offers during his junior campaign.

Cameron Odom, Bedford: The Ohio University commit is a speedy runner both on the track and on the football field. He can also catch the football. With Odom having such Bedford alumni members and pro football receivers such as Chris Chambers and Lee Evans, he's in good company to blossom as a wide out.

Tyler Tupa, Brecksville: Tupa, an Ohio commit, is a senior receiver with a knack for hauling in passes and finding the endzone. Tupa also has received scholarship offers from Kent State and Bowling Green. He's part of the Tupa family, which has experienced a lot of football success, including his father, Tom, who played in the NFL as a punter. Last season, Tyler Tupa had 17 receiving touchdowns for Brecksville.

Nick Sokolowski, Brecksville: The senior is a cornerstone of the Bees' defense and has begun to catch the attention of more college scouts but still is regarded as somewhat underrated. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound defensive end possesses quick feet and agility in addition to size and strength. He has a Division I offer from Bowling Green and has taken unofficial visits to Toledo and Cincinnati. Other big name schools such as Purdue also have expressed interest in what Sokolowski has to offer. 

Jack Wohlabaugh, Walsh Jesuit: Wohlabaugh, an Ohio State commit, is a heady and athletic interior lineman who finishes off every play. He is the son of former Browns center and nine-year NFL veteran Dave Wohlabaugh, and last season he displayed the savvy and leadership that comes with having a father who started 128 professional games. Wohlabaugh is nasty and aggressive, smart and strategic.

Tony Butler, St. Edward: The senior is the main holdover from a defensive backfield that dominated opponents during last season’s Division I state championship season. Originally a Pitt commit, he recently decommitted to pursue other offers. A rarity as a 6-foot-2 defensive back, Butler is a three-star prospect and likely to be the Eagles defender opposing quarterbacks try to avoid most this season.

Cole Gest, St. Edward: The three-star running back is undersized, but the Indiana commit has impressed talent evaluators with his speed and physicality. Heading into last season, it was the passing game of St. Edward that had opponents' focus, and Gest exploited them. This year, it will be the opposite as opposing defenses will add another defender in the box to try and stop the talented senior.

Jake Sopko, Avon: The senior quarterback committed to Cincinnati in May. He led the Eagles to a 10-2 record and the Division II regional semifinals last season, throwing for 2,864 yards and 25 touchdowns. He was a first-team All-Northeast Lakes District selection.

Chawntez Moss, Bedford: The senior running back committed to Pittsburgh in April. Moss led the Bearcats in rushing last season, with more than 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns, and was selected as a cleveland.com All-Star. Moss helped lead Bedford to a perfect regular season and playoff run that ended with a 34-32 loss to Mayfield in a Division II regional final.

Nik Urban, Willoughby South: The senior offensive guard committed to Northwestern in April. He opened eyes during a dominant junior season in which the cleveland.com All-Star selection's play helping allow teammate D.J. Greene to rush for 1,900 yards and 26 touchdowns. Urban has 10 offers in all, including fellow Big Ten members Illinois and Maryland. He is a consensus three-star prospect among the main national recruiting services. 

Luke Farrell, Perry: The senior TE has 14 Division I offers after three spectacular seasons for the Pirates. As a junior, Farrell caught 43 passes for 730 yards and six touchdowns, upping his career totals to 91 catches for 1,544 yards and 12 touchdowns. As a DE, he recorded 19 solo tackles and 21 assists last season as well as 10 sacks. He has 198 total tackles in over the last three seasons including 68 as a sophomore, of which 40 were solo tackles. Imposing size, speed and strength and the will to continue to improve on those aspects make Farrell a promising collegiate prospect. 

Demario McCall, North Ridgeville: The senior RB is an Ohio State commit after two outstanding full seasons for the Rangers. As a junior, McCall rushed for 2,302 yards and 35 touchdowns, and caught 14 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown. He has 60 touchdowns in two seasons. McCall is a game-breaker because of his speed and elusiveness in the open field. Any time he touches the ball, he is a threat to get into the end zone.

A.J. Rose, Garfield Heights: The senior QB/RB holds more than 13 Division I offers, including Minnesota and Syracuse. Rose committed to Kentucky in February. Scouts like Rose's size and speed, combined with his ability to run through tacklers at the line of scrimmage. Last year, Rose rushed for more than 700 yards and 12 touchdowns while passing for more than 600 yards and 10 scores.

