Urban Meyer trains and bonds his players according to principles of elite military units, as revealed in the Ohio State coach's new book.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Before the national semifinal game against Alabama, Ohio State players signaled to each other in the hallways at the team hotel with brass "clickers." They were similar to those that D-Day paratroopers used to identify friend or foe behind German lines in the dark.

Before the national championship game against Oregon, coach Urban Meyer told the players in a meeting at the team hotel to visualize that they were with elite soldiers on a mission. Hear the helicopter blades churning? See it? See the hideout in the blowing sand? We're going in!

Before the Buckeyes boarded the bus to the national title game in suburban Dallas, they watched a video about SEAL Team 6, which ended with one of the members asking the shooter of Osama bin Laden, "Do you even realize what you just did?"

After the game was won, offensive coordinator Tom Herman turned to Meyer on the sideline and said, "Coach, do you even realize what you just did?"

"Above the Line," a forthcoming motivational book by Meyer (October 27, Penguin Press, $27.95) shares many such details about the paramilitary operation that is Ohio State football.

Camouflage, black uniforms, black stripes

This is a familiar comparison for the violent sport. Former coach Jim Tressel wore a camouflage cap similar to those of desert troops at the Scarlet and Gray Game in 2011.

Woody Hayes had the personal phone number of former head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Creighton Abrams on his Rolodex and called him from time to time, perhaps to share his views on the Vietnam War.

Ohio State players will wear black uniforms, like commandos on a raid, for Saturday night's game against Penn State at The Horseshoe.

When incoming players perform well enough in Meyer's estimation, the black stripe on their helmets, which indicates they are, in effect, apprentices, is removed in a team ceremony.

As I wrote in an earlier column, cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs handed out an ammunition box that had been used in the wars in the Middle East to safety Von Bell, for being the outstanding member of Coombs' unit during preseason practices.

The Ohio State defense has called itself the "Silver Bullets" for at least two decades now.

The 9/11 effect fades

Remember after the 9/11 terrorist attacks how "bomb" as a term for a long pass was going to go the way of the flying wedge as a football anachronism?  Remember how sports-as-war was going to be considered a trivialization of the horrors of actual combat?

Apparently, the fields of friendly strife just can't help borrowing from those of actual conflict.

All this militarization is meant to honor the troops and is used respectfully. It persists because it works with impressionable young men.

"Above the Line" is also about building leadership skills and unity in business or sports organizations, but those parts aren't as fascinating the glimpse inside the football war machine.

5 a.m. bear crawls and the Red Line

When Meyer took over and began to reshape the team in 2012, angered by several examples of bad attitude, he ordered drills outside in freezing January weather at 5 a.m. that included "bear crawls" on all fours up and down the slushy, icy practice field, four times, covering 400 yards, for each of five days.

"Above the Line" refers to a red line on the practice field. Those without sufficient enthusiasm are sent peremptorily to the locker room and thus kept "below the line" until they form the proper habits.

Haden, Knight and Marotti

Browns cornerback Joe Haden told me the biggest thing he learned from Meyer at Florida was "how to compete every day."

It's not just on the field, however. Much like former Indiana basketball Bobby Knight, Meyer creates an entire world of competition and conflict, fostering male bonding and, in Meyer's case, with timely applications of positive reinforcement.

Meyer's right-hand man, strength coach Mickey Marotti, prepares Ohio State players for the "confusion, chaos and conflict" they will face on the field by, for example, adding weight and repetitions in the weight room just when the players think they are finished.

Reconnaissance

Surprisingly, the pastoral game of baseball serves as a training vehicle in the book. "Backdoor slider" is an inside-football term at Ohio State.

It refers to the Los Angeles Dodgers' scouting report on Oakland A's closer Dennis Eckersley. It emphasized that the great closer always threw a backdoor slider on a 3-and-2 count, no matter if the batter was left-handed or right-handed. The information led to wounded pinch-hitter Kirk Gibson's famous walk-off home run in the 1988 World Series.

When Von Bell jumped an Alabama tight end's corner route and intercepted a critical pass in the national semifinal in the Sugar Bowl, it showed the Buckeyes had reconnoitered well. "It was Von Bell's version of the backdoor slider," writes Meyer.

"Backdoor slider" at Ohio State meant a great scouting report. Or, given the military ethos, good intel.

See which Buckeyes are considered the top players at their position for the 2016 NFL Draft.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- We've told you before about how this Ohio State football team is going to have a completely different feel to it next year, because there's a mass exodus of NFL talent about to come this spring.

It's at the level that the 2016 NFL Draft could be a historic one for the Buckeyes if all of the potential NFL talent (seniors and underclassmen) leaves for the pros after the 2015 season.

* Podcast: Which Buckeye will be an NFL star?

With six games gone in the college football season, talent evaluators -- both the TV ones and the ones employed by NFL teams who actually matter -- are beginning to put together their lists of the top NFL-ready talent.

Do a quick Google search for the 2016 NFL Draft, and you'll find some early mock drafts that are Buckeye-heavy, particularly in the first round.

ESPN's Todd McShay released his top 2016 draft prospects by position on Wednesday. It featured seven Buckeyes, including three ranked No. 1 at their positions.

Running back Ezekiel Elliott, receiver Michael Thomas and defensive end Joey Bosa are all ranked No. 1 at their positions by McShay. Darron Lee is the No. 2 linebacker, Taylor Decker is the No. 4 offensive lineman and Cardale Jones is the No. 4 quarterback.

Here's one that maybe you didn't expect: Nick Vannett is the No. 3 tight end.

Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg, whom the Buckeyes will see Saturday night in Ohio Stadium, was ranked the No. 5 quarterback.

Other Big Ten players included Michigan State's Connor Cook (No. 2 QB), Wisconsin's Corey Clement (No. 3 RB), Michigan State's Jack Conklin (No. 3 OL), and Nebraska's Maliek Collins (No. 5 DL).

The Browns haven't won a game against the Broncos in 25 years.

The last time the Browns beat the Broncos, linebacker Barkevious Mingo was four days old. It was October 8, 1990 in a Monday night game with Al Michaels, Dan Dierdorf and Frank Gifford on the call.

Both teams had down years, with the Browns winning just three games under head coach Bud Carson. This was their second win of the season. They wouldn't win again until December 16. Denver went 5-11, a year after appearing in the Super Bowl for the third time in four seasons.

Thanks to Reddit, here are the final seconds of the last time the Browns beat the Broncos. It includes Jerry Kauric's game-winning kick and the ensuing celebration.

Here's the box score from Pro Football Reference.