For more high school sports news, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Contact Robert Rozboril on Twitter (@rrozboril), by email (rrozboril@cleveland.com) or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

Get to know St. Edward football player Michael O'Malley on and off the field.

LAKEWOOD, Ohio – Get to know St. Edward football player Michael O'Malley on and off the football field in this expanded profile.

The profile contains key information like height/weight and national rankings, in addition to a full and updated college recruiting breakdown of offers and campus visit details. And because of all the access we have with Carter, we’re helping you get to know him away from football. Who knew he hopes to one day become a sports broadcaster?

Carter is among dozens of Northeast Ohio football players with his own personalized cleveland.com player page, which will be updated by Northeast Ohio Media Group reporters throughout his career with all the latest news on his college recruiting and high school performance.

Soon we will have one webpage where you can access every player’s individual page.

Now it’s time to get to know O'Malley on and away from the football field.

VITALS

Graduation year: 2016.

Position: TE/DE.

Height, weight: 6-2, 230. 

Analysis of his game: O'Malley may not have been the focal point of the team last year, but when his team needed him the most, he performed big. This season, winning the line of scrimmage is going to be more important this year for the Eagles, and O'Malley will play a big role there.

FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter: @MichaelOMalley_

LATEST COLLEGE RECRUITING NEWS

National recruiting services say

247Sports says: Not rated.

Rivals.com says: Not rated.

Scout says: Not rated.

Breakdown of offers

Offers: Davidson.

Interest: Miami (OH), Pennsylvania.

OFF THE FOOTBALL FIELD

Favorite Food: Chicken Tenders.

Favorite song: Courtesy of the Red White and Blue by Toby Keith.

Nickname: Old'Malley.

Role Model: Dwayne Johnson.

Favorite Cartoon Show: SpongeBob .

Ritual before a game: Eat cookies, especially the ones made by Mrs. Fox.

Favorite movie: Pulp Fiction.

Favorite sports team: Cleveland Browns.

Dream City: Chicago.

Follow our high school sports Twitter account @NEOvarsity and tag your high school sports Tweets and score updates with the #NEOVarsity hashtag.

Contact high school sports reporter Mark Kern by email (mkern@cleveland.com), on Twitter (@Markkern11). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

See photos and all stories written on St. Edward football player Michael O'Malley.

LAKEWODO, Ohio -- Welcome to a gateway to a plethora of content about St. Edward football player Michael O'Malley including pictures and videos.

Carter is among dozens of Northeast Ohio football players with his own personalized cleveland.com player page, which will be updated by Northeast Ohio Media Group reporters throughout his career with all the latest news on his college recruiting and high school performance.

Soon we will have one webpage where you can access every player’s individual page.

Check out the photo gallery above, including some pictures the player shared with us from his social media, and look for the slideshow to be updated throughout the season.

Below is a compilation of content about O'Malley by NEOMG reporters, as well as other media outlets in the region and state and the national recruiting services. Look for it to grow rapidly when the season begins.

Bookmark this page and check back often for the latest on Carter. The most recent content appears first:

O'Malley played a huge role in the St. Edward state championship victory last season.

The defense of the Eagles, led by O'Malley, dominated the game against rival St.Ignatius.

See videos of St. Edward football player Michael O'Malley.

LAKEWOOD, Ohio – Here is a compilation of videos featuring St. Edward football standout Michael O'Malley.

Look for the amount of videos to grow rapidly when the season begins and to include action as well as feature footage and postgame interviews. The most recent video appears first.

O'Malley is among dozens of Northeast Ohio football players with his own personalized cleveland.com player page, which will be updated by Northeast Ohio Media Group reporters throughout his career with all the latest news on his college recruiting and high school performance.

See a compilation of all the player pages to date, with direct links to each page.

Have you seen additional videos featuring O'Malley? If so, we invite you to paste a link to the video in the comments section at the bottom of this post. 

O'Malley prepares for the 2015 season.

Michael O'Malley catches a touchdown in the second half of the state championship game.