Joey Logano has already earned his way into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Eliminator Round with Matt Kenseth close behind. As the series moves to Kansas this weekend, Jeff Gordon is hoping to continue his strong runs on the Kansas Speedway.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Joey Logano has already clinched a spot in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Eliminator Round and Kevin Harvick is not far behind as The Chase moves to Kansas Speedway for Sunday's Hollywood Casino 400.

The race is scheduled for 2:15 Sunday afternoon on NBC, with coverage on NBCSN scheduled to begin at 1:30.

Logano's win at Charlotte last week in the first race of the Contender Round secured his spot in the Eliminator Eight. It's the second straight year he won the Contender Round opener. He has 24 top 10 finishes on the season and leads the series with five poles.

Harvick is second on the Chase grid and tied with Logano for top 10 finishes after his runnerup finish at Charlotte. It was his 11^th runnerup of the season and he also has 20 top five finishes, just the 13^th driver to accomplish that in the modern era. If he can avoid disaster, he should have no problem advancing to the Eliminator Round.

Jeff Gordon is seventh on the Chase grid as he heads toward the final races of his storied career. Still seeking his first win of the season, Gordon can hope Kansas is his good-luck charm. He's got the most wins there (3), the best driver rating (100.5) and the best average finish (9.9).

Here is the schedule for the weekend:

NASCAR SPRINT CUP HOLLYWOOD CASINO 400

Site: Kansas City, Kansas.

Schedule: Friday, practice (NBC Sports Channel, 1-2:30 p.m.), qualifying (NBC Sports Channel, 6-7:30 p.m.); Saturday, practice (NBC Sports Channel, 2:30-3:30 p.m.); Sunday, race, 2 p.m. (NBC, 1:30-6 p.m.).

Track: Kansas Speedway (oval, 1.5 miles).

Race distance: 400.5 miles, 267 laps.

Last year: Joey Logano raced to the last of his five 2014 victories.

Last week: Logano won at Charlotte to secure a spot in the third round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup. He has four victories this year.

Fast facts: The playoff field was cut from 16 to 12 after the third race. It will be reduced to eight after the sixth race and to four after the ninth. Drivers get a spot in the next round with a victory. Points are reset after each round and the title will be decided by finishing order in the Nov. 22 finale at Homestead. Logano tops the standings. Defending series champion Kevin Harvick is second, six points back. Martin Truex Jr. is seven points behind, followed by Denny Hamlin (-8), Kurt Busch (-9), Carl Edwards (-9), Jeff Gordon (-11), Brad Keselowski (-13), Ryan Newman (-19), Kyle Busch (-23), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (-32) and Matt Kenseth (-45). ... Gordon, retiring after the season, has a track-record three victories. He won the first two Kansas races in 2001 and 2002 and took the 2014 spring event. ... Jimmie Johnson won in May at the track. He dropped out of the Chase in the first round.

Next race: CampingWorld.com 500, Oct. 25, Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega, Alabama.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Avon Lake girls soccer team was named Team of the Week after collecting 90.27 percent of the 298 votes.

AVON LAKE, Ohio -- The Avon Lake girls soccer team was named Fall Sports Team of the Week after winning the Division I Sweetbriar sectional.

Avon Lake received 90.27 percent of the 298 votes followed by two percent of the votes for Solon's girls golf team.

Each week during the fall season, high school sports fans will help to crown a new Team of the Week.

Similar to Player of the Week, we will be accepting nominations from fans who believe their team had a big week either in terms of wins, a significant milestone, etc. Fans can nominate their Team of the Week by leaving a message in the comments section below.

The deadline is Tuesdays at 9 a.m. If you want to nominate your team, please leave a message in the comments section.

Our high school sports staff will go through the nominations. Look for the Team of the Week poll every Tuesday afternoon. Voting is open until Thursday at 9 a.m.

We want to hear from you. Whether it’s asking us questions in the comments or commenting as you check out all the high school sports content, please take advantage of the comments section and let us know your takes on local teams, players and conference predictions. 

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

The Stow football team was named Team of the Week after collecting 71.55 percent of the 682 votes.

STOW, OH -- The Stow football team was named Team of the Week after defeating Hudson, 17-10, in Week 7.

Stow received 71.55 percent of the 682 votes followed by 13.05 percent of the votes for Trinity.

Each week during the fall season, high school sports fans will help to crown a new Team of the Week.

Similar to Player of the Week, we will be accepting nominations from fans who believe their team had a big week either in terms of wins, a significant milestone, etc. Fans can nominate their Team of the Week by leaving a message in the comments section below.

The deadline is Tuesdays at 9 a.m. If you want to nominate your team, please leave a message in the comments section.

Our high school sports staff will go through the nominations. Look for the Team of the Week poll every Tuesday afternoon. Voting is open until Thursday at 9 a.m.

We want to hear from you. Whether it’s asking us questions in the comments or commenting as you check out all the high school sports content, please take advantage of the comments section and let us know your takes on local teams, players and conference predictions. 

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

In this new Pittsburgh recruiting landscape -- where James Franklin has vowed to "dominate the state" and Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi isn't going to back down -- could Urban Meyer get a Pryor-type player to leave Western Pennsylvania?

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The answer to the question was so obvious to James Franklin that the Penn State coach got animated, something that's not uncommon for one of the most energetic coaches in the country.

This bordered on defensive, though.

Let's say there's an elite football prospect in Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh more specifically. Where should that kid go for college?

"We're the state school of Pennsylvania, and you're telling me there's a kid in the state of Pennsylvania, right?" Franklin said this summer at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago. "I think whenever you're the state school of any state, you should feel like you're the school for the kids in that state."

Makes sense. You could imagine Urban Meyer answering in a similar way if he was asked about a kid from Cleveland. Coaches want the best homegrown talent to stay in state, there's no secret formula here. This is Recruiting 101.

That Franklin had to answer that question shows the disconnect that existed between the Penn State football program and the state's second-most populated city. It's a relationship Franklin promised to strengthen when he took the job at Penn State in 2014.

Let's give this hypothetical Pittsburgh kid a name.

How about ... Terrelle Pryor?

He's a five-star prospect, the best high school football player in the country, and he's a two-hour car ride from Franklin's front door. Where should he g... It's not even worth asking.

Franklin would do everything in his power to make sure a player like Pryor would end up at Penn State, and not at Ohio State or anywhere else.

Which begs the question: In this new Pittsburgh recruiting landscape -- where Franklin has vowed to "dominate the state" and Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi isn't going to back down -- could Urban Meyer get a Pryor-type player to leave Western Pennsylvania?