Highlights from his junior season

The Cleveland Browns should be more versatile and talented at running back in 2015. But that's on paper. On the field, Browns' running backs are off to a slow start so far in training camp -- Bud Shaw's Spinoffs

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Unless there's a stationary bike involved, every non-rookie in every NFL camp this August is said to be "further ahead than they were this time last year."

According to every coach in every NFL camp who doesn't know what else to say since no games have been played to add real clarity to the picture.

The problem at running back for the Browns, of course, is that there are multiple stationary bikes involved.

The drafting of Duke Johnson -- and to some extent his expected role as a pass catcher out of the backfield -- has promoted the theme that the Browns will be as good as or even better than they were at running back in 2014.

It's pretty much essential to their chances, what with a game-manager quarterback in Josh McCown starting the season and with a modestly talented wide receiver group.

But running back is still a relatively inexperienced position on a team with a new offensive coordinator. Improvement is hardly guaranteed.

Getting a read on the running game as the Browns head into their first exhibition game isn't nearly as sexy as following the progress of Johnny Manziel or Terrelle Pryor.

Just more important.

* Alabama head coach Nick Saban took time to explain why he is against unauthorized biographies. Translation: because one - Monte Burke's "Saban: The Making of a Coach" -- has been written about him.

"One of these days when I'm finished coaching at Alabama, I'll write an authorized book," Saban said at a Thursday news conference. "Because there's really only one expert on my life, and guess who that is? Me. And there won't be any misinformation, there won't be any false statements, there won't be any hearsay.

"But since I'm not finished yet at Alabama, we're not writing any books yet. But when we decide to write an authorized book, it will have the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth."

As he sees it.

* Charles Barkley once came out against authorized autobiographies.

I know that doesn't seem possible.

Unless the subject of the book written by the subject of the book claims, as Barkley did, that he was misquoted.

* When former Green Bay GM Ron Wolf slipped on his gold Hall of Fame jacket Thursday night, he shook Roger Goodell and told the commissioner, "Way to go on the Brady thing."

Goodell could be seen laughing out loud.

Which - even if Wolf wasn't being sarcastic - is really the only proper response to his handling of DeflateGate.

* Wolf's take on the Tom Brady/DeflateGate debacle is the best unintentional punch line since George Bush's "Heckuva job, Brownie."

* New York Jets' cornerback Antonio Cromartie says the Patriots' quarterback is being "unfairly punished" by the league in the investigation into the use of deflated footballs during the AFC Championship game against the Colts.

When a Jets' player speaks up for a Patriots' player, it is a pretty solid indication that maybe Ron Wolf was being sarcastic.

* You know who's being "unfairly punished" in this DeflateGate thing? The Colts.

The longer it drags on the more often we're reminded the Colts lost that game, 45-7.

* With properly inflated footballs, the Colts don't lose that game any worse than 42-7.

* New Jets' wide receiver Brandon Marshall says Darrelle Revis is the best cornerback in NFL history.

Beating Dwayne Bowe to the punch in saying Joe Haden is?

* Bowe has made a name for himself in Browns' camp by saying Josh McCown has the potential to be a Top 5 quarterback.

There's an expression for that kind of take. Getting way out over your skis.

* Bubba Watson's first drive of the Bridgestone Invitational carried 325 yards leaving him 74 yards in on No. 10.

He chunked his next shot, a wedge, 53 yards.

Not to make everybody watching feel better about themselves.

But it did.

* Buffalo Bills' GM Doug Whaley told reporters the team is "almost in quarterback purgatory."

Because they're not likely to draft in the Top 5 anytime soon and don't have an indentified franchise quarterback.

Anyone want to tell him what Browns' fans call quarterback purgatory?

A step up.

* LaMarcus Aldridge tells the San Antonio Spurs website that his shoe collection is taking over a massive walk-in closet in his house.

Aldridge's solution:

"I'm going to build a separate house behind my house for my shoes. So that'll be cool."

With absolutely no consideration for how that will make his socks feel.

* The Buccaneers are getting criticized for launching an outreach program for female fans because the team referenced "gameday style tips" and "educational experiences focused on providing a better understanding of the game."

The Bucs are calling the program "RED."

The first "RED" football term introduced as a vocabulary lesson was "play clock."

So obviously the Bucs are only being criticized for good reason.

* I'd suggest after a 2-14 season, the Bucs introduce that term in their quarterback room first.