"We did good for about 10 years over there with the Terrelle Pryors and that, and we still continue to try to hit it hard because the high school football played over there we think is the same high school football played in Ohio," Luke Fickell, Ohio State's lead recruiter in Pittsburgh, told Northeast Ohio Media Group.

Would this scene have happened if Ohio State was recruiting Terrelle Pryor now instead of in 2008?Associated Press 

Pulling a player like that away from his Western Pennsylvania home isn't as easy as it used to be.

There will always be players there.

"The backyard that you get to play in, it's got all kinds of toys," Narduzzi told NEOMG. "There couldn't be a better backyard in the country."

What Narduzzi and Franklin have done is create a greater sense of wanting to stay in the home state among the area's best prospects, which wasn't always the case. From the year Ohio State signed Pryor in 2008 until the most recent 2015 class, there were 40 four- or five-star prospects from the Pittsburgh area. Fourteen went to Pitt, six went to Ohio State and six went to Penn State.

That's 85 percent of the best players in Western Pennsylvania picking somewhere other than Penn State.

The numbers get even worse for Penn State when you narrow it down to the elite of the elite. Among those 40 prospects, six have been five-stars. Two signed with Ohio State, two signed with Pitt, one signed with Alabama and the other with West Virginia. The Buckeyes were a major player for or signed four of the six -- Pryor, Dorian Bell, Rushel Shell and Robert Foster. 

Penn State didn't get any.

Franklin's first move in making sure that wouldn't happen again was hiring Terry Smith, a Penn State alum and Bell's former coach at Gateway High School, as his cornerbacks coach.

Hiring a former high school coach from an area in which your program has struggled to recruit? That sounds familiar. Kerry Coombs and Cincinnati, anyone?

"We're the state school of Pennsylvania and for awhile it had shifted," Franklin said. "We hadn't gotten a kid out of Western Pa. in a long time. My thing was we're gonna take great pride in the entire state of Pennsylvania. It's not Central Pennsylvania State University. It's the whole state."

It's starting to shift, and the groundswell of interest in Franklin's program is changing the way Pittsburgh is recruited. The Buckeyes, who signed five top-flight Pittsburgh prospects from 2008 to 2011, have offered 10 since 2012 and signed just one.

In 2014, there were seven four-star or better prospects in the area. Ohio State offered five, but signed only safety Malik Hooker.

Penn State signed four-star offensive tackle Sterling Jenkins out of Pittsburgh in the 2015 recruiting class.247Sports 

There were two four-star Pittsburgh prospects in the 2015 class: cornerback Jordan Whitehead and offensive lineman Sterling Jenkins. Both had offers from Ohio State, Penn State and Pitt. Pitt got Whitehead, Franklin got Jenkins. Ohio State was in it late for both of them, and the Buckeyes couldn't sway either player to leave.

For the 2016 class there are only two four-star prospects. Running back Miles Sanders is already committed to Penn State. Ohio State, Penn State and Pitt are all in the running for the other, cornerback Damar Hamlin.

"All three of those schools have made their presence known," Terry Totten, Hamlin's coach at Pittsburgh Central Catholic, told NEOMG. "The big catch around here now is the Hamlin kid, and it is Penn State, Pitt, Ohio State and Notre Dame."

There are more in 2017, including four-star defensive backs Lamont Wade, who's visiting Ohio State this weekend, and Paris Ford, both of whom are high on Meyer's wish list. 

Out there, somewhere, is also the next Pryor.

Ohio State expects to get him still, but this isn't 2008.

"A lot of kids are grounded on their home state, or their home school, regardless of the National Championship," Wade said. "A lot of kids want to put on for their home state or their home city."

Pittsburgh is in Pennsylvania. 

But there is some question as to whose home city that is. 

Submit your video highlights from Week 8 games for the chance to get them included in the Top Play of the Week contest.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The high school sports staff at cleveland.com wants your videos of the best football plays you record for possible inclusion in the Top Play of the Week contest.

Top Play of the Week is a new weekly video contest to showcase the best runs, catches, defensive plays -- you name it -- from across Northeast Ohio. Last week's contest featured about one dozen plays from Week 7 games. See the winning plays above, and see more on who won as decided by readers and who won as decided by the cleveland.com staff.

We welcome video nominations sent from fans, parents, coaches off your official game tape, administrators -- anyone.

Get video of a long kick return for a touchdown? Capture footage of a pass caught between two defenders? Please send it to us.

Here's the many ways you can get your video highlights to us for possible inclusion in the contest: Send it by Twitter, Vine, Instagram or email at neovarsity@cleveland.com. Be sure to tag @neovarsity on your social media messages so we receive it.

The deadline to submit videos from Thursday and Friday games is Saturday at noon, while Saturday games have until 10 p.m.

Check back Monday morning to see if your play is featured in the latest Top Play of the Week contest. Readers will then have an opportunity to vote for their favorite highlight through Thursday at noon.

For more high school sports news, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Ohio State's 2016 recruiting class is almost full, which is why the Buckeyes haven't had any big visitors list for any of their home games this year. But against Penn State on Friday night, Meyer is hosting a ton of top-rated prospects. Inside is a list of who's coming.

Euclid mustered a strong second-half performance to rally against Brunswick.

EUCLID, Ohio — The hat Euclid football coach Jeff Rotsky wore after his team's 27-14 win on Thursday against Brunswick said, "Return to Glory."

His team outscored Brunswick, 20-0, in the second half to overcome a halftime deficit and extend the Panthers' winning streak to four games. More importantly, it moves Euclid one win closer to ending a six-year playoff drought.

"These guys have such character. They've grown up. They refuse to quit. They now believe when stuff gets tough, they can still come back," Rotsky said.

The Panthers, ranked No. 12 in the cleveland.com Top 25, trailed at halftime, 14-7. They tied the game early in the second half on a touchdown pass from Noah Mitchell to David Wright, and took the lead on two Chris Collins touchdown runs in the fourth quarter.

Euclid (6-2, 4-1) outgained Brunswick (3-5, 3-2), 421-190, and allowed only three third-down conversions on defense. The Panthers rushed for 225 yards, and did most of that by running right into the middle of the Blue Devils' defense, particularly in the second half.

Collins' two big touchdown runs in the fourth quarter, including a 63-yard run, helped Euclid take the lead and keep it until the end. He finished with 177 yards rushing on 20 carries.

"I was just believing in Coach Rotsky. He told me to keep my head in the game," Collins said. "We had to make a few adjustments, but I kept running the ball hard."