* New Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh says he doesn't care about being popular.

Done.

Get ready for today's Orange and Brown scrimmage by getting caught up on what you may have missed from Thursday. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns got out of Berea yesterday and headed down I-71. It's Orange and Brown scrimmage day at Ohio Stadium.

But, before you get ready to break down everything that happens tonight, get yourself all caught up with everything from Thursday. Here are the stories you may have missed that you need to read.

Cleveland Browns' Johnny Manziel is trying to simplify his life and unclutter his game

Tom Reed

The crowds at Browns' training camp are almost as subdued as a Bridgestone Invitational gallery following a pair of Scandinavians and a Uruguayan amateur playing on sponsor's exemption.

The rowdiness of a year ago is gone. So is the crush of national media. Johnny Manziel, the focus of last summer's hysteria, seems fine with the serene environs. Read more >>

Browns figuring out what Ohio State saw with Terrelle Pryor: 'God sprinkled a little more dust on him'

Doug Lesmerises

Ohio Stadium won't get a second look at the talent again on Friday night. The long, smooth strides that made Terrelle Pryor look more like a sprinter or a receiver or, who knows, a water skiier, during his Ohio State career will be kept on the sideline by a hamstring.

So Ohio State fans taking in the Browns scrimmage at the Shoe will be left to see Pryor standing there and rewind their mental Youtube. Read more >>

Johnny Manziel: 'If I play well in preseason, who knows what'll happen?'

Mary Kay Cabot

And on the seventh day, Johnny Manziel spoke.

It wasn't until a full week into Browns training camp that Manziel final addressed the media on Thursday. It was a far cry from last year, when Manziel Mania was in full force from the moment camp opened and even his neon green cleats made national headlines one day. Read more >>

Shane Wynn keeps finding ways to make plays: Who won the day

Dan Labbe

Wednesday wasn't a day that blew you away from the smallest player on the roster. It was a solid day. A day that reminds you why, whenever you ask about Wynn, teammates and coaches rave. Read more >>

Terrelle Pryor will sit out scrimmage at OSU, Glenn Winston undergoes scope: Browns camp quick hitters

Mary Kay Cabot

Coach Mike Pettine said he doesn't know yet how long Barkevious Mingo will be out with his knee scope. He had a torn meniscus repaired on Thursday. A league source told Northeast Ohio Media Group that Mingo will be out about a month. Read more >>

NFL Network will provide coverage beginning at 6 p.m.

It's not quite a preseason game, but it's something close to football.

The Browns are in Columbus on Friday night for their Orange and Brown scrimmage. The game will be played at Ohio Stadium.

Johnny Manziel is expected to get reps with the first team, though head coach Mike Pettine cautioned not to read too much into that. There will be live tackling (quarterbacks aside) and many fans will get their first look at the team's 2015 draft class.

Not one of the lucky folks who will be there? Beginning at 6 p.m., NFL Network's Inside Training Camp Live with the Browns will provide on-location coverage of the Orange and Brown Scrimmage at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. The broadcast will feature insight from NFL Network analysts Mike Mayock and Solomon Wilcots.

Cleveland.com will have a live comments chat and provide updates from the scrimmage as well.

Ohio State's problem on offense has nothing to do with the quarterback battle.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- It's not the quarterbacks.

In fact, if Urban Meyer solves what he thinks is the problem for Ohio State's offense right now, it may very well not matter who the Buckeyes' quarterback is. Maybe it doesn't matter anyway because Ohio State knows its has two capable guys with a bounty of skills players and a strong offensive line around them.

But there are holes. And one is on Meyer's mind as the Buckeyes prepare to enter camp next week.

Who will replace Devin Smith as Ohio State's deep-ball threat?

"That's a problem," Meyer said last week at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago. "On our board, if you walk in our offensive staff room, that's what we have to find out right now."

There seems to be a prevailing thought that part of the reason for Ezekiel Elliott's success in the final three games of the season was because the Buckeyes could take the top off of a defense with Cardale Jones' big arm getting the ball downfield to the speedy Smith.

Meyer quelled that a bit, saying J.T. Barrett was just as capable of getting the ball deep, and the deep ball was more of Ohio State just taking what defenses were giving them. If it's set up for you to take shots down the field, you do it, and Meyer is confident in either quarterback's ability. But you still need the guy on the other end, and Meyer's not sure who that is right now.