Euclid grabbed the lead in the second quarter on a Craig Robinson 7-yard run. Brunswick answered with a pair of touchdowns, including a 10-yard touchdown pass from Nick Horton to Victor Talley with 30 seconds left in the half.

After the touchdown, Euclid's defense stopped Brunswick's flexbone option offense from scoring again.

The win is also the sixth in seven games for Euclid. Three of Euclid's wins in its four-game winning streak have been by 13 points or fewer.

Rotsky feels his team's strong run of success is due to his players gaining confidence and belief in each other.

"Every day, I just want these kids to get a little better, to believe a little more, to live in the moment," Rotsky said. "Don't worry about tomorrow or next week or two weeks out. Don't worry about postseason. Just live this and experience what's going on in there because that's what real."

Euclid entered the game ranked No. 6 in Division I, Region 1. With its strong second half performance to defeat a Brunswick team that had won three straight games prior to Thursday, the Panthers are inching closer to completing the "Return to Glory," their coach has been pushing for this season.

In addition to Christian Hackenberg and his receivers, the Nittany Lions have a top 10 defense. Watch video

rCOLUMBUS, Ohio -- Five reasons the Penn State Nittany Lions will beat the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday night in Ohio Stadium - on a dark night.

1. Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg: Since his arrival at Penn State, NFL potential has been Hackenberg's calling card, more than college success. Now 19-12 with the Nittany Lions, Hackenberg has seldom made things look easy - or had things made easy for him.

In 31 games, just five times has he thrown two more touchdown passes than interceptions. That doesn't seem like all that much to ask - J.T. Barrett did it eight times in 12 starts last season. 

It hasn't been smooth. Yet it remains, entering game 32 of his college career, filled with possibility. 

A year after throwing 15 interceptions and 12 just touchdowns, Hackenberg has flipped those numbers with smarter play and easier throws. He has seven touchdowns and just two picks through Penn State's 5-1 start this season, and while that means 67 college quarterbacks have thrown more touchdowns than he has, Hackenberg also isn't taking the Nittany Lions out of games.

If his offensive line, and this is a big if, can give him any time Saturday, he could keep Penn State in the game, with what Urban Meyer agreed was certainly the best passing game the Buckeyes have faced so far.

"I'm a guy who likes to push the ball down the field," Hackenberg said this week of cutting down on his interceptions this season. "It's resulted in some big plays for us. I missed a couple, but that's a big part of our plan and things happen. It is what it is. But being able to take a little bit better approach and knowing when to take those shots and when to check the football down and understanding where guys are going to be and doing a good job getting the ball to the backs, I think we've done a good job. And then it's just getting older and learning from last year and learning from the year before."

This isn't exactly a West Coast offense, though. Hackenberg's completion rate of 53 percent doesn't rank among the top 100 quarterbacks in the nation. Still, while Meyer has praised cornerbacks Eli Apple and Gareon Conley all year, dealing with Penn State's passing game goes beyond them.

"It's much more than just the corners," Meyer said. "When you talk the passing game it's the safeties and the pass rush. Corners, obviously that's primarily what they do. But they're a get-it-out-fast team. A lot of times with that, it's Darron Lee and linebackers because it's a lot of underneath. Also, there's a lot of screens, and that's the D line retracing and linebackers. So it's not just the corners. I think the corners are ready to go play a good game."

So far, Hackenberg hasn't been that good against the Buckeyes. His start at night in Columbus in 2013 was a nightmare, a 12-for-23 performance that led to 112 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in a 63-14 blowout.

"You got a little taste for what the environment is like," Hackenberg said, remembering that night. "I have a ton of respect for that program and a ton of respect for the fans."

Last year in State College was obviously far more competitive as the Buckeyes were forced into overtime before winning, but Hackenberg still wasn't great - 31 of 49 for 224 yards with one touchdown and another two interceptions.

So what happens when the passing game is great? What would it look like if Hackenberg, the receivers and the line all play well, maybe like in Hackenberg's four-touchdown, no-interception effort in the 31-30 win over Boston College in last season's Pinstripe Bowl.

"When we're rolling throwing the football, when we're in a groove as an offense, usually we're all on the same page," Hackenberg. "That's not saying we aren't every game, but it's also what we're asked to do. Football is a game where you've got to be able to win in a lot of different ways."

Saturday should call for the guy pegged as a future pro since his freshman season to be at his best. Actually, Hackenberg was heralded before that. OSU cornerback Eli Apple remembers going against him at high school camps, which Apple thinks could be a little edge for him while defending against Hackenberg now.

"He can put the ball anywhere," Apple said. "I just know he's a great quarterback and he has a great arm and he can make all the NFL throws."

Can he lead his team to a major college win?

2. Receiver DeaSean Hamilton: Hackenberg needs targets and his most popular one this season has been sophomore Chris Godwin, who ranks sixth in the Big Ten with 27 catches, tied with Ohio State's Michael Thomas.

But the guy to watch Saturday may be sophomore DaeSean Hamilton. He has just 17 catches in six games. But he grabbed a career-high 14 receptions for 126 yards against the Buckeyes last season on a night when he said the ball found him because he did his job.

"We had all the right opportunities to take them down and we came up short," Hamilton said. "We have to have the same type of chip on our shoulder and same type of aggressiveness."

Hamilton ranked fifth in the conference with 899 receiving yards as a freshman and entered this season, joined by Thomas and Leonte Carroo of Rutgers, as one of the best receivers in the Big Ten. He feels the Ohio State defense is similar to what Indiana played against Penn State last week, and that means chances to win individual battles against corners.

"We were able to get open against Indiana, and that's a big thing coming into this week," Hamilton said. "They're going to press the whole game. They're going be physical with us. ... You've got be physical right back at them. A lot of guys dance around corners, but our ability to get upfield is going to be a key factor."

Hamilton said he and Godwin have been working all week on getting clean releases off the line. If that practice works, Hamilton could be looking at another big game.

"No wide receiver like guys up in their face all game," Hamilton said. "At the same time, you know what coverage you're going to get every snap. You're not really going out there to read coverage. You've got to go out there and win."

3. Dark Night at the Shoe: Several Buckeyes have raved about the White Out experience at Penn State last season, the best road environment of their careers. They've also referenced that on social media in promoting the plan to get fans to wear black on Saturday while the Buckeyes are in black uniforms for Dark Night at the Shoe.

Ohio State is going for the photo negative of the White Out.

"It's basically like us, just like our evil twin over there at Ohio State," Hamilton said in prepping for his first visit to Columbus. "I'm looking forward to it. A lot of guys said it's a crazy atmosphere."

Hamilton said Hackenberg, who lost at night in Ohio Stadium in 2013, said he hated playing in Columbus because of that wild atmosphere. This, in black, will be different somehow.

"I love night games. I'm anxious to see it," Urban Meyer said.

But if something goes wrong, the headline for history is already written - A Dark Night for the Buckeyes in a Dark Night at the Shoe. There's a little risk going down this road.

"It's a special opportunity to be one of the first teams that switches up Ohio State's traditional jerseys, and we have a great responsibility to play well in it," defensive end Sam Hubbard said.

Traditionalists already don't like the look. Lose the first Big Ten regular-season game of the Meyer era, after a 26-0 start, and you'll never see the black again. 

4. Anthony Zettel and Carl Nassib: As good as Ohio State is on the defensive line, these two make the Nittany Lions as good as any group in the nation. That could make life difficult on Ezekiel Elliott and the OSU run game.

Nassib leads the nation with 10 sacks and and Zettel is an All-American type of talent.

"Excellent defense," Meyer said. "I think they're top 10."

Penn State is 11th in scoring defense at 14.3 points per game and the 275.7 yards they allow is 10th. Meyer was right. And this won't be easy for the Buckeyes. 

5. Theory of the unexpected: Before the season, in guessing at an unexpected loss for the Buckeyes, I picked this game, for many of the reasons detailed above. Once the season began, I switched that loss you didn't see coming to Indiana and was wrong. But the theory still holds in my mind. Michigan State and Michigan will be tough, but the best chance to beat the Buckeyes is when they don't think they're going to lose.

Now, the Buckeyes haven't forgotten nearly falling at Penn State last year. But this is still early enough that maybe the Buckeyes aren't yet at their best, and maybe this is that surprise.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell has accounted for 277 total yards over the last two weeks, becoming the first player in nearly three years to go over 100 yards rushing against Baltimore and backing it up with 111 in San Diego.

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Le'Veon Bell didn't grow up as the fastest kid on the field, the kind who turns into a vapor trail the instant the ball touches his hands.

The speed of Bell's brain, however, was never in doubt. The Pittsburgh Steelers running back had a way of figuring out where to go and how to get there.

If that meant cutting back, he'd cut back. If that meant putting his hand on the rear of one of his linemen, guiding them like a human shopping cart, so be it.

"I do it to let them know I'm behind them and they can kind of hurry up, or I push them in the direction I want to go," Bell said.

And make no mistake, that direction is always whichever way the end zone happens to be. Bell produced the signature play of his burgeoning career in last Monday's 24-20 victory over San Diego, stretching across the goal line for the winning score as time expired, taking the direct snap, then placing his right hand on pulling guard David DeCastro as if to say "I'm following you, big fella."

Even with 5 seconds remaining, Bell wasn't in a rush. He trusted the call, trusted his line and trusted the instincts that have made him one of the league's most versatile and dynamic players -- even if it went against injured quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's sage advice not to waste any time.

"Ben was telling me 'Don't dance around in case we need another play and that's what I had in my mind,'" Bell said. "I'm just going to hurry it up and get in. But as the play went and I got in the end zone and scored, he was like, 'You're still dancing around.' I guess it's just the way I run."

And mild protests from his quarterback notwithstanding, the Steelers are perfectly OK with Bell's pragmatic approach to his job.

The 23-year-old All-Pro is one of the main reasons Pittsburgh (3-2) has stayed afloat while Roethlisberger rehabs a bruised left knee. Even with opponents throwing bodies at the line of scrimmage like a store opening on Black Friday, Bell is still finding enough room to be effective. He has accounted for 277 total yards over the last two weeks, becoming the first player in nearly three years to go over 100 yards rushing against Baltimore and backing it up with 111 in San Diego, the final one propelling his team to an emotional victory.

"It's hard to compare him to a lot of different people because he is a little unique on how he does things," offensive coordinator Todd Haley said.

Which presents Haley with a chance to play his favorite role, the one where he goes all mad scientist thinking up ways to get Bell involved.

In San Diego it was dusting off the wildcat formation -- which hasn't really been cool since MySpace was a thing -- and letting Bell channel his inner high school quarterback. Bell kept his arm under wraps, either taking it himself or feeding it to DeAngelo Williams, but isn't against Haley allowing him to let it loose at least once if the moment presents itself on Sunday against Arizona (4-1).

Bell figures he could chuck it 50 yards if necessary, but would be fine if he did a jump pass Tim Tebow-style, and pointed out he completed the only pass he attempted during his three years at Michigan State. It's an intriguing concept, though one Haley laughingly declined to indulge in when asked about it Thursday.

The way Haley figures, no need to push it. There's enough for Bell to do already. He's arguably the best receiving back in the league, one who looks just as comfortable lining up in the slot as he does in the backfield. Defenses no longer put a linebacker on him, instead opting for a safety.

Still, the 6-foot-2 Bell is a matchup problem no matter where he is at the snap after dropping down to 215 pounds, 10-15 pounds lighter than last season when he finished second in the NFL in yards from scrimmage.

And about that running style, he's not quite as patient as he used to be. He's worked diligently to improve his footwork so he can plant and go once he decides he's ready. That vision also allows him to avoid the kind of direct hits that shorten the careers of most backs. He carried it 21 times against San Diego and doesn't think he was drilled once.

"It's all been drag-down tackles or getting knocked out of bounds, things like that," Bell said. "As I get older I'm going to continue to get better at it."

NOTES: Roethlisberger was limited in practice Thursday and will almost certainly miss his third straight start. ... LB Ryan Shazier (shoulder) was limited and could miss his fourth consecutive game.

See videos from Euclid's 27-14 win against Brunswick.

EUCLID, Ohio — Check out video highlights and postgame reaction from Euclid football's 27-14 win against Brunswick on Thursday.

The Panthers, ranked No. 12 in the cleveland.com Top 25, got two fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns from Chris Collins after they trailed at halftime. Euclid has won four straight games.

The postgame interview with Collins is at the top of the post.

See full game highlights.

Watch a postgame interview with Euclid safety Tyshawn Jones.

Watch a postgame interview with Euclid coach Jeff Rotsky.

The Cleveland Browns play undefeated Denver Sunday facing questions about their defense. One of those: How much do they miss T.J. Ward? -- Bud Shaw's Spinoffs

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Not every Browns player who leaves finds fame and fortune, but the fact that many find more stable situations has been the case for years and is hardly surprising.

That certainly predates the ownership of Jimmy Haslam and the stewardship of Ray Farmer. It even predates expansion.

If you doubt that, I have five words for you:

Super Bowl champion Andre Rison.