"You've got Johnnie Dixon, you've got Parris Campbell, two young players," Meyer said. "Terry McLaurin is very fast. Mike Thomas doesn't really fit that job description. It could be a Jalin Marshall ..."

Or how about this crazy thought?

"It could be a Braxton Miller," Meyer continued, "we've gotta find that out."

Miller as Ohio State's deep-ball guy is intriguing. You already knew he's the best athlete on the team, you'd be hard-pressed to find a guy faster than Miller on the roster. But if filling that role was all about speed, you would've seen some of those younger guys mentioned doing it last year.

"It's a lot more than straight-line speed ... Now it's about the complete package," receivers coach Zach Smith said back on National Signing Day. "Right now they can run 10.3 seconds (in the 100-yard dash), but they could run 10.3 last year. They could've been on the field last year but they weren't complete and that's where we need to get them."

If you think back, everything good that was said about Smith wasn't so much about his speed. It was about his ability to track the ball in the air, making those adjustments to get himself in the better place to catch what was often a 50-50 ball.

Dixon, McLaurin and Campbell are all speedsters, that's why they're at Ohio State in the first place. But Campbell played mostly running back in high school. The first time McLaurin steps on the field this year will be his first college game action. Dixon missed most of last season with knee problems, but Meyer said he expects him to be a full-go for camp. The point is that these guys are unknowns.

That's enough to have Meyer's attention.

"When I was here, I think we're top class with Coach Tressel," Whitner said. "It's unfortunate what happened that he's not here anymore. Then Urban (Meyer) came in and he took it to another level." Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When Donte Whitner and Brian Hartline were on Ohio State's football team, things were going pretty good.

Sometimes it's easy to forget how good Jim Tressel was at his job. 

But when Whitner and Hartline walked into Ohio Stadium as players on Friday evening, both as members of the Cleveland Browns, they couldn't help but acknowledge there's a difference. 

As both conducted interviews in the south end zone following the Browns' scrimmage, the new national title sign still had a drape over it as it waits its unveiling this fall. 

They knew what was under it. 

"When I was here, I think we're top class with Coach Tressel," Whitner said. "It's unfortunate what happened that he's not here anymore. Then Urban (Meyer) came in and he took it to another level. He made us this class of college football once again. It's a first-class organization. He's just done wonders with the program." 

It's hard to imagine Ohio State being any better than it is right now. Meyer has it at the top. 

That's the only reason Whitner could reflect back and say things are better than they were with Tressel, who won a national title and led the Buckeyes back to the championship game two more times in his decade leading the program. 

From 2003-06, Whitner's Buckeyes were 29-8. As for Hartline's career from 2006-08, the Buckeyes were 33-5 and went to the national title game twice. 

Meyer's first three years? 38-3, an undefeated season and a national title. 

"That's pretty incredible," Whitner said. 

So you can imagine what it was like for both of them to play on the Ohio Stadium field, remembering all the wins -- and rare losses -- they enjoyed with the Buckeyes. Things have been a little bit different for the Browns. 

Whitner, who went to high school at Glenville, left the San Francisco 49ers to return home to Cleveland in 2014, signing a four-year, $28 million deal with the Browns. Last season the Browns went 7-9. 

This is Hartline's first year with the Browns. He left the Miami Dolphins to also return home, inking a two-year, $6 million dollar deal this off-season. Hartline played high school at Canton GlenOak, but currently resides in Columbus. 

The winning both players experienced at Ohio State has shaped their expectations for what the NFL should be. 

Hartline is off to a good start. He caught a touchdown pass in the scrimmage, something he did often while a Buckeye. 

"There are a lot of great memories here," Hartline said. "We won a lot of football games. Any times you win football games, you can create memories, good memories. We won a lot while I was here." 

Hartline's brother, Mike, is an intern on Ohio State's staff, so he's going to be extra caught up on the Buckeyes' national title defense. Hartline expects big things for the future. 

"I think it's great (what Meyer is doing). I think it's very similar to what Tressel was doing," Hartline said. "He won pretty quickly out of the gates, but it's all about what you do for the next 10. And I think (Meyer) has the staff and the players and the mentality to do it. 

"I'm excited to watch for the next decade or so."