Rison ended up in Green Bay running under Brett Favre's passes after a tumultuous 1995 season.

(You may have heard something about that season along the way.)

The Browns more recently sent T.J. Ward packing if only by not attempting to keep him. They went in search of something different - Donte Whitner, Karlos Dansby - when they decided to let Ward and D'Qwell Jackson move on.

Jackson ended up in the playoffs with Indianapolis. Ward returns Sunday with a 5-0 Denver team.

"My four years in Cleveland, it was a lot of instability,'' Ward told reporters this week. "I'd say the most difference is the stability that's here and that's pretty much it, how it's run because we had good players in Cleveland. We still have good players, it's just how everything else is handled."

As for his departure:

"I didn't feel like I was welcome back so that was pretty much it.'' 

In Ward's case, if the Browns were looking for players who played with chips on their shoulders when they released him they assured they'll find at least one when Denver visits Sunday.

* Sammy Watkins is unhappy with his number of targets in the Bills offense.

He's so unhappy he had his agent raise the issue with people inside the Bills organization.

"You're making me look bad and you're making you look bad," is how Watson described the message delivered. "Why not make both of us look good?

"Everybody looks at you getting zero catches, zero yards but when you look at the film 90 percent of the time you're open."

Watson said he was assured things would work out.

So, really, what everybody is looking at - in addition to the catches and yards -- is Watkins still complaining publicly after being told privately the team heard his concerns and would address them.

That's called making yourself look bad.

* Looking at the film, Dwayne Bowe is open 90 percent of the time, too. Only the water cooler is within three feet of him.

 * Interim head coach Dan Campbell, according to reports, is "changing up the Miami Dolphins practice schedule."

Which based on the way they were playing under Joe Philbin might only mean they're actually practicing now.

* Adrian Peterson is correcting himself.

After KC running back Jamaal Charles called himself the "LeBron James of the NFL" earlier this year, Peterson said, sorry, no, he owned that title.

Now, the Vikings running back is now calling himself the "Michael Jordan of football."

No word on whether Trent Richardson will sue for copyright infringement.

* Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall begs to differ, saying teammate Chris Ivory is the best running back in the league.

"I just watch the tape," Marshall told Jets' reporters. "Speed. Quickness. Agility. Vision. Endurance. He has it all."

Somehow the "Steph Curry of football" isn't an image you want your lead back to have on third-and-goal.

* Pats coach Bill Belichick, asked if he were hearing from New England fans at the grocery store about much they wanted the Pats to pay back Indy Sundayfor Deflategate, said he hasn't been to the grocery store in a few years.

But when he did go you know he tried to get 13 items through the 12-or-fewer express lane.

* Cashier: "Sir, did you find everything you were looking for today?"

Belichick: "That's in the past. I'm on to the parking lot."

* The Royals advanced to the American League Championship Series with a Game 5 win behind right hander Johnny Cueto.

It prompted this analysis:

"Games like this are where you see Johnny Cueto -- the real Johnny Cueto."

Said Johnny Cueto.

If he had to say so himself.

About himself.

* Jose Bautista's bat flip became a topic of conversation after his home run helped the Blue Jays outlast the Texas Rangers in a crazy, dramatic Game 5.

"He's a huge role model for the younger generation that's coming up and playing this game," Rangers' reliever Sam Dyson said. "He's doing stuff that kids do in whiffle ball games and backyard baseball. It shouldn't be done."

Dyson told Edwin Encaracion, who followed Bautista, that Bautista needed to calm down, "just kind of respect the game a little more."

I fully expect Bautista to respect the game a little more.

Once the bat lands sometime this weekend.

* Here's the deal. A bat flip in spring training should earn you a 95 mile an hour fastball in the ribs.

A bat flip in the regular season should earn you a 95 mile an hour fastball in the backside.

A bat flip in the deciding game of the ALDS after your team fell behind in the top of the seventh when the catcher's throw caromed off the hitter's bat, allowing a run to score from third?

That should earn you the right to act like a kid in the backyard playing whiffle ball.

* I expect to be a little hungry for something sweet somewhere around the third quarter at the Cavs home opener.

Just sayin', J.R. #cottoncandy

* When J.R. Smith left the bench to buy cotton candy for himself and the son of golfer Jason Day, it recalled former Cavaliers' player Gary Suiter.

Before the franchise's first game in Buffalo, head coach Bill Fitch couldn't find the 6-9 Suiter and sent the trainer to find him.

Suiter was at a concession stand in full uniform ordering a hot dog.

* That was the season Fitch interrupted a press conference (an anecdote told in the book "From Fitch to Fratello") and told everyone to quiet down.

"Hear that drip?" he said. "I think it's an ulcer."

* Ronda Rousey's mother blasted coach Edmond Tarverdyan, saying he hit the lottery when her daughter walked through the door.

The athlete's mom, Dr. AnnaMarie De Mars, is a former world judo champ.

Which is why she didn't stop at, "Edmond is a terrible coach" but added, "and I will say it publicly."

The Sporting News related that De Mars refuses to call her daughters boyfriends by name. She calls all the guys who've dated her daughters "Bob" and will only change her policy when one marries into the family.

Her reasoning: why learn their names if they're not going to stick around.

If Rousey ever dates a guy with a bad toupee, I'd at least go with "Weave."

* A Texas State trooper was reprimanded after getting a photo taken with Dallas running back Christine Michael after stopping Michael for driving with tinted windows.

If it were Emmitt Smith back in the day instead of a bench player, it's safe to assume he would've taken a similar picture.

After giving Smith his badge and gun and letting him work the siren.

* The NFL fined Lions' quarterback Matthew Stafford $5,787 for wearing shoes that were considered too blue. The league rescinded the fine on appeal.

Hopefully because they read the rule out loud and realized how ridiculous it sounded.

But probably not.

Varsity Blitz Live is an interactive fan experience with up-to-the-minute updates from all 70 games involving local high school football teams tonight and a lively chat room.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Welcome to the place to be for all the Week 8 Friday high school football action with live updates, pictures, videos and scoreboards on all 70 games across Northeast Ohio, plus a chat room for fans.

Every Friday night we invite you to join us for Varsity Blitz Live, an interactive fan experience where tonight you’ll get up-to-the-minute updates from the 70 games involving local teams and a lively chat room at the very bottom of this post to talk with fellow fans as well as our reporters at games and in the office compiling box scores and recaps.

To join the conversation and see your Tweets featured below, all you need to do is include #NEOvarsity in your Tweets. Or you can comment through your cleveland.com community account.

The chat room below also features updates, pictures, videos and analysis on games throughout the seven-county coverage area. Be sure to check out live scoreboards our staffers are updating all night from the high school sports command center early and often.

Here is a lineup of where we have reporters stationed tonight. Look for their updates to pop into the chat below. Get previews on these games, as well as all contests involving a Top 25 team Friday and Saturday.

• Joe Noga is covering No. 5 Mayfield at No. 23 Madison.

• Robert Rozboril is covering No. 20 Copley at No. 16 Aurora.

• Freelancer Ryan Isley is covering No. 7 Mentor at No. 22 Strongsville.

Remember to include #NEOvarsity in your Tweets and they will appear below. If you're shooting video from the game, see how to submit highlights to be considered for the Top Play of the Week contest.

For more high school sports news, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

LeBron James was given a shot Tuesday in his back and is resting up for the start of the regular season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James received an anti-inflammatory shot in his back Tuesday as part of the Cavaliers' plan to have their superstar in optimal physical condition for the start of the regular season, general manager David Griffin told the Northeast Ohio Media Group.

James was given the same shot in January during his two-week hiatus to rest nagging injuries, Griffin said, and returned to the court moving noticeably better than at any point during the first two months of the 2014-15 season.

Griffin said James may indeed skip the final two preseason games, as coach David Blatt said Thursday, though there was still a small chance he could play in the preseason finale Monday at The Q.

The shot to James' back was first reported by the Akron Beacon Journal.

"What was done doesn't preclude him from playing (Monday)," Griffin said, but "he probably won't play in either one."

James didn't suffer any new injury or seriously re-aggravate the previous one, Griffin said. The Cavs believe the week of practice between the preseason and the regular-season opener Oct. 27 is a critical time, and wanted to have James ready by that point.

So giving James the shot and and keeping him out of games this week was by design. James was also sick this week and took TAMIFLU. He was sent home from The Q Tuesday night (the same day he was given the shot) while the Cavs were playing Milwaukee.

James is expected to attend practice today but probably won't participate, Griffin said.

The Cavs' roster has been devastated by injury during the preseason, In addition to Kyrie Irving (knee surgery), Kevin Love (shoulder surgery) and Iman Shumpert (wrist surgery) missing the entire preseason to this point, J.R. Smith (hamstring), Timofey Mozgov (soreness from knee surgery), and Mathew Dellavedova (ankle) have all missed games.

The Blue Jays, Mets and Royals have gone 22, 29 and 30 years, respectively, without a championship. Then, there is Chicago. The Cubs have not stood atop the league since 1908, a chilling, 107-year dry spell. One of those four clubs will break its hex in a couple of weeks.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Blue Jays have not captured a World Series crown since 1993 and, yet, Toronto's title drought is the one least deserving of empathy when considering the four teams that still have a postseason pulse.

Of course, Indians fans don't want to hear about title droughts, given the franchise's lack of any trophies since 1948.

The Blue Jays, Mets and Royals have gone 22, 29 and 30 years, respectively, without a championship. Then, there is Chicago. The Cubs have not stood atop the league since 1908, a chilling, 107-year dry spell.

One of those four clubs will break its hex in a couple of weeks. Toronto and Kansas City begin the American League Championship Series on Friday night. Chicago and New York will commence their battle for the National League pennant on Saturday.

I'll choose the Blue Jays to top the Royals in six games in the ALCS. Here's why.

Murderer's row

Toronto trots out a lineup that features Josh Donaldson (who might win the AL MVP award), Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Troy Tulowitzki. Good luck to opposing pitchers. Donaldson, Bautista and Encarnacion combined to slug 120 home runs. Each of the three posted an OPS above .910.

Kansas City doesn't feature that kind of power. The Royals score runs by capitalizing on their speed, by taking extra bases and advancing runners. 

Toronto's 891 regular-season runs were the most by any team in baseball since the 2009 New York Yankees. The Blue Jays scored 127 more runs than any other club this year.

Similar staffs

The Royals have long been dubbed the team with the most dominant bullpen. Kansas City often needs just five, competent innings from its starters before manager Ned Yost can turn to a relief corps that always shuts the door. Well, Wade Davis and Kelvin Herrera remain more than reliable. But former closer Greg Holland blew out his elbow and Ryan Madson has served up three home runs in three postseason innings.

The back end of the Blue Jays' bullpen might be just as brilliant. Closer Roberto Osuna, who won't turn 21 until February, retired all 17 Texas Rangers batters he faced in the AL Division Series. Setup man Aaron Sanchez allowed only one unearned run in 5 1/3 innings in the ALDS.

The starting pitching matchups seem about even, on paper. Marco Estrada (13-8, 3.13 ERA in the regular season) and Edinson Volquez (13-9, 3.55) will square off in Game 1. Toronto may have an edge with David Price, a candidate for the AL Cy Young Award, on the mound for Game 2, opposite right-hander Yordano Ventura. Johnny Cueto and Marcus Stroman are slated for Game 3.

The other guys

Toronto led the majors with 232 home runs; the Royals hit 139. Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon can track down just about any fly ball sent to the outfield, but those that travel beyond the fence are usually out of reach.

The Blue Jays aren't just about power, though. Kevin Pillar plays Royals-approved defense in center field. Leadoff hitter and spark plug Ben Revere batted .319 after joining Toronto in a midseason trade with the Phillies. Russell Martin has provided stability behind the plate when his throws back to the pitcher don't strike the batter's lumber. Dalton Pompey brings speed off of the bench.

It took a host of contributions and some roster renovations for the Blue Jays to finish the regular season on a 70-39 run.

This should be an entertaining series. Rogers Centre provides decibel levels higher than just about any other sporting venue.

The pick: Blue Jays in six

Series MVP: David Price

Talk all things Cleveland sports with Dennis Manoloff live at 12:30.

Talk Cleveland sports with Dennis Manoloff during his weekly podcast today at 12:30 p.m.Allison Carey/The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Get your questions ready and join the Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff today at 12:30 p.m. as he talks Cleveland sports.

DMan and I will talk about the Browns as they prepare to host the Broncos. We'll talk MLB playoffs and talk Cavaliers basketball

Jump in the comments to ask your questions and talk along with us.

"What he brought in here every day in practice, he was a competitive kid, a great teammate," Matta said. "He had a desire to win. He wanted to win more than anything. You hope that's what wears off."

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Under different circumstances, D'Angelo Russell's Saturday wouldn't be all that out of the ordinary.

The Ohio State basketball team will hold an open practice on Saturday, and if Russell was still here, he'd simply be preparing for a scrimmage where he'd be guarding new teammates JaQuan Lyle or A.J. Harris, or maybe Kam Williams. Just another practice.

But Russell's Saturday won't be ordinary, because he was too good and he's no longer in Columbus. Instead Russell will be in San Diego for the Los Angeles Lakers preseason game against the Golden State Warriors.

He won't be guarding Lyle, or Harris, or Williams or any other college player. He'll be guarding Stephen Curry, and it will be a good gauge of where the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft stands with the NBA regular season around the corner.

It will have no effect on what happens in Columbus on Saturday, or at any point during this Ohio State basketball season. The effect that Russell can have on this year's Buckeyes has already happened, he made it to the league.

"We literally saw our dream in front of our faces, every kid's dream is to play in the NBA," Buckeyes sophomore forward Jae'Sean Tate said. "To be so close to somebody, to witness and live that success. It was like, this really could happen. If we work hard, we could be there."

If that sounds corny to you, know that Thad Matta will use anything to motivate his team, especially a young, impressionable one that saw firsthand Russell's rise from five-star prospect to NBA lottery pick.

* How long can Ohio State use Russell as a recruiting tool?

Half of the team was around last year when Russell was putting in extra work in the gym to get to that point. Matta loved it, and it's what he'll miss most about Russell not being on this team. But he hopes some of that rubbed off on Russell's former teammates before he left.

"That's the thing that you hope when you're building your program and you have great players come through here, that there's a motivation," Matta said.

D'Angelo Russell is now with the Los Angeles Lakers, but there's a way in which he can still help Ohio State. (Associated Press)Associated Press 

The motivation comes in different forms.

See that shiny new car outside of the practice facility? That could be yours if you prepare the right way and get a shot at the NBA.

Maybe some players aren't naive enough to fall for that kind of thing, but the Ohio State players available at media day said seeing a friend have that kind of success can help the team this year.

"It definitely is inspiring, especially because he plays my position," Williams said. "To see him go through it every day, and everything that he did off the court, after practice, it's definitely inspiring and motivating to see where he's at right now."

Here's what's not going to happen, though. Russell isn't going to walk through the door in Value City Arena on Saturday. He won't be able to play, and hide any flaws this Ohio State might have like he did last year.

The Buckeyes will be young, they won't have a smooth, confident player like Russell to run the show. It's possible for someone to grow into that role, sure.

The good news for Matta is that he likes this team, and feels he has a good young nucleus around which to build a strong a team for a few years. He doesn't have to worry about anyone playing for the Lakers this time next year.

But he does hope they're watching the Lakers, and maybe they'll learn something.

"What he brought in here every day in practice, he was a competitive kid, a great teammate," Matta said. "He had a desire to win. He wanted to win more than anything. You hope that's what wears off."

It definitely helps that Franklin has an outgoing, charismatic personality. And from the beginning of his opening press conference at Penn State, he vowed to dominate the region in recruiting. Franklin words aren't far off.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Urban Meyer is a fierce recruiter who typically gets the prospects he wants, especially if that player is in Ohio State's footprint. 

But there's been a coach that's consistently stood in Meyer's way during the past two years, grabbing recruits with Ohio State offers at a more consistent rate than any other program in the country. 

That's Penn State's James Franklin. 

Asked about why he's had so much success against Meyer in Chicago during Big Ten Media Days in late July, Franklin turned the attention back on his program. Recruiters never stop, apparently. 

"I don't look at it like that," Franklin said. "I look at it as Penn State, and we have a tremendous product to sell, world-class academics, big-time football, an unbelievably supportive community, great facilities and I also think there are some advantages to where we're located. If you look at where we're at, six hours from our campus, we're somewhat unique from a history and tradition standpoint. 

"My focus is on us and knowing our product really well and going out and talking to people about why our school and situation is best for them." 

A few of the prospects Ohio State's lost out on to Penn State are ones from Pennsylvania, which makes sense considering the Nittany Lions are the home-state team. But the Buckeyes don't usually run into opponents like Penn State and Franklin. 

It definitely helps that Franklin has an outgoing, charismatic personality. And from the beginning of his opening press conference at Penn State, he vowed to dominate the region in recruiting. 

Franklin has lost players to Ohio State, too, but he has held up his end of the bargain when it comes to holding his own against Meyer. Here's a look at some of the prospects Penn State got over the Buckeyes since Franklin's arrival: 

* Brandon Wimbush of Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter's Prep (2015) -- Notre Dame ultimately signed Wimbush, but he was Ohio State's top quarterback prospect in the 2015 recruiting class. The Buckeyes were recruiting other quarterbacks -- like Torrance Gibson, who signed with Ohio State -- but Wimbush was their top guy from the beginning. Penn State, however, sold Wimbush on being the quarterback of the future before he committed to the Lions over the Buckeyes. In the end, Wimbush signed with Notre Dame, but it was a recruiting win for Franklin over Meyer. 

* Sterling Jenkins of Pittsburgh (Pa.) Baldwin (2015) -- Penn State signed this one, and it was a big get for Franklin. Offensive line is a major concern -- even on this year's team -- but the big 6-foot-8, 305-pound prospect will be a major factor up front in the near future. He visited Ohio State in April of 2014, but two months later he was committed to Franklin. 

* Steven Gonzalez of Union City, N.J. (2015) -- Gonzalez was very high on Ohio State at the beginning of his recruiting process, but a visit to State College changed all of that quite abruptly. He went from being what seemed as a heavy Ohio State lean to a Penn State commit quickly. Along with Jenkins, Gonzalez will be a factor for Penn State's offensive line in the future. 

* Shane Simmons of Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic (2016) -- Rated the No. 3 weakside defensive end in the 2016 recruiting class in 247Sports' composite rankings, Simmons is one of the best defenders in the country. And he's been all about Penn State for more than a year now. When he committed to Penn State in July of 2014, he chose it over Ohio State, Florida State and others. Simmons visited Ohio State less than a month before he ended his recruitment.

* Andrew Pryts of Hermitage (Pa.) Hickory (2016)-- Ohio State was involved in the recruitment of Pryts, a four-star prospect rated the No. 15 safety in the 2016 class. However, Franklin had some help in this recruitment because Pryts' father used to play for Penn State. Pryts chose the Lions over offers from Alabama, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and many others. 

* Michael Menet of Reading (Pa.) Exeter Township (2016) -- Rated the No. 5 offensive tackle in the 2016 class, Menet committed to Penn State in May shortly after receiving offers from Alabama, Georgia, Stanford and others. He was involved with Ohio State, but he hadn't been to Columbus since the previous year. Menet is one of the gems of Penn State's 2016 class.